Miroslav Trifunović
vojvoda Miroslav Trifunović | |
|---|---|
| Nickname(s) | Dronja[1] |
| Born | August 14, 1894 Kragujevac |
| Died | May 13, 1945 (aged 50) Zelengora, DF Yugoslavia(modern-day Bosnia and Herzegovina) |
| Years of service | 1910-1945 |
| Rank | Division general |
| Commands held | Chetnik commander for Serbia |
| Battles/wars |
|
Miroslav Trifunović (Kragujevac, 14 August 1894 - Zelengora, 13 May 1945) was a brigadier general in Royal Yugoslav Army and commander of Serbia in the rank of division general during World War II. He is considered to be one of the most important collaborators of Draža Mihailović.
Early Life
Miroslav Trifunović was born in Kragujevac in 1894. In World War One he fought on Kajmakčalan, for which he was rewarded Order of Karađorđe's Star. He finished Military Academy in Belgrade in 1925. Later, he was promoted to rank of brigadier general in 1938.
World War II
During April War, Trifunović was assigned to Third Army of Milan Nedić. After capture of Skopje, his unit retreats toward Niš and when Kingdom of Yugoslavia capitulated, Trifunović was in region of Toplica (region). During the summer of 1941. he joined Draža Mihailović's movement, and according to Chetnik member Živko Topalović who survived the war, he was the only general that fought in the movement, even through he didn't really command army on the field.
In May 1942. after Mihailović moved to Montenegro, he appointed Trifunović a commander of Serbia.[2] As commander of Serbia, he became a connection between Mihailović and Chetnik convert agents in Belgrade.[3] In November, Mihailović gave to Trifunović task to transform Chetnik Youth Section into three separate high quarters on territory of Serbia.[4]
Trifunović suggested to his superior to send a lawyer to Switzerland to gain finacial aid from emigration, which Mihailović accepted.[5] Trifunović observed Battle of Višegrad in October 1943.[6] In December he was promoted to the rank of division general.[7]
In March of 1944, as delegate of Mihailović, met with Abwehr agent Rudolf Staker, associate of Nazi delagate Hermann Neubacher in village of Vranići near Čačak. The meeting was organised by Milan Aćimović who was also present at the meeting and the conversation was about making long-term agreement about fight against Yugoslav Partisans. In later April, Trifunović, this time along with Živko Topalović and Predrag Raković, met with Staker again, with demands of weapons and ammunition for fighting against the partisans. Neubacher was attempting to create nationalist coalition to fight against the partisans. This resulting in Trifunović having a 3 day meeting with Dimitrije Ljotić(17-19th of May), which ended in agreement for creation of "national front" against the communists.[8] In August, he gave twice orders to execute deserters regardless of rank.[6] On 5th of September, Trifunović proclaimed that Red Army|Russians are Chetnik allies, while Josip Broz Tito|Tito's gangs are enemies, because he believed Robert H. McDowell's claims that Soviets won't cross Danube and that Soviets still see them as allies. On 6th of September, Trifunović informed Mihailović of unification of Chetniks with Serbian State Guard and Serbian Volunteer Corps (World War II)|Serbian Volunteer Corps.[9] After independent action against Germans by local Chetniks from Svilajnac, Trifunović banned future attacks on anyone except partisans.[10] Mihailović gave to Trifunović command of all troops inside Serbia on 4th of October.[11] When Soviets entered Yugoslavia, Trifunović thought that they will be allies to Chetniks and ordered his troops not to fight them. However by mid-October illusion of Soviet alliance disappeared, as Soviets didn't want to risk tolerance to the forces royal to king Peter II of Yugoslavia|Petar II and Yugoslav government-in-exile|government-in-exile.[12]
War diary of Army Group E states that Trifunović has around 14000 Chetniks, which are moving toward Pljevlja and Bosnia from Sjenica region.[13] Command of Chetnik movement in Serbia was stationed in Sjenica alongside Germans until 7th of November[14], when they moved to Prijepolje.[15] On 13th diary of Group E notes that retreating Chetniks have 18000, difference of 4000 probably comes from Serbian Striking Corps, Chetnik unit made up of former members of Serbian State Guard. These forces are retreating parallel with German forces in a direction of Foča and Bosnia.[13] On 20th of December, Trifunović with troops under his command united with Mihailović and continued they retreat through Bosnia.[16] On 26th of December, Trifunović presented his plans to recapture Vlasenica from partisans. [17]
In March of 1945. German Army command for South-East notes that general Trifunović is ready to fighting alongside Germans if he gets ammunition and weapons. Trifunović was in charge of Chetnik contact with the Germans.[18] Chetnik main force, including Trifunović moved towards Lelija and Zelengora on 10th and 11th of May. Trifunović died in Battle of Zelengora on 13th of May 1945. during a battle against the partisans.[19]
References
- ↑ Latas & Dželebdžić 1979, p. 319.
- ↑ Pavlowitch 2008, p. 93.
- ↑ Milovanović 1983a, p. 19.
- ↑ Milovanović 1983a, p. 181.
- ↑ Milovanović 1983a, p. 29.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Radanović 2016, p. 134.
- ↑ Војни указ, Службене новине (ратно издање), Број 17, 1943.
- ↑ Milovanović 1983b, p. 19-23.
- ↑ Milovanović 1983b, p. 190.
- ↑ Radanović 2016, p. 247.
- ↑ Milovanović 1983b, p. 199.
- ↑ Milovanović 1983b, p. 207-208.
- ↑ 13.0 13.1 Radanović 2016, p. 381.
- ↑ Radanović 2016, p. 371.
- ↑ Milovanović 1983b, p. 226.
- ↑ Radanović 2016, p. 380.
- ↑ Latas & Dželebdžić 1979, p. 396.
- ↑ Radanović 2016, p. 420-421.
- ↑ Milovanović 1983b, p. 371.
External links
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