Template:Mediation

Dragoljub "Draža" Mihailović (Cyrillic script: Драгољуб "Дража" Михаиловић; also known as "Чича Дража" or "Čiča Draža", meaning "uncle Draža"; April 27, 1893 - July 17, 1946) was a Yugoslav Serbian general. A World War II Axis collaborator,^{[1][2][3][4][5]} he led the Chetnik movement which, though founded as a resistance force itself, increasingly aided the Axis powers in their effort to maintain the occupation and eliminate the Yugoslav resistance, the Partisans led by Marshal Josip Broz Tito.

The Chetnik organization, officially named the "Yugoslav Army in the Fatherland" (JVUO, ЈВУО), was founded as a royalist/nationalist Serbian resistance movement, but by late 1941 and early 1942 began collaborating and assisted the Germans and the Axis occupation as an auxiliary militia for most of the war in Yugoslavia.^[6] The Chetniks' main adversaries were the Allied Yugoslav resistance forces, the Partisans.^[7]

After the war, Mihailović was tried and convicted of high treason and war crimes by the Yugoslav authorities, and was consequently executed by firing squad.

Dragoljub M. Mihailović was born 27 April (Julian calendar, April 14) 1893 in Ivanjica, parents Michael and Smiljana Mihailovic. It was named grandfather's name Dragoljub Draza Petrovic, host of Raska village Tisovica. Prior to Ivanjica, when employed as a clerk in Morava district, Mihailo Mihailovic already had one marriage and two children. After giving birth Dragoljub, Smiljana and Mihailo had two daughters, Milica and Jelica. Milica was probably born in 1894, and Jelica 1895. Milica died young, 1905, of tuberculosis. Jelica graduated in architecture in Belgrade, after which she was employed in the municipality of Belgrade. She married a fellow whose last name was Vrečko, but the marriage lasted briefly and they had no children. Jelica has worked in the municipality of Belgrade, and has lived in her family home in Cvijić street. Mihailović parents died relatively young. His father died of tuberculosis immediately after Jelica was born, his mother, Smiljana, died was five years later. So in 1901 his uncle Major Vladimir Mihailović brought the three orphans to his home in Belgrade, Studenička Street (now the Svetozar Marković), to take care of them.

Having completed four years of primary school, Mihailović in the fall of 1904 enrolled in the first grade male school . In the high school completed the first three years, and the next three years in the Belgrade High School. First September 1910 Mihailović came in the 43rd Class Lower School of the Military Academy in Belgrade.^[8] After six months, on 1 March 1911 he has been promoted to the rank of cadet-corporal, and two years later, 1 September 1912, the rank of sergeant-cadet. In September, 1912 the 43rd class Lower school military academy was going to war against Turkey, and immediately afterwards, in early 1913, and in the war against Bulgaria.

In the summer of 1912 Serbian public is increasingly faced with the news of atrocities Albanian against Serbian population in the Ottoman Empire in the area of Old Serbia. Articles in the press demanded the Serbian government action to prevent such crimes. Government of Serbia is believed that the government in Istanbul allow Albanians to exert pressure against the Serbs in Kosovo and Macedonia. The Balkan states of Serbia, Bulgaria, Greece and Montenegro attacked the Ottoman Empire in October 1912. Mihailovic as a cadet got the first time on the battlefield in 19 years. In the First Balkan War, his class was assigned to positions in military units. Mihailovic was located in the IV infantry regiment of the I line. This unit was part of the Drina Division, but at the beginning of the war shifted to the Danube division II line, so he fought to the Macedonian front.

Military operations of the Serbian army had successfully unfolded. First Serbian Army in the two-day battle of Kumanovo (23–24 October) broke the main Turkish forces. Mihailovic is in the midst of the battle came to worst clashes, in Nagoricino and rivers Pčinja. Well demonstrated, and in addition to silver medals for bravery and received the rank of sergeant. Third Serbian Army entered Prizren and then Djakovica, while the Ibar Serbian Army entered the Novi Pazar and merged with the Montenegrin troops. In mid-November 1912 Serbian forces have seized at Bitola and Florine are merged with the Greek forces, the Second Serbian Army was high in November came to the front Edirne at the invitation of the Bulgarian High Command. Mihailovic divisions within the Second Serbian Army General Stepa Stepanović participated in siege the Edirne.^[9] They were held long-term struggle, which ended the surrender of the city, in March 1913. Out Serbian troops in Kosovo provided that their penetration to the Adriatic Sea. In mid-November 1912 Serbian forces broke out on the coast at Ljes. Triumph of the Serbian and allied armies was complete to the point that threatened to provoke an attack Austria-Hungary. Under pressure from Austria-Hungary at the peace conference diplomacy and blockade the coast of Montenegro, the Serbian government decided to withdraw its troops south to the Shkodra. Turkey has acknowledged defeat, and on 30 May 1913 signed a peace treaty in London.

The Serbian government has a contract with Bulgaria for the 1912 supposed to cede parts of Macedonia. The creation of the Albanian state was disrupted Serbian plans. The Serbian government demanded changes earlier contract, it is justified concessions in Albania, addressing the Second Serbian Army under Edirne and the absence of Bulgarian troops in operations in Macedonia. Serbia has refused to step down from Macedonia, which Bulgaria would not accept. However, Bulgaria has expanded demands on the part of Thrace and Albania. This led to conflicts with other Balkan allies. At night time, 29 June 1913 Bulgarian troops, encouraged by the support of Austria-Hungary, conducted a sudden attack on Serbian positions in Bregalnica. In early July led to a bitter battle Bregalnica, where the Bulgarian army was defeated. Mihailovic IV Regiment in the Second Balkan War, fought primarily in the direction of Stracina to Kriva Palanka. Then of the Danube division II line transferred to the Morava division II line. Sergeant on duty infantry company. Mihailovic participated in battles on river Zletova and on to Kocani. It suffered its first war wound. Together with his class, 18 July 1913 was produced to the rank of second lieutenant.^[9] Serbian military victories in Zletova river, near Stip and Kocani, in the mountain Sert, Osogova massif, at Pepelišta and Krivolok Bulgarian defeat was completed. The assistance of the Serbian army were accrued Army Romania and Greece. In Bucharest signed the peace agreement, 10 October 1913.

