Operation Detained

Opposing Forces

• 2^nd Kompanie, 1^st Battalion, 892^nd Regiment, 264^th Infantrie Division under command of Leutenant Mawick
  • 16 officers
  • 85 soldiers (grenadiers)
• Five members of V.G.A.D. Verstarkter GrenzAufsichtsDienst
• Seven members of Croatian Gendarmerie

Operation

During the during the evening of March 17^th, 1944, the flotilla of twelve vessels departs from the two harbour towns of Komiža and Vis on the Island of Vis. Around 19:00 hours, the convoy rendezvous at sea and heads for their objective. Around 00:30 March 18^th,1943 the assault force arrive in cove on Island of Šolta. During the early morning the men and their equipment are landed in the Tatinja inlet so that by dawn all is ready for the assault on the fortified garrison in Grohota.

At 06.00 the Allies open fire on the German defences, who are then invited to surrender. The men of Kompanie 1, 892^nd Regiment, 264^th Infantrie Division, the Germans refuse and resist for 30 minutes until 36 British Kittyhawk dive bombers arrive and bomb the village. After this the Germans decide to give up their resistance. All actions are terminated by 07:30, except for isolated mopping-up operations and evacuation to beaches with wounded and prisoners completed by 1230 hrs. The Allies suffer two men killed and fifteen wounded, mostly to the effects of bombs from their own aircraft, and the Germans suffered six men killed, and 105 captured, most of the latter in wounded condition. The air attack cost the villagers of Grohota two persons killed and four injured.

Under the protection of Allied warplanes, the Assault force re-embarks with their prisoners during the evening and return to Vis. In the evening, under air force cover, thse allied convoy return to Vis Island together with prisoners undisturbed while another convoy consisting of NB-7 Enare II, NB-8 Kornat, Pace-71 and motor sail boats Ban Jelania, Velebit and Lahor leaves Vis Island for Tatinja on Šolta to evacuate civilian refugees who wanted to leave the island before Germans return. Because a lot of refuges aren’t ready only around 250 people are evacuated while an allied landing ship takes around 130 more aboard. The convoy returns to the island of Vis at 01:45 on March 20^th, 1944.

The German reaction to the landing is slow and after some aerial reconnaissance, they send a small party on night of March 20^th/21^st. The party is made up of twenty officers and soldiers but is evacuated before dawn. Another landing is made on night of March 21^st/22^nd with four assault boats bringing in two infantry companies from 264^th Infantrie Division but after 40 minutes they decide to return to Split after five assault boats carrying a company of Brandenburg Coastal Jager are reported lost at sea. Finally on the night of March 22^nd/23^rd all three companies arrive, and the Germans start to fortify their positions in town of Grohote.

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