Osman Karabegović
Encyclopedia
Osman Karabegović was a Yugoslav and Bosnian
communist politician and a Order of the People's Hero recipient. He was prominent for his commitment for the equality of Muslims
in the Socialist Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina
and for his opposition to Serbian domination in the League of Communists of Yugoslavia
.
. He attended gymnasium there and was an active member of the "Mlada Jugoslavija" association (Young Yugoslavia). He joined the Communist Party of Yugoslavia in 1932 and in the same year was expelled from school because he participated in a students' strike. He finished the last of his classes of gymnasium in Sarajevo
.
Because of his activity in the Communist Party and SKOJ
he was arrested. He was released from prison under the pressure of public. In 1933, Karabegović entered the Veterinary Faculty in Zagreb
. Again, he actively participated in the work of SKOJ and the Communist Party. He was arrested for the same reasons a few times by police in Zagreb. In 1935 he was ordered to return in Banja Luka. During 1936-1937 he studied medicine at the University of Zagreb
and became a member of the Students' Committee of SKOJ
and a member of the Action Committee in Belgrade
. He participated in various demonstrations against the regime of Alexander I of Yugoslavia
for which he was again arrested few times. After World War II started in Yugoslavia, Karabegović returned to Banja Luka and became a member of the Regional Committee of the Communist Party of Yugoslavia for Bosanska Krajina
.
He participated in organizing a rebellion against the Axis forces on July 4, 1941 in Šehitluci near Banja Luka. This was the final agreement by the Communists to begin a rebellion in Bosanska Krajina. In the second half of June 1941 Karabegović visited Prijedor
, Bosanski Novi, Krupa
and Bihać
where he held a few meetings with Partisan military officers and the Party's committees and transferred decisions made by the Communist Party about plans of a rebellion. In the beginning of July 1941, Karabegović, along with Josip Mažar Šoša, visited Bosanski Petrovac
and Dvor
and formed committees in preparation for the rebellion.
On the day when the rebellion started, July 25, 1941, Karabegović participated in consultations in Orlovci near Prijedor
where the Communist Party made a schedule for the rebellion. Karabegović was sent along with Dr.Mladen Stojanović and Josip Mažar Šoša to Kozara
for organizing the rebellion. In August 1941, when the Second Detachment of Bosanska Krajina was formed, Karabegović became its political commissar. In the beginning of November 1941, Karabegović participated in military consultations held in the Partisan Supreme Command for Bosnia and Herzegovina of Romanija
. He was one of the organizers of the regional party's consultations in Bosanska Krajina which was held on February 22, 1942 in Kneževo
. In those consultations, Karabegović became a political commissar of the Operational Headquarters for Bosanska Krajina, and when the First Bosnian Corps was formed at the end of 1942, he continued the same duties there. Throughout the war, Karabegović held various posts, he was the Secretary of the Regional Committee of the Communist Party of Yugoslavia for Bosanska Krajina, a member of the Regional Committee for Communist Party of Yugoslavia and a member of the Supreme Command of the Yugoslav Partisans for Bosnia and Herzegovina. He was also an alderman in the First and Second Session of the AVNOJ
and in all of the sessions of ZAVNOBiH
.
After the war he held various posts. From 1946 to 1974 he was the envoy of the Assembly of the Federal People's Republic of Yugoslavia and from 1947 to 1956 he was a member of the Federal Government. Karabegović was also the President of the Executive Council of the People's Republic of Yugoslavia (de facto Prime Minister) from 1956 to 1963. Karabegović was a member of the Central Committee of the Communist Party, and from 1948 he was a member of the Presidency of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Yugoslavia. On July 23, 1952 he became a recipient of the People's Hero of Yugoslavia
. In 1972 Karabegović was dismissed along with Avdo Humo
from their posts for alleged Muslim "exclusivism" and "nationalism" and banned from the Communist Party of Yugoslavia.
On June 24, 1996, Karabegović died in Belgrade
and was buried in the walkway of National Heroes in Novo groblje
.
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Bosnia and Herzegovina , sometimes called Bosnia-Herzegovina or simply Bosnia, is a country in Southern Europe, on the Balkan Peninsula. Bordered by Croatia to the north, west and south, Serbia to the east, and Montenegro to the southeast, Bosnia and Herzegovina is almost landlocked, except for the...
communist politician and a Order of the People's Hero recipient. He was prominent for his commitment for the equality of Muslims
Muslims by nationality
Muslims by nationality was a term used in Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia as an official designation of nationality of Slavic Muslims. They were one of the constitutive groups of Bosnia and Herzegovina...
in the Socialist Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina
Socialist Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina
Socialist Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina , known until 1963 under the name of People's Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina, was a socialist state that was a constituent country of the former Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia...
and for his opposition to Serbian domination in the League of Communists of Yugoslavia
League of Communists of Yugoslavia
League of Communists of Yugoslavia , before 1952 the Communist Party of Yugoslavia League of Communists of Yugoslavia (Serbo-Croatian: Savez komunista Jugoslavije/Савез комуниста Југославије, Slovene: Zveza komunistov Jugoslavije, Macedonian: Сојуз на комунистите на Југославија, Sojuz na...
