by H.L. deZeng IV

Banja Luka Garrison Bn. (Banja Luka posadna bojna)
10 Jan 43: as the Banja Luka Garrison Company, served as the HQ Company for the Banja Luka Brigade in a strength of 2 officers, 4 NCOs and 232 men. (1)
20 Mar 43: reorganized as a battalion effective this date with 1st Co. (ex-17th Co./10th Infantry Rgt.), 2d Co. (ex-18th Co./10th Infantry Rgt.), 3d Co. (ex-19th Co./10th Infantry Rgt.) and 4th Co. (ex – Banja Luka Garrison Co.). The 1st, 2d and 3d Co. were deployed in bunker positions around Banja Luka, while 4th Co. was stationed in town. The Battalion came under II Corps for administration and services.
8-12 May 43: 2d Co. participated in Operation “Ulrich” in the Kozara Mountains.
1 Sep 43: Battalion with 1st – 4th Co. under II Corps in an estimated strength of 700.
1 Apr 44: renamed VI Bn./5th Garrison Brigade on or about this date.

1st Bjelovar Garrison Company (1. Bejelovar posadna satnija)
20 Jun 43: Bjelovar under I Corps, but tactically under the German 187. Res.Div. (2)
1 Sep 43: had an estimated strength of 250.
10 Dec 43: Bjelovar under I Corps, but now tactically under German Res.Gren.Rgt. 462.
01.03.44: Bjelovar and tactically under German 42. Jäger-Div.
1 Apr 44: probably incorporated into IV Bn./1st Garrison Brigade on or about this date.

2d Bjelovar Garrison Company
16 Aug 43: transferred from Bjelovar to Koprivnica (no further information). (3)

Crikvenica Garrison Company
1 Sep 43: Crikvenica under I Corps - estimated strength: 190. (4)
Mar 44: Crikvenica - no details.
1 Apr 44: renamed 4th Co. of V Bn./2d Garrison Brigade.

Doboj Garrison Company
30 Jul 43: in Doboj - no further information. (5)
1 Sep 43: Doboj under II Corps - estimated strength: 210.

Dubrovnik Garrison Company
1 Sep 43: Dubrovnik under III Corps - estimated strength: 220. (6)
1 Dec 43: Dubrovnik under the Croatian 6th Infantry Div.
1 Apr 44: incorporated into the 9th Garrison Brigade on or about this date.

Gospić Garrison Company
1 Sep 43: Gospić under I Corps - estimated strength: 200. (7)
Oct 43: noted - no further information.

Hrvatska Mitrovica Garrison Company
1 Sep 43: Hrv. Mitrovica in Syrmia under II Corps - estimated strength: 250. (8)
5 Oct 43: tactically under German 173. Res.Div.

Karlovac Garrison Battalion
Dec 42: the Battalion’s 2d Co. noted. (9)
1 Sep 43: Karlovac with 1st – 3d Co. under I Corps - estimated strength: 700.
1 Apr 44: Karlovac and still with three companies; believed to have been renamed I Bn./2d Garrison Brigade on or about this date.

Knin Garrison Company
Dec 42: in Knin under the Knin Garrison Command. (10)
19 Jul 43: Knin - no further information.

Križevci Garrison Company
20 Jun 43: in Križevci under I Corps and tactically under German 187. Res.Div. (11)
9 Oct 43: actual strength given as 215 officers and men.
10 Dec 43: now tactically subordinated to German Res.Gren.Rgt. 462.
Jan 44: Križevci under Operations Zone Križevci/I Corps.
1 Apr 44: incorporated into the new 1st Garrison Brigade on or about this date.

Mostar Garrison Company
1 Feb 43: in Mostar. (12)
1 Sep 43: Mostar under III Corps - estimated strength: 250.
1 Dec 43: moved and now in Dubrovnik under Croatian 6th Infantry Division.
1 Apr 44: incorporated into the new 9th Garrison Brigade on or about this date.

Osijek Garrison Company
13 Oct 43: Osijel under II Corps - actual strength: 230 officers and men. (13)
1 Apr 44: believed to have been incorporated into III Bn./5th Garrison Brigade on or about this date.

