Beogradska politička i vojna elita u svetlu nemačkih i britanskih izvora pred Drugi svetski rat

Ranka, Gašić

Istorija 20. veka

1

63

81

0352-3160

https://www.ceeol.com/search/article-detail?id=194266

2006-2020/03/25/06:30:57

German and British influences prevailed in the politics of Yugoslavia in the late 1930s. British influence gained foot because of the dominant role of United Kingdom in the League of Nations, as well as because of the close relationship Prince Paul Karadjordjevic, the Regent, kept with leading British politicians. On the other hand, German influence became dominant in Yugoslav economy and therefore, was felt also in the politics. There was a great difference between the interest that both Great Britain and Germany had in the Balkan affairs and the priorities of the Yugoslav foreign policy. Yugoslavia was more oriented towards western powers (Britain and France) than towards Germany, whereas Germany, on the other hand, was much more interested in the Balkans than United Kingdom. Both Germany and Great Britain used their political influence on Yugoslav elite in many different ways. Therefore, German and British documents are very important for the history of Yugoslavia in the 1930s, and even more so when history of foreign policy and defence is concerned. These documents are indispensable when speaking of the role of Prince Paul, the Regent, and Milan Stojadinovic, the Prime Minister, both men being the key figures of Yugoslav politics and very much influenced by Great Britain and Germany. Each international crises in the 1930s added to the anxiety and hostility that Belgrade intellectuals and politicians felt for Germany. The standing of Western democracies among them was very low, and even the British officials in Belgrade could not report differently to their superiors. Nevertheless, German officials in Belgrade reported that Yugoslav elite was truly inclined towards cooperation with Britain and France. Alltogether, British documents are much more accurate in describing the real disposition of Yugoslav elite circles, whereas the German documents show a certain tendency to overlook the „bad news“ and to put things in a more optimistic light. The Yugoslav military officials held the British army in a very high esteem, especially their naval and aircraft forces. Some Yugoslav army officers were educated in Great Britain.The Yugoslav aircraft was made after the model of British „Spitfire“ and „Hurricane“ planes. On the other hand, in the purchase of military equipment Yugoslav army was not motivated by political orientation, but by the prices and quality of the arms. The struggle between Britain and Germany for the Yugoslav market of arms and military equipment was primarily a political one, and the business reasons were not so important. The Third Reich penetrated Yugoslav market in arms and military equipment, as it did in every other way. The British did not succeed in counteracting it. German and British documents provide a very good insight in the real position of Yugoslavia on the eve of the WWII, and her inability to deal with German pressure and purchase the neccesary military equipment.

military elite, british sources, german sources, political elite, the Second of World War