The last day in Fiume... (GJ-Rgt 901)

[enorepap]

And now some information about the Italian Republican Army (otherwise it seems that it was only a private affair between the Germans and the Slavs). After the armistice and the first wave of revenge against the Italians by the Commies, we have the phase about there are more precise information on the summary executions because the ground was reconquered by the German and Italian units and consequently was possible to start a recovery of the victims of the Red terror and partially numbered them – just a couple of example, and not the gruesome - Don Angelo Tarticchio (36 years’ old), Parish priest of Villa of Rovinj, in September 16, 1943 was arrested by Tito partisans, backed by the Italian Communist partisans. Beaten and abused along with other thirty of his parishioners, he was then tortured. When the body was exhumed, he was found completely naked, with a crown of thorns on his head and with his genitals cut and stuck in his mouth. The young schoolteacher Norma Cossetto (23 years’old) was subjected to beatings and raped by his captors, who abused her while she was kept tied on a table. The incident of the rape was later reported by a woman living in front of the school, who, attracted by the groans and moans, just dared approach the half-closed shutters seeing Norma linked to the table. During the night between 4 and 5 October 1943 all the prisoners tied with iron wires were led to Villa Surani. There, still alive, they were thrown into a sinkhole. The three women in the group again suffered sexual violence on site before being thrown themselves into the abyss. Norma was amputated of both the breasts and penetrated into the vagina with a wooden pole. The father, trying to rescue her daughter, in turn was murdered and infoibed. The Italian-German reprisal came inexorable: they captured sixteen partisans who had taken part in the torture and forced them to watch a whole night the Norma's body, recovered by the Nco of the Italian Fire Brigade Harzarich, then shoot them at dawn the next day. Three partisans went mad during the night before execution. I could continue for hundreds of pages, but I think this is enough …

Italian Regional and Provincial Military Commands (each with C.O., HQ, a provincial Coy. Admin. section, and supply depot:

- 204th Regional Trieste: C.O. Army Corps General Esposito (MOVM), compose by Secretary, Operation Office, Admin. Direction, Supply Direction, Medical Direction, HQ with a 204th Intendance Delegation and a 204th Regional Coy

-31st Trieste
-32nd Gorizia
- 33rd Udine
- 34th Pola
- 35th Fiume

204th Military Justice Court

[enorepap]

- Volunteer Bersaglieri Battalion Mussolini, which held the railway security from Tolmino to Piedicolle until the end of the war and was captured by deception and almost totally exterminated after surrender

- 94th Military District Trieste
- 95th Military District Gorizia
- 96th Military District Udine
- 97th Military District Pola

- Auxiliary Female Service Trieste, Gorizia, Udine, Fiume. This was the republican unit that, in proportion to its organic, paid the highest toll in the fighting and after the surrender.
- Artillery Military Direction no. 204 Trieste
- Administration Section no. 204 Trieste
- Administration Section no. 204 Gorizia
- Administration Section no. 204 Udine
- Equipment Depot no. 204 Trieste
- Supply Coy no. 204 Trieste with detachments in Udine and Gorizia
- Supply Coy Fiume
- Engineers' construction supervision no. 204 Trieste
- Engineers' construction supervision no. 204 Udine
- Materials' Depot
- Military Prison Trieste
- Main military hospital Trieste
- Secondary military hospital Udine
- Territorial military hospital Gorizia (X2)
- Reserve military hospital Abbazia (near Fiume)
- 204th Medical Coy Trieste
- Liaison Italian transport office no. 204 Trieste
- Railway Station military command Trieste
- Railway Station military command Fiume
- Central office for veterinary supplies (x2) Monte Spino (near Gorizia) and Equile - Lipizzano (near Trieste in Basovizza)
- Cartage and trappings veterinarian park Udine
- Veterinary Infirmary Fiume

After the Commands and Services I will continue with the fighting units ...

