Diaries 1944 – 1949

LT Col Petar Pavasovic (right) with Col Brana Zivkovic in Munster

October 4, 1944

I WAS called to general staff headquarters to attend a meeting of all members of the Serbian State Guard¹ (Srpska Drzavna Straza). The hall was packed and among those present was Gen Stevan M Radovanovic, former commander of the Serbian gendarmerie and the SDS.

I quickly learned why he was among us. The previous day, General (Milan) Nedic² had released all officials, officers and guards from their obligations as the Serbian government had ceased to exist. Gen Borivoje Jonic, who was only too well aware of the high regard in which the SDS holds its old commander, asked Radovanovic to attend to tell us what was happening.

Speeches — given by both generals and Major Danilo Stojanovic (general staff) — informed us that from today we are under the direct orders of the Royal Yugoslav Army in the Homeland (Kraljevska Jugoslovenska Vojska u Otadzbini — JVuO)³.

After various explanations and instructions we were effectively divided into three groups. The first is to go to Kragujevac with Lt Col Petar Stankovic, the second to Jagodina under my command, and the third to Krusevac under Major Slobodan L Trifkovic, commander of the SDS in Pozarevac. Each man was given six months’ pay.

As I was leaving, my good friend Lt Col Stojan Saks of the gendarmerie came over. We’ve known each other for years. In fact, since I was stationed in Subotica where he was gendarmerie commander. He put his arm round my shoulders and said: “Don’t leave Belgrade. I guarantee nothing will happen to you.” My reply was terse and to the point: “Stojan, I’ve sworn an oath and I intend to remain true to it.”

We parted without shaking hands but I gave him a look of contempt. This gentleman, who kowtows to the communists, and is possibly one of their agents, has high standing in the SDS as interpreter and liaison with the German high command.

Throughout the meeting I weighed up the men present and saw many different looks on their faces. Basic fear was mixed with elation, stubborn defiance with a lack of stomach for the coming fight, clear suffering with a fear of the unknown, and strong faith with foreboding. But above all there were thoughts of blood, killing, imprisonment, persecution and the new concentration camps.

As I returned home in the early evening, Belgrade was gloomy. The sky was shut out by thick, black clouds and the wind scattered branches and twigs about the empty streets. It was a deeply moving scene. It seemed like a warning that a terrible fate awaits our beautiful city . . . that within a few days it will yet again feel the full fury of war, destruction and suffering.

Tired and preoccupied, I hurried home for the next day’s journey and great uncertainty. The situation is dreadful but there’s no way out. There’s only one path I can take and that’s the one of honour, suffering and sacrifice. Not for one single minute have I considered reneging on the vow I made, as so many others have, just to save my neck. My blood boiled so much at these thoughts that I refused to consider them. Instead, I concentrated on our own ideals, about the Ravna Gora⁴ movement, and about the way our conquering troops, led by King Peter and Cica⁵ (Draza Mihailovic), would make a glorious return to our villages.

When I got home and explained what was happening, my sister-in-law, who is married to Milos Pajevic with whom I was at the military academy, tried to convince me to stay, just like Saks did, assuring me that nothing would happen. I believe she was a communist before the war.

It’s under this type of influence that I await the morning when I will leave my beloved Belgrade. It’s a city that reeks of blood and sacrifice as new suffering approaches. It makes me think back to the horrors she endured in the First World War, and in the second. In both she was set alight and crumbled in the blood of her people. Throughout her history she has been forced to endure much and to bear a heavy cross of suffering. Such is the strange fate of Belgrade.

October 5

I was at the muster point by 6am and I found Lt Col Miodrag Tojic and a corporal. We waited until 11am but no one came. We then took the train to Jagodina, arriving at 7pm.

October 6

We learned that a company of SDG from Pozarevac district was cut off by the communists. It has been removed from the register.

Gen Radovanovic, Gen Jonic, Col Brana Zivkovic and some more men have arrived from Belgrade via Kragujevac. We immediately made contact with the JVuO commander for Serbia, who instructed us that all SDS units should combine to create a Serbian Shock Corps (Srpski Udarni Korpus) which would be led by Gen Radovanovic with Gen Jonic as his second-in-command.

Capt Mandic was sent to Belgrade with orders for those officers who had remained in the city. They are to immediately report for duty or face execution. A number of officers answered the call including Lt Col Branko Malesevic. However, very few headquarters staff arrived. They chose the other option, to stay. They’ve deceived themselves that communism isn’t what it was in 1917 but they are badly misleading themselves if they genuinely believe the communists will respect the Geneva Convention and other international agreements. We have heard they were all rounded up except for their helpers and informers. No doubt they have been killed.

October 7

We have been working to form the Serbian Shock Corps. All the units that made it to Jagodina are involved.

October 8

Col Zivkovic ordered me to be by the telephone at SDS district command. About 6pm we received a call from the commander of a rural police detachment in Sviljanic who told us the Red Army had arrived there. Sensing my disbelief, he said: “Here’s one of their officers who wants to talk to you.” Then there was a Russian voice saying: “Comrade, how many German troops do you have over there?” “100,000,” I replied. “We’ll be there soon to liberate you,” the Russian answered.

I swore at him using the language I learned in 1916 from the Russian prisoners of war in my home town of Benkovac, Dalmatia, which was then in the Austrian empire. It’s strange how easily you learn such words and never forget them.

I immediately gave the news to Col Zivkovic and then, on his orders, to Gen Radovanovic. I returned to HQ and stayed by the phone. About midnight it rang again. The caller did not identify himself but briefly stated: “The Romanian red cavalry has reached Lapovo and is heading for Jagodina and Velika Planina.” I immediately informed the officer commanding.

October 9

Because the Soviets were so close, we were ordered to make for Rekovac. We set off about 2am and completed the withdrawal the same day. As we left Jagodina there was great alarm with people asking why we were leaving rather than staying to defend them. The town police came with us.

In the afternoon, Radovanovic and Jonic returned to Jagodina, and upon seeing how law and order had broken down to be replaced with looting and robbery ordered the police to go back and restore order along with a single SDS company from Morava district under the command of Major Milojevic.

Before we left, I tried to convince the prefect, Mr Boskovic, to come with us but my efforts were in vain. He insisted on staying.

When we reached Rekovac we were met by the commander of the Belicka Brigade who made it plain he did not want us there. He changed his mind later when he saw our troops and was made aware of the true situation.

October 11

At 7am we left for Kragujevac. On arrival we moved into accommodation in the workers’ colony at the army technical establishment.

October 12

In the evening we arrived in Kraljevo and took up positions in the surrounding villages.

October 13

By chance I came across the sister of my kum⁶ Nikola Dimitrovic who was married to a young Czech chemist in Serbia. When I called she was both surprised and delighted to see me and insisted I stay for a meal.

October 14

We concentrated our forces in a more compact area. My 1st division was assigned to the villages of Smajla, Bukovica, Dragici and Veskovic. News arrived that the Partisans were trying to break into Serbia from Sandzak and Kosovo. There is fighting around Kopaonik and Toplica, and towards Zlatibor.

I believe it’s important for me to point out that a large number of males — mainly youths —asked to join us. They were all prepared to fight but we have no uniforms, weapons or ammunition to give them.

Although the Allies are providing Tito with a great deal of support there is nothing for us. Our only way of getting arms is acquire them from the Germans or seize them. As the Germans are withdrawing from Serbia it ought to be a straightforward process but they mistrust us deeply and fear we’ll attack them. So on the whole we’ve had nothing except from some smaller units.

What weapons we have are grossly insufficient for such a huge body of men. That’s why we had to turn the youngsters away. No doubt the communists will take advantage of them.

In Kraljevo we added about 80 million dinars to our funds from the national bank. The money will make it easier to get things and will improve our standing among the people.

October 16

We left Kraljevo and marched to Mataruska Banja where, at 6am, we took a train for Raska. On the way we received written orders from Lt Col Dragan Racic for an assault on Kraljevo. However, they arrived too late so we took no part in the action.

Mataruska Banja caused me to think back to the sweet days of my youth when, as a cadet at the lower school of the military academy, I camped at the Zica monastery and went into the town for refreshment. We also took part in exercises around the picturesque spa.

We reached Raska in the afternoon.

October 17

News arrived that our corps should head to Skoplje⁷. According to information received from Col Pogacar, commander of the 3rd division from Kosovska Mitrovica, a delegation has arrived from the city under the leadership of Mr Cohadzic. They want to speak to us about maintaining order in Skoplje.

We accepted their request with great pleasure and orders were issued for us to depart. In the meantime, however, Col Pogacar informed us that communist Bulgarian troops had broken through the German line and were heading in the direction of Skoplje from Kumanovo. The orders were countermanded and we are now to head for Novi Pazar.

October 18

We left Raska at 8am. When we reached Novi Pazar the town gave no suggestion we were in the middle of a war. The shops were filled with a wide variety of goods, especially tobacco. We used our stay there to buy horses, carts, saddles and anything else we could get.

While in a café we heard a speech by our king in which he praised Tito, gave him official recognition, and congratulated him on his efforts to liberate Belgrade. Afterwards, to lift morale, Gen Radovanovic ordered the men to fall in, carried out an inspection and made a patriotic speech.

It was a timely decision because as well as the king’s speech, Tito had declared an amnesty for any members of nationalist units who were willing to lay down their arms and return home. This was bound to cause trouble and afterwards we became aware of the first signs of discontent.

The corps commander has been negotiating with the Arnaut⁸ leader Acif.

In Novi Pazar we found refugees from Montenegro and among them the family of Pavle Djurisic⁹. The commander was urged to head for Montenegro but the Albanians wouldn’t allow us to cross their territory and the plan collapsed. We are going to Sjenica instead.

From Col Redic we have gathered intelligence about the Partisans, their deployment and strength. Redic knows a great deal about the opportunities in this area and he believes we can get into Sjenica without having to fight.

As a result of his information, it has been approved that Col Redic go with the 2nd division to take Sjenica supported by the Muslim leader, Imam Pacaris, and Montenegrin units under the command of Major Cimbaljevic.

October 21/22

The 2nd division left Novi Pazar for Duga Poljana around midnight. They found Major Cimbaljevic in Brnica.

October 22

Around 6am the 2nd division attacked Sjenica and was met with stiff resistance from the communists. They held an important point ahead of the town — Crni Vrh (Black Peak). They were well dug-in and poured fire down on our troops as they tried to attack.

Imam Pacaris and Major Cimbaljevic withdrew taking our troops with them. The assault failed. We suffered casualties and morale was badly shaken.

The 1st division left for Duga Poljana along a route that was very scenic. Bad weather made the march along a difficult road even tougher. The rise to Postrmca begins from Bela Voda. The road then meanders steeply among the mountain ridges with more than ten steep curves. After you overcome the final rise, and the last curve near Duga Poljana, you reach a high plateau in whose embrace Sjenica lies.

Duga Poljana is a village well fortified and surrounded by wire. There are minefields too. The fortifications remind me of those the Italians built after the First World War when they annexed our part of northern Dalmatia.

When we arrived, we deployed in the surrounding area. The headquarters of my 1st division has been placed with the imam. News arrived that there is a large number of Partisans around Sjenica. They hold Tara and other villages.

October 23

The 2nd division mounted another unsuccessful attack on Sjenica. Morale has fallen even further as a result, and so much so that a kind of panic has broken out. Col Redic has asked the corps commander that the officers take over the defence of Duga Poljana because morale in the ranks is so poor. The commander calmed him down so that at least his units remained in a state of readiness.

October 24

The 2nd division — actually one part of it — was involved in fighting the Partisans this morning at Brzanska Kosa. During this time a plan was drawn up for a new assault, tomorrow, involving the full strength of the 1st and 2nd divisions. The 1st is to attack from the left of the road from Duga Poljana. Crni Vrh is in this sector. The 2nd division will attack from the right. Col Zivkovic will be in charge of the operation.

We’ve received information that the communists are fighting to gain time while they evacuate their wounded, their equipment and all the other items they have looted from Sjenica and the surrounding area.

October 25

The 1st and 2nd divisions attacked Sjenica as planned. To make the assault easier it was necessary to take the fortified position on Crni Vrh. We had to neutralise the Breda machine gun that was sowing death among our men. By chance, a German unit came by and did the job for us using flak. That made things much easier and after a short battle we took Sjenica.

There were losses on both sides but it’s important to point out that that the communists killed a number of our troops they had taken prisoner. They left their bodies by the roadside so that we would see them. No doubt they wanted to show us the sort of punishment awaiting any of us who were captured. That’s their tactic — terror.

The communists’ attempts to unsettle us haven’t worked. In fact, they have only served to make us even more determined to keep to the path we have chosen. However, we also saw some desertions. These came as a result of the king’s speech and our first battle casualties.

Major Kazakovic left with his battalion, Capt Strahinja Jovovic with his company and, after Col Pogacar’s report, Capt Vulovic tricked us and fled from Raska taking 30 soldiers with him.

After the fall of Sjenica, we saw the arrival of the remaining JVuO units that had been moving through Cacak and Ivanjica. From what their commanders said, they have also suffered hardships and losses.

October 26/27

We have used our time in Sjenica to gather intelligence about the communists.

October 28

On our way to Prijepolje we passed through Milosev Do. The road is difficult and many of the buildings alongside have been reduced to rubble. But we’ve managed to surmount all the obstacles.

October 29

After a short battle we entered Prijepolje. The town is deserted because the communists took everyone with them as they withdrew except for one or two older people.

Today I was promoted chief of staff of the Serbian Shock Corps by Major Danilo Stojanovic of the general staff. Lt Col Miodrag Tojic has been appointed to my post as assistant to the commander of the 1st division.

In Prijepolje we encountered new problems that have presented us with great difficulties because of our lack of equipment and supplies. One is the blown bridge over the River Lim. From the left back, on Gradina hill, the communists are able to concentrate fire on the main road and at the point where the bridge should stand. We don’t have the weapons to retaliate.

October 30

The corps commander convened a conference with Col Keserovic about further movements. The commander from Serbia was instructed to head for Visegrad because it’s impossible to build a crossing over the Lim.

October 31

As part of our efforts to neutralise communist positions on Gradina hill it was decided to attack the town and take it. Major Vesic was put in charge of the operation and it was successfully carried out. During the night, the communists launched a mortar attack on Prijepolje but with little effect.

More talks were held about our future movements.

November 1

Capt Dimitrijevic was given the job of putting a bridge over the Lim but proved unable to do so. Then we learned that the near-by Germans were able to construct a crossing. We told them to help us or we would attack them. They agreed but it seems they need a bridge, too, to guard their flank.

November 2

The 5th brigade of the 2nd division reached the left bank of the Lim by using rafts.

November 3

Resting in Prijepolje. The Partisans launched a mortar attack during the night, firing about 15 rounds. Corps headquarters received orders to head for Pljevlja.

November 4

Work has begun on the bridge. Little by little troops are getting to the left bank by raft.

November 5

The bridge is complete and useable. Both divisions have crossed the river.

November 6

The day was spent getting the remainder of our forces across the Lim.

During the fighting around the Stolac – Krusevlje position our forces suffered the following losses: the 1st division lost 12 NCOs and privates. The 2nd division lost one officer (Capt Sime Hadzic, commanding officer of the 5th battalion, 5th brigade), and four NCOs. Five men were wounded and five are missing.

November 7

Corps headquarters is in Prijepolje because the two divisions have combined their units under the command of Col Keserovic.

Today the presidential election is taking place in the USA. We’re hoping it will result in a change of policy. Surely they will at least turn against the Russians and stop them advancing too far into Europe to keep them away from the Mediterranean? That makes sense and history tells us that it’s been British policy for centuries.

Our dreams were quickly shattered. The US Air Force attacked Prijepolje and inflicted heavy casualties on us. The situation is clear — they consider us to be the enemy. The raid was carried out at Tito’s request like the bombing in Serbia.

I lay on my back on a knoll above the road in Vakuf and watched the bombs fall on Prijepolje and then on the hills where our troops were sheltering. I had a clear view of how they came down. They cut through the air then exploded loudly spreading death. The blasts threw stones into the air causing more damage.

I was lucky to be on the knoll. The worst I suffered was some grazing from the stones but in one ravine 300 of our men, women and children were buried alive.

When the din stopped I became aware of Sgt Major Kravica. One of his arms had been torn off at the shoulder and he was screaming in agony. I quickly got him to the medics and, thank God, his life was saved. I am sure God will help him. Corps doctor Lt Col Zika Milovanovic certainly has his hands full.

At night the corps moved to Cadinje and I moved in with Miodragovic. Fate has decreed that I visit this place for a second time. I was here in 1941 and came across Gen Ilija Brasic, Gen Miodrag Damjanovic and Gen Milan Zelenik who were being held by the Germans. Just as then we are faced with so many difficult questions, ones to which we have no answers. The only thing of which we can be certain is that now, as then, there will be a great deal of suffering.

November 8

Corps HQ is still in Cadinje. Around noon the Americans bombed Prijepolje again.

November 9/12

No special changes. We can hear fighting. The communists are attacking from the direction of Belo Polje but without success.

November 13

The commander for Serbia has ordered Col Pogacar, commander of the 3rd division, to hurry up and join the other corps.

November 14

We’ve heard from the commander of Serbia’s headquarters that the Allies have landed in Metkovica. Our troops, under the command of Gen Petar Zivkovic, have landed in Cavtat.

November 15

Today we moved from Cadinje to Pljevlja. The weather was terrible, thick clouds and rain, and the road was in terrible condition. Headquarters was established in the town, in the house of a poor Muslim. There are a lot of people in the house and three or four daughters in the harem. He gave us a friendly welcome but even so I felt I should be cautious and ordered a thorough search before we moved in. The address is 7 Drinska Street. 1st division HQ and the headquarters company are next door. The troops have been deployed.

November 16-17

Still in Pljevlja.

ROYAL Yugoslav Army Commemorative War Cross presented to Lt Col Petar Pavasovic in 1966 by King Peter II

November 18

I visited the monastery of the Holy Trinity which is very old and full of interesting monuments.

Around 7pm we retired for some rest. Only Sgt Major Marko and myself remained awake. He asked me why I wasn’t asleep with the others and I said: “Marko, I have an awful feeling something’s going to happen tonight.” We continued to talk and then we heard gunfire, but far from Prijepolje towards Jabuka. I woke the commander who went to the window, listened for a while, told me it was only skirmishes involving the outpost units, and returned to bed. It was about 8pm.

However, the situation deteriorated rapidly. The fighting spread and news came that the communists had been able to get into the town because the Toplica corps had withdrawn from Tvrdas. A group of about 30 Partisans had got past our sentries by putting royal cockades on their caps and passing themselves off as local Cetniks.

They had managed to take control of several important points including the mosque and church tower, from where they were sending down automatic fire, tracers and dumdum bullets. Our men were firing back.

I urged the corps commander that HQ staff should ignore their orders to stay put and take on the Partisans too. He agreed, and as we moved out we came across Major Milenko Solaric’s battalion. As we continued a mortar fell near by. I was lightly grazed on the hand but my escort, Miloje O Joksimovic, was wounded in both feet.

We eventually reached Bogisevac. Orders were given that no one should open fire until the Partisans came within grenade-throwing range.

November 19

The fight for Pljevlja went on through the night. Amid the chaos, some Cetniks deserted, leaving in the direction of Cajnice. When we shouted to them to stop they said they were broken and had to reorganise.

We deployed on both sides of the road. The 2nd brigade was on the right, commanded by Lt Col Sekulic, and the 1st brigade on the left, under Lt Col Dusan Dragovic. Further to the left was the 2nd division, while HQ troops were right on the road.

Just before dawn the Partisans came up against Major Dusan Dinic’s battalion and were met with grenades and heavy automatic fire. They were forced back but as they retreated a heavy fog came down and they were able to get away. They left a lot of dead men behind.

By 6am it was all over and our first man into the town was Lt Ljubomir Grdanovic. He used the siren at the electricity sub-station to signal that the place was clear. Once in Pljevlja we found more casualties, communist and our own. Beside the dead men and animals there were burned-out buses and looted buildings.

Lt Onic, who was wounded earlier and hospitalised in Baraka, was hit again when a piece of shrapnel smashed through a wall.

Thanks to the bravery of the 1st and 2nd divisions the communists have been beaten and Pljevlja remains in our hands.

When we got into the town we heard that Vojvoda¹⁰ Gordic was dead along with his 16-year-old son. According to what I was told, when Gordic heard the battle he rushed out of the house where he was spending the night and into an air-raid shelter. Inside, instead of finding his own troops, he found Partisans. They killed him, then broke into the house of the prefect, and killed him and Gordic’s son.

I went with Gen Radovanovic to offer condolences to the prefect’s family. We found the prefect laid out in his ceremonial uniform.

November 24

In Cajnice.

November 25

We left Cajnice for Luka, about 3km away.

November 26/30

In Luka.

December 1

We left Cajnice for Gorazde. HQ staff departed about 8am, arriving two hours later. The town was packed with troops. We had to wait until the bridge over the Drina was repaired, and I could only marvel at the ingenuity of Kalabic’s men as they erected a suspension bridge. In Gorazde our future movements were revised.

December 2

We left Gorazde for Ustikolina. I joined generals Radovanovic and Jonic in their car and we entered the village about 5km ahead of our troops. As we went in, the vehicle was surrounded by about 200 Muslims in Croat Domobran¹¹ uniforms. It was very frightening.

I got out of the car and asked them who they were. They said they were deserters from Pavelic’s¹² forces. Eventually I was able to speak to an NCO who claimed to have seniority and I explained who we were, why we had come, and asked them to help us deploy in the surrounding villages. There was much to-ing and fro-ing but in the end we came to an agreement in which we promised them we would leave their women alone and take nothing by force.

As word got out that we were in Ustikolina, men arrived who recognised their former officers and NCOs among us. Some of the reunions were very touching. The Muslims gave us food and good billets and we were able to get good rest.

Later, we received order no 100, issued yesterday, in which the supreme command ordered the formation of three armies and a Muslim corps. I gathered all the members of the Muslim unit and read it to them. They immediately removed their Croat badges and replaced them with royal ciphers they had made from cardboard. They then put themselves at our service. They were lightly armed.

December 3/4

Still in Ustikolina.

December 5

Following a river, HQ staff has reached Pavici. The road was so hard we were unable to meet our marching schedule.

December 6

We have reached Hrenovica via Sofica, Bukovica and Turkovici. In Bukovica we attended the baptism of the daughter of Rade Vukasinovic. Gen Radovanovic was godfather. The priest gave a blessing in the name of St Nicholas, the patron saint of Vukasinovic’s family.

Rain began to fall, and wet weather makes it even more difficult to move through the Bosnian forests. Consequently, we asked the commander for Serbia if the troops could rest for two days. The bridges over the River Praca are down, too, and need repair.

December 7

Headquarters staff left Hrenovica for Strana. No fighting today.

December 8

Moving again. From Strana we have gone to Plane via Djedovici. Yesterday, at 6am, the 3rd division was in action against the Romanska Partisan Brigade. We sustained casualties and Lt Petar Preradovic was killed. We buried him in Dedovici. Major Dusan Dinic was badly wounded and is in hospital.

The others killed are: Sgt Janko Djurdjevic, Sgt Dragoslav Ilija Markovic, Sgt Ivan Milan Stojkovic and Pte Dimitrije Zivojin Milosevic. There were wounded men too. However, communist losses were much worse.

We captured the Partisan archives, finding among them act no 343 issued on September 12, 1943. It was sent to all commanders and political commissars and stated

1. Because the Serb people are doing all they can to avoid joining communist ranks, it is necessary to burn and demolish Serb homes, especially those of the Cetniks and their collaborators. By doing so we will provoke the Cetniks into burning the homes of those who have joined us.
2. The burning of Serb homes should be carried out by Partisan fighters from neighbouring villages. That will tie them to us more firmly by making it impossible for them to desert to the Cetniks.
3. By burning Serb homes we will create a large number of homeless people from whom we will be able to fashion a proletariat of Serbs prepared to die for the communist party.
4. Wherever and whenever possible, the Ustase should be encouraged to burn Serb homes and to kill Serbs. Through Luburic, our Ustasa comrade, we will maintain links with Slavonia and move one of our main revolutionary formations, Ustase wearing the red star, to Bosnia, giving them the brief of undermining the Serbs by saying the Cetniks are Nazi collaborators.
5. Wherever possible we must fight the Cetniks in Muslim villages, shooting at them from Muslim houses. By doing so we will provoke the Cetniks to kill Muslims and burn their homes. We can then exploit this enmity to get the Muslims to join us in fighting the Serbs.
6. Wherever and whenever possible we must attack the Germans when they are near Serb villages. That way, the Germans will aim their retaliation at the Serbs and that will help our cause.

During the battle, the Ustase attacked us from behind but they were quickly silenced.

December 9

From Djedovici we moved to Kosutica. The 3rd division helped the troops of Sinisa Pazarc in a battle with the Partisans near the village of Sejkovici. Later they were in action near Salica Kuca.

Corps HQ is in a ruined mosque. We have lit a fire right in the middle of the building and the smoke is choking us. I’ve got an inflamed eye and my vision’s badly affected. I’m putting wet cloths on my eyes whenever I get the chance to lie down but we’re inundated with messengers from all points of the compass.

December 10

We’re still in Kosutica. Our forces are deployed around Salica Kuca, Orlovic, Gajevi and Kratelj.

December 11

Three officers and 100 men have fled towards Sarajevo. We believe they have joined a Serbian Volunteer Corps unit. The officers, captains Baracki, Suput and Bosanac, are from the same unit as the wounded Major Dinic.

December 12

Still in Kosutica and everything remains the same. Nothing of importance has happened. We’ve got some food and it’s all been paid for.

December 13

Desertions continue. Major Alexander Stikic, Major Blagoje Milic and 280 men have left the corps and headed off towards Sarajevo. Capt Stojanovic was sent after them but was unable to catch them.

Today is the slava¹³ of our king. Father Markovic took the service and afterwards gave a good speech. Generals Radovanovic and Jonic also spoke.

For us, today is very significant as we have made contact with the supreme command. Our Cica (Draza Mihailovic) is close by. Just knowing that has eased the pressure and we are all delighted. It has been decided that tomorrow, Gen Jonic, myself, and the commander of the 2nd division, Col Dragutin Redic, will visit. 5 Brigade will escort us under the command of Lt Col Dragutin V Cecevic.

The corps commander has instructed me to ask Cica if he will posthumously promote and decorate the officers who have been killed.

December 14

We set off at 7am through Vrapci and Knezine to Kruscica where the supreme command is based. It was wonderful to see Cica again. As is our custom we kissed on both cheeks while shaking hands. I’ve known him since 1931 when we were together on a chemical warfare course in Krusevac. I have to say he’s changed a great deal. Time and hardship have combined with worries and the huge weight of responsibility to change his face. Even so, he was in good spirits.

We sat at a table and as we waited for Cica, Gen Jonic made several attempts to get me to leave the room so that he and Cica could talk alone. I refused. I know Jonic is a schemer and, no doubt, wanted to criticise Gen Radovanovic so that he could take over command.

Cica told me he couldn’t promote the dead but he could decorate them and asked that their service records be left with him.

He went on to tell us we had been abandoned by everyone. Even so, he believes the Allies will think again. He wants us to winter in the Majevica mountains, where there is plenty of food, to ready ourselves for renewed action in the spring.

I have to say that he was very bitter in his feelings towards the Allies and their actions. But at the same time he had a fervent belief that they will eventually recognise their mistakes and turn to him again.

We left the supreme command pleased that we had seen Cica but I have to admit that the Allies’ actions have left me deeply worried. I never expected anything like this. But his deep faith in right’s ultimate victory has inspired me. I am sure that what is happening is only temporary and that we will not be forgotten by the great Allies — the warriors for freedom and democracy. It was in this frame of mind that I reached Vrapci where I spent the night.

Cica has ordered that the 1st division go to Kosutica to guard the supreme command. He’s told us that from now on we are under his direct command.

December 15

Today Cica met our troops in Vrapci and have a speech in which he outlined the tasks he has in store for the JVuO — similar to what he told us when we met him. Our soldiers were heading for Drapcic but, because of the meeting in Vrapci, we were unable to make it and corps HQ spent the night in Babine. We have received intelligence that there are around 40 local Partisans — former Cetniks — at Zaravici. At Drapcic I got some oatbread. It was sweet and satisfying.

December 16

At around 2.30pm we arrived in Gurdici where I bought 3kg of cornflour for 400 dinars and 2kg of beans, so I should be all right for a few days.

I’ve got hold of a Sarajevo newspaper for December 8 which says that around 10,000 of our children have been taken to Russia. It’s left me feeling extremely anxious about my family.

December 17

Today we reached Zivinice without any fighting. The Partisans withdrew before we came into contact with them.

December 18

We’ve heard that the communists are taking livestock from the people. Their 20th shock brigade has withdrawn towards Vlasini under pressure from our forces.

Around 6pm Capt Lazar Ristic and Capt Stojan (Stole) Mihailovic invited me to celebrate the eve of St Nicholas’s Day with them. They gave me fried liver and rakija (slivovic — plum brandy) and I stayed the night with them. It made me cast my mind back to the way we celebrated our baptismal name at home, from childhood to recent times.

December 19

News has come through that Jagodina has fallen to nationalist forces.

At 7.30am around 30 of us who were celebrating St Nicholas’s Day got together to cut the cake. I then fasted until nightfall.

At 10am we set off for Turalici and Kljestani, where we arrived at 4pm. There was a short fight, two Partisans were killed, and we captured their archives.

I stayed at the house of Mr A Lukic who served us with warm bread made from cornflour and with milk. Oh it was sweet. Lukic is a nationalist and was very open with us. He’s confident the king will return bringing freedom with him.

December 20

In Kljestani.

December 21

At 9am we crossed the Drinjaca river near Strmica. While we were doing so an enemy trojka appeared and opened fire on us. It was swiftly liquidated.

The mountain paths were steep and icebound, making progress very difficult.

We met up with 15 young Cetniks from the Dinarska Division who were heading for the supreme command. Among them was the brother of Marin Strude with whom I was at the military academy. My relative, Voja Pavasovic, asked permission to go with them. I agreed and wished him a safe journey. I hope we will soon meet again.

December 22

Snow. Day and night we’ve been fighting on the left bank of the Drinjaca. From intelligence received it seems we’ve reached an area where the Partisans are strong. No doubt we’ll have a lot of work to do in dealing with them.

From Strmice we moved to Majdan, where I stayed in Pante Bozic’s house. The village is in a hollow, surrounded by high ridges. We’re well prepared for any surprises.

December 23

It appears my fears of yesterday were well founded. Advancing as ordered, we broke through near Dzebar around 10am and immediately came under fire — towards our front and on the left flank. After a difficult battle the Partisans were forced towards Naseoci.

Among those killed were the commander of the 2nd division, his 19-year-old son, Ranko, and their escort. The men took the news of Col Redic’s death very badly. It took a great deal of effort to raise their morale and convince them to carry on.

After this it was decided we change direction and turn towards Matijevici.

December 24

Cold and foggy weather. At 7am we carried out the funerals of Col Redic, his son, their escort and a soldier who died of his wounds during the night. As ever, it was difficult for us to bury our heroes and leave them behind. Thank God we had a priest to take the service.

At 8am we set off via Podgaj to Lukavica. Around 11am we were in action near Markovaca and Gradina. Corps HQ was set up in Vrnojevici. The assaults on Gradina were unsuccessful. There are four pillboxes on top guarding the way to Tuzla.

Captured Partisans have told us they have reserves, some of which have been brought in from Serbia purely to fight us. Some of our soldiers found relatives among them and the reunions were very sad. These lads have been pressed into fighting, no doubt in the belief that we would refuse to retaliate against our own, or even that we might give ourselves up, allowing them to easily liquidate us. If so, they completely miscalculated. Our men fought courageously and with great determination.

December 25

We are in Vrnojevici. According to a directive issued by the supreme command, we should have attacked Tuzla but, because of unforeseen circumstances, it wasn’t possible.

As I write these notes I can hear fighting towards Djurdjevic, which is being attacked by the Leskovac Brigade. The 2nd division has withdrawn to the left bank of the Gotusa river. Although the new commander was ordered not to open fire too early his subordinates failed to comply. They began firing from too long a distance, revealing their position, and allowing the Partisans to hit back with mortars. If they had waited until the communists had got close, the enemy wouldn’t have been able to use mortars because their own men would have been in the firing zone.

When I realised the 2nd division was retreating, I deployed the HQ troops and the senior reserve as a precaution. I had our single remaining mortar round fired at a group of Partisans who could be clearly seen from our vantage point. We scored a direct hit and they fled.

During the retreat, the new commander of the 2nd division, Col Voja Petrovic, was wounded on hill K535, while his chief of staff, Major Ljubisa Djordjevic, was wounded in the heel. We suffered five others wounded and five dead. Lt Col Petar Stankovic was ordered to take command of the division.

We’ve found ourselves in Srpska Brnica. We were harried by fire from Gradina, Brdo and Markovac. About 4pm our 1st division broke through from the direction of Zukic. We were under fire all night long without a break. It was easy for the communists because they had plenty of men and supplies while we were exhausted with only a limited supply of ammunition. But we withstood their assaults decisively and with courage.

December 27

We left Srpska Brnica to attack Zivinice, which is about 10km south of Tuzla in the Sprec valley. The river flows north from Zivinice. To the south, running parallel with the road from Kladanj to Tuzla, via Stupani and Zivinice, is the river Gostelja. Also to the south is the Ockova which, about 10km south of Zivinice, turns sharply north east. The Gostelja flows into the Sprec, and the Ockova into the Gostelja in the immediate vicinity of Zivinice.

Today’s mission was going smoothly until we broke through on the right bank of the Ockova. Fate decreed that we had to lose another brave officer, one of the company commanders, a man who showed great bravery and prowess in the battles with the communists around Belgrade. That man is Capt Vojin Garic. He perished in Alik, and was buried in Muslimanska Zivinica.

We broke through into the Muslimanska Zivinica area around 4.30pm on the right bank of the Oskova. I conducted a quick survey of the area with regard to our attack on Zivinice. In front of us is the Oskova valley. The river is deep, with steep banks, and is traversed by two bridges — one road, one railway. On the left bank there is a gentle spur which slopes from west to east, becoming part of a gradual fall towards the river Spreca.

On the west side, our left flank, the land climbs to around 600m in height, dominating the entire area. That’s the key to our deployment. Whoever holds that high ground is king. If the enemy takes it we’ll be in big trouble as they’ll be able to bring heavy fire down on us.

After a short recce I drew up plans for the rest of today and tomorrow. As we have limited resources and don’t know what awaits us I’ve decided the best option is for one brigade to cross the Oskova to guard the bridge which is the key to the situation. The majority of the forces will stay on the right until tomorrow.

Intelligence about the enemy, his strengths and deployment, will be gathered under cover of darkness.

Gen Radovanovic approved my plan with some minor adjustments. Unfortunately Gen Jonic didn’t and insisted that the attack on Zivinice should begin today. I disagreed with him and told him that what he was proposing was an adventure that could cost us dearly. He stubbornly refused to change his mind, accusing me of being a coward. Eventually, Gen Radovanovic gave in to him and we set off into the unknown or, as our people would say, like geese into fog.

During our deployment, which was carried out very cautiously and in battle order, Lt Col Victor Mladenovic, commander of the South Moravska group of corps, arrived at HQ and told Gen Radovanovic his troops had entered Zivinice. He said the ringing of bells we had heard was a display of jubilation from the inhabitants who were delighted our forces had arrived.

Our deployment continued and we found a tall forest in front of us.

About half an hour later, Lt Col Mladenovic returned to tell his troops had not, in fact, been able to enter Zivinice. Partisans were defending the bridge with heavy machine guns and he had run out of mortar rounds.

What I predicted now began to unfold. We were ordered to retreat and withdrew to the aforementioned spur which we easily found. However, because of the dark, we could take only the most basic defensive measures. We had the steep, sheer Ockova valley behind us — where there were only two bridges — and the unknown in front of us. Before we had time to do anything, before we could even feed the troops, we came under attack but defended ourselves successfully.

During the assault, Gen Jonic arrived at HQ and started shouting, demanding to know why corps HQ was always in the front line and asking why more wasn’t being done to keep him safe. He insisted he should spend the night in a solidly constructed house. He claimed the one he was in had flimsy walls which bullets could easily penetrate.

When Gen Radovanovic heard what Jonic was saying, he turned to me and said: “Pavasovic, go with the general and see what he wants.” Jonic and I went outside where the battle was in full flow, with bullets flying in all directions. In the midst of this mayhem, Jonic again demanded a well-built house and showed me the only one in the village. However, because it was being used to accommodate the wounded and some troops from our 1st division, I was unable to give it to him. I tried to explain but Jonic interrupted saying: “What do you want?” I replied: “Nothing. It’s you that wants the impossible.” And then we parted.

I couldn’t help but think how cheerful Jonic had been when we set off for Zivinice and how, once his plan was adopted, had called over Lt Col Branko Malesevic and told him that as soon as we reached Zivinice he was to find him a hotel room and to start baking bread. I have to say Jonic never spoke of Gen Radovanovic. He only spoke of himself.

In this way the day came to a less than satisfactory end. Thank God we didn’t suffer heavy casualties. It appears the Partisans kept their distance because, in the main, we are seasoned soldiers with few recruits or volunteers. The Partisans were good at ambushing us but when it came to frontal combat they were poor. Eventually the fighting came to an end and an uneasy silence settled upon us.

December 28

Today began with more fighting. About 4.30am the Partisans attacked us but were repulsed with heavy casualties. They left about 28 dead while the worst we suffered was some wounded soldiers.

Afterwards, one of Kalabic’s¹⁴ officers arrived — he was nicknamed Buca (chubby) — and he evacuated the 1st division’s wounded to his base.

Around 10am, just as we were starting to rest and clean our weapons, a new assault began. The 3rd Partisan Brigade had been brought by train from Tuzla and attacked with some force. During the battle, I found myself on the left flank with the corps commander. It was in the afternoon, when the fighting was at its peak, that Svetislav Rakic came over and said: “Victor has fled.” Mladenovic had abandoned the high ground that was vital to our survival.

Gen Radovanovic couldn’t believe it. I intervened to ask Col Zivkovic to send one of his battalions to secure the position as quickly as possible. Cika Brana¹⁵ chose the brave Major “Bimbo” Anastasijevic who tore to the top of the hill with his heroes, saving us from certain disaster.

At the same time, a Partisan trojka appeared which had been behind the bridges. A company under the command of a Slovenian officer, whose name I have forgotten, was sent to deal with it and it was quickly liquidated, allowing us to withdraw. It’s against all our instincts to retreat but the enemy pressure is too heavy. Our intention is to get past his left flank under cover of darkness.

The Partisans have plenty of ammunition and automatic weapons. They’ve got massive firepower even if it isn’t always used to the best effect. We have also suffered many casualties, dead and wounded, and have no reserves to call upon.

We have found out from captured Partisans that the bells were rung in Zivinice as an emergency signal and reinforcements were immediately sent from Tuzla. We have also learned that if we had attacked Zivinice as planned, we would have blundered into a minefield.The Partisans threw new recruits at us, as well as troops they had ferried in from Serbia.

We finally left Muslimanska Zivinice for Hrvati, passing through Visca and Konji Planina. After an exhausting march we reached Hrvati and took stock of our casualties.

December 29

From Hrvati we moved to Pribitkovici. During the night, the 2nd division was attacked by Partisans in Srpska Trestenica where, among others, gendarmerie lieutenant colonels Alexander Mlakad and Scepan Jovanovic were killed. Responsibility for these deaths must rest with senior officers who failed to take the correct measures and, to make matters worse, sent people they thought were members of their families to get slivovic for them. In fact, these people were communist agents and spies who used the opportunity to inform near-by Partisan units about the movements of the 2nd division and 4th brigade. Once the communists received the information, they mounted an assault that cost us a great deal in terms of men and materiel.

December 30

We moved from Pribitkovici to Kesten. Lt Col Zika Andric and Capt Petar Kalabic arrived during the night and relayed orders from the supreme command that we deploy around Kesten, Borik, Podemelovo Brdo and Tociljevo Brdo. On reaching Kesten it was decided that at 1pm the following day the 1st division would relieve the 2nd division. To our right are the forces of Sinisa Pazarc and Capt Kalabic’s Gorska Guard.

December 31

Today our wounded and sick should have been evacuated to hospital in Boljanic under the command of Col Vojislav Petrovic. The 1st division has deployed as agreed yesterday.

Pazarc’s units and the Gorska Guard have moved on without telling us, which has come as a huge shock. When I received the news I immediately passed it to the commander and advised that we follow them. He agreed and it was decided we go from Kesten to Pasini Konaci to Junozovic which is in the Ozren mountains, not far from Zavidovici. We left Kesten at 2pm.

Tired and hungry, frozen and ragged, we set off. Because the route was difficult, and unknown to us, we employed a Muslim as our guide. Darkness fell slowly and the sky above us, like the surrounding mountains, was grey. Snow fell steadily as our column of martyrs slowly made its way like a huge snake, sliding into the unknown along a frozen road. The only light came from their eyes but it was promptly swallowed up by the night.

We were on edge throughout the march because surprise lurked around every bend in the road. Yet the quiet of the night was broken only by the snorting of the horses, the occasional call of a bird, and the coughing and groans of our sick and wounded. From time there were shouts of “bandage”. Everyone and everything seemed to be against us.

We couldn’t see the river, but we could hear it. Yet even this sound was muted, much quieter than is normal with mountain rivers. It was as if even the river was finding it difficult to make its way through this dark, mysterious area.

“What time is it?” I asked. “Half-past ten,” came the reply. “Are we far from our destination?” Out of the gloom someone shouted: “We’re making slow progress because the horses are exhausted. They can hardly walk and keep falling over.”

The freezing dark night generated dark feelings. It was hard for men to see each other’s faces. They knew officers only by the sound of their voices. Somewhere in the distance we could hear gunfire.

Around 11pm the guide came to me and, in a trembling voice, admitted that he was lost. All kinds of thoughts swept through my mind. Was he a traitor? Were we in a communist trap? Should I have him shot? No . . . but he would suffer if he had tricked us.

Saying nothing to Gen Radovanovic I took three soldiers, did my best to look left and right, and then, relying on my military instincts, moved to the left without halting the column. After we had gone about 300 metres, a voice broke through the night. “Halt. Who goes there?” We threw ourselves to the ground and I shouted back: “The army of King Peter II.” The reply came: “Leader, forward. The rest, stay where you are.” I slowly advanced, holding a grenade in my hand while straining my eyes to see where I was going and who was there.

All at once I became aware of a fortified position. Next to it was a tree stump around which were gathered some sentries, all in Croat Domobran uniforms. Their leader took me into a shelter, about ten metres square, in which was a group of soldiers. They were illuminated by an oil lamp standing on a table, and at the table sat their senior, a sergeant I think.

As soon as I appeared at the door, he said to me: “You’re Petar Pavasovic aren’t you?” I answered that I was and he stood up, came to me, and kissed my hand. I asked him how he knew me, and he replied: “I was one of your recruits and later a corporal in the 1st battery 2nd mountain division of the Adriatic artillery brigade in Sinj in 1925.” The soldiers in front of me were deserters from Pavelic’s cursed NDH¹⁶.

I was genuinely touched by his warm welcome and clapped him on the back. I explained that we had been marching for almost 12 hours and that we were looking for Junozovic. I added that we had some sick and wounded and it was imperative for them to find some shelter to rest and gather what strength they could for the rigours of the following day.

To my great relief he told me Junozovic was in the valley beneath. He pointed to the village which was, in fact, quite close. He added: “I’m from Junozovic. I’ll go down there with you and help you settle your men.”

That’s how it was. We went into the village where he woke the head man who did all he could to help us. Thanks to these Muslims we spent the night with a roof over our heads and something to eat.

Among our sick was a 16-year-old girl who had attached herself to us. Her father, a colonel I believe, had been killed. She had pneumonia. We left her with my former corporal, giving him her family’s address. We also left a number of men and put their fate in God’s hands. It was up to him whether they would recover and find their way home. Those of us with enough strength would continue on our way.

When we had settled in and put our defences in place, representatives of the various units visited HQ and told the commander that the men were exhausted and demoralised. Ammunition had run out, their weapons were in a poor state of repair and in many cases unusable. We had no medical supplies and there were strong communist forces around us being helped by the Ustase. We were in no condition to take them on.

They suggested we surrender to the Germans in Zavidovici and then to somehow get to Slovenia to join up with the strong forces we had there to continue the fight. Tired as he was, Gen Radovanovic listened carefully and, when they had finished, told them to rest and that we would discuss matters further the following day. He was depressed and anxious. Although he had fought in the Balkan Wars and the First World War he had never face a situation as tough as this one. Should we abandon the fight? If we did, would be traitors to the ideals for which we had fought?

What would Cica say? All these thoughts were in the mind of Radovanovic — a veteran warrior, superb officer and hero.

As far as I can work out, those in the ranks who do not hold fast to Cica’s ideals have become disillusioned with the way things have gone and have spread doubt among the men, telling them to seek new paths. The troops are very receptive to such calls because they are at the limit of their endurance and without the means to make war.

Our soldiers and the other nationalist forces are convinced we do not have the strength to cope with further attacks by the communists who are being supported by the Ustase and the Allies. They believe that this will extinguish the flame Draza lit at Ravna Gora in May, 1941. At that time the rest of the world marvelled at his bravery in throwing down the gauntlet to Hitler, whose military machine was at the peak of its power.

Mulling over these thoughts we await tomorrow.

 1945

January 1

After long and sometime heated discussions it has been decided we give ourselves up to the Germans in Zavidovici. Men have been assigned to parley with them and negotiate terms.

