Part of the Anti-Partisan Operations in Croatia series by H.L. deZeng IV

Dates: 20 – 27 December 1943. (1)

Objective: To retake Korčula Island off the Pelješac Peninsula in South Dalmatia, which had been overrun by the Partisans after Italy surrendered on 8 September.

Enemy Forces: 13th Dalmatian Brigade/26th Division NOVJ, 1st Overseas Brigade, Korčula NOP Detachment and elements of the 1st Dalmatian Assault Brigade/9th Division NOVJ.

Axis Forces:
German
Jäger-Rgt. 750/118. Jäger-Div.
Artillerie-Rgt. 668/118. Jäger-Div.
Küstenjäger-Abt. “Brandenburg” (elements)
Panzer-Kp.
Croatian
- none -

Conduct of Operations and Results: The Germans began landing on the island on 22 December and quickly swept forward driving the Partisans before them. Faced with defeat at the hands of the superior enemy, the Partisans evacuated Korčula by boat during the nights of 24/25 and 25/26 December and sailed to the islands of Hvar and Vis.

Losses and Booty (from German records)
Germans: an estimated 100 killed and wounded.
Partisans: approximately 500 killed, 300 wounded and 212 captured.
Booty: several field guns and 900 small arms.

Footnotes
1. [Vojnoistorijski institute] - Hronologija oslobodilačke borbe naroda jugoslavije 1941-1945 (Belgrade, 1964), p.627; [Vojnoistorijski institute] - Zbornik dokumenata i podataka o narodnooslobodilačkom ratu jugoslovenskih naroda, Tom V/22, p.782; Tomasevich, Jozo - The Chetniks (Stanford: Stanford Univ. Press, 1975), p.399; NARA WashDC: RG 242 (T-314 roll 561/145).