WesWorld

A Balkan Feuilleton, Friday, 5 January 1945

Domestic Ground Ordnance Production

M35 Service Pistol -:- 150
M43 Service Rifle -:- 5,500
M28 Machine Rifle -:- 1,050
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 -:- 240
M40 Rocket Launcher -:- 1,470
M40 Divisional Gun -:- 60
M30 Light Antiaircraft Gun -:- 60
M32 Hand Grenade -:- 270,000
Small Arms Ammunition -:- 39,000,000
Artillery Ammunition -:- 315,000


Domestic Vehicle Production for Royal Yugoslav Army

Zastava M40 0.25-ton Truck -:- 1,120
Zastava M41 1.5-ton Truck -:- 860
Novi Sad M44 3-ton Truck -:- 305
Skoda 6LT 2-ton Truck -:- 26
Skoda 6ST 4-ton Truck -:- 20
LT.43 Light Tank -:- 70
Assault Howitzer on LT.43 Chassis -:- 36


Imported Vehicle Deliveries for the Royal Yugoslav Armed Forces

Latil M40F Triglav -:- 1,625
Tatra 111 10-ton Truck -:- 118
Raba 38M Botond Prime Mover -:- 182
Skoda Superb 3000 -:- 60
Skoda 6VD 5-ton Truck -:- 31
Saurer 4CT1D 4.5-ton Truck -:- 72
M-3 Half Track Troop Carrier -:- 54


Aircraft Deliveries

Soko Orao : 33
Type 222 Vihor : 15
Type 224 Galeb : 12
RWD-13 Artillery Spotter : 12

Novosti News Service, Belgrade, Monday 8 January 1945

The Ministry of Defence has announced the placement of orders with the Skoda Works of Pilsen for eighteen examples of that firm’s Vz.39 210mm coast defence artillery gun and eighteen examples of the Vz.39 240mm heavy howitzer. While a delivery schedule was not announced at the time, a Ministry spokesman indicated that the delivery of the first weapons was expected before the end of the year. There has been strong speculation whether the Royal Yugoslav Army would acquire modern coast defence artillery to protect the ports of Bar and Durrës; the announced order seemingly answer that question in the affirmative.

A Balkan Feuilleton, Friday, 12 January 1945

Novosti News Service, Belgrade, Sunday, 14 January 1945

Despite a most bitter winter a valiant group of determined souls continue their vigil before the Italian legation here, calling for a withdrawal of Italian forces from the occupied provinces of Dalmatia and Slovenia. Thus far the Italian Government has successfully resisted the mounting pressure to open discussions on the disposition of the disputed territories, and knowledgeable sources agree that no action by the Yugoslav Government is likely to change the Italian position. Still, the demonstrators, young and old, stand in the cold and snow of Belgrade’s streets to show the determination of the Yugoslav people in pressing for the liberation of the Dalmatian and Slovene cousins.


Novosti News Service, Bar, Tuesday, 16 January 1945

The sloops Kosava and Bora, together with the corvette Sutjeska, departed today for a goodwill cruise to the Greek port of Corfu. The ships, which have recently completed their trials and working up, are the most modern of the Royal Yugoslav Navy’s vessels, and are expected to create a stir with their appearance before the foreign press.

A Balkan Feuilleton, Friday, 19 January 1945

Report of the Hungarian Military Attaché, Belgrade, Monday, 22 January 1945

“The Uzice Ordnance and Munitions Works has converted to the manufacture of the new semi-automatic M43 service rifle, and the first such weapons are going into general issue; priority is being accorded to the mountain infantry. Sufficient stocks of the M37 submachinegun have been built up to permit its supply to units of the reserve and to elements of the territorial forces – production continues at a pace of seven hundred units per month. Deliveries of the Triglav field car from France continue at a high volume – at least two freighters docked at Bar in the early weeks of this month to disgorge them. The first examples of the second batch of Orao fighter aircraft ordered by Greece have been delivered.”


Novosti News Service, Belgrade, Wednesday, 24 January 1945

The Ministry of Defence announced that it will cease procurement of the RWD-13 artillery spotting aircraft manufactured under license by the Utva Aircraft Factory of Pancevo. A total of 100 units will be supplied, with the last emerging from the factory in May of this year. In the same announcement the spokesman indicated that the RWD-13 will be succeeded by the Utva firm’s new design, christened “Lasta” (Swallow), as the Royal Yugoslav Air Force’s new air observation post aircraft.

A Balkan Feuilleton, Friday, 26 January 1945

Novosti News Service, Durrës, Sunday, 28 January 1945

The sloops Kosava and Bora, together with the corvette Sutjeska, arrived here today following the conclusion of a recent visit to Corfu and exercises in the Straits of Otranto. The Kosava and Bora will remain here and take up their duties with the Second Escort Group, but the Sutjeska will return to Bar later this week.


Novosti News Service, Mostar, Tuesday, 30 January 1945

Ferry pilots of the Royal Hellenic Air Force have taken charge of a quartet of Soko Orao fighter aircraft for delivery to that service, bringing to seven the count of aircraft delivered to Greece this month. The Orao remains in high volume production to meet both the requirements of the Royal Yugoslav Air Force and export customers. A batch of forty Orao aircraft was completed for Greece late last year, and the current order calls for seventy five aircraft to be delivered before December. Utilizing resources freed by the conclusion of the Zmaj bomber program, it is expected that the Soko firm will be able to fulfill its obligations.

