JUGOSLOVENSKA KRALJEVSKA VLADA, GENERAL DRAGOLJUB MIHAILOVIĆ I SAVEZNIČKO BOMBARDOVANJE CILJEVA U JUGOSLAVIJI 1942-1944. GODINE
The Yugoslav Royal Government, General Dragoljub Mihailović and the Allied Bombardment of Targets in Yugoslavia 1942-1944

Summary/Abstract: The question of the Allied bombing of targets in Yugoslavia is a topic that became usable in daily politics in the last couple of years, and which led to controversial scholarly explanations as to who instigated the bombardments. An intention of certain Yugoslav factors to seize an opportunity to secure more favourable positions in the final stage of the war within the framework of Yugoslav internal slaughtering was perceptible, and military operations were explained by a political background. Allied bombardments should be seen within the framework of general Allied war interests, as part of broader strategical planning and actions in the Balkans and in Yugoslavia. The Yugoslav Government with General Mihajlović coordinated the bombing, which is proven by Mihajlović's telegrams and demands of the Yugoslav Government. Demands for destruction of the enemy effectives belong to the set of anti-Fascist views of General Mihajlović and the Yugoslav Government, whereas the bombardment was seen as conducive to causing moral effects with the population in Yugoslavia. After addressing the British and their postponement, they turned to the other Ally, the Americans, as testified by contacts in Cairo, Algeria and London. After the news about the effects of the bombardments which reported on massive losses among the civilian population, the Yugoslav Government filed protests with the Allies because of the casualties.

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