January 1914 The 43 class was invited to an additional rate Lower School Military Academy, to complete training by a summary procedure and program. Upon completion of the course, the class is recognized that it has closed a military academy, a lieutenant returned to duty infantry sergeant units. Draža was a great student: he graduated as fourth in class. Draža was supposed to cross the artillery, but was dropped from the schedule because on the Austria-Hungar of attacks Serbia.^[8] Member of the Young Bosnia, Gavrilo Princip, was made by the assassination of Crown Prince Franz Ferdinand of Austria in Sarajevo, on St. Vido Day, 28 June 1914. Austria-Hungary sent an ultimatum to Serbia of 10 points. Belgrade has accepted all points except the last, which meant a loss of state sovereignty. Unsatisfied with the response, Austria-Hungary declares war on Serbia 28 July 1914 and the bombing of Belgrade. During mobilization of the Serbian army, Draža was appointed sergeant III detachment of the I Battalion of the III regiment I line Drina Division, within the Third Serbian Army. Austrian-Hungarian Balkan army crossed the river Sava at Šabac and Drina near Loznica and continued to attack Valjevo and other directions. During August guided the fierce fighting on Cer mountain. Draža participated in the Battle of Cer, but to 9 September became the representative of the wounded commander of the same company, the captain of class II Cedomir Stanojlević. Serbian army at the Battle of Cer won and drove the enemy from their territory. But Austria-Hungary Balkan army moving into a new attack on Serbia. In difficult and exhausting struggles on the Drina, the Serbian army suffered a strong shock and gradually retreating. Mihailovic is well demonstrated in these struggles against the Austro-Hungarians, for which he was praised Major Dušan Beserabić.^[10] All three Serbian army were still in serious condition. Crucial event took place in the Battle of Kolubara, November and December 1914, where the Serbian army defeated the enemy.Mihailovic participated in the fierce fighting in the Battle of Kolubara, was a brave soldier on 24 and 25 October to Kostajnik and 7 November at Plamomištu where he remained on the battlefield, although he was battalion departed. Major Ljubomir Djordjevic in the official notes proposed to be awarded second lieutenant Mihailovic Gold Medal for Bravery, which was adopted after the victory of the battle.^[8] On the Serbian front, to early autumn 1915 prevailed is the truce.

The entry of Italy on the side of the Entente May 1915 aroused the hope that the military pressure on Serbia to let go. However, the entry of Bulgaria into the war on the side of Germany and Austria-Hungary, the Central Powers has provided a new opportunity to investigate accounts with Serbia. 1915 war Mihailovic Infantry Regiment began in Šabac, in early July. Austria-Hungary Balkan Army and the XI German army moving into a new offensive against Serbia. In late September, the 1915 Mihailovic has continued the fight against the Germans around Požarevac, there's got a new post commander of IV company III battalion. Due to heavy casualties, his battalion was disbanded 10 October 1915 and then withdrew to the furnaces. The second half of October and early November last in the retreat of the Serbian army to the south. With its advance to the Southern Morava and Vardar Bulgarian block Serbian army in southern Serbia. The road to Thessaloniki was intercepted. Serbian army and the refugees are in the hopeless situation in Kosovo and Metohija. Austria-Hungary Balkan Army and the XI German army from the north and the Bulgarian army advanced from the east to Kosovo with the sole aim to destroy the Serbian army in disarray. Draža at this time was a sergeant or advocate certain infantry commander III company in the II battalion to 20 November 1915 before the departure of the Serbian Army over Albanian mountains, was appointed regimental sergeant machine gun department, which had four machine guns seized from the Austro-Hungarians. The only time the Serbian army and the refugees to the Allies and the Adriatic coast was across the Albanian mountains. The Serbian army and the people moving into retreat through Albania and Montenegro in the winter of 1915 under a terrible cold, snowy roads blocked with snow in the general disarray at a temperature 25 degrees Celsius below zero. Army in disarray and people avoid hunger and cold-worn attack Albanian thugs. With his machine-gun section, Draža was withdrawing direction Peć - Berane - Podgorica - Skadar.^[10] The first group arrived in Vlora, a small port in southwestern Albania. Among them is second lieutenant Draža Mihailovic. Mihailovic III Regiment on 9 February 1916 in the Vardar Division transferred to the next day was sent to the camp Ipsos on the island of Corfu. Mihailovic during retreat over the Albanian mountains managed to keep machine guns, which is longer, but all the more difficult weapons left in the Serbia. The consequences of retreat over the Albanian mountains and felt on the island of Corfu and Vido, where thousands died exhausted Serbian soldiers. Mihailovic is on Corfu arrived very exhausted and underfed.

