WAR PATH OF THE WARLORD MASAN DJUROVIC (1941–1943)

Abstract

Masan Djurovic as a historical figure represents an excellent example of local warlords who can by considered as product of crisis times like it was case in the period of occupation of Serbia in World War II. He had been in an open collaboration with the Germans since 1941. He was considered as the informal master of Raska and her surroundings, a man immersed in crime and a tireless opponent of the communists and Albanians. Djurovic was waging war with them everywhere, but also with the people of General Mihailovic, who ordered his killing. On the other hand, his credit for defending the Serb population in the Ibar valley from Albanians from Kosovo and Metohija, or Muslims from the Novi Pazar and Tutin region, are undoubted. His unit known as ‘Ibarski cetnicki odred’, regardless of the discipline, accepted refugees from the southern Serbian regions, provided them with shelter and jobs. During 1942, his unit was also one of the strongest kvinsling unit in Serbia. Djurovic had been in collaboration with the occupier until March 1943, when his unit (several hundred fighters) was disarmed by the Germans. Then he went to the illegal and with Mihailovic’s forgiveness, entered in the Jugoslav Army in Fatherland. After the he deserted from the war position at Bijelo Polje, his new/old comrades shot him on May 21, 1943 on mountain Zlatar.