Hi all,
ORIGINAL: cavalry
Sorry we got in a mix, then the Chetniks were not partisans in that they were not Communist or backed by Russia, I know that. So they sort of collaberated against the Communist partisans and were so dispised by the partisans as a term used only for Russian or Russian backed militia or what ever. At the same time they were initally fighting to get the Germans and Italians out before they realsed they hated the Communists more?
Is that it - or am I in a right muddle:) ?
it was on the BBC about the SOE involvement from the UK.
I see you are from Croatia - I have been sailing off the coast there, its a magic place- but they sea was very cold in September.
The Wikipedia article is more accurate than the BBC - the BBC article is rather bad.
Short history:
#1
Former Yugoslavia was created after WWI - for the first time it was one unified country with several different nations (that never before lived in one single country due to various historical circumstances). The constitutional nations of the former Yugoslavia were Slovenians, Serbs and Croats.
#2
Ruling Serbian royal family had close ties to British Royal family and generally the former Yugoslavia was considered strong ally to both France and Britain in the period between WWI and WWII.
#3
As WWII started in 1939 and things in that part of Europe deteriorated rapidly the former Yugoslavia was drawn closer and closer toward Axis powers (Germany and Italy).
This was due to fact that all other neighboring countries (except Greece) were getting "under Axis umbrella" and the fact that the first former Yugoslavian King Alexander was killed in 1934. His very young son that succeeded him had no actual power and government of former Yugoslavia in the end joined the so-called "Tripartite Pact" in spring of 1941. This meant that former Yugoslavia actually joined the Axis (just like neighboring Hungary, Romania and Bulgaria).
#4
In march 1941 there was British backed coup that tried to change the alliance of former Yugoslavia back toward British but Hitler was furious. Germany invaded in April and in just few days occupied former Yugoslavia. Ruling Serbian royal family fled to Britain.
#5
The first one to rise against occupiers and the only true partisans were Tito's partisans who actually fought the enemy (Germans and Italians)!
#6
Some of the former royal Yugoslav officers organized resistance in Serbia proper - their colloquial name were Serbian "Chetniks".
Their main and only goal was maintaining of Yugoslavia as country ruled by Serbian royal family and not actual fighting against German and Italian occupiers.
#7
Tito's partisans were very very wide group of people and not just communists - this is very important thing to know.
They consisted of wide variety of people all united to fight occupiers and to create free country (and preferely without ruling Royal Serbian family).
The communism was actually downplayed for the most part because the partisan movement wanted big support from whole population - the communists didn't have such big backing at the time at all.
The only thing that actually related the Tito's partisan movement with communism was red star on front of a military hat - but that was not actually considered as pro-communism thing - it was more the anti-fascism thing (similar to what happened Spain before WWII).
BTW, I still have several leaflets from 1942 that my family got. In those leaflets there is no mention at all regarding communism, Soviet Union or Stalin - in it there is only call for arms and fight against German and Italian occupiers - interesting isn't it!!!
Please note that Soviet Union was thousands of kilometers away and under heavy attack by Germany at that time. It was, therefore, 100% impossible that any aid was given to Tito's partisans by Stalin!
All the Tito's partisans had at that time were weapons they took from German and Italian occupiers!!!
#8
British government hoped and believed that Serbian "Chetniks" fought the Germans and Italians.
Why was this?
Because the exiled former Yugoslav government (and Serbian royal family) all resided in Britain and they persuaded Churchill that "Chetniks" are fighting the Germans and Italians.
Churchill then ordered that both Tito's partisans and Serbian "Chetniks" are helped.
British governament knew for a fact that Tito's partisans fought against Germans and Italians because their resistance actions really happened and the combat results were true - regarding the Serbian "Chetniks" British government believed what they heard from former Yugoslav government (and Serbian royal family) that all resided in Britain.
Britain send OSS officers to both groups.
#9
When it was crystal clear that Serbian "Chetniks" were actually using British supplied weapons only against Tito's partisans and that they were actually collaborating with Germans and Italians for the whole time the British aid to them stopped. This happened in 1943.
#10
When Russians advanced towards east later in 1944/45 the Soviet help for Tito's partisans finally happened (the land contact was finally possible).
Please note that at that time Tito's partisans were armed with weapons taken from Germans and Italian occupiers (especially after Italian capitulation in 1943) and with weapons supplied by the British (there were even Spitfires and Hurricanes given)!
Only after WWII ended and after "rigged" elections the communism actually took a grip over country.
Leo "Apollo11"