WesWorld

Novosti News Service, Bar, Saturday, 1 July 1944

The second of the projected pair of Project 1944 Omega flotilla cruisers was laid down today in the Adriatic Shipyards at Bar. It is expected that she will complete sometime next summer. Her sister, laid down in January of this year, continues her construction at the Adriatic yards, where she is expected to complete in late winter.


Novosti News Service, Belgrade, Monday, 3 July 1944

The Defence Ministry has confirmed that the Zastava Truck Factory has subcontracted with the Latil firm of France to manufacture the M40 Triglav light utility vehicle for the Royal Yugoslav Army. Further details have not been provided.

Delivery Status Report, 30 September 1944

Domestic Ground Ordnance Production

M35 Service Pistol -:- 300
M29 Service Rifle -:- 4,200
M28 Machine Rifle -:- 1,350
M32 Machinegun -:- 300
M37 Submachinegun -:- 2,100
M39 Aircraft Machinegun -:- 825
M37 Tank Machinegun -:- 90
M35 Mortar -:- 150
M27/31 Mortar -:- 60
M42 Heavy Mortar -:- 275
M40 Rocket Launcher -:- 1,180
M40 Divisional Gun -:- 60
M30 Light Antiaircraft Gun -:- 60
M32 Hand Grenade -:- 195,000
Small Arms Ammunition -:- 36,000,000
Artillery Ammunition -:- 315,000


Domestic Vehicle Production for Royal Yugoslav Army

Zastava M40 0.25-ton Truck -:- 860
Zastava M41 1.5-ton Truck -:- 720
Novi Sad M44 3-ton Truck -:- 110
LT.43 Light Tank -:- 32
Assault Howitzer on LT.43 Chassis -:- 10


Imported Vehicle Deliveries for the Royal Yugoslav Army

Latil M40F Triglav -:- 210
Chevrolet G-7107 -:- 500
Tatra 111 10-ton Truck -:- 19
Raba 38M Botond Prime Mover -:- 27
CKD vz.42 Medium Tanks -:- 132
M-3 Half Track Troop Carrier -:- 54


Aircraft Deliveries

Soko Zmaj : 24
Soko Orao : 24
Type 222 Vihor : 15
Type 224 Galeb : 12
RWD-13 Artillery Spotter : 12

Police Headquarters, Karlovac, Tuesday, 4 July 1944

Detective Ivo Bogdan had not made great headway in the investigation of the murder of Judge Vladimir Bakaric; his principal suspect, Stjepan Miklecic, the judge's chauffeur, had a cast iron alibi for the night of the shooting; he had been at a rally against continued Italian occupation of Slovenia, and identified by more than a dozen other participants, as well as two policemen detailed to assure that matters did not get out of hand.

"He might have fiddled with the window before departing the house," Bogdan mused, "but that would have risked someone else locking it afterwards." The judge's household staff appeared to be efficient, and such a scenario was quite possible. "Had the gunmen found a locked window, it would have greatly upset their plan."

The remainder of the staff had been home that evening. All had been asleep when they were awakened by the shots that killed the judge. "Or so they say," Bogdan thought. He re-read the initial reports, which showed that the body had been discovered by the butler, who wisely called the police from a telephone in the hall, leaving the handset in the judge's office untouched. The housekeeper and chambermaid were next on the scene, and it appeared that the latter was overcome by hysterics.

"Young thing," Bogdan thought, reading the details. "Only nineteen years old, relatively new to the judge's employ. Hmm."

A thought formed in his mind. He closed his notebook and his office, seeking to answer the question, "What happened to the previous chambermaid?"


Novosti News Service, Belgrade, Thursday, 6 July 1944

The Defence Ministry has placed orders with the General Motors Corporation of the United States for supply of one thousand five hundred examples of the Chevrolet G-7107 military trucks on behalf of the Royal Yugoslav Army.

