Battle of Kupres (1942)

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Battle of Kupres
Part of World War II in Yugoslavia
Kupres (NDH)
Kupres (Bosnia and Herzegovina)
Date28 July – 19 August 1942
Location
Result

Independent State of Croatia victory

Belligerents
Axis :
Flag of Independent State of Croatia.svg Independent State of Croatia
Allies :
Yugoslav Partisans flag 1945.svg Partisans
Commanders and leaders
Flag of Independent State of Croatia.svg Franjo Šimić
Flag of Independent State of Croatia.svg Rafael Boban
Yugoslav Partisans flag 1945.svg Sreten Žujović
Units involved

Ustase symbol.svg Ustaše Militia

CroatianTrefoil.svg 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 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.

Contents

Background

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

Yugoslav Partisans flag 1945.svg Yugoslav Partisans 11/12 August 1942, 13 battalions with around 2,100 men [2]

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

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

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

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References

  1. Leković 1965, p. 427.
  2. 1 2 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)