Battle of Odžak

The Battle of Odžak was the last battle of World War II in Europe.^[3][4] The battle began on 19 April 1945 and lasted until 25 May 1945,^[5] 17 days after the end of the war in Europe. The combatants were the Armed Forces of the Independent State of Croatia (NDH) commanded by Petar Rajković and the Yugoslav Army commanded by Miloš Zekić. The battle took place in the Bosnian town of Odžak.^{[citation needed]} The battle was a victory for the Partisans.^{[citation needed]}

Battle of Odžak
Part of World War II in Yugoslavia
Machine Gunners during the battle in May 1945
Date 19 April – 25 May 1945 (1 month and 6 days) Location Odžak, Independent State of Croatia (present-day Bosnia and Herzegovina) 45.0535°N 18.3217°E / 45.0535; 18.3217 Result Partisan victory Fall of the Independent State of Croatia
Belligerents
Yugoslavia	Independent State of Croatia
Commanders and leaders
Miloš Zekić	Petar Rajković †[1]
Units involved
25th Division 27th Division 53rd Division	Unknown
Strength
23,000–35,000 soldiers	1,800–11,000 soldiers[2][1]
Casualties and losses
1,000–10,000[1][2]	Almost all killed or captured
Odžak Location within Yugoslavia

The battle is thoroughly described in a number of books, for example, in a 1969 book on 53rd Division,^[1] 1981 book on 16th Muslim Brigade,^[6] 1983 book on 27th East Bosnian Division,^[7] and 1983 book on 14th Central Bosnian Brigade.^[8]

• 
  Operation "Vlaška Mala" from 23 to 28 April 1945.
• 
  Operation "Vlaška Mala" on 22 May 1945
• 
  Operation "Vlaška Mala" from 22 to 25 May 1945.

References

1. Vukosavljević & Karasijević 1969, p. 190-206.
2. The Last Battle Of World War II In Europe Occurred 16 Days After Germany Fell
3. Matkovich, Blanka (2017), Croatia and Slovenia at the End and After the Second World War (1944-1945), Irvine, CA: BrownWalker Press, p. 67, ISBN 978-1-62734-691-7
4. Bušić & Lasić 1983, p. 277.
5. Đorić 1996, p. 169.
6. Đonlagić & Kazazović 1981, p. 276-291.
7. Ðonlagić 1983, p. 507-519.
8. Samardžija 1983, p. 369-388.

Bibliography

• Ðonlagić, Ahmet (1983). 27. ISTOČNOBOSANSKA DIVIZIJA. Beograd: Vojnoizdavački zavod. Archived from the original on 25 June 2023.
• Đonlagić, Ahmet; Kazazović, Ćamil (1981). ŠESNAESTA MUSLIMANSKA NOU BRIGADA. Sarajevo: Istorijski arhiv. Archived from the original on 25 June 2023.
• Samardžija, Stevo (1983). 14. SREDNJOBOSANSKA NOU BRIGADA (PDF). Banja Luka: Skupština opštine Prnjavor. Archived from the original on 25 June 2023.
• Vukosavljević, Mladen; Karasijević, Drago (1969). 53. SREDNJOBOSANSKA NOU DIVIZIJA (PDF). Sarajevo: Zadrugar. Archived from the original on 16 October 2022.
• Bušić, Bruno; Lasić, Vinko (1983). Jedino Hrvatska!: Sabrani spisi (in Croatian). ZIRAL.
• Đorić, Marjan (1996). Bosanska Posavina: povijesno-zemljopisni pregled (in Croatian). Polion.

45.0000°N 18.2600°E / 45.0000; 18.2600