Narodna Odbrana

Narodna Odbrana (Serbian Cyrillic: Народна обрана, literally, The People's Defense) was a Serbian nationalist group that was created around 1908 as a reaction to the Austria-Hungarian annexation of Bosnia and Herzegovina. At the time, it was concerned with the protection of ethnic Serbs in Austria-Hungary. To achieve their goals, the Narodna Odbrana spread propaganda as well as organizing paramilitary forces^[1].

Ideology

Until the beginning of the 20th century, Serbian people had never been unified under one single state. There had also been conflicts between them and other people such as the Bulgarians and Ottomans. With the Austria-Hungarian annexation of Bosnia and Herzegovina (where there was a heavy concentration of Serbs), the Serbs expressed a need for protection of the nation with a defensive organization, which was the Narodna Odbrana.

A 1911 pamphlet named Narodna Odbrana Izdanje Stredisnog Odbora Narodne Odbrane (Народна обрана издање стредисног одбора народне одбране) focused on six main points^[2]:

1. Raising, inspiring, and strengthening the sentiment of nationality.
2. Registration and enlistment of volunteers.
3. Formation of volunteer units and their preparation for armed action.
4. Collection of voluntary contributions, including money and other things necessary for the realization of its task.
5. Organization, equipment, and training of special revolutionary band (Komitee), destined for special and independent military action.
6. Development of activity for the defense of the Serbian people in all other directions.

The pamphlet makes it clear that hatred of Austria-Hungary was not the aim of the group, but instead, it was a natural consequence of the desire for independence and unity within a single nation.

The Central Committee of the Narodna Odbrana was located at Belgrade.

Balkan Wars

Territorial expansion of Serbia after Balkan Wars.

Immediately after annexation of Vardar Macedonia to the Kingdom of Serbia, the Macedonian Slavs were faced with the policy of forced serbianisation.^[3][4] The population of Macedonia was forced to declare as Serbs. Those who refused were beaten and tortured.^[5] According to the Report of the International Commission to Inquire into the Causes and Conduct of the Balkan Wars, members of the Narodna Odbrana have committed serious war crimes against the civilian population.^[6] In Skopje there was a central committee of "National Defense". A population of Skopje called their headquarters "Black House", after the "Black Hand", secret organization that stood behind them. In the "black house" disloyal individuals were taken and beaten.^[7]

See also

• Black Hand
• Chetniks
• Pan-Serbism
• Pan-Slavism

Reference

1. ^ Narodna Odbrana (WWI Document Archive)
2. ^ English translation of Narodna Odbrana Izdanje Sredisnog Odbora Narodne Odbrane
3. ^ Dejan Djokić, Yugoslavism: histories of a failed idea, 1918-1992
4. ^ R. J. Crampton, Eastern Europe in the twentieth century - and after
5. ^ Report of the International Commission to Inquire into the Causes and Conduct of the Balkan Wars (p. 53)
6. ^ Report of the International Commission to Inquire into the Causes and Conduct of the Balkan Wars (p. 169)
7. ^ Report of the International Commission to Inquire into the Causes and Conduct of the Balkan Wars (p. 169)

External links

• English translation of Narodna Odbrana Izdanje Sredisnog Odbora Narodne Odbrane