One of the main conditions put to us was that we surrender our weapons. We refused as we are going into an area where the Ustase are dominant and the German garrison is too weak to protect us. Our terms were accepted and we are heading down into Zavidovici. But we have not yet decided we are giving up the fight. That will be discussed tomorrow at an officers’ meeting convened by Gen Radovanovic.

January 2

The meeting of senior officers took place in a large room in the area command building. Gen Radovanovic opened proceedings and explained the situation. He asked everyone present whether they wanted to stay or go to Slovenia.

Col Brana Zivkovic — supported by myself and majors Lazar Janjic, Milos Mar Pavicevic, and Dragisa Jeftic — proposed we seek permission from Cica to go to Slovenia. If he refused it, we would stay put and follow his directives.

Minutes of the meeting were taken by Capt Zivojin Magazinovic. All the feelings and proposals expressed are in the record. But we came to no definite conclusions. It was resolved that the officers go back to their units and see what their troops wanted to do — to go to Slovenia or return to Ozren. When the officers returned they said the overwhelming desire in the ranks was to go to Slovenia.

After this, as per Col Zivkovic’s proposal, Gen Radovanovic wrote a letter to the supreme command. This should have been taken by Major Pavicevic but he needed a well-armed escort to get through and we couldn’t supply one. So it was resolved we head north without asking Cica.

A few people refused to move, such as Father Vladimir M Marjanovic, Capt Vojislav R Karlikovic and some other NCOs and soldiers.

January 3

I have begun to think about Gen Jonic and the other officers who were so adamant we let down Cica and leave. He turned his coat when he realised the men wanted to go to Slovenia.

Buoyed by the support of Gen Ljudevit Pogacar, he stopped taking notice of Gen Radovanovic. He and Pogacar went to see the Germans — Jonic claiming to be commander of the SDS and Pogacar of the SGS (Srpska Granicna Straza)¹⁷. Knowing this, it wasn’t hard to work out who was behind the proposal that we give up the fight and head for Slovenia — it was Jonic and Pogacar.

Jonic’s wish to be commander had come true, but he wasn’t head of the Serbian Shock Corps, he was commanding the Serbian State Guard which had ceased to function on October 4, 1944. Jonic’s great desire to command has again been fulfilled.

Now it’s clear he won’t be returning to Belgrade on Allied tanks he’s gone back to the Germans, and they have accepted him. He’s doing the old dance all over again. He’s received approval to go to Slavonski Brod with another ten officers. A real hero, he’s left the men in the lurch.

January 4

Gen Radovanovic, his sons Vojislav and Dragoslav, myself, plus another three officers, some NCOs and men who have stayed with us, left today for Slavonski Brod. So far, we have reached Globarica railway station where we are spending the night. Globarica is about 10km from Zavidovici. I’ve found one of my old soldiers, Marko Markanovic, who served under me in Sinj in 1928-9. He gave me some bacon and pogaca¹⁸. He’s been in the Croat Domobran.

January 5

At 3pm we moved on from Globarica but had to stop at Bradici because the line is damaged on the other side of Maglaj. We learned that the British bombed Belgrade on December 8 and 18.

January 6

Christmas Eve¹⁹. My thoughts are all about home and my family. I’ve been thinking a lot about the old days. Many people have been celebrating here, in Cetnik territory.

January 7

Christmas Day. I’m depressed and worried — not about the situation I’m in, but about my family. There are lots of stories about what the communists are doing to our loved ones. At 10am they told us we could continue via Maglaj, Doboj and Bosanski Brod to Slavonski Brod. But the journey is very slow.

January 8

We arrived in Doboj at 5am, and at Bosanki Brod at 10pm, where the Germans took us under guard to a hospital to spend the night. We found many Cetniks who had volunteered to work in Germany.

On the train, around 8pm, we heard a voice from an adjacent compartment say: “I’ve heard there is a Serb general here.” The door opened and an Ustasa appeared. He was wearing a leather coat and had a sub-machine gun on his shoulder. I couldn’t see any escort and he appeared to be on his own, but we were ready for any eventuality as we had guns and grenades.

The man went up to the general, saluted him, and then talked with him for about 20 minutes. In a way, he was apologising for what the Ustase had done. It seemed he knew their days were numbered. When the conversation was over, he saluted again and left. I have no idea of his rank or who he was. Perhaps he used to be one of our officers. We continued on a high state of alert. There was no way of knowing what surprises might be in store for us.

January 9

Bosanski Brod. At noon we were taken under guard to Bosanski Brod where we were given a little food. We were led to a hall where there were no beds, just straw on the floor. We were all mixed in together — officers, NCOs and men. The place is filthy.

Gen Jonic is in a hotel, and the others in his party are in a barracks. It’s all much better than the conditions we’re enduring. It’s terrible having to watch the old general suffer in the straw and dirt while his one-time helper is lording it in a hotel, enjoying the hospitality the Germans show to their loyal servants.

Major Danilo Stojanovic has told me he has replaced me as chief of staff of the Serbian Shock Corps and Gen Jonic is the commander.

We’ve learned that the Ustase caught and killed some of our men who had left on their own.

January 12

We’re still waiting to see what will happen. It seems the Croats want us transported to Slovenia across their territory.

The Domobran have brought in around 60 Partisans. These are men who were pressed into service against their will, and who gave themselves up. They have told us about events in Serbia and the execution of nationalists.

Our former officers have visited the camp. They’ve been to see their friends. With them was the wife of Major Ante Vidakovic, a history teacher born in Pozarevac. In 1941 she became a Catholic and moved to Croatia with her husband.

Ante used to celebrate St John’s Day and his kum was Gen Djordje Arandjelovic, then commander of the Potiska division, who was replaced by Gen Ilija Brasic. The woman told me Ante had died near Tuzla fighting the Cetniks.

January 13

Slavonski Brod. We were told we’d be moving on today but not where we’d be going. We believe it’s to join up with our people in Slovenia.

The Germans took us to the station but we had to hand over all our weapons except for handguns. They were put in another carriage. The train was guarded by the Germans — two officers and one unit of men — who were under orders to fire on anyone who attacked us. “Even on the Ustase?” one of our men asked. The answer was yes.

We left for Zagreb at 10pm. As we passed through the station at Kapela Batrina the Ustase opened fire and shouted “down with King Peter”.

I was reminded or when I went through Zagreb in 1924 when we were returning from a course in Maribor. The train was decorated with flags, greenery and officers’ cockades. At the station in Zagreb there were trains full of peasants who had been to a mass rally addressed by Stjepan Radic²⁰. They heckled us but there was no violence. Even so, we weren’t allowed off the train.

We have heard that Capt Zika Radojcic has been killed by the Ustase and that staff officers Lokar and Klisanic have gone over to the Partisans. My classmate²¹ Ermin Rattan has become commander of a large Croat unit.

January 14

New Year’s Day. My thoughts have been focused on the good things in my life. My soul yearns and my heart aches — it’s engulfed in a pain that’s choking it as I pray to God that our troubles might be transformed into good fortune.

We’ve arrived in Brezice where we received hot food and a lace for the night. I was last here nine years ago when I was at the higher school of the military academy. Everything is taken up with memories, memories and more memories.

January 15

Arrived in Maribor. Hot food was ready for us, but because of an outbreak of typhus they didn’t allow us to eat it. We spent the night on the station. I took advantage of the dark to slip into a German carriage that was heated.

I’ve got a feeling we’re going to leave Slovenia. It looks like we’ve been duped. Nobody’s telling us anything and everything’s shrouded in secrecy. I’m trying to convince myself that everything will turn out for the best.

January 16

We left Maribor for Graz where we arrived at 4pm. The journey was so hard and cold that two of our soldiers died. I’m desperate to have a wash and get rid of the bugs.

Various characteristics have become apparent on the journey — especially selfishness and unsociability on the part of some of our officers. It’s quite right what our people say: snow doesn’t fall to cover the hills but to show up animals’ tracks.

Once again I had to sleep standing up.

I learned that Major Dragisa Lazarevic, commander of the 6th battalion had died of pneumonia in Zavidovici.

January 17

At 7am we left Graz for Vienna. The carriage was heated and the countryside was beautiful. Although Graz has been heavily bombed, a lot of the factories by the tracks are untouched. At 8pm we passed through Semering.

In Wiener Neustadt we got some food but also found out something we weren’t expecting. Our German guards were approached by two officers from the Todt²² organisation. They said that from now on, we would be in their charge. The feeling that we’ve been hoodwinked grows stronger. Gen Jonic has taken us to Germany instead of Slovenia and betrayed us to the Todt organisation.

January 18

We arrived in Vienna at 6am and were met at the station by a sanitary commission from the city council. We were immediately taken for a bath and all our belongings were disinfected. After that, the senior officers were put in various hotels while the NCOs and men were taken to a barracks.

Unfortunately my group — there are 17 of us — were put in a transit hostel for European workers. There were so many comings and goings that we didn’t get a wink of sleep. Everyone else got decent hotel rooms. After breakfast we had to leave until dinner, then until tea, and so on.

Those of us at the hostel are: Col Voja Petrovic, Lt Col Bozidar Nikolic, Lt Col Petar Stankovic, myself, Lt Col Branislav Djordjevic, Lt Col Branko Malesevic, Lt Col Andrija Jevremovic, Lt Col Dragutin Cecevic, Lt Col Mirko Stankovic, Major Lazar Janjic, Major Lazar Petrovic, Major Milutin Ristic, Major Bora Jovanovic, Major Sava Sivacki, Major Miodrag Djulakovic, Major Milenko Solaric, and Nenad, the son of Col Petrovic.

Gen Jonic and Gen Pogacar are in two of the most luxurious hotels. Jonic is in the Sacher, behind the opera.

About 150 men have been taken to hospital with typhus. The address of our hotel is the Ilziger, Pelzgasse, 17-XV kvart.

January 19

We are still at the Hotel Ilzinger. The food is very meagre and the air raids are frequent. We are still waiting to see what will happen to us. We’ve heard various tales. Major Solaric says that before he got on the train at Slavonski Broad, Gen Jonic ordered him to make sure that Gen Radovanovic used another carriage as he did not want Radovanovic in his way. This incident perfectly illustrates Jonic’s character. He’s base, selfish and anti-social.

January 20

Walking around Vienna I see that prices are at pre-war levels. Air raids are frequent. I dreamed of my family.

January 21

We received news that Major Dusan Dinic has died of his wounds.

Today we exchanged our dinars for German marks at the Lander bank on Mariahilferstrasse. I noticed that Major Petar Martinovic exchanged around 900,000 dinars. When I asked him how he had acquired so much money, he told me he had won it gambling. So all the time we were in Bosnia, all he was doing was thinking about gambling.

There were other officers who exchanged large amounts of money. I didn’t have a penny but Lt Col Cecevic gave me 3,000 dinars as did Major Lazar Janjic, so I had 6,000 dinars to exchange into marks.

In Bosnia, I was one of six officers who carried a share of six million dinars in 1,000 dinar notes. This was done so that, if one of us was captured or killed, the full amount would not fall into enemy hands. When I arrived in Vienna I gave the money to the quartermaster, Lt Col Malesevic who, it would appear, gave it all to Gen Jonic.

January 22

News has come through that there are about 17,000 of our men in Ilirska Bistrica, that Vojvoda Djujic²³ and Vojvoda Jevdjevic²⁴ are with them, and that we will be sent there.

Vienna’s sudbanhof and the fifth district have been bombed.

It appears we have been left at the mercy of the Zbor sympathiser Sgt Nikic, who plays some major role in Vienna. We filled in some forms and I stated that it was my intention to join Vojvoda Djujic’s Dinarska Cetnik division.

I don’t feel well. My head aches and I’m exhausted. Miroslav Radosavljevic from Zablace near Cacak is helping me. For that I thank him. My brother officers have no time for me. They’ve got more important tasks.

I’ve learned the address of Dr Dusan Dohcevic, one of my wife’s relatives. He has helped me, as has his brother, Sime. They’ve given me clothes and food but what does it matter when I’m so ill?

News keeps arriving rom Yugoslavia. We’ve heard that Col Hudina and Major Alexei Nedeljkovic of the 51st class (military academy) have been executed in Belgrade.

January 23

I’m so ill I can hardly move. There’s no warm room where I can rest and I’m dragging myself about the streets, freezing. At 4pm I went to see Dusan. We talked a lot. He advised me not to leave Vienna, but to stay with him and Sime. One night, a year or so ago, the two of them were picked up by the Germans but now they can go as they please.

January 24

I’ve been ill all day and I’ve felt faint too. I’ve been out all day. They’re talking about moving us to various hotels. In fact, almost all my colleagues have found somewhere to stay. As I’m ill, I’ve been left in this cursed hostel. The healthy have taken care of themselves and nobody cares about the rest of us.

I visited my classmate Radmilo Dragic at his hotel, the West End, Fugergasse, room 27.

Solaric says Jonic has ordered him to get rubber stamps in German to help get the men moved from the school to better premises, to get clothes and underwear for the men, coupons for the officers, to distribute soap and cigarettes, and to get passports for the officers.

January 25

They still haven’t decided what to do with us. I feel much worse but nobody cares.

January 26

I got up at 8am. I still don’t feel well and my temperature is high. Had my first shave for four days. I’ve spent the day sitting by the fire in a café, shivering. I wanted to lie down but there isn’t anywhere. I’ve been thinking about my family.

January 27

My health remains poor and my temperature is 103.1F. Saw Sime Dohcevic and he gave me some more food and clothing.

Major Solaric says Jonic has told him we’re staying in Vienna to become the nucleus of a future Yugoslav army. Jonic’s fantasy force is to consist of prisoners of war. When it is assembled we will attack Yugoslavia under Jonic’s command. Nice idea from a little general whose malice and imagination know no bounds. The poor man is in his hotel room, unseen.

January 28

Life’s very tough. I’m alone and nobody cares. Everyone’s got more important things to do.

January 29

Today has been the worst. I had to be out of the hotel from 8am to 7pm. I went to see Dragic and managed to rest a little.

January 30

I visited Major Martinovic at the Hotel Fux. I met a Russian lady who asked me what was the matter. I replied that I hadn’t been well for days and had a high temperature. She immediately found me a room in the same hotel — no 49 — and brought a female Serb doctor who gave me some medicine.

The Russian woman is known as Madame Mirit — her pen name when she wrote for the women’s paper which used to be published in Belgrade. She put compresses on my head and brought my rags from the Ilzinger.

January 31

Mme Mirit took me to a basement room. She wrapped me in blankets and left me there until the evening.

February 1

Mme Mirit is looking after me and buying medicine for me.

February 2-5

Still in bed in the hotel.

February 6

Crisis. They called a German doctor who said I must go to hospital. I was taken to the 8th reserve hospital, Rez Kazaret Villa 2/XV, Savoyenstrasse. There, they gave me a haircut and shaved off all my bodily hair. They bathed me in a white liquid and massaged me with brushes. Afterwards, they put me in a long, white shirt and took me by lift to the top floor where there put me in bed in a room big enough to accommodate 20 to 30 patients. A nurse brought me some tea and I drank it before falling asleep.

February 7

I slept well. My temperature has returned to normal but I’m exhausted.

February 8-10

In hospital.

February 11

Received an injection in my left leg.

February 12

They’ve given me pyjamas and some toiletries. I can now wash and look after myself.

February 13

I’ve been moved into a room where there is a number of our officers: Major Anastasijevic, Capt Mihic, Capt Vranjesevic, Capt Markovic, Capt Stole Mihailovic, Lt Mrkalj, Lt Rajic, Lt Majdar, Dr Roth and a Russian, Dr Stojanov.

The poorliest man is Capt Nikola Markovic — Melezija. He is being treated by Dr Schmidt, who has spent a lot of time with him night and day. They’ve been feeding him through a vein and it looks like he’ll pull through.

I’m getting better. My temperature is 98.6F but my pulse remains 60, which is worrying me a little. There’s a lot of bombing but they haven’t moved us out of our room and the nurses have stayed with us. However, they’ve taken patients from the upper floors and moved them nearer the ground.

Capt Danilovic, who’s in another room here, has been to see me. He’s being taken out of Vienna to convalesce.

February 15

I feel a lot better and my pulse is improving. Today it’s 84. I dreamed about my mother and my brother Nedeljko. More bombing.

The food is good: black coffee, three pieces of bread and butter, wine, apple juice, stewed plums, salami, moussaka, beetroot and soup with rice in. In the afternoon we had black coffee, bread and butter and cheese.

News has reached us that some people are leaving Vienna of their own accord. Among the first were Major Ristic and Major Solaric.

February 16

I feel well and my appetite is good. The food is excellent and plentiful. We get fed at 8am, 10am, noon, 3pm, 4pm and 6pm. I’ve been told I’m being taken to a hotel 7km from Vienna to convalesce. No air raids.

February 17

Slept well and feel well, and am waiting to be taken to the other hospital. Our menu today: 8am, black coffee with three pieces of bread; 10am, three pieces of bread and honey, butter, apple juice, stewed plums; noon, beef soup, beef, radishes, potatoes, rice pudding and a glass of red wine; 3pm, black coffee, three pieces of bread and two biscuits; 4pm, three pieces of bread and butter and salami; 6pm, some semolina with milk.

Received a visit from Lt Col Mirko Stankovic. He brought me 400 marks, my share of corps funds, then immediately sold me a pair of army boots for 200 marks. He was also selling cigarettes and other items.

February 18

Snow. They say the Cossacks have taken Sabac and Kragujevac. Air-raid warning at 12.45pm.

February 19

I’m still shaky on my feet. Temperature 98.6F. Pulse 80. Nikola Markovic continues to improve. We never thought he would survive.

February 20

They’re no longer bothering to take my temperature or pulse. I’ve been given Sympatol for my heart. Today we should have been transferred to a sanatorium but, instead, they’ve taken us to the hospital at the border guards’ barracks. I think it’s got that name because some of our border guards from the 3rd division have been there.

The place is awful. It’s filthy and infected. We’ve only got one blanket each. When our troops were leaving the hospital they couldn’t find their clothes so they’ve been brought here in their hospital outfits. They took those away when we arrived, leaving them naked.

There’s about 30 of us. I protested vehemently, screaming at a Todt member. He put me in contact with Gen Jonic, to whom I explained the situation. He told me to go back to that accursed transit point at the Hotel Ilzinger.

February 21

I went to see Gen Jonic again. No sooner had I got through the door than he said: “Please don’t come close, you’ve been suffering from an infectious illness.” He wouldn’t even shake hands. He told me I was to be sent to Postojna and that I would be with Vojvoda Momcilo Djujic’s Dinarska Cetnik Division.

February 22

There’s talk that a number of regiments are to be formed. I’ve been told that Jonic has named me as commander of some sort of 1st regiment, even though I’ve said many times that I’m going to link up with the Dinarska Cetnik division.

February 23

I’m in an air-raid shelter. It’s a huge, four-storey concrete construction. There’s an anti-aircraft battery on the roof. It’s full of people.

I feel I have to mention the good works of Mme Ruth Mirit once again. She’s an educated Russian woman who once lived in Belgrade. I met her for the first time in the Hotel Fux when I was with Major Petar Martinovic.

As soon as she saw me she asked me what the matter was. When she realised I was ill she left the room, then returned after half an hour to tell me she had reserved room 49 for me. She took me there and put me in bed. Later she brought a lady doctor who examined me and prescribed medicines which Mme Mirit bought. She nursed me, continually putting compresses on my head. Every morning she took me to a basement room where she put me in a chair and wrapped me with blankets. In the evenings she took me back to my room.

When my crisis occurred on February 6 she brought a German doctor who, as I have already described, sent me to the hospital where I stayed until February 20.

I will never forget Mme Mirit. May God keep her and give her strength to survive these events into which fate has thrown us. It makes me remember the words of one of our poets: “We suffer until the end, when we will be worthy of the peace that must come.”

Can we survive without God? I pray to him and will continue to do so because I have a deep belief in the return of freedom and the liberation of our people from the captivity in which they are lightly but securely held.

How long are we to stay in Vienna? I’ve been to see Gen Jonic again to urge him to do something to resolve the predicament into which he has placed us.

February 24

I visited the command of the Serbian Volunteer Corps²⁵ but saw nobody I knew. I ate dinner in the Hotel Piccolo. Because of the bombing there has been no water or bread for two days.

February 25

No water. Visited Major Dragic at his hotel and had a bit of a wash there.

February 26

Visited the Serbian Volunteer Corps again, and again applied to join Djujic’s Dinarska Cetnik division. Went to see Gen Jonic again.

February 27

We’re getting very disturbing reports about the way the Partisans and the Red Army are treating our people. I keep asking myself why the Serbs have to suffer so much. Why are they continually persecuted?

But I’m not a pessimist. I still believe no one will ever be able to blot out the Serb sun, because in that sun lives the standard carried by the heroes of Kosovo²⁶, the conquerors of Kumanovo²⁷, and the present-day colossus, Gen Draza Mihailovic.

I hate Vienna. The place grates on me. In my soul it makes me hark back to my childhood when I was a citizen of the black and yellow dragon²⁸ whose head was here, in this city.

In my mind’s eye I can see visions of the persecution that took place during the First World War. I remember the attempts by Austria to make us Uniates²⁹, and other sufferings and oppression inflicted on the Serbs.

Even during this war, the main part of the German forces to have marched across my homeland came from Vienna and its surrounding districts. My heart has been torn to pieces. I’m starting to give up.

February 28

Nothing new. Bored, waiting, worrying and hoping.

March 1

There was an air-raid warning as early as 9am. It was back to the shelter and we stayed there until 4pm. A false alarm.

March 2

Another air-raid alert. Spent two hours in the shelter.

March 3

No air-raid warnings. I had to eat without bread because I had no coupons.

March 4

Spent another two hours in the shelter but a false alarm.

Took a look at the palaces of the emperors Franz Josef and Karl, city hall and the monuments to Maria Theresa and Goethe. I also visited the mausoleum of the Austro-Hungarian king-emperors which is beneath the Capuchin church. After 29 years I had the opportunity to see the body of Franz Josef.

In one part of the underground complex is a section featuring a catafalque which contains three coffins. In the middle, above the others, is Franz Josef’s coffin. It is covered with glass and you can see him in his parade uniform. On the left is his wife, the Empress Elisabeth, and on the right his son Rudolph who committed suicide.

The outing gave me a little rest from my anxieties.

March 5

Received news that we are to leave for Slovenia this week. Air-raid warning at 11pm. Back to the shelter.

March 6

Heavy snow fell overnight, Received news that my good friend Dr Zivota Milovanovic had died in the bombing. He was always with his soldiers, caring for them like a young wife for her family. He shared in their privations and watched as they suffered. Often he wasn’t able to help because he didn’t have the medicines or supplies, but he was a hero. While others were spending their days in Vienna amusing themselves, he was caring for the sick and wounded.

March 7

It’s been decided that we leave Vienna on the 9th at 6pm. They say the train carriages won’t have windows, which is disconcerting. It’s cold, too, and there are lots of low-flying aircraft – mosquitoes or ziskari as the people from Lika call them.

I spend all my time thinking about my family. My heart longs for my beloved homeland. I have faith in the resilience of our race because, even though it’s rocked by hardships, war, troubles, sweat and sorrows, it remains strong.

March 8

Woke up with pains in my neck. No doubt I slept in the wrong position. There was an air-raid alert from 11am to 3pm. More time spent in that accursed bunker.

March 9

Today we should be setting off for Postojna. From what they’ve told us, the train should be leaving at 6.04pm. I’m all set to be at the station on time.

I keep shivering and feeling cold. There’s clearly something else in store for me.

March 10

We left Vienna two hours late at 8 o’clock last night. The carriages are windowless. We arrived in Bruck at 8am and should be leaving for Klagenfurt at 6pm.

I’m not well. My temperature’s going up and I’m feeling faint.

March 11

Arrived in Jesenice and they immediately herded us into a near-by tunnel, dug into the hillside, to shelter us from air raids. We were there from 8am to 5pm.

I’m continually thirsty and keep drinking water, no doubt because of my high temperature.

We set off for Ljubljana at 5pm and arrived there at 11pm. The train for Postojna leaves at 3.25am tomorrow.

Arriving in Ljubljana reminded me of when I was there seven years ago as a member of technical commission no 3 tasked with fortifying our borders with Italy and Germany. Oh these memories. I’m unable to escape them and all they do is make me feel worse.

Received some tinned food.

March 12

At 3.25 this morning we left Ljubljana and departed for Postojna. The carriages are warm and comfortable, but this journey has been the most difficult of all.

Somewhere ahead of Vrhnika there was a ruined bridge and we had to change trains. To do so, we had to walk uphill for around 3km. I only just made it. All the fit men rushed off for the best places and those of us who are ill were left to fend for ourselves. If it hadn’t been for one of our workers, who was going to Postojna to join the Serbian Volunteer Corps, I would never have got to the second train. He virtually carried me. As a token of thanks I gave him my little bag of food.

We hadn’t gone more than a few kilometres and we had to board a third train. Then there was a mine on the line between Planina and Rakek and we had to wait until it was removed. As we did so, Mrs Nada Stanic, one of Vojvoda Djujic’s couriers, came into the carriage. I knew her from when she had visited Belgrade at the start of summer in 1944. She gave me the first news of my family. My brother Nedeljko has got married.

I remember I gave her a 1:10,000 map of Tromedje and the surrounding area. I didn’t recognise her straight away but she knew me. I was huddled in a corner, wrapped in a blanket. She gave me a piece of chocolate and said she would take me to the Dinarska division’s hospital at Gorica where Dr Deze is in charge.

Arrived in Postojna at 11am and were greeted by Gen Kosta Musicki³⁰. The senior officers were sent to the school of administration at Sveti Peter. I reported sick and the doctor told me I have flu. He sent me to the Volunteer hospital at Logatec.

I was taken back to the station in a horse-drawn carriage. With me were two nurses who helped me on to the train and found me a place. We left at 5pm and reached Logatec an hour later. There was another carriage waiting and they took me to hospital. It is primitive but warm. As we arrived in Postojna it was hit by a number of bombs dropped by Allied planes.

March 13

I spent the night in the reception area. In the morning I was examined by Capt Barac, an old acquaintance of mine. He told me I have an inflamed right lung but added that he has no medicines. He then told the medics to take me to the room where Dr Bata died yesterday.

The room is about 3m by 5m and has a bunk bed. I was put in the lower bunk. The upper one is empty. Thanks to a small fire the room is warm. I am being looked after by two girl students.

In the afternoon Dr Barac cheered me up when he said he had found a drug — Eleudron. He told the nurses to give me two tablets every two hours for 28 hours. My spirits lifted at once.

March 14 – 17

I’m in bed and the days are going by. I can hardly breathe but I’m taking my medicine and slowly starting to feel better.

March 18

Got five eggs at a cost of 19 lira per egg.

March 20

There was no wood until this evening so I had to lie in a cold room.

March 21

I’m getting better and the doctor has told me that in a couple of days’ time I’ll be able to get up between 11am and 1pm.

We keep hearing that Germany wants peace and I keep reading news that suggests things are improving for us. That’s making me feel better.

The Garibaldi division has retreated into Italy, Tito’s troops have had to leave Albania and the USA is beginning to show great interest in what’s happening in Romania.

Capt Ristic brought me another ten eggs.

March 22

I’m feeling better and waiting for the doctor to give me permission to get up.

Bombs are being dropped somewhere near by and I can hear terrible explosions.

I’ve read an article by Dimitrije Ljotic in which he says he believes Allied landings will take place soon in Istria.

I’ve been allowed to get up. I spent about 30 minutes in the sun and watched Allied planes flying south, returning from their missions.

March 23

Had my first shave in 15 days. On the whole I feel well. I’ve been for a short walk.

The news is that the Germans and Domobrans have surrounded the Partisans near Gorica.

We can hear explosions and it sounds like an exchange of artillery fire is taking place somewhere in the distance.

March 24

The USA is said to be showing an interest in the countries occupied by the Russians.

I bought 250g of butter for which I paid 200 lira. That leaves me with about 200 lira from the 3,000 I had to begin with. Sgt Ceda Miskovic brought me five potatoes. We cooked them on the stove and chatted. About 3pm Postojna came under mortar and machine gun fire.

March 25

I feel well. It’s a fine day — real spring weather and the surrounding countryside looks beautiful bathed in sunshine and covered with flowers.

Allied planes have been dropping leaflets urging the Germans to lay down their arms.

March 26

I’m feeling better. It’s cloudy and that only serves to make me feel more unsettled. There’s a big difference in the weather from yesterday.

It been decided that Istria should be cleared of Partisans.

March 27

My pulse is between 69 and 74. My temperature is 98.24F. The regiment of Ljuba Jovanovic-Patak and Lt Col Sinisa Pazarac has arrived in Postojna.

March 29

Major news! Draza, Ljotic and Gen Rupnik³¹ have reached an agreement. A Yugoslav army is to be formed under the command of Draza Mihailovic. They’re also working to form a government and to call back the king.

March 30

The mosquitoes have been flying since early morning attacking anything that moves. I’ve been mulling over whether I should stay in Sempeter, recuperate a little and then join Djujic.

March 31

The nurses tried to make some bread from barley flour. It didn’t really work, but it tasted good anyway. The doctor has told me I’ll be discharged on April 2. That news has cheered me up a lot.

April 2

Today I should have gone to Postojna but there’s no transport. The railway line has been bombed and there are no carriages for us. We must wait until tomorrow. The mosquitoes remain active.

I’m killing time by listening to the radio — Belgrade, London and Vienna. There’s talk of the fighting alongside Mihailovic. Some support him. The Archbishop of Canterbury (Geoffrey Fisher) has spoken about what the world should be like after the war.

April 3

Got up at 4.15am to be ready to travel the 19km to Postojna. In Planina I met Bosko Nedic and his wife Gina. My place in Sveti Peter is terrible. There’s no water, no toilet and it’s cold. There’s nothing for sale in the village.

April 4

Today I attended a sort of administrative school. It’s the idea of the Zbor people who want to make us into future local government functionaries. They’re re-educating us.

I’m not staying here. These people aren’t for me.

April 5

Today it’s six months since we left our hearths in beautiful Belgrade. Despite everything that’s happened, we still believe we’ll go back some day.

I’m staying in an old building by the railway station which is, as I’ve said, lacking the basic amenities — running water and a toilet. Today we got some metal bedsteads and straw mattresses.

We visited Radovanj?, ten minutes from Sv Peter, where we were given lessons in a café. We were fed there too.

A train carrying munitions was bombed at a near-by station and the explosions were colossal.

The only thing people are asking for in terms of food is sugar.

From Sempeter you can see the snow-capped peaks of the Pivka mountains.

April 6

It’s four years since the Germans attacked Belgrade and invaded Yugoslavia. I can remember the bombing of Skoplje. As our house was badly damaged we sheltered in Dimitrije Dohcevic’s vineyard and spent the night there.

I’ve received a record of the officers who died when the VIC prisoner-of-war camp in Osnabruck was bombed. I know some of them: Lt Col Voja Maksimovic, my commanding officer from my days with the 21st independent artillery division in Subotica; my classmate, Capt Dusan Tripkovic; and my friend Capt Mirko Baljaka (49th class) who was from Zadar.

Altogether, 90 men died. May God have mercy on them.

April 7

During the night the Germans brought a heavy battery to the railway station, not far from the building in which we’re staying.

April 8

It’s got colder and a strong wind is blowing. It’s being said that our families have been interned and are being made to work.

We’ve received another bombshell. It’s being said that Gen Petar Zivkovic and 20,000 men are to land at Dubrovnik.

April 9

Up at 5am. We have moved to a new building in a small town/village. With me in my room are Lt Col Petar Stankovic, Lt Col Mija Tojic, and Major Zivodin Ivanovic. The room is comfortable and sunny.

We’ve heard Sinisa Pazarac is with the American 5th army, from where he contacted us.

I’ve noticed a curious fact — there are men among us who don’t seem to care about their families. All they are looking for is fun and enjoyment. Strange men. Their feelings are stranger still.

April 10

The 2nd, 3rd and 4th regiments of the Serbian Volunteer Corps have today gone in search of Pavle Djurisic. These units are full of men from the Serbian Shock Corps of the Royal Yugoslav Army in the Homeland. Gen Jonic has failed to take care of our men and handed them to the SDK.

April 11

Nothing of importance.

April 12

Planes have been very active today. The Partisans attacked the Volunteers near Planina but I don’t know the outcome of the battle. It took place around 11am.

April 14

More aircraft. We’ve heard that there have been anti-Tito demonstrations in Rome and that a bomb was found in the building where Tito’s legation was staying.

April 15

Last night, around 8, Major Stoja Matovic gave me the lovely news that my entire family had been killed in the bombing of Belgrade. He didn’t tell me how he came by this information which, in any case, I don’t believe.

Today, 400 of our men have arrived in Postojna from Vienna. They made the journey largely on foot, another example of Gen Jonic’s good organisation. The Volunteer regiments that went to find Vojvoda Pavle Djurisic have been successful in battle, we are told.

Col Brana Zivkovic is joining the Dinarska Cetnik division as an instructor and Col Branko Malesevic as quartermaster.

April 16

It’s a year since Belgrade was bombed by the RAF and the Americans.

The news is that the Volunteers have met up with the Croat Domobran near Susak, and that the 3rd Volunteer Regiment has received three air drops. The Dinarska division received two.

April 17

Postojna was bombed and there was damage. I sent a letter to Vojvoda Djujic via Col Brana Zivkovic, notifying him that I would be coming to join him and the Dinarska Cetnik division.

April 18

The weather is terrible. It’s cold with strong winds. At 8am Allied planes bombed a German train in the station at Sv Peter. The resulting fire raged for two hours, punctuated by explosions that rocked the village. Postojna again came under machine gun fire.

April 19

I went to Postojna for written orders allowing me to depart for Gorica, but I found no one. They had all gone to welcome Patriarch Gavrilo and Bishop Nikolai Velimirovic.

April 20

The Germans used their 220mm gun to fire towards Rijeka. It’s on rails and is hidden in a cave near the station at Sv Peter. It fired 21 shells. This morning Sv Peter was bombed and some empty barracks were flattened.

April 21

About 400 Ustase were brought through Sv Peter, all of them disarmed by Djujic’s Cetniks.

I again visited Postojna to get the orders allowing me to go to Gorica. I can’t wait to leave and I’m hoping I’ll find my brother Nedeljko there as he’s in the Dinarska Cetnik division. I’m also looking forward to meeting other men that I know.

The planes have been active. Looks like they’ve been searching for that German gun.

April 22

The gun was in action again tonight, firing in the same direction.

April 23

At 12.15 this morning I got on a train bound for Trieste, but we didn’t leave until 2.15. We reached Trieste at about 11.30am. We travelled well and weren’t attacked. With me was my classmate Radmilo Dragic. On arrival we were given room 17 in the Hotel Rasencio and food for two days.

April 24

Air-raid alert from 2am to 5pm. We spent the time in a shelter carved into the hillside like a gallery.

Looking at Trieste took me back 23 years as the streets and especially the dialect remind me of Zadar where I spent my childhood.

I visited the offices of the Dinarska Cetnik division, and to my great surprise found that my classmate, Capt Kosta Kapetanovic, was in charge. It was so good to see him again. While I was with him, Gen Jonic suddenly appeared. He pretended to be pleased to see me, came over, and asked me to pass his regards to Vojvoda Djujic. He then praised Djujic’s division.

Even from a distance this Jonic looked nothing like the one from Zavidovici, Slavonski Brod and Vienna. He’s become very humble. You might even say lost. He’s allowed the Serbian Shock Corps to fall apart, abandoned its men to their fate, and now spends his time alone in Trieste. Good God how men change. It’s true what they say, those who fly high fall low.

I visited the hill of San Giusto. There is an old church there and, in front of it, a monument to the Italian soldiers who died in the First World War, and to Gen Armando Diaz, who is famous because he managed to repulse the Austrians in the Piave.

I can remember the song they used to sing:

Il Piave mormorava, Calmo e placido al passaggio, Del primi fanti il 24 Maggio. Ma il Piave mormoro! Ritorna lo straniero.

The Piave whispers, calm and placid as the first infantry crosses on May 24. But the Piave murmurs, the stranger will return.

The view from the top of the hill is spectacular. You can see Miramar Castle where the Archduke Franz Ferdinand — who was assassinated in Sarajevo on Vidovdan³³ 1914 — use to holiday.

We have received news that Dimitrije Ljotic has been killed in a car crash.

At dinnertime I was with my friend Lt Col Milovan Dj Popovic.

Thank God I am leaving for Gorica today. At 3.45pm I boarded a no 6 tram in the Via Miramare and headed into town. There were many soldiers, but even more civilians, all retreating from the communists and their crimes.

I reported to the duty gendarme who took me into an office to issue my papers. In the meantime a car left for Gorica without me. I waited until 5.30pm when a lorry arrived which took me to Monfalcone, and on to Sagrado. There I saw the River Isonzo — where lances were broken in the First World War battle — for the first time.

From Sagrado I travelled onward in some sort of luxury car and we reached Gorica at 7pm. From there I went on foot to the Dinarska Cetnik Division HQ which is at the village of Sempeter. My initial impressions are good. The place is much better than Sv Peter at Krs. It’s quiet. The fields are lush and the trees are in full bloom. I’ve been assigned accommodation at a field hospital.

April 26

The day is fine and sunny. I reported to the divisional HQ after breakfast. The vojvoda wasn’t there so I spoke to the chief of staff, my classmate, Capt Miodrag Kapetanovic. He has invited me to be chief of the operations, pending the vojvoda’s agreement.

I’ve been given accommodation with Col Brana Zivkovic and Lt Col Branko Malesevic.

April 27

I’m sitting in the divisional commander’s office, HQ having been moved to a building in a hollow north of Gorica. News has arrived that Mussolini has been captured.

There has been fighting near the River Vipava. According to reports, 120 Partisans have been killed and 60 taken prisoner.

April 28

Palm Sunday. My thoughts go to the days of not so long ago when this was celebrated as a children’s day.

April 29

The vojvoda has returned but refuses to see me. He sent a message via Lt Jovica Ljubojevic that I should stay with Col Zivkovic.

Besides Zivkovic and Malesevic I’ve also found Petko Lakovic and Lt Pavle Markovic of the gendarmerie. I’ve been visited by Capt Bogdan Drobac who is a very good officer and friend.

We’ve heard that the Allied assembly in San Francisco has refused to accept representatives of the Lublin government in Poland.

The Serbian Volunteer Corps has moved into the Vipava Valley.

There is much talk of German capitulation. Various stories are doing the rounds about communist advances in Istria.

We’re preparing to retreat to the Isonzo. We’re leaving at 11pm to spend the might in Mossa.

I hoped I’d find my brother in Gorica but I’ve learned that he was listed as missing after fighting around the village of Padjene near Knin. This has hurt me deeply. Because there are no Dalmatian corps near by I have been unable to find out anymore about his fate.

April 30

Last night we arrived in Mossa. We left Gorica in a lorry and crossed the Isonzo near Primosta (Al Ponte) and went via Podgora (Piedimonte) and Locnik (Lucinico) to Mossa (Zaculis). We completed the journey without problems. I’m staying with the mayor, Signor Radolfo Mioni.

After three days in Gorica, when I thought I might be able to get a little rest and get over the effects of my recent illnesses, it’s all gone wrong once again. We’re sleeping on the floor, without blankets, and the food is very poor. It’s fortunate that I speak Italian. I’m managing to get by and have been made welcome by the mayor.

We’ve heard our troops have been attacked by the fascists, who have come to some sort of provisional arrangement with the communists. We suffered casualties but our men fired back at the Italians. By the end of the day all our troops had crossed the Isonzo.

We’re guarding the bridge and the men are on high alert in case the Partisans try to cross the river and attack us.

May 1

Around noon I received a message asking me to see Gen Miodrag Damjanovic³⁴, a member of the supreme command of the Royal Yugoslav Army in the Homeland. I went at once and found him in a spacious room in which he was seated at a table with generals Matija Parac³⁵, Andrej and Musicki, and Vojvoda Djujic.

A little later Vojvoda Dobrosav Jevdjevic appeared and, looking somewhat agitated, told Gen Damjanovic that he did not wish to be captured by the Partisans and because of that was preparing to withdraw his men further.

General Miodrag Damjanovic

Damjanovic listened patiently and then said quietly: “Vojvoda, you mustn’t do that. Whatever happens to us will happen to you too.” That seemed to calm Jevdjevic, who agreed to stay.

It was my first meeting with Djujic, who said to me: “Do you know that we’re kumovi?” I replied: “I’d heard something of it.” He was best man at my brother’s wedding. Nedeljko had married the sister of Milka Radonjic, one of Djujic’s couriers, while in Kosovo.

Damjanovic had summoned me to say that we were to retake Gorizia. Gen Musicki was in charge of the operation and I was to be his chief of staff. I was supplied with a list of the numbers of troops each unit was to commit to the operation. These were Dinarska division 1,000, Sumadija division 1,000, Croats 400, Slovenians 200, gendarmes (in fact a constituent part of the Serbian Shock Corps) 150, giving a total of 2,500 men.

In accordance with orders we got into a horse-drawn carriage which took us to Gen Musicki’s HQ. They were housed — I think — in a village called Capriva. It was about 3pm when we reached our destination.

We discussed all the possibilities for a night attack on Gorizia and found many difficulties. Any attack was going to take place at great risk. We had no maps, we knew nothing about the terrain or surroundings, and we had no intelligence about the enemy. The previous day’s attack on our troops as they were passing through Gorizia was another element against us. Also, we only had control of one small bridge.

It was agreed that Musicki should explain to Damjanovic that it was necessary to postpone the attack for a day or two. After he had left, I immersed myself in the problems facing us and tried to work out a plan of attack. While doing so I heard a knock on the door and found it was a Slovene patrol. They told me an English tank had arrived. I asked the soldier if he was sure it didn’t belong to the Partisans, but he said it was definitely English. I instructed him to tell the crew that our HQ was in Mossa, and that they should go there to speak to our general. It was about 11. In fact, the Allied troops with which we had come into contact were New Zealanders under the command of Gen Bernard Freyberg. They offered us the following terms:

1. That we immediately withdraw across the Isonzo. We rejected this because the British forces in the area were still weak and would be unable to defend us from Partisan attack
2. They asked that we did not open fire as they were tired and had had no rest for three days. We replied that if the Partisans attacked we would defend ourselves. They accepted this but it seemed they had taken steps to make sure the Partisans did not open fire.

A battle involving mortars and machine guns went on throughout the day around the hill at Kalvaria, east of the railway bridge over the Isonzo near Podgora. Apparently we were fighting the 9th Communist Corps.

May 2

We greeted the Allied troops in Mossa with great warmth. They, however, did not respond in the same way and were very cold.

An NCO asked me in broken Italian why we didn’t join forces with Tito, because the Marshal was a good man. I told him he had been taken in by the propaganda of the people who had armed Tito and were still taking care of him.

Gen Damjanovic and Vojvoda Djujic visited Gen Freyberg’s HQ where various statements were made about our fate and our future as armed formations.

In conversation with a soldier I discovered that Hitler had committed suicide on April 30 and that Admiral Doenitz had taken his place. I also found out that the troops in Mossa were from the 9th New Zealand Brigade, 2nd Corps. The officer who had made contact with us the previous evening was a Capt Cox³⁶.

We also heard that one of our units had opened fire on an Allied supply column believing it to be communist. The communists had, in fact, got as far as Monfalcone.

May 3

We learned we were to be moved to Cormone with all haste. From what was said to Gen Damjanovic, they had decided to move us deeper into Italy to frustrate the Partisans who were asking for us to be handed over to them.

May 4

We reached Palmanova and were put in a camp where we received our first food from the Allies. It was very poor. On the whole we were horrified by what we were experiencing.

May 5

Today we were disarmed, although officers were allowed to keep their pistols. One young Cetnik committed suicide rather than hand over his weapons. None of us expected this. We have become prisoners of war and are being treated as an enemy force, just because we fought against the imposition of a communist regime in our country.

Palmanova

Amid the countless experiences Draza Mihailovic’s warriors lived through on the rocky road of their fight for freedom in 1941-45, one of the most difficult and painful was their disarmament at Palmanova. Being separated from their weapons — those beloved weapons which had for the main part been seized from the enemy so that they could be used to win freedom for the enslaved, war-weary and unfortunate Yugoslav people — was even for the hardened hearts of the battle-scarred Ravna Gora fighters an act which brought tears and audible groans.

One participant in these events, which cut through the souls of these freedom fighters like a blade, recorded the following in his diary:

“Our armaments started to cover the ground. Short carbines from pre-war assault battalions, ‘partizanke’ from Uzice that had extended barrels, Italian ‘prangije’ with their rear sights altered, French rifles without brakes, English rifles used by our border guards, and the occasional Bulgarian Mannlicher, all lay mixed together in a pile and without any consideration for calibre or type of ammunition. Automatic weapons met the same fate. One fell on top of the other: our beloved Bren guns from the days when we received air drops, Dutch ‘sulundar’ light machine guns (Lewis M20), German MG 42s nicknamed “sarac”, heavy Bredas and an occasional veteran Schwarzlose.”

It was difficult to watch, and even more difficult to listen as the guns as hit the ground. That blunt sound was like the slump of a human body, the fall of a wounded warrior — a comrade and beloved brother. As much as everyone tried to lay down their weapons with the utmost tenderness, to reduce the pain, the sound still resonated in the ears of the fighters like the cries of an abandoned, wounded man. Many a Cetnik had come to his rifle at the cost of a life. Another had thanked the Mauser from which they were being separated for saving them. For others, their weapon had brought a hero’s glory and recognition in the shape of a medal — the Karadjordje Star.

