The Battle of Neretva (Bitka na Neretvi) (Bitka na Neretvi)

THE BATTLE ON THE RIVER NERETVA

In early 1943 Axis armies were struggling on all fronts.

German command was afraid that Allies forces willl land in the Balkans.

Invasion was expected to take place in Yugoslavia.

Initially in Bosnia, still independant and supported by partisan troops.

To prevent that Hitler ordered total occupation of whole Yugoslavia and elimination of Tito's partisans.

German and Italian forces were supported by Yugoslav formations fighting communist partisans.

Pro-nazi factions of Ustashas wearing black SS uniforms and Chetniks fighting for their exiled monarch.

The offensive campaign of all those forces was called:

THE BATTLE OF NERETVA

Chetniks:Yugoslav guerrilla forces shake hands with the Nazi army

Ustashas(Croatian): wears a black SS uniform

Long live the Republic of Yugoslavia! Long live!

Long live Yugoslavia!

Long live Comrade Tito!

Long live Yugoslavia!

May you win

That's right, closer, closer. Put you hands on the sister, that's right.

attention!

- Hey, photographer! - What is it?

- Shall I bow down so you don't cut off my head? - Stand straight!

Smile! Look at me!

Brothers! Nations of Yugoslavia.

Serbs, Macedonians, Croats,

Slovenians, Montenegrins and Muslims.

Let's unite to defend our republic.

Long live our allies, the Soviet Union, England and USA.

Long live AVNOJ!

Long live Tito!

Dear Sir! E Army is ready

General Alexander von Leer Commander of Army Group E

Gentlemen, General. Attention!

Mr. General, the division commanders are waiting...

to be given duties. - Good morning, gentlemen.

Gentlemen!

You all know the "Weiss" plan very well.

The Fuhrer's headquarters have given orders to start the military operations.

We only have 24 hours.

We will attack tomorrow morning

So gentlemen, here in the middle is the partisan area.

Let's start on the east.

You, colonel Reichtal, attack with the division in the middle.

The Anacker platoon and the 117th division will be with you.

Colonel Miilleneisen, your division will attack from the west.

The objective of the attack is here and here.

The Italian divisions and 18,000 Chetniks will come from the south.

You, colonel Krinzer, will strike with the division and the Ustashas from the north

directly into the middle of Tito's state.

I understand, Mr. general.

- Are your squads ready? - Not yet, Mr. general.

We will take the positions till 20.30.

That is all. Do you want to smoke a cigarette?

Tito will have to defend himself on four front lines,

if he will want to save several thousand wounded.

That's why he will try to retain his position.

Which is good for us.

Now we have the final opportunity to get rid of all the partisans.

- You mean an invasion? - That's right.

You all know about the British and American plans for the invasion on the Balkan.

When we get rid of the partisans all of the Balkan will be in German hands...

and the allies will have to think twice.

Thank you very much. Yes, my dear gentlemen!

This war is not about soldier against soldier.

This is...

How do you call it, Kanzer?

- War into the back. - That's right, war into the back.

War against children and civilians.

Fuehrer's order is there should be no indulgence and no captives!

- Mr. General, the Italians... - Yes, let the Italians come.

One more thing, gentlemen

Don't forget that each partisan's life that you spare...

can avenge against you next time with a hand grenade...

or a shot from a gun.

That is all. I wish you luck gentlemen!

Krinzer, it will be the toughest for you. Do what you can.

Oh, general! How are you, fine?

General Morelli of Italy

If you want I can repeat the operation plan for you.

Good day, friends!

Let's go down Got there!

Hurry up! Come on guys

Machine guns on the mules! Quick!

Faster, boys!

Are you okay, gentlemen?

Commander!

Excuse me, commander. Where are they taking us? This doesn't look good.

Good? The worst is yet to come.

We will be the first attacking the partisans on their own territory.

Sorry, but why?

That's how it will he. It won't be easy.

This war means more to them then life and we are strangers here.

There is the colonel! Captain Riva! Come here please.

Commander!

Hurry up, we're late. We must be in Prozor before night falls.