Novosti News Service, Apatin, Sunday, 9 July 1944

His Majesty King Aleksandr visited the newly-completed Sombor Air Base to formally commission both the base itself and the three newly-formed squadrons of the Sombor Bomber Wing, Nos. 77, 78 and 79. These units have taken on charge their complement of Soko Zmaj light bombing aircraft and are undergoing intensive training to bring them to operational readiness. The twin-engine Zmaj is now the standard bombing aircraft of the Royal Yugoslav Air Force, having totally displaced the older Dornier Do.17.


Novosti News Service, Belgrade, Monday, 10 July 1944

The Defence Ministry has announced a further round of orders for motor transportation equipment. Orders have been placed with the Skoda concern of Pilsen in Czechoslovakia for the supply of 410 examples of the Skoda Superb 3000, principally for use by the Royal Yugoslav Air Force, and with the Swiss firm of Saurer for the supply of 500 examples of that firm's 4CT1D medium truck. Deliveries on these orders are expected to commence late this year.

Police Headquarters, Karlovac, Wednesday, 12 July 1944

"So do we have anything?" asked Captain Ivan Tuksor in a somewhat exasperated tone. The investigation of the murder of Judge Vladimir Bakaric had progressed at a snail's pace, and Tuksor's superiors were beginning to ask pointed questions and make suggestions on how to close the case - quickly.

"The only odd fact I can discover," replied Detective Ivo Bogdan, "is that the judge's new chambermaid, Anika Loncar, and her predecessor, Olga Bartulovic, knew each other. They attended the same church, and both had been referred to the judge by the same employment agency."

"Why was Bartulovic let go?" Tuksor inquired.

"Officially she left voluntarily," Bogdan answered, "but the employment agency indicated that several complaints had been recorded in her file. Being absent without leave mostly."

"She liked to wander?" said Tuksor, raising an eyebrow. "Is that all?"

"When I interviewed Bartulovic she did not deny that there were times she was absent; she liked to drink with friends, and found the judge's employ too strict. Bela Kudlik, the butler, hinted that some things had gone missing during Bartulovic's time there, but there was no proof that she was involved, and Judge Bakaric seemed to be a very fair person." Bogdan painted an interesting word picture. "It is interesting that according to Loncar Bartulovic called at the judge's home two days before he was shot; Bartulovic admits she visited, hoping to retrieve some of her possessions that she had left behind. She was not admitted beyond the servants' entrance, and Kudlik fetched her things."

"Hmm." Tuksor mulled this over in his mind. "Was she left alone at any time?"

"Apparently," Bogdan continued, "she was - for perhaps two minutes. Long enough to palm a key."

"Or get one from Kudlik... if he is in on the deal." Tuksor observed.

"The next thing is to find the 'friends' that Bartulovic liked to drink with. I have a couple of uniformed officers making inquiries at the several establishments she mentioned to me, and a few she didn't. I think they may point us to the potential shooters." Bogdan concluded.


Novosti News Service, Mostar, Friday, 14 July 1944

Representatives of the Syrian Air Force arrived here today to take delivery of the seventh and eighth examples of the twenty Soko Orao fighters ordered by that service. Following their formal acceptance flights, the aircraft will be dismantled and shipped to Syria where Soko technicians will help Syrian personnel reassemble the aircraft at Aleppo. Meanwhile, export deliveries of the Orao to the Hellenic Air Force continue alongside continuing deliveries to the Royal Yugoslav Air Force.

Novosti News Service, Belgrade, Sunday, 16 July 1944

The first production LT.43 light tanks were delivered to the 7th Armoured Cavalry Regiment yesterday, when the units First Squadron took charge of sixteen new vehicles; the unit had previously operated the older LT.38, which will be passed in turn to reserve units for training. It is expected that the regiment will convert to the new tank by the close of the year.


Police Headquarters, Karlovac, Monday, 17 July 1944

Detective Ivo Bogdan re-read the interrogation reports of the purported 'friends' of Olga Bartulovic. For a supposedly prim-and-proper chambermaid she seemed to run in unexpected company. Josip Pribilovic, a truck driver, and Miho Ercegovic, an out of work machinist, had police records. Franjo and Lidija Griner kept a bar in one of the seedier parts of the city and were known to have ties to the right-wing ultra-conservatives of the Hrvatski revolucionarni pokret.