Many eyes filled with tears. There wasn’t a man who could lift his head. Memories were dying in front of the fighters’ eyes — those most notable recollections from bygone battles and countless experiences. It was clear to everyone that this day, this act, marked the end of an epoch and the start of a new phase of the Ravna Gora struggle.

There were some suicides. It was Djurdjevdan³⁷1945, the feast day of heroes, yet the Cetniks were laying down their arms.

That day, which will never be forgotten because of its horrors — May 5 — the supreme command of the Royal Yugoslav Army was in contact with Cica for the last time. The following day, May 6, our radio equipment met the same fate as our weapons. It was confiscated by the British.

For men who hadn’t sought a “vacation” those days in the camps at Visco near Palmanova were difficult indeed. Those men who were prepared to fight to the last for the freedom of their homeland had again found themselves in communist captivity at the hour when the western democracies were celebrating their victory over two totalitarian powers — nazi Germany and fascist Italy — and a third, far-off Japan, was in the agony of defeat.

Restlessness and grey foreboding combined with the pain of disarmament — those were the feelings that prevailed in the hearts of Cica’s warriors and the remaining nationalists and anti-communists in their first days outside the homeland, in what had been an enemy country only the day before, occupied by the Western Allies who considered us prisoners of war.

Yet despite all the despondency, disappointment, anger and fear for the future that filled our men, they only wanted to leave this dark place. They wanted to get as far as possible from the graveyard of our beloved weaponry. That was the immediate echo from the souls of our humiliated and offended fighters loyal to Second Word War Europe’s first guerrilla.

From the start, the British military authorities recognised the part of the supreme command staff under the leadership of Gen Miodrag Damjanovic as competent to manage the men and others in terms of everything that happened in the camps.

We were ordered to move as soon as the handover of arms was completed. We were headed for Forli and Cesena. Transport to these camps began on May 6 and was completed by May 16. The Sumadija division (earlier the Serbian Volunteer Corps) was sent to Forli with the gendarmes and Slovenian units. The main parts of the Dinarska Cetnik division, Vojvoda Dobrosav Jevdjevic’s Lika regiment, the Drinska brigade, the Croat army and the remaining parts of the supreme command were taken to Cesena. Each camp had a hospital.

With this move the Royal Yugoslav Army outside the homeland began a new campaign but with the same aims of survival, self-sufficiency and defeat of the communists who had taken over the country. Yet the truth was we had no weapons. We had to find alternative ones in a foreign land.

The first and key requirement was to maintain the men’s morale. That was no easy task given how disillusioned they were with the western powers who had surrendered our people into the clutches of the communists in the hour of victory.

May 6

We were moved to a camp at Rovigno, but they kept us separate from the Germans. We were on the road from 8am to 5pm.

May 7

At 5pm we were put into lorries and I was appointed commander of the transport carrying the Dalmatian Corps of the Dinarska Cetnik division. We travelled via Ferrara and Forli, arriving at a camp in Cesena at 11pm. We saw war-ravaged terrain and some sizeable columns making their way for the Yugoslav border. Our welcome at Cesena was poor. The sergeant who met us took my pistol, binoculars and penknife — all my personal property. We’re sleeping under the stars.

May 8

Prior to breakfast I put the Dalmatian corps on parade. Before prayers I carried out an inspection and came across several relatives. There was Jovo, Nikola and Branko Pavasovic, plus young Nikola. Also Anka Rajnovic, and her husband and three children. Anka is a member of the Pelacirac family — as was my grandmother — who are very well known in northern Dalmatia. They are Serbs but of the Catholic faith. They helped Petar Mrkonjic³⁸ when he was in Bosnia.

One of the family fled to Serbia, changed his name to Velizaric, and became minister of finance. Through him the family became related to a Gen Mita Zivkovic, who married a woman who was a Velizaric.

I also met Savo Djuric from Golubic near Knin, and many of my former soldiers and acquaintances from around Benkovac and Knin. It really made me happy to meet these men but the one person I really wanted to find, my brother Nedeljko, wasn’t among them.

During the night our remaining men arrived at the camp, which was under the command of a tall, slim major, who had charge of the 152nd battery. About 11am he called me to his HQ and asked me to help him organise the camp as he said he had no experience in such matters. I told him it was imperative the camp had a water supply, that toilets were dug and that we were supplied with straw mattresses and blankets. He told me that straw could not be given because of the fire risk, and that they had no tents as they were only a small, mobile unit. So we were left out under the stars again.

The camp comprised a football pitch and a motorcycle racetrack. It was surrounded by a high wall topped with barbed wire. In the same area were three platforms. That was where we put the families. We put the women and children in the enclosed areas beneath.

We’re being guarded as though we were criminals, although according to Tito’s accusations that’s what we are — war criminals. That’s because we didn’t want to be communists and fought against dictatorship for freedom and democracy. But there’s no escaping the situation. We just have to put up with it.

May 9

Two of our men and four British soldiers have died because the Italians have been selling tainted food.

May 10

I have been ordered to liaise with the British command, aided by Capt Vitomir Mihic.

May 11

Col Brana Zivkovic has been appointed camp commandant. I am his second-in-command. Capt Miroljub Brankovic is adjutant. Cesena is a communist place.

May 12

It has been decided that the Sumadija division and the Croat army are to go to a camp at Forli.

May 16

Gen Damjanovic and Gen Djukic have arrived. The Polish Red Cross brought food for the children. Our mission in Rome has also sent a delegation to the camp which includes Capt Zvonko Vuckovic and Capt Kolarevic.

May 18

As before I’ve been told that my brother was last seen near Padjena when the Dinarska Cetnik division was trying to break through to the north.

I have also learned that my 19-year-old cousin, Stevisa Dragisic, was killed at Lozovac. His uncle, Njegoslav, died of shock when he heard the news. Stevisa’s father, Uros, was a fervent nationalist and was persecuted by the Austrians. This continued when the Italians annexed our areas, and he was interned at Ancona. He died there in 1936 after contracting tuberculosis.

Stevisa’s mother died during childbirth and he was brought up by his grandmother and uncle.

May 20

We organised a concert and were entertained by several choirs: the men’s, women’s and youth choirs of the Dinarska division; a mixed Slovenian choir; and the supreme command headquarters staff choir.

May 23

Vojvoda Djujic told a commanders’ conference that active officers must clean the toilets. Capt Vujic arrived at the camp and I learned from him that the communists have killed Lt Col Mira Savic, Major Stevan Mandic and Major Bozidar Rankovic.

May 25

Some civilians and women have been taken to a new camp near Rimini.

We are carefully tracking events around Trieste.

A Cetnik from the area around Vrlika sang us some songs about their battles with the Ustase and the Partisans.

May 26

According to Vojvoda Jevdjevic we are going to be taken to a camp near Rome. There, we will be politically screened and those remaining will be taken to meet up with our forces at San Giorgio. How nice of the Vojvoda to give us such good news.

May 30

Gen Damjanovic has been visited by some American officers of Serb extraction. As we understand it they were unhappy with the conditions at our camp and complained to the British officer commanding.

May 31

I’ve been to Savignano to try to find bread for the camp. I saw the Rubicon where the British and Germans fought a 20-day battle. Among a group of US officers were Capt Dzordz and Capt Lalic.

June 4

I’ve again been out of the camp to look for bread. Our route was Savignano, San Mauro, Cervio and Pinerone. This entire area has been ravaged by the war. You can see the communist hammer and sickle emblem on many of the buildings. I passed by the German camp which is about 4 to 5km long.

Vojvoda Djujic and Vojvoda Jevdjevic gave talks to the men in which they explained the new military – political situation following the collapse of Germany and possible new conflicts.

June 9

We’ve heard that the British have sent back to Tito about 300 men from the Sumadija division and from the Slovenian Domobrans under the command of Gen Krener. This has happened because of a mistake by Major William Johnson, a British officer.

Josef Maizner has turned up in the camp. He is a former acquaintance from Kraljevic Tomislav Street in Belgrade.

June 18

Lt Borozan has been imprisoned for trying to smuggle a piece of bread into the camp.

News has arrived that Major Vesic and Capt Zivota Stevanovic have been killed by the communists. Their bodies were found in the village of Gabrovo.

June 24

I took a delegation from the Serbian Shock Corps to Forli to organise a memorial service for our dead.

June 28

Today is our worst-ever Vidovdan. Firstly, because the traditional memorial services and celebrations aren’t being held in our imprisoned homeland, and secondly because so many of our people are away from home. Some are scattered around camps in the Allied zones. Still more are in camps in Yugoslavia.

The people who remain faithful to Vidovdan are being persecuted, tortured and ultimately killed for reasons only understood by the bloodthirsty communists.

We held a memorial service at which a priest and Gen Damjanovic spoke. Afterwards there was a parade. In the afternoon we were entertained by the Sokols³⁹ and there was a football match. In the evening we watched a short play at the theatre.

June 30

We have been asked to requisition clothes. The food in the hospital has been improved. A medical commission comprising a British and an American doctor held an inspection and decided that to many patients were suffering from vitamin deficiency. The biscuits given to us should have been eaten by the end of 1943.

Two Partisans have been spotted in Cesena. They have come to gather together Partisan families.

July 1

A Capt Rista, nicknamed Panik, has appeared. He was looking for volunteers for the Japanese front but met with no success.

I took a car trip to Riccione with Gen Djukic.

July 7

Received a visit from Capt Stole Mihailovic who travelled in from Forli. He’s not happy with the Volunteers and their attitude toward those who don’t share their beliefs.

It’s being said that Tito has dissolved all marriages where the husband is outside Yugoslavia with the Royal Yugoslav Army in the Homeland.

July 15

Today I began to teach an artillery course, helped by Capt Stefanovic.

A gendarmerie sergeant, Miloje Savic, has arrived at the camp. He’s told me about the horrors of the communist regime, and how they have executed the city guards who stayed in Belgrade to maintain law and order after the German withdrawal.

July 16

The artillery course continues and I have even been promised a gun for training purposes.

I’ve read in the Italian newspapers that President Truman has spoken out against the bolshevisation of Yugoslavia, Albania, northern Italy and the rest of Europe. Our hopes have been strengthened because we believe that the USA, under Truman’s leadership, will do something to stop this process and allow the people of each country to vote for the government they want.

July 17

News has reached us that an heir to the throne has been born⁴⁰. As it spread around the camp, people began to celebrate. The joy was spontaneous and some men even soaked their greatcoats in oil and set them on fire. There were speeches by Gen Damjanovic, Vojvoda Djujic and Vojvoda Jevdjevic.

At first the British were alarmed because they didn’t understand what was happening. Once the situation was explained to them they calmed down.

July 26

The Dinarska division celebrated its first birthday today — it is a year since the first rifles spoke out in Tromedje against the Ustasa-fascist blasphemy.

Events began at 7am when Gen Damjanovic held an inspection. A memorial service followed and then we cut the cake. There was a speech by Father Ilija Bulovan, who explained the meaning of a holy slava.

He was followed by Vojvoda Djujic, who reminded the men of the reason for the uprising. He paid special tribute to the Bosnian corps, which had suffered the most casualties. He also spoke of his brothers who had been killed.

Using well-chosen words, Gen Damjanovic pointed out the division’s many achievements and wished them a happy slava.

At the end, and in a speech that came from the heart, Vojvoda Jevdjevic told the story of Djujic and the Dinarska division, and explained the political situation. After the speeches, there was a parade.

We are waiting for the result of the British general election. As I write these notes, at 2.30pm, news is coming through that the Labour Party, led by Attlee, has won. We find this a little worrying but remain hopeful.

July 30

The camp was visited by Dr Zivko Topalovic⁴¹, who gave some explanation as to our situation. Djujic and Jevdjevic are inconsistent. They are only concerned with power and self-interest.

August 10

Went to see Dr Danilovic. He examined me and found that I have bronchitis and inflammation of the heart muscle.

August 19

I set off for Livorno at 9.30am to fetch 900 pairs of boots from an American army depot. I travelled in a British truck and besides the driver there was a sergeant and two soldiers. Our route was Cesena, Forli, Rocca San Casciano, Scarperia, Fiesole, Florence, San Miniato, Pontedera and Livorno.

After travelling along flat land we arrived in the Montone (Montigafa?) valley. Where the road became narrower and steeper, and started to meander. We came out at the Muraglione Pass, 907m above sea level. From here the land falls steeply to the west. From San Romano the road is better and you can see the sea around Livorno.

Florence is a beautiful city, as is Livorno. I didn’t have time to look round and only saw the areas we passed through. The ravages of war are apparent. We visited depot A3L52.

August 20

We took the boots and returned to Cesena by the same route. The US depot was halfway along the road to Pisa. It is about 5 to 6km long and on both sides of the road. There are vast amounts of supplies, all brought in by the Americans. I believe they’ve been selling some of the stuff. Apparently they’ve divided everything up into blocks which are being sold off very cheaply.

September 1

It is 11 days since Vojvoda Jevdjevic was taken away and this morning Gen Damjanovic was told he must go to the British high command. There was a lot of unrest when this became known around the camp. The men decided the general mustn’t be allowed to depart.

When the camp commandant, a British major, went to the general’s tent and asked him to leave, he agreed. However, as soon as the major had gone, Capt Sreta Jovanovic blocked Damjanovic’s path.

The British major announced that if the general did not go with him he would use force. Machine guns were set up around us, and we even saw a mortar. This failed to worry our men who remained calm. Two or three moved closer to the machine guns, ready to throw themselves on to them if they opened fire. One Cetnik told me the men had set up their own machine guns in the tents. Despite all the searches, we had still managed to smuggle in weapons.

When the major said he would open fire if the men did not move, the general replied: “You can fire at me first, then my soldiers.” The major realised his threats were futile, ordered his men to stand down, and had the machine guns removed.

The major then got into a jeep and went to Forli to see the zone commander. He returned with him at noon. After a short meeting with the general and other officers the men were ordered to gather round the stage to hear some important news.

A British colonel appeared on stage with Gen Damjanovic. As soon as the general was spotted a spontaneous ovation broke out and he was cheered to the echo. When the noise finally subsided the colonel told the men that Damjanovic was wanted by Field Marshal Alexander to discuss the transfer of our camp to southern Italy. He gave his word of honour that nothing would happen to the general, and that he would be returned to us safe and well.

The men wouldn’t have it. They shouted that they would rather spend the winter in the mud of Cesena than give up the general. However, Damjanovic said he was willing to meet Alexander and that he expected them, as good soldiers, to co-operate. Upon hearing this, the men agreed to let him leave.

Damjanovic then returned to his tent where he had a change of heart. It seems this was brought about either by his friend, Mrs Vaska Djuranovic, or by his orderly officer Lt Dusan Varijaski.

The general asked for a medical examination. When this became known the commanders convened a conference without him at which it was it was resolved that he must be told to go to see Alexander. This resolution was put to him at 11pm and he eventually gave in. However, he said he could not leave before 9am the following day.

As a protest we had refused to accept food, and we did not eat until 3pm when the general finally agreed to go.

With us in the camp was an Italian officer — Grignoli. He visited me and told me that until today he had been Cetnik Grignoli but from now on was a colonel in the Royal Italian Army attached to Gen

Damjanovic’s HQ. It is surely at the behest of the Italian government that he wants to negotiate with the Royal Yugoslav Army. This proposal was brought to us by an Italian major called Marusic.

We have received two letters from Vojvoda Jevdjevic, who is in prison in Trieste with Gen Musicki. We have also had a letter from Bishop Irinej who has told us our plight has been brought to the attention of the United Nations Relief and Rehabilitation Administration (UNRRA).

September 2

At 8am this morning Gen Damjanovic left the camp with Mrs Djuranovic and Lt Varijaski. The commander of the Croat army, Gen Matija Parac, is standing in for him.

Damjanovic went to Florence by car, and from there by plane. Lt Milan Cveticanin tracked the car from a distance and told us what happened.

September 6

King Peter’s birthday. Minister Krek⁴² visited the camp and Gen Damjanovic returned about 5pm. He was given a rousing welcome.

A football match was organised with the British but it had to be called off because of bad weather. In the evening a gala show was held in honour of the day. There were speeches, poems, songs, a sketch depicting the third uprising of Svetislav Petrovic, and a dramatic depiction of life in our homeland under Tito. Minister Krek was present.

September 7

At a commanders’ conference, Gen Damjanovic told us that on reaching Florence he had flown to Naples where he was welcomed by two colonels, one British and one American, He was given a warm welcome and taken to stay in Gen Kreipe’s?? villa.

He took part in talks with the chief of staff for the third district, and with Field Marshal Alexander’s assistant, Gen Macleod. The conference made 22 resolutions.

It was decided that the camp would be transferred to the British artillery school at Eboli, and some people to the Padula monastery about 70km away. The camp at Eboli is spacious and food and accommodation will be much better. Security will be left to us and, to that end, a gendarmerie will be formed under the command of Major Djacic.

Major Slavko Andre and Major Milan Grozdanic visited the camp. Later, I went to Forli.

September 8

Spent my time organising the move to Eboli. Col Brana Zivkovic is in charge but I have been appointed commander of the camp at Cesena. It is my job to make sure all the men are moved. I’ll leave with the final column.

September 9

The first men left for Eboli at 1.30am. They travelled by road to Rimini and then by rail. They were searched before they left.

September 10

Today I visited Porto San Giorgio with Major Petko Lakovic and Lt Djokic. We visited the Poles who had been with the Cetniks and then rejoined their own forces on arriving in Italy. We travelled about 326km in total.

September 12

Lt Strahinja Krstanovic has committed suicide. He was very depressed after hearing that the Ustase had killed his father at the doors to the Orthodox church in Sibenik. He was buried today at 3pm in the military cemetery in Battipaglia.

September 13

Another meeting with Gen Damjanovic about the move to Eboli. Transport has been organised as follows: the first group to move will comprise 1,000 men made up of 580 from the Dinarska division, 100 from the Croat army, 200 from Vojvoda Jevdjevic’s Lika regiment, and 120 from the Drina regiment. They will be under the command of Major Stanko Pavicevic. They will go by road to Rimini and then by train, leaving at 10.10am. They should reach Iesi by 16.29, Foligno 22.12, Rome 07.00, Rocca Secca 14.30, Caserta 21.20 and reach Eboli by 04.30 on September 17.

September 14

The plans have been changed. Only 982 men will now travel from Cesena. The remaining 18, made up of doctors and medics, will go from Forli. They leave tomorrow at 7am, departing Rimini at 10.18am.

I have found out from Obren Dobrota that my parents are safe and well and living in Skradin.

September 15

The first troops have left. During the searches one of our soldiers was found to be carrying a weapon.

September 16

The second group of troops left today under the command of Major Milivoje Vuksanovic. I was horrified to find out that the British had brought three Italian women to search our women. I immediately went to see the British commander and told him that the Italians are our enemies, and that during the occupation the husbands and sons of those Italian women had been killing the Yugoslav women they were now expected to search. I let him know we were deeply offended and asked him to use Polish women instead. During the searches they took a pair of binoculars from a soldier but returned them after I protested.

September 22

Today I saw off the eighth transport group. I travelled in the same motorised column as Gen Damjanovic, Gen Djukic, Gen Voja Kuzmanovic and others. I was in the same car as Gen Kuzmanovic which was driven by Lt Milan Cveticanin. We left at 7.30am.

We went from Cesena to Savignano, and then to Rimini where we took on fuel. Then we went to Riccione, Cattolica, Pesaro, Senigallia, Chiaravalle, Iesi to Fabriano, where we spent the night in the customs barracks. We travelled 98km.

September 23

Today we continued to Foligno and Spoleto to Terni where we spent the night in a fine villa belonging to Baron A Trocchi. We travelled 187km. The villa is in a park which used to have many statues and vases. It’s empty now. A local told me the Germans had stripped it bare.

September 24

After leaving at 7.40am we travelled via Pian Paradiso, Rome, Labico, Valmontone, Frosinone, Cassino and Vaima? 245km.

In Rome we refuelled and, as one of the Sumadija division’s cars broke down, I had to stay to make sure it was repaired. I found a huge garage called the Casa del’Automobile on Piazza Verdi. Returning, we went along the Piazza Venezia and I saw the Colosseum and St Peter’s Basilica. The city is largely in ruins.

September 25

We left at 7.30am. The weather was poor — wet. Our route was Vaima, Capua, Aversa, Naples, Pontemi?, Nocera, Cava de Tirreni, Salerno, Battipaglia to Eboli, where we arrived at 4pm. Today we travelled 229km, and from Cesena we have travelled 750km.

In Pontemi we ate at the British camp and had a British escort taking care of us to make sure we had somewhere to sleep and enough food and fuel. I saw Naples but only briefly. The surroundings are lush and beautiful. We entered Naples along a coast road from which we could see the Tyrrhenian Sea. The road was beautiful but I particularly noticed a railway line which ran above the road by means of a viaduct.

At Eboli my quarters were ready for me — hut no 20, where I am sharing a room with Lt Col Branko Malesevic. I have a bed, a bedside cabinet and a box. There is a table and two chairs.

September 26

My first impressions of the camp are good. There is more room to breathe. It’s large and bounded by olive trees and orange trees. It’s about 900m above sea level and you can see Eboli in the distance.

Royal Yugoslav Army troops at Eboli Camp

The accommodation is varied — huts and tents. There are kitchens, two sets of baths, two cinemas, a boxing ring, football pitch, electric light and running water.

My hut is divided into three sections. The first is for orderlies, the second for Col Brana Zivkovic, and the third for Malesevic and myself.

The food is better and tastier. Instead of biscuits we now get bread — 300g per person per day.

September 27

Today I drew up a rota for administering the camp. It is divided into six areas. Area I’s commander is Major Laza Janjic, II Bosko Nedic, III Lt Col Luka Lukic, IV Lt Col Sergije Zivanovic, V Major Laza Petrovic, VI Capt Alojz Klemencic. I am against assistant to the camp commander.

September 28

There was unrest in the Sumadija division because nearly all the troops belonging to the Serbian Shock Corps left to join the Drina regiment — about 800. An acceptable compromise was found.

October 2

Corvette Capt Jakov Jovovic visited the camp. He was sent to Italy in March, 1944, with Dusan Vlahovic, as one of Cica’s delegates at the negotiations with the British and Americans. As I understand it, Tito told informed the British command that the two were under German orders.

As soon as they arrived in Italy they came upon the Americans, who gave them a good welcome. While they were eating an evening meal an English officer turned up and asked that Jovovic go with him. Jovovic refused. The Englishman then told him he must on no account leave the building which was under surveillance all night long. The following day, the Americans seized the opportunity to get the two men out of the building and take them to Bari.

In between times, the British police caught them up, and after an argument with the Americans, took Jovovic and Vlahovic to Bari where they were put in prison and interrogated for almost a full day. They were placed under pressure to say they had come under German orders and that Cica was in contact with the Germans. Some of Tito’s officers took part in the interrogation, but wearing British uniforms.

Among the many jobs we are having to undertake to reorganise our forces, there are conferences at which the Volunteers, with the support of Vojvoda Djujic, are leading a campaign against the regular officers. Brana Zivkovic was very preoccupied because of a statement by Bosko Kostic, Ljotic’s secretary, which demanded that the regular officers be taken to a separate camp.

We came across a writ from Engineer Vasiljevic intended for the Volunteers’ education staff which gave instructions for their work. It showed them to be the chief opponents of the Serbian Shock Corps and JURAO — the Yugoslav Ravna Gora Youth (Jugoslovenska Ravnogorska Omladina).

October 4

Gen Damjanovic spoke to our forces today, stressing the need for work and order.

October 5

A year since I left Belgrade and there’s no prospect of being able to return. It looks like it’s going to be a very long, drawn-out affair.

In the camp, disputes are breaking out. The bitterness over jobs, positions and money cannot be described.

Regarding the reorganisation, I have compiled a report asking that we form an artillery unit which could be the nucleus for a future artillery force.

The weather’s got colder.

October 8

I’ve been ordered to take command of the commission charged with procurement for the camp canteens. From today I’ve got to go with them when they go find supplies.

October 9

To mark the eleventh anniversary of the tragic death of our great King Alexander Karadjordjevic, the unifier, we held a memorial service. All our units were formed up on the practice ground. There were two altars — one for us Orthodox men, with seven priests and three deacons, and one for the Catholics with a single priest. Speeches were given by reserve Lt Col Andrija Jevremovic and reserve Capt Banic. A priest gave a very poignant speech, and then at the end we heard from Gen Damjanovic.

There were several solemn songs and the band played a symphony.

October 11

People fleeing Yugoslavia keep arriving at the camp with horrific stories of communist rule. Tito’s government is breaking up and Subasic⁴³ has resigned. It all works to the benefit of the communist dictatorship which Cica fought to prevent.

Today I received a visit from Italian general Giuseppe di Francesca, Mme Margarita, from Naples — Via Atrizi No 46. She expressed a desire to find work for some of our girls and young women. I promised to give her all the help I could.

October 12

Today I received the priest from the Church of St Nicholas in Eboli, Enrico Nostrangelo. He asked if our band would take part in the celebrations for Our Lady of Carmel on October 21-22. I consented from our point of view but added that the matter would have to be referred to the British.

October 14

This afternoon there was a football match between us and the Italians on their pitch. Our band went along too. We won 2-1. The Italians looked after us well. Later there was a performance in our theatre that went very well.

Col Brana Pantic of the general staff has arrived from Germany.

The bread is inedible so we’ve had to do without.

October 15

Our band has been to Caserta at the invitation of the British Mediterranean command. They’ll be staying ten days.

October 16

I’ve had a visit from Col T Grignoli, former intelligence chief for the 2nd Italian Army in Split. After the Italian surrender he went over to the Cetniks. At the end of April, 1945, he was sent to the Allies as one of Gen Damjanovic’s representatives.

In Venice he met two Italian officers who asked if he would like them to put him in contact with the British or the Americans. He said he preferred the Americans and a telegram was immediately sent to Gen Mark Clark, head of the US 5th Army. He said he would accept Grignoli as a friend, but first he would have to prove that he really was a representative of Gen Damjanovic.

As a former Italian general was prepared to vouch for Grignoli, some more telegrams were sent, and because of this the British became aware of his arrival. They told him weren’t prepared to allow anything that would disrupt their good relations with Tito. However, if they got to Trieste before Tito, things would be different.

When it was learned that our forces were in Palmanova, the British told him that if we were willing, they would repatriate us to Yugoslavia — disarmed. Grignoli suggested they sent us to Montenegro but the British disagreed. He told them they would be shocked by the way things would turn out but they insisted Tito would be true to his word.

Later, when Field Marshal Alexander likened Tito to Hitler and Mussolini, it became clear that the British had allowed themselves to be misled.

October 17

Tomica Ivancevic, who left the camp with 60 men from Lika, has been captured in Salerno and sent back.

The bread games continue. The British have decided that the bread we had refused could be sold to the Italians for seven lira a kilogram. But the Italians started selling it back to our people for 40 to 60 lira. When the British found out they stopped the sale and their colonel began to personally share out the bread among our soldiers.

The Slovenians and members of the Drina and Sumadija divisions refused it but the men of the Dinarska division gladly accepted it and tucked in as though they had never seen bread before. Then Capt Grujin of the Sumadija division appeared. He said the communists were responsible for the poor quality of the bread and blamed it all on the British authorities.

Meanwhile a group broke into the stores and seized what bread was left. The result is a lot of rumbling stomachs.

October 18

We’ve inspected the camp with the British commandant. In the evening there was a choral competition in which three choirs performed: the Dinarska Cetnik division, the Sumadija division and the Slovene army. The programme was exquisite and it very difficult to decide which was best. We heard the following pieces: The Lord’s Prayer, “12 Robbers”, “My Damascus Sword”, “Fall Brothers”, St Sava’s Hymn, and “The Adriatic Sea”.

We tried to distinguish between the choirs in terms of applause but it was impossible and the prizes were divided among them.

October 19

About 5pm Vojvoda Djujic turned up at camp command and asked to see Col Zivkovic. Brana wasn’t there so Djujic left a letter stating: “I am leaving the camp with those who are celebrating. I ask you to go to the general and to tell him in my name that if the Lika question is not removed from the agenda today and does not call to account Jovo Stanisavljevic and Tomica Ivancevic (on threat of being lowered in rank) and instruct them to carry out orders, a new situation will prevail in our camp tomorrow, affecting many families.”

This letter came as a consequence of the crisis within the Lika corps because of reorganisation. Stanisavljevic and Ivancevic had asked that the Lika men be put in a new unit outside Djujic’s control. They did not want to be under his command.

October 24

Two orders have been issued to our forces in Italy appertaining to court service in camps.

Tonight Father Djujic held a meeting with priests and intellectuals about replacing Gen Damjanovic and declaring him a communist because of the influence of Mrs Vaska Djurovic. The only person to vote in favour of the proposal was Father Ilija Bulovan, a well-known signatory to the declaration priests of the Dalmatian eparchy had issued against the Cetniks at the request of the communists.

Capt Ferdo Vagajic told me that Mrs Djurovic had been removed from the camp under the orders of Lt Col Zika Andric.

Our intelligence officers tell us that ten Volunteers have fled to Bari where they have made contact with the Partisans and given them a plan of the camp and details of where Gen Damjanovic, Vojvoda Djujic and other commanders are quartered. We have asked the British to make sure these men are captured and returned to the camp so that we can take the appropriate measures.

October 25

The camp has been visited by Capt Petar Mihailovic, my classmate from the higher school of the military academy, and Major Bosko Petricevic, a classmate from the lower school. Sadly I couldn’t see them because I was busy and they needed to return to Naples quickly.

We were informed we were going to get some clothing from the British which would have YRA (Yugoslav Royal Army) on the back instead of the sleeve. We declined it and the British agreed.

American Serbs have sent 200 crates of various equipment for our camp which have arrived in Castellammare.

October 26

Col Brana Pantic gave a presentation entitled “How much longer we have to wait and why”. It lasted about 90 minutes and was very interesting

October 27

St Peter’s Day, the holy slava of my comrade and good friend Dr Zika Milovanovic, who, as a result of doing his duty, left his earthly remains in Vienna, in a foreign land. He ended his life far from his beloved hometown of Kragujevac. I’ve been thinking about him a lot today and praying for his martyred soul. May God have mercy on him. He died while Vienna was being bombed.

The camp has been visited by Capt Acin, son of Col Kosta Acin, who was commander of the Sinj military district in 1925. He told me that in May he’d managed to get out of Serbia and into Greece. The Greeks had looked after him well. When he found out that the Royal Yugoslav Army was still in existence in Italy he asked to be sent over. When he arrived in Bari, he and his group were treated as prisoners of war and were put in the same camp as the Germans and Ustase. He had come to ask Gen Damjanovic’s in getting everyone transferred to Eboli.

My classmate Major Mile Kapetanovic told me in confidence that Djujic was preparing to ask the British to let him and his followers leave Eboli and to be independent and free of the supreme command.

October 28

Speaking to Vojina Malesevic and Judge Kulisic I’ve found out how much Djujic has changed in terms of his intentions and beliefs, and because of that wants to liquidate Gen Damjanovic. Also playing a poisonous role is Gen Djukic who likes to flatter Djujic. It also looks like Djujic has the support of generals Andrej and Parac, although this has to be confirmed.

An art club and library has opened under the name “Povlen” under the charge of Major Laza Janjic. The programme was nice, but the Volunteers have exploited it all for their own purposes, as they always do whenever given the chance. In the afternoon the Sumadija division played the Dinarska division at football. The result was a 1-1 draw.

I joined Major Milos Kapetanovic for dinner at Mrs Nada Stanic’s home in the camp annexe.

October 29

As a member of the commission for procuring office supplies I’ve been to Naples. Accompanying me were Capt Bogdan Drobac, Lt Miki Ilic and a British soldier. After finishing our work we visited Pompeii where we had dinner. Afterwards we took a look at the ruins. Admission was ten lira and it was 100 lira for a guide.

About 9.30pm I was woken by a loud knocking at the door. It was the head of the gendarmerie, Major Djacic. He told me that Lt Antic from the Sumadija division had been found stabbed to death in the Drina division’s area. We launched an immediate investigation.

The situation in the camp is very unsettled. The investigation into Lt Antic’s death went on through the night. Gen Damjanovic went to the Sumadija division’s HQ where Ratko Parezanin set upon him saying: “You’ve divided our division (because the Serbian Shock Corps men had been separated). Can you guarantee our safety? Have you also been to the Drina division?”

Gen Damjanovic responded perfectly. He asked that the Drina regiment be moved from the main camp to the annexe, and that the Croat army move from the annexe to the main camp at Eboli. The British agreed and the swap took place in the afternoon.

Intelligence told me of a woman who works in the offices of the Italian police in Battipaglia. Her mission is to smash our camp. It seems she has somebody called Sorgo helping her and Vasilijevic from the Sumadija division. Another two men from the division are wearing Italian police uniforms and they’ve recruited some of our Cetniks. They’re being regularly visited by a Montenegrin quartermaster major.

I asked Mrs Stanic to confirm these claims so that we might work out what we need to do.

October 31

At 7pm we had a meeting attended by Gen Damjanovic; his chief of staff, Lt Col Z Andric; Gen S Djukic; Gen Jonic’ Gen Kuzmanovic; Gen Andrej; Gen Parac; Col Brana Zivkovic; sanitation head, Dr S Ivanic; hospital administrator, Dr Pavlovic; the commanding officer of the Sumadija division, Lt Col Lukic; Vojvoda Djujic and his chief of staff, Major M Kapetanovic; Lt Col S Zivanovic; Major Petko Lakovic; head of the courts service, Lt Col Zivanovic; Lt Col Bosko Nedic; Major M Pavicevic; the grammar school headmaster, Prof Dragosavljevic; Bosko Kostic and Ratko Parezanin.

The conference lasted 24 hours and it was resolved to separate all those men who “stood out”. The Vienna corps was also discussed — that’s the name Vojvoda Djujic had given to the Serbian Shock Corps. Djujic was answered by Col Brana Zivkovic, even though Gen Borivoje Jonic was present. Col Zivkovic explained the work of the shock corps and the reasons why it had ended up in Vienna. He asked for the unreliable commanders in the Drina regiment to be replaced.

November 1

The funeral of Lt Dusan Antic took place today. Afterwards the cortege went through the camp to the gates where the coffin containing his remains was put on a lorry and driven to the cemetery. There were no eulogies but Father Prostran said: “As the oldest priest I ought to speak but my conscience prevents me. This is a day for Serb shame and for that reason I’m staying quiet.”

Our football team played the Italian Libertas club from Salerno and lost 3-1.

In the evening the Slovenians put on a mystic play at the theatre “The Dance of Death in 11 Pictures”.

November 2

Gen Damjanovic was summoned to Caserta. He returned at 10pm. I don’t know what it was about or why he had to go so quickly.

November 3

I’ve been to Naples to depot 1,952 in a derelict church in the Piazza Gepolamini. On the way back to Eboli I visited the Church of Our Lady of Pompeii. Construction started in 1876 but the church wasn’t completed until 1939 — a full 63 years.

November 4

We held a memorial for those who fell in the fighting on the River Soca. The programme was brief but very touching. There were various songs, recitations and a scenic picture. The outcome of the fighting on the Soca in May, 1945, is life in a foreign land without a home, without family, and without a fatherland.

As there’s been an outbreak of measles in the camp I’ve been inoculated.

November 5

I’ve been to Naples and brought back another 60 crates that have been sent to us from America.

November 6

I’ve brought back another 60 boxes from Naples. I took the chance to visit the church and museum at Pepei (Pompeii?). Indescribably well-off thanks to presents from soldiers. There’s an orphanage next door. The classrooms are very clean with modern equipment.

I’ve received a present from Major Dragisa Jeftic: a towel, soap, toothpaste and some shoe polish.

November 7

The English have given Gen Damjanovic a British flag as a mark of recognition and advised that we’ll soon get the first items of uniform for our men. Mr Vurdelj visited the camp.

November 8

3,000 pieces of clothing have arrived. News has arrived that Gen Djura Dokic has been arrested in Rome.

November 10

As recognition of the improvement in relations among the various groups in the camp we had a social evening. Gen Damjanovic opened the speeches followed by Minister Krek (who arrived yesterday), Father Prostran and Ratko Parezanin.

In a long speech, Krek looked at political developments and what was happening in Yugoslavia. He finished with a few words about our situation and urged unity. The other speakers struck a similar theme.

We’ve set up an academic club called Ravna Gora. Its purpose is to gather together all the students in the camp — around 350 — in one club outside the homeland.

I attended a comrades’ supper at the high command.

November 13

Dr (Zivko) Topalovic and his wife have arrived at the camp with Miss Young.

November 14

Dr Topalovic talked about our status and the way international events are unfolding. He gave three presentations: in the morning he spoke to senior commanders, and in the afternoon for other commanders and for the remaining men. An evening of Serbian folklore was organised in his honour at the theatre. It went very well indeed.

In the morning I attended the slava of saints Kuzman and Damjan. There were about 50 people celebrating and they gathered in the Christian community hall. At their head was my classmate artillery Lt Col Milorad Milisavljevic. The religious ceremony was led by three priests and a deacon.

Afterwards I went to annexe 1 to wish a happy slava to Capt Djordje Karakusevic.

November 16

The weather’s poor. At 11am we had the cutting of the slava cake. I had dinner with Sgt Miskovic and then visited Lt Miomir Ilic.

November 17

Miss Zivka Jakovljevic has arrived from Serbia. She was born in 1925 and worked as a post office clerk in the village of Lozovik near Smederevo. She’s related to Col Brana Zivkovic.

November 18

The camp has been visited by Lt Col Sinisa Pazarevac and Major Ljubisa Mikic.

November 19

Sinisa Pazarevac came to see me. He’s a classmate from the higher school of the military academy. I worked with him while I was commander of the Serbian State Guard’s Morava district. We exchanged memories of days gone-by. He showed me pictures of our people in camps in Germany. They were all wearing new British uniforms.

He assured me that things would go well for us and in the near future white eagles would be in full flight over Yugoslavia.

Our meeting was heartfelt and warm.

Our room has received a cupboard (chest of drawers?) and a small stove. I’ve already sorted out a drawer and my possessions are no longer spread across various boxes.

Before noon I spoke with Mrs Jeftic, who has arrived from Belgrade (27 Risticeva Ulica). She told me about the dreadful conditions in the city.

November 20

UNRRA (UN Relief and Rehabilitation Administration) officials have arrived. They wanted lists of civilians for the distribution of relief.

November 21

Arandjelovdan (Archangel Michael’s Day). We have about 1,300 people in camp celebrating the day as their slava. The cutting of the cake took place in the hall of the HZMLj (YMCA). The rites were attended by British Capt Johnson and another officer. A little later the Bishop of Gibraltar (Harold Buxton) came in with a colonel whose surname, I think, was Gede.

The Bishop gave a short speech and among other things told us the Anglican church was following our experiences and felt for us. He said that he’s spent a full two hours talking to our patriarch in Rome and that he was proud to wear the Order of St Sava which was conferred upon him by our king.

In the afternoon I gave my best wishes to people celebrating the slava, starting with Col Zivkovic.

November 25

There was a memorial service for the men who died in the fighting through Sandzak and Bosnia. It took place at 9.30am in the camp chapel of the Dinarska Cetnik division. The service was taken by four priests led by Father Zelic. The responses to the litany were given by the division’s choir, conducted by Father Dobrota.

At 10am there was a memorial event in the theatre. Gen Jonic and Major Milos Pavicevic spoke.

In the afternoon I congratulated Dranginja Saric on her wedding.

Order VK 513/45 regulated the wearing of Ravna Gora insignia. It supersedes all other badges, which are to be removed.

The Ravnogorksi military badge stands for the struggle of the Ravna Gora movement under the leadership of Gen Dragoljub “Draza” Mihailovic — Cica — for our faith, king and homeland.

The badge is triangular, which signifies the three peoples of Yugoslavia: Serbs, Croats and Slovenes in their common fight. Battle is signified by the sword, faith by the cross, the king by his cipher, the homeland by the double-headed white eagle whose shape can be seen by the beaks at either side of the Cyrillic letter P, the wings are at either side, and the claws at the sides of the Cyrillic letter D. The skull is the symbol beneath which the Ravna Gora movement began and carried on its struggle under the motto “sloboda ili smrt” (liberty or death). The olive branch stands for peace, tolerance and the brotherly stretching out of the hand to all Yugoslavs. Despite all that has happened, these are the ideals for which Yugoslavia stands. The letters DM are the initials of Gen Draza Mihailovic. The badge measures 4.5cm from the tip of the sword. The baseline is 3.5cm.

The crest was adopted on July 14, 1944. There was only one in the homeland, drawn on a tobacco box which Cica gave to US Col McDowell who was organising the extraction of airmen from the aerodrome at Pranjanje in Serbia.

Gen Damjanovic, in his role as Gen Mihailovic’s deputy, and as commander of the remaining parts of the supreme command, ordered that the badge be adopted by all those who are part of the national Ravna Gora movement in exile. Every badge has a number and for the Croat and Slovene forces the letter P was Latin rather than in Cyrillic. The badge is to be worn on the left breast, in the middle of the pocket.

The design was drawn up by engineer Nikola Stankovic from Valjevo in association with Gen Mihailovic. It replaced the original badge, an oak leaf with the letter P.

November 27

Gen Damjanovic has left for a tour of our camps in Italy. Gen Sveta Djukic is standing in for him while he’s away.

November 28.

Another murder. We’ve buried Zivoslav Nikolic from Dobrica village. He was born in 1912. He was killed by his comrades in the Drina regiment.

November 30

We heard the king’s announcement which has lifted our morale. However, the news that the British government is going to recognise Tito’s regime has greatly disappointed us.

December 1

The anniversary of the unification of the Kingdom of Yugoslavia. It was celebrated very solemnly. At 8.30am all the troops paraded on the exercise ground and two altars were set up for Orthodox and Catholic services. Afterwards, Gen Djukic gave a speech about the day’s meaning and about our struggle. The troops then marched with their commanders to the sound of our parade march. There was unbridled delight among the children.

At 11am Dr Djoka Slijepcevic gave a presentation about unification day, and after him Major Milos Mar Pavicevic read the words of our new Ravna Gora march following which the band played it.

At 6pm there was a solemn academy and at 8pm a friends’ evening.

December 2

Gen Damjanovic gathered together the commanders and gave them his thoughts about the camps he had visited. Gen Cripps, CO of the 56th zone, had promised him that supplies would arrive quickly and we were told 12,000 blankets and items of clothing were on their way.

He told us he had received instructions from Cica to remain as commander until the king ordered otherwise. London had told him to maintain order and discipline and to eliminate trouble-causers.

December 3

The Italian newspapers are saying Tito has offered the king £10,000 to renounce the throne and his leadership of the reactionaries in exile.

December 6

Col Brana Zivkovic has told me that Col Brana Pantic is collaborating with Djujic against Gen Damjanovic. They want to form a Serb Army with Djujic as its head and Pantic as his second-in-command.

December 8

Col Brana Zivkovic, Col Andra Bozanovic and Jasa Ljotic have agreed to try to reconcile Ljotic and Gen Damjanovic.

December 9

The attempts at reconciliation are proving very difficult because, sadly, Djujic is very stubborn.

December 11

We now have in camp 150 men who were captured in Italy. Milan Markovic of the Sumadija division has died of tuberculosis.

December 12

Another 120 men have arrived. They have come from Grumo near Bari. Among them was a good friend of mine, Mr Grubovic, the station master from Cuprija. I had a chat with him but he was unable to tell me much because it’s a long time since he left Cuprija.

The 54th class of the lower military academy — 19 men — are holding a friends’ evening.

I’ve been to the commission in Salerno. At night we put on a Serb folklore evening for the British. It went very well indeed. We opened with God Save the King, put on some kolos (reels), played some of our melodies and finished with a British march. The whole thing took about two hours.

December 17

Last night there was a fire in the family camp. The canteen and first-aid post burned down.

There was a memorial service for the Cetniks of the Dinarska Cetnik division who were wounded and taken to hospital where they were murdered by the Ustase. The atmosphere was full of grief and you could hear the quiet sobbing of the mothers and sisters of the dead. Even the men were weeping. Father Zelic took the service with two deacons. He then gave a closing speech.

December 19

St Nicholas Day — my holy slava⁴⁴. I celebrated with my good friends Lt Col Branko Malesevic, Major Dragisa Jeftic, Major Zika Ivanovic, Capt Stojan “Stole” Mihailovic, Capt Prokic and my relative Branko Pavasovic.

The zito⁴⁵ and cake were prepared by Branko’s kuma Mrs Zarkovic. The cutting of the cake and religious rites were taken by Father Mladen Gasic. We did this at 9am in the room I share with Branko.

At 10am we went together to Salerno where Vasa Miljus had reserved a table at the Zia Terese restaurant. We stayed there till 6pm. When we got back to the camp we continued the slava in our room until 11pm.

We weren’t in the real slava mood. Someone would occasionally sing but the song would come across as more of a dirge. Our thoughts were concentrated on the mountains and rivers in our beloved homeland and at our hearths with our nearest and dearest. All the greetings came with the rider: “May God grant that next year we are back in a free homeland.” These words soothed the heart and fuelled our hopes for a swift return home.

It was then that the eternal homeland appeared in the subconscious, full of flowers, and with violins supplying the joyful sounds of a happy slava, where love and peace come together in a dance involving all the people.

It all conjured memories of old slavas that were full of happiness. Today that is just a dream and a desire.

December 23

The news is very disheartening. The US government has recognised Tito and his regime. They’ve rejected our king. We’re all asking ourselves if it can really be true. It means our hopes of returning to a liberated homeland are dashed. The only thing we can conclude is that we’re now eternal exiles.