[enorepap]

There were also some Blackshirts units which remained loyal to the alliance after the armistice in Montenegro and fought to the bitter end in the Balkans alongside the Germans. Amongst them I remember:

72nd HQ Legion in Podgorica with 15 officers and 190 Ncos and enlisted
LXXII Btl. in Danilovgrad with 18 officers and 355 Ncos and enlisted
CXI Btl. in Niksic wwith 14 officers and 295 Ncos and enlisted
72nd MG Coy in Danilovgrad
86th HQ Legion in Bar with 9 officers and 115 Ncos and enlisted
LXXXVI Btl. in Rijeka with 18 officers and 350 Ncos and enlisted
XCIV Btl. in Bar with 16 officers and 390 Ncos and enlisted
86th MG Coy in Bar
LXXXII Btl. in Budva with 11 officers and 490 Ncos and enlisted
CXLIV Btl. in Cetinje with 12 officers and 220 Ncos and enlisted
a single Coy of the XXXIII Btl. in Podgorica with 6 officers and 53 Ncos and enlisted
a single Coy of the LXXXI Btl. in Podgorica with 11 officers and 110 Ncos and enlisted

(source: 205/44 of March 1, 1944 of XXI Geb.A.K.)

They were restructured during the spring/summer 1944. This is the OoB of the nichtdeutsche verbande of the XXI Geb.A.K, as for 4899/44 of July 16, 1944:

181st inf. div.: bbttll. LXXII, LXXXI, LXXXII, LXXXVI, XCIV, CXI, CXLIV, Turk.Kol. 54 and 100, Bau Btl. J11
297th inf. div.: III (arm.)/ Gren.Rgt. 359, Bau Btl. J9
SS div. Skanderbeg with albanian jaegerregiment 1st and 4th (mostly composed by former Cacciatori di Albania at the italian service)
Gen.Kdo. Abt.Qu.: 4th (aserb.)/Nachsch. Btl. 118
SS Stab Fitzthum: Alban. Gend. Streifen Btl. I, II, III and IV
Kp.Pi.Fu. (le. Bau Btl. 501): Bau Btl. J1, J6, J36, J37.

There is a german report about the situation in September 1944:

- 72nd Btl. dependinfg by 363rd Gren. Rgt., personnel = 437
- 81st Btl., depending by 383rd Gren. Rgt., personnel = 362
- 82nd Btl. depending by 334th Fus. Rgt., personnel 474
- 86th Btl. depending by 181st Inf. Div., personnel 413
- 94th Btl. depending by 334th Fus. Rgt., personnel 528
- 111th Btl. depending by 363rd Gren. Rgt., personnel 311

The final fate of these battalions is still uncertain. Probably some personnel was able to return in homeland but I think a greater part fell in partisans' hands.

In the area Dubrovnik-Mostar, also the 49th Legion continued the war alongside the Germans with its two bbttll. XL and XLIX. On March 1945 the Legion still had 1200 men and partipated in the last major antiguerilla operation against the partisan IX Korpus. Also in this case the final fate of the unit is still uncertain but I think, according to reliabe sources, that the majority of its personnel was able to come back to its original district (Venice, Verona).

Lastly, the XCII Btl. which was deployed from Albania to Banat and in March 1944 was splitted in the area of Ruma and Vrdnik for guard service duties to the LW airfields. In the area of Vrdnik they bravely defended (October 23/25, 1944) their positions against the partisans and the adiacent Red Army, allowing the Germans to retreat safely from the area. The survivors (182) were able to come back to Italy from the end of December 1944 to mid-February 1945, together with a so-called 1st italian Air Force Coy (Unteroffiizier Bohr with 86 men), which had acted, during the entire retreat from Megara (near Athen), as a asecurity force for some german columns.