Otočac Garrison Battalion
Mar 43: Otočac Garrison Company noted. (14)
1 Sep 43: Otočac - estimated strength 200.
1 Apr 44: Otočac Garrison Battalion incorporated into the 3d Garrison Brigade on or about this date.

1st Petrinja Garrison Company
21 Jun 43: Petrinja under I Corps and tactically under V Mountain Brigade - while carrying out a night reconnaissance patrol along the road 7 km SW of Petrinja, a 20 men from the Company were attacked by 50 Partisans and taken prisoner. (15)
31 Dec 43: Petrinja under I Corps and tactically under German 1. Kosaken-Kav.Div. - total strength 3 officers, 20 NCOs and 303 men.
1 Apr 44: used to form II Bn./4th Garrison Brigade on or about this date.

2d Petrinja Garrison Company
20 Jun 43: in Hrastovica/4 km S of Petrinja under I Corps and tactically under V Mountain Brigade - total strength 86. (16)
15 Aug 43: entire Company (120 men) captured when Hrastovica taken by elements of the Banija NOP Detachment.
31 Dec 43: now under the tactical control of the German 1. Kosaken-Kav.Div. - total strength 2 officers, 1 NCO and 60 men.
1 Apr 44: used to form II Bn./4th Garrison Brigade on or about this date.

Petrovaradin Garrison Company
1 Sep 43: in Petrovaradin/Syrmia - estimated strength 200. (17)
5 Oct 43: under II Corps and tactically under the German 173. Res.Div.

Ruma Garrison Company
1 Sep 43: in Ruma/Syrmia - estimated strength 180. (18)
5 Oct 43: Ruma under II Corps and tactically under the German 173. Res.Div.

Sarajevo Garrison Battalion
Jan 43: HQ and 3d Co. in Sarajevo, 1st Co. manning bunker positions at Pasino Brdo, and 2d Co. manning bunker positions in Zlatista. According to a German report, the morale of these men was very bad due to insufficient food and poor equipment and clothing. (19)
Apr 43: unchanged from the above.
1 Sep 43: Sarajevo - estimated strength: 900. This was the last time the Battalion was identified, but it is believed to have existed until on or about 1 April 1944 when it was incorporated into the 8th Garrison Brigade.

1st Sisak Garrison Company
Dec 42: noted as the Sisak Garrison Company. (20)
20 Jun 43: now as the 1st Garrison Company Sisak - under I Corps and tactically under the German 187. Res.Div.
7 Dec 43: Sisak and responsible for guarding all bridges, the post office, railway station, the Garrison Command HQ building, the local rations depot and the local electrical works. Total strength: 2 officers, 6 NCOs and 204 men.
1 Apr 44: used to form I Bn./4th Garrison Brigade on or about this date.

2d Sisak Garrison Company
Formed Spring 1943. (21)
20 Jun 43: in Caprag near Sisak guarding the Shell Oil refinery located there - under I Corps and tactically under the German 187. Res.Div.
7 Dec 43: Caprag - strength 3 officers, 5 NCOs and 138 men.
1 Apr 44: used to form I Bn./4th Garrison Brigade on or about this date.

Slavonski Brod Garrison Battalion
1 Sep 43: in Sl. Brod under II Corps - estimated strength 700. (22)
Dec 43: noted.

Sušak Garrison Battalion
1 Sep 43: as Sušak Garrison Company. Estimated strength: 200.
Mar 44: as Sušak Garrison Company.
Apr 44: Unlike the other garrison formations, which were incorporated into the new garrison brigades on or about 1 April 1944, this unit remained in existence and was upgraded to a battalion in early fall 1944. It has never been clear whether this was a Domobran or an Ustasha formation, but the evidence weighs more heavily toward the latter.
For details, see under Ustasha Garrison Battalions and Companies.

Travnik Garrison Company
Dec 42: noted. (23)
15 Jan 43: Travnik under III Corps.
1 Sep 43: Travnik under III Corps - estimated strength: 180.

1st Varaždin Garrison Company
20 Jun 43: Varaždin under I Corps and tactically under the German 187. Res.Div. (24)
1 Sep 43: estimated strength: 200.
Jan 44: Varaždin under Operations Zone Varaždin/I Corps.
1 Apr 44: believed to have been used to form I Bn./1st Garrison Brigade on or about this date.

