Battle of Višegrad
The Battle of Višegrad was the battle between Chetnik forces and Axis, and part of an Chetnik offensive in Eastern Bosnia in autumn of 1943, in Axis occupied Yugoslavia during World War II. The Chetnik forces of 2,500 captured Višegrad, destroyed big railway bridge across river Drina and continued their advances toward Rogatica and Sokolac. The German and Ustaše garrison in Višegrad and garrison that protected the bridge of total 1,100 soldiers had 350 dead and 400 wounded. The Chetniks had 21 dead and 30 wounded. In subsequent battle for Rogatica waged ten days later, the Chetniks captured Rogatica and killed more than 200 Axis soldiers.
Battle of Višegrad | |||||||
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Part of World War II in Yugoslavia | |||||||
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Belligerents | |||||||
Axis:
| Chetniks | ||||||
Commanders and leaders | |||||||
Berislav Predojević |
Dragoslav Račić Zaharije Ostojić | ||||||
Units involved | |||||||
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Strength | |||||||
1,100 | 2,500–3,000 | ||||||
Casualties and losses | |||||||
350 dead and 400 wounded | 21 dead and 30 wounded | ||||||
more than 2,000 Bosnian Muslim civilians |
This Chetniks' victories against Axis were attributed by BBC to Tito's Communist Partisan forces, like in many other cases in that period of the war. Despite many protests, the BBC did not make any corrections. When Chetniks attacked Sokolac on 21 October 1943, the Partisans attacked them from rear and Chetniks found themselves under attack of Axis and Communist forces which ended advances of Chetniks into Eastern Bosnia and toward Sarajevo. This was emphasized by Chetnik commander Mihailović as another proof that Communists collaborated with Ustaše and Germans.
During the period, in which battle of Višegrad took place, the Chetnik command was embedded with a members of the British and American mission.