GERILSKI RAT U PLANOVIMA VOJSKE KRALJEVINE JUGOSLAVIJE 1938-1941. GODINE
GUERILLA WAR IN THE PLANS OF THE ARMY OF THE KINGDOM OF YUGOSLAVIA 1938-1941

Summary/Abstract: The Army of the Kingdom of Yugoslavia began hasty preparations for the event of war after the annexation of Austria in 1938. A part of these preparations included war plans, some of which, such as plan »S«, contained instructions about conducting guerilla warfare behind enemy lines, a form of warfare deeply rooted in the Serbian war tradition. The formation of special chetnik (guerilla, storm) troops was planned, 'thus ignoring the existing chetnik associations which had formerly been used for this purpose. In accordance with war plan »S«, made during the time the chief of Army Headquarters was Army General Dušan Simović, the Chetnik Command and six chetnik battalions were formed in April 1940. They consisted of specially selected officers and voluntary soldiers and were headed by Division General Mihailo Mihailović. The Headquarters’ intention was that these battalions should serve as a basis for guerilla warfare which was to be carried out behind enemy lines simultaneously with regular army operations. However, these troops did not fulfill their purpose during the short April War and, together with the rest of the Army of the Kingdom of Yugoslavia, they capitulated on 18 April in 1941.

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