It’s made me think about the Russians who came to Yugoslavia after the 1917 October revolution. My good friend, air force officer Alexei Nagorov, the son of a Russian émigré, has suggested that their fate may await us because there’ll be a revolution for us. I looked at him and expressed my surprise while refusing to accept that possibility. Sadly, his prediction has come true.

December 24

I accompanied Col Brana Zivkovic on a visit to the Croat army to wish them a happy Christmas Eve. Gen Matija Parac invited us to stay for supper. The celebrations began when the general lit the Christmas candle. The hall was nicely decorated. We were given cognac, consommé, risotto with salted anchovies, fruit and wine. Before the meal started the band of the Dinarska division played grace and during the meal lifted the atmosphere by playing folk songs.

Afterwards we visited the Slovenians. They put on an excellent show in the theatre. It was both sacred and serious.  When the curtain was raised we saw the crib, Jesus, Mary and St Joseph. Then, from behind the scenes, came a voice describing the conditions under which we celebrate Christmas today. Then we saw a blind man and his son. The blind man had had his eyes gouged out by the Partisans who also killed his daughter.

Then there was a woman in black whose husband had been killed by the Partisans, and finally a woman whose son was killed by the Titoists. At the end we saw three soldiers — a Serb, a Croat and a Slovene — all vowing to be united, and praying to the young King Jesus Christ to help them and to liberate their homeland. Mary then told us that Golgotha awaited her son, after which Jesus blessed all present.

These events all took place in the camp of warriors for faith, freedom and fatherland, around whom there is barbed wire to prevent their escape because they’re wanted by that warrior against God and eternal values, the communist Tito.

While this was happening in the camp, over the wire in the town of Eboli, people were celebrating in full freedom. Those people who had until yesterday been our enemies were celebrating Christ’s birth by lighting fireworks and ringing bells. It made me think of our enslaved homeland. Will our national soul survive?

December 25

I spent today as follows: in the office, then from 11 to noon at a football match between two English clubs. I had dinner with my relative Anka Rajnovic. Even though her husband, Nikola, is Orthodox, she celebrated her own female Christmas.

I was back in the office from 4 to 5pm and then went to my room to continue work on my history of the Serbian Shock Corps. About 6pm I went to visit Capt Stole Mihailovic, Vasa Miljus and Zika Mladenovic. We played Preferans⁴⁶. Malesevic returned from the Croats and Slovenes at about 7.30pm. He was a little tipsy and had a bottle of brandy which we drank to drown our worries. Then Major Stevan Djacic, Major Mile Jonic, Capt Dragan Vujic and Capt Jovanovic came to see us and stayed till about 10pm.

From today we’ve got British officers and NCOs as staff liaison. I have to say I’m not sure about this but . . .

December 27

I did some work as head of the commission for invalids. We have about 320 invalids of various categories in the camp. In the afternoon I worked on historical matters appertaining to the Serbian Shock Corps between October 5 and December 31, 1944. For tea we had chickpea schnitzels with mashed potato. It was cold, but it wasn’t bad.

In the evening I was visited by Lt Col Milorad Milisavljevic, Major Zivadin Ivanovic, Capt Stole Mihailovic and my fellow Dalmatian Vasa Miljus. We spent our time talking about anything and everything.

December 28

I’ve been reading newspaper articles about what the Cetniks have been doing in Yugoslavia. It proves they haven’t been destroyed and are still fighting. It made me sad to think I’m not over there with them. Vasa Miljus was a little subdued when he arrived. I asked him what the matter was and he recounted a sad tale. He’d been to Naples with Tojic and they each bought a pair of American trousers for 4,000 lira. When Vasa got back to the camp and opened his parcel he found it contained cabbage leaves. We had a good laugh at that.

There are many stories about our fate circulating in the camp. They’re the result of unfulfilled desires. That’s why I pay them little heed.

December 29

At 3pm I attended a meeting at which among other things we discussed the canteen, invalids and Christmas presents for the children. There were some sharp words between Col Bozanovic and Major Milos Pavicevic, and also between Gen Parac and Col Tkalcevic. Afterwards, Malesevic and I went into the canteen, got a bottle of brandy and invited Major Zika Ivanovic to tea. Cpl Ivko gave us an onion and we ate it with the famous mashed potatoes.

No sooner had we finished the meal than we were visited by the usual company to play preferans and chess. Then Capt Dragan Vujic arrived. He’d been listening to the news and said Voice of America had recommended the US government do whatever it could to curb Soviet influence in the Balkans. Vujic also said a British officer had told him there was fighting between Cetniks and Partisans around Ljubljana. Good news but . . .

I wrote to Major Delibasic in London, asking that he sends me the Rava Gora newsletter, and to Artur Peslac in Trieste to ask him to do his best to make contact with my family.

December 30

Malesevic and I went to the cinema but as the projectionist didn’t turn up we had to go back to our billet. On the way we came across Capt Drobac, Jovo Kec and Vasa Miljus. Kec said Miljus should go and buy some roast meat so that we could all eat together. Barely half an hour had passed and we received 2kg of roast meat, 10 litres of wine, apples and oranges. Then Major Anastasijevic appeared. We sat around at Major Jonic’s place.

December 31

My first visitor, as always, was Major Djacic, commander of the gendarme regiment, who came with news.

I’ve been translating a small brochure “Intermarium” from Italian. It suggests there should be a confederation of states between the Baltic, Black, Aegean and Adriatic seas, hence the name Intermarium⁴⁷ or “between the seas”. I don’t know who the author is but it’s very interesting and I don’t think it’s a bad idea. We would have a strong country which could rival the USSR and save people from the dangers of bolshevism.

About 5pm, I was visited by Judge Niko Rajnovic, husband of my relative Anka. He stayed a short while and left. I planned to rest a little before resuming my translation work but then some more friends came: Zika Ivanovic, Dragisa Jeftic and Stole Mihailovic and a little after them Malesevic’s kum, Zarkovic, who had a full plate of warm Serb-style doughnuts. At Malesevic’s suggestion we played a hand of tablic⁴⁸ (tablanet). Branko and I lost and had to pay for two litres of wine.

I went to visit Major Jonic in a neighbouring billet and found him by the fire, covered with soot. Then the others turned up and we had a bit of a laugh at his expense. When the laughter subsided we sat where we could and after a period of silence started looking back at years-past and settled on 1944.

We remembered Sandjak, Sjenica, Prijepolje, Plevlja, Boljanic, Mtaljke, Cajnice, Gorazde, Renovice, Dzebra, Gradine, Konju Pl and Zavidovici. At about midnight we left. Malesevic went to bed and I stayed up to make this entry in my diary.

The Croats and Slovenes welcomed in the new year in the YMCA. Gen Parac invited Col Zivkovic and myself but we didn’t feel like going.

As I write these notes I can hear the residents of Eboli celebrating. There’s noise, singing, freedom, life and happiness. And us? We’re ground down by miserable fate and are suffering physically and morally.

This time last year we were at the confluence of two Bosnian rivers — the Krivaja and the Bosna, weary, hungry, tattered and with many cases of sickness. Our numbers were heavily reduced because so many of our dear colleagues, heroes and martyrs had fallen to remain forever on the path of suffering. Covered with snow we made our way to the village of Juzunovic to find a roof for our heads and at last a little cover.

The start of 1945 was very difficult for us. We were forced to give up the fight and to go further and further away from our beloved and blood-soaked Serbia, and from our nearest and dearest.

I had various experiences: Zavidovici, Ustase, Vienna, typhus and air raids. Death was in every place and around every corner. We arrived in Postojna, Gorica, the fighting in the Slovenian mountains. Eventually, under pressure from a stronger enemy, we had to retreat across the Soca and into Italy.

We made contact with the Allies. There was joy, relief, expectation, and then Palmanova where we suffered our most miserable day when we were disarmed. I don’t have the words to describe how badly we felt when we had to lay down the arms we had carried with honour. Everyone kissed their weapons. One man committed suicide. That was the thanks we got from the people we had tried to help, for whom we actually took up arms.

Then came the camp at Cesena with its Saharan sand, hard ground, heat, poor food, and poor political situation. It all kills, disquiets and worries.

We’re all suffering. We may have become eternal wanderers. Surely not? Surely we’ll soon make an honourable return home.

The days have passed full of memories, expectations and hopes, but instead of being in our beloved homeland, 1945 finds us in southern Italy, in the land of lemons, oranges, mimosa and olives.

Our grief grows by the day as we remember how things used to be.

The West has become involved in a dangerous game with Tito in which it will be outfoxed. The communists hate the West. There’s a great deal of proof for this. The blind West will realise one day but by then it will be too late. Communist morals are woven from fraud, dishonesty and insincerity.

The West doesn’t understand that our call to arms was for freedom, humanity and democracy.

As I write the light bulb has gone out and with it 1945. We have a new year, 1946. What it will bring us is the big question. Branko, free of worries, is sleeping and snoring while I’m alone with my thoughts, surrounded by pictures of my nearest and dearest, our king and Cica. My thoughts fly homeward, to all the places where my family’s heart beats.

Before going to bed I prayed to the Lord and contritely asked that he fulfil our wishes for 1946, and that we get to go home. I keep hearing: “May God grant that next year we celebrate in a liberated homeland.”

1946

January 1

The camp commander has issued order 809 instructing me to be head of the commission charged with distributing Christmas presents to the children. I spent the whole afternoon with the other commission members opening parcels that had been sent from America — 236 in total. Their contents were chiefly 700 pairs of socks, 800 bars of soap, shaving kit, needles and thread, and children’s caps. From these we assembled 670 presents which will be given to the children on (the Orthodox) Christmas Eve.

A group of officers have arrived from the camp at “Ponga?” Among them were Col Stencl, Col Milan Dj Popovic and Lt Onica.

About 8pm I received a visit from Dr Bulajic, Dr Pavlovic and Dr Zagorka Lazarevic who wanted information about her brother.

I read in the “Glas Zaveznikov” newsletter from December 26, 1945 — no 161, which is published in Trieste, that a people’s court in Ljubljana sentenced many people to death by shooting or hanging, and that among them was Lt Col Ernest Peterlin⁴⁹ on the general staff. I also saw that a Djoka Vujosevic had also received the death penalty. He had been interned by the fascists for 13 months and had spent six months in Dachau.

Before lunch there was a meeting of the camp commanders attended by Gen Damjanovic, Gen Matija Parac, Gen Andrej (Ivan Prezelj), Col Andra Bozanovic, Vojvoda Momcilo Djujic, Gen Brana Zivkovic, Lt Col Sergei Zivanovic, Major Petko Lakovic (reserve), Major Milos Mar Pavicevic and myself.

Gen Damjanovic gave a report about our camps in northern Italy. The proclamation of a Yugoslav republic cannot have a decisive impact on our situation. He said he had spoken to London and had been told things were looking good for us. We should close ranks and prepare for a long stay.

He had information that we would be treated the same way as the Poles. When their regime was recognised the size of the Polish army was increased. I would expect the question of our standing to be a little more delicate as, once peace has been agreed with Italy, we will be dependents of the Italian state. It’s thought it will take another three months for things to get to that point.

Gen Damjanovic had received a document about regulating the status of our prisoners of war in Germany, where they are treated as an allied army at rest. He plans to make a submission in Caserta about our treatment with reference to the document. The general is also going to seek regulation of the relationship between our military and our civilians in Italy.

Lt Col Petar Pavasovic (left) at Eboli Camp

In Rome, Gen Damjanovic spoke to Dr Krek and Dr Topalovic. Krek is a pessimist. Eboli and Jesi are considered to be military camps and will be under the control of our supreme command. The other camps are civilian and will be run by a commission headed by Dr Topalovic.

The general told us about the strange appearance of some of our generals who had been accepted as house guards. He believes that they can no longer be in the ranks of our army. This applies to generals Petar Lazic and Zika Pavlovic.

Gen Damjanovic said the English greeted him with due respect wherever he went.

Fifty officers — prisoners of war — have arrived from Italy. Among them are two of my classmates: majors Petrovic and Lazarevic-Cvarak.

While on his tour, Gen Damjanovic laid a wreath at the Polish cemetery at Monte Cassino. It’s by the monastery and there are 1,100 graves.

January 3

There are 670 children in the camp. The Dinarska Cetnik division put on a play in the theatre “Seoska Lola”. It worked well. In terms of news we’ve heard artillery is pounding Cetnik concentrations south of Belgrade.

January 4

Gen Damjanovic has been summoned to Caserta with all haste.

January 5

I organised the wrapping of presents for the children and we finished at 5pm. In the evening I had a visit from major Milan Grozdanic who has arrived from Austria.

A story from the American newsletter Stars and Stripes of January 1, 1946, under the headline “Mihailovic’s forces gathered for spring”: “Draza Mihailovic, who is still hiding in the Serbian mountains, has a plan to mount a spring rising to topple Tito’s government, writes Arthur Noyes.

“Noyes, who has returned for a five-day visit to the Cetnik forces, which number 70,000 men, says the troops are gathered in the mountains south of Belgrade and are living in difficult circumstances but remain loyal to King Peter II.”

The reporter adds that Mihailovic was armed with an American carbine and has a fanatical loyalty from these guerrilla forces who see him as the king’s minister for war. However, Mihailovic does not claim or seek any political status. He sees himself as a professional soldier.

January 6

The Orthodox Christmas eve. We celebrated in tradition national and religious fashion. Lt Milan Cveticanin was in charge of the yule log and there were two bands. The log was received on behalf of the camp by Col Brana Zivkovic who gave a short speech and wished us all a happy Christmas eve. After this, logs were taken to the various units and homes.

I was in the family camp, helping to distribute presents to the children. I gave out 110 presents and 193 toys. After that, feeling somewhat out of sorts, I went to my room. A little later Vasa Miljus turned up and said Major Zika Ivanovic was on his way with some fish and salad for tea. At the evening meal were Gen Matija Parac, Branko Malesevic, Zivadin Ivanovic, Vasa Miljus, Gen Brana Zivkovic, myself, and Major Dzolic. When the meal was over Dr Pazarac came with his jolly Bosnian wife.

January 7

Christmas Day. We got up early. First of all I wished a happy Christmas to Branko Malesevic. We got ready and went to offer the compliments of the season to our acquaintances. We had dinner with my relatives Judge Nikola Rajnovic and his wife Anka. I’ll never forget what happened at the Dalmatian regiment when I went to wish happy Christmas to my fellow Dalmatians. As well as kissing my cheeks, they kissed my hands. This brought me to tears.

January 8

Branko Malesevic finally talked me into joining him to wish Gen Jonic a happy Christmas.

Jonic doesn’t like me because I’m a follower of Draza Mihailovic’s movement and worked for its success. I remember how he took to Major Milorad Zdravkovic, a German spy, who I said should not be allowed to join the Serbian State Guard (SDS). The general admitted him to the SDS and even put him forward as commander of the Zajecar district. As an opponent of Mihailovic, Zdravkovic spent his time in Zajecar harrying Ljuba Jovanovic-Patka while he took absolutely no interest in the communists.

But, as a friend of Branko’s, I agreed to join him to wish Jonic the compliments of the season.

In the afternoon, the band entertained the children, and the happy youngsters danced kolos and sang.

News came that Gen Milan Nedic, Gen Djura Dokic, Col Tasa Dinic and others have been handed over to Tito. All this while Pavelic (leader of the Ustase) sits quietly in Austria.

In other news, President Truman has declared that the government in Yugoslavia will only be recognised when it has fulfilled its obligations, but there is no suggestion what those obligations might be, which is the most important thing. No doubt they related to material things.

Vasa Miljus brought some news from the town. He says we are to delegate one of soldiers to the Greek embassy. Djujic has been given permission to go to Rome. Col Brana Zivkovic is filling in for him.

Between 2 and 4pm the British provided a snack for our children.

It’s estimated that there are 1,300 people in camp celebrating the slava of St Stevan. We’ve worked out that over the last three days 200 to 300 pigs have been eaten in camp and the same number of lambs and sheep. You can hear the odd song round the camp and the sounds of celebration. The British are joining in too. They drink well.

January 10

The British are searching for Gen Borivoje K Jonic. No doubt they want to hand him over to Tito. Malesevic told me he’d heard that Gen Musicki had sent a letter in which, for example, he said: “I’m going where so many of our people have laid down their lives for the homeland so that I can do the same.”

Vojvoda Djujic has left for Rome.

January 11

Gen Damjanovic has again been to see the British. He was told that Jonic must get out of the camp. Some equipment has arrived. After tea I went with Vasa Miljus to see Dr Pazarac for a game of preferans.

January 12

The first work party has left — about 100 young lads from the Dalmatian regiment under the command of Lt Beric. They went to Camp 314 in Salerno and were seen off by the band. Gen Damjanovic gave them a speech.

There’s been another incident in the Drinska regiment. Lt Purecic has been wounded. It looks like he was attacked by one of his soldiers.

January 13

We saw in the (Orthodox) new year in our billet. As well as myself and Branko Malesevic there was Capt Stole Mihailovic, Vasa Miljus, Lt Vukadin, Lt Sinisa Colic. Major Jonic arrived a little later.

January 14

I went to see Mr Ratko Parezanin so that he could give me notes for the Italian press which I translated and handed over for editing.

January 15

I gave a presentation about the work of the Serbian State Guard and Serbian Shock Corps to officers who had arrived from Austria and Germany. When I got back to the billet I came across police agent Stojan Zarkovic who read me a sorrowful letter from Bosko Becarevic and Ilija Paranos from a camp near Sorrento.

Largely, the letter said that while fighting in September they had read the British decision that they should hand themselves over to the communist Yugoslav government along with Gen Musicki and the entire Serbian government with whom Gen Rupnik and Gen Dokic would be found.

Becarevic and Paranos asked us to send them poison so they could kill themselves. Their words were very moving and they said they would maintain the bearing of true Serbs.

They complained about agent Grujic, Dragi Jovanovic, and a Capt Miljkovic who had told them not to flee into the forests and made them go to Germany. They said no one was concerned about them. In their camp they had been put with the SS in an area 32m by 8m where the guard was doubled and they were treated as dead men.

The letter was written on December 15 and only reached Zarkovic today. Becarevic and Paranos were in the anti-communist branch of the special police. I think Becarevic may once have been a communist party member. He resigned but his knowledge of the party and its organisers and membership made his police work much easier.

Capt Mrdalj said he had received a letter from his wife in Kragujevac. She told him she was delighted that he’d managed to get out of Yugoslavia.

January 16

There was a meeting of the camp command where the subject for discussion was that we remove from the camp all those people who are undesirable because of their behaviour and who have harmed the reputation of our men. We wanted to do this to stop the theft of equipment and its resale.

Gen Damjanovic read the report he had prepared for HM King Peter II in which explains the conditions in camps in Italy where our men are found. He asked the king to appoint a commander-in-chief of Yugoslav forces in exile.

January 17

From my Aunt Rose, who lives in Grado near Trieste, I’ve received a letter from my dear mother. It’s the first contact we’ve had in two years.

I wrote a story for the Italian newspaper about Cica and Tito.

January 18

A big-nosed Italian has been arrested in the camp. He said he had come to steal tyres from British vehicles.

January 19

There was a service for Epiphany complete with the blessing of water.

January 20

All over the camp people are preparing to celebrate their slava. I think there’s about 1,600. Pigs are being roasted, wine’s being carried, and in the family camp around a dozen young women are getting ready to be married.

I started congratulating people from about 10am. From Vasa Miljus I received dried figs and rakija. Major Dimitrijevic from the Sumadija division gave me zito, cake, sandwiches and cakes. He had a candle too.

After dinner I went to see Judge Rajnovic and joined him in wishing a happy slava to Marko Grcic, a Cetnik from the Bosnian regiment. We received a nice welcome although the slava was modest — a candle on the table, a cake, one or two doughnuts, figs, walnuts and hazelnuts. We had our picture taken with them.

Later we wished a happy slava to Father Gasic, and then Mile Kordic. In the evening Branko Malesevic and I went to supper with Vasa Miljus.

January 21

Received three orders from the supreme command.

No 1,107 from January 18: The head of the education of the invalid section, according to the judicial department, is reserve Lt Col Bosko Nedic.

No 72 from January 18: Officers arriving from Austria (markt pongau camp) have been assigned as follows: Col Dragutin Stencl (general staff) is chief of staff for the Croat army. Officer commanding the 1st regiment of the Croat army is Sava Filipovic. Major Aleks Damjanovic and Major Miodrag Jovanovic are in command of battalions.

Battalion heads in the Drinska regiment are Major Milivoje O Petrovic and Major Petra Dabetic.

No 73 from January 19: A propaganda section has been formed attached to the staff of the outstanding part of the general staff. Its head is Bogdan Pusenjak.

Various service in the Drinska regiment: Capt Bozidar Jovic, Capt Puric, Capt Ratko Popovic, Lt Predrag Djordjevic, Lt Djordje Djordjevic, and Dragi Milanovic.

January 22

Camp news. A group of so-called war criminals who were handed over to Tito’s representatives and taken to Yugoslavia have been freed by Cetniks.

The Poles intend to join Draza Mihailovic.

One of Tito’s representatives are in Rome for talks about a compromise that would allow us to return to Yugoslavia. It’s true that it’s been announced that all Yugoslavs have to register at the communist Yugoslav embassy. This surely applies to Tito’s vultures and not to us nationalist fighters and anti-communists.

Because of the shooting into the air during the various celebrations, the British camp command has ordered an inventory of weapons to be compiled. They went through the camp and photographed all our traders and black-marketeers of which there were many. The Bosnians even had a cigarette factory.

News arrived in the evening that civil war has broken out in Greece.

January 23

Vojvoda Djujic has returned from Rome.

Camp news: Gen de Gaulle has left France. In Hungary the USSR has taken control of petrol and the national bank. The USSR wants the British to withdraw from Greece.

January 25

Today we’re in the swing of tours by the British. They’ve promised us more equipment. We explained that as though our situation was getting better. I heard from an authoritative figure that the British are helping Draza in the fight against Tito, that the reds are surrendering in droves, and that Tito is very worried. This clearly shows that our men are dreaming up events and deceiving themselves that the happy day will soon dawn when we make a dignified and honourable return to Yugoslavia.

I presided over a regular command meeting in place of Col Brana. We tried to solve our everyday problems — the canteen, security etc. Vojvoda Djujic seized the opportunity to tell us about his trip to Rome. He told us the city was calm and quiet. Given the election campaign, the Italian politicians were quiet.

Minister Krek is a pessimist. There’s no co-operation among the Serbs, Croats and Slovenes, but they’re working on it. The Serbs are working on the Yugoslav dimension. Our national committee is getting bigger. Ustase are hiding in the Vatican but the Pope says he doesn’t want to get involved in politics.

Djujic has made contact with a representative of the American organisation Pro DAS. In a conversation lasting 4½ hours he answered 12 questions. Our people in Rome are servants of the English. After the Italian elections they’ll come into closer contact with their politicians. One told Djujic that there’s no difference between us and Tito as we also want a border on the Soca. That causes them great pain.

January 26

From talking to Djujic I’ve learned that the Patriarch told him the Queen Mother, Marie, no longer acknowledges King Peter as her son and for that reason refused to go to London to attend the baptism of the heir to the throne, Prince Alexander.

Over the last few days about 200 of our men have left for Yugoslavia. We’ve learned that families are sending individual amnesties to those of our men who are willing to go home. Tito is doing everything he can to smash us.

Djujic told me that the Partisans killed my brother Nedeljko when the Dinarska Cetnik division was withdrawing from Padjene. In Rome they confiscated one of lorries which was carrying coffee, hoping to swap it for rice.

Gen Damjanovic told me some facts about the trial of the fiancée of Sasa Mihailovic. It appears she conducted herself as a true Serb heroine.

This evening the youngsters gave a wonderful show in honour of St Sava’s Day from 7 to 9pm. It completely succeeded. While it was taking place I was present in terms of my body but my mind was far away in my beloved homeland picturing celebrations in a free country, but more especially the shows we used to stage in the days of the Austro-Hungarian monarchy.

Today, icons of St Sava no longer hang in Yugoslav schools. They’ve been replaced by pictures of Tito, Stalin and Lenin.

January 27

Today, as a representative of the camp command, I attended the slava of our grammar school and junior school. The British attended the show, too. In the evening the pupils put on a show for St Sava’s Day.

January 28

At 10am there was a memorial service for the heroes who fell on January 27, 1943, around Strmica and Knin in Dalmatia. Speeches were given by Father Zelic and Vojvoda Djujic.

At 7pm there was a jubilee evening of ballet to mark five years of artistic work by Rade Milosevic, a member of the Belgrade Opera ballet. Taking part were Mrs Lenart, Mrs Debeljak, an actor called Cyril from Slovenia, an extra who had no hand, and a 12-year-old girl. The band of the Sumadija division played during the intervals. Dr Ortinski, a medic from the Croat army, played the piano.

The British requested that all commanders signed a written declaration stating that their units had no weapons.

Letters are arriving from Yugoslavia and their contents are varied. One woman wrote to her husband saying she had remarried having found a better man and asking him not to write anymore. The wife of Lt Kartadz said: “I’ve been in the same factory as you. I’ve also been to the drum stream (firing range) and was glad to get away. Now I’m going my old way. I advise you to stay with your old boss and to listen carefully to him.”

January 29

A Pole told me that he’d been in a plane carrying supplies to Draza Mihailovic. The Yugoslav delegation to the UN social board has asked that people fleeing Yugoslavia receive no help. The motion was rejected.

January 30

We’ve been told there’s a suspicious person in Battipaglia who is waiting for 200 of our men who need to fill RAF places — they’re the ones going back to Yugoslavia.

January 31

Today’s news: Dr Kardelj⁵¹ is still trying to get the UN to stop helping people who have fled Yugoslavia.

The king, Macek⁵² and Slobodan Jovanovic⁵³ have gone to the USA, but we don’t know why.

February 1

We hear that Tito’s mission in Rome is holding talks with the British about getting us handed over. From what we’re told the head of Tito’s mission is a Partisan called Arso Milatovic. It’s said he’s an old pre-war communist from Kosovo or Metohija.

I should add to this news that there’s been some sabotage on the Sarajevo – Slavonski Broad railway line and a train was blown up.

February 2

Branko Malesevic, Zivadin Ivanovic, Vasa Miljus and I visited Mr Marone’s wine cellar. We tasted the wine and chose some for the camp.

February 3

Gen Damjanovic has had a letter from the king but I don’t know the contents. Seems to be something to do with some powers.

News is spreading that Radio Belgrade’s announced that Yugoslavia is to join the USSR.

The British camp command is again asking for lists of our men who speak English because they’ll need them as translators for our units who are going to work.

At the railway station in Battipaglia our soldiers were approached by an Italian who tried to recruit them for a criminal band operating around Naples. They lured him to the camp and handed him over to our police. He was about 25.

General staff Major Slavko Andree showed me the mechanical and locksmith workshop of the supreme command and the propaganda section. It was very nicely set out and organised.

When I got back to the camp I saw a copy of the daily bulletin from which I see that Ernest Bevin and Soviet diplomat Andrej Vysinsky exchanged sharp words in a debate. Another injection of encouragement.

February 4

For the educational and cultural council I’ve translated a story by G Solari Bozzi from the Italian newspaper Politica Estera (Foreign Policy) entitled Yugoslavia during the war.

February 5

I’ve been much affected by a story I read in the Otadzbina (Fatherland) magazine of January 26. It was written by a prisoner of war who returned to Yugoslavia and quickly left again, making his way to Germany.

This is what he said: “I have a ten-year-old son. One day, during dinner, he lit a cigarette. When I admonished him, he told me without any prevarication ‘be quiet comrade. If I report you to my commissar you’ll have a difficult time’.”

I spent a lot of time thinking about the story, and subconsciously I thought back to the time I first lit a cigarette in front of my father. It was October, 1924, when I came home on leave as a second lieutenant. My parents were hosting a meal in my honour and had invited about 20 people. When we had finished eating, all the smokers started to light up except for me. My father, who knew that I smoked, saw that I hadn’t joined them. He came up and said: “Son, from today you can smoke freely. You’re now your own man.” I then took out my cigarette case and lit up.

February 6

Mrs Gina Nedic, wife of Lt Col Bosko Nedic, told me her brother Ljuban had committed suicide by jumping from a third-floor window. She blames Milan and Dusko Magdic for keeping him in Belgrade.

Reading the Slobodna Dalmacija (Free Dalmatia) newsletter no 239 from November 6, 1945, I found a story by Luka Pilic, my aunt’s brother, who is head of property for the financial committee in Makarska and was writing about the work.

A communist cell has been uncovered in the Croat army. They were trying to persuade men to return to Yugoslavia.

Lists are apparently being drawn up of those who want to emigrate to Brazil. This needs to be confirmed because the men are imagining all kinds of things. They’re embellishing real events to make them look positive or negative.

February 7

News is spreading that Gen Milan Nedic has committed suicide by jumping from a third-floor window at no 21 Kneginja Ljubica Street in Belgrade. Another sacrifice on the altar of freedom, truth and unity. How many more will there be?

February 8

Another example of how the men’s imaginations are working overtime. Our soldiers who visited Battipaglia told the following story — they said they saw huge transport at the train station full of Yugoslavs who were Partisans from the army of Gen Peko Dapcevic. They had surrendered but didn’t say to whom. The Partisans said they were now loyal to King Peter II.

Around Battipaglia there are lots of posters giving the address of the Yugoslav consulate. These have surely been put up for the benefit of our men, to encourage them to go back home.

February 9

Today, Gen Damjanovic ordered all the men to gather on the exercise ground. He gave us a speech in which he told us that we are the king’s soldiers and, as such, must take great care about our behaviour. He warned us to beware Tito’s propaganda and black-marketeering, and all the other things that might affect us badly. After the general had finished, Djujic spoke to his division and told them he would take measures to stop all the bad things that were happening.

Today’s news: The United Press in Washington speaks of the civil war in Yugoslavia. The USA is building 26 aircraft carriers. News announced from New York at 5pm: the Yugoslav military mission in Germany has requested that the 700 Yugoslavs working for the American army are immediately dismissed, saying they had been collaborating with the Germans and that they were wearing Draza Mihailovic insignia.

The news goes on that the US secretary for war has ordered the US commander in Germany to dismiss the men. We’ll see what will happen and what this means.

Other news is rather more comforting. The US fleet has sailed into the Pacific Ocean. The Americans have also established bases in Kiel and Naples to protect their interests in Europe.

In a conversation with us, a senior British officer said that the interests of the US, Britain and Yugoslavia coincide. What he meant by this wasn’t clear, but one thing is certain and that is that our people, and especially the Serbs, face more hardship because they’re known to be monarchists, anti-revolutionary and anti-fascist.

February 11

I’ve received a letter from London, from my classmate Dragoslav Srebric. He says that he’ll send me their bulletin, and that the British press is increasingly criticising Tito in the leading newspapers. That’s good to know.

The Swiss newspaper Basler Nachrichten of January 17 attacks Tito and his regime. It mentions a Labour deputy, Mr Meksesen, who asks: “to what extent did Mihailovic’s Cetnik units collaborate with the Germans and take part in the fight against Tito.”

The British are still coming to the camp. They’re inspecting the accommodation and life in general. This has set me thinking. It appears they’re looking for something. I know that Tito has been putting a lot of pressure on them to send us back and is making all sorts of accusations against us.

Tonight 18 men and eight women were captured. They had all tried to escape the camp.

February 12

I’ve received a letter from Capt Voja Radovanovic in Germany. He sent it on December 25. Voja used to be my adjutant. The letter is full of nice words and good wishes.

February 13

Today a letter has arrived from my commander, general of division Stevan Radovanovic in Germany. It is full of warmth and good wishes. It’s really cheered me up.

Many of us are very unsettled by last night’s news that there have been raids on our men in the American zone in Germany. The troops have taken the news very badly.

Col Brana Zivkovic has received a letter from his wife in which she says she’s finding life very difficult. She says she’s been abandoned by everyone.

February 15

General Morgan, commander for the Mediterranean, has carried out a census of our troops working in the camp at Lama.

February 17

After eating dinner with Major Milos Mar Pavicevic I went to the supreme command where I found Lt Dragan Sotirovic, who was intelligence officer when I was commander of the Morava district. He was taken prisoner in April, 1942, with Capt Aleksandar Perisic and Major Zlatoje Cosic.

Sotirovic told me that he had escaped from the prison camp and survived in the countryside. The Russians had disarmed him and taken him to Moscow where they sentenced him to ten years in prison, but he had managed to escape and get back to Italy. He’s now a major in the Polish army. I said nothing in response to this story, which appears to me to be largely fantasy. To escape from a Moscow prison and get back to Italy you would have to be a magician. Men like to make themselves look important and better than they are.

I knew Sotirovic as an officer of mediocre abilities. He liked to drink and that twice brought him into conflict with the occupying authorities. He was arrested and only released after our appeals. The third time, however, he was taken to a prisoner of war camp.

As well as Sotirovic I encountered an old acquaintance — a classmate from the higher school of the military academy — Sinisa Ocokoljic-Pazarac. I was in contact with him even when I was commander of the Serbian State Guard’s Moravska district. This was because of my unit commander, Capt Milan Lepenc, who was executed by the Germans because of his loyalty to Mihailovic.

Sinisa told me our situation wasn’t the best. He made a special point of telling me that sadly, a lot of our officers — active ones — are sullying their reputations.

I’ve discovered that a person in Rome is publishing a newsletter called Prijatelj Naroda (Friend of the People). It says some terrible things about the Eboli camp and criticises Gen Damjanovic, Djujic and others. Gen Marko Mihailovic is leading moves against us while evil tongues are saying that his wife welcomed the Partisans in Knin and gave them a red flag.

It all serves to outline the sad state of disunity within our exiled ranks. In terms of political orientation it’s complete chaos. It’s proving impossible to create a national body to represent us. Every political grouping seems to want to work to its own advantage. Some are openly working for the break-up of Yugoslavia which has acquired so many victims. It’s all going to result in some serious repercussions for us and what we stand for.

An Italian newspaper says the king is coming to Rome, but it doesn’t have a date. The title of the story is “Re Pietro di Jugoslavia prossimamente a Roma” “King Peter of Yugoslavia is coming to Rome soon”.

Ante Kovac, a teacher, has married Vesna Lezajic whose family comes from Skradin.

February 19

A letter has arrived from Belgrade from gendarmerie Lt Col Vlada Cvijanovic who was in the Serbian State Guard before retiring in the spring of 1944. He says that Col Telemah Jankovic and Major Sava Lakovic have died, by which he means they have been killed. Working for the communists are Col Gerovac, Major Kosta Popovic, Major Diklic and many other young officers.

February 20

Today Gen Damjanovic read us a letter a Belgrade lady had written to the patriarchate. She complains about conditions in Yugoslavia and says: “We’re praying to God for help. We eat once a day and live in cold rooms. The reds have everything and all we know of UNRRA is what we read in the newspapers. When we go to bed at night we have no idea whether we will wake up at home or in prison. We could cope if it wasn’t for the constant fear.”

Tragically, Tito’s regime has immediately resulted in a new totalitarianism. Until recently, Tito had bowed to the democratic alliance, hiding his true motives. The western allies had blind faith in him and helped him take power. Marxism has brought our people trouble and suffering — concentration camps, the murder of political opponents, and columns of people fleeing the country to save their lives in the face of communist terror.

A strange letter has arrived at the camp from Fotic or Zika Knezevic. It says not to rush the uprising. This has worried us. We take it to mean that Serbia is in the Soviet sphere of influence and Croatia and Slovenia are in the Anglo-US sphere. This would explain the American statement about riotous German prisoners of war and that they don’t have strong enough forces. It means the Americans are pulling out of Europe and leaving us at the mercy of the communists.

February 21

We’ve received a copy of “Narodni Prijatelj” issued by some “ravnogorac”. It’s not impossible that Tito’s mission in Rome is behind it. In this edition there are attacks on Dr Zivko Topalovic and his wife, Krek, Djujic, Gen Lazic and others.

Mrs Nada Stanic has returned from Rome and tells me that a British intelligence officer told her Damjanovic, Djujic, Jasa Ljotic and another 30 officers, soldiers and civilians are to be handed over to Tito. I took this story with a huge handful of salt but I was unable to dismiss it completely. We live in strange times and anything is possible.

February 23

It’s St Haralampije’s Day (St Charalambos) — Capt Kosta Kapetanovic’s holy slava. As well as that, he’s got married to Miss Smilja. The wedding took place at 7am in the chapel of the Dinarska Cetnik division. Father Zelic officiated.

Afterwards we went to Kosta’s tent where Father Zelic blessed the cutting of the slava cake. At 9 o’clock we had to leave the tent and go to a gathering called by the British camp commander. We had a speech from Gen Damjanovic — the usual stuff about the need for order and discipline, adding that some Cetniks have broken out of prison. British officers were present.

Around noon I went back to my kumovi. At 7pm we went to see Mrs Nada Stanic who had prepared a meal in honour of the bride. Present were: Myself; Lt Col Sergije Zivanovic; the happy couple, Smilja and Kosta; the bride’s sister; the bride’s brother-in-law, Mile Kapetanovic; Capt Bogdan Kapetanovic; Lt Col Zika Andric and Major Ljubisa Mikic. We stayed until 11pm.

As I have no money, I was unable to buy the bride a present, which makes me very sad.

February 24

There were six weddings in the camp today. Among the couples was Niko Rajnovic’s niece, Desa Vujanovic. The bridegroom was Lt Slavko Ivanovic from Nice.

February 26

It’s been ordered that 223 men go to Transit Camp 3 to work, and 19 to PWH Camp. They’ll leave on March 5.

They want to place a letter Y on our backs. We’re arguing for it to be put on our sleeve.

Radio Belgrade has announced that Mr Zikic has returned to Yugoslavia after successfully completing tasks in the Eboli camp. But they didn’t give his name.

In the evening we went to the camp theatre, where Branko Malesevic and Zika Ivanovic put on a play called “Dva Narednika” (Two Sergeants). It was very well done but also very sad especially the second scene where Djordje leaves his wife and children. I had tears in my eyes as I recalled leaving my nearest and dearest.

February 27

Gen Damjanovic told me it’s true that they’re drawing up new lists of war criminals in Caserta at Tito’s request. Also, the British have told us royal insignia cannot be worn outside the camp. We even had to cut the word “royal” from our rubber stamps and remove it from our motor vehicles.

Our situation is becoming much clearer. We aren’t classed as desirable and we could find ourselves facing a worst-case scenario: being handed over to Tito. Because of this we’re making plans to flee rather than go back to Yugoslavia to be killed. Even though the world is settling into two blocs following the fall of Nazism and fascism, we have to be careful we’re not crushed beneath the communist millstone.

It looks like we’ll be sacrificed on the altar of love between West and East. Can there be a worse fate than this? Draza Mihailovic’s fighters, the first to raise the standard of resistance against fascism, and the first to oppose the advances of totalitarianism, are to be sacrificed.

February 28

Today I met Col Grignoli on his return from Rome. He told me that, in fact, our standing is good and getting better. I told him yesterday’s news, and he didn’t know what to say to me. It seems to me that the British will say anything to keep us together so that it will be easier for them to hand us over to be killed like those whom they repatriated from Austria in 1945.

I went with Lt Col Sekulic to visit the commander of the Italian Carabinieri unit in Eboli. Sekulic was put forward as our head of police and got to know his opposite number on the other side of the wire. We were well received. The conversation centred on working together to fight crime. The Italian was very sympathetic towards us because we are monarchists.

March 1

Somebody told me they’d read in an American newspaper that the US army is planning to recruit 100,000 of Gen Mihailovic’s Serb fighters and followers.

March 2

We’re following a debate in the US senate on the radio. We see that their eyes are finally opening to the realities of communism. But it’s all too late. The tyrant has taken power and is carrying out his bloody plan.

Today there’s been a heated argument between Gen Damjanovic and the British camp commander about the question of placing a letter Y on our backs. The general has rejected their request, or should I say order. The British man went so far as to tell the general we are no different to the Germans. However, he came back later and apologised.

March 3

The detailing of our men for work has been suspended. And in connection with this, the placing of signs on our back has been suspended too. Instead of RYA on our vehicles it now says U.

After dinner I went with Mile Kapetanovic to visit Mrs Nada Stanic to hear the news. Nothing else of importance happened.

March 4

Mrs Radmila Subotic, who is in service with the English, has come to the camp. As soon as Capt Macrae heard of her arrival, he ordered that she should go to see him. When they met, he asked her when she was going to Greece as it’s a difficult place to get to. Mrs Subotic gave him some vague answers and Macrae said he would take her to Naples to help her get the necessary documents. She was scared she’d be arrested.

She came back today at 6pm. They’d been to the British GHQ but were unable to find the person they needed so Macrae had taken her for a meal. Afterwards, Macrae bought presents for his wife and children as he’s going back to England in two to three weeks. At the same time he bought Mrs Subotic a little pot dog which he named Tito. He told her how much he likes us and that we won’t be forced to have the letter Y on our backs.

March 6

I’ve learned that Capt Macrae was with Tito at the time of the attack on Drvar.

Our work party in Salerno have refused to wear badges on their back.

This morning, at 9 o’clock, I took the supply lorry to the Lama camp — where our 1st Yugoslav Regiment (King Peter II’s) has been moved — to see Major Laza Janjic, Capt Dragisa Dimitrijevic and Lt Sava Repovic. While there I came across my classmate Lt Col Bosko Petricevic.

My first impressions were excellent. The place seemed well run and the men lived a strict military life. However later, after talking to officers and men, I learned that a group of around 200 Montenegrins are terrorising the other 617 people in the place. The commandant, adjutant, treasurer and operator are all Montenegrins.

Petricevic, who is tactless, has no commander’s features or virtues. He’s made friends with the Montenegrin group who are preaching separatism. This is being encouraged by a Lt Col Sava Vukadinovic. It seems Pavle Djurisic’s side sent him on some sort of mission for which he was given some gold. Instead he fled to Italy.

Vukadinovic is being aided by someone called Djonic. Also an engineer called Radovic has been placed in the regiment. He’s spreading propaganda against Gen Damjanovic and the non-Montenegrin officers. Their mouthpiece in the supreme command is general staff Major Vlado Djukic. The Montenegrins want to have their own military and political leadership and then to negotiate with the Serbians.

Their beliefs are evident in the letters of Lt Col Vukadinovic: “Vukotic is trying to get Damjanovic in a fight with Marko but Damjanovic (illegible word) is fighting against Marko.” I never found out who Marko was.

Vukotic wanted our men to accept Damjanovic, which has happened. Damjanovic’s chief of staff, Zivorad Andric, who was Nedic’s cabinet minister for national work service, was Vukotic’s close friend. Andric hates Montenegrins but that doesn’t matter to Vukotic. What’s important to him is that he undermines peace. He freely admits today that if it was up to him Montenegrins would not be allowed to live in Serbia.

He’s starting to feel fatigued as he has no relevance. He had absolutely no part in our movement. In fact, he helped the Germans by forcing our men to work in Germany and Serbia. He only joined us when the Germans withdrew from Belgrade — when he had to flee because the Partisans were coming. It doesn’t seem to bother him because nowadays he claims to be Mihailovic’s biggest supporter.

Damjanovic is undisputedly the best Serb general in Italy. It’s my opinion that we should do something when the moment presents itself . . .

I was never able to find out who Lt Col or Major Sava Vukadinovic was or where he was during the war. Whatever the case, he is bad news. I’m not surprised by what Petricevic is doing but I’m truly shocked by Vlada Djukic. Everything needs to be confirmed and then it all needs to go before a fair and impartial court.

Petricevic has suggested to the British that they dismiss Major Janjic and Capt Dimitrijevic from the regiment. This is so that he could take control. The English commander called them in and found out that Petricevic is telling lies.

March 7

The matter of placing the letter Y on our backs has been removed from the daily agenda.

Tomorrow a group of 242 men from the Drinska regiment are leaving on a work detail. Another 1,000 will be following them in the coming days. The English commander has had a meeting with our senior officers but I don’t yet know what about.

March 8

This morning Lt Kostic brought me a letter from my family and I couldn’t wait to open it. I looked straight at the signatures but to my surprise couldn’t see one from my little son Milan⁵⁴. Reading the letter I found out that he had given up his angelic soul on November 15, 1944, exactly 50 days after I left to fight in Bosnia. The news has brought me great pain and grief.

As soon as word got around the camp, my relatives, friends and kumovi immediately came to offer their condolences. The grief is unbearable but what can I do? I’ve prayed to God for his little soul and offered the posthumous salute: you will never be forgotten daddy’s little boy.

March 9

I’m still struggling to cope with the news of my little boy’s death. I can’t come to terms with it but the truth is that daddy will never see him again or hug him again. His heart has stopped beating too soon. Yesterday, when I heard the bitter truth that you are no longer among us, a terrible gloom descended on my heart and soul.

My dear little Milan, it’s so difficult to cope with this reality — that you have left us so soon and forever. Your sweet face and your 12 springs will always stay with me. Time will pass but my love for you and memories of you will stay in my heart for as long as I live.

Death has come too soon, claiming you in the twelfth year of your life. It has plucked you unripe from our embrace. The words don’t exist to describe the pain I feel. Your sweet and cheerful character will always be in my memory.

It’s been ordered that another 425 men be sent for work.

My sister Dragica has asked me for information about Dr Zika Milovanovic. I immediately sent her the sad news of his tragic death. He fell loyally caring for the soldiers of the Serbian Shock Corps who had contracted typhus and other illnesses.

March 11

Another 352 soldiers are being sent for work.

