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Battle of Loznica (1941)
Encyclopedia
The battle to Loznica was fought on 31 August 1941 between Chetniks
and Germans in World War II
. Chetnik attack on the Germans in Loznica followed immediately after the German refusal to surrender. During these struggles was killed Chetnik commander Lt. Col. Veselin Misita, who led the attack on the Germans in Loznica. After a one-day battle, the Germans were forced to surrender, the Chetniks captured 93 soldiers, who were the first German prisoners in occupied Europe, and Loznica was the first liberated town in the occupied Kingdom of Yugoslavia
and occupied Europe
. The attack on the Germans in Loznica marked the beginning of the uprising Serbian people against the occupying forces in Serbia. The uprising against the occupying forces, began the first Chetnik action by the Germans, to block the main roads leading from Šabac
and Valjevo
and the river Drina
. After the liberation of Loznica, followed by a Chetnik attack on the Germans at the Banja Koviljača
, Krupanj
, mine Zajača and the village Zavlaka
. Freed was the whole middle part of the valley Drina
River, a Serbian rebel actions against the Germans expand in the future to Šumadija
, Mačva
and valley Western Morava.
in 1938 immigrated to the Kingdom of Yugoslavia
. He was employed as a mining engineer in Serbia, and later joined the British intelligence service who had a branch office in Belgrade
. After the invasion of Yugoslavia
joined the resistance movement known as Yugoslav Army in the Fatherland led by Draža Mihailović
. He was evacuated together with the British and American mission on May 29 1944 during the in operation Allied airlift
. Commander of operations against the Germans in Loznica was elected Lieutenant Colonel Veselin Misita, who possessed the highest rank. Lt. Col. Veselin Misita commanded Jadar Chetnik detachment, which is in possession of an approximately 1,600 men under arms. The attack was planned to participate 500 Chetniks, while other forces have guarded the background. In Loznica were about 100 Germans from the XI Company, III Battalion 738 Infantry Regiment, who were well established in the city center, in the buildings the cultural center, gymnasium and city pub where they set up machine-gun nest. In Banja Koviljača
, which is located near Loznica there were 300 German soldiers from the III Battalion 738 Infantry Regiment. Because of those forces, the attack on Loznica had to be carried out very quickly.
Colonel Draža Mihailović
, who approved the further expansion and operation of the uprising against the Germans in the Drina valley. After the liberation of Loznica Jadar Chetnik detachment continued actions against the Germans in the Drina valley and 1 September 1941 attack German 3 Battalion 738 Infantry Regiment in Banja Koviljača
most powerful German stronghold in the Drina valley, which after several days of fighting forced to withdraw. Loznica was the first liberated town in the occupied Kingdom of Yugoslavia
and in occupied Europe
during World War II.
Chetniks
Chetniks, or the Chetnik movement , were Serbian nationalist and royalist paramilitary organizations from the first half of the 20th century. The Chetniks were formed as a Serbian resistance against the Ottoman Empire in 1904, and participated in the Balkan Wars, World War I, and World War II...
and Germans in World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. Chetnik attack on the Germans in Loznica followed immediately after the German refusal to surrender. During these struggles was killed Chetnik commander Lt. Col. Veselin Misita, who led the attack on the Germans in Loznica. After a one-day battle, the Germans were forced to surrender, the Chetniks captured 93 soldiers, who were the first German prisoners in occupied Europe, and Loznica was the first liberated town in the occupied Kingdom of Yugoslavia
Kingdom of Yugoslavia
The Kingdom of Yugoslavia was a state stretching from the Western Balkans to Central Europe which existed during the often-tumultuous interwar era of 1918–1941...
and occupied Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
. The attack on the Germans in Loznica marked the beginning of the uprising Serbian people against the occupying forces in Serbia. The uprising against the occupying forces, began the first Chetnik action by the Germans, to block the main roads leading from Šabac
Šabac
Šabac is a city and municipality in western Serbia, along the Sava river, in the historic region of Mačva. It is the administrative center of the Mačva District. The city has a population of 52,822 , while population of the municipality is 115,347...
and Valjevo
Valjevo
Valjevo is a city and municipality located in western Serbia. It is the center of the Kolubara District, which includes five other smaller municipalities with a total population of almost 180,000 people...
and the river Drina
Drina
The Drina is a 346 kilometer long river, which forms most of the border between Bosnia and Herzegovina and Serbia. It is the longest tributary of the Sava River and the longest karst river in the Dinaric Alps which belongs to the Danube river watershed...
