For the Kingdom of Yugoslavia, the Second World War started on 6 April 1941. The military coup detat of 27 March 1941 and anti-German demonstrations in Belgrade clearly aligned the kingdom with the Allies. That same day, Hitler ordered the implementation of Unternehmen 25 (Operation 25) - the attack against the Kingdom of Yugoslavia. Hitler had also secured Mussolinis support for this campaign, while Hungary, Romania and Bulgaria gave active or passive backing in exchange for territorial claims in Yugoslavia. Despite all the odds, the airmen of the RYAF fought gallantly in the defense of their homeland, with fighters taking on the German and Italian bombers and their escort fighters - including the Axis types in service with the RYAF. Eventually, due to the deteriorating situation on the front and the ever-increasing risk of the king and his government being captured, the decision was taken to evacuate by air to Greece.
In the summer of the 1941 some 220 Yugoslav aviators gathered in Egypt and continued the fight against Axis forces, this time in the colors of the RAF. This is the full story of their service and combats in the early months of that year.
Group
Books (first-hand)
Author
Nikolic, Djordje/Petrovic, Ognjan M.
Title
Against Hitler's Luftwaffe in the Balkans. The Royal Yugoslav Air Force at War in 1941
