Belgrade offensive
In August 1943, the German Wehrmacht maintained two army formations in the Balkans: Army Group E stationed in Greece and the 2nd Panzer Army operating across Yugoslavia and Albania. Army Group F headquarters under Maximilian von Weichs sat in Belgrade to coordinate these forces alongside Bulgarian and Quisling units. After the collapse of a major uprising in December 1941, anti-Axis activity in Serbia dropped significantly, leaving only about 10,000 German troops in the region by June 1944. The Allies predicted this vulnerability and began reinforcing partisan forces from Bosnia and Montenegro starting in spring 1944. By July 1944, German defenses began to crumble following the failure of Operation Draufgänger in Montenegro and Northern Albania. Three divisions of the Narodnooslobodilačka vojska Jugoslavije crossed the Ibar River to threaten main railroad lines. In response, Army Group F deployed the 1st Mountain Division to Serbia in early August, followed by the 4th SS Panzergrenadier Division from Thessaloniki. Developments in Romania during late August 1944 forced Army Group F to concentrate troops immediately in Serbia to face threats from the east. On the 1st of September 1944, Allied command launched Operation Ratweek, attacking German transport lines and installations from both ground and air. These attacks hindered troop movements, tying units to the ground and disassembling their formations. The primary objectives centered on lifting the German occupation of Serbia and seizing Belgrade as a strategic holdout in the Balkans. Commanders aimed to sever communication lines between Greece and Hungary while forcing a retreat of German forces.
Marshal Josip Broz Tito arrived in Soviet-controlled Romania on the 21st of September 1944 before flying to Moscow for a meeting with Joseph Stalin. This meeting produced an agreement concerning the participation of Bulgarian troops in operations conducted on Yugoslav territory. By the end of September, Red Army 3rd Ukrainian Front troops under Marshal Fyodor Tolbukhin concentrated at the Bulgarian-Yugoslav border. The Soviet 57th Army stationed in Vidin area coordinated with the Bulgarian 2nd Army led by General Kiril Stanchev. The Bulgarian 2nd Army included an Armored Brigade previously equipped and trained by the Wehrmacht. Three Bulgarian armies totaling around 340,000 men stood ready on the Yugoslav-Bulgarian border in early October 1944. Simultaneous operations involved the Bulgarian 2nd Army and Yugoslav XIII Army Corps engaging German anti-partisan regiments in Macedonia. The Red Army 2nd Ukrainian Front's 46th Army deployed near the Teregova river in Romania to cut rail links between Belgrade and Hungary north of Vršac. Pre-operations were coordinated directly between Soviets and Partisan commander-in-chief Tito. A joint Partisan-Soviet force liberated Belgrade on October 20 after Soviet troops crossed the border on October 1. Martial planning was coordinated evenly among command leaders through tactical cooperation that began in September 1944. These provisions allowed Bulgarian forces to engage throughout Yugoslav territory while increasing diplomatic friction. Stalin remained content to leave clearing Yugoslav territory from enemies to Tito and the Bulgarians.
Reconnaissance elements of the 75th Rifle Corps reached the Iron Gates area first, establishing contact with partisans across the Danube on the 12th of September 1944. Germans pushed partisans out of the river bank days later and launched limited attacks on Red Army elements crossing the Danube. The 75th Corps crossed the Danube earlier than planned on the 22nd of September when a German attack threatened their position. Initial success gave way to vigorous counter-attacks by the German 1st Mountain Division which pushed Soviets back to Danube shores. The 57th Army attack launched on 27 and the 28th of September brought troops in overnight to regain momentum. Divisions of the 68th and 64th Rifle Corps moved into areas from Negotin to Zaječar. On the 30th of September, Negotin was liberated after heavy fighting erupted in Zaječar. A fierce battle occurred at Rgotina village where the 223rd Division seized an important crossroad 10 kilometers north of Zaječar on the 1st of October. Another critical crossroad fell in Štubik on the 2nd of October following bitter combat. Parts of the 223rd Division and the 7th and 9th Serbian Brigade of the 23rd Division NOVJ liberated Bor on the 3rd of October. This town held a large copper mine and housed some 1,700 forced laborers mostly Jews from Hungary who were freed during the operation. By the 4th of October, German forces before the Soviet 57th Army separated into three battle groups with no contact between them. Battle group Groth held Zaječar while battle group Fisher occupied middle positions and Stettner controlled northern mountain grounds. On the 7th of October, the 5th Guards Motorized Rifle Brigade marched 120 kilometers from Negotin over Rgotina and Žagubica to Svilajnac. In twenty-four hours this brigade performed a long march-maneuver reaching the Great Morava valley on the 8th of October.
The final run toward Belgrade started on the 12th of October when all of the 4th Guards Mechanized Corps concentrated west of Topola. An auxiliary right flank attack allowed Yugoslav Partisans to reach the Danube near Boleč late evening of the 13th of October after charging through Brandenburg positions. This success split German forces into two separate groups: the Belgrade garrison to the west and a retreating battle-group in the Smederevo area. The latter consisted of the 1st Mountain Division, the 2nd Brandenburg Regiment, and elements under General Walter Stettner cut off from other units. Efforts by this group to break through and establish links resulted in fierce fighting throughout following days. The 36th Tank Brigade led an attack in the main direction with the 4th Battalion of the 4th Serbian Brigade boarded on tanks heading toward Topola. Parts of the 5th Division NOVJ attacked the Topola garrison from the west while tanks appeared suddenly from the east. After short but intense artillery bombardment, the German garrison was overrun with a joint charge. Before the 12th of October ended, the 36th Tank Brigade overran the garrison at Mladenovac, the last obstacle before Belgrade. On the 14th of October, the 4th Guards Mechanized Corps broke through enemy resistance south of Belgrade and approached the city. The Yugoslav 13th Corps advanced along roads south of the Sava River while Red Army fought on northern bank outskirts. Belgrade had been completely overrun by joint Soviet and Yugoslav forces on the 20th of October after delays caused by eliminating thousands of surrounded German troops.