[enorepap]

- XIV Coastal Fortress Btl. (4 Coys) disbanded near the Tagliamento river after the retreat from Gorizia westwards
- XV Coastal Fortress Btl., only a temporarily denomination of the 1st Volunteers Bersaglieri Btl. Mussolini (see above)
- XVI Coastal Fortress Btl. (4 Coys + a single mountain artillery battery of the former 3rd Regiment). Born from some static Coys of Gorizia and Udine, it was transferred to Fiume. During the first months of the year 1945 it sustained a lot of clashes against the Croatians, also with the use of heavy weapons, which resulted only in February with the death of two Italians, twelve Croatians and even a german soldier and some citizens. The Battery C.O. threatened to open fire on the Croatian barracks with the artillery. The Germans consequently disarmed the Battalion, arrested four officers (the 2nd Lieutenant Sperber was shot by a German Navy firing squad) and transferred the personnel to Trieste where it was dissolved. The C.O., some officers and a provisional Coy + the mountain artillery battery remained in Fiume and fought against the partisans until their surrender on May 2. 1945, meanwhile the Germans entrenced themselves in the old fortress, hoping in the relief by the Western Allies. Only a few survivors returned from the captivity
- XVII Coastal Fortress Btl. (4 Coys.). Nominally born from some static Coys of Trieste, Pola, Fiume which continued to fight autonomously. They disappeared in the final slaughter with heavy losses
- XIII Coastal Fortress Artillery Group (3 batteries) in Pola
- XV Coastal Fortress Artillery Group (2 batteries) in Opicina
- XVI Coastal Fortress Artillery Group (4 batteries) in Fiume. The third is the same used alongside the XVI Coastal Fortress Btl. The fourth was an anti-aircraft unit. The others were equipped with 100/17 guns
- XVII Coastal Fortress Artillery Group (3 batteries) in Fiume
- Armoured Cavalry Group San Giusto (4 squadrons), surrendered to the Western Allied troops on May 3, 1945
- II Engineers’ Btl. (5 Coys.), employed for the roads reparation works in the area of Trieste-Opicina-Istria. Also known as II Pontoneers’ Btl
- VI Engineers’ Btl. (3 Coys.), in Pola. It was destroyed near Pisino during its attempt to retreat to Trieste.
- Friuli Volunteers Rgt. Tagliamento (HQ, two alpine bbttll. and a third bersaglieri btl.) in the area of Cave del Predil – Tarvisio – Plezzo; from the beginning of April 1944, respectively in Cividale, Tolmino, Monte Spino , Canale Isonzo. In the final days of the war, unlike their neighbors (the 1st Volunteers Bersaglieri Btl. Mussolini), which ended almost all murdered for having delayed their retreat waiting for an isolated company, and, after losing contact with the Germans and with the Tagliamento Regt., naively entered into negotiations with the partisans who now obstructed their way, trusting a fake promise of salvation, this Regiment mainly consisting of experienced mountaineers succeeded, albeit with losses, to save itself.
- Sardinia’s volunteers Btl. (see above)

Some sources also indicate a Pontoneers' Coy not. 636, a Mixed Btl. Berga no. 9 and a Mixed Transport Unit, located in Croatia but I have not found any other information about them. I also have to say that almost all the German units in the Balkans, as in all other theaters of operation, had a large number of Italian aggregate auxiliary personnel. Pz.AOK 2, for example, listed 8034 Italians at the date of December 1, 1943.

I will try to continue with the units of the Republican Navy ...

[enorepap]

Republican Navy

Cruisers:
ETNA – VESUVIO both sank in Trieste in 1945

Destroyers:
PIGAFETTA – RUTA (demolished in 1944) - SEBENICO (under German management TA43) scuppered in Trieste in May 3, 1945 – SPALATO (demolished in 1944)

Torpedo boats:
ALABARDA sank by allied aircrafts in March 21, 1945 - AUDACE sank near the island of Pago – BALESTRA (under German management TA47) heavily damaged by allied aircrafts in Fiume – DEZZA (under German management TA 35) sank by allied aircrafts in Fiume in August 20, 1944 recovered and definitively scuppered in Trieste in May 3, 1945 – INSIDIOSO (under German management TA 21) destroyed by british vessels in August 9, 1944 – LANCIA (under German management TA41) destroyed by allied aircrafts in Trieste in February 17, 1945 – MISSORI scuppered in May 2, 1945 – SPICA 4^ (under German management TA45) destroyed by allied vessels in the Morlacca Channel in April 13, 1945 – T7 sank by allied vessels in 1944

