Written By: Paul Jeremic

The rapid collapse of the Yugoslav Royal Army in the April War gave the impression of invincibility and absolute military supremacy of the Nazi military machinery. However, a group of Yugoslav officers managed to evade capture, and refused to acknowledge the capitulation of the army. This group, led by General Staff Colonel Dragoljub Mihailovic, arrived on Ravna Gora 11. Maja and guided by Njegoš's verses: "Al' tirjanstvo step by the neck, bring it to the knowledge of rights, that is the most sacred human duty”, founded an organization called “Yugoslav army in the Fatherland”. In this way, the anti-fascist character of the Royal Army and the Serbian people was best expressed, which received its first organized resistance movement in less than a month since the end of the war.