Struma Operation

The Struma Operation was a Bulgarian army operation during the Second World War, conducted from 9 September to 18 October 1944. Its opponent was the German forces in northern Greece. It formed part of Bulgaria's participation in the war against the Third Reich in 1944–1945.

Initially, the Bulgarian troops withdrew and/or were captured. On 10 October, however, troops of the Second Occupation Corps took up defensive readiness on the orders of the High Command. On 14 September, the Bulgarian troops launched a counteroffensive against the Germans. In the period up to 15 October 1944, the Bulgarian units conducted intensive artillery fire that successfully repelled German attempts to advance in the Aegean region. Infantry elements counterattacked and succeeded in breaking through German lines on several occasions.

On 18 October 1944, the German forces withdrew north towards Vardar Macedonia, ending this phase of the conflict.