Liberation of Belgrade - Aircraft of World War II

imalko · 10-20-2009, 05:04 PM

On 20th October 1944 Belgrade, capital city of Yugoslavia and Serbia, was finally liberated from the Nazi occupation by the joint operation of Soviet Red Army and Yugoslav Partisan units (known as People's Liberating Army of Yugoslavia - Narodnooslobodilačka vojska Jugoslavije or NOVJ).

Belgrade Offensive - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Today as my country celebrates the 65th anniversary of liberation of our capital in World War Two I just wanted to pay honor to all those who fought and gave their lives for freedom. Lest we forget.

Vincenzo · 10-20-2009, 07:32 PM

a bit late i join to celebration

(i had a neighbour who fight with NOVJ)

imalko · 10-20-2009, 07:43 PM

Its quite all right Vincenzo, I've posted entire thread rather late in the evening (local time).

I say, did you know that some 1000 Italian volunteers took part in fighting for liberation of Belgrade in October 1944? I seem to recall that I've read about them in one old magazine. Will try to find that article and post more details tomorow.

Vincenzo · 10-20-2009, 08:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by imalko

Its quite all right Vincenzo, I've posted entire thread rather late in the evening (local time).

I say, did you know that some 1000 Italian volunteers took part in fighting for liberation of Belgrade in October 1944? I seem to recall that I've read about them in one old magazine. Will try to find that article and post more details tomorow.

idk that some italians fightning in Belgrade liberation, but i knew that some italians soldiers, many thousands, fightning with NOVJ after the change of government, and late events, in italy.

(for time too me talking for local time in Beograd when i've postet there's 21st)

Ferdinand Foch · 10-21-2009, 02:23 AM

imalko · 10-22-2009, 05:55 PM

I've managed to find additional info about Italian volunteers which participated in battle for Belgrade in 1944. The article was published in "Politikin zabavnik" magazine almost 20 years ago...

After surrender of Italy certain number of soldiers of former Italian army chose to remain in Yugoslavia and join NOVJ. The number of this volunteers was sufficient to form two battalions named "Garibaldi" and "Matteotti". The first was assigned to 1st Proletarian Brigade (Prva proleterska brigada) and another became part of Third Krajina Strike Brigade (Treća krajiška udarna brigada). Despite initial mistrust towards soldiers who once were members of occupaing army, Italian battalions saw action fighting on Zlatibor mountain and at Valjevo and Ub. Eventually they fought in battle for Belgrade too where they played significant part. As former members of Italian regular army and due to the training they as such received they were very skilled in street fighting. Although not very prolonged battle for Belgrade saw some intensive street fighting. This was partially due to the fact that Red Army was ordered not to use heavy artillery and Air Force in fighting in Belgrade in order to spare (as much as possible) civilian population of an Allied country. Consequently this gave Germans better opportunity to defend themselves.

Anyway, Italian battalions saw action in fighting in center of Belgrade - around "Albania" palace, in area which is now know as Square of Republic, National Theater, Emperor Dushan street and Kalemegdan fortress area. Members of "Garibaldi" battalion distinguished themselves in fighting in National Theater. After several attempts they managed to take the building and then hold their ground (although cut off from other NOVJ and Soviet units) against numerous German counter attacks.

On 28th October 1944 in Belgrade brigade "Italy" was formed from personnel of "Garibaldi" and "Matteotti" battalions. Brigade participated in fighting on Srem front and in liberation of Zagreb.

Vincenzo · 10-22-2009, 06:28 PM

The name it's Matteotti.

socialist (reformist) MP killed from fascists in 1924

imalko · 10-22-2009, 06:31 PM

Okay thanks! Wrong spelling...

Edit: I've changed the original post by correcting the name of second Italian battalion.

Vincenzo · 10-22-2009, 06:40 PM

Italian source commonly talking of many more italians fightning nazi in Yugoslavia, but large part only for a few before of back in italy or come destroyed

imalko · 10-22-2009, 06:46 PM

I'm sure that there were far more Italians in NOVJ in term of numbers. The number of about 1000 men stated in this article refers only to the Italians fighting in liberation of Belgrade. When brigade "Italy" was formed the two aforementioned battalions made core of the unit but more men undoubtedly joined its ranks eventually.

