The attack on Šabac was attack of the united rebel forces of the Chetniks, forces of the Communist Party of Yugoslavia and Pećanac Chetniks against German forces garrisoned in Šabac in Axis-occupied Yugoslavia (modern-day Serbia) in period between 21 and 26 September 1941, during the Uprising in Serbia.
The commander of all forces was Chetnik Captain Dragoslav Račić, commander of the Chetnik Cer Detachment composed of five companies with about 1,500 soldiers. Račić participated in the battle contrary to instructions of his superior commander Draža Mihailović who refused to allow Chetniks to attack much stronger and well prepared German garrison in Šabac. The Partisan forces of the communist party composed of three detachments with about 1,100 soldiers were commanded by Nebojša Jerković while forces of 500 Pećanac Chetniks were commanded by Bogdan Ilić – Cerski.
The Axis forces were under supreme command of General Franz Böhme. The Šabac garrison initially had one battalion and one company from 704th and 718th Division reinforced by the 342nd Infantry Division and unidentified unit of Croatian Ustaše. The Axis garrison in Šabac was aware of rebel plans for attack and was well prepared for defence.
The attack began during the night on 22 September and lasted until 26 September, with rebels repeated attacks during the night and retreating in the dawn without being able to defeat the German garrison. There are indications that Partisans retreated on 24 September. The rebels failed to capture Šabac and retreated from the region of Mačva until the end of September in front of advancing Axis forces. The casualties of the rebels are unknown, but the German and Croatian retributions were devastating, with 1,130 executed civilians, 21,500 imprisoned and most of the populated places in Mačva completely burned down. Eventually, at the end of World War II in Yugoslavia, the communist led Partisan forces captured Šabac in autumn 1944, killed at least 177 people from Šabac in communist purges and established the communist regime which lasted for almost fifty years.
Background
Emergence of two resistance movements
During the Axis invasion of Yugoslavia the German forces occupied Šabac on 13 April 1941. Draža Mihailović and group of Yugoslav officers gathered on Ravna Gora in May 1941 and marked the beginning of the establishment of Chetnik detachments of Yugoslav Army as the earliest organized resistance movement in Axis occupied Yugoslavia. The Yugoslav Communists decided to start with armed resistance on 4 July 1941, three days after they received an order from the Comintern and a day after Stalin issued his order on 3 July 1941.
Preparations for joint attack of both resistance units
On 25 August Račić and Jerković composed and sent a letter to Draža Mihailović asking for his approval for joint action of Chetniks and Partisans against the Axis forces, emphasizing that there is atmosphere of population of the region for united struggle against the occupiers. Mihailović did not approve the attack on Šabac since rebel forces were still weak and because the German garrison was well prepared for the attack, emphasizing that it is irrational to capture Šabac without being able to capture the territory on the left bank of river Sava. Nevertheless, on 28 August Račić and Jerković agreed to attack Šabac together with Račić being the main commander of all units. On 1 September the Chetnik Cer Detachment and Partisan Podrinje Detachment issued a joint proclamation emphasizing their intention to struggle against the occupying forces together.
Forces
Rebel forces
The rebel forces were composed of three different factions: Yugoslav Army in the Fatherland forces Communist controlled Partisan forces Chetniks of Kosta Pećanac
Račić was commander of all forces attacking Šabac, the Chetniks, the Partisans and detachment of Pećanac Chetniks commanded by Budimir Ilić – Cerski. The deputy commander was Nebojša Jerković while political commessair was Danilo Lekić Španac. The Chetnik forces had about 1,500 soldiers while the communist Partisan forces had about 1,000 soldiers, while Pećanac Chetniks commanded by Cerski had about 500 men. Two units of the Serbian State Guard were dispatched by General Milan Nedić to break the siege of Šabac but Račić and Jerković convinced them to join the rebels.