Yugoslav First Army
Encyclopedia
The Yugoslavian First Army was a field army of the Kingdom of Yugoslavia
during World War II
. It was part of 2nd Army Group.
invaded Yugoslavia
on 6 April 1941. The German invasion followed a coup d'état
that overthrew the country's pro-German
government of Regent Prince Paul
and replaced him with the more independent King Peter II
. Germany's allies Italy
, Hungary
, and Bulgaria
soon joined or provided support for the invasion.
Yugoslavia quickly mobilized its forces and was able to field some 340,000 men in six armies. The Yugoslavian Royal Army consisted of six field armies: The Yugoslavian First Army, the Yugoslavian Third Army, the Yugoslavian Fourth Army, the Yugoslavian Fifth Army, the Yugoslavian Sixth Army, and the Yugoslavian Seventh Army.
The Yugoslavian First Army guarded the eastern border during the invasion of Yugoslavia
. The area it defended was roughly centered on the city of Subotica
. The Yugoslavian First Army faced the Hungarian Third Army
. By the time the Hungarians crossed the border on or about 14 April, the Germans had been attacking Yugoslavia for over a week and Belgrade
had already fallen. Because of the Hungarian delay, the First Army did not see as much action as the other Yugostavian armies.
On 17 April, eleven days after the German invasion began, the Royal Yugoslav Army surrendered unconditionally.
Kingdom of Yugoslavia
The Kingdom of Yugoslavia was a state stretching from the Western Balkans to Central Europe which existed during the often-tumultuous interwar era of 1918–1941...
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...
. It was part of 2nd Army Group.
Command
First Army command, April 1941:- Commander - General Milan Radenković
- Chief of Staff - Brigadier Todor Milicević
- Rear area commander - Lt General Dobrosav Milenković
April 1941
- Yugoslavian First Army - General Milan Radenković
- 7th "Potiska" Infantry Division - Lt General Bozidar Jovanović
- 25th Infantry Regiment
- 34th Infantry Regiment
- 51st Infantry Regiment
- 7th Artillery Regiment
- Cavalry Battalion
- Engineer Battalion
- Anti-tank company
- Machinegun company
- Anti-Aircraft company
- 3rd Cavalry Division - Lt General Žarko Majstorović
- 3rd Cavalry Regiment
- 51st Cavalry Regiment
- 66th Cavalry Regiment
- 3rd Artillery Battalion
- 3rd (motorized) Infantry Battalion
- 3rd Motorcycle Battalion
- 3rd Engineer Squadron
- 3rd Anti-aircraft Squadron
- 56th Army Artillery Regiment
- 1st Anti-aircraft Battalion
- 1st Army Anti-aircraft Company
- 7th "Potiska" Infantry Division - Lt General Bozidar Jovanović
Invasion of Yugoslavia
GermanyGermany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
invaded Yugoslavia
Yugoslavia
Yugoslavia refers to three political entities that existed successively on the western part of the Balkans during most of the 20th century....
on 6 April 1941. The German invasion followed a coup d'état
Coup d'état
A coup d'état state, literally: strike/blow of state)—also known as a coup, putsch, and overthrow—is the sudden, extrajudicial deposition of a government, usually by a small group of the existing state establishment—typically the military—to replace the deposed government with another body; either...
that overthrew the country's pro-German
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
government of Regent Prince Paul
Prince Paul of Yugoslavia
Prince Paul of Yugoslavia, also known as Paul Karađorđević , was Regent of the Kingdom of Yugoslavia during the minority of King Peter II. Peter was the eldest son of his first cousin Alexander I...
and replaced him with the more independent King Peter II
Peter II of Yugoslavia
Peter II, also known as Peter II Karađorđević , was the third and last King of Yugoslavia...
. Germany's allies Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
, Hungary
Hungary
Hungary , officially the Republic of Hungary , is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It is situated in the Carpathian Basin and is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine and Romania to the east, Serbia and Croatia to the south, Slovenia to the southwest and Austria to the west. The...
, and Bulgaria
Bulgaria
Bulgaria , officially the Republic of Bulgaria , is a parliamentary democracy within a unitary constitutional republic in Southeast Europe. The country borders Romania to the north, Serbia and Macedonia to the west, Greece and Turkey to the south, as well as the Black Sea to the east...
soon joined or provided support for the invasion.
Yugoslavia quickly mobilized its forces and was able to field some 340,000 men in six armies. The Yugoslavian Royal Army consisted of six field armies: The Yugoslavian First Army, the Yugoslavian Third Army, the Yugoslavian Fourth Army, the Yugoslavian Fifth Army, the Yugoslavian Sixth Army, and the Yugoslavian Seventh Army.
The Yugoslavian First Army guarded the eastern border during the invasion of Yugoslavia
Invasion of Yugoslavia
The Invasion of Yugoslavia , also known as the April War , was the Axis Powers' attack on the Kingdom of Yugoslavia which began on 6 April 1941 during World War II...
. The area it defended was roughly centered on the city of Subotica
Subotica
Subotica is a city and municipality in northern Serbia, in the Autonomous Province of Vojvodina...
. The Yugoslavian First Army faced the Hungarian Third Army
Hungarian Third Army
The Hungarian Third Army was a Hungarian field army which saw action during World War II.-Commanders:* Lieutenant General Elemér Gorondy-Novák from 1 March 1940 to 1 November 1941* Lieutenant General Zoltán Decleva from 1 November 1941 to 1 December 1942...
. By the time the Hungarians crossed the border on or about 14 April, the Germans had been attacking Yugoslavia for over a week and 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...
had already fallen. Because of the Hungarian delay, the First Army did not see as much action as the other Yugostavian armies.
On 17 April, eleven days after the German invasion began, the Royal Yugoslav Army surrendered unconditionally.