15 February 1916 Mihailovic is part of the department machine gun II Battalion XXIII Infantry Regiment Vardar Division. This regiment was formed by merging III and IV Infantry Regiment of the I line. With Boat Abda the Mihailovic unit is 22 April left Corfu and set off time Salonika front. After recovery, in June and July 1916 about 150,000 Serbian soldiers were transported to the battlefield north of Thessaloniki. By order of the German supreme command of the Bulgarian troops were taken in August attack on the Bitola - Florina direction. Bulgarian attack was sudden and fierce, the enemy offensive was soon stopped, and then the Serbian army launched a strong counter-offensive. In late September, after fierce fighting which killed 3000 Serbian soldiers, Drina Division's master Kajmakčalan and so re-entered at a fraction of the territory of the Kingdom of Serbia.^[11] The tenth of November in 1916 was acquitted of Bitola. In the battle near the village of Lower Vrbine and Neokazi, 11 September 1916, Mihailovic's is hard wounded. Medical Commission of Thessaloniki has estimated that due to a consequence of wounding second lieutenant Mihailovic is no longer the for battlefield, got the offer to perform service in the background, however, he refused. After recovering, he returned to his unit on the first front line in April 1917.^[10] He participated in the fighting: 1917 in the local offensive Vardar divisions of 25 April - 8 May; in the local offensive Vardar divisions of 17 August - 21 August. At the Salonika front Mihailovic participated in the battles on the Ostrovo lake, Gorničevu, at Žiove at elevation 1050 and 1368, in Sokolac, Zeleno brdo, a Govedar kamen and the Dobro polje. In early 1918, Mihailovic and his machine-gun section was transferred to the newly established 1st Yugoslav infantry regiment of the Yugoslav Division. As part of the Division participated in the breach of the Thessaloniki Front. At the Salonika Front was promoted to the rank of lieutenant, 25 January 1918. Order a white eagle with swords IV degree received on 25 January 1918 , for the acquired merits and demonstrated courage in war. II machine-gun section XXIII regiment, only in the regiment awarded a gold medal for bravery. Finally, Mihailovic was the only one in the division, received the British Military Cross and the decision of the commander division. He participated in the breach of the Thessaloniki front in 1918 fighting on the Dobro pole, Kozjak, Konopištu before Kavadarci, at Gradskog and near the village of Dragovo (before Štip) of 1 to 11 September. After a one-day artillery fire on 15 September 1918 at half six in the morning, Serbian infantry launched an assault. For ten days, breaking the resistance of German-Bulgarian forces, the Serbian First and Second army broke out on the line Štip - Veles. With skillful regrouping, the penetration of the Serbian military has been continued: 5 October Vranje was released, Serbian troops entered in Niš 12 October, and 1 November 1918 the Serbian army marched triumphantly to Belgrade, which is definitely a lost communication Vienna - Istanbul, which is why Bulgaria capitulated on 29 September, followed by Turkey 30 October to 3 November capitulated Austro - Hungary and Germany 11 November and which led to the end of World War I. A month after the liberation of Belgrade, 1 December 1918 is proclaimed the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes.

His first peaceful destination is the military barracks in Skopje. As the best officers in the regiment, the commander of it proposed to move the king's guard in Belgrade. In the fall of 1919 lieutenant Mihailović he became a commander III Company I. Battalion of Regiment Infantry royal guard. However, Lieutenant Mihailović he is not long retained in the unit King's Guard because of one incident in a pub "Freedom", the eve of the Eve New in 1920 year. Then the mellow, took out a gun, put on the table, in order to protect her friend, lieutenant Stefan Buhonicki, who was attacked by drunken guests in the cafe after a commendable words about the Bolshevik revolution. Military commission condemned the lieutenant Mihailović to 15 days in military prison, and to return to the previous barracks, and Buhonicki is transferred to the Albanian border.^[8]

Lieutenant Mihailović is the new 1920 year started serving the sentence in a military prison. Upon release from prison in mid-janauara 1920 lieutenant Mihailović is married he a widow and single mother of four year old girl, Jelica Lazarević, maiden name Branković, and daughter of colonel Jevrem Branković. After a modest wedding Mihailović was transferred to Skopje 25 January 1920. In this city, Jelica gave birth to sons Branko (1921) and Ljubivoje (1922), who died a few months later. However, after the premature death of the child is not forced them to depression, and in the years to get the son Vojislav (1924) and a daughter, Gordana (1927). Branko died in 1995, in Belgrade, Ljubivoje died in the first year of life, and Vojislav was killed next to his father, in May 1945. in Zelengora. Gordana is a children's doctor retired radiologist and lives in Belgrade. A few months after his first stay in prison, Mihailović was on 11 April, once again awarded a gold medal for bravery. 11 May was appointed machine gun sergeant in the 3 Division military school in Skopje. Followed by a promotion to the rank of captain second Class 14 October, and another decoration, the Order of the white eagle with swords V degree, which he was given first December 1920.

Following, 1921, Mihailovic is briefly, from 7 July to 30 September, served in Sarajevo. He was a teacher in the Second military school. He returned to Belgrade after is the students admitted for the 23rd class High Military Academy. Two years later he graduated with honors. In the meantime, 5 November 1921 Draža Mihailović was awarded the Memorial Medal for retreat over the Albanian mountains, and on 24 October 1922 promoted to the rank of captain I class. As captain of I class Mihailovic a year and a half working in the intelligence department, and six months in the teaching department. Examination for the Major passed he the 16 March 1925, to the rank of Major was promoted later that year, 17 December. He translated been in General Staff the profession 24 February 1926. At that time, the Kingdom of Yugoslavia was his best officers sent to France to specialize, and Mihailovic and found himself in Paris 1930.

Before they go into the diplomacy, Mihilović performed more duties in the country. For the Assistant Chief of Staff of the Danube division in Belgrade set on 19 March 1926. In addition, 1926 was a permanent member of the Examinations Committee for the rank of Second Lieutenant economic profession. At the General Affairs at the headquarters of the king's guard moved on 19 January 1927. The Guard is an Assistant Chief of Staff, Acting Chief of Staff, and finally chief of staff, and for a time commanded the three battalion infantry regiment royal guard. At the same time, Mihailović the exam was a member of several committees, as well as strategies to lower teacher quartermaster school academy. Education Order of St. Sava IV degree received on 25 January 1928. Lieutenant colonel received the Easter 1930.

Of service in the King's Guard Mihailovic ended on 14 February 1935, when he transferred to the organizational department of the Ministry of General Army and Navy. And remained there until 28 May, when the order came to go to Sofia, the position of military attaché of the Kingdom of Yugoslavia. There he learned the Bulgarian language and won a Bulgarian medal: Order Cross of St. Alexander, who personally handed him a tcar Boris as they left. During the service in Sofia received the rank of colonel, 6 September 1935, birthday of Crown Prince Peter II Karadjordjevic. Mihailovic, on May 1936 at the request of the Bulgarian government in Sofia has been withdrawn, since he established contacts with some anti-regime of the Bulgarian officers, and was transferred to a military attache in Prague. Colonel Draza Mihailovic arrived in Prague 22 May 1936 and remained there until May next year. In Prague, the policies have not dealt with a number of military issues, such as the acquisition of Czechoslovak aircraft, bulletproof vests, instructions for anti-tank combat. At the farewell reception, the president of Czechoslovakia handed Draza Mihailovic Order of the White Lion III. Class.