Submarines:
BARIO destroyed by allied aircrafts in Monfalcone in March 6, 1945 – the same fate for BEILUL

Pocket submarines of the Pola Flotilla
CB 7 demolished - CB 13 destroyed by allied aircrafts in March 23, 1945 – CB 14 destroyed by allied aircrafts – CB 15 detsroyed by allied aircrafts in 1944 - CB 16 stranded near Senigallia and captured – CB 17 destroyed by allied aircrafts in April 3, 1945 – CB 18 destroyed by allied aircrafts in March 31, 1945 – CB 19 scuppered in Pola in May 3, 1945 – CB 21 destroyed by a German vessel in Pola in April 29, 1945 – CB 22 scuppered in Pola in May 3, 1945

Coastal submarines
FERRO scuppered in Monfalcone in May 1, 1945 – LITIO destroyed by allied aircrafts in Monfalcone in March 16, 1945 – NAUTILO destroyed by allied aircrafts in Pola in January 9, 1944 – PIOMBO scuppered in Monfalcone in May 1, 1945 – the same fate for POTASSIO and R7 (a transport submarine) – R8 destroyed by allied aircrafts in Monfalcone in April 20, 1944 – R9 destroyed by allied aircrafts in Monfalcone in March 16, 1945 – RAME scuppered in Monfalcone in May 1, 1945

Corvette and other small vessels
EGERIA heavily damaged in February 29, 1944 – EURIDICE sank by allied aircrafts in Monfalcone in 1945 – MELPOMENE sank by british destroyers – Same fate for SPINGARDA – TERSICORE destroyed by allied aircrafts in Monfalcone in April 20, 1944 - MAS431 sank by british destroyers in November 1943 – MAS550 scuppered in Monfalcone in May 1, 1945 – MS41 sank for hit against a naval mine – MS74 – MS76 scuppered in Monfalcone in May 1, 1945 – gunboat LIDO – minelayer FASANA, sank near the mouth of Tagliamento for hit against a naval mine in March 2, 1945 – minesweeper RD115 heavily damaged by allied aircrafts and definitively scuppered in May 3, 1945 – same fate for RD 116 - RD 129 – cargo PALERMO sank by allied aircrafts in Fiume in July 1944 – cargo PLUTO sank by enemy vessels in February 15, 1945 – tanker ANIENE – tanker PELLICE – tanker VERBANO – hospital ship DUILIO destroyed by allied aircrafts in Trieste in July 10, 1944

[enorepap]

And now the X MAS:

- San Giusto btl. (C.O: Corvette Captain Chicca - 4 Coys.) in Trieste, disbanded in April 30, 1945
- Adriatica Coy (C.O. Vessel Lieutenant Giannelli with 150 men) almost totally destroyed in the defense of the island of Cherso
- D'Annunzio Coy (C.O. Lieutenant Vegjach) in Fiume with detachments in Laurana, Lussingrande and Lussinpiccolo. In particular, the detachment of Laurana (130 + a few German soldiers) stood up to the landing of the partisans, then retreated to the roads-junction Francici-Mattuglie where it resisted to the bitter end (90 KIA) until the arrival of a relief expedition from Rijeka with which the survivors came to the city and together with the remains of their company continued the fighting until May 2, 1945
- Sauro Coy (C.O. Corvette Captain Baccarini) in Pula, destroyed in May 3, 1945
- East Operational Base (C.O. 2nd lieutenant Cavallo) in the island of Brioni (near Pula). This unit was involved in many episodes, including the comic capture and clubbing of the arrogant Gauleiter Rainer and of the Deutsche Berater of Pola who have previously tried to kill with his own ax an italian sailor intented to cutting a tree and, according to them, guilty of devastating the OZAK forests. In the same island was located a german similar unit (C.O. Vessel Lieutenant Witt). In the final days of the war the Operational Base retretated by sea to Pola where it was almost suppressed by the partisans. There were only four survivors, apart from a little group of men, who escaped from the beleaguered fortress by sea with the CM1 submarine and reached Venice
- Diving School of Portoroz (C.O. Lieutenant med. Moscatelli), almost totally exterminated by the partisans after the surrender in Portoroz and Pola
- CB and CM submarines squadron of Pola (C.O. Vessel Lieutenant De Siervo) with these small submarine ships:
CM1, CB7 (demolished in 1944), CB13 (destroyed by air raid), CB14 (destroyed by air raid), CB15 (destroyed by air raid), CB16, CB6 (ex-CB17 and destroyed by air raids), CB18 (lost at sea by enemy action), CB19, CB20, CB21, CB22. During a war mission two of the three members of the crew of the CB 16 shot the commander (Vessel Lieutenant Tendi) and deserted to the allied . On April 29, 1945 two units sailed from Pola to Venice but a German landing craft rammed and sank the CB21 while the CM1 escaped and safely reached its destination. The three last CB units remained in Pola with the Squadron’s personnel who completely disappeared, without giving no more news, after the surrender to the Yugoslavs on May 2, 1945