We’ve heard of Soviet aggression in Persia, disputes over Trieste and that UNRRA has withdrawn its help for Yugoslavia.

March 16

Today I paid my formal respects to my gone-too-soon little boy, my dearly-missed Milan. I held a memorial service for him, my brother Nedeljko, and others. The service took place in the Dinarska Cetnik division’s chapel, which is dedicated to the Protection of the Blessed Virgin Mary, at 10am. The feast day of the Protection is on October 14, the birthday of my little boy.

The service was taken by Father Mladen Gasic assisted by Father Sveta Sekulic. The church was packed with my friends, among them Gen Voja Kuzmanovic, Brig Matija Parac, Col Brana Zivkovic, Col Voja Petrovic, Col Dragutin Stencl, Col Buda Martinovic, Lt Col Milorad Milisavljevic, Lt Col Dragutin Cecevic, Lt Col Mihailo Sekulic, Lt Col Branko Malesevic, Lt Col Miodrag Tojic, Major Zika Ivanovic, Major Milorad Anastasijevic, Major Zika Mladenovic, Major Mile Kapetanovic, Major Blagoje Milic and other officers.

From the women there was Mrs Gasic, Mrs Sokolovic, Mrs Zarkovic, Mrs Marcetic, and Mrs Babic. My loyal escort Sgt Djordje Vujicic was present, as were my relatives Judge Niko Rajnovic with his wife Anka and children Nebojsa, Veljko and Mirijana; Branko and Niko Pavasovic; and my kumovi Smilja and Kosta Kapetanovic.

Anka prepared the zito. My thanks to her.

March 17

Dr Jure Marusic has been captured. Another 91 men have been ordered to do work.

March 19

Major Laza Janjic, Capt Dragisa Dimitrijevic and some other officers were thrown out of the camp at Lama last night thanks to Lt Col Bosko Petricevic. All this was done behind the back of Gen Miodrag Damjanovic. As I understand it, the soldiers were against this, but as officers, Janjic and Dimitrijevic didn’t want to cause trouble. They packed their bags and came to Eboli.

Another 491 men have been ordered to work.

March 21

I’ve received a letter from my relative Lidija in which, among other things, she tells me my daughter Olga has got married. This news has hit me like a lightning bolt out of a blue sky. How can she be married at her age? (15). There’s no word of who the husband is. And now I have another thing to worry about.

I’m very grateful to my relatives Niko and Anka because they keep coming to see me.

From the same letter I see that my dear sister Dragica got married on February 24. Again though, I don’t know to whom.

From another letter I’ve learned my dear parents are living in Skradin in Aunt Savica’s house, which used to be ours. They tell me the communists are treating them badly and have been carrying out searches.

March 23

Today three more groups have left for work. One, comprising 15 men from the 2nd Lika Regiment, was sent back because they refused to have the letter Y placed on their backs.

March 24

Around noon I was visited by Mila Kosevic and Branko Pavasovic. They each brought a lovely bouquet of wild flowers to place before the picture of my little boy Milan.

Tonight we received some very bad news from Belgrade. Our dear Cica, Gen Mihailovic, has been captured with another 11 soldiers. We’re all asking ourselves if it can it be true. Is it a ploy to demoralise us so that we’ll fall apart and be rendered useless? All kinds of thoughts are going through my mind. Will I be able to sleep tonight? That’s another matter. Too much has happened for my soul to bear. I’m unable to relax and can’t rest.

March 25

I slept only briefly. The news is spinning around in my head. Walking around the camp, all I saw were serious and worried faces. There’s no explanation. Could it all be a lie?

I went to see my kum and kuma, and while there I met engineer Nikola Stankovic from Valjevo. We had a long conversation

News: Paris denies that Cica has been captured. The Americans say that if Cica has been taken, he should be tried by the Nuremberg court and not by Tito’s.

March 27

There’s been a parade and thanksgiving, and in the evening a Ravna Gora show. I went to the parade and service but not to the show.

The body of the former district chief for Sabac, Mijo Petrovic, has arrived from the Naples hospital where he died. Three more groups have left for work: 30, 31 and 50 men.

March 28

50 men sent for work.

March 29

15 men sent for work.

April 1

We’ve been delighted to hear the results of the Greek elections. We also enjoyed hearing the speech by pseudo-marshal Tito in which he complained about the British and the other Allies.

The March 31 morning edition of the Il Giornale newspaper states that people in Salonica have been listening to a secret Yugoslav radio station which has refuted claims of Gen Mihailovic’s capture. It’s reinforced our hope that we’ll return to a liberated homeland.

I’ve read several letters which have arrived from Yugoslavia. You can see from them that people have sobered up and are turning against Tito and his rule.

This afternoon I went to see Kum Kosta and again met engineer Nikola Stankovic, who told me he’d received a letter from Belgrade from a Mrs Pantic. She’s a doctor and one of Tito’s colonels. She’s urging him to return home. They need engineers and experts.

Stankovic espoused lots of good ideas which have given me a lot to think about. One of them is that a huge memorial should be built at Kalemegdan in Belgrade.

April 4

Extracts from letters received from Yugoslavia.

From Banatsko Karadjordjevo, March 12: “It’s no good in Yugoslavia. They’re killing people. Long live King Peter II. Down with Tito.”

From Subotica, March 19: “Thank God we’re all well, but we have to thank your god because we don’t have one here. We do have a step-mother and the wind is blowing at her back. We’re hoping it won’t last for long.”

From Vranjevo, March 10: “One of you arrived here recently. For the first two or three days all was well but now he’s locked up and we don’t know what will happen to him. One of his friends turned up yesterday without permission. No one will accept him here, and he’s lost the trust of your people. I would happily ‘jump into my own mouth’ but it’s too late.”

From Kraljevo, March 6: “They were going to send me to Mathausen but my uncle just managed to save me. My nerves are gone because of the fear and trouble. Don’t be discouraged as everything comes to an end. The world has perished — it’s sheer hell. Rush to your homes.”

Tonight Vaska has been taken from her home. We know nothing of her fate.

April 5

There’s been a meeting to decide what to do to help Cica following his arrest. It was resolved to make representations to leading politicians in London and Washington.

April 7

There have been elections in Eboli. We’ve been pleased to learn the nationalists won.

April 8

I woke up rather depressed. All the events that have taken place in recent days, and the news that’s arrived, show that our fate remains uncertain and difficult. I tried to raise my spirits by praying to the Lord to save our people, and to help us in the captivity we are forced to tolerate surrounded by wire. Only those who have experienced what we have can understand our feelings in which hope, reality and uncertainty are all mixed together.

Fluctuations are starting to become evident. Men are struggling to work out what to do for the best. Some are leaving the camp, hoping to find a better life elsewhere. Usually they’re caught and sent to the Aeolian Islands. Others try to return home without any consideration for what might await them. Their feelings and their families call them back to the fatherland.

On the other hand, in camp there’s disunity, slander and accusations thanks to those who sow hatred, rancour and conflict. This is being done by the unintelligent and the dishonourable, but they’re well-armed with malice. I often think they might be serving the communist regime to improve their own position. Such people never have any shame.

Good and bad emanate from a man, leaving a visible trace in the middle where he lives. Sadly, men will generally take the easiest path rather than the best one, which mans they embrace falsehood rather than truth. But this could all be the result of communist work to find differences to exploit.

Gen Damjanovic is trying to understand them and integrate them, but as far as I can see many are rejecting his advances as they want to promote division. Slaves to their own views, they have become slaves. Until . . . All that remains is for our wounded hearts to be made even heavier. All you can do is try to bear this heroically and prepare for what awaits.

April 9

Today, in the newspapers, I’ve seen a picture of our dear Cika Draza. He was handcuffed. But it looked to me as though the picture may have been doctored. Can it be true? What’s Churchill now thinking? Could his heart be calm? Dear God, surely the worst won’t happen? It’s hard to believe anything blood-soaked Tito says. He’s already shown himself to be two-faced — a Stalinist totalitarian who hid behind a democratic façade. He’s removed his mask now and shown his true colours.

Yesterday the nationalists won the elections in Eboli in which some of our people took part. One of our men even carried an Italian flag while the Italians shouted “down with Tito”.

April 11

Today, as an honoured guest, I attended the opening of a teaching course in our camp. The speakers were the president of the teachers’ association, Gen Damjanovic and the rector, Vlada Vujic, who underlined the principles of a teacher’s work, emphasising the love for pupils and people as the main principles based on the Gospels and St Sava.

In the afternoon I went to the hospital to have my stomach examined. The last few days I’ve had some digestive troubles. I’ve been moved to hut 12 on my own.

April 12

Today I’ve had visits from Milo Kosevic, Dr Pazarac, Branko Pavasovic, Niko Rajnovic with little Mirijana, (Niko brought me three cakes as a gift), Dr Bulajic, Lt Col Tojic, and my orderlies Kovac and Sava Kurbalija.

I’ve been thoroughly examined by Dr Zagorka Lazarevic. I need some X-rays.

A woman has arrived after managing to get out of Sopota. She’s been talking very strikingly about the evil being wrought in our land by the communist regime.

April 13

It’s Palm Sunday — a festival that makes you think back to happier times when we used to take our children to Vrbica. We dressed them in new clothes and put little bells around their necks so that they were Christ’s lambs. Today? The godless communists don’t allow any celebrations and they harass anyone who goes to church or believes.

I’m becoming increasingly pessimistic but I’ve recalled the verses of Milan Rakic: “I believe in the lucky star of the Serb people.”

April 14

I didn’t have any tea as I’m having an X-ray tomorrow.

Today I’ve been visited by Kum Kosta Kapetanovic and Kuma Smiljka (who brought me some lovely flowers and two lemons), orderlies Ilija Zjaca and Sava Kurbalija, Vlade Vujic, Mile Kosevic, Branko Pavasovic and Capt Vitomir Mihic.

April 15

I’ve had my X-ray. My stomach is quickly rejecting undigested food. This is bloating me, creating discomfort.

I’ve been told “Vaskin” corpse has been found today.

April 16

Today I’ve only been visited by my kum, Kosta. We had a long chat about anything and everything. He spoke very highly of his wife, Smilja. She really is a good wife and housekeeper. We went all the way through the last 22 years of our lives — from leaving the military academy until today.

We experienced happy, idealistic days when we loyally served king and country. Then the horror of war and its legacy for our land. Kosta recalled his life behind wire and battles against the communists. And I looked back to avoiding capture by the Germans when Major Milovan Popovic and I fell back to Skoplje in 1941, encountered various dangers, but were lucky enough to survive.

Then there was departure for the hell of Sandjak and Bosnia, our meeting with the Allies in Mossa, disarmament, camps, wire and what our ultimate fate will be.

April 17

Jovan Ducic has written from the USA. He says we’ll soon be home. There are Serbs in the White House who are furthering our cause. There are even more Serbs around the White House, all waiting for the word from Truman.

Krek writes that it’s all Roosevelt’s fault that the Russians are in south east Europe. Krek says the late president made a secret last-minute deal with Stalin. Our situation will be settled soon. He’s no doubt got all this from the Vatican.

A letter from Yugoslavia says that Cica hasn’t been captured and that the message of Ravna Gora resonates with the people. Attacks are being carried out on trains. The people are asking the Cetniks and fighters for four basic freedoms.

A commission has been to the camp at Jesi, asking our soldiers the following:

1 – Where were you in 1941, where were you in 1941-45, what did you do for the Allies?

2 – Which country would you like to go to?

From what we understand, the commission was nothing to do with the Allies. No doubt it was Tito’s men.

The latest news is that Tito’s hands have started to shake. His followers are leaving him and fleeing. We’re encouraged by the news that the king has said Tito’s government will be short-lived.

In terms of visitors it’s been the same as yesterday. Kum Kosta is the most diligent.

April 18

I’ve started taking medicine and it’s doing me good.

Today is Maundy Thursday. I’m alone with my thoughts, and heavy-hearted because of the loss of my brother and my little boy. I’m pining for home. My soul is full of memories and it’s in this state of mind that I await Christ’s Resurrection this year. Wherever I look I see that we’re small and insignificant and unable to influence events. Our fate is in the hands of the Allies, whom we are begging for help.

April 19

News that batons were drawn against Tito’s representative in a camp in Egypt. This is a perfect sign for the lying marshal, showing him our men’s feelings towards him.

I’ve been thinking about what Easter has brought us since 1941. These are the results.

In 1941 Yugoslavia fell apart. We were occupied by the Germans and the Ustasa massacres began. In 1943 I was involved in fighting near Umcari and came very close to being killed. In 1944 the Allies bombed Belgrade. In 1945 the Allies disarmed us at Palmanova. This year the US government has recognised Tito’s communist government. I trust Easter, 1947, will be better and we’ll celebrate it at home.

April 20

Camp news. The men from Lika wanted to beat up Major Anastasijevic. There was shooting too. The reason was that he wanted to take measures to stop smuggling. The English took him and put him in the camp annexe.

There’s talk that the Russians have invited the British press to be present at their first atomic bomb detonation.

April 21

I got up at 9am. The first thing on my list was to pray to God for the souls of my nearest and dearest who have departed this life: my brother, son, relatives Njego and Stevisa and all the others. Then I prayed for the living.

The first people to wish me a happy Easter were some hospital nurses, then Branko Pavasovic, my orderly Sava Kurbalija (who brought me four oranges, two eggs, bread and some roast meat), Dr Bulajic, Major Zika Ivanovic and Branko Malesevic. In the afternoon there was little Mirijana, who brought me an egg; Kum and Kuma Kapetanovic, who brought me a bunch of flowers, cakes and eggs; Zarkovic, who brought a plate of cakes; Niko and Anka Rajnovic, with Veljka and Zorka.

I shared out my presents as follows. I gave the oranges to Mirijana, Veljko, and my Kum and Kuma. I gave the roast meat to the hospital, and divided the eggs among the nurses — one each.

The next visitors were Father Paunovic, Lt Perisa Perisic, Mr and Mrs Vujic, Capt Mihic, Lt Stipic, Mile Kosevic, and my countryman Peter Djordjevic.

After tea I had a long walk with Mrs Vujic and we talked about the many things that had happened to us, good and bad.

In the morning, the band of the Sumadija division was at the hospital and played two marches for us.

We’ve heard an unconfirmed story that the UN has decided we won’t be classed as war criminals as Tito has requested.

April 22

Vasa Miljus wished me a happy Easter and sent me a litre of wine, some ham, some roast meat and bread. Major Sotirovic gave a presentation about our situation.

April 24

Around 3pm I received a visit from Lt Col Branko Malesevic. He told me the British command in Naples is looking for a liaison officer and he was of the view that I should get the job. He’s raised the matter with Col Brana Zivkovic, who has given his agreement. This afternoon, Col Brana will be talking to Gen Damjanovic about the matter.

April 26

Radio Belgrade has been talking about conditions in our camp. I think it’s good for the people back home to know about how we’re living and what we’re doing.

April 28

The weddings have started again. There were four today. Vojvoda Momcilo Djujic has left the camp. He was scared he might be arrested so the hero has fled.

April 29

News from our people in the British zone in Germany — they’ve had all privileges and exemptions withdrawn. Here in Eboli, our guards have been removed from the camp gates and all our vehicles have been moved into the British car park. I don’t know the reasons for all this but it’s not good.

Djujic is with Jevdjevic. They’re somewhere near the camp but the location is a secret.

April 30

News is coming through that radio contact has been made with the commander of the Sumadija corps group of the Royal Yugoslav Army in the Homeland, Lt Col Dujo Smiljanic.

A report has come to hand from our intelligence centre in Naples. It’s dated April 17 and says that two or three days ago a medical doctor called Vejic, a Croat Ustasa, fled from the staff of Tito’s 7th division. He’s staying at 59/6 on the Via del Mile in Naples with the Romano family.

He’s revealed the following:

The staff of the 4th army is in Ljubljana. The commanding officer is Gen Danilo Lekic. His chief of staff is Branko Babic. Both are failed students.

The composition of the 4th army is the 7th division, the 26th Dalmatian division, the 1st proletarian division, the 23rd Serb division, the 43rd Istarska division, the 17th Slovenian division and a tank brigade. The total number of men including support units is 100,000.

Divisions consist of three infantry brigades, and an artillery brigade. The 1st proletarian division also has a tank unit

Vejic believes the 7th division has the most important position. The commander is Nikola Grubor — a Partisan officer.

The 1st brigade in Ajdovscina comprises one battalion in Pocje (Potoce?) village on the road from Ajdovscina to Gorizia. There is another battalion in Trnovo, while the third is with brigade staff.

The 2nd brigade is in Vipava.

The 3rd brigade is at Sveta Lucija near Tolmin. The artillery brigade is at Crni Vrh.

On the left flank of the 7th division are the 26th division and the 1st, with the 23rd near Postojna. The 43rd is on the right, and the 17th division is near Idrija.

Morale is very poor. Every ten men includes an OZNA agent. No one dares hold a conversation and people are fleeing, usually in pairs as if they were to mention their plans to a third man he would surely be an OZNA member. They’re very cautious. From what the commissars have been saying, four Arnauts escaped recently but were returned by the English.

The escapees from the staff of the 7th division are the head of their veterinary service, his name is unknown, and Lt Stimac, from the operational section.

They’re intensively spreading propaganda against the British and the Americans. Two months ago the 4th army was completely rearmed with Russian materiel. This was marked with great celebrations as the day the 4th army became part of the Red Army.

In Yugoslavia there are 50 regular divisions, nine divisions of people’s defence, three militia divisions and the OZNA.

May 1

I’ve been given a room-mate — Col Ivan Tkalcevic. He’s a very jolly man and is always talking and telling jokes. Today he’s writing a comedy playlet called “Within the Camp Wire”. He’s very witty.

Tlak is 48, small and bald with a nose like a gherkin. He’s bandy-legged to the extent that they form a letter O, and clean-shaven. Before the war he was a policeman. He likes a nice slice and he’s not averse to a glass of something. He also likes to give the ladies a sly look. He’s an optimist in terms of what he says, but I wouldn’t say the same for his actions.

Today I’ve learned that Tlak is a democrat. In a debate between two poorly men in the next room, one said that democracy is chewing gum. The other said no, a Swiss cheese.

May 5

There’s talk that the Swiss papers have brought news about events in Yugoslavia. It’s said that in the mountains around Jastrebac, Kalabic has led 26,000 men in battle and defeated a force comprising three communist divisions and 500 planes. I’m sure this tale is nothing more than the product of imagination and wishful thinking. Men will believe anything.

May 6

Djurdjevdan (St George’s Day) and the Sumadija division has been celebrating. Today I was discharged from hospital. I wished a happy slava to Mrs Bulovan and Mrs Sokolovic.

Father Steva Prostran gave a speech at the Sumadija division’s slava. He’s a dedicated Volunteer. Instead of working for unity, as was his duty as a man of the cloth, he incited trouble. He praised the Sumadija division, adding that their enemies have forced them to remove their crosses and to stop using their slogans “Who is with us?” and “Glory to our fallen comrades”.

The speech went down badly even with the honourable Sumadija men. Through the speech, Father Prostran showed that he is doing Tito’s work. It was heavily criticised.

The camp was decorated with greenery to celebrate the St George’s Day slava.

May 8

Today I was told to prepare myself as I’m going to get a new duty about which I will hear more later. I weighed myself and I’m (79.75kg) 12 stone 7oz.

May 9

There’s been a memorial service for the soldiers who died on the Soca last year. There were five priests and two deacons. Father Dobrota gave the sermon. The Catholics held their own service.

I’ve received a leaflet issued in response to Father Prostran’s speech at the Sumadija division’s slava. It says: “Open letter to Father Stevan Prostran. Father Prostran, do you realise what you said yesterday at the Sumadija division’s slava?

“All those of us who listened to you asked ourselves if you were drunk or even mad. We quickly rejected the former because we could see from your bearing that you were sober. Sadly, because of you, and those on whose behalf you spoke, it seems the second suggestion is confirmed — you’re mad.

“If that wasn’t true, how could it be that a man who is supposed to serve God and his people in a way that promotes God’s love, could set out to cause even bigger divisions than those you and your kind have already created.

“You poor man. It would have be better if your mouth had turned inside-out than you tried in that way to defend the indefensible — to pick at Serb wounds that have started to fester.

“Couldn’t your saintly mouth find better and wiser words to praise those who were killed? Couldn’t you find words to erase the differences among brothers — even Volunteer crosses — rather than ‘foolish’ and ‘perverted’? We ask you only in whose name you spoke? Who are those old fools?

“If you spoke in the name of the Dinarska Cetnik division to which, to our great sadness and shame you belong, who told you to do so? If you spoke on behalf of someone else then we can only go back to our assumption that you’re mad, because you’re doing Tito’s work and are unable to see it.

“Is that the way you spread love among Serb brothers? You even have the gall to consider yourself part of the bravery of the Dinarska Cetnik division — a division that sacrificed thousands of lives for the fatherland while the Volunteers fought for the greater German reich and their new Europe. You wish, with that one Jesuit speech of yours, to spit on all the sacrifices, merits and ideals for which we fought? Shame on that grey beard⁵⁶ of yours.

“Do you really believe you have any future in this Royal Yugoslav Army camp? Your loyalty to the cause exists only on paper. In your heart you are far from the army. The things we didn’t understand in 1942, when you shamelessly declined to take the oath of allegiance to King Peter II, are now clear to us. Those were difficult days when all our people, without doubt, saw His Majesty as their very life’s breath and rallied to his cause. But you demurred because you wanted to consider other paths. You decided to wait.

“Do you think we, in the Dinarska Cetnik division, are men who don’t know who Steva Prostran is, or who his honourable sons are, and on whose account that family works? We know only too well the man here, and the Gestapo officer who is swanning about Rome, still carrying a Cetnik bullet in his chest because of his anti-Serb and treasonous work.

“We haven’t forgotten when, at Eboli, he cursed the king and Draza and all he got from Vojvoda Djujic was three days in jail. After that he freely left the camp to continue his work in Rome, bearing the Prostran standard.

“But that mattered nothing to you. Your priestly skin is thick and you take it all heroically, just like your great teacher, in whose footsteps you faithfully walk, making sure no one forgets his followers.

“After the war, when Uncle Radovan looks at his notes, many things will come out into the open, but especially the spy letters which his honourable family sent to the comrade president in Belgrade from 1943. In this your brother in Christ (Djujic PP), who has fled, could say a few more words, as he could about the prepared liquidation of reporters.

“The chief Volunteer lawyer has shamefully fled to save his head and his money, which he gained at the expense of our Cetnik bones, and the bones of our fallen brothers. It puts him in the Volunteer club (Kulturbund) and canteen. He’s left you to carry on his work, and you are faithfully doing so. The two of you are whores. Why are you hiding behind the Cetnik name? Why don’t you openly declare who you are so that we all know?

“Do you stubborn old men realise that we aren’t blind? We know only too well your lordly friends were living it up in Cesena while we were dying in camp dust.

“At least one ex-priest had the dignity to shave off his beard, the only remnant of his clerical status, and then fled. It would be best for you if you did the same, because you’re following in his footsteps and have taken over his main job in the camp: the destruction of Serb interests so that you and your clique might prevail. Shame on you Father Stevan Prostran you misfit.

“The faithful sons of their king and people.” — May 7, 1946.

As a unit of the Yugoslav army in the homeland, the Volunteers had their own emblem similar to a Cross of Takovo. However, according to orders, they should have replaced it with Ravna Gora insignia.

With that cross, Father Prostran is branding Ravna Gora fighters the enemies of the Serbian Volunteer Corps. Yet on March 4, the crosses were removed and with due ceremony taken to the Volunteer church where they were blessed and, as Father Alex Todorovic put it, placed within the hallowed ranks of our warriors.

If I might repeat Father Prostran’s words at the slava of the Zbor Sumadija division on May 6: He pointed to a large Zbor cross which formed the background in front of which were the slava candle and cake.

He said: “One group of foolish men and enemies wants to remove this sacred emblem. Well, in ancient times, the Jewish people didn’t dare mention Jehovah but they carried him in their hearts.”

The Volunteers put themselves on all the camp bodies. They came to Draza as Judases, later trying to ruin his reputation because they never had any faith in him. They sought shelter under Draza’s wing and he forgave them, but they only did so when they saw that their hopes of taking power in Serbia were melting like the snow in spring.

They lessened their criticism of Draza and his movement because they thought the Allies were going to help us. They wanted to use Draza’s army for their own advantage and especially to conceal their collaboration with the Germans. As soon as they were sure the Allies had abandoned us, and then when Cica was captured, they resumed their old ways of hatred to advance their campaign. With their foxlike treachery they have managed to win over some of our men.

The Volunteers’ basic premise is that Ljotic was the only teacher on the true path. All the others were wrong. Vojvoda Momcilo Djujic was their man heart and soul and they encouraged him into many procedures which were not befitting of Draza’s commanders and Cetniks.

At 8.30pm there was a show with a very nice programme. Gen Damjanovic gave a speech and some diary extracts were read out: “A meeting with Cica”, “March through Vipava” and “A peasant’s recitation to the peasant king”. There were poems and songs too. My favourites were the peasant’s recitation and the song for the dead.

May 10

I’ve packed up my belongings and am waiting to be assigned new duties.

May 11

The camp is a little calmer after all the crises. There’s been a meeting of the camp doctors and some very harsh words were said, to the extent that it looked like they might come to blows. Eventually everything passed without violence.

After tea I went into the town with Branko Malesevic. We got to know some Italians who told us the British are getting rid of a vast amount of military supplies in Africa, and especially Egypt. I linked this news with a recent speech by the British prime minister, Attlee, about withdrawing from Egypt.

I’m still waiting to be assigned new duties.

May 12

It’s been a good day. I’ve had a letter from my relative Lidija Alesani from Grado near Trieste, and with it came another letter, from my dear dad and my beloved mother. The letter was sent to Niko’s wife Anka. From it I see that they’re worried about me and trying to comfort me, but even so they’ve criticised my wife, Jelena, for allowing Olga to marry at such a very young age. They don’t say whether they’ve tried to do anything to help her. My wish is that Olga becomes a good wife.

The body of a gendarme has been found. He was killed by his friends who also robbed him.

From the Italians I hear that fascism is getting stronger while communism is weakening. They’re hopeful that everything will turn out well.

May 13

The Volunteers are very active. In addition to everything else they’re telling their young men to marry girls from Cetnik families but forbidding their own young women to marry Cetniks.

Jevdjevic and Djujic are publishing anti-British leaflets. Rumours are doing the rounds of the camp: 1, that Gen Damjanovic has signed some sort of deal with the Americans that we should link up with the US army; 2, That we’re all going to Austria; 3, That we’re going to be rearmed.

It’s difficult to work out the truth because while lots of stories are being made up in this camp, there are lots of things in the open that ought to be secret. It could be that everything’s plain lies. It’s not impossible that the communists have a hand in this propaganda through the work of their spies. Tito’s mission in Rome is doing everything it can to extinguish the flame of freedom in Eboli Camp.

Djujic has sent a letter to his guard saying that he’ll soon have completed a very important job.

From 5 to 7pm I joined Niko, Anka and Branko Malesevic to visit some Italians. The main topic of conversation was the coming national elections. It was easy to tell they are fascist sympathisers and are hoping fascism will rule Italy again. There are lots of fascists in the woods.

May 14

Gen Damjanovic hosted a meeting of clergy. After long discussions he asked them to concentrate on spiritual matters and to keep away from politics. At the end, Deacon Miljkovic (the Volunteers’ spiritual head) stood up to congratulate Gen Damjanovic on the way he had chaired the meeting. The general is a dedicated, educated, tough and determined officer and as such attracts respect from everyone — even Miljkovic.

The Volunteers wanted to convert him to their cause but he energetically rebuffed them. He told me about the Serbian Volunteer Corps’ entry into the Royal Yugoslav Army in the Homeland. When he was about to give a speech to the gathered units about their admission, Ljotic told him as they went on to the stage: “General, I didn’t want this.” Damjanovic replied: “Okay, let’s go back to the way things were.” Ljotic said: “No, leave things as they are.”

It’s important to point this out so that people can better understand the tendencies of the Zbor leadership, their intents and purposes, and why they asked to become part of the JVuO. They wanted the safety of being part of a bigger body but to carry on doing as they liked. They were and remain egotists.

May 15

Anti-Volunteer leaflets are still being produced. The situation of the Croat Army unit that is working in Salerno is very fragile. The Ustase have managed to sway them and five have fled.

Jevdjevic and Djujic have started to publish Srpske Novine (Serb Newspaper). It’s said they’ve written to Gen Damjanovic saying they’ll be available when he needs them.

May 16

Discord is breaking out again. A lot of people are still unhappy about Father Prostran’s speech at the slava of the Sumadija division on St George’s Day. Favourable comments are being made about the Macek-Krnjevic⁵⁷ statement to the Paris foreign ministry about the situation in our country.

May 17

Zbor rumours: They’re saying Cica has been replaced by some man called Raja Popovic who is a Volunteer. They say that Dr Djoka Slijepcevic is a freemason so that the anti-masons have him in their midst. There are also rumours that Tito’s been killed.

Lt Predojevic has been in contact from Piraeus in Greece. He’s been sent there to make contact with our people back home.

May 18

Today is my birthday — my second in exile. A full 41 years of my life. I’m alone with my thoughts and my cares. I haven’t told anyone because I don’t want to be bothered with greetings and gifts.

At 10am I went to a memorial service given by Mr and Mrs Sokolovic for their son, and by Father and Mrs Gasic for his brother, both victims of the civil war. During this sad service I thought about my nearest and dearest who gave their lives for the king and freedom, and also my little boy Milan.

Preoccupied with these thoughts I’ve spent today in exile, far away from my birthplace.

May 19

Today there’s been a big election rally in Salerno organised by the nationalists. As a group of people from Eboli passed our camp in around ten wagons, waving flags, heading for Salerno, they shouted “long live King Peter”. It’s strange that the fascists, for so long our bitter enemies, are now extending such warm wishes to us.

Tonight there was a gathering called by a Venetian named Giulich. He complained about Giulia. A local Italian reminded him that Italy had lost the war and as such had to cede territory. Giulich replied: “Then why not give away part of Lombardy?”

On May 24 there’s going to be a huge nationalist meeting in Naples. Free trains are being laid on. Belgrade’s worried that on the same day the monarchists will join the neo-fascists in a march on Rome.

May 21

Around 8am I left for Naples to do a job for the camp. Mrs Zora Trbojevic, a member of the Serb Sisters’ Circle from New York, has sent four cases of clothing to a Mr Cukic who lives in Rome, and he’s donated them to us. There were some problems in getting the British to give me permission to go. Capt Turner is a very awkward man and it seems he’s unsympathetic towards us. Even so, after some discussions he agreed.

We found the cases at Via Chiamare 6. Because some sugar fell out of one of them there was 5,000 lire customs duty to pay on top of all the other costs. Because of this I was unable to pick up the goods. I left a written plea asking that the charges be waived.

I have to say that before leaving for Naples, I received a pass which contained my personal description, which was valid from 8am to 6pm. I was escorted by three British soldiers. They wouldn’t allow me to get any dinner. I got back to the camp at 4pm. Anka immediately called me round and made some pancakes.

The election campaign is massive. From Eboli to Naples every wall seems to have a slogan on it.

May 22

Today I attended another clergy meeting called by Gen Damjanovic. This was to do with resolutions they made. There were many sharp words. The main issue was Father Prostran’s speech on May 6 and the removal of Volunteer crosses. The general gave them a written answer that was legally drafted and they accepted it.

Father Alex Todorovic, Father Mile Zelic and deacons Radovan Miljkovic, Milorad Dobrota and Vlasta Tomic all spoke. They justified their resolutions by saying they weren’t against Damjanovic, in fact they were in support of him. They were focused on certain issues that needed to be resolved by everyone working together.

The meeting finished with a resolution that they would loyally support the general in his efforts.

News from Austria: Gen Todor Milicevic has been arrested and Gen Ilija Brasic is wanted.

May 23

A new surprise: the British have imposed prisoner-of-war rules on our correspondence. We can send two letters of up to 22 lines each month.

Another 150 men are to be sent to work.

May 24

In connection with educational and cultural activities in our camp, Capt Brana Lazarevic gave a very notable lecture on what’s happening in Yugoslavia under Tito and the murderous OZNA. He graphically showed the regime to be the worst tyranny on earth.

We learned that general staff Col Milan Kaludjercic was in fact one of Tito’s agents and that he’s now in Berlin and working against us. Lazarevic read us a communist party circular which gave instructions to their external agents to destroy our organisation and to kill Americans and the British — making it look as though we had done it — so that the Allies would hate us.

About 11pm a communist cell was uncovered in camp and nine members captured. Under interrogation they all confessed and revealed their contacts. They wanted to attack senior officers.

May 27

In connection with the handing over of our units to Tito in May of last year, so that they could be slaughtered in the forests of Kocevje, Slovenia, two memorial events were held under the banner of “you have failed to defeat us”. There was also a commemorative show.

You have to understand that the Zbor spirit prevailed. It all made me feel sick, especially their claims to be mourning the dead. May God have mercy on them. There were more than Volunteers present. There were others who were members of Ravna Gora units. But that didn’t matter to the Volunteers. As far as they were concerned all those killed were their members.

The production lasted from 9 to 11pm. In several ways it depicted the life of five of their regiments in Koruska.

A communist from Sibenik has been arrested in the camp. He was found to have money and other valuables worth about 500,000 dinars. He’s been taken for questioning.

May 28

I’m making a serious attempt to learn English. I might need it.

This morning I visited Gen Djukic, our Rasputin. I found him trying to make himself look younger by dying his moustache and hair. I asked him if the tinting had any effect on victory. He gave me a shifty look and said: “Of course it affects it.” To which I retorted: “It’s great when a man’s an optimist.” We then talked about out situation and the possibilities that might await us.

May 29

Interesting news from the Italian newspapers of May 26 and 27. It has the smell of gunpowder. Troops are moving on the Morgan Line⁵⁸ near Trieste. There have also been diplomatic announcements and Soviet radio is continuing its anti-Western propaganda. Yugoslav communist chiefs have gone to Moscow. New armaments. There’s been a flood of deaths etc.

The British colonel has been to see Gen Damjanovic and asked him to advise our men not to leave the camp during the days of the elections — June 1 to 3. He praised those of our men who are working and promised that more would be needed.

Rumours: Mile Kapetanovic showed me a letter from Rome which says that the Allies have finalised the day on which they will attack Yugoslavia and Russia. It adds that Tito is going to Moscow as ambassador and his place is being taken by Edvard Kardelj.

According to some accounts, Tito’s government has set aside seven million dinars for the destruction of the Eboli camp. Successful tracking of communist agents has prevented that.

June 1

Summer’s arrived. We’ve been given warm-weather clothing and around the huts and tents it’s green everywhere, like a garden. Some people have got chickens and rabbits and there’s some tens of dogs loping about the camp. Our men are trying to come to terms with the life that has been forced on them and are doing what the can to make it tolerable.

The elections take place tomorrow and we’ve been confined to camp. Two or three wounded British soldiers have arrived from Salerno where they were shot by the communists.

June 2

The elections are going ahead in Eboli without any problems. I’ve seen lots of lorries taking men and women to vote, and carrying the national flag. I haven’t seen one communist banner.

It’s doubted that Dr Hitrec and Dr Pazarac are communist agents. The same with Golubovic who was station master at Cuprija. But understand that this needs to be carefully confirmed because today it’s so easy to pin colours on people.

June 5

Branko Malesevic has told me that the British have said they have received instructions to get out and meet us more. Four hundred men have gone to work in Benvenuto. It looks like they’ll be getting paid from July 1.

June 7

The British command has advised us that we are to get more equipment. It’s being heard that those of our men who are working will have their pay backdated to February 1. News is spreading about unrest in Italy, and especially in Naples and Rome, over the outcome of the plebiscite that ended the monarchy.

June 9

The gendarme regiment has celebrated its holy slava by remembering the first sacrifices of the Belgrade gendarme garrison at Cukur Cesma.

At 8am there was a memorial service for the fallen gendarmes. The slava cake was cut at 11am with the regiment formed up in the space by the car park. In the middle was a table with the zito, the cake and a container of water. The cutting was done by Father Vlasta Tomic who gave a very nice speech. After him came veteran gendarmerie colonel Cika Sreta Stranjakovic. Zito, rakija and sandwiches were laid out in a beautifully decorated billet. Music was playing the entire time.

Today we set a record for weddings. Ten couples got married.

June 10

It’s a very important day — Cika Draza’s trial has begun. We’re paying great attention to what happens. Lt Col Hanson, commander of Eboli Camp, visited Gen Damjanovic and told him we are not considered prisoners of war. Equipment is arriving and being distributed.

June 11

Draza’s trial.

Today the count from Salerno has been to the camp. He says that over the last few days he took a parcel from Rome to Trieste that will save Gen Mihailovic. But he didn’t tell us what was in the parcel or to whom he gave it.

All day long there have been trucks full of communists who have been shouting like crazed animals. Passing the camp they shouted “down with King Peter, down with Umberto, long live Tito, long live Stalin”. They chanted “Re-pub-lica”.

June 12

The group that went to Benevento under the command of Major Dragisa Jevtic has been armed and treated well. Dragisa is very happy. Things are getting very heated in Italy. It wouldn’t surprise us if there was a civil war.

June 13

At his trial, Cica expressed himself beautifully when talking about Gen Damjanovic. He described him as an excellent officer, adding: “If I had had four Damjanovics, you would be sitting where I am and I would be sitting where you are.” And Gen Mihailovic hasn’t forgotten his faithful Ravna Gora men in the Serbian State Guard who were of great value to him.

A Croat, who lives in Rome, has asked to work with us. He asked Gen Damjanovic to send a representative to him to see what he and his group are doing. I have no further information about this offer or who this Croat is.

June 14

Col Brana Zivkovic has shown me a letter from America. It discusses the work of the American OSS⁵⁹ Col Robert McDowell in terms of the surrender of Germany’s Balkan army to the US. It says the Americans aren’t going to abandon Europe. Currently, the intention is to do everything peacefully through the peace conference tomorrow. The plan to is seal a peace deal that will result in the Russians withdrawing back to the USSR. If the Russians refuse, then in September the UN will rule on the matter. It all means it will be at least another year before we return home.

June15

I’ve been back to Naples and taken possession of the items from Mrs Zora Trbojevic duty-free. I joined Lt Col Hanson in an inspection of the camp. He was only interested in the toilets.

June 16

I went to mass and then back to my billet where I stayed till 4pm. After that I went to see my kumovi and then Anka and Niko.

June 18

I hear Rome radio has been saying that or camp will be moved to Naples.

June 19

Departures for work continue. The British have taken 17 of our police officers and placed CH.P on their sleeves for Cetnik Police.

We’ve heard there’s been a general mobilisation in Yugoslavia. But against whom?

Vera Lazarevic has been to camp. She’s travelled from Trieste but is actually from Cacak and is related to the chemist Dragoljub Lazic. I gave her some mail for my family. She promised to post it.

June 21

I’ve received some 25 per cent glucose injections to strengthen my blood pressure which has fallen. The camp has accepted 68 men who have come from Rimini. There was nothing about Cica’s trial on the radio last night, probably because the verdict is being considered.

June 22

The lawyer Moma Vukobratovic has arrived in camp from Rome. From what he says it seems they’ve changed their mind about Eboli camp in Rome and they’re endeavouring to move here.

Ferdo Bajagic, another who’s come from Rome, tells me a huge camp has been opened near Udine for men deserting from Tito’s army. There’s around 77,000 in it. There’s also talk that our camps in Austria will be moved to Italy.

On June 19 and 20 the British were on a state of high alert.

Today I’ve again inspected the camp with the commandant, Lt Col Hanson. Once again he’s paid special attention to the toilets.

June 26

Since I started receiving the glucose injections I feel great. My appetite’s returning and I no longer feel faint.

At this afternoon’s commanders’ meeting there were discussions about erecting a cross in our cemetery, the completion of index cards, school punishments, and the newspapers being published by Jevdjevic and Djujic and the way their anti-British comments are causing problems.

Traitors have told Gen Damjanovic they’ll liquidate him if the papers are banned. This illustrates how our great vojvodas are showing no concern for the people in the camp. Their pig-headedness demands revenge against those of us who have stayed here. They’ve sorted themselves out and who cares what happens to the people in the camp. The vojvodas are aggressive and self-obsessed bullies. They’re well-disposed towards our enemies, but are surly and ill-mannered towards our allies.

“The general tells me our apple has started to blossom”.

June 27

Two YMCA officials have been to the camp. They were young men: Mr Nelson and Dr Freyberg. I’ve had a letter from Mr Hugo Kongrelj. He lives in Catania on Sicily and wants me to visit him. I’ve decided to respond to the invitation.

June 28

Today we’ve solemnly marked Vidovdan. At 8.30am there was a memorial service for all those who’ve died in battle for the sacred cross and golden liberty since Kosovo in 1389 to the present day. Father Vlasta Tomic gave a very good speech.

In the evening there was show which featured various recitations. Capt Brana Lazarevic gave a presentation about the Battle of Kosovo Polje with the assistance of Dr Djoka Slijepvevic. It was very well done and very interesting. The painting of the young woman of Kosovo was displayed.

Rumours: The Italian press says that masses of people are fleeing into the forests in Yugoslavia.

A suspicious type has been arrested in camp. He says he wanted to poison the camp leader. It looks like another attempt by Tito’s OZNA to cause trouble at Eboli Camp.

June 29

First of all there was the usual camp inspection with Lt Col Hanson.

There’s been a conference at which Gen Damjanovic reported on what he found while touring our camps in Italy where our soldiers are at work. Everything seems to be satisfactory and the men are content. The British aren’t interfering with the distribution of our publications in those units.

July 1

Mrs Vida Mihailovic, wife of the late Major Ljuba Mihailovic, has arrived in camp. He was my assistant in Jagodina before going into the forests. Mrs Mihailovic has brought with her two children Vera and Dusko. It was so good to see them. Mrs Mihailovic told me the sad story of her dear husband. I’m going to help her as much as I can.

I’ve had a visit from Signor Domenico Mangrela, president of the chamber of commerce in Catania on Sicily. He’s a mechanical engineer by profession. He’s bought some toys for 3,000 lira.

July 5

At a commanders’ meeting Gen Damjanovic read a letter which Capt Miodrag Radotic wrote to be sent to the USA. Among many other lies it says we’re starving and struggle to move.

This afternoon I went to see Mrs Mihailovic and played with her little son Dusko. He reminded me so much of my own little boy Milan that quite a few times I called him Milan rather than Dusko.

It’s been announced that we’ll have to vote on whether or not we want to return to Yugoslavia. Tito’s is using every trick to destroy this camp. The hand of his Rome mission can be seen here.

July 6

My first task this morning was to inspect the camp, and its toilets, with Lt Col Hanson

Time is slowly passing. Behind us lie 605 days since we left our homes and hearths.

Rumours circulating in the camp: Palosevic has issued an ultimatum to Tito — if he executes Cica, Palosevic will kill 77,000 communists and their sympathisers. Father Gasic says Cica is already dead as the result of execution or suicide.

July 7

I’ve had a visit from my kum, Kosta, and his brother Mile Kapetanovic, chief of staff of the Dinarska Cetnik division. They gave me a letter to read in which Lt Col Milivoje Vuksanovic, commander of the Lika corps, within the same division, sent to Vojvoda Momcilo Djujic as a response to a letter Djujic and Jevdjevic wrote together.

In the letter they attack everyone and everything and lean on a Capt Ilic from the air force who was with Tito. The letter is very well put together and clearly highlights all the falsehoods the two vojvodas are spreading. It sums up their characters perfectly: immature with a despotic desire for power at any price and with no regard for the consequences. They are brutal and churlish.

The British Capt Turner, who told us we’ll be getting our own zone of free movement in Eboli, mentioned that they’re going to put a badge on our left sleeve — a blue circle or square 4cm by 4cm. They’re determined to mark us out.

July 8

This afternoon I went with Mrs Mihailovic to visit Gen Damjanovic and Major Lakovic, commander of the Drinska regiment.

July 12

I’ve been to our cemetery where I gave a 40-day memorial for Kulisic. It’s close to the village of Pontecagnano and the German cemetery. It’s about 10km from Eboli. There’s 40 graves — 36 adults and four children of whom two weren’t christened. Among them is one of our soldiers who was shot by a comrade in Benevento. An inquiry is taking place.

July 13

Tonight, 35 soldiers from the 2nd battalion of the Dalmatian regiment have fled the camp. They’re all from the village of Oton near Knin and under the leadership of the Knezevic brothers. Milos Knezevic actually came back to the camp to lead away more of his men but was arrested.

News has come through that Tito was wounded on his way to Montenegro. The Italian press has written something about this too.

Didek, vice-president of the Croat Peasants Party, has arrived in camp with the secretary, a Mr Music or Rusic. They had talks with Gen Damjanovic and recognised Gen Matija Parac as head of the Croat forces within the Yugoslav army under the command of Gen Miodrag Damjanovic.

July 15

Today we’ve received the sad and devastating news that our dear Cica, Gen Dragoljub Draza Mihailovic, has been sentenced to death by firing squad along with the others who were tried with him.

July 17

News has come through that the death sentence has been carried out on our Cika Draza. You must understand that this news has had a colossal impact on all of us. Everybody in the camp is depressed and sad.

Tito has succeeded in his diabolical plan to physically remove Gen Draza Mihailovic. He believes that by doing so he has extinguished Mihailovic’s spirit, raising himself to a glorious throne and conquering the hearts of the Serb people so that he is the all-powerful autocrat.

