Tito and Yougoslavian Partisans

Alas no. i am working through his battalion's war record from where he landed at Taranto thro Cassino and on through to northern Italy ending up in Austria.

 

Too bad. I hope you'll find some info about his service.

 

BTW, please read the text under the photos next time so you can see where the moderators are.... Thank You!

 

OK. I will do that in future.

But you should also look at the smileys to recognize humorous tone of my wording. I am aware that the both of you are moderators.

 

While your father-in-law was in Austria, significant advances of Allied forces took place from lake Balaton in Hungary to Trieste at the Adriatic coast. These events have tailored maps of the post war central Europe. At that time Axis forces were rapidly retreating towards south west Austrian border to escape capture or more precisely to surrender to western Allies in hope to avoid trials for war crimes. Their escape ended in Bleiburg-Austria.

At that time my father was at the opposite side of Austrian border chasing traitors and aggressors. By the way, was your father-in-law in 38th Irish Brigade under general Thomas Scott?

 

He was with the 1st battalion Royal fusiliers until June 1945 then with the 1st Battalion East Surrey Regiment til December 1945. I have'nt investigated his experiences with the East Surreys in Austria yet. Got a lot of reading ahead of me!

 

Very interesting thread. I would like to share some of my wiews on the topic, some personal experiances from my grandparents who participated in war as Yugoslav partisans and some background explanations without wish to compare, judge or antagonise anyone.
First I would like to point out that 'People's liberation war' as it is known in these parts was a massive uprising of various social, religious and national gropups against monsterous ocupation and domestic traitors. It wasn't a case of tribe vs tribe or nation vs nation. It was simple. Good vs evil, progressive and cosmopolite against schovinist and sinister. For sure there were many elements of civil war or religious war, but these divisions were exactly what nazis that occupied our country hoped and managed to create. Croatian kvisling 'ustase' regim had at that time support of about 1% of population, yet they held absolute power over life and death. They immediately implemented Nurmberg racial laws, also adding Ortodox christians,that is Serbs to the extermination list.They ran only death camp that wasn't made by the SS. 100 000 innocent people were killed there, mostly Serbs, but also Jews, homosexuals, Gipsys, Croatian opposition etc.Similar regime was established in Serbia where Cetniks colaborated with the enemy and terorised the population freely. How didi Nazis create this monsterous animosity so easily one could ask. They exploited bad blood between Serbs and Croats that didn't go that far back. After the colaps of Austro Hungarian empire in 1918., Croats were fed up of patronage of alien germanic powers and many wanted to join with fellow south Slavs into new democratic state. Thus Yugoslavia was created. Soon however, Serbs being the most numerous nation and coming from victor's camp (39% Serbs, 24% Croats,9% Slovenians,6 Bosniaks, etc..) played other nations hopes for equality and established domination and dictatorship through represion and violence. This created animosity that nazis could easily exploit with horrible consequences felt in distant future through balkan wars and even today.
Uprising was led by communists, but those prewar Yugoslaw comunists were different sort all together, they weren't predators or oportunists,as many who joined later when they were mainstream were, or red imperialists like those in USSR.They were idealists who risked everithing for better future, they led because they had most zeal, most experience in underground organisations, most military experience, earned in spanish civil war. People responded massivly to their call for they transcendentd shovinistic national interests,petty concerns and dogmatic hate among religious groups. They offered a way of unity, brotherhood and equality for everyone.
My grandparents and great uncles were of that kind. Idealists, humble and fighters for weak.Both grandfathers were officers in partisan army or People's liberation army. One was serving as a machine gunner in a youth Montenegro brigade (elite, regular army like troops). As a machine gunner he was always in a thick of fighting and carried a machine gun everywhere. Because of this his right shoulder was significantly lower then the other for the rest of his life. During the war he wad wounded and captured by chetniks. They held him in sty, up to the knee in shit, with his wounded leg going worse every day. Luckiliy he saw a neighbour of his, a chetnik officer and convinced him that a wound was self inflicted while cleaning a weapon and that he would join them as soon as he recovered.They put him in house arrest then, but he escaped as soon as the leg permited. In the end he entered Trieste with 4th Yugoslav army and played football match with Americans. He used to say they looked bad in their long underwears compared to properly dressed Americans in sport clothes. He finnished the war as 1st class captain, and advanced through the ranks very slowly because of his independance and integrity. He was sacked from the army at the age of 43 as a lt colonel and father of four children, head of a tehnical departement of 5th army area, roughly comprisning of Slovenia, most of Croatia and part of Bosnia, because he exposed multi million corruption in acquisition of military hardwere and wanted to save money to the state. Later they called him back and promised a promotion to general very soon, but he refused, dissapointed in the system.
