Dušan T. Simovic writings, 1941-1962

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Summary

Creators:
Simović, Dušan, 1882-1962
Abstract:
Consists of correspondence, speeches, a memoir and a diary documenting Simović's military career, Serbian military operations during World War I, political conditions in Yugoslavia prior to World War II, the Yugoslav coup d'état of 27 March 1941, and the government-in-exile in London during World War II.
Extent:
2 manuscript boxes (0.8 Linear Feet)
Language:
English
Preferred citation:

[Identification of item], Dušan T. Simovic writings, [Box no., Folder no. or title], Hoover Institution Library & Archives.

Background

Scope and content:

Contains correspondence, speeches, a memoir, and a diary documenting Simović's military career, Serbian military operations during World War I, political conditions in Yugoslavia prior to World War II, the Yugoslav coup d'état of 27 March 1941, and the government-in-exile in London during World War II. The materials provide insight into the events surrounding the military coup and record Simović's thoughts as a leading military and public figure in Royal Yugoslavia, especially the war years Simović spent with the government-in-exile in London.

The Correspondence mainly includes exchanges with exiled Yugoslav government leaders regarding the wartime situation in Yugoslavia. Of particular interest are Simović's letters to King Petar II, expressing his position on dissension within the Yugoslav government-in-exile in London, and correspondence with Winston Churchill referring to the war in Yugoslavia and Simović's offer to serve in His Majesty's government as a retired Royal Yugoslav general.

Transcripts of Simović's Speeches, broadcast on London radio, express his position on the wartime situation in Yugoslavia, the exile community, and the Balkan region.

The Writings contain preliminary drafts and related material for an extensive memoir titled "Uspomene, Autobiografia," documenting Simović's military and political career, his role during the Balkan Wars, World War I, Yugoslavia in the inter-war years, and wartime in exile in London. The final draft of "Uspomene Autobiografija" was transcribed by Dragiša Ristić. Fragments of writings and notes contain Simović's reflections on events surrounding the Yugoslav Army surrender and the "Cairo Affair," as well as a pamphlet titled Dokument o Jugoslaviji (Document of Yugoslavia) published by Dragiša Cvetković.

Biographical / historical:
Date Event
28 October 1882
Born in Kragujevac, Serbia
1900
Graduated, Belgrade Military Academy, Yugoslavia
1912-1913
Served in the Balkan wars; promoted to the rank of General Staff Major
1914-1918
Served in World War I; promoted to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel
1918-1940
Delegate of the Serbian Government and the Supreme Command at the National Council of Slovenes, Croats, and Serbs in Zagreb in 1918; devoted his military career to the Air Force
1936-1940
Served as chief of the Air Force and commander-in-chief of the Royal Yugoslav Army
1938-1940
Served as Chief of the General Staff of the Yugoslav Royal Army; forced to resign in 1940 after advocating resistance in case of a German attack
25 March 1941
Tripartite Pact with the Germans signed by Dragiša Cvetković, Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Yugoslavia, in Vienna
27 March 1941
Led a military coup of Royal Yugoslav officers to overthrow the government of Dragiša Cvetković
1941-1942
Served as Prime Minister and Chief of the General Staff of the Yugoslav Army
13 April 1941
Held the last session of the Royal Yugoslav government in Nikšić, Montenegro
15 April 1941
Escorted King Petar II out of Yugoslavia to safety
April-June 1941
Served in the Yugoslav government-in-exile in Jerusalem and London
11 January 1942
Dismissed as Prime Minister of Yugoslavia over political disagreements within the exiled Yugoslav government
1943
Retired; joined the "People's Liberation Movement"
1945-1946
Returned to Belgrade; participated as a witness at the trial of Draža Mihailović
1962
Died in Belgrade
Acquisition information:
Acquired by the Hoover Institution Library Archives in 1992.
Physical location:
Hoover Institution Library & Archives
Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Access and use

Restrictions:

The collection is open for research; materials must be requested in advance via our reservation system. If there are audiovisual or digital media material in the collection, they must be reformatted before providing access.

Terms of access:

For copyright status, please contact the Hoover Institution Library & Archives.

Preferred citation:

[Identification of item], Dušan T. Simovic writings, [Box no., Folder no. or title], Hoover Institution Library & Archives.

Location of this collection:
Hoover Institution Library & Archives, Stanford University
Stanford, CA 94305-6003, US
Contact:
(650) 723-3563
hooverarchives@stanford.edu
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