CREATION OF THE COMMAND OF SOUTHERN SERBIA JVUO 1942 - TERRITORIAL FRAMEWORKS AND MILITARY STRUCTURE

Abstract

The significance of the Command of Southern Serbia for the Supreme Command of the Yugoslav Homeland Army (JVuO) consisted of the fact that it covered an area that corresponded to the two occupied Serbs. A total of 35 JVuO brigades were formed or were emerging in this territory. This area was intersected in length by the vital Balkan communication of the Belgrade-Skopje-Thessaloniki railway. Numerous communist groups operated in this territory, the majority of the Chetnik organization Kosta Pećanac, a strong Bulgarian occupation structure (especially in Macedonia), intelligence channels to Bulgaria and Albania, etc. The personality of Major Radosav Đurić was the embryo around which the branched structure of the Command of Southern Serbia developed. Arriving on this terrain, Major Đurić managed to take over the territories of the mountain headquarters 12, 43 and 45. After the destruction of these units by the partisans, he replaced them by forming new corps and brigades. He also achieved great success in the field of gaining dukes who were part of the organization of Kosta Pećanac for the Ravna Gora underground movement. This officer received numerous praises from General Mihailović and enjoyed his great trust. Trust that allowed him independence in relation to the delegates of the Supreme Command JVuO for Serbia, the right to independently promote his officers and soldiers, etc. Four corps with more than 18 brigades were indirectly subordinated to him, as well as another 17 brigades, which he left under direct command. Major Đurić also had several special headquarters under him, as well as numerous intelligence points, sabotage groups, propagandists, agents, negotiators, and couriers. However, the work of Major Đurić was accompanied by numerous difficulties. He was forced to move in deep secrecy from the very arrival in the south of Serbia. It is enough to point out the fates of headquarters 12 and 43 or the problems that his people had with Albanians, Italians, communists, and Bulgarians throughout Kosovo and Metohija, and Macedonia. He did not have an adequate army personnel base at his disposal, he faced the disobedience of subordinate officers. German and Bulgarian units exerted tremendous pressure on this ground. The Dukes of the Chetnik movement, Kosta Pecanac, proved to be fickle and unreliable in their cooperation. Perhaps among these factors are some of the causes that brought him into conflict with Supreme Commande JVuO and his longtime colleagues and comrades-in-arms during 1943 and 1944.