Other grandfather's war story begins only days after Axis powers invaded Yugoslavia. He was aweaken by his father at 2 a.m. with sinister words.Jure, ustase came for you! He replied: so what! Later he said he should've been more afraid, but he was very young then. He was taken to prison, but he soon escaped and then led the raid on local military arms werehouse, a significant event that gave wings to uprising in Dalmatia. After the war he entered politics , and rose to to the very top, never losing his modesty and care for others and common good. He was the man that handed over personal gifts from his official travels and even daily allowances as he 'didn't need them any way'. After more than 40 years of service(among other posts as president of national assembly ,minister,etc.) he had little to show for. Flat in a skycrapper, insignificant savings and 18 years old Renault that spontaneously caught fire, few years later. These people were prisms through which I looked at the war and the sincerity of those pre war communists in making the better world, although I'm well aware of the other side of the coin. But because of such people and many like them I will never believe that it was all senseless and wasn't worth a try.
One grandma was also in partisans, but in more guerilla style units and not brigades like grandpa. Other was in Italian concentration camp, because all of her older relatives were in partisans and she was taken from her home, where she was at the age of 15, alone caring for four young siblings.
Two of the great uncles from mother's side perished. One was shot by chetnics, the other burned alive in the house by Italians.
Tito really did lead our people to greatness, more than our primitive and savage Balcan carather should have ever allowed us to. We were poor almost feudal country even before the war which devastated it completly, devided and weak. He united the people and gave them pride ,they in return built the country from schratch under his leadership. We became a modern country, industrialised, with no poor people,with trully social high quality healthcare and free education for everyone. People weren't rich, but nobody was poor, if you had children usually state provided you with an apartement.Internationaly we were somebody. For the first time,and probably never again. This prestige was won through hard battles in the war and post war independant stance.
There was also more sinister face of this story. When war draw to a close ustase.chetniks, muslim and slovenian kvislings all solidarly moved together away from victorius Yugoslav armies and toward Austria where British forces were advancing. They were justly afraid what victors will do to these rapists and murderers of helpless civilians, elderly and children. Through means of propaganda and lesser extent force they pulled large numbers of civilians with them on this march. As the hour of reckoning draw near, brave ustashe ,threw away they uniforms and mixed themselves up with civilians, using them de facto as living shields. Most of these people were captured in Slovenia, while some escaped to Austria only to be returned by the British. Court martials were held, reprisals and revenge were also present while prisoners were marched back to the interior. Calculations say some 50 000 people died during that time, among them significant number of civilians. This with some other 'incidents' like expulsion of Italians, other smaller reprisals etc ,even though it must be viewed through the prism of countless massacres, concentration and death camps, racial laws and so on committed by the enemy is undelibal stain and unforgivable crime regarding every single innocent victim. The party didn't have strength and wisdom to confront and expose this dirt and it was just put under the rug, and forbade talk about it. Naturally this evil was growing to mithycal proportions within nationalist and defeated forces circles making fertile ground for future hate, distrust and wars. Failure to confront this was first major failure of Tito and the party, second being failure to introduce democracy, which could alone prevent conflicts after Tito and the old guard were gone. They were probably afraid that given free choice, people would be to easily manipulated with nationalism, hate and fear lurking from the past and led astray from the way of brotherhood, unity and prosperity that was truly achieved in Yugoslavia. Somebody mentioned in earlier comments, that enlightened dictatorship is best form of government, but the problem comes with succession. I couldn't agree more, and that's exactly what happened.