[enorepap]

Before continuing with the Italian units, I would like to end the analysis of the Germans. It would be too long and perhaps unnecessary further describe the fighting that led to the siege of Rijeka and Trieste. I already mentioned the attempt of Rosener to help the retreat of Kubler and the fact that it was already a chimeric dream before it was officially recalled. In fact the units of the Prinz Eugen scheduled to make the last effort were no longer available, because they were already committed from May 2 to May 6 around Karlovac and after they started to retreat northwards. The legacy of Rosener was collected by Oberst Werner von Seeler (1907-1999) who forced the passage on the Drava River north of Ferlach at dawn of May 11, 1945, inflicting considerable losses (including two tanks) to the partisans, and delivered his troops as prisoners of war to the Western Alllies who locked them in the collecting-camps of Viktring (near Klagenfurt). These troops were composed as follows:

- SS Pol. Rgt. 17 (only parts), 19 and 28 (only parts)
- Personnel of the SS Unterfuhrerschule of Ljubljana
- SS Ersatz Btl. Prinz Eugen
- FeldGendarmerie Btl. (mot.) 3
- An unidentified Police Btl.
- Pol. Pz. Kompanien 2, 13 and 14
- An unidentified Pol.Pi. Kp. + an heavy-weapons Pol.Kp. Alpenland
- Some parts of the 19th FLAK Division
- Heeres Flak Abt. 309 and 310
- Marine Flak Abt. 720
- An unidentified Brandenburg Btl.
- Remnants ot the support troops of H.Gr.E , Slovenian domobranci, RSK and SFK

They initially added up to no more than 10,000 Germans then rose to 31,000; 4000 Serbs (SFK); no more than 5000 Russians (RSK) and 13,000 Slovenes domobranci. From this it appears that in reality the above units were very strongly intermingled and below their theoretical organic.

Returning to the rest of the Istrian peninsula (I have already examined the end of Pula), there were no sufficient German forces to stop the southern branch of the Yugoslav maneuver. A partisan column headed north to complete the encirclement of Fiume but it was blocked on the Volosca line by the Italians and the Jg. Btl. 499. A central column headed Trieste. The third column to Pula, colliding with parts of Gren. Rgt. 1047 in Fianona and conquering the junction of Aurania where they destroyed the Sich. Btl. 1218. The rest has already been said.

Also with reference to the retreat-fightings of the Kubler’s mobile-pocket, they are already quite well known, and so it would be long and useless to describe them in detail. I think it is sufficient to indicate the gathering-points of his troops after the capitulation:

-188th Geb.Div. + Kampfgruppe Fiume (C.O. Korvettenkpt. Hoppenstedt) in the area of Fontane-Ratscevo-Postegnesca-Postegna-Km. 3-Sembie
- 237th Inf.Div. + 392nd Inf.Div. in the area Bittigne-Prem Ilirska Bistrica-Sarecce-Poglie south
- Korpstruppen in Sembie.

