Attack on Šabac

During the Axis invasion of Yugoslavia the German forces occupied Šabac on 13 April 1941.[1] Draža Mihailović and group of Yugoslav officers gathered on Ravna gora in May 1941 and marked the beginning of the establishment of Chetnik detachments of Yugoslav Army as the earliest organized resistance movement in Axis occupied Yugoslavia.[2] The Yugoslav Communists (illegal political party in Yugoslavia since 1921) decided to start with armed resistance on 4 July 1941, three days after they received an order from the Comintern and a day after Stalin issued his order on 3 July 1941.[3]

Dragoslav Račić, the commander of all rebel units during the attack on Šabac

On 25 August Račić and Jerković composed and sent a letter to Draža Mihailović asking for his approval for joint action of Chetniks and Partisans against the Axis forces, emphasizing that there is atmosphere of population of the region for united struggle against the occupiers.[4] Mihailović did not approve the attack on Šabac since rebel forces were still weak and because the German garrison was well prepared for the attack, emphasizing that it is irrational to capture Šabac without being able to capture the territory on the left bank of river Sava.[5][6] Nevertheless, on 28 August Račić and Jerković agreed to attack Šabac together with Račić being the main commander of all units.[7] On 1 September the Chetnik Cer Detachment and Partisan Podrinje Detachment issued a joint proclamation emphasizing their intention to struggle against the occupying forces together.[8]

The rebel forces were composed of three different factions:

• Yugoslav Army in the Fatherland forces
• Communist controlled Partisan forces
• Chetniks of Kosta Pećanac

Račić was commander of all forces attacking Šabac, the Chetniks, the Partisans and detachment of Pećanac Chetniks commanded by Budimir Ilić – Cerski.[9] The deputy commander was Nebojša Jerković while political commessair was Danilo Lekić Španac.[10] The Chetnik forces had about 1,500 soldiers while the communist Partisan forces had about 1,000 soldiers, while Pećanac Chetniks commanded by Cerski had about 500 men.[11][12] Two units of the Serbian State Guard were dispatched by General Milan Nedić to break the siege of Šabac but Račić and Jerković convinced them to join the rebels.[13]

The forces of the Yugoslav Army in the Fatherland consisted of Cer Detachment commanded by Račić,[14] and composed of the following companies:[15]

• Cer company commanded by the Lieutenant Ratko Teodosijević
• Čokešina company
• Mačva company commanded by Lieutenant Nikola Sokić
• Machine gun company commanded by Lieutenant Voja Tufegdžić
• Prnjavor company
• Martinović-Zečević unit commanded by Vlada Zečević and Ratko Martinović

The communist forces were composed of the following NOP Detachments: Podrinjski (or Mačvanski), Posavski and Valjevski.[16][17]

The Axis forces in Šabac had 3rd battalion of the 724th Infantry regiment of 704th Division and 5th company of 750th regiment of 718th Division.[18]

Veselin Misita, commander of Chetnik Jadar Detachment who led the capture of Loznica on 31 August 1941

The joint Chetnik and Partisan forces in other parts of the region of Mačva started their cooperation and scored several important victories against the Axis forces. In the Battle of Loznica waged on 30 August 1941, the rebels commanded by Chetnik commander Veselin Misita captured Loznica from Axis forces.[19] On 3 September 1941 the rebels captured Bogatić from Axis occupying forces with both resistance groups claiming credits for this capture.[20] After the Capture of Banja Koviljača by the rebel forces on 6 September 1941, most of the region around Šabac was under rebel control and the town was almost completely blocked by the rebel forces.[21]

To avoid surrender, the German garrisons in Užice and Požega were retreated from these towns swiftly captured by Chetniks right after the German retreat.

On the other hand, already besieged German garrison in Šabac organized extensive preparations for rebel attack, including cutting all corn fields and woods around the town, securing their command buildings, preparation of the shelters made of bags with sand, erecting barbwire barricades and securing the entrances to the city. The German forces even destroyed some houses which they thought could serve as barricade for attacking rebels.[22]

The exact date for rebel attack on Šabac was delayed two times, it was first set for 10 September and then for 17 September, and the rebel leaders agreed on their meeting in Štitar held on 19 September 1941 to set the final date for attack on Šabac to be 21 September.[23] That was the same day when the popular Šabac Fair was traditionally organized on the day of Orthodox religious holiday of the Nativity of Mary.[24]

On 21 September 1941 the rebels commanded by Dragoslav Račić attacked Šabac.[25] The artillery fire from Beća's hill in 11pm signaled the beginning of the rebel attack.[26] The rebels planned to cut the German garrison from their retreat route across the bridge on river Sava and capture them all in Šabac.[27]

During the night the fighting took place on the periferry of the Šabac, while only small group of rebels managed to enter the city center, but could not hold it and retreated early in the morning of 22 September together with all other rebel units.[28] The rebels did not repeat their attacks during the day on 22 September.[29] During the night, on 22 September the rebels again attacked Šabac, again in 11pm, almost exactly the same way like the night before.[30] The Partisans attacked toward central part of the town known as Kamičak, while Chetniks attacked from army barracks and cemetery near bridge.[31] Although significant parts of the town was captured by the rebels, they failed to defeat German garrison until the dawn when they again retreated, again without repeating the attack during the day on 23 September.[32] Further plans for attack were halted after the arrival of the German 342nd Infantry Division when joint command decided to cancel further attacks and prepare for the defence in their positions.[33] The 342nd Infantry Division, under command of Generalleutnant (Major General) Dr. Walter Hinghofer, entered Šabac on 23 September.[34] According to some indications, the Partisans retreated from Šabac on 24 September 1941 while Račić and his Chetniks continued with the battle until 26 September 1941.[35]