In May 1937, Colonel Draza Mihailovic was appointed Chief of Staff of the Drava divisional area of Ljubljana. His new job is located in the barracks Duke muscle. In April following, 1938, Mihailovic becomes the Commander of Infantry Regiment 39 in Celje, which belongs to the same division. During the service in Celje, his supervisor introduces a plan of reorganization of the Yugoslav army, which was intended to strengthen the unity of the military and combat skills. His superiors rejected this plan and 1 November 1939 he was punished with 30 days in jail. After one year, in April 1939, Mihailovic returns to Ljubljana, this time the Chief of Staff determination. There until August, when he was appointed permanent teachers of the Military Academy in Belgrade.

German, Italian, Hungarian and Bulgarian armed forces attacked the Kingdom of Yugoslavia on 6 April 1941 without a declaration of war. Colonel Mihailović on the first day of the war was in Kiseljak near Sarajevo, in the position of Chief of the Operational Department of the Second Army of the Yugoslav army. Colonel Mihailović exceed to Slavonia, where he organized units and their transfer across the river Sava due to rapid penetration of German forces from the north directions. Colonel Draža ordered his soldiers 9 April blasting of a bridge on the Sava River near Brčko in order to stop the enemy advance. In Gračanica 13 April Draža becomes commander Brzi detachment. During the 14 April he is fighting against the Croatian Ustasha in Derventa and Bosanski Brod, who seek to join this place yet proclaimed Independent State of Croatia. Colonel Mihailović 15 April Refusés to order the capitulation and surrender your squad, and with part of a Brzi detachment went into the woods.^[12] Mihailovic was ordered to surrender commented:

Capitulation? That word does not exist in the military vocabulary!

Draža on 20 April Brzi detachment renamed Mountain Detachment. A group of officers and soldiers of the Yugoslav army, led by Mihailović shifted from the mountains of eastern Bosnia, across the Drina River in western Serbia, in order to prolong resistance. Colonel Mihailović with Mountain detachment arrived at Ravna Gora, 11 May 1941 where he established the Command Guerrilla Detachments of the Yugoslav army.^[13] During the summer 1941 Colonel Mihailović works to create a resistance organization. In early August 1941 Mihailović group of officers sent to Bosnia to assist the Serbian rebels in the fight against the NDH.^[14] In late August, the Chetniks were liberated from the Germans Loznica (Battle of Loznica), which begins uprising in Serbia. During the uprising broke out a fratricidal war between the partisans and the Chetniks. The Germans used the situation, break down the rebels identify and carry out massive atrocities against Serbian civilians. In early December 1941 Germans go on the offensive on Ravna Gora, codenamed "Operation Mihailović". German High Command in Serbia over the radio, flyers and posters published the first Warrant for Mihailović.In the meantime, Mihailović established a relationship with the Western Allies and the Yugoslav government, which is located in London, they confirm the legitimacy of his actions.^[15] The Prime Minister Academician Slobodan Jovanović, 19 January 1942. sets Mihailović for the Minister of Army and Navy.^[16] Mihailovic's decree of the Government, 7 December 1941 promoted to the rank of Brigadier General, a decree of 19 January 1942 to the rank of Division General.^[15]

In March and April 1942 the British and the Yugoslav government in London, made a military plan on the opening a Second front in Yugoslavia, calling it "Plan invasion of Yugoslavia". From 15 May to 3 Juna 1942 Germans the carried out two military operations to the destroy Mihailović and his headquarters, which carried the code names "Operation Forstrat",^[17] and "Action 800".^[18] Juna 1942 Mihailović, because of very strong the German forces, went to in Montenegro, in the Italian occupied zone. On 17 July 1942 Yugoslav government him by decree promoted in the General of the Army. In the village of Zimonic Kula near Avtovac, 13 July 1942 Mihailović held a meeting with the Chetnik leaders, Herzegovina, Montenegro and Dalmatia,^[19] to prepare for the creation a bridgehead during the Allied invasion of Yugoslavia on the Adriatic coast.^[20] Mihailovic then went to the mountain Sinjavina near Kolašin. Here the Supreme Command remained until May 1943 where it made preparations for a joint Anglo-American forces operate with the planned invasion of Yugoslavia. The hinterland of the southern Adriatic, from the mouth of Bojana River to the of the confluence river Neretva for the Supreme Command of the Yugoslav Army in the Fatherland was the most important strategic place, because of the planned Anglo-American landings in southern Italy to Yugoslavia.

August 1942 the British Prime Minister, Winston Churchill, this plan it was presented to the Joseph Stalin in Moscow, which included the Western allies after the successful military operations against the Germans in North Africa occupy Sicily and then southern Italy, which was to be used as a platform from which to the perform invasion about a million troops to Yugoslavia, and opened the second front, after which they would be brought rapid penetration through Hungary, Slovakia, Bulgaria and Romania (these states are not were occupied by Germany and represented the Hitler were a soft tummy) and attacked from back the German forces to the Eastern Front, which order to relieve pressure on the Red Army and the Soviet Union. However, Stalin refused the plan and is asking Western allies Churchill to open a second front the west, in France, secretly by counting on a potential war prize, Eastern Europe and the Balkans. Churchill has left Moscow without agreement with Stalin and the Western allies have continued to conduct military operations to his military plan, directing the penetration of its forces to the Balkans. In the next year, until autumn 1943 will be conflict between the Western Allies and the Soviet Union around the place to open a second front, Yugoslavia or France. In late February 1943 due to the expected Allied invasion, in North Herzegovina begin a fierce battle between, Partisans and the Chetniks, which continue unabated in late April and early May 1943 in the north of Montenegro, and then this conflict termination great German offensive on the two rival resistance movement, the invasion of about 65,000 German soldiers in the Italian occupied zone, the offensive was carried codenamed "Operation Schwarz".^[21] General Mihailović successfully pulls out of German ring and with part of his forces moving north towards mountains Zlatar and Javor.