"This puts everything in a somewhat different light," Bogdan thought. "Instead of looking at this from a straight criminally-inspired murder, it could have a political dimension. The Ustashi would love to push us into a war with Italy. Kill the judge, make it look like it was done by the Camorra - or get us to think that way, and it could be the straw that breaks the camel's back."

Like most Yugoslavs, Bogdan wanted the Italians out of the Occupied Territories. The Hrvatski revolucionarni pokret, commonly known as the Ustashi, were quite willing to use intimidation and murder to convince the public that war was necessary to liberate them. Bogdan was not interested in politics; he thought of the Ustashi as common criminals.

He picked up the telephone and put a call through to Wladislaw Praschek, of the Karlovac Police Special Branch. He would need Praschek's help in developing this new line of inquiry.

Headquarters, Karlovac Police Special Branch, Wednesday, 19 July 1944

Ivo Bogdan and Wladislaw Praschek sat in the latter's office, reviewing the facts in the murder of Judge Vladimir Bakaric.

"Yes," began Praschek, "Pribilovic, Ercegovic, and the Griners are all on our Ustashi watch-list. So too are Ivan Antunac and Veco Mikovic; I saw that their names had come up in the reports from the uniforms."

Bogdan grunted in reply. "So it seems that Olga Bartulovic runs in rightist circles. Could they have wanted the judge assassinated?"

Praschek shrugged. "Certainly; if they could fix the blame on the Italians, or the Camorra, it would force the Government to consider some form of retaliation. However, they haven't tried to do that - yet."

Bogdan passed a thick folder across the desk to Praschek. "These are the cases the judge was scheduled to hear the week after he was shot. Do the names of any of the defendants ring a bell?"

Picking up the folder Praschek began to examine it. Half-way through he stopped. "Now this fellow, Josip Hellebrant; we suspect he is the leader of the Ustashi network here in Karlovac. He was arrested in connection with a smuggling operation."

"So with Judge Bakaric dead, the case would be heard by someone else," Bogdan concluded.

"Yes..." Praschek replied, turning the page over, "it says here that Judge Mladen Brestovac now has the case." Praschek's gaze darkened. "That's not good..." he muttered.

"Judge Brestovac is sympathetic to the Ustashi?" Bogdan asked.

"Unfortunately yes," added Praschek. "Instead of buying a favourable judge, they seem to have shot their way to one."


Dubrave Air Base, Tuzla, Thursday, 20 July 1944

No.103 (Corps Reconnaissance) Squadron, the last remaining unit of the Royal Yugoslav Air Force to operate the Ikarus IK-2 light reconnaissance aircraft, was deactivated today. The artillery spotting and observation missions previously performed by the IK-2 have been taken over by the Utva RWD-13 lightplane. The aerodrome here will not be vacant; No.201 (Air Support) Squadron, equipped with the Noorduyn Norseman, is scheduled to relocate here from Dakovica Air Base later this summer.

Quoted from "BruceDuncan"

Dubrave Air Base, Tuzla, Thursday, 20 July 1944

No.103 (Corps Reconnaissance) Squadron, the last remaining unit of the Royal Yugoslav Air Force to operate the Ikarus IK-2 light reconnaissance aircraft, was deactivated today. The artillery spotting and observation missions previously performed by the IK-2 have been taken over by the Utva RWD-13 lightplane. The aerodrome here will not be vacant; No.201 (Air Support) Squadron, equipped with the Noorduyn Norseman, is scheduled to relocate here from Dakovica Air Base later this summer.

Question and query:
- Question: Do you mean the IK-1 as shown in the encyclopedia?
- Query: If there are any planes with low flight hours (500-1000) and in good repair, the Syrian Air Force might be interested in buying some of the retired aircraft.

Yes - I never quite got around to fixing the encyclopedia entry.