2d Varaždin Garrison Company
20 Jun 43: Varaždin under I Corps and tactically under the German 187. Res.Div. (25)
1 Sep 43: estimated strength: 150.
17 Oct 43: 70 men from the Company who were serving as the garrison in Ivanec/19 km SW of Varaždin were captured when the town was taken by elements of the NO Brigade “Braće Radić”.
Jan 44: Varaždin under Operations Zone Varaždin/I Corps.
1 Apr 44: believed to have been used to form I Bn./1st Garrison Brigade on or about this date.

Zagreb Garrison Battalion
20 Jun 43: Zagreb under I Corps with 1st – 4th Co. (26)
20 Jul 43: renamed I Bn./Zagreb Garrison Brigade this date.

Zemun Garrison Company
1 Sep 43: Zemun in Syrmia - estimated strength: 250. (27)
5 Oct 43: Zemun under II Corps and tactically under German 173. Res.Div.

Footnotes

1. NARA WashDC: RG 242 (T-315 roll 1294/063, 279).
2. NARA WashDC: RG 242 (T-315 roll 1556/555).
3. [Vojnoistorijski institute] - Zbornik dokumenata i podataka o narodnooslobodilačkom ratu jugoslovenskih naroda, Tom V/18, p.548.
4. NARA WashDC: RG 242 (T-314 roll 562/208).
5. NARA WashDC: RG 242 (T-315 roll 2155/483.
6. [Vojnoistorijski institute] - Zbornik dokumenata i podataka o narodnooslobodilačkom ratu jugoslovenskih naroda, Tom IV/20, p.817.
7. NARA WashDC: RG 242 (T-314 microfilm - XV. Gebirgskorps KTB u. Anlagen).
8. NARA WashDC: RG 242 (T-315 roll 1535/010).
9. NARA WashDC: RG 242 (T-314 roll 562/088); (T-821 roll 278/373); Narodne novine issue for 10.01.43).
10. Zbornik IHRP Dalmacije, Tom 4, p.889; Narodne novine issue for 18.02.43.
11. NARA WashDC: RG 242 (T-315 roll 1556/555).
12. [Vojnoistorijski institute] - Zbornik dokumenata i podataka o narodnooslobodilačkom ratu jugoslovenskih naroda, Tom IV/11, p.639; IV/20, p.817; IV/29, p.680.
13. NARA WashDC: RG 242 (T-315 roll 1555/1102).
14. [Vojnoistorijski institute] - Zbornik dokumenata i podataka o narodnooslobodilačkom ratu jugoslovenskih naroda, TomV/13, p.427; Arhiv VII, kut. 134a.
15. NARA WashDC: RG 242 (T-314 roll 560/1032); (T-315 roll 1554/470, 473).
16. NARA WashDC: RG 242 (T-314 roll 560/1032); (T-315 roll 1554/470); [Vojnoistorijski institute]. Hronologija oslobodilačke borbe naroda jugoslavije 1941-1945, p.530.
17. NARA WashDC: RG 242 (T-315 roll 535/010).
18. NARA WashDC: RG 242 (T-315 roll 535/010).
19. NARA WashDC: RG 242 (T-315 roll 2154/1382; roll 2271/422 and 1353).
20. NARA WashDC: RG 242 (T-314 roll 559/227); (T-315 roll 1554/470); Narodne novine issue for 30.01.43.
21. NARA WashDC: RG 242 (T-314 roll 559/227); (T-315 roll 1554/470).
22. [Vojnoistorijski institute] - Zbornik dokumenata i podataka o narodnooslobodilačkom ratu jugoslovenskih naroda, Tom V.
23. NARA WashDC: RG 242 (T-315 roll 2271/422); Narodne novine issue for 30.01.43.
24. NARA WashDC: RG 242 (T-315 roll 1554/470).
25. NARA WashDC: RG 242 (T-315 roll 1554/470); [Vojnoistorijski institute] - Zbornik dokumenata i podataka o narodnooslobodilačkom ratu jugoslovenskih naroda, Tom V/20, p.775.
26. NARA WashDC: RG 242 (T-315 roll 1554/470); MINORS general staff order dated 20.07.43.
27. NARA WashDC: RG 242 (T-315 roll 535/010).