Because powerful the German forces Mihailović went to the mountain Čemerno, where he spend all summer 1943. A series of unsuccessful actions forced the Germans to blackmail the head of General Mihailović. Wanted list was published on 21 July 1943 per 100,000 Reichsmark in gold.^[14] In early September 1943 Germans find a place of residence and refers significant military forces to the destroy Mihailović. Chetniks are in this fight a beat the Germans, and were forced to retreat. High Command and Allied officers are then transferred to Zlatibor, and early October 1943 are moved into the environment of Višegrad. Then strong Chetnik forces in an offensive move towards Sarajevo, attacked the German-Ustasha forces in Visegrad, 5 October 1943 and after heavy fighting relieve the place,^[22] and then in the battle of Semećko Polje, 6 October, breaking the strong German forces.^[23] Chetniks and Allied officers tore down a railway bridge in Višegrad, 7 October 1943^[24] and released the same day after fierce fighting Rogatica of Ustasha.^[25] Chetniks is expelled Germans from Goražde, Foča and Olovo and started the attack on Sokolac and Sarajevo, but were then attacked from the front strong German and Ustasha forces and forced the departure. After defeating the Red Army in the Battle of Kursk in the next few months followed by the liberation of most of the Soviet Union. Out of fear that Stalin does not sign a separate peace with Adolf Hitler, the Western allies at a conference in Tehran accept to open a second front in France and Eastern Europe and the Balkans become his war booty. In early November 1943 High Command, led by Draža moving to march over the mountain of Tara and Povlen and come December 1943 in Azbukovica, on the mountain Bobija. In the village of Ba, Mihailović comes 20 January 1944 to prepare Congress. Multiparty Yugoslav National Congress was held from 25 to 29 January 1944 in the village of Ba. The Congress was attended by 272 delegates from 11 different political parties, at the end of the session adopted a resolution^[26] that is predicted by the reconstruction and democratic system of Yugoslavia as a parliamentary monarchy with three federal units, Serbia, Croatia and Slovenia, which would be entitled to all Human and civil rights of its citizens.^[27] Following the congress, General Mihailović went to the area Ovčar, where the remains until early March 1944 in early April, started the partisan offensive on Serbia from the direction of Sandzak. From mid-spring to early autumn of 1944 in the Serbia were fought by number of significant fighting between two rival resistance movement. The Chetniks in rescued American pilots shot down by Germans in Serbia. Since the end of May 1944 to the end of February the 1945 during the Mission Halyerd the Chetniks had accomplished the evacuation of about 600 U.S. airmen.

Mihailovic is from April to September 1944 was in the Ravna Gora. When is the become an adult, King Peter II, 12 September 1944 under pressure from British Prime Minister Winston Churchill gave a speech over the radio in London, which is called the Chetniks to stand under the command of partisans, a rival resistance movement led by Josip Broz Tito^[28] Two weeks later, 28 September 1944 in Serbia enters the Red Army with 450,000 Soviet soldiers and in Belgrade operation occupies a large part of Serbia from the Germans. During the war operations was killed 4350 and wounded 14 488 Soviet soldiers.^[29] The Red Army it was joined the Tito's partisans. With the Supreme Command and the U.S. military mission Ranger General Mihailović mid September 1944 goes to Mačva. Just before the Soviet invasion of Serbia General Mihailović 27 September 1944 crosses the river Drina in Semberija. Chetniks are not to resist the Red Army in Serbia, but some units were welcomed as allies, and assisted in operations against the Germans. The main Chetnik army was still pulls in Bosnia before the appearance of ideological enemies. Mihailović from Semberija exceed the Bosnian Posavina, and in early October 1944 stay on the mountain Trebava. When the U.S. mission 1 November 1944 and boarded the plane, intending to fly to Italy, Colonel Robert H. McDowell called on General Mihailović to go with them. However, Mihailovic rejected the offer, saying:

I prefer to lose my life in his country, than to live as an outcast in a strange. I'll stay with my soldiers and the people to the end, in order to fulfill the duty to the king that he left me. For King and Fatherland - Freedom or Death!

During November 1944 Mihailović is in the vicinity of Sarajevo, and in December 1944. with the Supreme Command is in Kladanj, where returns to Trebava, where he stayed until mid-March 1945. In mid-March 1945 all units which cross the river Bosnia and placed on the mountain Vučijak. General Mihailović here decides to carry breakthrough through the Central Bosnia to Serbia. Mihailović guerrilla forces were moving in three large columns. Mihailović wanted to arrive in Serbia before the German capitulation. From the mountain Motajica have drawn the south, and fast-moving general direction: Motajica - east of Kotor Varoš - between Travnik and Zenica, erupted in the area Fojnica. This direction columns were constantly attacked from the Ustasha. Chetniks were crossed Ivan - the mountains and western slopes of Bijelašnica and visited the Kalinovik from the west, they turned to the east where they tried to cross the Drina River, the area of the mouth Sutjeska. On Zelengora, Chetniks on 13 May 1945 clashed with partisans. The bulk of the army were killed or captured and then mostly shooting.

