WesWorld

Yugoslav News - January 1941

Novosti News Service – Belgrade – Thursday, 9 January 1941

The Defence Ministry has announced that is has placed orders with the Polish LWS firm for the delivery of an additional nineteen examples of that firm’s “Dakota” twin-engine transport. The aircraft are required to maintain the Royal Yugoslav Air Force’s airlift capability in view of its expanding commitments to support the League of Nations Afghan Field Force.


Novosti News Service – Tirana – Monday, 27 January 1941

A milestone was completed today with completion of the first section of the railway line linking Durres with Tirana. The final spike in the section linking Durres with the town of Vore. Vore will also be the junction on the main railway from Shkoder when the extension of that line is complete. It is hoped that the final section of the Durres-Tirana railway will be completed by the spring.

Delivery Status Report, 31 March 1941

Deliveries from Abroad

Tatra 93 2-ton Truck : 11
Tatra 111 10-ton Truck : 2
Raba 38M Botond Prime Mover : 5
Saurer 4CT1D 4.5-ton Truck : 7


FlaK33 88mm Heavy AA Gun (M39) – 30
Krauss Maffei Half Track Tractor – 30
Krauss Maffei Half Track Service Vehicle – 4

M-3 Half-track Infantry Carriers (United States) – 48

Domestic Ground Ordnance Production

M35 Service Pistol : 1,700
M29 Service Rifle : 24,500
M28 Machine Rifle : 1,590
M32 Machinegun : 960
M37 Submachinegun : 9,750
M39 Aircraft Machinegun : 600
M37 Tank Machinegun : 360
M35 Mortar : 240
M27/31 Mortar : 180
M36 Antitank Gun : 60
M40 Divisional Gun : 108
M30 Light Antiaircraft Gun : 90
M36 Light Antiaircraft Gun : 90
M40 Field Gun-Howitzer : 80
M32 Hand Grenade : 52,000
Small Arms Ammunition : 28,500,000
Artillery Ammunition : 186,000


Domestic Vehicle Production for Royal Yugoslav Army

Skoda 6LT 2-ton Truck : 120
Skoda 6ST 4-ton Truck : 30
Zastava M40 0.25-ton Truck : 120
LT.38 Light Tank (gun tank) : 60
Salvage Tank on LT.38 Chassis : 36
Assault Howitzer on LT.38 Chassis : 36
Lazar Armoured Reconnaissance Vehicle : 120
Nemanja Armoured Car : 40


Aircraft Deliveries

Focke Wulf Fw190A-4 : 25
Ikarus IK-2 : 30
Bucker Bu181 : 30
Soko Jastreb : 38
Soko Zmaj : 4

Novosti News Service – Belgrade – Saturday, 1 February 1941

At a special ceremony at the White Palace His Royal Majesty King Aleksandr invested Mihail Mitrovich, Dragoslav Petrovic and Milos Marjanovic with the Order of Saint Sava, Civil Division, for their work in designing the Zmaj twin-engine bomber aircraft that will soon enter service with the Royal Yugoslav Air Force. His Majesty also saw fit to bestow the same honour upon Lazar Jovanovic for his work in the design of the M40 Divisional Gun now in production at the Zastava Ordnance Works.


Novosti News Service – Bar – Monday, 3 February 1941

It was announced today that Captain Anton Lokar, Royal Yugoslav Navy, has been promoted to the rank of Commodore and appointed to the command of the First Striking Group, based at Bar. Commodore Lokar will fly his flag from the new light cruiser Srbija, currently working up.


Novosti News Service – Belgrade – Thursday, 6 February 1941

It was confirmed today that a technical mission of the Royal Yugoslav Army will visit Athens later this month to demonstrate for the Greek Army the LT38 light tank, the ST40 salvage tank and the MH40 mobile howitzer. The Greek Government has shown interest in the acquisition of such equipment and the purpose of the mission is to allow the Greeks the opportunity to evaluate the equipment under service conditions prior to an acquisition decision.


Novosti News Services – Bar – Tuesday, 11 February 1941

The last of the twelve Galeb class minecraft under construction for the Royal Yugoslav Navy – Crnoglavka, Fazan and Labud – were commissioned today in ceremonies attended by the Defence Minister and the Chief of the Naval Staff.


Novosti News Service – Belgrade – Wednesday, 12 February 1941

Officials today unveiled the prototype of the Zastava M41 cargo lorry, which has been developed indigenously to meet the requirements of the Royal Yugoslav Army. It is expected that this vehicle will enter quantity production later in the year and that it will become the backbone of the Army’s motor vehicle fleet in the years to come.

Novosti News Service – Belgrade – Monday, 17 February 1941

Severe winter weather has hindered the reconstruction of the highway between Novi Sad and Belgrade. Work on the projected Autostrady has been delayed by heavy snowfalls and shortages of cement.


Novosti News Service – Cepotina – Thursday, 20 February 1941

Speaking to reporters today the Chief of the Defence Staff, General Dusan Simovic, admitted that the introduction of the M41 antitank rocket launcher remains seriously behind schedule. Industrial accidents and the inherent issues of productionising such a weapon have proven difficult for the Zastava Ordnance Works to overcome. General Simovic remained confident that these difficulties would be remedied.


Novosti News Service – Belgrade – Sunday, 23 February 1941

Foreign Minister Milan Stojadinovic tendered his resignation from the Cabinet yesterday, due to reasons of health. Boris Furlan, former minister without portfolio and architect of the Treaty of Tsaribrod, will assume the duties of Foreign Minister, effective immediately.


Novosti News Service – Novi Sad – Tuesday, 25 February 1941

The final two monitors built for the Riverine Flotilla of the Royal Yugoslav Navy, the Bosut and Vucedol, completed their trials programme today and entered operational service.