Issue: 2/2019

The Battle for Pljevlja, 1 December 1941.

Authors:
Milutin Živković

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The Battle for Pljevlja was one of the largest military operations of the rebel forces against the occupiers in Yugoslavia during the 1941. It ended, however, with the victory of the Italian Army. There were many causes for that: better defensive positions, extensive intelligence preparation, stronger discipline, and significantly better weapons. Many facts support the claim that the battle was decided even before it began. The Italians entirely exploited their firepower supremacy, which led to the great destruction of the town of Pljevlja. In addition, as a sign of retaliation for the support given to the partisan forces, the occupier carried out mass executions of local Serbs. They burned and plundered their houses, as well as entire villages.