Atlas of Battles

battle, major, interwar and Second World War

Battle of the Sutjeska

Battle of the Sutjeska was a battle fought on 15 May 1943 at Bosnia and Herzegovina; it lasted 32 days. It was part of Case Black. The recorded result: Inconclusive. Recorded strength: 127,000 men; 300+ aircraft against Around 22,148 men.

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Jedinice 2. proleterske divizije u proboju preko Zelengore, početak juna 1943. Alternativni opis: 1. bataljon 6.istočnobosanske brigade kod Vrbničkih Koliba, 11. juna 1943.
Jedinice 2. proleterske divizije u proboju preko Zelengore, početak juna 1943. Alternativni opis: 1. bataljon 6.istočnobosanske brigade kod Vrbničkih Koliba, 11. juna 1943.. Žorž Skrigin, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.
Fought15 May 1943lasted 32 days
WhereBosnia and Herzegovina43.346N, 18.688E
OutcomeInconclusive
BelligerentsAxis: Fascist Italy (1922–1943); Nazi Germany; Independent State of Croatia; Kingdom of BulgariaagainstYugoslav Partisans
Part ofCase Black1943

Record

Date15 May 1943
to 16 June 1943
PlaceBosnia and Herzegovina
43.346N, 18.688E
KindBattle, interwar and Second World War
Strength127,000 men; 300+ aircraftAround 22,148 men
Casualties and losses583 killed, 1,760 wounded, 425 missing; 290 killed, 541 wounded, 1,502 missing; 40 killed, 166 wounded, 205 missing; Total casualties: 913 killed, 2,467 wounded, 2,132 missing1/3 killed and wounded; (6,391–7,543 killed and wounded); 2,537 pro-Partisan civilian sympathizers executed
Commanders
  • Alexander Löhr
  • Rudolf Lüters
  • Josip Broz Tito
  • Velimir Terzić
  • Koča Popović
  • Peko Dapčević
  • Vlado Šegrt
  • Sava Kovačević
Battle of the SutjeskaBattle of the SutjeskaBattle of Vučji DoSiege of RogaticaBattle of BilećaSiege of SarajevoOperation SarajevoBattle of Vučji DoSiege of RogaticaBattle of BilećaSiege of SarajevoPodgoricaSplitMostarTuzlaPecDubrovnikPrizrenKragujevac100 km43.346N, 18.688E
The recorded site, with the nearest other engagements in the atlas. Present-day coastlines, rivers and borders; towns from Natural Earth.

The ground today

Relief of the ground around the site of Battle of the Sutjeska
Relief within about 10.0 km of the site, contours every 50 m. Copernicus DEM GLO-30, ESA.
Satellite view of the site of Battle of the Sutjeska today
The same ground from Sentinel-2 on 2024-07-27. Contains modified Copernicus Sentinel data 2024.

The recorded site stands at about 607 m; within 10.0 km the ground runs from 490 to 1,836 m, 1,346 m of relief, mountainous country and today it is 92% tree cover, 7% grassland.

tree cover: 92%grassland: 7%tree cover 92%grassland 7%
west to east, 10.0 km572 to 1,509 mnorth to south, 10.0 km559 to 1,280 m
Elevation from the Copernicus DEM GLO-30 (ESA, Airbus); land cover from ESA WorldCover 2021 (CC BY 4.0), within about 5 km of the recorded site. Computed, not recorded.

Nearest engagements

Elsewhere in 1943

Battle of the Sutjeska is one of 2,997 engagements of the 20th century in the atlas and one of 43 in present-day Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Sources

Identity, coordinates, dates and the war from Wikidata Q1419973, released under CC0. Result, belligerents, commanders, strength and casualties from the infobox of the English Wikipedia article Operation Schwarz, revision 1380187893, read 2026-11-14, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0; the article's text is not reproduced here. Present-day country and state from Natural Earth. Dates before 1582 follow the Julian calendar as recorded.