During the war partisan army held many German and Italian divisions tied to the area. Figures go up to 50 divisions, but I recon that if there were so many, most of them were some sort of security forces, even though definitely an appreciable number of front line divisions was stationed there. During major enemy offensives,of which there were 7 , Germans used elite units like 1st mountain division,Branderburg commando regiments, and Fallschrimjagger units to reinforce permanently stationed frontline divisions that included elite 7th waffen SS mountain division.
Most dramatic and notable IMO were battles of Neretva and Sutjeska, fourth and fifth enemy offensive, or Fall Weiss 1,2,3 and Schwartz as the enemy called them. The goal was to destroy main operative group(MOG) led by Tito and supreme headquarters. National liberation army was divided into guerilla like local groups who conducted sabotages, ambushed enemy supply columns, and so on, and brigades. Those were army like units, highly mobile, not tied to certain area, with uniforms, machine guns, mortars, even light mobile artillery, workshops to mobile hospitals.These units were capable of openly attacking enemy units, towns with enemy garrisons and regularly controlled fairly large areas,with population centers where they produced food, weapons and supplies. Most of these shock brigades were concentrated with main operative group(MOG), which made it a very dangerous element to the enemy, right in the heart of occupied Europe, and also it's prime target.
Fourth offensive begun in January 1943., as Germans counted that snow and lack of food in winter conditions will limit mobility and effectivnes of MOG (about 21 000 strong) which also had to carry with them about 4000 wounded in previous battles and victims of tifus epidemics. Germans amassed no less then ten divisons (90 000 man), 12 air squadrons, and were supported by 12 000 chetniks and variable Italian units.German forces first deployed around free territory held by MOG in western Bosnia and then converged on it from all sides.MOG managed to escape in the direction of south east,all the wile caring the wounded,fighting rearguard battles against Germans and smashing through fortified Italian positions blocking their route.Once they reached river Neretva crisis point was reached. Germans were converging from west, northwest and south, to the east on the other side of the river were chetniks and there appeared to be a temporary opening to the north. Tito ordered that bridge over Neretva be destroyed to protect the flank from chetniks. Germans concluded that MOG chose to try to force route to the north on the west side of the river. This was a trick. During the night MOG engineers built the bridge over Neretva river adjacent to destroied bridge and brigades and wounded started to cross to the east side.Germans lost valuable time manouvering to block the northern route and were now in disadvantageous position to counter MOG moves.Luftwaffe tried to destroy the bridge, but failed. On eastern side partisans destroyed chetnik forces and went on to eastern Bosnia and Sandzak to create new free territory. Sticking with the wounded in such grave conditions actually fitted right into enemy plans as it considerably decreased already famous mobility of the brigades, but partisans showed integrity, bravery and humanism.
Fearing to leave such dangerous force in the rear of possible invasion area after capitulation in north Africa Hitler soon ordered another major offensive to finish of the MOG. This was fifth offensive and most critical point of the war. Again Germans skillfuly encircled MOG forces and central hospital (22 000 strong) in unaccessible mountainous terrain in Montenegro. Axis forces totaled over 120 000 man plus more than 300 aircraft.Partisans were surprised by amount and relatively close proximity of such huge enemy force. Supreme headquarters and Tito decided to split their forces in two, with 1st and second Proleterian division and the supreme headquarters tried to break the encirclement to the northwest across heavy mountain terrain and unaccessible Sutjeska river gorge, while 3rd division and central hospital were to escape to the northeast to Sandzak over somewhat easier terrain. Skilfully maneouvering and probing the enemy for week spot of the ring main forces broke through at Tjentiste on river Sutjeska. Due to some confusion and indecisiveness the second group found it's route across river Tara closed by Italians. They then decided to follow first group across Sutjeska.This was a mistake, as in the meantime Germans managed to tightly close the route used by main group. Most dramatic events ensued. As 3rd division from second group crossed the river they were unaware of powerful and entrenched German formations awaiting in silence on the other side, few hundred meters from the river. As they aproached, Germans opened concentrated fire, but partizans did not flinch they charged relentlessly wave after wave on German positions. In unequal battle some 90% of partisans fighters fell, while the rest broke through in small groups. After disposing of the guardians of the central hospital Germans found it amusing to use attack dogs to rip apart the wounded and the sick.
MOG crossed into eastern Bosnia and immediately created there new free territory, frowardly showing Hitler it was all for nothing. In such nightmarish circumstances partisans lost 7 000 man but inflicted some 6 000 casualties to the overwhelmingly more powerful Germans, (some 4 000 dead or missing). Even German commander admitted that 'partisns were skillfuly led and with combat morale, unbelivebly high'.
Already famous comander of third division ,a Montenegro Sava Kovacevic became a legendary figure. He fell leading first charges across the river, survivors recalling his famous words 'we must pass!'. there is a folk song in tribute to him - while cold Sutjeska water runs, Sava won't die'. Which rimes nicely in our language - dok hladna Sutjeska voda tece, Sava umrijeti nece'. Another ballade very sad and powerful is this one.. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=foLw7yuDuGg

