Battle of Kupres (1942)

Battle of Kupres Part of World War II in Yugoslavia Date 28 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 Allies: Partisans Commanders and leaders Franjo Šimić Rafael Boban Sreten Žujović Units involved Black Legion (c. 600 men), Croatian Home Guard, Kupres Militia 2nd, 3rd and 4th Proletarian brigade, 10th Herzegovinian Brigade, 1st Krajina Brigade, 3rd Krajina NOP Detachment Strength 1,400–1,500 men 2,100–3,000 men Location of Kupres within the Independent State of Croatia

The Battle of Kupres (Croatian: Bitka za Kupres) was a battle fought in 1942 during World War II in Yugoslavia 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.^[1]

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 Strike Brigades to Kupres, whose capture was vital for further actions in the valley of River Vrbas.^[2]

The battle

Yugoslav Partisans 11/12 August 1942, 13 battalions with around 2,100 men^[3]

• 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^[4] - 3,000^[5] 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^[3]

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

14 August 1942, around 1,500 armed men^[6]

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

References

1. http://www.axishistory.com/index.php?id=8053
2. Mišo Leković: Ofanziva proleterskih brigada u leto 1942, Vojnoistorijski Institut, 1965, p. 427 (Serbian)
3. Davor Marijan: Borbe za Kupres 1942., Zagreb 1999., p. 104-105, 200 (Croatian)
4. Mišo Leković: Ofanziva proleterskih brigada u leto 1942, Vojnoistorijski Institut, 1965, p. 458 (Serbian)
5. Davor Marijan: Borbe za Kupres 1942., Zagreb 1999., p. 125 (Croatian)
6. Davor Marijan: Borbe za Kupres 1942., Zagreb 1999., p.117 (Croatian)