User:OakMapping/sandbox/1st Krajina (Kozara) Proletarian Assault Brigade

The 1st Krajina (Kozara) Proletarian Assault Brigade was a World War II military unit of the Yugoslav Partisans formed on 28 May 1942, in the village of Lamovita near Prijedor. The brigade was formed by merging of parts of four Partisan detachments. It was commanded by Ivica Marušić Ratko and its political commissar was Velimir Stojnić.

Since 9 November until the end of the war, it fought under the 5th Krajina Division. It participated in many Partisan operations including: Bihać Operation, Belgrade offensive and Syrmian Front.

The brigade was declared to be proletarian on its 10th anniversary. It was also awarded with Order of National Liberation, Order of the Partisan Star, Order of Brotherhood and Unity and on 30th anniversary of a victory against fascism, in 1975 it was awarded with Order of the People's Hero.

Formation


On 16 May 1942, Partisans captured Prijedor, the third largest city in Bosanska krajina at the time. This was an improtant military and political victory for partisans. Five days later, in the village of Lamovita near Prijedor 1st Krajina Brigade was formed from parts of four Partisan detachments. Those being: 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 5th Krajina Detachments. Decision about the formation of brigade was made by Operational Staff for Bosanska Krajina and an order about its formation was created on a meeting held in a elementary school in Lamovita. On this meeting final decisions about the brigade staff and composition of the battalions were made.

The brigade consisted of 1186 fighters, most of which had significant military experience despite all fighters being under 30 years old. They were very well equipped at the time, the brigade had: 1100 rifles, almost 100 Light machine guns, 5 machine guns, 3 mortars and ammunition for all weapons excluding mortars.

Activities
Head of Operational Staff for Bosanska Krajina, Kosta Nađ gave first orders to the brigade right after its formation. It was tasked with marching towards Manjača, in order to destroy Chetnik forces in the area and following that, capture Mrkonjić-Grad.