Siege of Turjak | |||||||
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Part of World War II in Yugoslavia | |||||||
Turjak castle in flames following the battle, 19 September 1943 | |||||||
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Belligerents | |||||||
Slovene Partisans |
Former Anti-Communist Volunteer Militia (MVAC) Slovene Chetniks | ||||||
Units involved | |||||||
Prešern Brigade |
White Guard (Former MVAC) Civic Guard (Former MVAC) Legion of Death (Former MVAC) Blue Guard (Chetniks) | ||||||
Strength | |||||||
650–700 | |||||||
Casualties and losses | |||||||
Unknown | 20–30 killed | ||||||
115–1,000 POWs killed in aftermath |
The siege of Turjak or Battle of Turjak (Slovene: bitka za Turjak) was fought between 14 and 19 September 1943 at the Turjak Castle between the Slovene Partisans and the combined forces of Slovene former units of the Anti-Communist Volunteer Militia (MVAC) and Slovene Chetniks. The battle followed the Partisan victory at Battle of Grčarice. Partisans encircled the Turjak castle on 14 September and laid siege to the castle after the defenders refused to surrender. The siege ended on 19 September with a Partisan victory, in part due to the heavy weapons that they had acquired from Italian forces.[1]