SRBIJA NA KRAJU RATA
SERBIA AT THE END OF THE WAR

Summary/Abstract: Serbia, as the most important republic of Yugoslavia and „its backbone“, became in 1944 a very important strategic and political region, both for the Allies and for the German war machinery, but especially for the confronted militarypolitical movements within the country, partisans and chetniks. All of them had their own military and political calculations regarding Serbia, and all of them intended to realize their own politics. The interests and relations confronted in that way brought about the battle for Serbia, which became battle for Yugoslavia and its future. In the second half of 1944 decisive military and political events occurred, determining the future of the Yugoslav state. War operations moved from the western to the eastern part of the country, i. e. to Serbia. Partizan forces were transformed from armed guerilla to a real army, armed by the Western Allies and, from summer 1944, heavily supported by Soviets. They became a serious threat for the occupying and rival resistance troops, communications and other targets in this sensitive region. At the same time, as a new regime was being prepared, the rivalry between partisans and chetniks movements continued. The first movement was on the rise, while the second one was in disarray and politically and military discredited. The civil war was fought on with all the collateral cruelties - the ally bombers destroyed communication networks and industrial enterprises, but civilian targets as well, both in agreement with partisan forces, as well as in accordance with their own military strategic plans. Finally, the Ally politics changed, partisans were fully accepted, and chetniks were rejected as allies. The change of this, particularly British, attitude had an important psychological effect. The reputation that chetniks had enjoyed up to that point was transferred to partisans. „Ally support and dispatches brought new volunteers. Better equipped and more numerous partisans could enhance the range of their operations; their success on the battlefield enabled them to capture more weaponry and to enhance their own prestige. So, in several months, partisan movement in Serbia became manifold stronger. Together with defeat and disintegration of chetniks, a monarchist mood in Serbia seemingly disappeared.

• Details
• Contents