Global InformationRoyal Yugoslav Army information
| Yugoslav Army | |
|---|---|
| Jugoslovenska vojska Југословенска војска | |
 | |
| Active | 1918–1941 |
| Country | Yugoslavia |
| Branch | Land forces |
| Type | Army |
| Engagements |
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| Commanders | |
| Notable commanders |
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The Yugoslav Army (Serbo-Croatian: Jugoslovenska vojska, JV, Југословенска војска, ЈВ), commonly the Royal Yugoslav Army, was the land warfare military service branch of the Kingdom of Yugoslavia (originally Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes). It existed from the Kingdom's formation in December 1918, until its surrender to the Axis powers on 17 April 1941. Aside from fighting along the Austrian border in 1919 and 1920 related to territorial disputes, and some border skirmishes on its southern borders in the 1920s, the JV was not involved in fighting until April 1941 when it was quickly overcome by the German-led invasion of Yugoslavia.
Shortly before the Axis invasion of Yugoslavia, Serbian officers of the Yugoslav General Staff, encouraged by the British SOE in Belgrade, led a military coup against Prince Paul and the Cvetković government for adhering to the Tripartite Pact. Beyond the problems of inadequate equipment and incomplete mobilization, the Royal Yugoslav Army suffered badly from the Serbo-Croat schism in Yugoslav politics. "Yugoslav" resistance to the invasion collapsed overnight. The main reason was that a large part of the non-Serb population, Croats in particular, were unwilling to offer resistance.[1] In its worst expression, Yugoslavia's defenses were badly compromised on 10 April 1941, when some of the units in the Croat-manned 4th and 7th Armies mutinied, and a newly formed Croatian government hailed the entry of the Germans into Zagreb the same day.[2]
During the occupation of Yugoslavia, the Chetniks of Draža Mihailović were referred to as the "Royal Yugoslav Army in the Fatherland". The Royal Yugoslav Army was formally disbanded on 7 March 1945 when the Yugoslav government-in-exile appointed by King Peter II was abolished.
- ^ Roberts & Tito 1973, p. 17.
- ^ Tanner 2010, p. 119.