IZMJENE U APARATU NJEMAČKE OKUPACIONE UPRAVE U JUGOSLAVIJI U PRVOJ POLOVINI 1943. GODINE
CHANGES IN THE ORGANIZATION OF THE GERMAN OCCUPATIONAL GOVERNMENT IN YUGOSLAVIA IN THE FIRST HALF OF 1943

Summary/Abstract: The strengthening of the People's Liberation Movement of Yugoslavia in 1942, and especially its successes in the second half of that year, forced the occupational powers of the Third Reich in Yugoslavia to a basic review both of the system of the occupational government and of its military security. The first steps taken as a result of that review occurred as early as the autumn of 1942 with the dividing of the functions of the previously unified command of the German troops in Serbia and in the Independent State of Croatia and with expansion of the influence of and direct involvement of the SS and the police in Serbia. The most significant changes, however, were in connection with the attempt to »Conclusively pacify the rear<< by means of engagement of their own strong forces in collaboration with the Italian 2nd Army, and thus to enable a successful defense of the Balkan peninsula form a possible Allied invasion. These changes were extended throughout the entire first half of 1943. Due to the fact that even these renewed attempts did not lead to destruction of the People's Liberation Army of Yugoslavia (winter and spring operations in Croatia, Bosnia and Hercegovina, and Montenegro), these changes were somewhat modified in the course of their being instituted. The substance of the changes carried out consisted of further open and direct engagement of the Third Reich in insuring its positions, and especially direct engagement of the SS troops and the German Police in the entire area of Yugoslavia occupied by the Germans, which led to a further pressuring of the collaborationist regimes as well as a take-over of significant parts of the previously Italian-occupied area.

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