Velika Župa Dubrava from the Capitulation of Italy to the End of 1943

Središnja tema ovog članka predstavlja prikaz prilika u Velikoj župi Dubrava nakon kapitulacije Italije, kao i razvoj tih prilika u okviru njemačke vojne okupatorske vlasti koja zamjenjuje prijašnju talijansku okupatorsku vlast. Na temelju izvorne građe analiziraju se odnosi između njemačke vojne komande, četnika, domobrana i administrativno-upravne vlasti Velike župe s jedne strane, i partizana s druge. Dužna pozornost poklonjena je razoružanju talijanskih oružanih snaga, kao i otporu koji su dijelovi talijanske vojske pružili razoružanju. Ne zanemaruju se ni prilike u četničkom pokretu, kao ni uvjeti njegove kolaboracije s Nijemcima.When Italy capitulated in September 1943, much of the territory of Velika Župa Dubrava was already under the control of the German troops which disarmed and captured the Italian soldiers, and whose military leadership agreed to collaborate with the Chetnik commanders against the partisans. In eastern Herzegovina and on the Pelješac Peninsula the partisan movement consolidated by organising strong military forces, their nucleus being the 10th Herzegovinian Brigade. Although heavily decimated in the battle of the Sutjeska, with the joining of new volunteers it expanded into a larger military unit, 29th Herzegovinian Division. Between September and November 1943 these partisan forces liberated almost the whole territory of eastern Herzegovina from the Germans, Chetniks and Ustashas. However, in November the partisans were forced to withdraw from the Pelješac Peninsula to the island of Korčula before the advancing German troops, which in retaliation committed many atrocities on the civilians of Pelješac