Mihailović went on north with a group of several dozen Chetniks. In the village Bulozi near Goražde, the night of 23 May 1945 Drazin's son Vojislav was killed. Draža the next days was moving towards the Drina River, with a group of 22 Chetniks, which is divided into several parts for easy movement. Mihailović crosses the river Drina, and some time remains in the area Krupanj and Bajina Bašta, but then returned to the environment of Višegrad. In February 1946, fell ill of typhus fever. He was captured near Višegrad, 13 March 1946. Only after 11 days, Interior Minister of the Federal People Republic of Yugoslavia, Aleksandar Ranković, 24 March 1946 in his keynote address at the National Assembly announced that Dragoljub Mihailović in a communist prison.^[30] Previously, Ranković from was Belgrade reported to Josip Broz, who was in Warsaw at the meeting Cominform, that Mihailović caught.^[30] Then, Josip Broz phoned Joseph Stalin to him this reported important news. The news of the arrest of General Mihailović, toured the world with lightning speed and different is received. Of communist East with great enthusiasm, in the democratic public of the West, with some skepticism and resentment.^[30]

Trial of General Mihailović was held from 10 June to 15 July 1946.^[31] With the main-accused Mihailović was tried a larger group of people: Slobodan Jovanović, Božidar Purić, Stevan Moljević, Mladen Mujović, Živko Topalović, Milan Gavrilović, Momčilo Ninčić, Živan Knezevic, Radoje Knežević, Konstantin Fotić, Đuro Vilović, Radoslav Radić, Slavoljub Vranješević, Milos Glišić, Petar Živković, Dragomir Jovanović, Tanasije Dinić, Velibor Jonić, Đuro Djokić, Kosta Mušicki, Boško Pavlović, Lazar Marković and Kosta Kumanudi.

Mihailović's judges were Mihailo Đorđević (President of the Military Court), Milija Laković, Mihailo Janković, Nikola Stanković and Radomir Ilić (judges) and Todor Popadić (Secretary). The prosecutor was Miloš Minić, who was helped by Miloš Jovanović.^[31] All of them were members of the Communist Party and partisan guerrillas during the war. The chief judge Mihailo Đorđević and prosecutor Miloš Minić, were members of communist parties and the partisan movement during the war, so that the court was is not independent and free but a political and biased as in all communist countries. General Mihailović on the end of the trial was presented his closing argument:

I found myself in a whirlwind of events and policy ... Yet I stayed only a soldier. I am convinced that I was on the right track and I called all foreign correspondent, and even a mission of the Red Army to come to my Headquarters. Fate was mercilessly with me, when he was cast me in such a cruel storm, the worst possible that could befall a man. I wanted so much, a lot of that I have started, but the world storm they blew me and my work.^[32]

Of the 47 counts Miloš Minić which is read the 10 June 1946 in Belgrade, Mihailović was convicted on eight counts. The first was:

Is guilty because that since the beginning of the second half of 1941, and for all time of war and enemy occupation and to his control of organized armed formations Chetniks known as "Mihailovic Chetniks" and the so called Yugoslav Army in the Homeland, which aimed to armed action and terror in cooperation with the occupying forces to support the occupation and suppress an armed uprising and freedom fight of the Serbian and other peoples of Yugoslavia.^[31]

General Mihailović on 15 July 1946 was sentenced to death, permanent loss of political and civil rights and confiscation of all assets. The verdict was carried out after only two days. Liquidated was an on unknown place 17 July 1946. Even now nobody knows where the grave of General Mihailović.

• Silver Medal for Bravery, 1913.
• Memorial Medal of the Serbian - Turkish War, 1913.
• Memorial Medal of the Serbian - Bulgarian War, 1913.
• Gold Medal for Bravery, 1915.
• British Military Cross, 1917.
• Order of the White eagle with swords fourth order in 1918.
• Order of the White eagle with swords Order of the fifth, 1920.
• Memorial Medal of the war of 1914 - 1918, 1920.
• Gold Medal for Bravery, 1920.
• Memorial medal for the withdrawal of Serbian army through Albania, 1921.
• Order of Saint Sava of the fourth order, 1928.
• Bulgarian Order of St Alexander, 1936.
• Czechoslovak Order of the White Lion of the third degree of Military Merit, 1937.
• Order of the Karađorđe's Star with swords third degree in 1942.
• French Cross of War, 1943.
• American Legion of Merit of the Chief Commander, 29 March 1948.

Since both the Axis and the Chetniks viewed the elimination of the Partisans was a priority, a large number of collaboration agreements were signed with Italian, German, and even Ustaše authorities. These were signed on several occasions by Mihailović's personal representatives. Since the very start of the war, Mihailović had unsuccessfully attempting to arrive at an understanding with the occupation, offering his forces against the Partisans. Having failed to convince the Germans of his willingness to cooperate during the first meeting in Divci (1941), General Draža Mihailović met with representatives of the German Serbian Military Administration, the occupation authority in Serbia (with German knowledge and permission). Mihailović had by now been made Yugoslav Minister of War (Minister of the Army, Navy, and Air Force), and had "offered to place himself [the Yugoslav Minister of War] at the disposal of the Serbian Military Administration for the struggle against the communists". In spite of his status, his offer was at this time refused once more by the German commander, General Bader.^[1][3]

The units that could really be used against the Partisans were Serbian and partly Russian volunteers and - Draža Mihailović's people. My liaison officer with them was a certain Major, Ritterkreuztraeger.

— General Edmund Glaise von Horstenau, German military attaché in Zagreb^[33]

Mihailović's Chetniks found the authorities in the Italian occupation zone more willing to collaborate. The Italians (General Dalamazzo) looked favorably on these approaches and hoped first to avoid fighting the Chetniks, and then use them against the Partisans, which they thought would give them an "enormous advantage". An agreement was concluded on January 11, 1942 between the representative of the Italian 2nd Army, Captain Angelo De Matteis and the Chetnik representative for southeastern Bosnia, Mutimir Petković, and was later signed by Mihailović's chief delegate in Bosnia, Major Boško Todorović. In a memorandum dated March 26, 1943 to the Italian Army General Staff entitled "The Conduct of the Chetniks", Italian officers noted the ultimate control of these collaborating Chetnik units remained in the hands of Draža Mihailović, and contemplated the possibility of a hostile reorientation of these troops in light of the changing strategic situation. The commander of these troops was vojvoda Ilija Trifunović-Birčanin, who arrived in Italian-annexed Split in October 1941 and received his orders directly from Mihailović in the spring of 1942. The Germans insisted that the Italian authorities cease this unilateral collaboration, the Italians responded that if they were to do so, they would be unable to maintain the occupation in the majority of their zone.^[1][3]

To support the Chetniks sufficiently to make them fight against the communists, but not so much as to allow them too much latitude in their own action; to demand and assure that the Chetniks do not fight against the Croatian forces and authorities; to allow them to fight against the communists on their own initiative (so that they can "slaughter each other"); and finally to allow them to fight in parallel with the Italian and German forces, as do the nationalist bands [Chetniks and separatist Zelenaši] in Montenegro.

