Battle of Kupres (1942)

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For other battles with the same name, see Battle of Kupres (disambiguation).
Battle of Kupres
Part of World War II in Yugoslavia
Kupres is located in NDH
Kupres
Kupres
Kupres (NDH)
Date28 July – 19 August 1942
Location
Kupres, Independent State of Croatia (modern-day Bosnia and Herzegovina)
Result Independent State of Croatia victory, Partisan failure to capture the town
Belligerents
Axis:
Independent State of Croatia Independent State of Croatia		 Allies:
Democratic Federal Yugoslavia Partisans
Commanders and leaders
Independent State of Croatia Franjo Šimić
Independent State of Croatia Rafael Boban		 Democratic Federal Yugoslavia Sreten Žujović
Units involved
Black Legion (c. 600 men)
Croatian Home Guard
Kupres Militia		 2nd Proletarian brigade
3rd Proletarian
4th Proletarian brigade
10th Herzegovinian Brigade
1st Krajina Brigade
3rd Krajina NOP Detachment
Strength
1,400–1,500 2,100–3,000

The Battle of Kupres (Croatian: Bitka za Kupres) was a battle fought in 1942 during World War 2 in Independent State of Croatia between the forces of the Independent State of Croatia and the Yugoslav Partisans, in and around the town of Kupres in western Bosnia. The Partisans launched three concentrated attacks against the garrison of 1,500 men during the nights of 11/12 August, 14 August and 19 August. Although outnumbered, the Black Legion, Croatian Home Guard and local militia units successfully defended the town against several Partisan brigades.

Background[]

Main article: Partisan Long March

In July 1942, the 2nd Proletarian Brigade moved on Kupres and, with the assistance of local Partisans, seized control over several villages in the vicinity. During the night of 4 August 1942 the Partisans attacked the town of Livno and captured it in the following days. The plan of the National Liberation Army Supreme Command, following the seizure of Livno, was to move the Proletarian Assault Brigades to Kupres, whose capture was vital for further actions in the valley of River Vrbas.[1]

The battle[]

Democratic Federal Yugoslavia Yugoslav Partisans 11/12 August 1942, 13 battalions with around 2,100 men[2]

  • 2nd Proletarian Brigade
  • 3rd Proletarian (Sandžak) Brigade
  • 4th Proletarian (Montenegrin) Brigade
  • 10th Herzegovinian Brigade
  • 3rd Krajina NOP Detachment

14 August 1942, 16 battalions with around 2,400[3] - 3,000[4] men

  • 2nd Proletarian Brigade
  • 3rd Proletarian (Sandžak) Brigade
  • 4th Proletarian (Montenegrin) Brigade
  • 10th Herzegovinian Brigade
  • 1st Krajina Brigade
  • 3rd Krajina NOP Detachment

 Independent State of Croatia 11/12 August 1942, in total around 1,400 men[2]

  • Black Legion
  • Kupres Militia
  • XVII Ustaša Battalion
  • 9th Artillery Battalion
  • 9th Infantry Regiment
  • 5th Gendarmerie Regiment

14 August 1942, around 1,500 armed men[5]

  • Black Legion
  • Kupres Militia
  • XVII Ustaša Battalion
  • 9th Artillery Battalion
  • 9th Infantry Regiment
  • 5th Gendarmerie Regiment
  • 14th Infantry Regiment

References[]

  1. ^ Leković 1965, p. 427.
  2. ^ a b Davor Marijan: Borbe za Kupres 1942., Zagreb 1999., p. 104-105, 200 (in Croatian)
  3. ^ Leković 1965, p. 458.
  4. ^ Davor Marijan: Borbe za Kupres 1942., Zagreb 1999., p. 125 (in Croatian)
  5. ^ Davor Marijan: Borbe za Kupres 1942., Zagreb 1999., p.117 (in Croatian)
  • (1965). Ofanziva proleterskih brigada u leto 1942 [Offensive of Proleterian Brigades in the Summer of 1942]. Belgrade, Yugoslavia: Vojnoizdavački Zavod.
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