 

It was a long and good read. Salute!

 

Thank you friends. I hope you like the ballad about Commander Sava, it's perhaps my favorite war related song. If someone among English speaking members is interested in translation, I'll do my best to make it poetic one

 

Don't want to draw you off topic, but I suspect the lack of recognition during the war had to do with the understanding that this part of Europe would not be liberated quickly and post war suffered from the complexities inherent with the decent of the cold war politics.

 

I praise those who manage to keep this thread interesting most of the time (for now) . It mostly looks fine , but sometimes looks like a drowning man trying to keep his head out of water and being attacked by stump sharks. I'll let it be for the moment, as I believe we are all learning from the good postings as long as politics keep away from this topic. It would also we wise not to provoke the moderators.

 

I always liked that song, but my favourite is "Po šumama i gorama".

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l7AEvrzwjO8

 

The area controlled by Mihailovic's Chetniks was essentially landlocked and surrounded by Partisan controlled areas. Thus Allied airmen who came under the control of the Chetkiks generally had no direct access to the Adriatic and that path back to Allied territory. There appeared to be no cooperation between the Chetkiks and the Partisans regarding downed airmen. One 449th BG airman was briefly assisted by a Chetnik upon landing, but was shortly intercepted by Partisans who demanded at gunpoint that he be turned over to them. The Partisans did assist the airman to evade. Because there was no cooperation, Operation Halyard was necessary to fly those men out that were in Chetnik hands. While the major airlift of Halyard was in early August of '44, there were flights through December that are considered part of Halyard.

Airmen who found themselves in Partisan hands were generally returned piece-meal, as they were aided in their journey to the Adriatic where they could be transported to Italy. There was no "event" such as Halyard, so these evaders received no publicity to speak of. For better or worse, the Allies decided to side with Tito's Partisans, Halyard went against that decision since it was made possible by the help of Mihailovic and the Chetniks. Not hard to understand why the Allies would not widely publicize Halyard since they had publicly backed Tito.

The Ustachi was hostile to downed airmen. One 449th BG airman was killed on the ground by the Ustachi. Two others were briefly in their hands but Partisans attacked and took the evaders from the Ustachi.

 

Whilst waiting to be released from the Army in 1946 I was stationed at Monfalcone on the hills ovelooking Trieste and literally on the Yugoslav border.

It soon became British policy to stop supplies going to the then Yugoslavs and I remember writing about this on ww2talk.com.

The year was 1946.

