ИЗМЕЂУ СТАРОГ И НОВОГ - ЈА/ЈНА И РАТНА ИСКУСТВА ВОЈСКЕ КРАЉЕВИНЕ СРБИЈЕ (1948–1959)
BETWEEN THE OLD AND THE NEW – YA/YPA AND WAR EXPERIENCES OF THE ARMY OF THE KINGDOM OF SERBIA (1948-1959)

Author(s): Aleksandar Životić
Subject(s): History, Military history
Published by: Institut za strategijska istraživanja
Keywords: Serbia; Yugoslavia; army; science; military history; mobilization; education; military intelligence service
Summary/Abstract: Until 1949, it was assumed that Yugoslavia could only be threatened by capitalist countries from the West, primarily the USA and Great Britain. The beginning and then the intensification of the conflict with the Soviet Union and its satellites - the Yugoslav neighbors, a large concentration and frequent demonstrative movements of troops along the border, as well as armed incidents threatened to cause an armed conflict. The foreign political isolation in which Yugoslavia found itself (1948-1951), as well as the presence of significant Soviet military forces in the environment, constantly strengthened the fear of a possible Soviet military intervention. Moving away from Soviet models meant insisting on one’s own experiences gained during the period of the Customs War between Serbia and Austria- Hungary, the Balkans, the First and Second World Wars. The conflict between the Kingdom of Serbia and Austria-Hungary, as a conflict between a small country and a great power of that era. That is why a systematic study of the war experiences of the Serbian army from that era was started. Special institutions and research groups were formed that had the task of studying and systematizing existing knowledge. Special institutions were created for this purpose. Formed knowledge was implemented through the development of military scientific institutions, military education, improvement of the mobilization system and the work of the military intelligence service. The initiated process of de-Sovietization and return to one’s own military experiences was not a mere doctrinal response to new military and geopolitical challenges, but an essential departure from ideological indoctrination and a step towards reaffirmation of military professionalism.

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