Josip Kopinic
Encyclopedia
Josip Kopinič
In 1931 Kopinič joined the Communist Party of Yugoslavia (KPJ), and shortly later was sent to Moscow. In 1936 he was sent by the Comintern
as "military counsellor" to help the Republic as the Spanish Civil War
started. There he became commander of the navy yard at Cartagena
. Then, from 1936 to 1938 he served on the republican submarine flotilla. Together with I. A. Burmistrov and N. P. Yegipko, Kopinič, in spring 1938, Kopinič participated to the hazardous journeys which their submarines made from France, where they had been repaired, along the Atlantic coast of the Iberian Peninsula through the Straits of Gibraltar to Cartagena, i.e., a route almost entirely controlled by the nationalist forces.
After the Spanish Civil War Kopinič stayed in Paris as Spanish republican diplomat, provided also with a Soviet passport. During World War II
Kopinič headed the chief Soviet intelligence center in Zagreb
and was instructed by the Comintern
to establish a new party organization independent from the KPJ.
Kopinič set up a radio-transmitter in Zagreb in 1940 which become the major information point between the Italian and Greek communist parties and the Comintern in Moscow. Also for this reason, it seems, the KPJ preserved pre-eminence in the Southeastern European region, backed by the Comintern
. That lasted up to the Cominform
Resolution of 28 June 1948 (resulting from the Tito–Stalin split).
From 1946 to 1949 Kopinič was in Turkey but nothing is known upon this period except that he continued to work as a Soviet intelligence officer. Following the Tito–Stalin split Kopinič returned to Yugoslavia. In 1951 he became director of the Uljanik
shipyard in Pula
, where he stayed until his retirement.
In 1931 Kopinič joined the Communist Party of Yugoslavia (KPJ), and shortly later was sent to Moscow. In 1936 he was sent by the Comintern
Comintern
The Communist International, abbreviated as Comintern, also known as the Third International, was an international communist organization initiated in Moscow during March 1919...
as "military counsellor" to help the Republic as the Spanish Civil War
Spanish Civil War
The Spanish Civil WarAlso known as The Crusade among Nationalists, the Fourth Carlist War among Carlists, and The Rebellion or Uprising among Republicans. was a major conflict fought in Spain from 17 July 1936 to 1 April 1939...
started. There he became commander of the navy yard at Cartagena
Cartagena, Spain
Cartagena is a Spanish city and a major naval station located in the Region of Murcia, by the Mediterranean coast, south-eastern Spain. As of January 2011, it has a population of 218,210 inhabitants being the Region’s second largest municipality and the country’s 6th non-Province capital...
. Then, from 1936 to 1938 he served on the republican submarine flotilla. Together with I. A. Burmistrov and N. P. Yegipko, Kopinič, in spring 1938, Kopinič participated to the hazardous journeys which their submarines made from France, where they had been repaired, along the Atlantic coast of the Iberian Peninsula through the Straits of Gibraltar to Cartagena, i.e., a route almost entirely controlled by the nationalist forces.
After the Spanish Civil War Kopinič stayed in Paris as Spanish republican diplomat, provided also with a Soviet passport. During World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
Kopinič headed the chief Soviet intelligence center in Zagreb
Zagreb
Zagreb is the capital and the largest city of the Republic of Croatia. It is in the northwest of the country, along the Sava river, at the southern slopes of the Medvednica mountain. Zagreb lies at an elevation of approximately above sea level. According to the last official census, Zagreb's city...
and was instructed by the Comintern
Comintern
The Communist International, abbreviated as Comintern, also known as the Third International, was an international communist organization initiated in Moscow during March 1919...
to establish a new party organization independent from the KPJ.
Kopinič set up a radio-transmitter in Zagreb in 1940 which become the major information point between the Italian and Greek communist parties and the Comintern in Moscow. Also for this reason, it seems, the KPJ preserved pre-eminence in the Southeastern European region, backed by the Comintern
Comintern
The Communist International, abbreviated as Comintern, also known as the Third International, was an international communist organization initiated in Moscow during March 1919...
. That lasted up to the Cominform
Cominform
Founded in 1947, Cominform is the common name for what was officially referred to as the Information Bureau of the Communist and Workers' Parties...
Resolution of 28 June 1948 (resulting from the Tito–Stalin split).
From 1946 to 1949 Kopinič was in Turkey but nothing is known upon this period except that he continued to work as a Soviet intelligence officer. Following the Tito–Stalin split Kopinič returned to Yugoslavia. In 1951 he became director of the Uljanik
Uljanik
Uljanik is a shipbuilding company and shipyard located in Pula, Croatia.It was named after an islet on which there used to grow olive trees but then they were all cut down to make room for steel and hull fabrication workshops.- See also :* Shipyards:...
shipyard in Pula
Pula
Pula is the largest city in Istria County, Croatia, situated at the southern tip of the Istria peninsula, with a population of 62,080 .Like the rest of the region, it is known for its mild climate, smooth sea, and unspoiled nature. The city has a long tradition of winemaking, fishing,...
, where he stayed until his retirement.