Velika Župa Dubrava in 1943 Until the Capitulation of Italy

Ovaj prilog nastavak je članka »Velika župa Dubrava između Talijana, četnika i partizana u 1942. godini.« Opisuje prilike u navedenoj župi u 1943. godini, u kojoj se nastavljaju zbivanja iz 1942. Početkom 1943. partizani obnavljaju svoje borbene aktivnosti, četnici nastavljaju teror nad Hrvatima i Muslimanima uz talijansku benevolentnost. Sredinom 1943. u prostor Velike župe Dubrava dolazi novi vojno-politički subjekt, njemačka vojska, koja razoružava četnike i potiskuje dotadašnji utjecaj talijanskog faktora na tom prostoru. U posebnim odjeljcima ovog priloga opisuju se prilike u Dubrovniku i na Pelješcu u 1943. godini.The struggle between the forces of the Axis and the partisans continued on the territory of Velika župa Dubrava in 1943, the former being extended to include Chetniks and their paramilitary organisation known as Voluntary Anti-Communist Militia under Italian command. Dubrovnik was the administrative centre of Velika župa Dubrava, and as such headquartered the Italian military forces and represented their important strategic point. On the eve of Italy’s capitulation, Dubrovnik witness ed an increasing Chetnik activity aided by the Italians, the aim of which was to secede Dubrovnik and southern Dalmatia from the Independent State of Croatia (NDH). Although administratively part of Velika župa Dubrava, Pelješac developed along its own path. Partisan movement organised on the peninsula put up a strong resistance to the Italian invader whose counteraction included ruthless retaliation, arrests, executions, bombardment and burning down of the Pelješac villages. Judging by the circumstances, NDH exercised limited sovereignty in this administrative unit, real authority being in the hands of the Italian military command collaborated by the Chetniks. The first months of 1943 brought certain changes, as the partisan offensive regained the territory of Velika župa Dubrava in eastern Herzegovina from the Italians and the Chetniks. Italian capitulation in September 1943 had little impact on the overall situation in this area, since the Italian troops were soon replaced by those of their German allies