2nd Army Group | |
---|---|
Active | 1941 |
Country | Yugoslavia |
Branch | Royal Yugoslav Army |
Type | Infantry |
Size | Field army |
Engagements | Invasion of Yugoslavia |
Disbanded | 1941 |
Commanders | |
Notable commanders |
Milutin Nedić |
The 2nd Army Group was a Royal Yugoslav Army formation commanded by Armijski đeneral Milutin Nedić during the German-led Axis invasion of the Kingdom of Yugoslavia in April 1941 during World War II. It consisted of the 1st and 2nd Armies, comprising four infantry divisions, one horsed cavalry division, one horsed cavalry regiment, and two brigade-strength infantry detachments. It was responsible for the defence of the border with Hungary from Slatina to the Tisza river.
The 2nd Army Group was not directly attacked during the first few days of the invasion, but events to the east and west of its deployment area resulted in successive orders to withdraw to the lines of the Drava and Danube then the Sava. On 10 April, the crumbling defences of the 4th Army on the left flank of the 1st Army Group had been penetrated by the German 8th Panzer Division, which then turned east and drove into the left flank of the 1st Army Group on the following day. By the end of that day, the Germans had effectively routed the 2nd Army Group. Remnants continued to fight along the line of the Sava until early on 14 April, but mass surrenders began that day with tens of thousands of Yugoslav soldiers being taken into captivity by the Germans during their drive on Sarajevo in the centre of the country. The Yugoslav High Command unconditionally surrendered in Belgrade effective at 12:00 on 18 April.