— General Mario Roatta, 1942^[1]

The Chetnik-Italian collaboration lasted until the Italian capitulation on September 8, 1943, when Chetnik troops switched to supporting the German occupation in forcing the Partisans out of the coastal cities which they liberated upon the Italian withdrawal. After the Italian capitulation, however, the Germans found themselves in need of increased assistance in maintaining the occupation, and had shifted their policy towards the Chetniks entirely. Collaboration continued to take place until the very end of the war, with the tacit approval of Draža Mihailović and the Chetnik Supreme Command in Serbia. Though Mihailović himself never actually signed any agreements, he endorsed the policy for the purpose of eliminating the Partisan threat.^[1][3]

Though he himself [Draža Mihailović] shrewdly refrained from giving his personal view in public, no doubt to have a free hand for every eventuality (e.g., Allied landing on the Balkans), he allowed his commanders to negotiate with Germans and to co-operate with them. And they did so, more and more...

— Field Marshal Maximilian von Weichs, 1945^[34]

When appraising the situation in western Serbia, Bosnia, Lika, and Dalmatia, Captain Merrem, intelligence officer with the German commander-in-chief southeastern Europe, was "full of praise" for Chetnik units collaborating with the Germans, and for the smooth relations between the Germans and Chetnik units on the ground.
In addition, the Chief of Staff of the 2nd Panzer Army observed in a letter to the Ustaše liaison officer that the Chetniks fighting the Partisans in Eastern Bosnia were "making a worthwhile contribution to the Croatian state", and that the 2nd Army "refused in principle" to accept Croatian complaints against the usage of these units.^[2][4]

In June 1941, prior to any Chetnik operation, Josip Broz Tito's Partisans started actively resisting the Germans, in what would become known as the Yugoslav People's Liberation War. However, while Tito favored full resistance, striking at the Germans and Italians with everything he had, Mihailović allegedly saw his strategy as wanting to "save his country with as few casualties as possible", while he believed that Tito wanted to "burn the country and the old order to the ground to better prepare it for communism". Lieutenant Colonel Živan L. Knežević, one of Mihailović's senior advisers and chief of the military cabinet for the Prime Minister of the royalist government stated that in his view "The communist Partisans wanted immediately to lead the people into an open fight against the forces of occupation although the people were completely bare-handed and the fight could not have benefited anybody... [Mihailović] thought that the uprising was premature and that, without any gain in prospect, it would have brought disproportionately great sacrifices. He was not able to convince the Partisans that an open fight could have only one result, namely, the annihilation of the population."^[35]

Mihailović supposedly came to view the Partisans as no better than the Nazis. A telegram sent on February 22, 1943 described an alleged incident where the Partisans brought a German/Ustaše force upon a town in the Bihać Republic (a Partisan-governed part of Yugoslav territory which they liberated); the town fled, but the Partisan force allegedly "abandoned" them to the enemy, which massacred them. Mihailović concluded that "[T]his is the fight that the Communists wage, a fight which is directed by foreign propaganda with the aim of systematically annihilating our nation."^[36] The Partisans and Royalists descended into a brutal civil war. Whenever territory changed hands between them, anyone thought sympathetic to the other side was publicly executed.^[37]

Kosta Milovanović Pećanac, a First World War uprising leader and former Chetnik himself, considered the Partisans so grave a threat that he opted for collaboration with the Germans against them. Pećanac and Mihailović became rivals, both claiming a shared Serbian heritage and with Pećanac commanding a much smaller force than Mihailović. Due to the rivalry between the two Chetnik commanders, Pećanac was shot in 1944 upon his capture by Mihailović's Chetniks. By 1944 Mihailović's Chetnik formations were openly aiding the German efforts against the Partisans and the Red Army. Allegedly, General Milan Nedić, the head of the Serbian collaborationist state (with whom Pećanac sided), transferred command of all of his, by now swiftly diminishing, forces to Mihailović in 1944.^[1]

The Royalists advanced into eastern Bosnia in 1943 where they engaged in combat with the Ustaše, resulting in several incidents of ethnic cleansing on both sides. For instance, Croatian historian Vladimir Žerjavić claims that roughly 40,000 lost their lives to forces affiliated with the Chetniks.^[38] Towards the end of the war, Mihailović went into hiding in East Bosnia.

As part of his opportunist policies in support of the creation of Greater Serbia, Mihailović issued the following Instructions (Template:Lang-sr) to his commanders on December 20, 1941:

The mission of our units is:

1. The struggle for the freedom of all of our people under the scepter of His Majesty, the King Peter II;
2. The creation of Greater Yugoslavia, and within it Greater Serbia, ethnically clean within the borders of Serbia, Montenegro, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Srem, Banat, and Bačka;
3. The struggle for the incorporation into our social structure of those non-liberated Slovenian territories under Italy and Germany (Trieste, Gorizia, Istria, and Kaernten), as well as Bulgaria and Northern Albania with Skadar;
4. The cleansing of all national minorities and anti-state elements from state territory;
5. The creation of direct common borders between Serbia and Montenegro, as well as Serbia and Slovenia by cleansing the Muslim population from Sandžak, and the Muslim and Croat populations from Bosnia and Herzegovina;
6. The punishment of all Ustashas and Muslims who have mercilessly destroyed our people in these tragic days;
7. The settlement of the areas cleansed of national minorities and anti-state elements by Montenegrins (to be considered are poor, nationally patriotic, and honest families).