. After the liberation of Loznica, followed by a Chetnik attack on the Germans at the Banja Koviljača
Banja Koviljaca
Banja Koviljača is a popular tourist town and spa situated in the Loznica municipality, Serbia. It is the oldest spa in Serbia. Banja Koviljača is located on the west border of Serbia by the Drina river, 137 kilometres from Belgrade. The population of the town is 6,340 people .-Name:Banja...
, Krupanj
Krupanj
Krupanj is a town and municipality located in the Mačva District of Serbia. The municipality has a total population of 17,398, while the town has a population of 4,455 .-Geography:...
, mine Zajača and the village Zavlaka
Zavlaka
Zavlaka is a village in Serbia. It is situated in the Krupanj municipality, in the Mačva District of Central Serbia. The village had a Serb ethnic majority and a population of 962 in 2002.-Historical population:*1948: 1,487*1953: 1,547...
. Freed was the whole middle part of the valley Drina
Drina
The Drina is a 346 kilometer long river, which forms most of the border between Bosnia and Herzegovina and Serbia. It is the longest tributary of the Sava River and the longest karst river in the Dinaric Alps which belongs to the Danube river watershed...
River, a Serbian rebel actions against the Germans expand in the future to Šumadija
Šumadija
Šumadija is a geographical region in Serbia. The area is heavily covered with forests, hence the name...
, Mačva
Macva
Mačva is a geographical region in Serbia, mostly situated in the northwest of Central Serbia. It is located in a fertile plain between the Sava and Drina rivers. The chief town of this region is Šabac. The modern Mačva District of Serbia is named after the region, although the region of Mačva...
and valley Western Morava.
Meeting at the monastery Tronoša
The decision to attack the Germans in Loznica and booted the uprising in the Drina valley was made at a meeting in the monastery Tronoša on 30 August 1941. The conference was attended by Lieutenant-Colonel Veselin Misita, an artillery captain first class Dragoslav Račić, Lieutenant George Bojić, Lt. Lazar Savić and Ratko Martinović, Lt. Nikola Gordić, and a member of British intelligence Herbart Muller. Muller was Austrian Jew who is after the AnschlussAnschluss
The Anschluss , also known as the ', was the occupation and annexation of Austria into Nazi Germany in 1938....
in 1938 immigrated to the Kingdom of Yugoslavia
Kingdom of Yugoslavia
The Kingdom of Yugoslavia was a state stretching from the Western Balkans to Central Europe which existed during the often-tumultuous interwar era of 1918–1941...
. He was employed as a mining engineer in Serbia, and later joined the British intelligence service who had a branch office in Belgrade
Belgrade
Belgrade is the capital and largest city of Serbia. It is located at the confluence of the Sava and Danube rivers, where the Pannonian Plain meets the Balkans. According to official results of Census 2011, the city has a population of 1,639,121. It is one of the 15 largest cities in Europe...
. After the invasion of Yugoslavia
Invasion of Yugoslavia
The Invasion of Yugoslavia , also known as the April War , was the Axis Powers' attack on the Kingdom of Yugoslavia which began on 6 April 1941 during World War II...
joined the resistance movement known as Yugoslav Army in the Fatherland led by Draža Mihailović
Draža Mihailovic
Dragoljub "Draža" Mihailović was a Yugoslav Serbian general during World War II...
. He was evacuated together with the British and American mission on May 29 1944 during the in operation Allied airlift
Operation Halyard
Operation Halyard, also known as the Halyard Mission, was the largest Allied airlift operation behind enemy lines during World War II. A total of 512 allied airmen who had been downed over Nazi-occupied Serbia were rescued by Serbian Chetniks, led by General Draža Mihailović...
