Sarajevo Operation


The Sarajevo Operation was an operation by the Yugoslav Partisan Army which led to the liberation of Sarajevo and Central Bosnia in March-April 1945.

The Battle

The German defense plan for Yugoslavia of 22 February 1945 had named Sarajevo as a fortified city, which could only be abandoned by direct permission from Adolf Hitler.
By 20 March, the failure of Operation Spring Awakening and the successful offensive of the Yugoslav 4th Army in Lika, made holding Sarajevo pointless. The retreat was ordered, with 3000 wounded German soldiers from the Sarajevo hospital going first.
Interception of Yugoslav wireless communications had revealed to the Germans that the general attack was planned for 28 March. In order to secure their retreat routes, the Germand Army carried out the Berggeist, Maigewitter and Osterglocke Operations.
On 28 March 1945, the Yugoslav Army launched their attack. Under command of the Operational HQ for Liberation of Sarajevo were the 2nd, 3rd and 5th Corps of the Yugoslav army, supported by the 11th and 13th Krajina and 18th Central Bosnian Brigade, an Artillery Brigade and a Tank Company. Overall commander was the commander of the 2nd Corps Radovan Vukanović. Sarajevo and its surrounding areas was defended by German and NDH forces under command of the German 21st Mountain Corps.
After heavy fighting, the city of Sarajevo was liberated on 6 April.
During the pursuit of the enemy, Yugoslav units liberated Visoko, Kakanj and on 10 April Busovača, which concluded the Sarajevo operation.

Order of battle

Axis