Likvidace nekomunistických vojenských jednotek v Jugoslávii v letech 1945–1946
The Liquidation of Non-Communist Military Units in Yugoslavia in 1945–1946

Summary/Abstract: In the turbulent aftermath of the Second World War, the establishment of communist rule in Yugoslavia was accompanied by a large-scale campaign against non-communist military and political forces. This article examines the elimination of Chetnik, Ustaša, Slovene Home Guard, and other anti-communist groups during the years 1945–1946, drawing extensively on eyewitness testimonies and historical accounts. Following the victory of Tito’s Partisans, thousands of members of defeated military formations, along with civilians associated with them, attempted to surrender to British and other Western Allied forces, hoping to avoid communist reprisals. Many were subsequently returned to Yugoslavia, where large numbers were executed without trial in mass killings at locations such as Kočevje, Maribor, Bleiburg, and other sites across Slovenia and Yugoslavia. Personal testimonies reveal experiences of deception, forced transfers, abuse, confiscation of belongings, and mass executions carried out against prisoners. The study also situates these events within the broader process of communist consolidation of power, including the suppression of legal political opposition and the prosecution of prominent anti-communist leaders. Particular attention is given to figures such as Dragoljub Mihailović, Leon Rupnik, and Alojzije Stepinac, whose trials became symbolic of the new regime’s efforts to eliminate opposition. By combining historical context with survivor accounts, the article highlights one of the most controversial and painful chapters of postwar Yugoslav history and contributes to a deeper understanding of political violence in the region.

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