Allies: Axis: Uprisings 1942 1943 1944 1945 The battle of Knin (Serbo-Croatian: Kninska operacija) was a major Yugoslav Partisan operation during World War II in Yugoslavia launched by the 8th Dalmatian Corps from 7 November to 9 December 1944 with the purpose of destroying German, Ustaše and Chetnik formations in North Dalmatia and the city of Knin, then part of the Independent State of Croatia.

[1][2] Following the liberation of Šibenik and Drniš, the forces of the 26th Division pursued the Germans towards Knin, but met fierce resistance south of the city.

Since the Axis lost most of Dalmatia in the previous months, the Command expected that the German forces will leave Knin shortly after the attack.

The Germans also wanted to secure the right flank of their units fighting on the Syrmian Front and protect the retreating columns from Greece and Albania through Sarajevo and Banja Luka.

[1][2] The first attacks began on 7 November and were directed to Strmica north of Knin and the road to Bosansko Grahovo.

The 9th Assault Brigade of the 20th Dalmatian Division captured Veljun and Golubić near Knin and endangered the city form the North-East, but German and Chetnik counter-attacks, as well as harsh cold weather and snow, stopped their advance and minimized further front changes.

The German XV Mountain Corps tried to organize a better defense of Knin, building fortifications and making some minor changes in the operating schedule.

[7] At approximately 3:00 on the night of 2/3 December, the 26th Dalmatian Division reached the entrance of Knin at the bridge over the river Krk from the south.