. Commander of operations against the Germans in Loznica was elected Lieutenant Colonel Veselin Misita, who possessed the highest rank. Lt. Col. Veselin Misita commanded Jadar Chetnik detachment, which is in possession of an approximately 1,600 men under arms. The attack was planned to participate 500 Chetniks, while other forces have guarded the background. In Loznica were about 100 Germans from the XI Company, III Battalion 738 Infantry Regiment, who were well established in the city center, in the buildings the cultural center, gymnasium and city pub where they set up machine-gun nest. In Banja Koviljača
Banja Koviljaca
Banja Koviljača is a popular tourist town and spa situated in the Loznica municipality, Serbia. It is the oldest spa in Serbia. Banja Koviljača is located on the west border of Serbia by the Drina river, 137 kilometres from Belgrade. The population of the town is 6,340 people .-Name:Banja...
, which is located near Loznica there were 300 German soldiers from the III Battalion 738 Infantry Regiment. Because of those forces, the attack on Loznica had to be carried out very quickly.
Battle
Exactly at midnight on 30 August 1941 rang the bells of the churches in the villages near Loznica, it was agreed signal for the start of the action. During the night they closed all access to the city. At 8.30 am, the Germans were invited by courier to surrender. The Germans were the refused the request. Since they refused to surrender, it was decided to attack the Germans at the pre-set plan. At 9 o'clock in the morning, when they rang the bells of the church in Loznica and fired seven shots from a rifle, according to previously arranged signal, was followed by an all-out assault on German positions. Chetniks went on the attack, after which they Germans surrendered, placed in the Cultural Center and Gymnasium. Lt. Col. Misita died at the forefront of their fighters, personally leading the assault and throwing grenades at the Germans who were in the bunker in front of the city pubs. After his death, Captain Bogdan Drljača and Lieutenant George Bojić took command. By night, it was all completed and all the Germans had surrendered. In fighting for the liberation of Loznica trapped were 93 Germans. Report on liberation Loznica Lt. George Bojic was sent to Ravna GoraRavna Gora
Ravna Gora is a Slavic toponym meaning flat hill. The name may refer to:-Serbia:* Ravna Gora , a highland in Serbia* Ravna Gora , a village near Ivanjica* Ravna Gora , a village near Vlasotince-Serbia and Montenegro:...
Colonel Draža Mihailović
Draža Mihailovic
Dragoljub "Draža" Mihailović was a Yugoslav Serbian general during World War II...
, who approved the further expansion and operation of the uprising against the Germans in the Drina valley. After the liberation of Loznica Jadar Chetnik detachment continued actions against the Germans in the Drina valley and 1 September 1941 attack German 3 Battalion 738 Infantry Regiment in Banja Koviljača
Banja Koviljaca
Banja Koviljača is a popular tourist town and spa situated in the Loznica municipality, Serbia. It is the oldest spa in Serbia. Banja Koviljača is located on the west border of Serbia by the Drina river, 137 kilometres from Belgrade. The population of the town is 6,340 people .-Name:Banja...
most powerful German stronghold in the Drina valley, which after several days of fighting forced to withdraw. Loznica was the first liberated town in the occupied Kingdom of Yugoslavia
Kingdom of Yugoslavia
The Kingdom of Yugoslavia was a state stretching from the Western Balkans to Central Europe which existed during the often-tumultuous interwar era of 1918–1941...
and in occupied Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
during World War II.
See also
- Yugoslav Partisans
- Yugoslav Front
- Resistance during World War IIResistance during World War IIResistance movements during World War II occurred in every occupied country by a variety of means, ranging from non-cooperation, disinformation and propaganda to hiding crashed pilots and even to outright warfare and the recapturing of towns...
- Anti-partisan operations in World War IIAnti-partisan operations in World War IIAnti-partisan operations were operations against the various resistance movements during World War II by the Axis powers...
