Macedoine Balkanique MTO (id:#58096)

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Knjazevac, Serbia 1944-10-10 (13 others)

Overview:

"Balkan Medley" -- The Romanian insurrection and entrance into the war on the Allied side in August 1944 and the Bulgarian declaration of war in September 1944 opened the Balkans to the Red Army. The Germans sought to keep open a corridor in the eastern areas of Yugoslavia to allow their units in Greece and Albania to withdraw northwards. SS Division “Prinz Eugen” was withdrawn from the struggle against partisans and tasked with defending the approaches to the city of Nis, an important crossroads on the road of Sofia. On October 1st, the Soviet and Bulgarian vanguard, supported by partisans, crossed the Yugoslavian border. Two Bulgarian divisions attacked the 600 defenders of the village of Knjasevac. The German situation became desperate in spite of the reinforcement of a detachment of Waffen-SS. The garrison at Knjasevac received the order to withdraw as the Bulgarian vice tightened.

Defender: German (Marine Kompanie Bertrams and Schmidt, 3rd Festung Reserve Pioniere Stab and Div. Stab Jäger Kompanie and 3rd FlaK Battery SS Freiwillingen Div. "Prinz Eugen")  

Errata (source)