10-20-2009, 05:04 PM	#1
imalko Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Vojvodina, Serbia Posts: 1,307	Liberation of Belgrade On 20th October 1944 Belgrade, capital city of Yugoslavia and Serbia, was finally liberated from the Nazi occupation by the joint operation of Soviet Red Army and Yugoslav Partisan units (known as People's Liberating Army of Yugoslavia - Narodnooslobodilačka vojska Jugoslavije or NOVJ). Belgrade Offensive - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Today as my country celebrates the 65th anniversary of liberation of our capital in World War Two I just wanted to pay honor to all those who fought and gave their lives for freedom. Lest we forget. __________________ "Find your enemy and shoot him down - everything else is unimportant."

10-20-2009, 07:32 PM	#2
Vincenzo Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Lazio Posts: 806	a bit late i join to celebration (i had a neighbour who fight with NOVJ) Last edited by Vincenzo; 10-20-2009 at 07:38 PM.

10-20-2009, 07:43 PM	#3
imalko Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Vojvodina, Serbia Posts: 1,307	Its quite all right Vincenzo, I've posted entire thread rather late in the evening (local time). I say, did you know that some 1000 Italian volunteers took part in fighting for liberation of Belgrade in October 1944? I seem to recall that I've read about them in one old magazine. Will try to find that article and post more details tomorow. __________________ "Find your enemy and shoot him down - everything else is unimportant."

10-21-2009, 02:23 AM	#5
Ferdinand Foch Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Stafford Springs, Connecticut Posts: 510	__________________ "It is my considered opinion that in the fullness of time history will record the greatness of Michael Collins, and it will be recorded at my expense." -Eamon de Valera. "Better to fight for something than live for nothing." -George S. Patton. "I don't know what the effect of the men will have on the enemy, but, by god, they frighten me." -Arthur Wellesley.

10-22-2009, 05:55 PM	#6
imalko Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Vojvodina, Serbia Posts: 1,307	I've managed to find additional info about Italian volunteers which participated in battle for Belgrade in 1944. The article was published in "Politikin zabavnik" magazine almost 20 years ago... After surrender of Italy certain number of soldiers of former Italian army chose to remain in Yugoslavia and join NOVJ. The number of this volunteers was sufficient to form two battalions named "Garibaldi" and "Matteotti". The first was assigned to 1st Proletarian Brigade (Prva proleterska brigada) and another became part of Third Krajina Strike Brigade (Treća krajiška udarna brigada). Despite initial mistrust towards soldiers who once were members of occupaing army, Italian battalions saw action fighting on Zlatibor mountain and at Valjevo and Ub. Eventually they fought in battle for Belgrade too where they played significant part. As former members of Italian regular army and due to the training they as such received they were very skilled in street fighting. Although not very prolonged battle for Belgrade saw some intensive street fighting. This was partially due to the fact that Red Army was ordered not to use heavy artillery and Air Force in fighting in Belgrade in order to spare (as much as possible) civilian population of an Allied country. Consequently this gave Germans better opportunity to defend themselves. Anyway, Italian battalions saw action in fighting in center of Belgrade - around "Albania" palace, in area which is now know as Square of Republic, National Theater, Emperor Dushan street and Kalemegdan fortress area. Members of "Garibaldi" battalion distinguished themselves in fighting in National Theater. After several attempts they managed to take the building and then hold their ground (although cut off from other NOVJ and Soviet units) against numerous German counter attacks. On 28th October 1944 in Belgrade brigade "Italy" was formed from personnel of "Garibaldi" and "Matteotti" battalions. Brigade participated in fighting on Srem front and in liberation of Zagreb. __________________ "Find your enemy and shoot him down - everything else is unimportant." Last edited by imalko; 10-22-2009 at 06:32 PM.

10-22-2009, 06:28 PM	#7
Vincenzo Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Lazio Posts: 806	The name it's Matteotti. socialist (reformist) MP killed from fascists in 1924

10-22-2009, 06:31 PM	#8
imalko Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Vojvodina, Serbia Posts: 1,307	Okay thanks! Wrong spelling... Edit: I've changed the original post by correcting the name of second Italian battalion. __________________ "Find your enemy and shoot him down - everything else is unimportant." Last edited by imalko; 10-22-2009 at 06:34 PM.

10-22-2009, 06:40 PM	#9
Vincenzo Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Lazio Posts: 806	Italian source commonly talking of many more italians fightning nazi in Yugoslavia, but large part only for a few before of back in italy or come destroyed

10-22-2009, 06:46 PM	#10
imalko Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Vojvodina, Serbia Posts: 1,307	I'm sure that there were far more Italians in NOVJ in term of numbers. The number of about 1000 men stated in this article refers only to the Italians fighting in liberation of Belgrade. When brigade "Italy" was formed the two aforementioned battalions made core of the unit but more men undoubtedly joined its ranks eventually. __________________ "Find your enemy and shoot him down - everything else is unimportant."

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