(photo credit: study..com)
My forthcoming book, Dark Shadows Hover, will be released on January 26 to coincide with events surrounding International Holocaust Remembrance Day, annually recognized on January 27. I'm honored thatAmsterdam Publishers in the Netherlands, which specializes in Holocaust memoir and some fiction, is the book's publisher. PRE-ORDER AVAILABLE NOW ON AMAZON
This weekly series of blog posts will introduce the reader to some basic history before reading my book, a biographical fiction based on the young life of Moris Albahari, who at the age of twelve became a Yugoslav Partisan. Though it’s not critical to read the posts to enjoy the book, I trust you’ll find them interesting. If you’d like to receive subsequent blog posts leading up to book publication, and are not already on my email list, subscribe at jordanstevensher.com.
The Nazis, their Collaborators, and Tito’s Partisans in World War II Yugoslavia
Part 4: The Partisan Movement in Yugoslavia
Germany, Italy and their fascist collaborators invaded Yugoslavia on April 6, 1941. Led by Josip Broz Tito (to be discussed in more detail in the next post), the communist party began organizing guerrilla resistance after the Soviet Union was invaded by Germany in June. It recruited fighters from former Yugoslav military personnel, non-military citizens, men and women, including peasants who wanted to join the movement to defeat the occupying invaders of the Axis Powers.
The Partisans participated in small-scale incursions meant to disrupt the occupiers’ activities until September when they liberated the Serb village of Ulice. The resistance recruited its fighting force from all ethnicities and religions although many Jews were still uncertain how they’d be treated, even though the communist party fastened its beliefs to its communal doctrines above religion. So, they fought but didn’t always disclose their religious beliefs.
The Partisans intent was to oust Germany and the other invading Axis Powers, and to set up a communist state. However, although initially they fought with Tito’s guerrillas, loyalist Serbs called Chetniks, separated from the Partisans and these two sides engaged in war, as well. In fact, the nationalist Chetniks desired a pure, Serb nation to be formed in Yugoslavia, which didn’t include those who fought with the Partisans.
In 1942, the Partisans retreated into the mountains of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Montenegro using their knowledge of the terrain to carry out tactical strikes, and then retreat back into the hills. Eventually, with a heavy emphasis on recruiting fighters, using tools such as photography posters, articles in its revived communist newspaper, and local citizens to invite others to their movement. The success of their recruitment efforts resulted in a strong fighting force called the Peoples Liberation Army. In November of that year, Tito convened the Anti-Fascist Council for National Liberation of Yugoslavia that evolved into its new provisional government.
The primary military forces of Germany and Italy took notice. They began to engage in strategic battles called the Seven German Offenses. These large-scale invasions against Partisans resulted in heavy casualties on all sides.
The battle known as the Battle of Sutjeska, the fifth German Offensive, between May 15 and June 15 was the bloodiest of all of the Offensives. Happening in the area around the Sutjeska River, in the region of Montenegro, eastern Herzegovina, and mostly southeastern Bosnia, the German, Italian, Croatian, and Bulgarian forces encircled the Partisans. It was important to Tito to include the wounded in his forces plans to escape. This was his message that all people needed to be taken care of by the Communists. However, in the Battle of Sutjeska, there were great losses of the wounded, both villagers and Partisans.
Prior to this Offensive, Chetniks had acted as if they were the voice of Yugoslavia’s government. The Battle of Sutjeska convinced the allies, led by, Great Britain, the United States, and the Soviet Union, to now back the Partisans as having legitimate goals of liberation for the people of Yugoslavia. The allies entered the war in 1943 to support those efforts.
In September of 1943, the Italians surrendered to the Allies and became partners in the fight against Germany. By the end of that year, the Liberation Army had grown to 300,000. It had turned the tide and was forcing the Germans hand, as it made great gains in its quest to defeat the invaders.
In October, 1944, the Partisans took part in the Soviet invasion of Belgrade to defeat the Germans. It then focused more of its attention to defeating the Chetniks, who themselves had engaged in terrorist acts against non-Serb villages and cities killing many thousands.
The Liberators launched a brutal campaign of reprisals against fleeing anti-Partisan forces with the atrocities being unearthed in mass graves even as late as early in the 21st Century.
In March, 1945, the Liberation Army became known as the Yugoslav Peoples’ Army.
(information attributed to multiple sources and britannia.com)
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