Yes sir

Horst, report our position!

Anton one, Anton one, come in!

Lion two speaking. We have reached position 4.

May God he with you, Chetniks!

Acclaim! Acclaim!

Leader of the Chetniks

Brother Chetniks, listen to me! The time has come for us to draw the swords.

Yes, the moment of decision is before us.

My soul is groaning and shivering when I think about the victims...

but it is a honorable thing to fight to the last drop of blood for the king and the homeland.

With the help of the German forces we will deal a lethal blow to them.

To these jackals and fake patriots!

Tanks, divisions of a mighty army are with us.

With God's help, brother Chetniks...

let us get ready to ram a hawthorn pole into their savage hearts.

Tito's head will fall at my feet

- Kill communists!! - Attack!

Report here! Report here!

The congress of partisan doctors has ended!

Two more brigades founded in Slovenia!

Report here! Report here!

General fight against typhus!

Report here! Dr, Marija and the whole scene with the sick!

It's on fire, run!

Run! go out!

Evacuate to the other side Find someone to help quickly, the other side

They will kill us all!

- Comrades, open up! - Help me!

Run for your lives!

Follow me, typhus people! Flee from the city!

Follow my voice. Over here!

Here!

Lie down! Hide yourself!

Forward!

Horst, infantry into assault!

Horst

- They're not responding. - Call them again!

Berta, come in. Berta, come in.

Berta, come in. Berta, come in.

Tell the 2nd regiment to reinforce the left wing.

Tanks move forward!

The 2nd regiment should reinforce the left wing.

Left wing, at the same time!

Martin, shorten the effective range! The tanks approaching.

Fire with the artillery without a break.

I understand! There is no retreat!

We musn't withdraw, not even for a single meter.

On enemy tanks and infantry...

Fire!

Put me through to the General in person.

Yes, Colonel Krinzer speaking.

Not yet, General. The resistance is very strong.

We can't break the resistance today but we will break through tomorrow.

Thank you! over!

Fire!

For the homeland, forward!

Fire!

Load!

Vuko, Vuko!

Call my brother, Novak.

Shoot!

Fire!

Understood!

The headquarters are giving an order to retreat towards Bihac.

Which means that the Germans have broken through the front line.

- or Somewhere in the other sector. - Yes.

Hello! Call Martin!

Martin!

The headquarters are ordering a retreat, do you understand?

- I'm not retreating - Do you understand, that we should retreat!

I don't want to! Go into counter-attack. Attack!

- What's the response? - Counterattack the enemy!

Martin! Hey, Martin listen!

I am going to the Slovenian because he doesn't want to fulfil the order.

- You should prepare the brigade retreat! - And you should stay with the artillery!

- Don't tell her! - Vuko. - Don't tell, Damir...

Vuko, my brother

I'm sorry Novak. I must get to Martin as soon as possible.

We can't fight head-on, because our forces would quickly evaporate.

The enemy has technical, numerical superiority and is superior in general.

The headquarters have reached a decision, comrades...

that we leave the free territory together with the wounded and the people.

We will do what the enemy least expects;

we will move into counterattack...

continue towards the Neretva river and forward to the east.

In other words - we will move into a several hundred kilometer run.

One who has 4,000 wounded along doesn't run, comrade Vuka.

Doesn't run, but ties his own hands.

Ties his own hands... What will happen to the partisan mobility if we burden ourselves with...

the typhus people, women and children?

But Vuka, we must act primarily as humans.

Who of us, has the right to to jeopardize the fate of our fight...

because of the wounded?

- I only ask you that. - The human inside us has that right.

You must understand, the path to freedom must be pure.

I'm not in favor of mercy that leads the revolution to suicide.

Ask the wounded that question, revolution or them?

They will all say that the revolution is more important.

That's the reason why they're going with us and we will defend them till the very end.

There is no dilemma for me here.

Stole will explain to you the basic plan of the operation.

Comrades

By order of the headquarters and comrade Tito...

my division and your self- dependent brigade Ivan...

with the assistance of the striking divisions, that are covering our flanks...