The Chetniks in the Second World War
Emergence of the Ravna Gora Chetnik Movement
The Chetniks were members of a guerrilla movement that emerged at the beginning of World War II in Yugoslavia. The movement was primarily composed of members of the Yugoslav Army in the Homeland, a group that had been formed as a resistance to the Axis invasion of Yugoslavia in 1941.
Mass Killings Committed by the Chetniks
Over the course of the war, members of the Chetnik movement committed numerous mass killings. These killings were targeted primarily at civilians, including ethnic Serbs, Croats, and Muslims. The Chetniks also collaborated with the Axis powers, and participated in the Holocaust.
Dragoljub Mihailović: The Chetnik Leader
Dragoljub Mihailović (born April 27, 1893 – died July 17, 1946) was the leader of the Chetnik movement. He was a controversial figure, and his role in the war has been the subject of much debate. Mihailović was accused of war crimes, and was executed in 1946.
Historical Significance
The Chetnik movement was a significant factor in the Second World War in Yugoslavia. The Chetniks fought against both the Axis powers and the Yugoslav Partisans, a communist-led resistance movement. The conflict between the two groups was often brutal, and resulted in the deaths of many civilians.
The Chetniks have been accused of war crimes, and their role in the war is still controversial. However, their contribution to the resistance against the Axis powers should not be forgotten.
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