373rd ( Croatian ) Infantry Division ( Wehrmacht ) The 373rd ( Croatian ) Infantry Division ( , ) was a division of the German Army during World War II . It was formed in June 1943 using a brigade from the Home Guard of the Independent State of Croatia ( , NDH ) with the addition of a German cadre . The division was commanded by Germans down to battalion and even company level in nearly all cases , and was commonly referred to as a " legionnaire division " . Originally formed with the intention of service on the Eastern Front , it was used instead for anti - Partisan operations in the territory of the NDH until the end of the war . It fought mainly in the western areas of the NDH , and was involved in the attempt to kill or capture the leader of the Partisans , Josip Broz Tito , in May 1944 . Severely depleted by desertion , the division withdrew towards the Reich border in the early months of 1945 , eventually surrendering to the Partisans on 10 May 1945 near Brežice in modern - day Slovenia . History . Formation . After the Axis invasion of the Soviet Union in June 1941 , Ante Pavelić , the leader of the newly created Axis puppet state the Independent State of Croatia ( NDH ) , offered Adolf Hitler volunteers to serve on the Eastern Front . This offer soon resulted in the formation and deployment of army , air force and naval detachments which , after being trained and equipped by Germany , were committed to fighting the Red Army . The largest element was the 369th Croatian Reinforced Infantry Regiment , which was part of the 100th Jäger Division , but was decimated at Stalingrad in January 1943 . The Croatian forces performed creditably on the Eastern Front , and the Germans continued to support the development of NDH forces with the aim of raising several divisions to serve there . Due to the lack of trained leaders and staff , these divisions were raised using a German cadre . The 373rd ( Croatian ) Infantry Division was assembled and trained in Stockerau and Döllersheim , Austria , commencing from the end of January 1943 as the second Croatian division raised for service in the Wehrmacht , following its sister formation , the 369th ( Croatian ) Infantry Division . It was built around a cadre of 3 , 500 German troops , and 8 , 500 soldiers of the 7th Mountain Brigade of the Croatian Home Guard , the regular army of the NDH . It was established with two infantry regiment s of three battalions each . Each regiment was allocated the manpower from two of the four battalions of the 7th Mountain Brigade . It was formed under the command of " Generalmajor " ( Brigadier ) Emil Zellner , with the Knight ' s Cross of the Iron Cross recipient " Oberst " ( Colonel ) Alois Windisch commanding the 383rd ( Croatian ) Grenadier Regiment and " Oberst " Boicetta commanding the 384th ( Croatian ) Grenadier Regiment . All battalions were commanded by Germans except for the reconnaissance battalion , which was commanded by a Croat officer , Major Bakarec . The Croatian divisions that served in the Wehrmacht were commonly known as " legionnaire divisions " . Although originally intended for use on the Eastern Front , the division did not deploy there and returned to the NDH in May 1943 due to the need to combat the communist - led Partisans in the territory of the NDH . The division left its training area in Austria over the period 1 – 12 May 1943 , travelling by train via the route Vienna – Graz – Marburg – Zagreb . It was known as the " Tiger Division " ( ) , and was subordinated to the Croatia Command ( ) of " General der Infanterie " ( Lieutenant General ) Rudolf Lüters . 1943 . Initial tasks . The first task of the division was to secure the area north and northwest of Mostar , which contained important bauxite reserves needed for the German war effort . The divisional headquarters was established in Bugojno with the regimental headquarters of the 383rd at Lise , and the 384th at Travnik . At the end of May , one battalion ( III / 383 ) and supporting artillery were deployed to Mostar to replace Italian forces . For the first few weeks the division had only minor contacts with Partisan forces , but by mid - June the division began sending out strong " Jagdkommandos " , lightly armed and mobile " hunter teams " of company or battalion strength , to break up and harass Partisans operating in the divisional area of responsibility . In early July , a search and destroy operation was conducted west of the Kupres – Bugojno – Jajce road , during which local Chetniks units began cooperating with the division . On 5 July , Bakarec summoned the inhabitants of a village and shot six captured Partisans in front of them . The division lost 23 killed during this operation . Following the conclusion of this sweep , the division moved north , and its headquarters redeployed to Prijedor . Throughout July and August 1943 the division patrolled constantly and fought minor engagements in its area of responsibility . On 5 August 1943 , " Generalleutnant " ( Major General ) Eduard Aldrian became divisional commander replacing Zellner , who was transferred to the Army Headquarters officers ' reserve pool ( ) . On 16 August , " Oberstleutnant " ( Lieutenant Colonel ) Mück replaced Windisch as commander of the 383rd Regiment , and the division was placed under the command of the 2nd Panzer Army , which had been redeployed to the Balkans from the Eastern Front . Over the period 18 – 22 August , 102 Croat and Bosnian Muslim soldiers deserted , ten of whom were later arrested . There were a range of factors encouraging desertion , including Partisan propaganda and infiltration , the influence of the Croatian Peasant Party , and reverses suffered by the Germans in North Africa and at Stalingrad and elsewhere on the Eastern Front . Combat intensifies . In late August and early