Operations began on the far southern flank with an offensive by the 2nd Bulgarian Army into the Leskovac-Niš area engaging the infamous 7th SS Mountain Division Prinz Eugen. Two days later the Army defeated combined Chetniks and Serbian Frontier Guards occupying Vlasotince using its Armored Brigade as spearhead. The Bulgarian Army engaged German positions on the 8th of October at Bela Palanka reaching Vlasotince two days later. On the 12th of October the Armored Brigade took Leskovac supported by the 15th Brigade of the 47th Partisan Division. A Bulgarian reconnaissance battalion crossed the Morava probing toward Niš to begin liberation of Kosovo cutting routes north for Army Group E withdrawing from Greece. Leading units reached Kuršumlija on the 17th of October proceeding to Kuršumlijska Banja. After negotiating the Prepolac Pass with heavy losses, the Brigade occupied Podujevo on the 5th of November but could not reach Pristina until the 21st. Meanwhile Red Army 2nd Ukrainian Front's supporting 46th Army advanced attempting to outflank German Belgrade defensive position from north. Its 10th Guards Rifle Corps performed rapid assault crossings of rivers Tamiš and Tisa north of Pančevo threatening Belgrade- Novi Sad railroad. Further north the 31st Guards Rifle Corps advanced toward Petrovgrad modern-day Zrenjanin while 37th Rifle Corps crossed Tisa threatening railway between Novi Sad and Subotica.
Upon completion of the Belgrade operation by the 57th Army in November, a bridgehead in Baranja on left bank of Danube was taken causing acute crisis for German defense. The bridgehead served as platform for massive concentration of 3rd Ukrainian Front troops for Budapest offensive. Red Army 68th Rifle Corps participated in battles on Kraljevo bridgehead and Syrmian Front until mid-December before transferring to Baranja. Yugoslav 1st Army Corps pushed German forces westwards approximately 100 kilometers through Srem where Germans stabilized front in mid-December. Having lost Belgrade and Great Morava Valley, German Army Group E fought passage through mountains of Sandžak and Bosnia reaching Drava only by mid-February 1945. In Soviet propaganda this offensive listed among Stalin's ten blows alongside Budapest Offensive and East Carpathian Offensive. The Red Army Air Force Group Vitruk provided air support on Yugoslav Front until end of December. Army Group F headquarters relocated from Belgrade to Vukovar on the 5th of October as city became unstable combat zone. General Friedrich-Wilhelm Müller resumed command over frontline south of Danube while Wilhelm Schneckenburger retained north of Danube duties.
A Medal For the Liberation of Belgrade established by decree of Presidium Supreme Soviet on the 19th of June 1945 awarded to 70,000 Soviet and allied service personnel who took part in battle. Yugoslav People's Army held second military parade on Revolution Boulevard now King Alexander Boulevard honoring one year anniversary of offensive end. Since then country has hosted only two military parades and high level celebrations including March of Victor held on Nikola Tesla Boulevard with Russian President Vladimir Putin guest of honor. Every jubilee anniversary met with significant Russian presence often coming as state visit by President or another high-ranking official to Belgrade. Beginning with Dmitry Medvedev in 2009 continued with Vladimir Putin laying wreaths at Liberators of Belgrade Memorial containing remains of over 3,500 Yugoslav Partisans and Red Army soldiers died during offensive. In 2019 Medvedev represented Russia at 75th anniversary celebrations in position as Prime Minister instead of President Putin. The Serbian Guards Unit participated in final dress rehearsals for Belgrade Military Parade showing enduring commemorative traditions.
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Common questions
When did the Belgrade offensive take place?
The Belgrade offensive took place from September 1944 to November 1944. The joint Soviet and Yugoslav forces liberated Belgrade on the 20th of October 1944 after eliminating thousands of surrounded German troops.
Who commanded the Red Army during the Belgrade offensive?
Marshal Fyodor Tolbukhin commanded the Red Army 3rd Ukrainian Front during the operation. Marshal Josip Broz Tito served as the Partisan commander-in-chief coordinating directly with Soviet leaders.
What was the outcome of the Battle of Bor in the Belgrade offensive?
Parts of the 223rd Division and the 7th and 9th Serbian Brigade of the 23rd Division NOVJ liberated Bor on the 3rd of October 1944. This town held a large copper mine and housed some 1,700 forced laborers mostly Jews from Hungary who were freed during the operation.
How many Bulgarian troops participated in the Belgrade offensive?
Three Bulgarian armies totaling around 340,000 men stood ready on the Yugoslav-Bulgarian border in early October 1944. The Bulgarian 2nd Army included an Armored Brigade previously equipped and trained by the Wehrmacht.
When was the Medal For the Liberation of Belgrade established?
The Medal For the Liberation of Belgrade was established by decree of Presidium Supreme Soviet on the 19th of June 1945. It was awarded to 70,000 Soviet and allied service personnel who took part in the battle.