A Balkan Feuilleton, Friday, 2 February 1945

Novosti News Service, Belgrade, Sunday, 4 February 1945

The Ministry of Defence Building, Belgrade, Tuesday 6 February 1945

Colonel Dragoslav Milosavljevic double-checked the figures on motor vehicle inventories in the formations comprising the Royal Yugoslav Army and smiled. Thanks to the herculean efforts of the domestic automotive industry and the import program from abroad, all three of the army’s mountain divisions now had one hundred percent of their assigned motor transport, and all of uniform type per their tables of establishment. Milosavljevic liked neatness. He noted progress too in standardising equipment in a number of the army’s other units; however, there were still substantial deficits on the light truck category – even with substitutions the army was lacking more than six thousand such vehicles – and would still have shortages at the end of the year. Every vehicle missing reduced the readiness of the army to defend the nation in the event of Italian invasion – and he hoped that he might have time to redress the balance.


Novosti News Service, Durrës, Thursday, 8 February 1945

The oceanographic research vessel Pelikan has returned to her home port following an extended cadet voyage to the West Indies and Central America. She is due for overhaul in anticipation for the season’s ocean sailing competitions due to commence later in the year.

A Balkan Feuilleton, Friday, 9 February 1945

Novosti News Service, Novi Sad, Sunday, 11 February 1945




Novosti News Service, Bar, Monday, 12 February 1945

The first of the two flotilla cruisers building here, Cruiser C, was completed today and formally commissioned as Hrvatska; she now is undergoing builder’s trials and will be working up over the coming spring. Her sister, building as Cruiser D, is expected to complete in mid-summer.

A Balkan Feuilleton, Friday, 16 February 1945

CBS News Radio, New York, Sunday, 18 February 1945

“This is Robert Trout, reporting from Belgrade, Yugoslavia:”

“I have returned to the Yugoslav capital today to witness the four-hundred and fiftieth day of demonstrations by Yugoslav citizens before the Italian diplomatic mission. Despite the cold and snow of one of the worst winters in recent memory a valiant band of ordinary people maintain a vigil in the hope that by their show of determination the Italian Government will give up its occupation of Dalmatia and Slovenia, territories regarded here as stolen in the aftermath of the Great War. Thus far their hopes have gone unrequited, and in the estimation of experienced diplomats here and elsewhere across Europe, the likelihood of any change of heart on the part of Italy is considered to be very low.”

“The morale of the demonstrators was buoyed today by a visit by Queen Maria, who thanked those gathered for their devotion to a united Yugoslavia. Joining the small band of demonstrators who are regularly before the legation were other ordinary citizens, many on their way home from church, who spend a few hours taking their turn, affording the regulars the opportunity to rest, warm themselves and take a hot meal provided gratis by local restaurateurs. Despite the cold, and the apparent cold-heartedness of the Italian Government, they vow to maintain their station on the street of Belgrade until the so-called Occupied Territories are free.”


Report of the Hungarian Military Attaché, Belgrade, Tuesday, 20 February 1945

“The first batches of M40 antitank rocket launchers ordered by the Chilean Army have been shipped by sea via fast freighter. Several thousand of these weapons have been produced and are widely issued to units of the Yugoslav army. Production is continuing at a high level. Production of the LT.43 light tank now exceeds twenty units per month, and issues to Yugoslav armoured cavalry units are proceeding apace.”

“Sources suggest that the Yugoslav navy will embark on a large scale plan for the refitting of its current vessels rather than invest in additional major units. While construction of the small coastal corvette will continue work will concentrate on the upgrade of the destroyer force. The Yugoslav air force is reported to be considering its needs for night fighting aircraft.”

A Balkan Feuilleton, Friday, 23 February 1945

Novosti News Service, Belgrade, Monday, 26 February 1945

In a rare joint communique published today the leaders of the nation’s three largest patriotic organizations - Vasilije Petkovic of the Navy League, Velimir Radojkovic of the National Aviation League and Goran Maksimovic of the War Veterans’ Association – called upon the Government to undertake more concrete steps to improve the nation’s defence posture.

“Today we are faced with an ever-expanding threat from across the Adriatic,” it read. “The Government must take steps to defend the nation against the dangers posed by Italian expansionism. The Government must prepare for the eventual liberation of the Occupied Territories. Towards that end we urge our members to contribute to the newly-established National Defence Fund, which will raise monies to provide the necessary equipment for our army, our navy and our air force.”

No response was immediately forthcoming from any Government spokesman.


Novosti News Service, Bar, Wednesday, 28 February 1945

The Royal Yugoslav Navy has reached agreement with Bulgaria for the lease of a floating repair dock from the Bulgarian Navy. It will be towed from its present location to the port of Durrës, where it will be involved in the overhaul of several destroyers during the course of the next year.

A Balkan Feuilleton, Friday, 2 March 1945

Novosti News Service, Belgrade, Monday, 5 March 1945

The Defence Ministry announced today that the American State Department had given its approval to the purchase by the Royal Yugoslav Air Force of fifty examples of the Northrop P-61 night fighting aircraft. Once of the most advanced aircraft of its type the American aircraft will fill the need for night air defence against any foreign intruder. It is expected that the first aircraft of the order will be delivered some time in December of this year.


Novosti News Service, Belgrade, Wednesday, 7 March 1945

It is reported that the Royal Yugoslav Army is seeking to purchase an additional quantity of Hungarian-made Raba 38M artillery tractors to complete its needs for that class of motor vehicle. Orders for more than a thousand of these hard-working prime movers have been placed and the reported order – rumoured to be on the order of three hundred vehicles – comes as no surprise to informed sources.