Figure 1.-- |
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The Germans were not the only ones guilty of terrible attrocities in Yugoslavia. The Partisanswere also guilty of attrocities. This subject is not well documented, in part because it was Tito's partisans who took over Yugoslavia after the War. And of course partisan attrocities were a subject that was not permitted to be even discussed. Some of the worse partisan attrocities appear to have occurred early in the War. This was a time when the partisan network was not yet organized and consisted of militia groups that began to organize locally. There was no central control and little discipline. At this time quite a number of local vendettas and ethnic conflicts played out. As Tito expanded his control over the partisan units , he supressed the ethnic conflict, and partisan violence became more targetted on political enemies. This included not only the occupying Axis forces, but the Royalist Chetnkiks as well. There was also some bloody incidents at the end of the War. These were attacks on forces that has opposed the partisans. This meant largely Chetnik groups which by the end of the War were fighting with the Germans. Some of these groups attempted to flee with the retreating Germans. Civilians were involved because many of the men attempted to bring their families with them. Two of the best know incidents ovccurred at Bleiburg And Foibe. With the NAZIs collaapsing, the Croatian Army and civilians were withdrawing north westwards through Slovenia in an effort to reach the Western Allies so they could surrender. Most were unarmed civilians, perhaps as much as a third of the Croatian people. They were afraid to surrender to the Partisans, now essentially the Yugoslav Army. The Partisans forced the Croat POWs and civilians on death marches. Many were shot aling the way (May-June). The partisans also shot ethnic Italians associated with Fascism at Foibe. There were also incidents in Vojvodina, an area with a Hungarian ethnic minority whch Hitler had given to Axis ally Hungary during the War. The partisans killed quite a number of etnic-Hungarians at Bačka. [MacDonald]
The Germans were not the only ones guilty of terrible attrocities in Yugoslavia. The Partisanswere also guilty of attrocities. This subject is not well documented, in part because it was Tito's partisans who took over Yugoslavia after the War. And of course partisan attrocities were a subject that was not permitted to be even discussed.
The NAZI Blitzkrieg on Yugoslavia succeeded in only 10 days. I do not fully understand how they could have been so successful. The assault began with ashattering air assault on Belgrade. One factor was ethnic divisions within the country, especially in Croatia. But Serb resistabce was also ineffective. Certainly the Germans had overwealming force, but still 10 days seems startling. The NAZI victory happened so rapidly that resistance forces were left isolated and unorganized.
Some of the worse partisan attrocities appear to have occurred early in the War. This was a time when the partisan network was not yet organized and consisted of militia groups that began to organize locally. There was no central control and little discipline. At this time quite a number of local vendettas and ethnic conflicts played out.
As Tito expanded his control over the partisan units , he supressed the ethnic conflict, and partisan violence became more targetted on political enemies. This included not only the occupying Axis forces, but the Royalist Chetnkiks as well.
There was also some bloody incidents at the end of the War. These were attacks on forces that has opposed the partisans. This meant largely Chetnik groups which by the end of the War were fighting with the Germans. Some of these groups attempted to flee with the retreating Germans. Civilians were involved because many of the men attempted to bring their families with them.
Two of the best know incidents ovccurred at Bleiburg And Foibe.
With the NAZIs collapsing, the Croatian Army and civilians were withdrawing north westwards through Slovenia in an effort to reach the Western Allies so they could surrender. Most were unarmed civilians, perhaps as much as a third of the Croatian people. [Springer]
They were afraid to surrender to the Partisans, now essentially the Yugoslav Army. The Partisans forced the Croat POWs and civilians on death marches. Many were shot aling the way (May-June).
The partisans also shot ethnic Italians associated with Fascism at Foibe. There were also incidents in Vojvodina, an area with a Hungarian ethnic minority whch Hitler had given to Axis ally Hungary during the War. The partisans killed quite a number of etnic-Hungarians at Bačka. [MacDonald]
MacDonald, David.B. Balkan Holocausts? (Manchester 2003).
Springer, Zvonko. "D-DAY's 50th Anniversary" (February 23, 1994).
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