Operation Libelle - Timeline

Timeline

March 13

• On the eve of the operation, the German Minister of Defence, Volker Rühe, decided to reduce the reaction time of German Forces in case of emergency in Albania and ordered the frigate Niedersachsen (F122) to move into Albanian waters.

March 14

• Five CH-53G heavy transport helicopters with 89 soldiers from the German SFOR - contingent headed from Bosnia to Dubrovnik, Croatia. At the same time in Germany, three C-160 transport planes had been held in readiness to fly to the Balkans. The Niedersachsen waited in readiness in the port of Durrës, Albania.
• 11.30 am - The German Government under Chancellor Helmut Kohl decided to deploy German Forces to evacuate the embassy. Because the German military cannot operate abroad without a permission of the German Parliament, the Government employed emergency rules and only informed the leaders of the parliament and the Defence Committee about the planned operation. The C-160s flew to Podgorica, the capital of Montenegro. The task force, consisting of CH-53s and soldiers from combat-, supporting- and medical units, lifted off to Tirana.
• 3.39 pm - Although American Forces had cancelled another evacuation operation in Tirana after a Blackhawk helicopter was hit by small arms fire, Colonel Glawatz decided to continue the approach. The first helicopter landed on an abandoned airfield near the outskirts of Tirana. Perimeter security was built up and the civilians started to board the helicopters. A gunfight broke out when insurgents in armoured vehicles attacked the escaping civilians. More gunmen opened fire from the edge of the air strip. The Germans returned fire and tried to keep the attackers at bay. At least one Albanian was wounded.
• 4.09 pm - the last helicopter left Tirana.
• The refugees were brought to Podgorica after the successful end of the operation, from where they were transported to Bonn, Germany.

The German parliament gave its subsequent permission on March 19.