Chetniks in Montenegro during World War 2

Chetniks in Montenegro

Uprising

Unlike other parts of Yugoslavia, uprising in summer of 1941 in Montenegro had nation-wide character, start by communist and there supporters and also joined by Montenegro nationalist or whites (bjelaÅ¡i) who favored strong relations with Serbia. There enemies were Italians and Montenegro separatists or greens (zelenaÅ¡i) under leadership of Sekule DrljeviÄ‡a and old Montenegrin general Krste PopoviÄ‡a. Uprising started on 13 July 1941 but it wasn't well prepared and after few successful weeks it suffered serious defeats. Pro-Serbian nationalist admitted defeat and stooped the fighting; Partisans decisively wanted to continue. This lead to separation of there paths.

Road to collaboration

Sometime in the autumn nationalist come in contact with Italians offering them help against Partisans. Aspiration for collaboration become much stinger after Montenegrins heard for brake up between MihailoviÄ‡ chetniks and Partisans in Serbia. Nationalistic groups in Montenegro sent at the end of November to Serbia captain ÄuriÅ¡iÄ‡ to determine correct situation in Serbia and to make direct contact with MihailoviÄ‡. During visit MihailoviÄ‡ give instruction to ÄuriÅ¡iÄ‡ and named him chetnik commander off all chetnik detachments in SandÅ¾ak. For commander of all chetnik forces in old Montenegro he named major LaÅ¡iÄ‡. During second half of December ÄuriÅ¡iÄ‡ and LaÅ¡iÄ‡ started to mobilize men in Montenegro and organizing them into special units as counterparts to Partisan detachments and by middle of January 1942 these units found them self in open combat with Partisans. Conflict between two groups was speed up by two events on Partisans side. One was defeat of Partisan attack on the Italian garrison in Pljevljima at the beginning of December in which Partisans suffered several hundred dead and wounded and caused leaving of Partisans ranks and crossing over to chetniks. Second even was 'left turn' amongst Partisans and use of terror against real and potential enemies, with explanation - not always true - that they collaborate with enemy.

Collaboration with Italians

By middle of February 1942 individual chetnik commanders and commanders of the Italian Divisions started making first formal agreements. First agreement was made on 17 February between representative of colonel Baja StaniÅ¡iÄ‡a and commander of Italian Division 'Taro'. Soon followed by agreement between representative of captain ÄuriÅ¡iÄ‡ and military governor and commander of Italian Troops of Montenegro general Alessandro Pirzio Biroli about collaboration of ÄuriÅ¡iÄ‡ chetniks with Italian forces in the area of Division 'Venezia' and on 6 March agreement was concluded between colonel StaniÅ¡iÄ‡a and general Alessandro Pirzio Biroli. All this agreements implicated either joint action or independent chetnik actions against communist lead partisans. In both cases Italians provided arms and supplied chetnik formations. On 9 March numerous Montenegrins, who were professional or reserve officers of Yugoslav Royal Army, held conference in Cetinje on which as commander of all nationalist forces in Montenegro general BlaÅ¾o ÄukanoviÄ‡ was chosen. It was a choice which MihailoviÄ‡ accepted in full and maybe even suggested himself.

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