Operation Schneesturm MTO (id:#58271)

Lone Canuck Publishing (Prinz Eugen Pack ID: PE5)   [next]   [previous]

Põgari, Yugoslavia 1943-12-24 (3 others)

Overview:

With the success of Operation Kugleblitz, the Germans' sweep of central Bosnia continued as enemy forces that broke out to the west were not given the opportunity to consolidate. The 'Prinz Eugen' Gebirgsjagers moved into an assigned position near Pogari. On December 24, thick fog covered the dark forested slopes and the heavy rain turned to snow covering the terrain in a thick blanket of white. The 14th SS-Gebirgs Regiment was forced to deploy its platoons into small islands along the Krivaja stream, each with a limited filed of visison and unable to provide mutual support. The Alpine Paltoon set out to set up a forward screen in an attempt to make contact with the enemy forward of the main position. The sounds of gunfire closely followed by screams broke the silence. The Alpine Platoon, which had been bypassed by enemy forces, was now attempting to withdraw, fighting a delaying action back to the bridge across the Krivaja. A blocking position was quickly established on the west bank protecting the bridge. Soon after the last stragglers arrived, the partisans, urged on by their commissars to capture the bridge, launched an assault.

Defender: German (SS) (Alpine Zug/SS-Gebirgs Regiment and III/14 SS-Gebirgs Regiment)  

Errata (source)