USTANOVLJAVANJE JUGOSLOVENSKE GRANICE U BARANJI 1919 -1920. GODINE
THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE YUGOSLAV BORDER IN BARANJA 1919-1920

Summary/Abstract: At the beginning of the Peace Conference in Paris, the extent of the area populated by South Slavs was not clear, especially in Panonia, where the population was greatly mixed in terms of nationality. The suggestion made by General P. Pešić, of establishing strategic borders, was considered to be imperialistic by the Croatian representatives in the Yugoslav Delegation, A. Trumbić and J. Smodlaka. The Serbian members of the Delegation aimed their efforts more towards determining borders in Banat which was wholly Serbian, while the south of Baranja was also inhabited by Croatian Sokci. In March 1919 it seemed as though the border would be established on the river Drava. The Belgrade professor of ethnology, Jovan Cvijić, put in the greatest effort to have the border moved north. The Slovenians assisted the Serbian rather than the Croatian members of the Delegation since they expected Serbian endeavors regarding Baranja to result in the annexation of Prekomurje. Since Baranja had a large German population, efforts were made towards getting the German vote in favor of the Kingdom of the Serbs, Croats and Slovenians.These efforts were successful while Hungary was under Bolshevist rule (until August 1919). Even the Hungarian feudalists were in favor of the annexation to the Kingdom of the Serbs, Croats and Slovenians because peace reigned in the zone occupied by Serbia. Circumstances changed when the Bolshevist rule was overthrown. Germans began to favor an integral Hungary. There were numerous statistics, motions made to give the population of Baranja a chance to express their wishes and historical retrospectives but none of this was given much heed by the great powers. The president of the Delegation. N. Pašić, even consented to a plebiscite which he did not accept in Macedonia or elsewhere. The area around Mohač, where there was a German majority, was particularly disputed, although demands were also made for Pečuj (because of the rich coal mines). The Serbian Supreme Command demanded the bridgehead across the river Drava on the Slavonic side. The situation became worse when the withdrawal of the Serbian occupational army was ordered. The border line was determined towards the end of 1919 by compromise and without taking into account the ethnic makeup and the wishes of the Slavic population in Baranja. This border was confirmed by the peace treaty signed in Trianon (near Versailles) in June 1920. Typically, the Croatian members of the Delegation of the Kingdom of the Serbs, Croats and Slovenians made no effort In regard to Baranja. Baranja was later connected to Serbian Vojvodina, with which it had in common a mixed population and the same economic structure.

• Details
• Contents