WWII Yugoslavia year 1963 Battles on Sutjeska and island Vis

Yugoslavia year 1963/64 stamps WWII – Battles on Sutjeska river & island Vis MNH

1. Battle of the Sutjeska River (1943):
   • The Battle of the Sutjeska River, also known as the Fourth Enemy Offensive, took place from May 15 to June 16, 1943, in the mountains of eastern Bosnia and Herzegovina, near the Sutjeska River.
   • It was part of the larger Axis offensive against the Yugoslav Partisans, who were led by Marshal Josip Broz Tito.
   • The Yugoslav Partisans, along with allied Soviet and British forces, were encircled by German and Axis forces in the rugged terrain of the Sutjeska River valley.
   • Despite being heavily outnumbered and surrounded, the Partisans managed to break through the encirclement and escape, albeit with heavy casualties.
   • The Battle of the Sutjeska River was one of the largest and most significant engagements of the Yugoslav Partisan resistance during World War II and is commemorated as a symbol of Yugoslav heroism and defiance.
2. Battle of Vis Island (1944):
   • The Battle of Vis Island took place from November 1943 to May 1944 on the island of Vis, off the coast of Croatia in the Adriatic Sea.
   • Vis Island served as the headquarters and base of operations for the Yugoslav Partisans, who used it as a strategic stronghold against Axis forces.
   • German and Italian forces launched a series of air and naval attacks on Vis Island in an attempt to dislodge the Partisans and gain control of the island.
   • Despite facing heavy bombardment and aerial assaults, the Partisans, with the support of Allied forces, managed to defend Vis Island and maintain their presence there until the end of the war.
   • The successful defense of Vis Island by the Yugoslav Partisans played a crucial role in their resistance efforts and contributed to the liberation of Yugoslavia from Axis occupation.