Bregalnitsa–Strumica operation

Bregalnitsa–Strumica operation
Part of World War II in Yugoslavia
Date October 8 – November 14, 1944 Location Bregalnica, Strumica Result Allied victory
Belligerents
Bulgaria Macedonian Partisans	Germany
Commanders and leaders
(until Nov. 1) Asen Sirakov (from Nov. 1)	Helmut Friebe
Units involved
4th Army 42,494 men 85 guns 180 mortars NLA 50th NLA Division 51st NLA Division	22nd Infantry Division
Casualties and losses
564 dead 1030 wounded 36 missing	35 000 dead or wounded[citation needed]

The Bregalnitsa–Strumica operation (Bulgarian: Брегалнишко-Струмишка операция) was an offensive operation of Bulgarian Army during World War II. It was held by Fourth Bulgarian army from October 15 to November 14, 1944, and was aimed to secure the left flank of the First Bulgarian Army, blocking the way for retreat of the German group armies 'E' from Greece.^[1]

The onslaught of the Army began on October 15. After breaking the enemy resistance, its forces entered Kocani, and later seized the region of Štip. This allowed them to go in pursuit of German troops retreating to the valley of the river Vardar. On November 10, it took control over Veles and three days later assisted the First Bulgarian Army in the Stratsin-Kumanovo operation to take Skopje.

See also[]

• Stratsin–Kumanovo operation
• Kosovo operation
• Niš operation

Citations[]