There may be no collaboration with the communists [the Partisans], as they are fighting against the Dynasty and in favor of socialist revolution. Albanians, Muslims, and Ustaše are to be treated in accordance with their merit for the horrendous crimes against our population, i.e., they are to be turned over to the People's Court. The Croats living on the territory under Italian occupation are to be treated based on their disposition at the given moment.

The exact number of Bosniak, Croat and other civilians who died at the hands of the Chetniks has never been officially established. In Crimes Against Bosnian Muslims 1941-1945, historian Šemso Tucaković estimated that out of 150,000 Bosniaks who lost their lives in World War II, some 100,000 were murdered by Chetniks. He also listed at least 50,000 Bosnian Muslim names directly known to have been killed by Chetniks. According to World War II historian Vladimir Žerjavić, approximately 29,000 Muslims and 18,000 Croats were killed by Chetniks during World War II.^[39] Žerjavić's figures have been cited as too conservative by some sources and figures of up to 300,000 non-Serbs have been suggested, but these cannot be confirmed unanimously.^{[40][unreliable source?]}

Some of the major World War II Chetnik massacres against ethnic Croats and Bosniaks include:^[41][42][43]

• July 1941, Herzegovina (Bileca, Stolac) - approximately 1,150 civilians killed;
• December 1941/January 1942, eastern Bosnia (Foča, Goražde) - approximately 2,050 civilians killed;
• August 1942, eastern Bosnia and Sandžak (Foča, Bukovica) - approximately 1,000 civilians killed;
• August 1942, eastern Bosnia (Ustikolina, Jahorina) - approximately 2,500 civilians killed;
• October 1942, central Bosnia (Prozor) - approximately 1,250 civilians killed;
• January 1943, Sandžak (Bijelo Polje) - approximately 1,500 civilians killed;
• February 1943, eastern Bosnia and Sandžak (Foča, Čajniče, Pljevlja) - approximately +9,200 civilians killed.

Due to the efforts of Major Richard L. Felman and his friends, President Harry S. Truman, on the recommendation of General Dwight D. Eisenhower, posthumously awarded Mihailović the Legion of Merit for the rescue of American airmen by the Chetniks. For the first time in history, this high award and the story of the rescue was classified secret by the State Department so as not to offend the Yugoslav government.

"General Dragoljub Mihailovich distinguished himself in an outstanding manner as Commander-in-Chief of the Yugoslavian Army Forces and later as Minister of War by organizing and leading important resistance forces against the enemy which occupied Yugoslavia, from December 1941 to December 1944. Through the undaunted efforts of his troops, many United States airmen were rescued and returned safely to friendly control. General Mihailovich and his forces, although lacking adequate supplies, and fighting under extreme hardships, contributed materially to the Allied cause, and were instrumental in obtaining a final Allied victory." (March 29, 1948, Harry S. Truman)

Almost sixty years after his death, on May 9, 2005, Draža Mihailović's daughter, Gordana, was presented with a decoration bestowed posthumously on her father by United States President Harry S. Truman in 1948, for the assistance provided to the crews of US bombers that were gunned down on the territory under Chetnik control in World War II.. July 2009. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help); Missing or empty |title= (help)

In April 2009, the Government of Serbia launched a commission to discover the remains of Mihailović, who was executed at an unknown site.^[44] This led to the archives on Mihailović being unsealed in Serbia, and a request by the Serbian government for British and American archives to reveal any information on the execution.^[45][46] This commission evolved into the Commission on Concealed Mass Graves in Serbia by late 2009.

A motion to rehabilitate Mihailović was submitted to the Higher Court in Belgrade by his grandson Vojislav Mihailović.^[47] The motion was supported by the Serbian Liberal Party, the Association of Members of the Yugoslav Army in the Fatherland, and the Association of Political Prisoners and Victims of the Communist Regime. The first hearing was held on September 16, 2010. The second hearing was held on October 29. At the hearing, former American pilot Milton Friend testified in Mihailović's defence about the role of the Chetniks in saving his life as part of Operation Halyard.^[48][49] The next hearing is scheduled to be in December, 2010.

• Chetniks
• Trial of Draža Mihailović
• Yugoslavia and the Allies

• Freeman, Gregory A. (2007). The Forgotten 500. 80 Strand, London: Penguin Books. ISBN 978-0-451-22212-1. {{cite book}}: Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)CS1 maint: location (link)
• Juce, Sinoc. Pjetlovi nad Tigrovima, Sanski Most, BiH: Begovic-Bosanska Krajina Press 2007
• Martin, David. Ally Betrayed: The Uncensored Story of Tito and Mihailović. New York: Prentice-Hall, 1946.
• Martin, David. Patriot or Traitor: The Case of General Mihailović: Proceedings and Report of the Commission of Inquiry of the Committee for a Fair Trial for Draja Mihailović. Hoover Archival Documentaries. Hoover Institution Publication, volume 191. Stanford, CA: Hoover Institution Press, Stanford University, 1978.[6]
• Roberts, Walter R. Tito, Mihailović, and the Allies, 1941–1945. New Brunswick, New Jersey: Rutgers University Press, 1973.
• Trew, Simon. Britain, Mihailović, and the Chetniks, 1941–42. Basingstoke, UK: Macmillan; New York: St. Martin's Press in association with King's College, London, 1998.
• Tucaković, Semso. Srpski zlocini nad Bosnjacima Muslimanima, 1941 - 1945. Sarajevo: El Kalem, 1995.

• Execution of Draža's Instructions by his Commander, "Bloody Priest" Momcilo Djujić
• Trial of Draža Mihailović
• General Mihailovich on TIME Magazine cover, 1942
• V-E Day celebrations in Serbia with Chetnik and U.S. veterans
• Mihailović's bio at Columbia Encyclopedia
• Biography of Dragoljub-Draža Mihailović at Vojska.net
• Australian Government - Historical Publications on Mihailović
• SUC Biography
• Congressional Record on Mihailović
• General Mihailović's Legion of Merit
• Erection of Mihailović monument in US
• Stenographic record of trial
• Chetniks movie

• Photo gallery Template:Fr icon
• 100th Anniversary of Chetnik Movement

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