Zarevo nad Drava (1974) User Reviews

A depiction of one of the bloodiest battles fought by the Bulgarian army.

[luttens · 10/10 · 2 May 2005]

The film depicts the battle of Drava, fought in the beginning of March 1945 mainly on Hungarian soil. Elements of the 1st Bulgarian Army took defensive positions along the Drava river, which, in this sector, divides Serbia and Hungary. In march 1945 the German OKW launched a counter-offensive operation against the Soviet, the Bulgarian and the Yugoslav forces, concentrated to the north and to the south of the Balaton lake. The Bulgarians were entrusted with the defense of the Drava sector, which was in fact th extreme left flank of the Soviet front, and was attacked by vastly superior numbers of German troops. Furious fighting occurred in the small villages of Drava Sobolch, Drava Czehi and Drava Polkonha, which were passing from hands to hands for a week or so. The Germans advanced only 8 to 10 km in a narrow strip and were unable to go on with the onslaught. At the end, after repelling all the enemy thrusts, the Bulgarians, at the expense of the blood of many comrades in arms, launched a counter-offensive, which regained the lost ground and enabled them to secure the flank of the Soviets. The Bulgarian army went on, pursuing the Germans to Austria, where on the 8.05.1945 met the British forces near Volkermarkt and Klagenfurt.