This is another consequence of the ill-thought acts of March 27, 1941, when a group of ambitious men in uniform who answered to no one carried out a coup d’état. Their actions plunged the country into the fire and terror of war, and then they shamelessly fled abroad leaving Yugoslavia to Pavelic, the Italians, the Germans and their satellites.

They left the country without a second thought and left us to surrender to the Germans, letting them confiscate our materiel and equipment rather than instructing us to form a guerrilla army to which they could send help from abroad.

Gen Mihailovic’s murder shows that Tito and the Communist Party of Yugoslavia have decided that truth and freedom, the two basic principles of humanity, should be removed. It’s the total opposite of what our Cica fought for. I deeply believe that communist power is only a transitory entity and that the free world will eventually stamp on its throat.

Draza set out his own programme based on the principles of freedom, commitment and democracy. Tito fought to topple the capitalist system by force and to create a new society based on the dictatorship of the proletariat. In this way he trampled on the great idea of freedom, unity and aspiration that is the product of the spirit of St Sava and Kosovo. A full 400 years later these principles found full expression in France at the time of their great revolution. They were carried across the whole of Europe by Napoleon’s troops and found a home in the hearts of people who desire liberty. They motivated our awakening and helped us reach national liberation and to embrace the democratic values our people cherish so much.

All our uprisings and movements at the start of the 19th century were founded on these principles starting with Karadjordje through Vuk Karadzic, Dositej Obradovic, Svetozar Miletic⁶⁰, King Peter I, King Alexander and our Ravna Gora leader Draza Mihailovic.

The people have taken Draza’s sacrifice in the same way that they accepted that of Prince Lazarus⁶¹ — as a conscious attempt to preserve national dignity and to serve as a spiritual and driving force for the later dead in understanding and accepting their knightly duty towards the fatherland. They are carrying Draza’s memory in their hearts where it will smoulder until the day it flares up in the magnificent flame that is the battle for liberty and brings back freedom, truth, unity and democracy to our people who Tito has shackled in new chains of slavery.

The day was fine and sunny. The national flag flew at half-mast at the centre of the exercise ground. The troops were formed up. Every man had a black ribbon on his sleeve. The women were dressed in deepest black. It was a very sombre scene.

At exactly 8.30am, the head of the supreme command, Gen Miodrag Damjanovic, arrived looking shaken. Quietly, he inspected the ranks and then, in a clear, loud voice, broke the silence with our military greeting: “Heroes, may God help you.” The reply thundered back from hundreds of soldiers’ voices as one: “May God help you.”

The band played the lead into prayer, and then the memorial service began. There were five priests and two deacons with Father Vlasta Tomic at their head. On the altar were zito and a lovely array of flowers. During the litany, the responses were provided by the well-rehearsed choir of the Sumadija division.

After the service, Father Tomic gave a moving speech, and the commandant read out order No 117. After the words “glory to him” the band played Beethoven’s death march. After that there was a salute to the king and the national anthem. And with this concluded the solemn religious service of respect to Cica.

Order No 117

From the assistant to the chief of staff of the supreme command, July 17, 1946, to all Royal Yugoslav Army warriors outside the homeland.

“Heroes!

“With a heart petrified by the pain in my soul, I address you, the faithful and fearless fighters and followers of Gen Draza Mihailovic — our legendary Cica. He is no longer among us. The ruthless and partisan court of the self-appointed Marshal Josip Broz Tito sentenced him to death. That sentence wasn’t passed just on Gen Mihailovic but on all of us, his fighters and followers.

“It is a punishment which the communist party has administered to the whole of our people which we, with our Cica at the head, loved dearly and for whose freedom and future we have fought. That was the point of the sentence Tito’s court passed in Belgrade on the 15th of this month.

“Heroes!

“Our Cica is no longer among the living.

“Tito executed him this morning.

“But Tito and his communist party are deluding themselves if they think they have killed Gen Mihailovic. Heroes, they have only killed the body. His spirit cannot be extinguished. Our Cica will always live in our soldiers’ hearts from where nothing can remove him. Cika Draza has entered the hearts of our honourable peasant people and there found warmth, and a gentle, sincere and boundless love and loyalty. It’s a place from which nothing can force him out.

“Across the breadth of our defiled homeland, our whole enslaved nation is today quietly and reverently lighting candles and praying for the soul of our Cica. Those prayers aren’t being accompanied by the sound of Christian church bells, but despite OZNA’s arrests and killings they can’t kill the memory of Gen Mihailovic. They can’t crush the hearts of our people. So today, instead of bells, the beating of broken, wounded hearts is accompanying the prayers.

“Today, the whole civilised and democratic world is demonstrating against Tito’s latest and most infamous crime. Allied airmen, officers and soldiers are demonstrating in Washington — the capital of freedom and democracy — and demanding that Tito goes and liberty is restored to our people.

“We, Gen Mihailovic’s warriors, vow that we will continue on the path along which he, our great Cica, led us — the path of St Sava. The royal path of the king and people. We vow that we will continue to fight for the king and people in the way we should, and that we will fulfil the mission Cica left us in this, his message: “I have pledged to give my life for the king and fatherland. I’m certain that the people will never accept a life of slavery.

“Both I, and the Yugoslav army I commanded, are, and will always remain, loyal to our commander-in-chief, His Majesty King Peter II.

“You know my objective: we must remain true to the great task assigned to us at all costs. I could fall in battle but, as you well understand, that doesn’t mean the righteous cause for which our people are fighting would die with me. I am only the servant of the national will, and as such have led the fight against the occupiers and by extension the communists.

“You know that our commander-in-chief, His Majesty King Peter II, expects us to put all our efforts into this fight. Consequently I do not doubt, even for one second, that the sun of Ravna Gora freedom will soon rise above our wretched and persecuted country.

“At his place of execution, Gen Mihailovic could say with a clear conscience: ‘I have fulfilled my pledge,’ and to hear us reply in unison: ‘Cica, we vow that we will fulfil your mission or lay down our own lives’.

“Even though the loss of our commander, the legendary Draza, has left us in the deepest grief, the Lord has not forsaken us. We still have our commander-in-chief, His Majesty King Peter II, who is beyond the reach of Tito and OZNA. The king now has primacy. As soon as he heard the dreadful news of the execution he lodged a protest with the great Allies and demanded the freedom of our people.

“Gathered under our royal banner, we are a strong force around our commander-in-chief, and we remain loyal to him and to our people. Despite all the travails on our difficult road as exiles we will strive manfully to fulfil the sacred mission passed to us today.

“We will continue our fight from here, where we have stopped with our Cica. We will continue until the day of liberty dawns for our people or until we have left this earth. This irrecoverable loss will only serve to reinforce our efforts and our belief in the justness of our battle. It will renew our strength to struggle to the end for the freedom of our people.

“Gathered together under our military standard, and with unshakeable faith in our commander-in-chief, His Majesty the King, and the eventual victory of our sacred cause, we declare: All glory to the martyred Gen Mihailovic. Glory to all the heroes who laid down their lives on the altar of our blessed homeland.

“May our motto now, and in the future, be freedom or death. With faith in God for king and fatherland. Long live our commander-in-chief, His Majesty King Peter II.

“Gen Miodrag M Damjanovic.”

In the evening, a vast column of troops, peasants and old soldiers and fighters for freedom spontaneously formed up and moved from the main camp at Eboli to the annexe, about 3 to 4km away, where the staff of the main part of the supreme command was based headed by Cica’s number-two, general staff General of Brigade Miodrag M Damjanovic – Cika Beli.

The troops moved in two unbroken columns with their officers. They went right through Eboli shouting for their king and paying their respects to Cica. They shouted “Glory to Cica. Glory to Gen Mihailovic” as they voiced their protest against the murder of their Cica. They added “Down with Tito”. “Down with the communist executioners”.

Even though their grief was great and their souls were shaken, they were still full of hope that better days would come. It was stirring to watch these heroes, with eyes full of heartfelt tears, grieving the death of their commander, their leader. Despite all the pain they remained dignified and were giants.

As the column passed through Eboli many Italians tagged on shouting “Long live King Peter. Down with Tito”.

When the troops arrived at Gen Damjanovic’s HQ, 1,000 loyal voices let out the cry: “Long live the second Cica. Long live the second Cica, second Cica.” When Gen Damjanovic heard these expressions of respect, he came out, stood on a small wall and, visibly moved, gave the following speech:

“Heroes.

“This day of pain and grief for our great Cica (at which there was a thunderous roar of ‘glory to him’) would not be complete without what is taking place here. Thank you heroes. With this you show me that you will see today’s pledge fulfilled — that you will continue on the path laid out for us by our legendary Cica (another thunderous roar) with no concern for difficulty or sacrifice.

“I always knew his noble spirit reigned in your hearts, but now I can intensely feel your strong love and your irresistible determination to see this battle through to the end without any thought of self.

“I’m honoured to bear my pain because tomorrow I’ll be able to describe this event to our commander-in-chief, His Majesty King Peter II (a boisterous and long-lasting cry of ‘long may he live’) and to tell him about your expressions of deep loyalty and your determination to accept the greatest sacrifice for the liberty of our enslaved homeland (cries of ‘down with Tito’s bloody regime’. ‘Down with OZNA’.).

“Heroes, that is your answer to those who are calling you to return to the Fatherland where Tito’s bloody terror holds sway. Yes, I know only too well that you want to return to your families but only, as our young king put it (cries of ‘long may he live’) to our comrades in Germany, with the honour and dignity that befits true soldiers and warriors of the king.

“Our relatives back home are unable to show their grief freely like us. But perhaps the day is not too far away when, helped by the Western Allies we will join our commander-in-chief (another long-lasting cry of ‘long may he live’) in returning home. We’ll go back at the points of our own bayonets, taking coveted freedom with us under the tricolour that was unveiled on Ravna Gora. (I couldn’t make out the other words here because of loud chants of ‘Second Cica. Second Cica.’).

“Heroes. You ask too much. I can’t be the second Cica. No one can replace him. His equal cannot be found among us. Only as one body, united, can we achieve what he wanted, and what he began at Ravna Gora. (More increasingly frenzied chants of ‘Second Cica. Second Cica.’).

“Heroes such as you don’t need to say too much. We understand ourselves because we are united in feelings and grief, and in in our strong determination to fulfil today’s pledge. (Cries of ‘that’s right’ after which the emotional mass of soldiers shouted ‘We want the king. We don’t want Tito. Give us the king’.).

“And now heroes, I ask you to return to your camp in an orderly, military manner so that we show our Allies, under whose command and protection we live, that we know what we want and what we are fighting for. (More boisterous chants of ‘that’s right’.).

“Glory to our late Cica (long, thunderous shouts of approval). Long live His Majesty King Peter II (‘Long may he live”. Thunderous shouts of approval from all sides.). Heroes. Now for some rest so that tomorrow, with God’s help, you can begin new work.” (Gen Damjanovic ended his speech to wild cheering).

The troops made their way back to camp in the same order they had left, fortified by the words of their commander and vowing to see their struggle through to the end. The mayor of Eboli told me that these events made a deep impression on the local inhabitants, to the extent that the town became a nationalist community cleansed of communists and their ideology.

And so ended a day that will remains deeply ingrained on my heart and soul for as long as I live. We paid our respects to Cica in the best way we could given our situation. I have faith that God will help us to one day raise a majestic monument to our Cica at Ravna Gora where he spoke those historic words to Hitler that he did not recognise the capitulation and would continue to fight.

Those words inspired the people who joined Draza and sowed the seeds of the national Ravna Gora movement and the new Ravna Gora army which was prepared to fight until the occupiers were defeated. Draza and his people were admired not only in their own country, but across the free world.

He was held up as a freedom fighter only for the biased Churchill to abandon him to embrace the moral degenerate Tito, who lied and manipulated Churchill to get what he wanted. The help Tito requested wasn’t to fight the Germans and other occupiers, it was to prosecute a civil war and to liquidate his ideological enemies. This led to the bloody shots of July 17 that sprayed the breast of a great soldier who was once greatly admired and lauded by western military leaders.

Rest in peace dear Cica. We will never forget you. We’ll achieve your objectives one day.

July 22

We’re waiting to vote. The question is whether we want we want to stay, or to return home to Tito’s embrace. It looks like the British are under Tito’s influence and believe that our men would like to go back to Yugoslavia but are being prevented from doing so by their officers. We’ll see what happens.

News: Experiments with death rays are being carried out in Spain. The rays have a range of more than 20km.

A letter from Ljubljana says that children of 14 to 18 are being mobilised there and sent to work on a railway line. Every day ten of them are being admitted to hospital with venereal disease.

July 24

52 dubious characters have been sent to the punishment camp at Afragola.

July 25

I’ve received a parcel from the Srpska Narodna Obrana (Serb National Defence) in Canada. Its value is $14. The contents are a shirt, a pair of trousers, a T-shirt, a handkerchief, socks, soap, shaving kit, a comb, powdered egg, a bottle of calcium, pencil and notepaper, toothpaste, a toothbrush, needle and thread, Vaseline, coffee and tea.

In the evening there was a memorial show for Cica. Gen Damjanovic spoke for an entire hour. As part of the prologue there was a poem by Miroljub Brankovic. There was also a medley of death marches, some musical scenes, and a rendition of the folk song “Death of Draza Mihailovic” by Major Peter Martinovic. It was very poor. There was also a short play written by Kecman, a Ljotic follower, called “Change”. It portrayed the prosecution of the communist party. It was the wrong thing to show on such a sad occasion.

July 27

Today we voted on returning to Yugoslavia. Around 8,000 men took part and only six cast their ballot to return home. There were ten polling stations. Voting took place without any major incidents.

Suddenly, at 11am, Major Sava Djuranovic arrived in my office looking battered and bruised. He had voted to return and his own Montenegrins from the Zeta regiment had beaten him up. When he was taken to hospital no one would treat him.

The Drinska regiment organised demonstrations against Djuranovic in the evening and he was moved from the annexe to the main camp.

The voting has delivered a hammer blow to Tito and his helpers. Hopefully we’ll now be left alone.

August 5

From what we’re hearing, the British have started to take action against the communists in their own ranks and have shown them a film.

Zbor have restarted their propaganda against Gen Damjanovic. It looks like they’ve split into two groups. The main proponents of this propaganda are Jasa Ljotic and Ratko Parezanin. The general has reacted sharply.

August 6

Life in camp is getting progressively harder and takes place against a backdrop of attacks, arson and gossip. No matter what counter-measures are taken it can’t be crushed. Ljotic’s followers are continually causing trouble.

Our cultural group and band have gone on tour — about 90 people.

August 9

I’ve been to Lt Slavko Nikolic’s slava.

The Italian newspaper La Patria, has in issue 293 of July 26 and published in Florence, printed a very nasty piece. It is particularly critical of us Yugoslavs in Eboli camp. I’ve written a long reply in Italian which has been signed by a Catholic priest from Eboli who is known to me.

August 10

News has arrived that there have been talks in London about recognising a Yugoslav government in which Gen Damjanovic would be minister for the armed forces.

August 11

The situation maybe slowly changing in our favour. We’re all full of strange feelings. Are we really nearing the realisation of our wish to be reunited with our nearest and dearest in our beloved homeland? It’s hard to work our what’s happening.

Vojvoda Momcilo Djujic is working with Ljotic’s followers against Gen Damjanovic and will stop at nothing to topple him. I don’t know if it’s true, as I haven’t seen the letter, but there are rumours that Djujic has written: “The longer Damjanovic stays in place the more blood will have to be spilled.”

What’s certain is that Djujic feels empowered since Cica’s death. However, his actions show that he’s not even secure in his own place as commander of the Dinarska Cetnik division. The fact that he fled the camp and left his men is a huge minus for him. Damjanovic is fully aware of this and is monitoring the situation. He often gets it on the nose from the British because of the actions of this vojvoda. Djujic’s chief allies are Ljotic’s followers for whom Damjanovic, as Cica’s number-two, is a thorn in the side.

The grammar school headmaster, Dragosavljevic, is proving very difficult towards the head of the boarding school, Col Buda Martinovic. The reason is that Dragosavljevic is used to abusing the system and Martinovic will not allow it.

August 12

My friends in the Sumadija division, one of Ljotic’s units, tell me the Zbor people are publishing leaflets and greeting each other with “death to communism and Draza-ism”. The Serbian-language papers edited by Djujic and Jevdjevic are going to feature a story criticising Damjanovic written by so-called experts from Zbor.

August 14

Last night Djujic and Jevdjevic were in the camp sanatorium. We don’t know whom they were meeting.

A few days ago we were visited by former Italian lieutenant Kragic (an officer with links to the Bosnian Corps) who is now a captain in the fascist militia. He’s originally from Split but now lives in Trieste. He came to make contact with Djujic. It seems that his chiefs sent him to hold talks. Jovo Krec and Milan Cveticanin are maintaining links with Kregic.

Djujic and Jevdjevic are threatening to photograph Vaska’s grave and the military cemetery and to publish the picture in their newspaper to show how the grave of a mistress is better looked-after than those of soldiers. We all know that the maintenance of our military cemetery is down to Gen Damjanovic. Neither Djujic nor Jevdjevic has done anything in that regard.

August 22

Tonight the body of Capt Mirkovic of the Sumadija division has been discovered. Somebody shot him with three rounds of 6.35 calibre ammunition from a revolver and stabbed him. Greed is believed to have been the motive.

Eighty men have returned from work at Benevento.

We are constantly influenced by news and events from the national arena and are daring to hope that our wishes will be fulfilled.

August 24

Inspection of the camp with Lt Col Hanson.

We’ve held 40-day memorial services for Cica and Gen Musicki.

This afternoon the Italians wounded one of our soldiers in the shin. The lad was sitting under an olive tree reading a book.

The British have asked for lists of our men according to types of weapon.

August 28

I went to divine service and afterwards there was a procession around the church. There were seven priests and two deacons.

There’s a plan to create a Draza Mihailovic regiment consisting of three battalions. It will be armed.

September 2

I’ve received a parcel from Mrs Kay Savich of 1024 Dougall Avenue, Windsor, Ontario, Canada. It weighed 10.5lb and had a value of C$7.50. In it were six pairs of socks, a jumper, two handkerchiefs, two bars of soap, a toothbrush, three tins of sardines, 1kg of sugar, 500g of coffee, 250g of tea, a shaving brush, face cream, toothpaste, and a little bottle of cologne.

There’s been a request for 4,000 men to volunteer for work.

September 3

There’s been a conference involving the regimental commanders. An agreement has been worked out as to how many soldiers each will provide for work. For each group of 25 men there will be one second lieutenant, two corporals, a cook, a clerk and 20 sentries. Each group of 50 men will get an extra officer, with another two for every 75 to 100 soldiers. Groups of 200 men will get a senior officer. The groups will be supplied with all necessary equipment but no weapons. They’re going to the territory of the 3rd district north of Naples.

On September 1 Gen Damjanovic was visited by Dr Roy, an American, and Dr Carter from Caserta. They talked about the concerns of our men. Two representatives of Tito’s Yugoslavia were supposed to be with them. Roy and Carter described them as rogues. Gen Damjanovic said he didn’t want them to come as he couldn’t guarantee their safety.

September 5

Work parties are leaving for Bologna and Milan. The first group goes tomorrow with the officers leaving first and then from Sunday men will go every day until September 15.

Tonight a mob has been through the camp praising Djujic and Jevdjevic. It was organised by Radjenovic the MP for Srb-Lika. He was clearly acting on the instructions of the Vojvoda as a protest against the manifesto our men adopted on July 18 when they went to the camp annexe and called Gen Damjanovic the second cica.

September 6

There’s been a thanksgiving serving for the birthday of His Majesty King Peter II. There were five priests and two deacons. Father Vlasta Tomic gave a good speech and the General read his own declaration. In the evening there was a gala show with an excellent programme.

Five senior officers have left for Bologna, Mila, Rimini and Forli where are troops are going to work for the British.

September 7

Camp inspection with Lt Col Hanson.

I’ve sold my Havelock⁶² for 400 lira. I was very sad to lose it because it saved my life in Bosnia but I had to sell it as I have no money.

Preparations are under way for the departure of more men on work details.

Lt Knezevic, liaison officer for 56 Zone in Naples, has told me our treatment is about to improve greatly as the British have been highly impressed with our men.

September 12

I’ve waved off another group — from the 1st Lika regiment. There were 255 men from Lika and 156 from Drina. They’ve left by train for Milan.

There is no end to Djujic’s trouble-causing. He’s written that Damjanovic daren’t send men to Milan and Bologna because there are lots of communists there who will kill them. He’s been doing things like promoting corporals to lieutenants to win back the men’s loyalty and esteem which he lost after shaving off his priest’s beard and fleeing the camp.

There are stories that 16,000 Volksdeutsche⁶³ who have sworn allegiance to King Peter are coming to the camp.

September 13

The next work group has left — from the Sumadija division and the Slovene Army, as well as a few Dalmatians who returned in the evening.

Also, 29 Croats have returned from work. Of these 11 were taken to jail. It seems they’ve all been stealing.

September 15

Tonight there’s been a clash between Ljotic followers and anti-Zbor factions in the Sumadija division. One or two men have been wounded.

News has arrived that Macek has decided he wants an independent Croatia rather than Yugoslavia.

September 17

I’ve been advised that I’ll be sent to the Lama camp as a deputy.

September 19

The British are again asking for lists. This time, who was in the army, who wasn’t, and who was ill or disabled. The British commander has told Gen Damjanovic that he’ll be taking him to London in a couple of months’ time.

Today, 320 Dalmatians have gone to Lama and 50 Bosnians to Salerno.

I’ve received a letter from my dear mother’s sister, Aunt Danica, in Gorice. She tells me my grandmother Anna died in exile in Trieste on February 13, 1945.

September 20

A hundred men from the Lika regiment have left for work. Those in Bologna and Milan have been in touch to say they are being treated well.

September 27

I’ve been to church as I always do on a Sunday. It left me thinking about our fate, and about my family. While others get letters and even pictures, I get nothing. I find it a little strange. I keep in contact with Aunt Rose in Grado, and with Aunt Danica. They’re in touch with my parents, and give me news about them, but I have no direct contact with Belgrade. I write at every opportunity and have even sent a parcel. But nothing.

September 28

An OZNA member has been caught in camp — Nikola Vuckovic — who was trying to find his parents.

I’ve been to see Mrs Vida Mihailovic. We talked about Ljuba and Jagodina and how things were in the old days. She told me how she nursed American airmen. She also told me how Ljuba was captured. The camp in which he was held was “liberated” by the Red Army who sent him to Yugoslavia. In Beckerek (Zrenjanin) someone recognised Ljubo and informed the “people’s authorities”. He was taken to Djusina Street in Belgrade and put in solitary confinement. It’s said he drew pictures of his children on the walls. He was sentenced to death and executed.

October 1

Today I’ve been given command of a labour brigade. It’s about 1,000 strong and will be going to work near Salerno.

October 3

I’m sitting alone in my room and thinking about what has happened between October 3, 1944, and today — where we’ve been, what we’ve experienced and what we’re experiencing.

On October 4, 1944, Belgrade was shrouded in heavy clouds and strong winds were blowing. The sky and the whole of nature was weeping at the fate that awaited the city and Serbia, while the Red Army was closing in on Yugoslavia’s borders, stretching out a hand to Tito’s bandits so that it could put them in power.

The Serbs, with wounded pride, became a beacon for all enslaved peoples by resisting the nazi-fascists and the communists. Yet with the free world allowed Tito to take over.

I could see our suffering in Bosnia and Sandzak. Men died without complaint because of their deep belief that the free world would suddenly come to its senses and realise the huge error it had made towards a noble people and their leader.

I was preoccupied with such thoughts for several hours until I was suddenly aware of knocking at my door. It was my friend and fellow Dalmatian Vasa Miljus who had invited me to supper. He was going to work in Bologna so it became a farewell meal and there was a toast to a safe journey.

October 5

The group that set off to work in Bari has been in a road accident. Around ten men were injured.

Mile Kapetanovic, chief of staff of the Dinarska Cetnik division, showed me an order in which Vojvoda Momcilo Djujic forbids the men from accepting senior officers from outside the division. In fact, the order was aimed at me. It wants me removed and Lt Cveticanin appointed commander. I’ve also seen a bulletin issued by Djujic and Jevdjevic.

October 6

About midnight Capt Nikola Markovic, the hospital manager, came to see me. He informed me that he had received a telegram ordering him to go to Bari with four ambulances to pick up seven bodies and eight badly injured men from the road accident. Four men from the Drinska regiment were seriously hurt and there are 13 walking wounded.

October 9

A memorial service for the blessed King Alexander I, the unifier, has been held on the exercise ground. As usual there were five priests and two deacons. Speeches were given by Father Vlasta Tomic and our general.

As the sad service took place, I thought back to October 9, 1934, when the radio announced the dreadful attack. News spread quietly across the whole capital. People came on to the streets shaken. Everyone was hoping and praying that the wounds were not too serious and that our heroic king would recover and return to his people.

When the news came that the king was dead, no one could believe it. It was about 8pm when the cinemas and theatres closed and singing stopped. It was then that people finally began to realise the catastrophe that had taken place and that our great king had left us forever. He had gone to join his heroes who had liberated occupied Serbia, the Serb people and the whole of Yugoslavia. Eventually there were cries of “the king is dead. Long live the king.”

It was a heavy blow for our people. The legacy of this assassination was trouble for Yugoslavia. We no longer had his authority to stop the young officers⁶⁴ who treated national liberty like a toy and threw it into the jaws of Yugoslavia’s bloody butchers: Hitler and Mussolini and their satellites, and eventually the bloodiest of them all, Josip Broz Tito.

October 12

Usual camp inspection.

I’ve got a candle and prepared everything for October 14, the birthday of my little Milan.

I’ve finished my novel “The Young Cetnik” and sent it to be printed.

October 13

I’ve given 100 lira to the church in memory of Milan. Instead of sending a card, daddy has done this for his little boy.

A group of 25 airmen has returned from Bologna. They say the Lika men are behaving badly and especially Major Stanko Pavicevic. Our men in Milan have been given arms.

October 14

Milan’s 14th birthday. Instead of songs about many summers there was a short prayer in the church for the repose of his soul. I’ve decorated his picture with flowers and lit a votive light.

October 15

Another letter has arrived from Vojvoda Djujic in which he threatens the general. As for me, he says I’m honest and decent and have suffered much, but because I’m loyal to Col Brana Zivkovic he tells his men not to accept me. He promises to send delegates to see the British but doesn’t say why. He closes by saying he’ll continue to urge his men to be disobedient. I should mention that Djujic was best man for my brother Nedeljko and because of that we are kumovi. Djujic mentioned this to me in Mossa when I first met him.

October 16

There was a conference in the grammar school from 4 to 7.30pm. It considered questions relating to the organisation of the home-boarding school. Should it be run as two separate parts or as one whole? The talks got stuck on the matter of the removal of dirty laundry belonging to members of the management board of the home and the grammar school. The young teachers expressed some serious objections to the officers. The Carev and Djurnic students stood out here. Mrs Bosanac made some intelligent points. She wanted the children to be better cared-for. Nikola Nikolic wanted diplomas formalised so that youngsters could study properly. All the rest was minor disagreements.

The head of the boarding school is Col Buda Martinovic whose staff is largely made up of officers. The head of the grammar school, Dragosavljevic, believes he should replace Martinovic. This is all motivated by material concerns. Martinovic only wants what is best for his pupils and won’t indulge time-wasters. Dragosavljevic is interested in his own advancement. Some of the younger teachers are also against the officers — students largely from the Zbor ranks.

October 19

Today I held a two-year memorial service for my little boy. The church was packed with my friends, relatives, kumovi and fellow Dalmatians. Afterwards I served brandy and cigarettes in my room.

October 20

Branko Malesevic has returned from the Lama camp and told me that 13 men from Oton village near Knin have returned to Yugoslavia. Zika Mladenovic and his bandits continue to steal and there’s chaos in the units. In the main, the men are well-behaved — the trouble’s among their officers. People want to get rich so that they’re ready for any eventuality.

November 2

Our cemetery and memorial have been dedicated. There were two priests and a deacon. About 50 men and women were present including Gen Damjanovic, Col Brana Zivkovic and myself.

The cemetery is nicely laid out. There’s lots of flowers which makes for a pleasant scene. The dead deserve this tribute. Thanks have to go to Gen Damjanovic who, despite having so much to do, made the cemetery one of his priorities.

November 6

Cervenko, a colonel in the Polish army, has been appointed administrative commander of the camp as a British captain. He’s made an excellent impression on me. He’s every inch the gentleman and speaks Serbian as he was a military attaché in Belgrade before the war.

November 8

The hospital has been moved to Mercatello. As a result the women’s camp has been enlarged by another 19 huts. The rest have gone to the grammar school and the boarding school.

November 9

The usual camp inspection with the usual close attention to the toilets.

There’s been a dispute about movements between Col Martinovic, headmaster of the boarding school, and Dragosavljevic, headmaster of the grammar school. They went at it for a long time before reaching a compromise. The desire to be in charge affects all men and particularly Dragosavljevic.

November 10

What has happened to our men? In the latest incident, someone has stolen the tent that was being used as a mortuary. The vojvodas are responsible for the indiscipline. They offer support to the unruly and encourage the troops to misbehave. Terrible.

November 12

Today saw the publication of a news sheet called Vojni Vesnik (Military Gazette) which I edited. It’s good and has been well received by everybody in camp.

November 13

Representatives of Ravna Gora Youth have arrived in camp — Stranjakovic, Draskovic and Jovanovic. They’re giving lectures about foreign affairs as they affect the Croats and the Serbs.

November 14

Brana Stranjakovic gave a lecture about relations with the Croats and compared their unity with the ay we are divided. He said the Croats still seek the borders of Pavelic’s state. It was an interesting talk.

November 15

Today is two full years since my little boy Milan died. Cruel fate threw humanity into a terrible blood conflict which turned men into soulless beasts. It separated so many from their homes and families and left them to rot in camps, waiting to be sent back to the communist slaughterhouse. I left my home to fight for the cross of honour and golden freedom, and my reward has been humiliation.

Two years ago, when, after heavy fighting, we left Prijepolje for Plevlja, I never imagined for a second that at that time my little boy had given up his angelic soul to heaven and that he had left us forever.

Preoccupied with these thoughts, and with a wounded heart, I’m sitting alone and praying to the Lord for little Milan’s soul, and for the soul of my brother Nedeljko, my relative Njego and his son Stevisa who died as a result of these events. May God have mercy on them.

In the evening the Ravna Gora Youth put on a show. It was excellent. Such events revive the soul and offer a little escape from current events. Among the 100 people in the audience were many ordinary peasants who were delighted to see what was happening on stage. They rejoiced. They clapped. The most important thing is that we got some moral strength because we’re all suffering morally and physically.

November 16

I attended three slavas and the evening went to a supper organised by the Dinarska Cetnik division in honour of the youth from Switzerland: Stranjakovic, Draskovic and Jovanovic.

November 18

The general met officers from the 2nd Lika regiment. They want to split up. At the end it was resolved that Lt Col Sergei Zivanovic would leave his battalion. The new regimental commander is Capt Mile Marijan.

November 19

Last night there was fighting in the 2nd Lika regiment because of their divisions. Three men were arrested.

There’s talk that we’re going to be taken to the island of Pantelleria.

November 21

It’s Arandjelovdan (Archangel Day) and the camp is celebrating. There are slavas and weddings. I went to offer my compliments to Col Brana Zivkovic.

November 26

I’m going to teach Italian to the first and second-years in the camp grammar school.

November 27

An exhibition of women’s handicrafts has been opened. Lots of people have been to see it. The Serb Sisters’ Circle are delighted. The visitors have included English, Poles and Italians. There have been lots of orders.

November 29

I’ve read a letter from Bishop Irinej who is in the USA. He says the American press is very critical of Tito while praising Draza. Macek has turned the Croats in America to his side against Tito and Pavelic. Mrs (Eleanor) Roosevelt is on our side. She says the Croats shouldn’t be attacked and that we should be reconciled.

December 1

This morning blessings were held in all the camp churches. Father Stevan Prostran led the service in the Dinarska Cetnik division’s chapel. He said Bishop Irinej had appointed him a governor of the Italian province.

He went on to criticise the youth who had come from Switzerland: Draskovic, Stranjakovic and Jovanovic. He called them jackals and rats. This was because they don’t agree with Ljotic’s ideas.

At 8.30pm there was a special event for Unification (of Yugoslavia) Day. At 7.30pm Col Cervenko and the camp commander arrived. We went to the theatre with them and Gen Damjanovic. Cervenko was a delegate of the British camp command.

There were three presentations: Nikola Nikolic (Serb), Major Debeljak (Slovene) and Croat Ante Jelicic. They all put forward Yugoslavia as the only state for our three nations, and dismantled the arguments of those opposed to unity. The event finished at 9pm.

Listening to the presentations I thought back to the events of 1918 — the joy, delight, and singing, and the ripping down of the yellow-black monarchy’s insignia from major buildings. People were singing: “Everything that’s ours is yours. Serbs and Croats are one.” It looked like we were heading for better days when everyone would be together in brotherhood and unity.

Then the Italians took possession of Zadar (Zara) and we fought against them. I compared all these events with what happened in 1941. Can everything be put right now? Could unity return? Yugoslavia was torn apart in 1941 and the divisions were widened by the red dogs. Serbdom was smashed and new national entity created. The Arnauts and Hungarians were given authority. Ustase who went over to Tito were eagerly accepted. That’s all true. The question is, is there any remedy for this horror?

I went to bed mulling these matters in my mind and it was a long time before I could get to sleep.

Today there’s news that we’re going to be taken to Eritrea in North Africa. What will we do there? Is it a British trick? Will they pretend to take us to Eritrea and then hand us over to Tito at some Adriatic port?

December 3

At 8.30am I set off for Naples. On the orders of Prince Nemanja Paleologue I should have gone to Pocoli, about 20km west of Naples to meet a bishop in his residence to organise help for the women and children. A priest was supposed to take me but he never turned up and I was unable to complete my task. The priest was supposed to explain to the bishop that we were Orthodox Christians, why we are in the camp etc.

December 9

I’ve had a visit from Major Sinisa Katanic, a delegate of Slobodan Draskovic. We exchanged views about their movement. He asked me for the notes to my novel “The Young Cetnik” and said he would get the book published in France. I gave him what he asked for and we’ll see what happens.

December 12

At 3pm Reserve Major Trivunac, a Belgrade lawyer, gave a talk about what he had seen in Russia. He was a Russian prisoner and spent a lot of time in their camps. He told us some terrible things.

December 13

Today is my little Olga’s birthday. I’m thinking about her and I’m sure she’s thinking about her daddy.

December 15

Prof Devrnja, who left Belgrade two months ago to come to us, gave a lecture on the situation in Yugoslavia and detailed the horrors of Tito’s regime. He urged us to remain united and to devote all our efforts to the task of restoring freedom in our homeland.

In political terms, Devrnja is a supporter of Zbor. He seems to have accepted their policies after leaving Yugoslavia. According to the news sheet Pod Maslinama (Under the Olive Trees) he spent the entire war as in a PoW camp. He returned home in August, 1945, but was bitterly disappointed with what he found and fled abroad, finally coming to join us in Eboli.

December 18

I’ve had a letter from my dear Aunt Danica in Gorizia. She’s offering me her help and asking me to go to her. She says she has the funds to open a shop which I could run. I’ve heartily thanked her for caring about me.

However, my key duty is to fight for the cause, not to think about my personal situation. If I’d wanted to take the easy path, I would have listened to Col Saks who advised me to stay in Belgrade where he would have guaranteed my safety.

News from Yugoslavia tells us that life’s hard there. The people are supposed to live well and the Serbian church is in high standing. The red bourgeoisie is spreading social justice by the old maxim “who has nothing has everything”. It’s an inferno beyond even Dante’s invention.

December 19

My third holy slava far from home, and my second overseas. It’s a cold day — as cold as the exile I have to endure. Memories and reminders weigh heavily.

I’m working out a balance sheet. I left my home, my family, and then struggled and suffered in Bosnia. We’ve experienced humiliation at the hands of the so-called western liberators. I’ve lost my son, my brother and two close relatives, Njego and Stevisa. It’s truly terrible.

Now, with a heavy heart and a wounded soul I ponder new paths. Where will I end up? Will I be an eternal wanderer?

I couldn’t find it in me to celebrate my slava so I was planning only to go to church to light a candle, but Branko Malesevic, Stole Mihailovic and Zika Ivanovic forced me to join them in doing something. I had no money so Branko gave me 1,000 lira. I provided a table cloth and spoons for zito and basil. Branko brought a cake and zito. Zika brought brandy and bread, and Stole brought sandwiches of various kinds. On the shelf were pictures of my son and Cica with a votive candle in front of them.

About 9am I went to church, lit two candles and stood for half the liturgy. About 11am we cut the cake and entertained guests until 2pm. Branko, Stole and Zika then went into the town but I stayed alone with my thoughts until there was a sudden banging on the door. It was more guests who stayed till 6pm. After they left I went to wish Mrs Vida Mihailovic a happy slava, and then had supper with Zarkovic.

December 24

Three teachers have arrived from Germany with my classmate Bosko Raseta.

I’ve published the second edition of Vojni Vesnik. Col Crvenko tells me he likes my book “The Young Cetnik” and has read it twice.

December 25

I spent the day visiting Catholics and wishing them happy Christmas. I’ve been to see Gen Parac and Gen Andrej. Around 300 tonnes of food have arrived in camp.

December 26

The carabinieri have badly wounded Stojadin Radjenovic, a soldier from the Drina regiment. An investigation has begun.

December 27

Tonight we’ve had news — unconfirmed — that at Tito’s request the arrests have been ordered of Vojvoda Momcilo Djujic; Major Mile Kapetanovic; Col Stranjakovic; Major Jovan Sremc; Milka Radonic; Capt Buda Nikic; Zivanovic, the chief of police from Nis; Father Prostran; Kalik the monk; Father Dobrota; Vojin Malesevic the teacher; Steva Radjenovic; Lt Cveticanin; Lt Cuka; Lt Sime Radic; Capt Novak Niovic; and another 25 people. This has caused great worry and unease in the ranks.

December 28

The usual camp inspection.

Today I organised a memorial service for the fallen soldiers of the Serbian Shock Corps who died at the end of 1944.

Radjenovic, who was wounded by the carabinieri, has died.

December 29

Mother’s Day. This morning the Serb Sisters’ Circle gave presents to the children without a mother. In the afternoon there was a lovely show in the theatre.

December 30

We’ve been visited by a representative of Pope Pius XII. I was instructed to accompany him and to carry out important preparations with Father Vlasta Tomic.

December 31

It’s a cold day — every bit as cold as our souls. Snow is closing in on Eboli. The hill above the town looks like a grey-haired and hunched old man who shares our worries over what 1947 might bring.

The camp is quiet but in Eboli and its surrounding villages parties are under way. You can hear songs and music. Free people are celebrating as they see out the old year and look forward to the new one.

And us? We’re saying goodbye to 1946 with that old saying “what’s happened cannot be restored”. That sums up a difficult year for our people at home and abroad. It’s a year that began in the shadow of a possible return to the executioners — something that weighed heavily on our good people. In camp there were arguments and conflict.

Vojvoda Djujic and Vojvoda Jevdjevic behaved very badly towards Gen Damjanovic in their desire to demean him. They were prepared to destroy all that was good purely so they could take power. There was also the activities of the Zbor movement and their attacks on Ravna Gora led by Ratko Parezanin and Father Stevan Prostran. All of this badly affects honest and honourable fighters and followers of our Cica. These occurrences in our ranks can in all conscience be looked upon as our tragedy. They bring no good with them.

A great deal was done to extinguish these burning issues and settle conflicts but with great regret I have to say that there was no success.

A new year party was organised in camp theatre but I didn’t go. I stayed in my little room to make these few notes. As always in these situations I was unable to prevent myself reliving events from the time I began to understand what was happening around me to the present day. It began with happy, beautiful images but they turned into painful ones that deeply wounded me in heart and soul. I tried to consider the future, too. I remain an optimist and look forward to better times so I concluded my thoughts with our old saying “change things for the better Lord”.

As soon as Rome fell to the Allies on June 4, 1944, Tito hurried to send his vultures there as a so-called national liberation council. Vuk Dragovic, a pre-war journalist and contributor to the Politika newspaper was put forward as its chief. Niko S Martinovic was secretary. The mission of this body was to make sure all the Yugoslavs in Italy were repatriated.

In Bari there existed a communist national committee for the liberation of Yugoslavia. But these two bodies weren’t enough for them so they tried to establish a new mission in Rome. The first delegate was Col Mihovil Tartalja (49th class of our Royal Military Academy) but he was quickly removed and replaced by Vlatko Koljensic and then Gen Branko Poljanac (one of our pre-war officers) assisted by Col Rade Pehacek and with Col J Jaksic as political commissar.

Alongside these men they brought an entire team of spies and agents as well as 30 Partisans for security. These communist jackals were tasked with making contact with us and to promise us the hills and valleys to get us to go home. Beyond that they were permitted to kidnap units and even to liquidate them.

The names of these agents that I have been able to discover are Milos Jovanovic, Marija Gortan, Ilija Jovicevic, Uros Krajger, Arsa Milatovic (a teacher from Pec and pre-war communist), Nikola Mandic, Ante Bakrac, Bojan Nakicenovic, Slavka Glozar, Lenka Tepina and Pjer Krizanic, a well-known pre-war cartoonist and contributor to Politika.

This mission was first accommodated in the Hotel Roma and then moved to what had been a nazi brothel at 84 Gariljano Street. When this building got crowded they went to the Via Torlonia. In truth, this mission was a branch of OZNA. They termed themselves in various grand ways such as political, cultural/educational or intelligence. In fact they were killers. They were often seen drunk in the streets of Rome with their female comrades.

The Allied stores were open to them. They used to compete to see who could take the most food and other items. They adorned themselves in clothing of all types and colours but always with the five-pointed red star which is as much a symbol of suffering as the swastika.

Their company was completed by the Albanian communist Kadri Hodza and the Greek Andreas Djimas.

According to the Tito-Subasic agreement, the royal embassy in Rome should have been handed over to the communist government. This was announced on November 17, 1944, and Tito nominated Dr Josip Smodlak as his ambassador, taking over from Miloje Smiljanic, the brother of Father Smiljanic who used to adorn himself with the red star. Miloje didn’t return to Yugoslavia.

The communists changed the name of the embassy to a delegation. It was at 56 Quintino Sela. As well as this building, a villa at 21 Via Parioli was handed over. The delegation secretary was Arso Milatovic and the following people could be found there: Radislav Raspopovic, Beba Martinac, Dr Mirko Brunar, Klara Gombos, Nikola Mandic, Dragoslav Mitrovic — all well-known show-offs.

Our organisation in Rome operated under the name of the Royal Military Mission and had at its head Lt Col Vukasin Vukotic. In terms of Croats, the son of minister Sutej was there. In the Vatican, we were represented by the diplomat Ciro Kotnik. Also there were Jakov Jovovic, Major Dabovic, Major Ciganovic, Dusan Kapicic (president of the national committee from Cetinje), Dr Zivko Topalovic, Dr Radoje Vukcevic, old Adam Pribicevic, Gen Marko Mihailovic, Gen Petar Lazic and Gen Djordje Glisic. There was also a Montenegrin group, Dusan Plamenc and the painter Pero Pocek.

These people of ours did their best to be in contact with the Allies but they weren’t treated favourably. Relations got frostier and frostier.

The Ustase had their own stronghold in the so-called office of St Jerome. The sculptor Ivan Mestrovic could be found there with Jozo Kljakovic. During the kingdom of Yugoslavia they sculpted statues and painted portraits of members of our royal family. The bureau chief was Monsignor Madjerac. Dr Krunoslav Draganovic and Kerubim Segvic were also there are representatives of Croat-Catholic nationalism.

The communists co-operated with this Ustasa rabble which remained loyal to Pavelic and the NDH. It’s not known if they dragged any of these people back to Yugoslavia as they did with Dusan Kapicic whom they surprised in his home.

I’ve been told it happened like this: A man called Josko Engel knew a British NCO who mentioned Dusan to him as Engel didn’t speak English. As soon as this happened Engel took the opportunity. Dusan was seized and quickly sent to Bari where he was shaved and had all his hair cut off. When the British learned he had been kidnapped they tried to get him back but couldn’t recognise him in the mass of people boarding the ship to Yugoslavia. He committed suicide before he could be tried.

The Ustase and Partisans worked together to the same ends. As the first ones started these later ones continued.

In the Vatican was Fra Dominic Mandic. He took the line of the HSS.

The Slovenes were excellently placed in the Vatican. Father Presernoj, Dr Saruga and Father Zoric who looked after humanitarian matters as president of the Red Cross. Akcin, Falez and Zakotnik were representatives of the clerical party.

A group of Slovenes were gathered around the lawyer Majeron who were supporters of a unitary Yugoslavia and in contact with Dr Krek who moved to London after our embassy was given to the communists.

This all gives an idea of the Yugoslav situation in Rome.

Topalovic never gave up hope. He persistently tried to unite all the nationalist anti-communist forces as new military formations that would be brought into use at the right time. I’m not sure but this was possibly at the time of the Trieste crisis.

Alongside our national tragedies, I suffered sad times of my own. I lost my son; my brother Nedeljko, who lost his life during the battle at Padjene near Knin as the Dinarska Cetnik division was withdrawing. I also lost my cousin Stevisa, who died around Lozova near Sibenik, and Stevisa’s uncle, Njegoslav Dragisic, who collapsed and died when they told him about Stevisa’s death. And then there was my dear grandmother Anna who died in 1945 having fled to Trieste.

Our treatment by the English stays the same — duplicitous and dishonourable.