September 1943 , the division redeployed again , this time to Bihać , relieving the 114th Jäger Division which redeployed to the Adriatic coast . The move was difficult , with several significant ambushes resulting in numerous casualties and the loss of several vehicles and guns . In September , it was placed under the command of the newly formed XV Mountain Corps led by Lüters . That month , the division concluded a collaboration agreement with the 260 - strong Chetnik detachment of Mane Rokvić , who was in control of an area which included parts of both western Bosnia and Lika . The division utilised the Chetniks to protect railway lines and key industries in their area , as well as for scouting against the Partisans and attacks on the rear of Partisan formations . Desertions worsened particularly after the capitulation of Italy in early September 1943 . For example , during October 1943 , 334 men deserted from the division . It handled thousands of Italian prisoners in the aftermath of the surrender , feeding them and marching them under guard towards the Reich . On 20 October 1943 , the Germans formally confirmed that the division would not be utilised outside the NDH . In the second half of October 1943 , Partisan forces surrounded the Croatian Home Guard garrison of Prijedor . The 383rd Regiment relieved the garrison and conducted clearing operations around the town until heavy snowfalls in the first week in November . On 4 December , " Oberstleutnant " Hühnewaldt replaced Mück as the commander of the regiment . Operations Panther and Ristow . Between 10 and 24 December 1943 , the division , along with the 371st Infantry Division and the 1st Cossack Division , participated in Operation Panther . The aim of the operation was to encircle Partisan forces located within the Kostajnica forest and the area north of Bosanski Novi . The operation achieved little , and was immediately followed by Operation Ristow . The objective of this operation was to clear the area south of the Sana river between Bosanski Novi and Prijedor . The objective of the operation was the destruction of elements of the Partisan 7th Banija Division , which intelligence indicated were planning to establish winter quarters in the vicinity of Maslovare village , with the river Japra protecting their rear . The division committed the 383rd Infantry Regiment , reinforced by three tank s of the 202nd Panzer Battalion , and supported by the guns of I . Battalion , 373rd Artillery Regiment . The plan involved a three day operation commencing on 24 December . Following up reconnaissance by the Croatian 3rd Mountain Brigade , the objective of the first day was to thrust eastward from Bosanski Novi to secure heights east of the Japra , and this was achieved against light resistance . The following day saw heavy fighting before the German force secured their objectives , suffering ten wounded in the process . After mopping up on 26 December , orders were issued for I . Battalion to continue the advance south of the Sana towards the village of Trgovište , while II . Battalion was ordered to cross the Sana on rafts and continue the advance on the northern side of the river . On the morning of 27 December , I . Battalion successfully advanced to a point about west of Prijedor , and occupied Trgovište . Advancing further east , I . Battalion lost formation and suffered heavy attacks from Partisan forces who also infiltrated between the companies and attacked their flanks and rear . The entire force , less two companies and the tanks which remained north of the river , consolidated on heights south of the Sana , and throughout the night fought off several large Partisan assaults which were supported by heavy mortar fire . On 28 December , the German force fought its way to the south bank of the Sana , and evacuated its casualties across the river on rafts . The main body then fought its way east to Prijedor with covering fire provided by the two companies and tanks remaining on the northern bank , with the majority arriving on 29 December . Operation Ristow was very costly for the division , with I . Battalion alone suffering 100 casualties , mainly from mortar fire on the night of 27 / 28 December . Information from the local population indicated that the Partisans lost at least 76 dead during the operation . 1944 . Battle of Banja Luka . In late December 1943 , Hühnewaldt was tasked with the defence of Banja Luka , the second largest city in Bosnia , which had been under Partisan pressure for several days . The headquarters of XV Mountain Corps was in Banja Luka , along with the divisional replacement battalion , divisional support troops , some police and a few tanks . Elements of the 4th Jäger Brigade of the Croatian Home Guard were also in the city . On 31 December , Hühnewaldt deployed I / 383 to Banja Luka to further bolster the defences . At 23 : 00 that day , a heavy artillery and mortar bombardment started , followed by a Partisan attack that quickly overran the Home Guard outposts and engaged the divisional units in heavy fighting . At first light on New Year ' s Day , I / 383 counterattacked , recapturing the crucial power station . That evening the Partisans renewed their assault , overrunning the hospital and massacring the German sick and wounded , and capturing the railway station . By this point the defenders were concentrated in two blocks of the town centre and the Partisans were only away . A desperate but unsuccessful counterattack was mounted , and the city appeared lost when the force was relieved by the 901st Panzergrenadier Lehr Regiment . The Partisans quickly withdrew and the Ustaše Militia and " Sicherheitsdienst " ( Security Police ) subsequently executed all armed personnel captured in the city . Those killed during the battle included 67 Germans , 