Of course the above organic definitions absolutely not reflect the real strength of the units which, according to the Yugoslavs, added up to 16,000 men. The officers were separated from the soldiers and all the wounded were slaughtered after a few days. Even today there are mass graves, caves and wells, both artificial and natural, overflowing with skeletons, as often reported in the press both local and international. I remember reading that in the Karst region just above Trieste the German prisoners were asked to skip the mouth cavity with the promise that, if they could achieve such an exploit, they would have spared their lives. To complete the job, there were then usually thrown into the cavities charges of explosives or hand grenades (even with the purpose of obstructing the mouths and preventing the stench of rotting was felt by the local inhabitants) and sometimes also the carcass of a black dog to appease the souls of the dead and of the dying wounded ones.

Last chapter will be the situation in Gorizia which is historically very interesting because there was a trilateral clash between Italians, Serbian Chetniks and Yugoslav partisans (while the Germans had already fled) which was cautiously quelled by the British troops.

[90th Light]

Thanks again Marcello (enorepap),

the amount of detail and number of units that you are covering with your research, continues to astound me.

I am particularly interested in the 7th SS "Prinz Eugen". Mainly because this was one of the first SS units I realised in my early days of collecting that the New Zealanders had came up against in 1945. However, as time went on, I realised that there were other SS units and SS Police who were also encountered at that time.

What makes the 7th SS "Prinz Eugen" particularly interesting is that they are one of the few SS units encountered by 2NZEF who wore a cuff-title. It does not look as though the 2NZEF ever encountered the 16 SS Division very often at all.

And what makes this even more interesting, what you are reporting ties in with what I had been told or found via other sources. This being that 7 SS "Prinz Eugen" do not appear to be there or near Trieste as an entire division. The E.u.A reinforced with other elements were in Trieste and just out side it. Their mission seems to have been, to try and hold a path of retreat so 7 SS could surrender to the western allies. However, only a few sub-units/ personal of 7 SS got through,

Chris

[enorepap]

Hallo Chris

As far as I'm concerned the nearest SSPE unit to Trieste was the replacement and training btl. in the area of Tarvisio-Villach. You have to consider also that in the castle of Duino was stationed the SSHQ for the counterguerrilla operations (Führungsstab Bandenbekämpfung HSSPF OZAK). This is a complete list of the Command and troops of the German Armed Forces in Italy 1943-1945:

http://194.242.233.149/ortdb/DHI_LISTEIT_IT.pdf

I do not believe that any troops of the Prinz Eugen operated near Trieste. Rather, it is certain that, in addition to the SS / Police units, many actions weren taken by the Karst-hunters, such as for the ambush of Rifembergo of February 2, 1944 and the subsequent Ratte retaliation, in a horrific series of reciprocal cruelty.

[enorepap]

Well, before I end up with the history of Gorizia, only some miscellaneous units:

- Italian Republican Airforce Airport no. 30 in Gorizia
- 5th Railway Republican National Guard Legion (C.O. Colonel Minacapilli) in Trieste with two sections in Trieste and the Railway Station commands in Fiume, Gorizia, Pola, Mattuglie (Fiume), Udine, Gemona (Udine), Pontebba (Udine), Tarvisio (Udine)
- 3rd Port Republican National Guard Legion in Trieste with detachments in Fiume, Pola, Venezia
- 6th unit of the Postal and Telegraphic Republican National Guard in Trieste (C.O. Lieutenant Raciti)
- 1st Forestry Republican National Guard Legion in Udine with detachments in Gorizia, Trieste, Pola , Fiume
- 4th Border Republican National Guard Legion. It was splitted in two parts: a Carnia Btl. and an Istria Btl. finally renamed XIV Coastal Fortess Btl. (see above). There was also an autonomous Coy Fiume but it is not clear if it still existed during the last days of the war
- Three units of the Road Republican National Guard in Pola, Trieste and Udine