.
Biography
Karabegović was born on September 7, 1911 in Banja LukaBanja Luka
-History:The name "Banja Luka" was first mentioned in a document dated February 6, 1494, but Banja Luka's history dates back to ancient times. There is a substantial evidence of the Roman presence in the region during the first few centuries A.D., including an old fort "Kastel" in the centre of...
. He attended gymnasium there and was an active member of the "Mlada Jugoslavija" association (Young Yugoslavia). He joined the Communist Party of Yugoslavia in 1932 and in the same year was expelled from school because he participated in a students' strike. He finished the last of his classes of gymnasium in Sarajevo
Sarajevo
Sarajevo |Bosnia]], surrounded by the Dinaric Alps and situated along the Miljacka River in the heart of Southeastern Europe and the Balkans....
.
Because of his activity in the Communist Party and SKOJ
Skoj
Skoj is a cider-based soft drink, manufactured by the Swedish Skoj Beverage Group. Skoj is the Swedish word for fun.Skoj is 15 percent fruit juice sweetened with sugar...
he was arrested. He was released from prison under the pressure of public. In 1933, Karabegović entered the Veterinary Faculty 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...
. Again, he actively participated in the work of SKOJ and the Communist Party. He was arrested for the same reasons a few times by police in Zagreb. In 1935 he was ordered to return in Banja Luka. During 1936-1937 he studied medicine at the University of Zagreb
University of Zagreb
The University of Zagreb is the biggest Croatian university and the oldest continuously operating university in the area covering Central Europe south of Vienna and all of Southeastern Europe...
and became a member of the Students' Committee of SKOJ
Skoj
Skoj is a cider-based soft drink, manufactured by the Swedish Skoj Beverage Group. Skoj is the Swedish word for fun.Skoj is 15 percent fruit juice sweetened with sugar...
and a member of the Action Committee in Belgrade
Belgrade
Belgrade is the capital and largest city of Serbia. It is located at the confluence of the Sava and Danube rivers, where the Pannonian Plain meets the Balkans. According to official results of Census 2011, the city has a population of 1,639,121. It is one of the 15 largest cities in Europe...
. He participated in various demonstrations against the regime of Alexander I of Yugoslavia
Alexander I of Yugoslavia
Alexander I , also known as Alexander the Unifier was the first king of the Kingdom of Yugoslavia as well as the last king of the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes .-Childhood:...
for which he was again arrested few times. After World War II started in Yugoslavia, Karabegović returned to Banja Luka and became a member of the Regional Committee of the Communist Party of Yugoslavia for Bosanska Krajina
Bosanska Krajina
Bosanska Krajina or Bosnian Frontier is a geographical region, a subregion of Bosnia, in western Bosnia and Herzegovina enclosed by three rivers - Sava, Una and Vrbas. It is also a historic, economic and cultural entity of Bosnia and Herzegovina....
.
He participated in organizing a rebellion against the Axis forces on July 4, 1941 in Šehitluci near Banja Luka. This was the final agreement by the Communists to begin a rebellion in Bosanska Krajina. In the second half of June 1941 Karabegović visited Prijedor
Prijedor
Prijedor is a city and municipality in the north-western part of Bosnia and Herzegovina. It is situated in the Bosanska Krajina region....
, Bosanski Novi, Krupa
Krupa
Krupa may refer to:People:* Gene Krupa, a Polish-American drummer* Joanna Krupa, a Polish model and actress* Michael Krupa, a Polish war hero/author* Olek Krupa, a Polish actor* Urszula Krupa, a Polish politicianPlaces:...
and Bihać
Bihac
Bihać is a city and municipality on the river Una in the north-western part of Bosnia and Herzegovina, in the Bosanska Krajina region. Bihać is located in the Una-Sana Canton in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina.-History:...
where he held a few meetings with Partisan military officers and the Party's committees and transferred decisions made by the Communist Party about plans of a rebellion. In the beginning of July 1941, Karabegović, along with Josip Mažar Šoša, visited Bosanski Petrovac
Bosanski Petrovac
Bosanski Petrovac is a town in western Bosnia and Herzegovina. It is also the name of the municipality. The town and municipality are part of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Una-Sana Canton.-People:...
and Dvor
Dvor
Dvor is a town and a municipality in the Banovina region in central Croatia. Administratively it belongs to the Sisak-Moslavina County and is located across the Una River from Novi Grad in Bosnia and Herzegovina....
and formed committees in preparation for the rebellion.
