10 rare photos of Yugoslav partisans from Narodnooslobodilačka vojska Jugoslavije - "People's Liberation Army of Yugoslavia" during World War II, c. 1943.
The photos show the partisans during morning lineup, marching between mountains with their partisan flag designed specifically for the battalion during the war, in a field camp, on a night march, operating an improvised machine gun, women partisans, and more. One photo shows soldiers of the 4th Montenegrin Proletarian Brigade with their weapons, described on the back: "Soldiers of the 4th Montenegrin Proletarian Brigade" (this photo appears on the English Wikipedia under "Yugoslav Partisans").
The armed partisan resistance movement led the resistance to the Nazi occupation of Yugoslavia in WWII under the command of Josip Broz Tito. Germany invaded Yugoslavia in late March 1941, and parts of it were annexed to Italy. In July, uprisings broke out in parts of Serbia and the Communist Party of Yugoslavia leadership under Tito moved to organize underground forces under its command. The partisans were officially part of the Allies and received intelligence and logistical support. The partisan force grew until peaking after Italy's surrender in September 1943. By the liberation of Belgrade in October 1944, the partisans had become a militia and gradually a regular army equipped with much Italian weaponry. In March 1945 the partisans became the Yugoslav People's Army. At the height of fighting, partisan forces tied down 20 German divisions in Yugoslavia.
About 5,000 Jews joined the partisan forces, most in combat roles and the rest in support units. The Bosnia region had the highest rate of joining the partisan forces and a quarter of the adult population joined the partisans. Of the members of the community who later joined the Yugoslav army rose to the rank of general, including Vojo Todorović, Isidor Papo, and Roza Papo, Yugoslavia's first female general. For their part, Yugoslav Jews saw Tito as a hero, savior and symbol of the struggle against Hitler and Mussolini. Naturally, there was an affinity between Yugoslavia's Jewish partisans and Tito, who extended his patronage to them and gave his full support. Therefore, many young Jewish survivors in Yugoslavia joined Tito's forces, with many of them rising to leadership positions. 1,318 members of the Jewish community were killed.
Same size photos: 7x6 cm. Overall good condition.
