ORGANISATION OF MOUNTAIN BRIGADES
Gorski zdrugovi or Mountain brigades were in 1942-43 the best units of Domobranstvo, its main striking force. They were formed around Mountain infantry regiments no.1- 4, that were organised in 1941. These brigades were manned by young recruits instead of reservists as were other units at that time. Only in middle of 1943 did new Jäger brigades(Lovački zdrugovi) equaled and surpassed Mountain brigades in quality.
First Mountain brigades were formed in early 1942.
Up to 10 Mountain brigades were planed at that time.
These Mountain brigades had structure : one mountain infantry regiment with 3 battalions that later increased to 4 batallions along with one Jager battalion (lovačka bojna) and other smaller units. Mountain infantry regiments were numbered according to brigades it served.
These first mountain brigades were numbered with Roman numerals: I, II, III, IV.
I.Gorski zdrug was formed on 4.april.1942 in Zagreb, around 1.infantry regiment "Poglavnik dr.Ante Pavelić", this honorary title was added to brigade on 30.09.1942.
II.Gorski zdrug was formed on 18.april 1942 in Požega, around 2.mountain infantry regiment, on 30.09.1942 honorary title "Vojskovođe Doglavnika Slavka Kvaternika" was added to brigade.
III.Gorski zdrug was formed on 1.may.1942 in Petrovaradin, around 3.mountain infantry regiment, its HQ and one battalion were manned by air-force personnel.
IV.Gorski zdrug was formed 1.may.1942 in Bjelovar, around 4.mountain infantry regiment
V.Gorski zdrug was formed on 27.January 1943 with 3 batallions, but without Jager battalion. V. Gorski zdrug was formed from Petrinjski zdrug.
Its HQ was former HQ of Petrinjski zdrug ,
I. battalion was formed from VII.Novačka bojna(Recruits battalion)
II. battalion was formed from X.Novačka bojna
III. battalion was formed from IX.Novačkabojna
IV.battalion was not formed.
There was insufficient manpower and VI.Gorski zdrug was never formed.
In october 1942, 3600 men from were sent to train in Dollersheim and Bruck an der Leitha to form VII.Gorski zdrug(Mountain brigade) with 4 battalions. This brigade was disbanded at the end of the year and from it core of 373. Wehrmacht infantry kroat. division(Tiger division) was formed. 1. and 2. battalion formed 383.inf regiment of 373.division while 3. and 4. Batallion formed 384 inf.regiment of 373.division. Other smaller units of brigade become divisional units with 373.designation.
Jager battalions(lovačka bojna) of Mountain brigades were numbered as follows:
I. Gorski zdrug had 2.jager battalion(Bihać)
II. Gorski zdrug had 3.jager battalion(Križevci)
III. Gorski zdrug had 4.jager battalion(Bjelovar)
IV. Gorski zdrug had 5.jager battalion(Banja Luka)
On 30.09.1942 Montain brigades were restructured and Jager battalions become 4th battalions of Mountain regiments.
1.jager battalion was formed from in January.1942 from 1.battalion of 16.infantry regiment. This unit was manned by Croatian Volksdeutsche , it was trained and commanded by 718.Wehrmacht division. In 1943 is was transferred to SS and was never a part of Mountain brigades.
REORGANISATION IN JUNE 1943
Reorganization of Mountain brigades was ordered by German plenipotentiary general in Croatia from 07.06.1943 .
4 new mountain brigades were formed from older brigades and had a new structure: two mountain infantry regiments with 3 battalions each and two Artillery battalions/artillerie abteilung (topnički sklop) and other smaller units.
New brigades were officially numbered with Arabic numerals 1,2,3 and 4. They were
1.Gorski zdrug with regiments:
1.mountain regiment formed from old I.mountain brigade
5.mountain regiment formed from old V.mountain brigade
2.Gorski zdrug with regiments:
2.mountain regiment formed from old II.mountain brigade
9.mountain regiment formed from 9.infantry regiment (sometimes 9.mountain regiment is called 6.mountain regiment)
3.Gorski zdrug with regiments:
3.mountain regiment formed from old III.mountain brigade
11.mountain regiment formed from 11.infantry regiment.
4.Gorski zdrug with regiments:
4.mountain regiment formed from 1. and 2. battalions of old IV.mountain brigade with XI.Ustasa batallion(Ustaška djelatna bojna)
8.mountain regiment formed from 3.and 4. batallions of old IV.mountain brigade with XXXVII.Ustasa battalion(Ustaška djelatna bojna)
XI. Ustasa battalion(Koprivinica) and XXXVII Ustasa battalion were part of III.Ustaški stajaći djelatni zdrug(3.Ustasa active brigade) until incorporated in 4.Gorski zdrug.
FELDPOST - BOJNA POŠTA
Mail from Mountain brigades is rare. Croatian soldiers were paying postage and using ordinary covers or postcards, hence mail often is not recognized as military mail. I have seen only official mail from units with units cancel.
When soldiers were writing letters they often used old names of Mountain brigades, regiments and battalions , and one has to be careful not to wrongly identify these units. Soldiers often noted their company by Arabic numerals and Battalion by Roman numerals.
The only unit that regularly cancelled soldiers mail with official units cancel is VII.Gorski zdrug while it was training in the Reich. I assume it was done to allow free passage of mail to Croatia via German Feldpost service.
Brigade trained in Bruck an der Leitha, Dollersheim, Neusiedl am See in Austria.
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