In the OZAK the Germans demanded that the Republican National Guard assumed the name Territorial Defence Militia, articulated on:
- Regional Inspectorate (later renamed General Command of the Territorial Defence Militia) in Trieste, At the end of the war it retreated to Tarvisio
- Special Btl. OP Trieste (former 137th Blackshirt Assault Legion). It was disbanded in April 10, 1944 to form the 1st MDT Rgt.
- Training School in Pola
- 1st MDT Rgt. in Trieste (HQ-I Btl. with three Coys-II Btl. with three Coys-autonomous Coy in Arsia). The Regiment surrendered to the NZ troops in Pieris in May 1, 1945
- 2nd MDT Rgt. in Pola (HQ- Rgt. Coy “Iron Mace”-training Coy-autonomous Coy in Cherso-I Btl. in Capodistria with 4 Coys-II Btl. in Pola with 4 Coys-III Btl. in Capodistria and Aurisina with three Coys). The Regiment surrendered to the NZ troops in Pieris in May 1, 1945
- 3rd MDT Rgt. in Fiume (HQ-I Btl. with 3 Coys-II Btl. with 3 Coys). This regiment fought very harshly against the partisans. The II Btl., after its outposts were submerged from the Slavic avalanche in April 22, 1945, repulsed the enemies on the Calvary hill, giving time to retreat the command of the Regiment and part of the I Btl to Castelnuovo and then to Trieste. Subsequently, it retreated to Mattuglie and Francici together with the X MAS D'Annunzio Coy (see above) until April 26, 1945. The I Btl., despite its losses, managed to get to Trieste where it was disbanded. Overall, the Regiment was able in part to surrender in Pieris but had to suffer many losses in Rijeka (II Btl. that was totally destroyed) and also around Gorizia (some scattered platoons of I Btl.)
- 4th MDT Rgt. in Gorizia. I omit for the moment because it had a very interesting story and I want to go into details in the coming days, as promised.
- 5th MDT Rgt. in Udine (HQ-Depot Coy-Road GNR unit (see above)-I Btl. railway security Trieste-Prevacina-Gorizia with three Coys-II Btl. railways security Tarvisio-Udine, power plants and ammunitions depot with 3 Coys-III Btl. in Natisone Valley for protection of the communication routes-IV Btl. with 2 Coys-V Btl. with 3 Coys-VI Btl. with three Coys and a Special 18th Coy. composed by former partisans. The units, scattered over a vast area, had some various fates according to the fortune and the situation. For example the 4./II was destroyed near Divaccia by the partisans
- Autonomous Black Brigade Tullio Cividin in Trieste with three Coys
- A very obscure Dalmatian paratroopers unit (C.O. 2nd Lieutenant Benussi, EK2): There are known only two missions, the first in January 1945 to bring radio and ciphers to the Montenegrin Chetniks; the second in February 1945 north of Maribor to disrupt the activity of Tito's forces
- Inspectorate of Public Security in Trieste and 5th Police btl. in Gorizia (at least 186 KIA/MIA after the surrender in May 1945, mainly belonging to the Police Headquarters of Gorizia and Trieste)
- 6th Legion of the Republican Finance Guard in Trieste, 5th Mobilization Center of the Italian Red Cross and military railway rescue in Trieste

I have to add that I remember that also the SS-Polizei-Gebirgsjäger-Regiment 18 had a certain number of Blackshirts, coming from Greece at the eve of the armistice, in its ranks, who bravely fought in the Belgrade’s battle also against some units of red partisans composed by Italian personnel.

[Mil-Archive]

Hallo Chris

As far as I'm concerned the nearest SSPE unit to Trieste was the replacement and training btl. in the area of Tarvisio-Villach. You have to consider also that in the castle of Duino was stationed the SSHQ for the counterguerrilla operations (Führungsstab Bandenbekämpfung HSSPF OZAK). This is a complete list of the Command and troops of the German Armed Forces in Italy 1943-1945:

http://194.242.233.149/ortdb/DHI_LISTEIT_IT.pdf

I do not believe that any troops of the Prinz Eugen operated near Trieste. Rather, it is certain that, in addition to the SS / Police units, many actions weren taken by the Karst-hunters, such as for the ambush of Rifembergo of February 2, 1944 and the subsequent Ratte retaliation, in a horrific series of reciprocal cruelty.

That is an interesting document, thanks for posting and for the informative posts on this thread !

Do you know why Pol.Frw.Ers.Btl.Italien is not included in the document ?