During 1946, 40 male children were born in camp and 60 little girls. Altogether 64 people died.

So farewell 1946. You’ll go down in history as one of our darkest and most sorrowful years. That’s my opinion but not everyone shares it because they’ve given themselves up to materialism and personal comforts. They behave as though they have no concerns about the future.

All that’s left to us is to hope for better times. Perhaps on December 31, 1947, I’ll have the chance to record those better times in my diary and be in a happier mood.

1947

January 1

New year has been celebrated in the usual ways but I didn’t take part. I’ve got a slight cold. It’s brought us one surprise — we’ve uncovered a conspiracy against the senior officers. It was organised by Tito’s mission in Rome which has at its head the infamous OZNA officer Arso Milatovic, a former teacher from the Pec area. They were assisted by the consulate in Naples.

As we understand it, the whole point of establishing this consulate was to destroy Eboli camp at all costs. The head of the consulate is the Partisan lieutenant Vicko Glumcic, a teacher from Doli near Dubrovnik. His assistant was someone called Josko Engel.

Around 7pm my kum Capt Kosta Kapetanovic called on me. He brought a lad from the boarding school who was about 18 — from a Bosnian family. The lad told me how he had met three men in Eboli who asked him for details of the unit commanders’ accommodation and especially of the most senior officers. Casually, they added that all these men needed to be liquidated. It was agreed that they would meet again at about 10pm on January 8.

I took notes of everything the boy told me and immediately alerted Col Zivkovic. We advised the lad about what he should say and do.

To be ready for all eventualities we exercised extreme caution. Branko Malesevic, myself and our orderlies slept in shifts and reconnoitred the area around our hut. We alerted the gendarmerie and the camp police.

January 2

The camp was visited by a representative of Pope Pius XII today. He was accompanied by Dr Matija Sarug. He shared 500 parcels among the children and 120 among the invalids. A show was put on in his honour in the camp theatre. The programme, which I put together with the YMCA, consisted of the Lord’s Prayer, Ave Maria, some recitations and folk dancing. The papal representative visited our churches too.

January 4

I still feel poorly. Today we’ve got hold of some wood and are lighting fires. Malesevic found some wood but the British took it off him. I’ve had letters from my daughter, Olga, and my sister, Dragica.

January 6

Another Christmas Eve in exile. Yule logs have been taken around the camp and there have been good wishes, treats and singing throughout the day and into the night. I had supper with Anka and Nikola Rajnovic.

January 7

Our Christmas, but it was celebrated very modestly. I went to church and visited several friends and acquaintances to offer good wishes. For the remaining time I was again with Anka and Nikola.

January 8

Everything has been prepared for the arrival of the communist mercenaries tonight and for their well-deserved punishment. It’ll be a heavy blow to them and to their masters.

January 9

I visited several slavas.

Last night, about 10 o’clock, we set an ambush in a gully above the camp where the meeting with the communist executioners was to take place. There were six. We captured them all and took them into camp where they were given a hearing. They were then taken back to the gully where they were laid to rest after receiving the sentences they deserved.

It seems the English knew about all this but turned a blind eye. In this way we frustrated Tito’s attempt to deliver a blow to the Ravna Gora campaign in exile.

January 10

The British camp command organised a party for our children aged three to 14. We took them to the hall at 2pm and found there were two rows of tables. When the children were seated, tea, sandwiches and cakes were served.

Afterwards the children put on a brief show, accompanied by our band which played the national anthem. There was a duet by Simonovic children, a song about mother accompanied by the harmonica, the little Zivkovic girl told us about Uncle Joe’s mouse (Mis od Cika Jove), the Simonovic children sang “King Peter’s guard is Marching” (Marsirala Kralja Petra Garda), “The swan and the peacock”, some singing and dancing, folk dancing, and a recitation in English. After that there was a children’s dance, and when the children left they were given fruit and chocolate.

As the camp commander’s assistant I helped to organise the party with the agreement of the British. The children were delighted and so were their parents. Special attention was paid to the orphaned kids.

January 11

The wife of infantry Lt Col Ljuba Mihailovic, Draza’s commander who was sentenced to death and killed by the communists, gave a yearly service in his memory in the chapel of the Dinarska Cetnik division. As is always the case with services of this kind, the chapel was full of people. Men and their wives came to pay their respects to him as a dutiful officer, warrior and Serb.

January 13

Preparations for the Orthodox new year. I didn’t go. I spent the evening with my kumovi Kosta and Smilja Kapetanovic.

January 14

It’s been a lively night in camp. There were celebrations everywhere. Music and song on all sides. It looks like people have forgotten their fate or at least made every effort to forget it for a few hours. Alcohol proved a useful medicine.

I slept badly. As usual with events like these that bring back so many memories, I was unable to settle. I kept comparing the past with the present but hopes for better days helped to calm me. From time to time I was able to forget my situation and doze off.

I had dinner and supper with Niko and Anka Rajnovic.

January 16

I’ve had a letter from Vasa Miljus in Bologna. He tells me he’s come into contact with a group of Dalmatian Italians and after long conversations they’ve stated a wish to come under the command of Gen Miodrag Damjanovic. He’s asked me to use my good offices to get Gen Damjanovic to accept them. Vasa’s asked me to draw up a declaration they could sign and so become fighters for a free Yugoslavia.

I’ve been thinking about this request. At first sight it’s not a bad idea but considering the behaviour of our Italians before the war it would be difficult to trust them. I’ve told Vasa that the time isn’t right for such adventures.

January 17

Today is six months since the communist executioners murdered our Cica on Tito’s orders. We held a six-monthly memorial service. It was held on the exercise ground where the troops paraded and the families were present. A Catholic joined our own priests in leading the service. Speeches were given by a priest and Gen Damjanovic.

The people were subdued. You could hear the women sobbing and quite a few seasoned soldiers were wiping away the tears.

The silence was eventually broken by a loud shout in unison of “long may he be remembered” and “glory to Cica”.

January 19

An Epiphany service with blessing of the water took place on the open field. Father Stevan Prostran was in charge.

January 20

I dreamed that I was at my little boy’s grave. Next to it they were digging a grave for my daughter Olga, but somebody came to me and told me she was safe and well.

January 26

We’ve had news of how our people in Naples liquidated Tito’s consul who wanted to address the soldiers and talk them into returning home.

The English were asked not to allow them to come into contact with our men because anything could happen. However, the English believed the Titoists, who told them they had proof a lot of men wanted to go back to Yugoslavia but were being prevented from doing so by their officers.

A group of our men under the command of Lt Col Miodrag Tojic were in an artillery barracks in Naples where the communist consul from Naples, Vicko Glumcic, appeared with his assistant Josko Engel.

It should be stated that it was because of the camp at Eboli that the communists appointed a consul at the start of 1946. It had at its head Vicko Glumcic, a Partisan lieutenant who had been a teacher in Doli near Dubrovnik. He was about 25 and his helper was Josko Engel.

Their orders were to use all means possible to destroy the camp at Eboli. They organised cells to kill our commanders and senior officers. It was our good fortune that these cells were uncovered and liquidated so they couldn’t achieve their objectives. This was at the start of 1947.

As soon as Tito’s delegates entered the Naples barracks they were attacked. Glumcic died and Engel was badly wounded and had to be taken to hospital. In that way the Titoists’ refusal to accept the situation costs them their lives. Even though they had plenty of warning about our men’s likely reaction — and knew there had been a vote and anyone wishing to go home was free to do so — it wasn’t enough. They demanded to meet the men personally and that meeting proved to be of the kind the communists deserved. All this happened on January 25.

Lt Col Tosic took fright, fled from the barracks and arrived in Eboli the following day where he was given a severe lecture by Gen Damjanovic.

The communists have exaggerated this incident to the extent that they’ve even started accusing the British. What the British did I have no idea but it seems it all came down to a case of the wolf biting the donkey. The communists got what they deserved.

January 27

The annual St Sava celebrations took place. There were shows in the primary school and grammar school, and in the evening in the theatre. It was all very nicely done and brought a little relief into the camp. People were able to forget their troubles and think back to past days in their homes, their fields, their meadows, woods and groves, and their holy places. It all serves to reinforce the belief that freedom will come one day.

February 6

I dreamed I was visited by three women dressed in black. One of them was my dear mother. They said nothing to me. My mother kissed me and then all three got into bed with me. This morning, when I arrived in the office, there was a letter from my mother on the table. She tells me she and my father are alive and well. She’s had news from someone that my brother Nedeljko has reached Rijeka with another man, and that I’ll soon be a grandfather.

February 18

News has broken this morning that we’re going to be moved to civilian camps. The story has come from the Sumadija division. The general has been to Caserta because of this. I have no details of what happened there. In these situations you always have to bear in mind that some men are over-optimistic. All that’s left is hope.

A number of our men have left for work in Padua.

February 19

Today’s news: I’ve had a letter from home. They received my parcel and photo. I’ve drawn up a list of the roles and tasks of the Serbian State Guard for the British.

March 6

British Colonel Grand inspected the camp.

March 8

It’s a year since I learned that Milan had left us forever. It was a heavy and painful blow. I’m putting together a parcel: one towel, two dresses, 20 reels of cotton, 40 cigarettes, a box of vitamins, two oranges and a bar of chocolate.

March 11

The Italians stabbed two of our soldiers over night. In the town the British confiscated some Belgrade newspapers and gave them to us.

March 30

Since March 12 the following has happened in camp: Preparations are under way for leaving Eboli but we don’t know our destination. The British are promising everything. We’ll see what happens in the end.

Brigadier Maclean’s commission has started to hold hearings. They’re looking for war criminals at the behest of the communist regime in Belgrade.

March 30

A fight broke out at the football match between the Sumadija and Lika regiments. A Zbor member from Sumadija produced a pistol and fired several bullets, wounding four men. Lt Colic was hit in the stomach.

April 14

People have started moving out to the new camp in the British zone in Germany. The first formation set off at 7.30am. There were 40 railway carriages, each carrying 40 men. They were freight carriages. Food was provided for nine days. Altogether 950 men left from the 1st Lika regiment and the staff of the Dinarska Cetnik division.

April 16

28 invalids have been admitted to hospital ahead of being moved to Germany. At 8.30pm a group of families from the Bosnia, Lika and Drina regiments departed — 612 souls in total.

April 17

The first transport has been in touch from Bolzano — Major Miodrag Kapetanovic took the radio equipment with him so that he could stay in contact.

April 18

The first hospital section has left. While I’m writing these notes I can hear a lot of noise and banging from the women’s camp. The Dinarska men are demolishing the bathing blocks and taking away everything they can to sell.

April 19

57 have left from the senior reserve, 670 from the Bosnian regiment, 27 from the Lika regiment, 89 from the Zetska regiment and 65 from the air force — 908 in total.

April 20

The Dalmatian and 2nd Lika regiments have departed — 976 in total.

April 21

The Drina regiment and the combined battalion have left.

April 22

The Croat and Slovenian armies have departed.

April 27

Families have left — the wives of the 2nd Lika and the Dalmatian regiments. The camp commander, Col Hanson, and Capt Turner, have been for a meal with Gen Damjanovic.

April 28

At 8.30pm we said goodbye to some more families — the Sumadija and Slovenian wives.

April 29

Today the second part of the hospital left.

April 30

Today we said goodbye to the staff of the supreme command with Gen Damjanovic at its head. He was given a first-class travellers’ carriage. A nice group of Italians gathered to see him off. An old man and his wife gave the general a bouquet of roses. Signor Moroni said: “General, goodbye as you leave for a free Yugoslavia. Long live King Peter II.” His eyes were full of tears.

May 2

The day has dawned when I have to leave Eboli camp. We were ready to go at 5am. I went to the station to prepare the carriages and Col Brana Zivkovic stayed to organise the final departures. There were 28 freight carriages. Our group — 21 strong — got a single carriage. We settled in well: I, Col Zivkovic, Lt Col Malesevic, quartermaster Capt Cika Proka, lieutenants Popovic and Perovic, and the remaining soldiers headed by Sgt Ivko Ilic.

The train left at exactly 7.30am. We decorated it with flowers and wrote on the sides in Italian “Long live King Peter II — down with Tito!” Before departure Col Zivkovic received a bouquet of flowers from Signor Mane.

After 17 months we’re leaving Eboli. But where are we going?

May 3

We arrived in Rome at 3am. We were given a hot breakfast — tea and some food. At 4am we set off again via Termini, Spoleto, Fogligno and Fabriano and then to Senegalia. From there, by the blue Adriatic, we carried on to Rimini. When we reached Senegalia we all ran from the train and put our hands in the sea. It felt like we were on our own Dalmatian coast.

In Rimini we were given a large, hot meal. From there we went to Ricione and Cesena to Forli, the place we were at in 1945 when we were sent to Eboli. It aroused memories of what our “allies” did.

At about 8pm we reached Bologna and then went via Verona, Trento and Bolzano to the Brenner Pass. I woke up at about 6am on May 4 near Bolzano. Fate had brought me to the homeland of my maternal grandfather. It’s a beautiful part of the world with stunning scenery. At 10am we reached the Brenner and at the border we saw Italian and French flags flying. We crossed into the French zone of Austria. The Austrians waved to us and we threw bread, fruit and tins to them. At 10pm on May 4 we arrived in Augsburg.

May 5

At 8am we reached Wurzburg and by 2pm were in Fulda. We travelled along the border between the US and Russian zones of Germany and only arrived in the British zone at 8pm in Gottingen. We continued to Celle and on May 6 turned up in Uelzen. From there we turned west and about 9am finally made Munster Lager.

We were immediately surprised because the officers were separated from the men. We were put behind wire and again found ourselves under guard. We were taken to our huts and after being searched we were allowed in. Roll calls take place twice a day, at 10am and 3pm.

In camp we found Col Hanson and Capt Cervenko, our old friends from Eboli. They came across, shook hands and immediately began to explain our situation. Gen Damjanovic is under guard 27km away in a villa with his adjutant and two orderlies. He’s been provided with a cook and two strong horses.

We were given some little pages for a file and a medical examination.

May 10

Time passes. I’ve written to everyone I know and now I’m waiting for replies, especially from my family.

In camp we have to endure very strict conditions. We have two roll calls a day and the clocks have been moved two hours forward. The days are long but the nights are short. It’s very hot and the heat is unbearable in the huts. I have a cold — probably caused by the change of air.

I’m depressed. Hearings have started and are going quickly. We officers are the last in the queue. The food is poor and generally the same. I’m constipated and I feel like I have a temperature.

May 17

We’ve learned the families from the first transport have been sent to Grossenbrode. The hospital is in Guterfelde. The second group of families is in Bocholt.

I’ve been appointed senior in 10 Group which comprises a general, 120 officers and eight men.

News is coming through that chaos reigns in the second family group from the Dalmatian and 2nd Lika regiments. There are attempts to get them to reject Gen Damjanovic. The ringleaders are Capt Djakovic, Father Prostran, Deacon Dragicevic and Judge Rajnovic. They’ve elected a committee. From 465 people eligible, only 113 voted. Djakovic got 40 votes and became head of camp.

I have to add teacher Ante Kovac to the ringleaders as well as Roka Kaleb from the Dinarska Cetnik division. Both are Zbor men. Kaleb gave a speech to the troops in which he stressed they were free of three evils: officers, women and alcohol.

May 18

My 42nd birthday. In captivity in a foreign land. Separated from my family. Nobody knows because I haven’t mentioned it. I’m walking around the camp alone with my thoughts.

May 20

My wife Jelena’s birthday.

I’ve had a strange dream. I’ve no idea how I could experience such a thing in my sleep as I’ve never given any thought to such matters. Somehow I found myself in Belgrade. My family were terrified and asked what I was doing there. I replied that I’d come to see them. My wife said: “You deluded fool, don’t you realise what you’ve done?” She then reached out her hand and snatched off my epaulettes, my royal insignia and my medals.

I then grabbed my papers and set off through Belgrade. Wandering through the streets I came upon a friend who took me by the hand and led me to an office. Without saying anything he took my papers and gave me new ones, except these had a huge red star on them. I screwed them up, threw them away and then went back on to the streets trying to find a way to return to our troops in Italy. And then I woke up.

I’ve learned that our troops in the hospital have been stealing bread. Seventy have been detained.

Hearings have been held in Camp A and are now taking place in Camp B. I’m waiting for my turn and in the meantime various thoughts are running through my head.

May 29

Our (officer) camp’s hearings have started. The heat is unbearable, especially inside the huts. I’m very careworn as I’ve heard nothing from my family even though I’ve written several letters.

June 3

I’m desperate to hear news of Olga and her marriage. I’ve received a letter from Vasa Miljus in Bologna. He mentions the destructive activities of Branko Krajinovic and headmaster Dragosavljevic. He’s attached some of their leaflets. Vasa adds that all the men from Bukovcani and Kotaranci from Dalmatia want me as their commander.

June 5

There was heavy rain overnight and its cooled things down a little. Every day since we arrived from Italy the British have held firing practice.

June 6

Hearings have started for my group. My turn came at 2.15pm and I was questioned by a major. He asked me nothing of any consequence. After he had taken my details he asked where I was at the time of the German invasion in 1941 and everything I’d done since then until our meeting with the Allies in 1945, but he never mentioned Bosnia or Austria.

Lt Col Orelj, whom the Serbian State Guard sprang from the camp at Banjica, told his interrogators that the SDS executed Cetniks. This buffoon thought such tales like this would help him. There was no suggestion of any gratitude. What can you do? There are so many different types.

June 14

Olga has given birth to a little girl. Later, I found myself at the station where I heard Cetnik songs coming from a train. My orderly, Sava Kurbalija, then appeared, took hold of my horse, and led it into a carriage. I followed on. Sava said to me: “You have it easy sir, writing books.” (Was this another dream?).

June 15

When the hearings were finished, some officers handed out leaflets among our soldiers, encouraging them to make demands of their officers and if they weren’t met, to go on hunger strike.

In response, the camp commander, Lt Col Hanson, issued a communication asking them not to do this. He said mutinous troops were of no use to the British. For obvious reasons we had to avoid trouble in our ranks. He would be very disappointed if he had to issue a report about poor discipline among our men.

Serbs in exile have split into a number of groups. Each promotes itself and criticises the others. This only serves to harm us and help Tito. The main basis for this is pure self-interest.

June 27

Col Brana told me in confidence that he’d had a long talk with Lt Col Hanson, the camp commander, and that among other things Hanson had explained why he inspected the toilets so

often at Eboli. It seems Tito had continually complained to the government in London saying that men who wanted to return to Yugoslavia were being murdered at Eboli and their remains thrown into the toilets. Each time, Hanson had to file a negative report.

Maclean’s commission has finished its work. The measures taken by the British have caused great concern. We’re especially disturbed to hear the great Brigadier has gone to Belgrade. We heard this on the BBC and taken it to mean that he’s gone to arrange when and where he’ll hand us over to the butchers to be killed.

All tents near to the perimeter fence have been removed and some reflectors have been added to the searchlights. The British are justifying these measures with curious reasons that could only be described as children’s stories.

June 28

Vidovdan has been celebrated very quietly and modestly. There was a service and a memorial for all those who have died in battle from Kosovo in 1389 to the present day. Sadly, I couldn’t go. I had to peel potatoes in the kitchen.

June 29

I’ve received a letter from Aunt Danica. She tells me my family are well, but the news hasn’t brought me any peace. Gen Damjanovic has sent us a bottle of brandy. We drank it in our billet and toasted his health.

The waiting is very difficult. All sorts of thoughts are going through men’s heads and some are prepared to commit suicide rather than be handed over.

July 5

Mrs Nada Stanic has arrived in Munster. Mile Kapetanovic met her yesterday in the hospital. She met the king on May 13 and was received very warmly. Shorthand notes have been made of all her statements and the documents given to her by Cica have been photographed. She gave us some good news. She’s going to take away Gen Jonic whom we had given false papers identifying him as Svetislav Jovanovic-Markov.

Radio New York says that efforts are under way to recognise a Balkan agricultural bloc. This has lightened the mood and brought a little hope, but I don’t understand why. I don’t know why it would help our situation. I suppose the men are always looking for something that would hurt Tito.

July 7

So far we’ve had only ten warm days. The sky is always dark and brooding. No doubt it’s grieving for the lost luck of Hitler’s people, and the fate that has overtaken eastern Europe. This weather amplifies apathy and nostalgia. Wherever men meet there are frowns and anxious faces. Their eyes betray what they feel in their souls — how long? When?

It’s a fact that our fate is uncertain. What will happen to us? We have the feeling that something’s being decided. We have the status of slaves without any rights.

Yesterday’s idealists, who put so much faith in our “allies” have lived to see British private soldiers escorting them to the bathroom and the hospital. They bully us and mess us about.

The hearings are over. Security measures are being strengthened near the wire. They clearly have to provide butcher Tito with more victims if they are to keep him happy.

Our part of the camp is called K1. The entrance is framed with wire. The longer axis goes from east to west, and the shorter one from north to south. More wire divides it into three sectors: A, B and C. A is the largest, while B and C are smaller by half. There are two kitchens, two bathrooms and one big porch where there is a makeshift chapel. The whole camp is surrounded by wire and there are guards on all four sides. To the north-east and south-west there are powerful reflectors in addition to searchlights.

I’m in sector C, hut 10, where there are 13 of us. As you enter by the east door, you find Gen (of division) Vojislav Kuzmanovic on the left, and then Col Sretan Stranjakovic and Col Brana Zivkovic, Sgt Ivko Ilic, Major Borivoje Markovic and Col Budimir Martinovic. On the right are Lt Col Bozidar Nikolic, Sgt Stevan Kovac, myself, Lt Col Branko Malesevic, Capt Rade Stefanovic and Major Ljubisa Djordjevic.

The 13th is little George “Djoka” Zivkovic who is 12. The poor kid has no parents and Col Zivkovic has become his guardian.

We each have a bed with a straw mattress. There are two tables, two benches and two chairs. Col Martinovic and myself each have one new little table. Our accommodation is illuminated by three lights.

Next to my bed is a night cupboard I’ve made from a crate. On it are some books and pictures of my nearest and dearest. Inside there are three shelves where I keep food, shaving and washing tackle, and clothes brushes.

We don’t have a wardrobe, and because of that the walls are adorned with items of clothing giving the impression of a market stall.

Above my bed is an icon of my holy slava, St Nicholas, which was made for me by the Belgrade sculptor Majzner, who was my neighbour in Kraljevic Tomislav Street. It was blessed in the chapel of the Dinarska Cetnik division in Eboli. Next to it is a picture of our king, and above the west door there is a picture of our Cica.

The floor is made of concrete and there are four windows. The hut is very draughty. We chiefly occupy ourselves by reading and learning languages. We rarely speak to each other. We do play cards and we regularly listen to the radio news. We rarely go for walks and usually only to the bathroom or toilet. The toilets are very primitive and uncomfortable.

Our camp routine is as follows: We rise at 7am and have breakfast at 8 (tea with milk). There’s a roll call at 10am and dinner at noon (one course although we get a little piece of cheese on Sundays). We’re at rest from noon to 3pm when there is another roll call except for Sundays. At 4.30pm we get tea and something called pudding (a sort of barley porridge with a little dried fruit). Supper is at 8pm and is similar to dinner. Lights-out is at 9pm.

Our rations are 28 grams of soap, 2 razor blades, half a stick of shaving soap, and 20 cigarettes a month. After the relaxed regime at Eboli these harsh conditions are difficult to bear, but this is how we’ve had to live for the last two months.

July 11

The weather is rainy and cold. The rain is accompanied by a cold north wind and it’s so chilly I’ve had to put on a pullover.

Yesterday we received a letter from Gen Damjanovic — Cika Beli. He’s hopeful that we’ll soon be released from behind the wire. In terms of this, various stories are circulating in the camp. But the fact is we don’t know what’s happening. The bush telegraph is very active. News of international events sustains our morale because we still believe Tito will be removed and democracy restored.

I’ve written to Aunt Danica and enclosed letters for my family in Yugoslavia. I’ve also written to Capt Vojislav Radovanovic. Thank God I remain healthy. I could do with more food but what’s to be done? All you can do is shut up and put up.

In the hut, Cika Voja, as we call Gen Kuzmanovic, is a man of 60. He’s smallish, plumpish and bald with a little hair over his ears. He’s a good-tempered man and part of the older generation. He never gets annoyed and is always the first to greet people. He lies around all day, occasionally picking up an English language book. When he talks he reminds me of my grandmother.

He knows Belgrade well and especially the ladies. He’s unmarried. He was an Italian prisoner of war, and when Italy capitulated in 1943 he escaped from the camp and began digging roads as an ordinary labourer. When the Dinarska Cetnik division arrived in Gorizia he attached himself to them. The Volunteers wanted him too but he said he didn’t want to be part of a political army. He’s religious and regularly attends church.

July 14

The weather’s better. News: Everyone’s saying we’ll be released on the 16th and moved to other camps. Ljubisa Djordjevic has had a letter saying displaced persons will be put under pressure to return to Yugoslavia. Gen Kuzmanovic has had a letter from a journalist called Jovic saying that France wants to take us and send us to their colonies until we can go back home. The letter doesn’t say what kind of Yugoslavia we would be returned to, and for that reason it looks very suspect.

Capt Vlaja Milovanovic from Diepholz says that he’s met some Americans who told him they’re preparing barracks for us in their territory. It’s hard to believe these stories. It seems they’re the product of pure desire. All we can do is wait to find out our fate.

Tonight some of our troops tried to escape from the camp and the English opened fire. The result was one wounded and one dead. The father of the dead man had a breakdown when he heard the news. It was the 13th family member he had lost in the war.

The next star of our billet is Col Sreten Stranjakovic, a gendarme. We call him Cika Sreta. He’s a glutton and badly mannered. However, he’s well-read and very knowledgeable, particularly about geography. He’s goes to bed early and gets up very early. He’s a little deaf and likes to brag and bull himself up. It must be 5 o’clock when he has his morning wash, he then takes a short walk and lies down again fully dressed.

When the bread arrives he leaps out of bed and starts to weigh up which is the biggest piece then swoops on it like a hawk. He coughs, spits and wipes his nose on his hands. When the tea arrives at 7.30am he’s first in the queue. After it’s been handed out there’s a painful scraping of his spoon, slurping and chewing. This is repeated at every meal. He has plenty of money, tobacco and other items but continually complains he has nothing.

We’ve been told the commander of the Hamburg zone is coming tomorrow to inspect the camp.

July 15

The commander of the Hamburg zone has been to camp. He told us he was unable to offer any benefits and we would have to endure our conditions for another week or two.

According to a letter from London we’ve learned:

1. That Tito invited all the students in France to make themselves available for work repairing a railway line as part of a youth labour brigade. The response was very poor.
2. NARAP — the National Ravna Gora Workers’ Movement — has been accepted as a member of the International Labour Organisation.
3. One of the Serbs who left Canada for Yugoslavia has managed to send a letter detailing the horrors Tito’s regime is inflicting.

Still no news from my family.

Now for Cika Brana — Col Brana Zivkovic. I met him while I was serving in the Serbian State Guard command as head of the teaching section. I remember when he called me to a briefing. I went into the office and there, next to the writing table, was another table. He sat on one side and I sat on the other. He shouted Sgt Ivko Ilic and ordered him to bring two black coffees.

We sat in silence drinking coffee. He stroked his moustache. After about 30 to 45 minutes, he said that as I had done so much talking I was free to leave and we would continue the following day. The same scene was replayed every time he called me for a briefing.

Brana is about 50. He looks well and has a strong and serious demeanour. He wears a Cetnik cap. He has a moustache and gives sidelong glances. He pecks at everyone but shares our feelings. Gen Damjanovic appointed him as his deputy.

Next to Cika Brana is Ivko Ilic, from Uzice. He chatters away like a woman and knows a few dirty jokes. He quickly gets annoyed and over the tiniest thing. But he obeys orders.

Next to Ivko is Major Bora Markovic. He’s good-tempered and very organised. He has several boxes filled with various items. Each one has a list of contents and he amends them whenever he moves something from one box to another. He divides every meal into two and spends all day chewing. He’s learning languages and I get on well with him.

July 17

We’ve held a memorial service for our Cica — Gen Dragoljub Draza Mihailovic. There were five Orthodox priests and one Catholic. A monk called Dositej Obradovic gave a good speech. Using well-chosen words he outlined Gen Mihailovic’s work. In the afternoon the teacher Jakovljevic gave a presentation entitled “The character and significance of Gen Mihailovic”.

July 22

Today I was excited twice. The date is significant. At 8.15am a line-up was ordered. It was a strange time and there had to be a reason. The duty interpreter and a British sergeant started the counting.

They classified 64 officers as black — war criminals who should be returned to Yugoslavia for execution by Tito. They were immediately taken away under heavy guard and put in Block C. The British handled this very badly and some of our people were hit with rifle butts. One of those who were struck was Col Brana Zivkovic. We have written a letter of protest to the British.

About 2pm I was given a letter from my Aunt Rose’s Lydia. It was news from home in which my sister Dragica told me I’m to be a grandfather.

We’ve been told we’ll be leaving this camp on July 24. Those of us left after the black party were taken away have been put into two categories — white and grey. I’m in the grey group which means I’m classed as about 50 per cent of a war criminal. I’ve no idea how these decisions have been reached. Many who were Ustase are classed as white but we who were Cetniks are grey. I don’t understand the reasoning.

During the day our brothers were put into punishment camp Y.

July 23

We greys have been given coloured British uniforms but there was none for me. The clothing is old and threadbare and makes us look like real convicts. All we need is a number on our backs.

July 24

About 10am we left the infamous Munster camp. We did so with very heavy hearts because we were leaving our brothers who are headed for Tito’s slaughter house. I pray to God that he’ll help them.

They took us to the railway station where there were freight wagons waiting for us. They were filthy with cement and lime — another token of esteem from our allies. Foodwise there was a packet of biscuits and two tins between three men. We also got margarine but not in individual portions.

We left Munster at 11.15am and went via Soltau, Bremen, Osnabruck, Minster and Essen to Bocholt, where we arrived at 11pm. There was hot food at the station but I didn’t have any. You had to fight and push in the queue. We spent the night at the station. I was fortunate that Lt Slavko Nikolic and his wife came to the station and took me to their camp for supper. I stayed with them and returned to the station early in the morning. We set off for our new camp at 8am.

It’s an awful place. There’s 50 to 100 per dormitory. I got myself with my relatives Anka and Niko Rajnovic. Their room is 10m by 20m. Bags have been used to divide it into smaller sections. The food is very poor.

July 27

We’ve been instructed to elect a camp administration. We have to vote. This was another excellent chance to make a display of Serb unity. After a lot of wrangling we managed to put together some sort of structure with Gen Kuzmanovic at its head.

During the elections the British commander for Westphalia turned up. He gave us the lovely news that Belgium is looking for people to work in the mines but wasn’t sure whether Cetniks would be considered. When we asked him if he realised we were officers, and as such shouldn’t be going down mines, he replied that the Yugoslavs are all civilians and because of that all the same.

Dark shadows loom over our people. Everyone’s complaining but no one’s prepared to do anything to remove the evil from our midst. The communists are distributing leaflets to increase the ill-feeling and trouble.

Some of our disruptive elements are particularly distinguished by their misdeeds: Headmaster Dragosavljevic and student Branko Krajinovic. Krajinovic was with the Partisans for a long time and then switched to the Cetniks. He may have done this on orders because his activities are proving very destructive.

August 1

The head of the propaganda organisation Dusan Silni (Dusan the Great) has arrived in camp. He’s called Predrag Ivanovic and gave a presentation entitled “Serb problems today”, which was attentively listened-to. Ivanovic was criticised by the teacher Jakovljevic. Branko Krajinovic organised a gang which protested against Ivanovic’s lecture and his being in camp, even though he has the blessing of the great vojvodas Djujic and Jevdjevic.

August 28

The Dusan Silni organisation put on a production called “Hajduk Veljko”. It went down very well.

We’ve had our first meeting about setting up a Ravna Gora council. Taking part alongside myself were Lt Col Zika Andric, Lt Col Mihailo Sekulic, Lt Col Miodrag Ratkovic, Major Ljubisa Djordjevic, Capt Bulatovic and Major Laza Janjic. The Dinarska division refused to get involved. We agreed to draw up a constitution and rules. I’ve joined the committee.

September 2

Since leaving Munster I’ve heard nothing from my family and that worries me. Through Aunt Danica I’ve received two letters from Belgrade — one from the wife of Col Brana Zivkovic and one from the wife of Gen Djordje Bulic. I gave both to Col Brana.

Belgium wants men to work in the mines and about 600 have applied. Another 200 want to work in forestry in Canada.

The food here is very poor. We don’t get any cigarettes or chocolate and only one bar of soap for every 36 men. Our men are taking this badly and are fleeing to France en-masse. They would sell their own souls just to get some bread.

The president of the International Refugee Organisation is in camp. There’s talk of more hearings and classifying us as clean and unclean.

Petko Lakovic got back last night from visiting his troops in Seedorf. He said they’d all applied to go to Belgium but the British had blocked it

In Grossenbrode the RAF have recruited some of our men to work for them.

So far, three groups of 200 men have left for work. Another 600 are waiting. Men from this camp are also leaving for Austria to be part of some sort of guerrilla units on the Yugoslav border. I haven’t been able to find out who they belong to or who’s commanding them.

Another interesting tale doing the rounds in camp is that our men are going to be formed into two corps, one in Greece and one in Turkey. It looks to me like imaginations are working overtime.

Despite all the stories and promises we remain in camp where we’re hungry and making the most of the poor food and what shelter we have. It looks like our reward for all we did for the Allies will be labouring in the worst jobs.

I talk to Dr Bulajic a lot. He’s a great optimist and sees everything through rose-tinted spectacles. He’s even trying to assemble political combinations for when he returns to a free Yugoslavia.

September 6

The birthday of His Majesty King Peter II has been celebrated. There was a show in the YMCA hall with a Yugoslav programme. There were various songs and the main speaker was Gen Voja Kuzmanovic. Nikola Nikolic also spoke, on behalf of the Serbs, and the Zbor member Danilov for the Croats. Prof Arko spoke for the Slovenes and his speech was the best.

September 7

The Dusan Silni organisation celebrated the birthday of His Majesty King Peter II. Thanks to my efforts the programme was pure Ravna Gora. Some people complained but I stood my ground. I gave a speech which was warmly received.

September 15

The families have gone to Borgholz near Munster. They have better accommodation — houses — but the move didn’t go smoothly and fights broke out. It’s what we do.

An RAF commission has recruited about 320 men of whom I’m one. My new title is time keeper. It’s in Uetersen, about 20km from Hamburg. We’re waiting to leave — that’s of course if the English are to be believed.

September 19

Major Mile Zizic has been flown to Rome to work with Col Stencel. When we left Eboli, Col Stencel and Major Slavko Andre stayed in Rome as some sort of intelligence centre with a radio station.

September 20

A group of 73 men has left for Belgium to work in the mines. There are some officers among them.

September 25

Ten girls have left for England.

October 1

We’ve been told 150 of the 320 men recruited by the RAF are to leave for their new duties, but we don’t know which 150. I’ve got my belongings together and I’m waiting. Departure is supposed to be at 9am tomorrow. All sorts of things are being said: not everyone’s going, the senior officers aren’t going, and the officers carrying out soldiers’ duties aren’t going. It’s all just a sham so that the blankets won’t be sold.

October 3

A group of 75 men has left to work for the RAF. The rest of us are waiting.

October 5

The weather’s changed. The days are fine. After dinner, Branko Malesevic and I took a walk in the fields and forests. We breathed in the fresh air and practised our English. We came to Rhede, about 6km from Bocholt on the way to Munster. We took a look at the church which is an impressive place built in the Gothic style.

What else can I say? It was Sunday and people were freely walking in the fields. Young people were happy, singing and dancing. And we unwanted people simply thought back to happier days when we were able to do the same — that is until the longing for home became too much.

We happened upon a house. Its windows had white curtains. In front of it and the neighbouring houses there were little gardens with flowers that were beginning to wither with the onset of autumn. Children were playing and singing while their parents looked on with contentment. There were so many similarities to our own past. We watched for a while and then walked off with heads bowed and full of thoughts.

There were so many thoughts and feelings, but in that tangle there was chiefly one which tied everything together into a single idea — vengeance.

We got back to the camp about 6pm and there we found a cold, empty room. We sat on our beds preoccupied with our own thoughts. Uncertainty. Unhappiness. What’s going to happen?

October 9

Today is three years since I left my family — when we left Jagodina and, under pressure from the Red Army and domestic killers, made for Rekovac. It’s 13 years since the assassination of our great king Alexander I, the unifier. We held a memorial service and paid as much respect as our conditions allowed.

October 10

I’m out of sorts, and as well as that have a spot in my nose. There’s no word of the RAF work. It’s all lies and pretence. Maybe the British have some sort of excuse which we, as mere mortals, are unable to understand.

October 14

My thoughts today are entirely with my little boy. Today would have been his 14th birthday but instead of having a party he’s in his grave. I lit a candle for the repose of his soul and went to church to pray for him, for the health of my nearest and dearest, and for a quick return to a liberated homeland.

I’m thinking of our ideals and our beloved homeland which is bound with the chains of slavery. In my heart, the flame of patriotism still burns amid the bitterness and despair. Even in these difficult days for us, Cica’s fighters, the enthusiasm for the fight has not abated. The sound of battle can still be heard in our hearts.

In my subconscious I can see images of the battles we’ve endured and the battlefield where the flower of our nation was mown down by the Ustasa-nazi killers, and the communist grab for power.

October 28

The weather is bright but it’s chilly too and at night the temperature falls below zero. The food is very poor. Our hut is wooden and there’s about a 2cm gap between the boards through which the merciless cold blows in. There are draughts on every side. Even though it’s late October we’re dressed as though it was St Sava in January.

Conditions are so bad that many men have changed their minds and decided to return home despite what will happen to them. The thought’s going through my head that they’re treating us so badly as an attempt to force us to go back to Tito and death.

Absolutely no news from home. That upsets me too, but what can you do?

There’s no longer any mention of heading off for work. They’re continually lying to us. The date given was November 1. Thirty officers have volunteered for the stores, and 50 to work as police in Munster. There’s talk that we might be offered work in Great Britain.

Dr Bulajic has arranged for me to get better food as I’ve lost a lot of weight. The kitchen is run by Lithuanians. They’re giving me macaroni boiled in milk. At least it’s better than the water that passes for soup or coffee.

November 5

The weather’s better and the mercury has risen a little. Life’s more bearable. This week we’ve each received 23 Turkish cigarettes, seven cigars and 42 sweets.

People have started to leave for work. Today 15 men have left for the stores and on November 7 a party of 14 is going for England. I’m waiting to hear from the RAF. A special commission has arrived in Munster is and is holding hearings for the men sent to Camp Y. We await news of their fate with trepidation in our hearts.

November 15

Today is the anniversary of the death of my little boy Milan. Three full years have passed. I’ve been to church and lit some candles.

Gen Damjanovic invited me, Sima Mijuskovic and Sergej Zivanovic to visit him on the 10th of this month. We left Bocholt for Munster at 6.20, then left Munster at 11.07 on the Hamburg train. Getting on board took some work. People were climbing through the windows as well as the doors, scrambling over each other. It was terrible.

We reached Hamburg at 4pm, and continued to Buxtehude at 4.50, getting there at 5.30pm. We were met at the station by Lt Varijaski and he took us to our hotel where we ate. The following day, November 12, at 9am, Lt Varijaski returned and took us to see Gen Damjanovic. It was raining but we had to walk about 20 minutes from the hotel to the place where he was being held.

We came to a barracks and the sentries let us through. In a corner of the courtyard was a small building surrounded by barbed wire. There was a guard at the entrance. This was Gen Damjanovic’s home. As we entered he came out to meet us. His eyes were full of tears as were ours. He welcomed us very warmly. We kissed on both cheeks. We had to communicate with our eyes because we were unable to speak.

The general’s accommodation comprised of a bedroom, a dining room, kitchen, toilet, bathroom, a room for the orderly officer, a room for a soldier, and a study. We stayed till 8pm. We were royally entertained. We talked about anything and everything.

We spent the night at the hotel and at 7am on November 13 set off back to Munster. However, Mijuskovic fell ill with a stomach upset so we had to go to Diepholz, where there is a camp for Zbor members, and put him in the hospital. We stayed in the camp and left for Bocholt the following day.

The first group has set off for work in England — 102 men including Lt Col Zika Andric. The RAF scheme has been wound up and even those who left have started to return. A commission is coming on November 17 to recruit men to work in Great Britain. I’ve decided to apply but I’ll wait and see what happens.

November 19

Yesterday the first snow fell. The temperature is below freezing. In our room its 5C but it’s only mid-November. What on earth will the winter be like?

A terrible gloom has descended on me caused by personal uncertainty. It causes me great pain. We’ve become commodities, measured from head to toe to assess our strength, and from that strength they work out our value. What great times we’re experiencing. Qualifications count for nothing. All that matters is muscle power. Fate is treating us very cruelly. I really don’t know what to do. I’d happily kill myself, and so put an end to my anguish and uncertainty, but my love for my parents prevents me. My brother is already gone, lost in the war. Nobody knows what happened to him. If I was to commit suicide it would be a terrible blow for my elderly parents. So all I can do is put up with my situation. I’m praying to God and St Nicholas to help me.

1948

January 6

I’ve been to visit my relatives Anka and Niko Rajnovic in Borgholz. We had a very nice time within our confines as exiles and refugees. As Christian Serbs we spent the time in prayer following our Christmas traditions. When I got back to Bocholt I found my trunk had been broken into and various documents stolen:

The list of names of men taken to Camp Y to be handed over to Tito.

A copy of the letter of protest I sent to the British following the rough treatment of Col Brana Zivkovic.

The communication about our demobilisation and the removal of officer insignia.

A copy of the letter from Gen Damjanovic to Air Marshal Arthur Tedder.

My notes about various people in the camps at Cesena, Forli and Eboli.

Some pictures from Bosnia and Sandzak.

My room-mates were in jail as they’d had some women to visit and that’s prohibited. So the room was empty and it was easy to go through belongings.

January 25

Here I am in Borgholz at Anka and Niko’s, to get a little rest and to get away from the crowded camp at Bocholt. It’s very nice. I’ve played with Anka’s children, walked around the area and visited couples I know. Among these were Dragi Milanovic and his Muslim wife. All of them gave me a nice welcome.

January 30

I’ve returned from Borgholz. I’ve now been behind the wire in Munster for nine months in a camp for displaced persons — DP Camp U8 87 DPCA Bocholt, not far from the Dutch border. There are various races from eastern Europe: Serbs, Poles, Ukrainians, Baltics (they’re very well in with the British and hold all the important positions) and Jews.

We’ve been taking our cigarettes around the German villages, swapping them for apples, which we’ve then sold to the Jews to get some money. For fuel, we’ve had to go out into the forest at night to cut down the odd fir tree which we’ve taken back to camp, sawn up and hidden. If we hadn’t done this we would have died of cold.

Because of all the shortages, even of the most basic items, I’ve applied to work in Great Britain. I’ve done so with a heavy heart. I’m hoping I might be able to find a job where I can use my qualifications. I can’t bear the thought of heavy physical work because I’m not used to it, and I’m pretty unfit because of the poor food. We’ll see what happens. The cares seem to continually pile up and never diminish. I’ve prayed to God that he’ll help me and not desert me.

February 6

After much thought and deliberation, and influenced by letters that have come from our people who left for work, a number of us have applied to go to work in Britain. We’ve been particularly encouraged by a letter from Col Voja Petrovic. He recommends going over there as he says things are very good. There’s been a similar letter from Capt Kordic. Quite a few of our men seem to be happy in England.

It strikes me that material matters are taking precedence over spiritual ones. Times change men. But because of all these thoughts and rosy descriptions of life, I’ve decided to add my name to those seeking work in Great Britain. What I thought about I’ve done, and I’ve put my name down. There are 35 candidates in my group, all of different callings and skills. As well as myself the list includes Lt Col Branko Malesevic, Lt Col Dusan Desnica, Lt Col Petar Desnica, Lt Perisic, Lt Boskovic, Major Djacic and his son, Capt Beslin and Capt Sepsinac.

February 21

My group has been called to go to the transit camp in Munster. We’re going on February 24 at 4pm.

February 24

Twenty men from my group left today at 4pm. We went from Bocholt to Munster by lorry but had the choice of travelling by train as it’s so cold. Fifteen men were left and will go tomorrow.

When we got in the truck, instead of heading off for Munster, the driver started walking around the camp gathering Lithuanians. When he found there wasn’t enough room for all of them, he wanted us to give up our places to this Baltic rabble. An argument started and they called their own Lithuanian police. However, we appealed to the British who ruled in our favour. One young Lithuanian even wanted to take his chair with him, and expected one of us to get off to make room for it.

The journey was 85km and we reached Munster at 6.15pm. It was pleasant enough. We passed through some lovely areas. Munster was in ruins — the result of the horrors of war that affected this region.

Outside the camp at Bocholt

As soon as we arrived there was a roll call. Then they divided us into groups. My group comprises 22 men all over the age of 30. We’ve been given the number DM 313. We were checked for lice and then taken to a hall. The beds were wooden without mattresses or clothes. I found myself with my fellow Dalmatian Dusan Desnica. He carried my things in and found me a blanket. We did our best to settle down.

February 25

The night was very long and I slept badly. I was cold and I’m going down with a cold. However, later in the day we given a room with bunk beds. It was no 37 on the third floor of Block 4. For bedclothes we’ve got an old quilt and two even older ragged blankets. The food is somewhat better than in Bocholt.

I’m still very disappointed with the way we’re being treated. We’ve become men of the lowest class and left with whatever crumbs are thrown to us. We’ll see if things get any better.

