Split: 82nd anniversary of liberation from occupation

On October 26, 1944, the city of Split was liberated from occupying forces. Following the capitulation of Fascist Italy in 1943, German forces had taken control of the city, supported by local Ustaše and Chetnik units.

The liberation was part of a broader offensive by the Yugoslav Partisans, specifically the 26th Division of the National Liberation Army, which entered the city on the morning of October 26. While fighting occurred in the surrounding areas starting around October 21, the city itself was entered without significant resistance as German and Ustaše forces retreated.

The liberation followed a series of successful operations across Dalmatia, including the seizure of islands such as Hvar, Brač, and Korčula earlier in the month. The event was marked by the appearance of Croatian and Yugoslav flags, and the local partisan publication, Slobodna Dalmacija, headlined the victory with the title: ‘Split liberated - pride of Croatian Dalmatia’ much like the historical context of the era.