BRESLAU

ˈBreslau (in some sources, called Operation № 36)

Code name for the punitive operation of German Nazi invaders in Byhaw Rajon, Magiliow Voblasc, on September 5–19, 1942, during the Great Patriotic War.

It was conducted by the forces of five Wehrmacht battalions. The 2nd Field Training Regiment of the Nazi Air Force located in the town of Byhaw and auxilary police subunits may have also participated with the aim to besiege and destroy the partisans and ‘pacifying’ the area on both sides of the highway and the Magiliow — Ragachow railway roads. As early as August 29, 1942, the leadership of the Security Police and SD in Belarus alarmingly reported about daring and effective attacks on garrisons in the villages of Prybar and Nikanavichy by well-armed and trained partisans.

During the operation near Uhliasc village, the punitive forces again received a repulse which they described as a long battle with a large subunit ‘in military equipment’. The name of the partisan command, operating in this area in August — September 1942, has not been identified; it might have been special landing groups. The Hitlerites failed to besiege and destroy the partisans during the Breslau operation. In the operation area, the punitive forces killed more than a thousand Soviet citizens. The report on the activities of the military units in the area of operation stated that from September 1 to September 15, 1942, about 400 communists and partisans, more than 300 gypsies, and about 50 mentally ill people were ‘specially processed’ (i.e. killed).