Operation Gama

The Operation Gama was a joint Axis operation against the Yugoslav Partisans and their sympathisers in eastern Herzegovina from August to September 1943.

Operation Gama
Part of World War II in Yugoslavia

August Schmidhuber, commander of 7th SS division, Todor Perović, doctor of Trebinja Corps, unknown German officer and Milorad Vidačič commander of Trebinja Corps during Operation Gama.
Date17 August–19 September 1943.
Location
Eastern Herzegovina, Independent State of Croatia
Result Tactical Axis victory
Belligerents

Nazi Germany

Chetniks
Kingdom of Italy		 Yugoslav Partisans
Commanders and leaders
Schutzstaffel August Schmidhuber
Chetniks Milorad Vidačić
Chetniks Petar Samardžić		 Yugoslav Partisans Vlado Šegrt
Units involved
7th SS Volunteer Mountain Division Prinz Eugen
Chetniks Trebinje Corps
Chetniks Nevesinje Chetniks
Kingdom of Italy 18th Infantry Division "Messina"
Kingdom of Italy 32nd Infantry Division "Marche"
Croatian Home Guard		 Yugoslav Partisans 10th Herzegovina brigade

Operation

On 17 August 1943 two battalions of 7th SS division, five battalions of Italian divisions "Messina" and "Marche", one battalion of Croatian Home Guard and three brigades of Chetnik Trebinja Corps started operation in Herzegovina with aim of encircling and destroying 10th Herzegovina brigade. According to monthly report of the 7th SS division in Nevesinje, Petar Samardžić collaborated with Germans against the Partisans. The Chetniks were proven to be reliable in fightings against the Partisans. In Gacko 7th SS division recruited around 150 local Chetniks to fight the Partisans. Either in 18 or 19 September Axis managed to temporarily encircle 10th Herzegovina brigade around Bileća, however Herzegovina brigade managed to retreat towards Gacko. On 18 September 1,200 Partisans were advancing towards Bileća from the north, but were driven back by German forces and 800 Chetniks.

References

  1. 1 2 Hronologija narodnooslobodilačkog rata, strana 526
  2. ↑ "Mjesečni izvještaj 7. SS divizije XV brdskom korpusu za avgust 1943, NAW T314, roll 554, ff. 1269:". Im Bezirk Nevesinje arbeitet der Cetnikführer Samardzic im Kampf gegen die Banditen sehr gut mit den deutschen Kdo.–Stellen zusammen. Bei den Kämpfen gegen die Bande des Vlado Segrt vom 30.8.– bis 1.9. haben sich die dortigen Cetniks als zuverlässig und standfest erwiesen.
  3. ↑ Dnevni izvještaj 7. SS divizije XV brdskom korpusu od 1.9.1943, NAW T314, roll 556, ff. 829-830
  4. ↑ Izveštaj 15. brdskog korpusa od 18.09.1943. godine