If the Syrian air force would be interested there are probably a few low time machines still available in storage pending disposal. Total production amounted to 220 aircraft; there could even be some aircraft in storage that had never been issued. How many would the Syrians be interested in?

Quoted from "BruceDuncan"

Yes - I never quite got around to fixing the encyclopedia entry.

If the Syrian air force would be interested there are probably a few low time machines still available in storage pending disposal. Total production amounted to 220 aircraft; there could even be some aircraft in storage that had never been issued. How many would the Syrians be interested in?

I'll say fifteen. They can probably double as intermediate trainers in addition to battlefield recon.

Quoted from "Brockpaine"

Quoted from "BruceDuncan"

Yes - I never quite got around to fixing the encyclopedia entry.

If the Syrian air force would be interested there are probably a few low time machines still available in storage pending disposal. Total production amounted to 220 aircraft; there could even be some aircraft in storage that had never been issued. How many would the Syrians be interested in?

I'll say fifteen. They can probably double as intermediate trainers in addition to battlefield recon.

I suspect that enough low-time aircraft can be found to fulfill that requirement. They can be overhauled by the manufacturer prior to delivery. Happy doing business with you!

Novosti News Service, Novi Sad, Saturday, 22 July 1944

The first deliveries of vz.42 medium tanks by the Ceskomoravska Kolben-Danek firm was effected today when a convoy of barges arrived here from Bratislava. After being unloaded at the city's river port, they were conveyed by rail to the Zastava Ordnance Works at Kragujevac for processing prior to issue.


Novosti News Service, Belgrade, Sunday, 23 July 1944

The Ministry of Agriculture announced Friday that it would conduct a pre-emptive purchase program for foodstuffs and other agricultural products within the districts of Fier and Gjirokaster in the southern portion of the kingdom. Small farmers there have been adversely impacted by the closure of the border with the Italian exclave at Vlore, and the Ministry's programme is intended to provide short term relief.

Karlovac, A Non-Descript Basement, Monday, 24 July 1944

Ivan Antunac delivered the bad news to his assembled compatriots. "Brestovac has been pulled off the boss's case".

There was a moment of stunned silence. Veco Mikovic was the first to break it. "After all that work, after killing Bakaric! What happened?"

"The Ministry of Justice ordered a change of venue to Podgorica of all places!" Antunac replied in disgust. "Kidric signed the order himself."

"Royalist lickspittle," grunted Josip Pribilovic.

"What prompted the change," Mikovic asked. Of the Ustashi there assembled, he had the most brains.

"According to our sources, some detective got it into his head that Bakaric had been knocked off to make sure that Judge Brestovac got to hear the boss's case."

"That means this detective is on to us," Mikovic concluded. "We need to eliminate him before he can figure out any more of this."


Novosti News Service, Tuesday, 25 July 1944

Notice to Mariners: The First Escort Group and First Submarine Group of the Royal Yugoslav Navy will be conducting exercises in the southern portion of the Adriatic and the Straits of Otranto between Wednesday 26 July and Saturday 29 July 1944.

Karlovac, Apartment of Olga Bartulovic, Wednesday, 26 July 1944

"You have no right to search my apartment!" screamed Olga Bartulovic. "I've already answered every question you've asked me; I've cooperated fully. Do you have any idea how long it will take me to put right the mess you all are creating!" Uncaring of her protests, the officers from the Major Case Squad and the Special Branch continued their work.

"Actually," replied Detective Ivo Bogdan calmly and gravely, "we do have the right; this warrant says we can search your property for possible evidence in the murder of Judge Vladimir Bakaric. Furthermore, you have failed to answer all our questions fully and truthfully. For example, you concealed your links to the Hrvatski revolucionarni pokret."

Olga's blood ran cold when Detective Bogdan mentioned the Ustashi. If they had managed to link her with the Movement, her entire cell was at risk. "I have no idea what you are talking about!" she answered.

"I am certain that you do," Bogdan continued, "and I suspect we will find what we are looking for."

