POLITICAL, ECONOMICAL AND CULTURAL SITUATION IN THE DISTRICT OF GNJILANE BETWEEN TWO WORLD WARS

Abstract

In the period between the two world wars the district of Gnjilane belonged to the province of South Serbia, and after a new administrative division of the Yugoslav state in 1929, this district became a part of the Vardar Banate. In this part lived the greatest number of Serbs and the largest number of Albanians in Kosovo and Metohija. Also, the district of Gnjilane had the highest population growth. In this district, like in all Kingdom of Yugoslavia, prevailed agricultural population. This district had the highest agricultural land in Kosovo and Metohija, and arable land accounted for more than half of the land. Because the majority of the population worked in agriculture, most of the industry was linked to processing farmer’s products. In Gnjilane was a mill of Tanasko Arsić.

 There was also opened tile factory and power station. Regarding trade, from Gnjilane exported grain and livestock mainly to towns in Kosovo and Metohija, Skoplje, and sometimes Thessaloniki. The district of Gnjilane had a large number of settlements. Gnjilane was economically developed due to good transport links and the Morava River. As far as educational opportunities, this district had over 50 primary schools and public school that was open instead of high school. In this county  was one hospital and one pharmacy, which were not enough for this place. Modernization which was reflected in the development of education, culture, economy stopped the outbreak of the Second World War. Then the district of Gnjilane and other districts in Kosovo and Metohija stopped with the development, and this area remained passive.