150 Croatian Home Guard and between 300 and 350 Partisans . Following the battle , the division cleared and secured the area around Banja Luka , and in February 1944 Hühnewaldt was replaced as commander of the 383rd Regiment by Major Ristow of I / 383 . At the end of March , most of the 383rd Regiment was deployed to Knin with responsibility for the road between Knin and Bihać , with the regimental commander designated as the commander of the garrison . In the latter task , it was assisted by the 7th SS Volunteer Mountain Division Prinz Eugen . From 7 to 16 May 1944 , the division participated in Operation " Morgenstern " ( Morning Star ) in the Krbavsko Polje region west and southwest of Bihać , along with elements of its sister formation , the 392nd ( Croatian ) Infantry Division , the 92nd Motorised Regiment , the 1st " Jäger " Regiment of the Panzergrenadier Division Brandenburg , and Ustase units . The operation was a significant success , killing 438 Partisans and capturing 56 , along with large quantities of arms , ammunition , vehicles and supplies . Operation Rösselsprung . The division formed a significant part of the ground force used by XV Mountain Corps in Operation Rösselsprung , which was launched on 25 May 1944 , with the objectives of killing or capturing the Partisan leader Josip Broz Tito , and destroying his headquarters at Drvar . The division was responsible for two of the nine coordinated thrusts converging on the Partisan stronghold in the Drvar - Bosanski Petrovac area . The first thrust consisted of the 384th ( Croatian ) Infantry Regiment , referred to as " Kampfgruppe Willam " after its commander . The 384th Regiment group was to advance east at 5 am on 25 May from the village of Srb towards Drvar . " Kampfgruppe Willam " had the primary responsibility for relieving then taking command of 500th SS Parachute Battalion who would land by parachute and glider in Drvar on 25 May , and the regiment was then to attack in the direction of Bosanski Petrovac . The second thrust consisted of a battalion group from the division , which was to set out at 5 am on 25 May from Lapac and drive east through Kulen Vakuf to capture the crossroads at Vrtoče . If necessary , they were then to advance north - west towards Bihać to open the road . Throughout 25 May , the ground forces of XV Mountain Corps were not able to advance as quickly as expected . There was unexpected resistance from strong Partisan forces along their axes of advance , and there was very poor communication between the various elements which resulted in lack of coordination of their movements . They were also subjected to several Allied air attacks . In the meantime , Tito and his key staff escaped to the south and were flown to Italy . " Kampfgruppe Willam " was unable to force its way through to Drvar until the paratroopers had been relieved around midday on 26 May by a stronger column attacking from the direction of Bihać . On 29 May the battalion group from the division attacked strong Partisan positions east , north and northwest of Prekaja , but the attack was held up by a lack of ammunition . The attack was renewed on 31 May after new orders had been issued , with the division occupying the Prekaja area and capturing two Partisan tanks . Operation Rösselsprung was a failure as Tito and his principal headquarters staff escaped . Final months . In the autumn of 1944 , the division absorbed the 2nd Jäger Brigade of the Croatian Home Guard as its third regiment , renamed the 385th ( Croatian ) Infantry Regiment . On 20 October , " Oberst der Reserves " Karl Hermann replaced Aldrian , and was in turn replaced by " Oberst " Hans Gravenstein on 14 November . On 6 December 1944 , the division participated in the defence of Knin against the Partisans , where it suffered serious losses . In January 1945 , Gravenstein was promoted to " Generalmajor " , and withdrew the survivors of the division to the northwest towards Bihać . During this withdrawal , the division assisted the 6 , 000 – 7 , 000 Chetniks of Momčilo Đujić that had fought alongside them at Knin and accompanied them towards Bihać . Later that month , a large number of Croats from the division deserted to join the Partisans during the attack of the 35th Lika Division . This trend continued , with a further two companies of Croat soldiers deserting . The division saw action against the Partisans until the end of the war . However , by April 1945 a large part of its Croatian manpower had been lost or released , with the Croatian elements only numbering between 2 , 000 and 3 , 000 soldiers . During the last few months of the war , it fought in northern Dalmatia and parts of Lika and Kordun and later in Banija . When the Partisans launched their spring offensive on 20 March 1945 , it fought the Partisan 2nd Army as it advanced on Zagreb . The division withdrew from Gospić via Donji Lapac , Bosanska Krupa , Bosanski Novi and Kostajnica where most of its remaining Croatian soldiers were separated out from the German elements and probably dispersed . The remainder continued its withdrawal via Sunja , Sisak and Zagreb to Brežice in modern - day Slovenia , where it surrendered to the Partisans at the village of Raka on 10 May 1945 , and the remaining Croat soldiers left the division . The division ' s disarmed German troops were allowed to travel towards Germany for several days before becoming prisoners of war of the Partisans . Gravenstein was tried by the Yugoslav authorities in 1947 and hanged . Organisational history . The initial composition of the division was : In autumn 1944 the division absorbed the 2nd " Jäger " Brigade of the Croatian Home Guard , which created a third infantry regiment , the 385th ( Croatian ) Grenadier Regiment . Commanding officers . The following officers commanded the division :