I had been overseas since April 1943 and it was therefore getting near the time for me to be sent home to England under the Python scheme. This was a system whereby, if one had served three years and nine months abroad, you qualified for home posting.
As my time got nearer I got more on edge and lived in fear of being involved in a situation that might postpone my home posting. One such possible event occurred because of my position as Tech Corporal in charge of Squadron Technical Stores. The stores themselves were in the barracks but immediately outside the store I kept various large items that were too big to be kept indoors. Among these items were two huge Staghound Armoured Car tyres. These, I hasten to say, were worth at least £100 to anyone who could supply them to the Yugoslav forces. One morning, immediately before roll call, the young lad who was my assistant and who I was training to take over from me came to me in a state of panic. The two tyres had been stolen.
I reported the matter to SSM Busty Thomas and within minutes all the camp was sealed off. The short story is that the tyres were never recovered but all the evidence pointed to one Trooper X. The matter was never proven, however, and for about two weeks I sweated on being kept back in Italy as a potential court-martial witness. By a sheer coincidence, when I eventually returned to England the same Trooper X was on the same draft. For my own peace of mind I asked him to tell me, in all confidence, how he’d organised this massive theft, but he merely laughed and said, 'It wasn’t me mate !'

Come on Trooper X..... reveal yourself and tell me how you did it !!!!

 

Interesting story!

It's an honor to have you on this forum since there are less WWII veterans from day to day.

 

Here's one more partisan song called "Sivi sokole". (Grey falcon)

Translation:

Grey falcon, my old friend
Give me wings, so I can fly over the mountains.

The mountain is tall, the sky is above it
And on the sky the grey falcon looks upon me.

Sutjeska is deep, a canyon is above it
On the canyon Tito stands, looking at the wounded.

On the canyon Tito stands and he sends the message
We must cross the Sutjeska, to save the wounded.

Sutjeska was broken through, wounded were saved
But our dear hero Sava laid dead.

We were working, and we're working, and we'll work some more
Comrade Tito, we swear, we will win this war.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nh1KVkjQ6SU

 

That's indeed an inspiring song.

From this post on I will try to avoid a misused term "partizans" and use more adequate name: People's Deliberation Army.

Primary objectives of Peoples Deliberation Army were stated in Proclamation of July 25 1941:

1. Armed opposition to aggressors,
2. To fight on the side of the Allies (declaration explicitly states Allies as follows: Soviet Russia and England have formed military alliance against the fascist axis and America supports this fight)
3. Formation of free and independent country after the victory,
4. To provide social justice and equality of all peoples of Yugoslavia.

Fair!

Peoples Deliberation Army has managed to defeat the enemy and at the end of war the country was deliberated and completely under the control. It is true that the Allies have partially supported the PDA but the enemy was defeated by the PDA only. The Red Army helped plentifully to swep the Nazi scum at the north of the country but they went into direction of Vienna leaving control of the country in hands of PDA. For some other reasons western Allies wanted to enter the country from Trieste and continue eastwards into the Ljubljana gap and further.

Now, let's get back to the point 3 of the list above. Presence of PDA at our borders has became a huge problem for the allies because, the Allies have secretly negotiated "spheres of interest" and for Yugoslavia, agreed division was 50:50 - without consent of the people involved. In this regard, Stalin and Churchill were equal to Chamberlain and Hitler or Ribentrop - Molotov. Small nations have became a subject of bargain among the three Great Victors. Domination of former aggressors had to be replaced by hegemony of the former Allies. Therefore many former Allied troops had to spend several years on our borders to challenge our independence. Therefore I still ask myself:

What were real incentives of Allies, both west and east? Deliberation or yet another Subjugation? 50-50?

 

The term "Spheres of Influence" covers a lot of ground. In the west it meant that quite naturally the smaller countries were influenced by the politics and economies of their larger neighbors but hardly controlled. The Soviet version of "influence" was a lot more controlling. In large part though was it not the 50:50 agreement which allowed Tito the room to keep Yugoslavia independent?

 

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Hi Tamino, why do you say "deliberation" instead of "liberation" ? might be my English but that sound they were involved in debates not fighting.

I quite like this thread as there are people that descend from both sides of the fighting, and many similar, but not identical, situations in other parts of Europe and it's fascinating to see how even two or three generations later WW2 events still stir us up on a very personal level. Even some of our more "black and white" US rogues have recognized it and are restraining themselves, a record !.

Looking at the purely military aspects, though counter insurgency is never "purely military", I have a couple of accounts I wish to add here from the Italian side, one is about "operation trio" a multi division offensive in spring 1942 and the other about the disbandment of the Italian forces in September 1943 from the official accounts. But translation will take me some time.