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

Dates: 8 – 9 May 1944. (1)

Objective: To reoccupy the ore mines in and around Ljubija, located 12 kilometers southwest of Prijedor in West Bosnia, secure the area, and transport out all of the stockpiled ore.

Enemy Forces: 4th Assault Division NOVJ.

Axis Forces:
German
Grenadier-Rgt. (mot.) 92
Infanterie-Rgt. 383 (elements)
Panzergrenadier-Sturm-Btl. Pz.AOK 2 (with 3 Italian 10.5 cm Sturmgeschütze) (assault guns)
Festungs-Infanterie-Btl. XVIII./999
Croatian
III Mountain Brigade (main force)
XIII Artillery Group/III Mountain Brigade (elements)
4th Jäger Brigade (two companies and one battery)

Conduct of Operations and Results: The ore complex at Ljubija, previously captured and occupied by the Partisans, was economically important to the German war effort aqnd this explains the large number of troops employed on this operation. The Partisans withdrew as soon as they knew what was to be expected and thus avoided a fight.

Footnotes
1. [Vojnoistorijski institute] - Hronologija oslobodilačke borbe naroda jugoslavije 1941-1945 (Belgrade, 1964), p.752; NARA WashDC: RG 242 (T-314 roll 1545/762; roll 1546/39-43).