Miletic, Marko B. The April War of 1941 in Yugoslavia

The First Army Group of the Yugoslav Army at War against the Wehrmacht.

The April War of 1941 is one of the pivotal events in the history of Yugoslavia. It marked both an end and a beginning. It concluded a period that began with the formation of the Kingdom of Yugoslavia, but also, due to its certain incompleteness, gave rise to a new process, which culminated in leading to an ideological, civil, and religious war that took place on the territory of Yugoslavia from 1941 to 1945.

Although it lasted only twelve days (April 6 17, 1941), many controversies are tied to its causes, course, and consequences. Due to its incompleteness, numerous stereotypes are linked to it as well, ranging from the belief that the army did not resist at all, to the notion that everyone betrayed their country during the war. Some of these stereotypes were shaped by its contemporaries, the creators of great victories in the Balkan Wars and World War I, as well as their successors who grew up in that triumphant tradition, struggling to comprehend the swift collapse of the state and its armed forces. To explain such a situation, they often resorted to creating stereotypes that have persisted to this day. On the other hand, new stereotypical views of this war emerged later under the influence of communist ideology and its historiography.

CONTENTS:

FOREWORD

INTRODUCTION

The political situation in the Kingdom of Yugoslavia in the interwar period - the Croatian and Slovenian questions

The international position of the Kingdom of Yugoslavia on the eve of the April War - joining the Tripartite Pact

The coup of 27 March

PREPARATIONS FOR WAR

War industry and the import of armamentsI.

Border fortifications, obstruction of communication and attempts at destruction

Activation of the military as a measure to increase the country's security and combat readiness

The foreign policy of the Kingdom of Yugoslavia from 27 March to 6 April - The search for allies

The German and Italian preparations for war

The Yugoslav war plans

War plan "R-40"

War plan "R-41"

The German and Italian war plans

MOBILISATION, CONCENTRATION AND STRATEGIC DEVELOPMENT

Mobilisation and concentration of the units of the First Yugoslav Army Group

Concentration and strategic deployment of the German-Italian forces

ATTACK BY THE AXIS POWERS, DEFENCE ATTEMPT AND DISPERSION OF THE YUGOSLAV UNITS

6 April - The beginning of the attack

7 April - Resistance

8 April - Uprising

9 April - Preparations for the final defence of the first line

10 April - Proclamation of the independent state of Croatia: end of the first phase of the war

ENVIRONMENT - THE MILITARY-POLITICAL SITUATION IN DRAVA BANOVINA AFTER THE FOUNDATION OF THE NDH

Activities of the Slovenian National Council on 10 April

The last military operations on the territory of Dravska Banovina

MILITARY OPERATIONS IN BOSNIA AND ATTEMPTS TO HALT THE GERMAN ADVANCE

11 April - Organisation of a new front

12 April - General Petar Nedeljkovic: Commander of the "First Army Group"

13 April - Battles near Bosanska Kostajnica

14 April - Battles near Mrkonjic Grad

15 April - End of the military operations

CAPTURE, CAPITULATION AND DIVISION OF THE KINGDOM OF YUGOSLAVIA

EPILOGUE

APPENDICES

Command staff of the units of the First Army Group of the Yugoslav Army

Army General Milorad Petrovic

Army General Petar J. Nedeljkovic

Division General Dusan P. Trifunovic

SOURCES AND LITERATURE

ABOUT THE AUTHOR