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

Dates: 3 January – 14 February 1944. (1)

Objective: To clear Partisans from the lines of communication from Slavonski Brod to Konjić, in central and western Bosnia, and in northern Dalmatia.

Enemy Forces: 1st Proletarian Assault Corps and the 5th Assault Corps.

Axis Forces:
German
V. SS-Gebirgskorps
XV. Gebirgskorps
LXIX. Armeekorps z.b.V.
Grenadier-Rgt. 92 (mot.)
Panzergrenadier-Lehr-Rgt. 901
Croatian
II Corps
III Corps
I Domobran Volunteer Rgt. (Ustasha Obrana troops)
V Ustasha Brigade

Conduct of Operations and Results: Ordered by 2. Panzerarmee in December 1943, this large-scale undertaking was more of an offensive than an anti-Partisan operation. It was so large that it was sub-divided into several separate operations including those named “Jajce”, “Napfkuchen” and “Brandfackel”. It was further complicated by the Partisan capture of Banja Luka during the night of 31 December/1 January from which they were not evicted until 3 January 1944. Because of its size, confusing nature and absence of an after-action report, little can be said of “Waldrausch” other than it generally succeeded in reopening the roads and railway lines from the Sava River west to the Dalmatian coast. More information can be found under Operations “Jajce”, “Napfkuchen” and “Brandfackel”.

Footnotes
1. [Vojnoistorijski institute] - Hronologija oslobodilačke borbe naroda jugoslavije 1941-1945 (Belgrade, 1964), p.649; [Vojnoistorijski institute] - Oslobodilački rat naroda Juooslavije 1941-1945, 2 Vols (Belgrade: 1965), Vol. II, pp.47-59; NARA WashDC: RG 242 (T-314 roll 558/717-24 and 748-49).