LESKOVAC AND ITS SURROUNDINGS DURING THE APRIL WAR

Abstract

With the entrance of the German troops in Bulgaria in March 1941, the Kingdom of Yugoslavia was surrounded by members of the Tripartite Pact, which jeopardized its eastern border and link with Greece. According to the Yugoslav war plan R-41, territory of eastern and southeastern Serbia was defended by the 5th army. On its right wing were the units of the Vlasina Detachment and the Drina Division closing the routes that led through Bosiljgrad and Vlasina to Vranje, Vladičin Han and Predejane, and from Trn to Svođe, Babušnica and Leskovac. During the first two days of the war, these units did not participate in major fighting with German troops. The breakthrough of the front in Macedonia and Pirot forced them to retreat towards the left bank of the South Morava, where the front should have been consolidated. As early as April 9th, the Germans occupied Niš, and with penetration of their armored units, they sent their scouting parts in several directions, which practically led to the encirclement of Yugoslav troops in the Leskovac region. The moral of the unitsof Vlasina Detachment and the Drina Division has been steadily declining due to sudden withdrawal, poor supply and rapid German penetration. Fewer fights were recorded only in the vicinity of Leskovac. Most of these units were gathered in Lebane on April 13th, where they were partly disintegrated and partly captured.