One of the other officers spoke, "Key"; he proffered the find to Bogdan.

"Why that's just the spare key to the latch of my door," said Olga, trying to explain the find away.

Bogdan stepped over to the door, and tried unsuccessfully to insert the key into the latch.

"Doesn't fit," he commented. "Not a good idea Olga, but I think I know what door it will fit - the door to the servants' entrance at Judge Bakaric's home."

-----

Outside, hidden in the shadows of their car, two Ustashi gunmen waited. They had trailed the detective Bogdan all day long but had found no opportunity to eliminate him. Suddenly the outside door of the apartment block opened, and a small column of policemen exited, with a woman.

"Which one is he?" asked the first. "I can't tell for certain in the dark."

"He'll be close to Bartulovic; probably behind her," the second answered.

They raised their pistols and let loose with several shots; they driver slipped the clutch and the car sped away from the scene.

In the fusillade aimed in his direction, no shots struck Bogdan. One of his fellow officers lay sprawled on the steps, bleeding profusely. So too was Olga Bartulovic - two bullets had hit her. Bogdan checked both victims for a pulse. "They're both alive!" he announced. "Call for an ambulance immediately."


Novosti News Service, Bar, Thursday, 27 July 1944

The American-flag freighter Defender arrived here today bearing a mixed cargo including a number of half-track personnel carriers for the Royal Yugoslav Army.

Police Headquarters, Karlovac, Friday, 28 July 1944

Captain Ivan Tuksor waited in his office for Detective Bogdan to return from the hospital where he was questioning the injured Olga Bartulovic. Inspector Wladislaw Praschek sat opposite him. "No matter how this turns out," the latter said, "we have a problem."

"How so?" asked Tuksor, though he imagined he knew where Praschek was leading the conversation.

"There's a leak, either in your office, or mine, or, perhaps, both," Praschek answered. "It was the only way that someone would have known that Bogdan would have been at Bartulovic's that night."

"Couldn't they have followed him?" Tuksor grasped at a weak straw.

"Perhaps, but then they would have had to know that they needed to follow him. It doesn't surprise me that the Ustashi has people on the inside," Praschek grunted. "Hopefully we can move fast enough before this particular cell can disappear."

At that moment Bogdan arrived. "I have the address; she's made a full confession."

"Then let's move," Tuksor said, "and not waste time."

------

Karlovac, A Non-Descript Basement, shortly thereafter

"You fools!" shouted Veco Mikovic. "You were supposed to kill the detective - not two of his flunkies, and certainly not one of our own!"

The gunmen, Josip Pribilovic and Miho Ercegovic, could not face the rest of the members of their cell. "We couldn't see him right in the dark," Pribilovic began to explain.

"I ought to shoot you myself," chimed in Ivan Antunac. There were murmurs of approval of the sentiment from several other members of the Ustashi cell. "You've put us all at risk."

"We need to get out Karlovac before we can be found," Mikovic concluded. "While we are at large there is a chance we can do something for the boss."

Suddenly they heard the sound of a heavy thud and the door was flung open; in rushed several policemen with their guns drawn and grim visages.

"I don't think you will have that chance," said Detective Bogdan with a smile. "You are all under arrest for conspiracy in the murder of Judge Vladimir Bakaric and Officers Mirko Bozic and Ratko Cvetnic of the Karlovac Police. Come quietly - these officers are friends of the deceased."


Novosti News Service, Cepotina Cantonment, Sunday, 30 July 1944

The Third Armoured Brigade of the Royal Yugoslav Army was formally activated here today, and took possession of its first equipment, a symbolic half-dozen vz.42 medium tanks recently delivered from Czechoslovakia. It is expected that the elements of the brigade will be fully formed by the end of the year, by which time most of its equipment is expected to have been delivered.


Novosti News Service, Belgrade, Monday, 31 July 1944

The Ministry of Defence has confirmed the sale to Syria of fifteen ex-Royal Yugoslav Air Force Ikarus IK-2 corps reconnaissance aircraft. Following overhaul by the manufacturer, they will be delivered by sea to Syria sometime this autumn.

