Тенковске јединице у Војсци Краљевине Југославије (1930–1941)
Tank Units in the Army of Kingdom of Yugoslavia (1930–1941)

Summary/Abstract: Excluding the countries defeated in the World War I, the Kingdom of Yugoslavia was among the last to form its tank units (1930). Although the first tank unit was established some four years before Wehrmacht tank unit, the development of this branch was much slower in the Yugoslav Army than in the German Army. The main reasons were inability to procure adequate armor fighting vehicles from abroad and non-existence of domestic industries capable of independent production, but also a lack of awareness with people whose influence was crucial for the development of the Yugoslav Army of the importance of this combat means in a future war. The first serious development plan, made by division general Milan Dj. Nedić, appeared relatively early, in 1932. Made in accordance with the French model, and in line with the French doctrine postulates, this plan, with some less significant modifications, was the main source of ideas for the development of the armor units in the Yugoslav Army. Even it had been implemented, the question remains whether the achievement of the Yugoslav Army would have been any better, for the organization that followed the French model proved ineffective in the spring 1940. Yugoslavia lacked trained personnel to enlarge formations of tank units. The accelerated training provided in 1940 was not sufficient to prepare the officer cadre, let alone to provide sufficient number of noncommissioned officers and soldiers, so that even with the procurement plans completely implemented the Yugoslav Army would have faced the same problem. Considering all this, the results of Yugoslav tank units in combat actions against the enemy who surpassed them in technology, number and tactics could have been easily predicted.

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