[enorepap]

Hallo Chris

According to other very reliable sources, I must correct myself:

- The SS-Geb.Jg.A.u.E.Btl.7 (Prinz Eugen replacements and training Battalion) was not allocated in Tarvisio but rather in Gradisca d'Isonzo where it retired in April 1945 in part through the valley of the Tagliamento (the 4th SS Kompanie C.O. Untersturmfuhrer Palige) which aggregated itself to I.Btl./Karstjager-Division; in part through the Soca Valley, crossing the Predil Pass, an area in which it sustained a few losses (probably due to the allied aircrafts’ strafings).
Subsequent movements are not clear, but probably it entered Austria from the Coccau route.
There are two known MIA of this unit in Istria in February and March 1945, then it is possible that some personnel remained in the area until the end, but this can not be confirmed at present.
In the Tarvisio area (Malborghetto- Ugovizza) it was instead allocated the SS- Karstjäger Waffen-A.u.E.Btl.

- With regards to the FSBB of the HSSPF OZAK, it was not stationed in Duino but until August 1944 in Trieste and later in Gradisca d'Isonzo; in the Duino Castle there were stationed the Bandenkampfschule, a Landschutzschule and apparently also a Landschutzfuhrerschule, all at disposal of the HSSPF OZAK.
The main part of the SS/Police units stationed in Trieste retired along with Globocnik on April 29/30, 1945 heading toward Austria.
There are no data on SS/Polizei units after these date in the specific area, with the exception of the SS-Polizei-Regiment Alpenvorland that however was probably allocated somewhere along the line Basovizza - Villa del Nevoso

Please, may you post your information about the SS/Polizei units encountered by the New Zealanders in Trieste? Any provided data (name, date, place) may be useful to find a match and identify the SS/Polizei who fought in the Trieste Tribunal or were encountered by the NZ troops.

Many thanks and best regards

[enorepap]

That is an interesting document, thanks for posting and for the informative posts on this thread !

Do you know why Pol.Frw.Ers.Btl.Italien is not included in the document ?

Hallo Mil-Archive

I don't know the reason this Btl. is not included in the list.

I hope that some other (who knows the history of this specific unit better than me) will be able to fill this gap.

Best regards

[Mil-Archive]

Hallo Mil-Archive

I don't know the reason this Btl. is not included in the list.

I hope that some other (who knows the history of this specific unit better than me) will be able to fill this gap.

Best regards

Thanks for checking. It's late war formed units so that could just be why.

Cheers,
Gerard

[enorepap]

The last chapter about the 4th MDT Rgt. in Gorizia (C.O. Lt.Col. Lamendola) with HQ Coy- I Btl. (two Coys) - II Btl (two Coys).

In the final phase of the war this area was crossed by the Serb Chetniks in retreat. On April 10, 1945 there was a serious accident. A Chetnik officer, driving a car, tried to force an Italian checkpoint (no. 3 in Ponte San Pietro, C.O. 2nd Lieutenant Valdambrini). When he was given the alt, the Serb tried to hit the Italian officer but he was struck down by a burst of gunfire from one of the guards. The following day, April 11, 1945, during the changing of the guard between the Italians and the Serbs at checkpoint no. 4, the Italian garrison was treacherously attacked. Suddenly someone from the Chetniks ranks shouted Death to Italy, to which the 2nd Lieutenant Daimo Draghicevich replied Death to King Peter. At this point the Chetniks, on German orders, opened fire and killed 3 officers and 14 other ranks of the MDT, including a sixteen year's old who, seriously wounded, was finished by some Serbian women. In the following days the clashes between Italians and Serbs continued intermittently. The last German rearguard withdrew to the north on the evening of April 29, 1945 (some witnesses said the 30). The II Btl. on the morning of May 1, 1945 left Gorizia westward but it was attacked by the Chetniks near Vipolže and suffered numerous losses. On the morning of May 2, 1945 the communist partisans entered the city from east and blew up the bridges. In this way they remained the masters in the east for forty days, during which they were able to establish their communist rule, while the Chetniks retreated westward surrendering to the vanguards of the western allies.

Best regards