On the day when the rebellion started, July 25, 1941, Karabegović participated in consultations in Orlovci near Prijedor
Prijedor
Prijedor is a city and municipality in the north-western part of Bosnia and Herzegovina. It is situated in the Bosanska Krajina region....
where the Communist Party made a schedule for the rebellion. Karabegović was sent along with Dr.Mladen Stojanović and Josip Mažar Šoša to Kozara
Kozara
Kozara is a mountain in western Bosnia and Herzegovina, in the Bosanska Krajina region. It is bounded by the rivers Sava - north, Vrbas - east, Sana - south and Una - west...
for organizing the rebellion. In August 1941, when the Second Detachment of Bosanska Krajina was formed, Karabegović became its political commissar. In the beginning of November 1941, Karabegović participated in military consultations held in the Partisan Supreme Command for Bosnia and Herzegovina of Romanija
Romanija
Romanija is a geographical region in eastern Republika Srpska, Bosnia and Herzegovina. Main towns in the region include Pale, Sokolac, and Han Pijesak....
. He was one of the organizers of the regional party's consultations in Bosanska Krajina which was held on February 22, 1942 in Kneževo
Kneževo
Kneževo , is a town and municipality in central Bosnia and Herzegovina. It lies about south-east of Banja Luka and is part of the Republika Srpska entity. In 1992, during the Bosnian War, the town was renamed from Skender Vakuf Kneževo (Serbian Cyrillic: Кнежево; formerly Skender Vakuf), is a town...
. In those consultations, Karabegović became a political commissar of the Operational Headquarters for Bosanska Krajina, and when the First Bosnian Corps was formed at the end of 1942, he continued the same duties there. Throughout the war, Karabegović held various posts, he was the Secretary of the Regional Committee of the Communist Party of Yugoslavia for Bosanska Krajina, a member of the Regional Committee for Communist Party of Yugoslavia and a member of the Supreme Command of the Yugoslav Partisans for Bosnia and Herzegovina. He was also an alderman in the First and Second Session of the AVNOJ
AVNOJ
The Anti-Fascist Council of the People's Liberation of Yugoslavia, known more commonly by its Yugoslav abbreviation AVNOJ, was the political umbrella organization for the national liberation councils of the Yugoslav resistance against the World War II Axis occupation, eventually becoming the...
and in all of the sessions of ZAVNOBiH
ZAVNOBiH
The National Anti-Fascist Council of the People's Liberation of Bosnia and Herzegovina was formed as the highest governing organ of the anti-fascist movement in Bosnia and Herzegovina and during World War II developed to be bearer of Bosnian statehood...
.
After the war he held various posts. From 1946 to 1974 he was the envoy of the Assembly of the Federal People's Republic of Yugoslavia and from 1947 to 1956 he was a member of the Federal Government. Karabegović was also the President of the Executive Council of the People's Republic of Yugoslavia (de facto Prime Minister) from 1956 to 1963. Karabegović was a member of the Central Committee of the Communist Party, and from 1948 he was a member of the Presidency of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Yugoslavia. On July 23, 1952 he became a recipient of the People's Hero of Yugoslavia
People's Hero of Yugoslavia
The Order of the People's Hero was a Yugoslav gallantry medal, the second highest military award, and third overall Yugoslav decoration. It was awarded to individuals, military units, political and other organisations who distinguished themselves by extraordinary heroic deeds during war and in...
. In 1972 Karabegović was dismissed along with Avdo Humo
Avdo Humo
Avdo Humo was a Yugoslav and Bosnian communist politician, writer and a Order of the People's Hero recipient....
from their posts for alleged Muslim "exclusivism" and "nationalism" and banned from the Communist Party of Yugoslavia.
On June 24, 1996, Karabegović died in Belgrade
Belgrade
Belgrade is the capital and largest city of Serbia. It is located at the confluence of the Sava and Danube rivers, where the Pannonian Plain meets the Balkans. According to official results of Census 2011, the city has a population of 1,639,121. It is one of the 15 largest cities in Europe...
and was buried in the walkway of National Heroes in Novo groblje
Novo groblje
Novo groblje is a cemetery complex in Belgrade, Serbia. It is located in Ruzveltova street in Zvezdara municipality. The cemetery was built in 1886 as the third Christian cemetery in Belgrade. The newly developed cemetery in that period had no chapel or church...
.