Case Black

"Battle of Sutjeska" redirects here. For the film, see Battle of Sutjeska (film).
Case Black
Part of World War II in Yugoslavia

Map of Case Black, superimposed on modern-day borders
Date15 May – 16 June 1943
Location
Northwestern Montenegro and southeastern Bosnia and Herzegovina, occupied Yugoslavia
Result

Inconclusive

  • Axis failure despite heavy Partisan casualties
Belligerents
Axis:
 Italy
 Germany
 Croatia
 Bulgaria[1][2][3]		 Allies:
 Yugoslav Partisans
Commanders and leaders
Nazi Germany Alexander Löhr
Nazi Germany Rudolf Lüters		 Yugoslav Partisans Josip Broz Tito (WIA)
Yugoslav Partisans Velimir Terzić
Yugoslav Partisans Koča Popović
Yugoslav Partisans Peko Dapčević
Yugoslav Partisans Vlado Šegrt
Yugoslav Partisans Pavle Jakšić
Yugoslav Partisans Radovan Vukanović
Yugoslav Partisans Sava Kovačević †
Strength
127,000 men
300+ aircraft		 Around 22,148 men[4]
Casualties and losses
Nazi Germany 583 killed, 1,760 wounded, 425 missing[5][6]
Fascist Italy 290 killed, 541 wounded, 1,502 missing[7]
Independent State of Croatia 40 killed, 166 wounded, 205 missing[5][6]
Total casualties:
913 killed, 2,467 wounded, 2,132 missing[5][7]		 1/3 killed and wounded[4][8]
(6,391[8]–7,543[9] killed and wounded)
2,537 pro-Partisan civilian sympathizers executed[10][11]

Case Black (German: Fall Schwarz), also known as the Fifth Enemy Offensive (Serbo-Croatian Latin: Peta neprijateljska ofanziva) in Yugoslav historiography and often identified with its final phase, the Battle of the Sutjeska (Serbo-Croatian Latin: Bitka na Sutjesci pronounced [bîtka na sûtjɛst͡si]) was a joint attack by the Axis taking place from 15 May to 16 June 1943, which aimed to destroy the main Yugoslav Partisan force, near the Sutjeska river in south-eastern Bosnia. The failure of the offensive marked a turning point for Yugoslavia during World War II. It was also the last major German-Italian joint operation against the partisans.[12]

The operation immediately followed Case White which had failed in accomplishing the same objectives: to eliminate the central Partisan formations and capture their commander, Josip Broz Tito.

  1. ^ J. B. Tito, The Yugoslav Road, 99
  2. ^ Slobodan Nešović, Yugoslav-Bulgarian Relations, 1941-1945, 95
  3. ^ Tomasevich 1975, p. 199.
  4. ^ a b Kučan 1996.
  5. ^ a b c Report of the commander of German troops in Croatia from the 20th of june 1943 (in Croatian), Collection of Documents and Information on the National Liberation War of the Peoples of Yugoslavia, Volume XII (german documents), book 3, page 94
  6. ^ a b Report of the commander of German troops in Croatien (Befehlshaber der Deutschen Truppen in Kroatien), June 20th 43, National Archive Washington T314, roll 560, frames 750-751
  7. ^ a b Cloutier, Patrick (2013). Regio Esercito: The Italian Royal Army in Mussolini's Wars, 1935-1943. lulu.com. p. 182. ISBN 978-1105074011.
  8. ^ a b Ante Cuvalo, The A to Z of Bosnia and Herzegovina, 237
  9. ^ Hoare 2006, p. 341.
  10. ^ Andric, Milan (1964). Hronologija oslobodilačke borbe naroda jugoslavije. Beograd: Vojnoistorijski institut. p. 471.
  11. ^ National Archive Washington T315, roll 1294, frames 537-545
  12. ^ Tomasevich 1975, p. 255.