February 27

This morning we had our pictures taken, and in the afternoon had a medical examination — mainly for lice and sexually transmitted diseases. We were examined by a female Lithuanian doctor.

February 28

Today we had our main medical examination and registered with the Dutch police for the journey across Holland.

March 1

We’ve registered with the British police. We paraded in front of around ten people and at the end we were given a bond for £1 which we can exchange for money on the ferry. We’re leaving for England on March 4 at 4pm. We’ve also been given 100 Turkish cigarettes, 20 sweets, and a roll of toilet paper. We’ve prepared some bread and bacon for the journey.

March 4

At 2pm we handed over our luggage and then we were lined up in a garage in groups of 25 (there was about 600 of us in total) and the doors were locked. Then we were counted and processed up to about 3.30pm. Each bag had a sticker giving the name of the camp to which we’re going and the first letter of our surname, all written in block letters. Around our necks we had a cardboard tag saying DM313.

At 3.30 they started to take us to Munster Station using ten buses. We waited about an hour at the station and then we started boarding the train. My group got a carriage with seating along its length, but without lighting.

March 5

Yesterday afternoon we left Munster at 4.30 travelling via Rheine to Hook of Holland. We reached Bentheim on the Dutch border at 8pm where we were given tea and handed over to the Dutch police to take care of us through The Netherlands. The first place we passed through was Oldenzaal. It was a very uncomfortable journey and it was impossible to sleep.

At 2 o’clock this morning we reached Hook of Holland. We got off the train and they took us to a huge dining room where we got our first decent food in two years. They also gave us a small packet containing two sandwiches. Afterwards we went to the harbour and hauled our luggage on to the ship. The ferry is large and has two funnels and two decks. Once we were on board, we were told the ship couldn’t depart because there was heavy fog.

The head of our group was a blonde Czech woman in an expensive-looking fur coat.

At 6am they took us off the ship and gave us breakfast. Eventually, they even sorted out some seating for us — benches, as at school, but without desks. We weren’t allowed on deck. From what I’ve heard, Hook of Holland is 108 miles from Harwich and the journey will take six hours.

March 8

We docked in the English port of Harwich at 4pm on March 6. We were given £1 and some tea, and then the customs people started fussing. We were taken into a large hall where our luggage was in piles according to the first letter of our surname. Each group was subjected to a very pedantic search. Everything moved very slowly and if it had carried on in that way we would have been there five days. The customs officers finally realised this and eventually just started asking questions such as did we have watches and cameras? We were finally finished at 9pm.

We were immediately put into third-class carriages. They were decent, upholstered coaches. There were four of us in each compartment. In the restaurant car we were given tea, a bag with two sandwiches, and two cakes. At first the train went quickly but later slowed down. We spent a lot of time going through London. I could see we were passing some tall buildings, or should I say their roofs. It was a pity that it was night and we couldn’t see anything. We finally arrived in London at 1am on March 7.

Two buses took us to the transit camp — Hans Crescent Hostel — in SW1. Here we were given supper, a towel, cutlery and a room. Mine was room 446 on the fifth floor and there were five beds. Dusan Desnica was with me. By the time we had washed and sorted things out, it was 3am when we got to bed. Dog-tired, we fell asleep at once.

About 300 left for Newcastle. They woke us at 6am. We were still tired but had to get up. We went downstairs and were given breakfast. Then we were divided into three groups. Each went in a different direction. The first left at 8am, the second at 9am and mine at 11am. After breakfast we had another medical examination. We spent the rest of the time until 11am in the reading room. I made notes about the journey which I’m now including in my diary.

At 11am, we 50 boarded two luxury coaches and set off for Havant via Guildford, Haslemere and Petersfield. We arrived at 2pm.

Havant isn’t far from the Portsmouth naval base, perhaps no more than 3km. The camp was built by the Americans. It’s in two parts. In the first are small wooden huts comprising six little rooms, and each hut has a toilet and bathroom. In the other section are large metal huts, covered with tar inside and out, and nicely furnished. About 15 men were put in each hut and there were around 150 in total including a YMCA, a music hall, two bathrooms, two laundry huts, and two huge kitchens. The pathways are all paved. The surrounding area is lovely. Havant is ten minutes away and on the other side, right next to the camp, is Bedhampton. I’ve just realised that all the buildings are the same in each street.

We’ve been put in the first part of the camp, Hut 119, which has four per room. Each room has two bunk beds with four old blankets, a fire and one chair per person. We’ve also each got a sheet. In my room are Lt Col Branko Malesevic, Major Stojan Matovic and Dusan Desnica. It’s Room 2.

They’ve told us we’ll each get five shillings (25p) pocket money every Monday. We’re fed four times a day: breakfast, dinner, tea and supper. We have the chance to learn English and there are recreational facilities as well as information films telling us about work. Most of the camp positions are occupied by Balts. They’ve got all the good jobs. We’ll be cleaning the rooms, halls, toilets and pathways. We’ve already drawn up a rota.

Some Poles are selling black-market bread but are charging a shilling (5p) for a small loaf.

March 12

Branko, Stojan, Dusan and I visited Portsmouth. We travelled on a double-deck bus and sat upstairs at the front so that we’d get the best view. Portsmouth is a nice place, especially the centre and the coast.

I’ve got a cold. The new climate just doesn’t suit me. I never feel warm. Hopefully, once I’m properly fed and have a few calories inside me I won’t be so delicate. On the whole I don’t feel too bad.

March 15

The first news — they’ve taken away our sheets. We’ve had to register once again. I’ve been allocated farm work. After registration we were given coupons for clothing and food, and identification papers. We should be going to a workers’ hostel in Sherington but as it’s not ready at the moment we’re being temporarily moved to a hostel in Shalstone, about three miles from Buckingham. Our departure date is April 1. That means we’ve got another 15 days in Havant.

March 18

Today I met my old classmate Mirko Pukmajster as his group’s arrived. We swapped a few words and walked round the camp together. He was a prisoner of war. He also told me that there’s a place in the town where you can buy fried potato, and for a shilling you get lots. Our hungry rabble have found it and are eating like they’d never seen food before. Desnica brought some to me and it was very agreeable.

March 30

We’re getting ready to set off for work. Today we’ve been given a military uniform, dyed blue; a vest; a pair of socks; an old overcoat and an old pair of shoes. We’re leaving at 8am tomorrow.

April 2

Yesterday we left Havant promptly. We went via Alton, Reading, High Wycombe, Aylesbury and Buckingham to Shalstone Hostel. We passed to the west of London. The countryside was rich and beautiful. The journey was pleasant and the weather was sunny. We travelled by luxury coach.

Shalstone Hostel is right on the road. The town is about two miles away. There’s a bus to Buckingham twice a day. We arrived at exactly 2pm yesterday. This camp previously held prisoners of war. The huts are made of wood or concrete. We’ve been put in a concrete hut. Our interpreter is Stevan Bijelic, a Zbor man, who took us to the reading room.

In camp there are 150 of our men from Lika, Dalmatia and Bosnia as well as from the Sumadija division (Zbor men). We were immediately given dinner which was so generous we couldn’t eat it all. There was bread galore.

Mr Lewis, the camp manager, introduced himself to us. He served on the Salonica Front in the First World War and likes Serbs a lot. His goodwill was immediately apparent.

My group of 25 has been divided into one of six, and one of 19. We six are in a room for six men. The others are in another room. In our room we have six beds, each with four blankets and other bedclothes, and four chairs. There are no cupboards so we’re keeping our belongings in boxes and cases kept under our beds. We’re getting sardines all the time. We’ve been told it’s a temporary thing and we’ll have to live with it. It’s a case of shut up and live with it.

April 4

Until today we’ve been resting but tomorrow, God willing, we start work and a new way of life. We’ve become physical workers. We’ll get to work mainly by lorry but we have the option of cycling.

We get up at 5.30am, breakfast is 6 to 7, and then we start setting off for work. The main form of transport is lorry but we can cycle if we choose. We’ll be working near Newport Pagnell.

Taking a rest from work in the fields

April 5

We left for work by lorry at 7am. It took an hour for us to reach the site. What did we do? We dug drainage ditches, trimmed hedges, built fences and covered them with barbed wire. The work is hard.

I grabbed a spade which was filthy with mud and instinctively threw it aside, wiping my hands. The foreman saw me and burst out laughing. I came to my senses and realised how it must have looked.

According to our contract, we work 48 hours a week. We have Saturday afternoons and Sundays off. We have six days off a year for religious holidays: Christmas, Easter and Whitsuntide. We receive 90 shillings a week (£4.50). From that they take 30 shillings (£1.50) for food and board and a few shillings for tax, so we actually get 57 shillings (£2.85) in our hand. During the working day we have a ten-minute break at 9.30, an hour’s dinner at 12.20pm, and we finish at 5pm and return to the hostel. We take dry food on site. We’re given tea and sugar and brew up in our breaks.

April 30

They’ve given us Good Friday and the second day of Easter off as a holiday, which will be deducted from our 12 days’ annual leave. We used the time to go into Oxford to buy some items and to take a look at this ancient university city. I bought a pair of shoes, some nail scissors and a pair of slippers. I also got some little things for my grandson.

May 2

Today 96 of us left camp for London to go to a church service. The journey cost us ten shillings each. We left at 7am via Aylesbury and reached London at 9am. We made our way to the St Sava home at 12 Egerton Gardens SW3. As I understand it the building was a gift from Queen Marie, our queen mother. As well as all the other rooms there’s a little chapel. I estimate there were 2,000 of us there from all the camps and hostels. The service was taken by His Grace Bishop Irinej Djordjevic.

Yugoslavs at the church visit in London. Petar Pavasovic (second right, back row). Vasa Miljus (second left, front row).

Her Majesty the Queen Mother was present and it was deeply moving to meet her. We were all greatly affected as she was too.

I met Slobodan Jovanovic, Milan Gavrilovic; Dr Avakumovic; Mrs Gavrilovic; the daughter of the chemist Sohaj from Jagodina; Bosko Jevtic⁶⁶, the former prime minister of Yugoslavia; my classmates Dragoslav Srebric and Vlasta Rozdjalovski and some others.

We had lunch in a large hotel which took us three stops on the Underground. Afterwards we walked back taking a look at London. We were with the blind Major Bogicevic and his escort.

May 10

When I woke up this morning my neck was aching. I had a look in the mirror and saw that I’m getting an ulcer.

May 18

The ulcer is causing me a lot of discomfort so I’m going to see the doctor. My whole neck is stiff and even my right shoulder hurts. I’m in so much pain I can’t sleep. I’ve been given a sick note and some pills that have given me relief. I wasn’t detained in the sick bay. Instead I’m alone in my room.

May 24

I’ve been taking my medicine and I’m feeling better. Even so I’m still excused work as the ulcer remains inflamed and has been weeping pus and blood. I’m being looked after by gendarmerie Lt Jovo Lazic who has been bringing me food, and gendarmerie Capt (1st class) Gligorije Grbic, who has been washing me and changing my dressings.

Today is my 43rd birthday — my fourth in exile. How many more will there be?

May 27

I’ve sent my grandson a parcel for his first birthday: chocolate and sweets.

June 1

A number of us have been moved to a new camp — Peterley Hostel near Great Missenden and High Wycombe. As well as myself there’s Major Jovan Djordjevic, Major Stojan Matovic, Capt Gligorije Grbic, Capt Brank Sepsinac, Lt Masic, Pte Gojko Dokic, and prisoner-of-war Mita Zivkovic.

We’ve been separated from our group and sent to the new camp as a punishment. Lt Col Malesevic and Lt Col Raca Jaksic told the British we’re poor workers. I was informed of this by Lt Boskovic and Lt Breslin.

On May 6, while we were working, these two gentlemen went to a new hostel at Newport Pagnell, and we knew nothing about it. This is another example of treachery and lack of comradeship that needs to be noted and underlined.

The Peterley Hostel is spread out. We’re in a lovely pine forest. The manager is Capt Ross (Rose?). As well as running the camp he sells everything from needles to caps and bicycles.

Within the camp there’s a well-organised group of Zbor men from Sumadija, about 100 strong. Their chief is the student Ljubisa Popovic. They’re very loyal to their party leadership.

There’s also a group of Cetniks from various units — Hercegovina, Lika, Bosnia and Serbia — about 15 in total. As soon as I arrived they gathered round me and gave me a detailed description of life and conditions in the camp which, in reality, is run by the Zbor men. They told me the Zbor men get on well with the locals and especially the clergy. Every so often they organise dances which are attended by young people from the surrounding area.

In terms of my early acquaintances I’ve come across artillery Major Mica Matovic and Jovo Nikolic, a police official from Belgrade.

The accommodation is good but the food’s poor because the kitchens are run by the Zbor men who keep food from us and send it to their people in Germany.

The interpreter is Sinisa Petrovic, a smallish young man.

June 2

My sick note for the ulcer on my neck has been extended, so I’m relaxing and using the opportunity to get to know the hostel better.

Major Matic has introduced me to Mrs Cross, and older lady who is very friendly and willing to help. There’s also her brother, Mr Thompson, and Mrs Baker, another older lady. Mrs Cross has a son who is an army captain on active service. She told me their doors are always open and I am welcome to visit whenever I like. I thanked her, and I also thanked Matic for putting me in touch with such nice people.

Mrs Baker offered to help me learn English — a very kind and helpful gesture.

The Zbor leaders are treating me with respect. I think they want to entice me into joining their ranks as several of our men have already done.

June 8

The ulcer’s gone and I returned to work today. When I got back, Capt Ross called me over and said he’d found out I’m a senior officer and was going to give me a staff job. The same evening I was moved into the staff quarters with Matic and Nikolic. The furnishings are excellent: sheets, pillows, cupboard, table and chair. I thanked Capt Ross for his thoughtfulness. Thank God I’ve got away from farming and spades. Tomorrow I start work in the kitchens.

June 9

This morning the interpreter Sinisa Petrovic came into our room and started screaming. In this discourteous way I found out that Capt Ross doesn’t have the authority to excuse me from farm work and I’ll have to go back.

June 10

Last night, when I got back from work, I went to see Capt Ross and told him everything that had happened, and how I had had to go back to farm work even though he had put me on the staff. Capt Ross just shrugged his shoulders. I understood that he couldn’t do anything. These matters are decided at a higher level.

June 11

Thinking about what happened with the Zbor-member Petrovic, and speaking with our men who have been in the camp longer than me, I’ve come to the conclusion that these are the reasons I was removed from my staff job:

1. Because I refused to join with the Zbor people. I stayed the same as I’ve been since 1941.
2. Because they run the kitchens and the stores — a power they use to deny us food so that they can send it to their people in Germany. I think they fear I might cause problems for their racket.

I’ve been to see Capt Ross again and we discussed the incident once more. He expressed surprise at the way a young man had spoken to an officer of my rank and experience.

I wondered whether I should tell him who the Zbor men were and what they did in Serbia during the war. In the end I decided I should speak because they deserved it. I explained everything to Capt Ross without any remorse.

The main character was Sinisa Petrovic who had been loudly proclaiming that he would rather harm a Cetnik than a Partisan. Ross changed his opinion of Zbor and things became strained among them. In the meantime there were two fights between Cetniks and Zbor-ists.

June 14

I’ve uncovered the Zbor-ists’ secret power. Returning to the camp one evening, I saw our welfare lady’s car parked by the entrance and between some trees. With her in the vehicle was the Zbor-ist Jaksic, a barber by trade, and a tall, well-built lad. He’s got into some sort of romantic relationship with her and through that he’s able to realise all his wishes.

June 27

Relations between the Zbor-ists and Capt Ross are very strained. They’re whispering that they’re going to have him removed. For his part, Ross is taking action against them and gathering information.

July 11

About 11am I was called into the administrator’s office where I was introduced to a middle-aged man who told me he was from Scotland Yard. He asked me to leave the camp unnoticed and to walk half a mile towards Great Missenden where I would find his secretary waiting in his car. We set off in the direction of London and after an hour’s journey stopped outside an inn. We went inside, sat at a table, and he took my details — even the number of my Ravna Gora badge. Then he went on to ask me about the men in camp. I answered these and all his other questions in detail. At the end he asked me what should be done with the Zbor-ists. I said they should be dispersed through all the camps in Great Britain. He then took me back to Peterley. I didn’t speak to anyone about this and no one noticed my absence.

July 15

Capt Ross has gone and in his place we have Mr Bennett, a good and quiet man.

July 20

My informant tells me that the Zbor-ists have invited HRH Prince Tomislav to the camp. He asked me if Ljubisa Popovic had let me know and I replied that he hadn’t. Later I was approached by a delegation of our men who asked me what we should do if we are invited to play a part in welcoming the prince. I said I would invite Tomislav to come to our billets and we would prepare a present for him. This calmed them.

July 25

Today Ljubisa Popovic told me about the invitation sent to Tomislav, and that the prince had accepted. Popovic said he would be coming on August 1 and asked me to play a part in the visit. I accepted, thus removing one care from my shoulders. I immediately told our men who were happy with what had happened.

August 1

Prince Tomislav of Yugoslavia visited the camp today. Ljubisa and I greeted him with men from both sides. As he came through the gate we offered him bread and salt as is our Serb custom. The camp administrator, Mr Bennett, also took part in the welcome.

During lunch, I welcomed the prince on behalf of the Ravna Gora movement. I gave him a gift — a copy of my novel, “Mladi Cetnik” and an album with pictures from our campaign in the fatherland: three pictures from the Dinarska Cetnik division’s territory, and a picture of the Royal Yugoslav Army’s Serbian Shock Corps near Tuzla on December 25, 1944. There were other pictures, too, including one of Ravna Gora.

Prince Tomislav (centre). Petar Pavasovic (third left)

In the evening I had a lengthy chat with the prince. I acquainted him with conditions in exile and particularly in this camp, and explained them to him. It appeared he hadn’t paid much attention to these. He was delighted with the way he had been received. I asked him to visit the camp at Shalstone the following day, to see our men, and he agreed.

August 2

We visited Shalstone. The welcome was wonderful. In the evening there was a dance at Peterley which was attended by lots of young people from the surrounding area. The prince was delighted. He even went on stage and sang some English songs.

August 3

Prince Tomislav left camp at 9 this morning. He said the three days he had spent with us were the best of his life. He was escorted by myself, Ljubisa Popovic, and the teacher Dusan Banovic, who had been a prisoner of war. The Zbor-ists gave presents for him, the queen mother and Prince Andrija.

Back in London Tomislav went to see his mother. We stayed in the car and then went to lunch at the Hyde Park Hotel which the prince often visits. When Banovic saw the luxury, and the quality of the food, he became frightened that he wouldn’t be able to pay and excused himself saying he had an upset stomach and was unable to eat. When it came to the bill, the prince told us to leave a ten shilling (50p) tip. The meal cost us £3 each.

Tomislav then took us to the royal estate in Tonbridge, Kent. The queen mother’s house was on the left as we drove in but she wasn’t at home. The princes live about three kilometres away, in a house in the middle of the estate. The property has no electricity or gas lighting. It was modestly furnished. The cooks were from Slovenia. We were served with tea and sandwiches.

Prince Andrija turned up a little later. He was covered with mud and machine oil. When Banovic saw him, he said “Oh, your royal highness.” To which the prince replied: “You’re surprised to see me so dirty? I’ve been with my friend, ploughing.”

We returned to London by train, then took a bus to High Wycombe and a taxi to the camp.

August 8

I’ve been to the RAF hospital at Wendover to see engineer Petar Popovic.

September 1

The new camp administrator is my old friend from Shalstone, Mr Lewis. He served on the Salonica front in the First World War and is a great friend of the Serbs.

September 5

I’ve been to the Wing camp for a visit by His Majesty King Peter II. I took Mrs Cross with me, Gojko Dokic and Sime Masic. It was a wonderful welcome and very moving. The king’s troops greeted their commander-in-chief as befitted heroes and loyal soldiers true to their oath of allegiance. The king was accompanied by His Grace Irinej Djordjevic (bishop of Dalmatia who had been interned by the Italians) and minister Milicevic (a man who was later to return to Yugoslavia).

There was welcoming speech, declarations of loyalty and love for the king, the Karadjordjevic dynasty, freedom and democracy, and then a church service and finally a meal. I was greeted by Lt Col Zika Andric when I arrived at the camp.

September 6

I’m heading to London as agreed with Slavko Farkas. I was put into contact with Farkas by Col Brana Zivkovic. The aim of our meeting was Farkas’s idea that all the Ravna Gora followers combine in an organisation called Udruzenje Boraca Kraljevske Jugoslovenske Vojske — Draza Mihailovic (Royal Yugoslav Army Ex-Combatants’ Association). The group should be organised on clear humanitarian and social principles, but also carry on our fight against the regime in Yugoslavia — Tito and his friends.

I went by bus from High Wycombe to Trafalgar Square and then took a taxi to Holy Trinity Church, Broadhampton Street (Brompton Street?) — a fine, large Anglican church. A lot of our people were there. I saw Vasa Miljus, Lt Col Boza Nikolic, Ivko Ilic and many others. We had our picture taken outside the church.

At exactly 11am their majesties the king and queen entered the church. The service was taken by Bishop Irinej, assisted by one of our priests, a Greek priest, and two Anglicans. The bishop spoke in Serbian first, and then in English.

Irinej was born in Vrcanin, Takovo, on May 9, 1894. He trained at St Sava and then continued his studies in Petrovgrad and Oxford, where he completed his doctorate. Between 1919 and 1924 he studied in Athens where he completed a second doctorate. In 1921 he became a teacher at St

Sava and in 1924 moved to the theological faculty in Belgrade. He was the founder and first editor of Hriscanski Zivot (Christian Life). He was made a bishop in 1928 and three years later became bishop of Dalmatia where he arrived in 1932. At the start of the Second World War, the Italians interned him in Italy. Later he was in Dachau. Since the end of the war he has lived in London.

After the service, I went with Farkas and Rogozarski’s daughter to visit Dr Milan Gavrilovic⁶⁷, who asked us to stay to lunch. He told me how the Russians expelled him from Moscow after Yugoslavia capitulated in 1941, and many other things about our politicians in exile from 1941 until the present day.

About 5pm we left Dr Gavrilovic and I returned to the camp. On the way back from London I thought about the day: our meeting with the royal couple and the feelings that unfolded in our souls during those moments. For us it hadn’t been London, it was Belgrade. But sadly it was only an illusion that quickly gave way to cold reality. With these thoughts still in my head I reached camp and went to bed.

September 19

I’ve been in bed five days with a bad stomach. I’ve had regular visits from the camp managers, Mr Lewis, and Mrs Cross. Mr Lewis told me that from now on I’ll be working in the camp kitchens making sandwiches. I’m very pleased that I’ll be getting a rest from hard, physical work.

September 20

I’ve been working in the kitchens and there was no trouble. About 10am I was called into the office and Mr Lewis told me I was being moved to a new place — the AEC Hostel in Whitchurch near Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire. I was told I’ll be a hostel porter — or to put it in Serbian, a cleaner — and to get myself ready by noon. That was the precise time the car arrived to take me to the new hostel.

I was met by my new manager, Mr Dyce, and was given a nice room which I’ve set out to my taste. The camp is small and has just 30 workers — Poles and English. Working hours are 6am to 1pm and 4 to 7pm. Once a week, between 8.30 and 9pm I serve cups of tea. Thursdays and Fridays I’m free from 1pm. My job involves sweeping the dining rooms, setting the tables, peeling potatoes, preparing sandwiches, cleaning the food stores, and when Mr Sunday is absent, washing the dishes.

The food is excellent and there’s plenty of it. It’s much better than Peterley because the Zbor-ists aren’t involved. I no longer feel tired because I have plenty of time for rest. My work isn’t heavy. When I’ve finished I go back to my room and think of anything and everything, but mostly of my family, my fate and the work awaiting me in terms of setting up our organisation. I get at least two or three letters a day and I answer them happily and with satisfaction. It’s good to know so many men respect me. They got to know me during the horrors of Bosnia and Sandzak and later in the camps in Italy and Germany. I tried to help everyone as much as I could. I get invitations to visit and some even ask me to move to their camp so that they can help me.

October 3

Today I was visited by Lt Farkas and his wife, an English lady. I was put in contact with Farkas by Col Zivkovic, who gave me his address. From our letters, but especially our meetings in London and today, I can see Farkas is an intelligent and steady officer and man. He’s extremely committed to Cica and Ravna Gora. When he speaks of our organisation he does so with great love — the words come straight from his heart.

I showed Farkas a letter from Gen Damjanovic thanking me for my work to set up the organisation and not to seek any positions but to continue doing it. I replied to the general saying I was not doing my work to get a new position or praise, but because of love for my king and people. I see my work as a duty under my pledge of allegiance.

Knowing the general as I do, I know he respects me and rates me. The fact he’s sent me such a letter suggests there’s some intrigue going on. Serbs are prone to it. The people responsible are personally ambitious and have never learned to deal in the truth.

It should be understood that this doesn’t worry or upset me in the slightest. The news is clear and I’ve remained what I’ve always been, an officer and a man. When it was decided to establish our organisation I was given the most important job — pro-tem president of the executive committee. That means I’m where the general wants me. He knows my work from Skoplje, Serbia and from the time of the withdrawal. He weighed up the options and came to a conclusion.

I must also mention Col Branimir “Brana” Zivkovic, whose assistant I was in Belgrade, and later in Bosnia and through the camps of Italy and Germany. I’m sure that his influence also played a part in appointing me pro-tem president of the executive committee.

I made sure Farkas and his wife were well looked-after. The manager allowed me to take some items from the stores. The visit meant a lot to me and allowed me to pay back their hospitality when I was in London.

October 4

I had a very pleasant surprise this morning when I received a letter from Sgt Momir Radovanovic who worked for us in the camp command at Eboli. He tells me there are vacancies at the factory where he works, WH Foster, Denholme Mills, and he enclosed a letter from one of the directors. I was delighted that Moma was thinking of me in such a way, and very touched by his gesture. I accepted his invitation and thanked him for his thoughtfulness. Now I need permission from the agricultural commission to leave for my new duties, if I can refer to them as such. I don’t know what awaits me but it has to be better than what I’m doing here.

October 5

Today I’ve been to the labour exchange in Aylesbury and asked them to allow me to move to Bradford. They agreed and God willing I should leave on October 17. I immediately informed Moma. In terms of the journey, I should reach Bradford at midnight on October 17/18.

October 18

Yesterday afternoon I left Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, and set off for Bradford, Yorkshire, by train. I reached Bradford at midnight. Moma Radovanovic was waiting for me at the station and from there we went to the camp at Silsden near Keighley. It’s a huge place for so-called European volunteer workers. It’s called Howden Hall Hostel. As in Germany, all the key positions are held by Balts. The camp is divided into three main pavilions: for families, males and females. Men can’t go into the women’s pavilion and vice-versa. There’s a large room for reading and another for recreation and dancing.

I stayed the night in Moma’s room. His room-mate wasn’t in camp so I was able to use his bed.

This morning I reported for my new duties. This job is very different to the monotony of agriculture. But there’s less fresh air, plenty of dust and lots of noise from the machinery making cloth. Moma introduced me to the head of the factory, W and H Foster of Denholme. He was very friendly and took care of me. All in all I was pleased. The factory makes 100 per cent woollen cloth, chiefly for export.

My job is collecting rolls of material in a cart and taking them to the room where I work. In this room there’s a large table on which are two rollers — one big, one small — about two metres apart. I put the cloth in a housing, put the end over the higher roller and then attach it to the lower one. Then I check the cloth for flaws and mark any I found with chalk. Later, skilled women repair them in a process called mending so that they can no longer be seen.

Momentarily there was no room for me in the camp at Silsden so the company found me a room across the road from the factory. I was very pleased because it was so near but when I saw the accommodation I was bitterly disappointed. It was a dark attic, filthy and full of cobwebs and dust with an old battered bed. Instead of a mattress there was some coiled rope. The quilt was ripped and full of clumps. The blankets and sheets were equally poor. The kitchen where I had breakfast and tea was dirty with pots and pans everywhere. However, I’ve been assured I’ll only be there a few days.

October 25

I’ve moved to the Silsden camp but I was unable to get into the same room as Moma. Luck has decreed I have to share with a Ukrainian. It’s a small room and every night the Ukrainians gather in it. They cook fish, drink and talk until late in the night. I can’t get any peace and struggle to sleep, but I’ve just got to live with it.

December 2

During tea a young Pole approached me and addressed me by my rank. I wondered how he knew I was a lieutenant colonel because I’ve kept it a secret. I asked him who told him and he replied that it was our men, with whom he had been working in the factory. He told me he was, in fact, an Italian. His family had moved to Poland. He spoke such good Italian that from then on that was all we spoke.

1949

On the 8th of this month I came into conflict with my mill manager. An old woman had complained that I wouldn’t remove some cloth. It was because it was only three minutes before I stopped for dinner. I asked her if she wouldn’t mind waiting until after lunch but she was in a hurry. The manager even decided to punish me and said I should sweep the workshop several times a day. I told him to do it himself and to give me my cards because I didn’t want to work in his mill any longer. The mill-owner became involved but I refused to give in.

Today I’ve moved to Rochdale, Lancashire, and with the help of Dragi Milanovic have found a job at Pilling’s, a cotton mill. The job’s not hard. I pick up what they call bobbins when they are full and load them into baskets which I pull along rails to the place where whey are measured and packed.

I’ve found rooms at 114 Hare Street but it’s crowded. The owners are so keen to make money that they’ve placed so many of us in you can barely move.

February 25.

I’ve found better lodgings on Drake Street. They’re bigger and better furnished. I’ve cleaned and tidied and I expect to be happy.

March 1

I’ve got a room-mate — Sgt Milanovic. It should be good to have some company and he doesn’t seem to be a bad chap. He has a wife and son in Yugoslavia and talks about them all the time.

October 10

Yesterday a Serb convocation took place in Leeds. It was held to mark the 15th anniversary of the death of our blessed King Alexander I, the great unifier. This is what the newsletter Sloboda ili Smrt (Freedom or Death) had to say:

“It was announced several weeks ago that a memorial would be held on October 9 to mark the tragic death of our martyred king Alexander I. In the name of, and in accordance with the wishes of, Ravna Gora Serbs in the north of England parish, Father Nicodemus Matic asked His Majesty King Peter and other senior members of the royal family, to take the opportunity to remember the late king and at the same time visit this area which a large number of Serbs have made their home.

“October 9 was a sombre, wet and sorrowful day. There was a huge number of people outside St Margaret’s Church on Cardigan Road, all waiting for their honoured guests.

“About 10.15am His Grace Bishop Irinej of Dalmatia arrived at the church accompanied by Lt Col G Sondermajer. He led a beautiful service for a congregation of around 2,000. The honoured guests failed to turn up, much to the disappointment of the people.

“At 1pm there was a communal meal at the town hall attended by 500 souls. The toast was raised by Lt Col brother Petar Pavasovic, acting president of the executive committee of the Royal Yugoslav Army Ex-combatants’ Association. Among other things, he said: ‘Your grace and dear brothers, on behalf of all present I would like to extend our deep thanks for the visit with which you dignify us. For us Serbs, today should have been one of very few happy events since that fateful day when the hurricane of war descended on the Serb people and they began to shed streams of blood and to make infinite sacrifices — since the day when the Serb people entered a life-or-death battle for faith, king, homeland, honour and freedom.

“‘In spite of all the adversities the Serb people have had to endure, they have never forgotten their head of state. These many hardships only served to bind king and people together, and the never-changing love for the king and his family can be seen in everything the Serb people do. Our entire struggle was waged and continues to be waged in the king’s name and for the king, because in him we see our commander-in-chief and the guarantor of our unity, freedom and better future.

“‘This is confirmed in the historic words of the glorious leader of the national Ravna Gora movement, our commander Gen Draza, who frequently recounted ‘I have vowed to give my life for king and country’. Cica remained true to those words, and through him the whole Ravna Gora movement, his supporters and followers. People died smiling and shouting ‘long live the king’. All those of us who have gathered here in Leeds are part of the royal Serb Ravna Gora people, imbued with the spirit of our great Cica.

“‘Your grace, can you sense how heavy our loyal hearts are not to have our nation’s first son, our beloved king, among us today, nor any members of his family? Your grace, do you see how tears fill the eyes of these loyal soldiers — seasoned fighters who looked death in the eye countless times? We are always ready to renew the fight for our homeland, for our king, and for the liberation of our enslaved brothers. For us there can be no happiness outside our country. We live and breathe our homeland. It lives within us. Whatever our strength may be, so is our country’s. However big our homeland is, that is how big we’ll become’.

“From there brother Pavasovic spoke of our entry into the war, evoking memories of March 27, 1941, the uprising against the occupiers, and events after the world war. He finished with the words ‘Ravna Gora followers are always prepared. They only wait for orders from their commander-in-chief, because that which Cica started must be completed. That is our pledge and today, in front of you, we renew it using the words of our leader, Cica ‘we have vowed to give our lives for king and country’. The Ravna Gora struggle is our guiding idea today but tomorrow it will be enacted’.

“Amid shouts of support for the king and his family, brother Pavasovic concluded the Serbian part of his speech and then addressed the English guests in their own language, relating the key events from March 25, 1941, to the present day. He finished by wishing good health to the British King George.

“His Grace Bishop Irinej responded to Lt Col Pavasovic’s speech with some strong and convincing words in Serbian and English.”

In the meantime I have worked for the Royal Yugoslav Army Ex-combatants’ Association Draza Mihailovic with Gen Damjanovic, Col Brana Zivkovic and Lt Slavko Farkas whose idea it was. There will be talk of this, God willing, in a separate chapter.

And with this, this document is completed. May it serve as a mark of thanks to our Cica and all those fighters for the national Ravna Gora movement whose bones are scattered across the fields, meadows and hills of our beloved homeland. Remembering them is a duty because today’s communist generation knows nothing about them.

I believe that a new generation will rise from the blood and sacrifice of these Ravna Gora heroes, and that it will avenge them and bring a new life for our homeland, one of freedom, democracy, eternal justice and equality.

Glory to Gen Mihailovic.

Glory to all fallen Ravna Gora heroes.

Glory to all innocent victims who died because of the occupiers’ bayonets and bullets.

NOTES

1. A paramilitary force used to impose law and order within Serbia during the Nazi occupation in 1941-44. Opponents say it was a Quisling force. Supporters contend that the SDS’s membership was 95 per cent loyal to Mihailovic and aided his cause by helping SOE officers, supplying weapons and turning a blind eye where necessary. In October, 1944, as the Soviets closed on Belgrade, the SDS was transferred to Mihailovic’s control.

2. To opponents, Gen Milan Nedic was a Nazi collaborator. His supporters say he was merely trying to do his best for the Serbs who, he feared, were in grave danger of being massacred by the Ustase. They say he did not want to be minister president of the government of national salvation, but agreed to rule with the help of the SDS because the Germans threatened that otherwise they would control Serbia with the aid of Croat, Bulgarian and Hungarian forces. In 1945 Nedic fled to Austria but British forces handed him over to the Tito’s Partisans who charged him with treason. He died in 1946 when he fell from a window in Belgrade.

3. Official name of Gen Draza Mihailovic’s pro-royalist forces who are often referred to simple as Cetniks.

4. Ravna Gora is a highland area of central Serbia, close to Mt Suvobor, where Mihailovic announced his determination to resist the Axis in 1941. It has become an all-encompassing term for Mihailovic’s movement.

5. Cica (pronounced chee-cha) roughly translates as “the old man”. A cross between a nickname and a codeword for Mihailovic.

6. People often translate kum as godfather, but the terms means more than that. A best man, for example, would also be a kum, as would his wife and children. Whereas being a godfather is something of an honorary title in Britain, to be a kum is very special to the Serbs and effectively makes you a member of the family. A kind of spiritual kinship.

7. Serb spelling of the capital of the present-day (Former Yugoslav Republic of) Macedonia now known as Skopje.

8. Arnauts were Albanian Yugoslavs.

9. Cetnik commander in Montenegro. As with so many of the people involved in the Yugoslav civil war, he is venerated as a hero and protector of the people by his supporters, and condemned as a collaborator by his detractors. He is believed to have been executed by the Ustase at Jasenovac concentration camp in 1945.

10. The term “Vojvoda” has several definitions. It can mean duke or field marshal. It is also an honorary military title bestowed upon a leader similar to the way Americans have used colonel.

11. Domobran “home defenders”. The army of the wartime state of Croatia. Not to be confused with the Ustase who were an extremist right-wing nationalist organisation founded in 1930.

12. Ante Pavelic (1889 – 1959) a lawyer, fanatical Roman Catholic and member of the Yugoslav skupstina (assembly) who became a vehement Croat separatist. He was poglavnik (leader) of the wartime Independent State of Croatia which was supposedly a kingdom. He was also founder of the Ustase and as such was responsible for the deaths of many thousands of Serbs. Managed to escape Yugoslavia in 1945 and gained shelter in the Vatican before making his way to South America. Moved to Spain after an assassination attempt in 1957 and died there two years later.
13. Every Orthodox Serb family has a slava. Traditionally it is the saint’s day on which the family was converted to Christianity. Each year on that day the family will celebrate with a big meal and the head of the household will light a candle to their patron saint which burns until the end of the day. There is also a special cake, which is blessed and cut, and a mixture of wheat and sugar called zito “zhito”. An icon of the relevant saint also features.

14. From what follows (December 30) this would seem to be Capt Petar Kalabic. Petar may have been the brother of Nikola Kalabic, a Cetnik commander. Nikola’s father, Milan, was a senior officer in the SDS who was executed by the Gestapo in 1942 for aiding the Cetniks.

15. Translates as “Uncle” Brana. Serbs have definite rather than general terms for relatives. For example your father’s brother will be your stric (streetz). Your mother’s brother is your ujak (uyak). “Cika” is a generic term used for uncles but also for older or senior men.

16. NDH — Nezavisna Drzava Hrvatska (Independent State of Croatia).

17. Serbian Frontier Guards.

18. A type of bread.

19. The Orthodox Christmas Eve. The Orthodox church adheres to the Julian calendar rather than the Gregorian one used by western Christianity.

20. Leader of the Croatian People’s Peasant Party who died after being shot in the Yugoslav parliament in 1928.

21. Classmate at the lower school of the Royal Yugoslav Military Academy in Belgrade.

22. The Todt Organisation was a Nazi engineering group named after its founder, Fritz Todt, and notorious for using forced labour.

23. Momcilo Djujic, a pre-war Orthodox priest and self-appointed Cetnik commander who had forces in northern Dalmatia. Commander of the Dinarska division. Escaped to the USA where he died in 1999.

24. Dobroslav Jevdjevic, self-appointed leader of a Cetnik force in Hercegovina. Died in Italy in 1962.

25. Serbian Volunteer Corps (Srpski Dobrovoljni Korpus – SDK) — sometimes known as Ljoticevci after their leader, the religious fanatic Dimitrije Ljotic (1891-1945). A right-wing, pro-Nazi force.

26. Battle of Kosovo Polje of 1389 in which the Turks defeated the Serbs. It has taken on legendary status.

27. Battle in the First Balkan War (1912) in which the Serbian Army defeated the Turks and took control of Macedonia.

28. Reference to the black and yellow flag of the Austrian Empire and the Habsburg monarchy.

29. Christians in eastern Europe retaining their own liturgy but accepting the supremacy of the Pope.

30. Military commander of the Serbian Volunteer Force. Executed by the communists in 1946.

31. Slovenian general in the Royal Yugoslav Army. Head of the Slovene Home Guard and president of the provincial council of Ljubljana under Axis occupation. Executed as a collaborator in 1946.

32. Yugoslav National Movement (Jugoslovenski Narodni Pokret) headed by Dimitrije Ljotic. The Serbian Volunteer Corps was its army. Zbor translates as rally or assembly.

33. July 28 — anniversary of the Battle of Kosovo. A major Serb festival.

34. Gen Miodrag Damjanovic was Draza Mihailovic’s number-two and took over as commander of the Royal Yugoslav Army in the Homeland after Mihailovic’s capture.

35. Parac was commander of the Croat forces fighting with Mihailovic.

36. Possibly Capt Ken Cox, brother of (Sir) Geoffrey Cox, author of “The Race for Trieste” and an intelligence officer on Freyberg’s staff. He was later ITN news editor and launched “News at Ten” in 1967.

37. St George’s Day.

38. A 17th century Serb hero. The name was also used as an alias by the future King Peter I of Yugoslavia in the 19th century when he volunteered for the Foreign Legion in the Franco-Prussian War and later in the Hercegovina Uprising (against the Turks) in 1875-77.

39. A youth gymnastics organisation that was founded in Prague in 1862. It was based on the principle of a strong mind in a sound body. The word sokol translates as falcon.

40. Prince Alexander — the only child of King Peter II and Queen Alexandra of Yugoslavia.

41. Leading Yugoslav socialist. Later a close associate of Mihailovic.

42. Miha Krek: a Slovenian lawyer and pre-war cabinet minister.

43. Ivan Subasic, head of the autonomous Croatian banovina (province) in Yugoslavia and a minister in the Royal Yugoslav government in exile. Negotiated the Tito-Subasic agreements which were supposed to unite communists and royalists into one movement. He was briefly Tito’s foreign minister.

44. A slava is a uniquely Serb family festival. It celebrates the family’s patron saint and they will general have an icon of the saint in their home. The family gets its saint from the day on which it was converted to Christianity. Slavas are religious events but a large meal is a central feature.

45. Zito (pronounced zhito) is a type of rough wheat mixed with sugar. At Serbian Orthodox festivals it’s customary to offer guests a spoonful. It is always produced for a slava, as is a special cake. A candle is another key feature of a slava.

46. A card game.

47. Originally a proposal by Josef Pilsudski, Poland’s leader from 1926 to 1935. He dreamed of allying states on the Baltic, Black and Adriatic seas to oppose domination by Germany or the Soviet Union.

48. A card game.

49. A Slovenian who was a senior officer in the Royal Yugoslav Army. He became a prominent anti-Partisan military leader and one of the main exponents of the pro-Western faction of the Slovene Home Guard, an anti-Communist force active in parts of German-occupied Slovenia. In 1945 he was sentenced to death by the Titoists and executed in 1946.

50. St Sava is the patron saint of Serbia. His day is celebrated as a children’s and educational event.

51. Edvard Kardelj — A Slovene and Tito’s foreign minister and main theorist and thinker. He is considered the main creator of the Yugoslav system of workers’ self-management.

52. Vladko Macek — leader of the Croat Peasant Party after the murder of Stjepan Radic. Deputy prime minister of Yugoslavia in 1939-41. A controversial figure because he was initially prepared to co-operate with Pavelic’s regime.

53. Yugoslav prime minister in exile 1942-43.

54. Petar Pavasovic married Jelena Markovic in January, 1930, and they had two children: Olga, born in December the same year (died 1991) and Milan, born in 1932. After the long separation brought on by the war, Jelena refused to move to Britain to be with Petar. They divorced and in 1949 he married Stanislava Djurovic (nee Ramovic) with whom he had a son and daughter.

55. Odjeljenje za zaštitu naroda – department for people’s protection – Tito’s secret police which existed 1944 to 1946.

56. Reference to the fact that it’s customary for Orthodox priests to have beards.

57. Juraj Krnjevic another leading member of the Croatian Peasant Party.

58. Line of demarcation set up after the Second World War in the region known as Julian March which had belonged to Italy. It was the border between two military administrations in the region: the Yugoslav on the east, and the Allies on the west. Named after Gen Sir William Duthie Morgan.

59. Office of Strategic Services — US equivalent of the Special Operations Executive (SOE).

60. Karadjordje (Djordje Petrovic — Black George) leader of the first Serbian Uprising at the start of the 19th century and founder of the Karadjordjevic dynasty. Vuk Karadzic — major reformer of the Serbian language. Dositej Obradovic — writer and dramatist who was Serbia’s first minister of education. Svetozar Miletic — political leader of the Serbs in Hungarian Vojvodina at the end of the 19th century.

61. Commander of the Serbian army at the Battle of Kosovo in 1389.

62. A cloth cover for a kepi or military service cap, with a flap to protect the back of the neck, reportedly named after Sir Henry Havelock.

63. Ethnic Germans living outside the national boundaries.

64. A reference to the officers who organised the putsch of March 27, 1941, which led to the German invasion and conquest of Yugoslavia a week later.

65. Stand-off between Tito’s forces and the British in 1945 when Yugoslavia tried to annex Trieste.

66. Bogoljub Jevtic (1886-1960) prime minister of Yugoslavia 1934-35.

67. Editor-in-chief of the Belgrade daily Politika and head of the Yugoslav Farmers’ Party.

Extract from “The Serbs — History, Myth and the Destruction of Yugoslavia” by Tim Judah, Yale University Press, 1997.

Chapter 7 — We chose the heavenly kingdom

“Although Mihailovic was hunted down and captured, many Cetniks, especially those from western Bosnia and the Serbian areas of Croatia and Dalmatia, retreated and gave themselves up to the Allies. Some who passed through Croat-held territory were killed by the Ustase and many of those who managed to get to Austria were sent back by the British.

“In Italy, however, policy was different and and at the end of the war the British had some 20,000 former Cetniks in their care. They were sent to a camp at Eboli in southern Italy.

“Technically they were surrendered enemy personnel but they were mostly looked on with considerable sympathy. They were seen as being basically pro-Allied and so were put in British uniforms and given non-combatant duties throughout Italy such as guarding munitions and supplies

“In 1947 they were moved to Germany for screening, and although 104 were deemed to be possible war criminals none was sent back to Yugoslavia. About 8,000 of the men came to settle in Britain while the rest went mainly to the US, Canada and Australia.”