United Press International, Belgrade, Wednesday, 2 August 1944

Today was marked by the appearance in force of Yugoslav citizens before the Italian legation here to mark the two hundred and fiftieth day of peaceful demonstrations protesting the continued Italian presence in what are called here "the Occupied Territories". All through the snows of last winter, and now in the heat of summer, relays of ordinary Yugoslavs have kept vigil outside the Italian diplomatic mission to focus world attention on what they see as the unwarranted extension of Italian authority in Slovenia and Dalmatia. Thus far the Italian Government has turned a deaf ear to their pleas, and the Yugoslav Government privately admits that a positive response on the part of the Italian Government is unlikely. Still the people here maintain the watch, buoyed by visits from notables of church and state.


Novosti News Service, Zagreb, Thursday, 3 August 1944

Construction work on the Belgrade-Zagreb autostrady has progressed and today saw the completion of the section between Zagreb and Ivanja Reka, near the village of Dugo Selo. Work on other sections is progressing as fast as the summer weather will permit, but it is expected to take several years to complete the project. Nevertheless the opening of a first class motor road has enabled the villagers here to transport their produce to the markets of Zagreb in a far more efficient manner, and to receive public services once unavailable.

Novosti News Service, Belgrade, Saturday, 5 August 1944






Novosti News Service, Zagreb, Sunday, 6 August 1944

Vasilije Petkovic, chairman of the Navy League, addressed the city's Business Council last evening, calling upon the nation to continue to support the League's subscription campaign for the coming year. Mister Petkovic pointed out that the burden of constructing two cruisers and ancillary vessels for the Royal Yugoslav Navy does strain the national budget, and asked the business leaders to continue their voluntary contributions which have been so important to the progress in creating a navy that can defend national interests should it be called upon to do so.

Report of the Hungarian Military Attaché, Belgrade, Tuesday, 8 August 1944

"Deliveries of the Czech-manufactured vz.42 medium tanks continue at an accelerated pace; if the current rate of deliveries is maintained, more than one hundred examples will be delivered to the Royal Yugoslav Army before the onset of autumn. The tanks are quickly processed and then shifted south to the Cepotina military training camp, where they are issued to the newly formed 3rd Armoured Brigade of the Royal Yugoslav Army. However, once that unit is fully equipped, it is likely to be redeployed northwards towards our border, or placed strategically to threaten both our own or the Italian border in Slovenia."


Novosti News Service, Mostar, Thursday, 10 August 1944

Initial reports indicate that the Ministry of Agriculture's pre-emptive purchase program for foodstuffs and other agricultural products within the districts of Fier and Gjirokaster is fulfilling at least some of its objectives. The initial figures suggest that local prices for agricultural goods have been maintained at their normal levels, and the dissatisfaction of the populace with the prohibition of trade with the Italian exclave of Vlore has died down considerably. The Ministry reports that the products being purchased are redistributed to alleviate nutritional deficiencies in the urban population in some of the larger cities in the southern portion of the kingdom.

Novosti News Service, Belgrade, Sunday, 13 August 1944

Batlava Air Base, located near Podujevo, was formally activated today and with it a new formation of the Royal Yugoslav Air Force, the Batlava Strike Wing, comprising three squadrons equipped with the Soko Zmaj light bomber. This brings to fifteen the number of squadrons operating the type.


Novosti News Service, Durrës, Monday, 14 August 1944

The oceanographic research and training vessel Pelikan has departed for a cruise to the Caribbean and South Atlantic.

Novosti News Service, Bar, Thursday, 17 August 1944

The American-flag freighter City of Birmingham arrived here today bearing, among other cargo, the first one hundred Chevrolet G-7107 military trucks on order for the Royal Yugoslav Army. The crated vehicles were taken by special train to Belgrade where they will be assembled and tested prior to issue.


Hospodarske noviny, Prague, Saturday, 19 August 1944