Republic of Užice

The Republic of Užice (Serbian Ужичка република / Uzicka republika ) was a short-lived German occupation of liberated Yugoslav territory and the first liberated territory in World War II in Europe.

Overview

The Republic was organized as a military mini- state that existed from early September to late November 1941 in the autumn of 1941 was occupied by Germany Yugoslavia. The republic was proclaimed by the Yugoslav People's Liberation Army on September 20, 1941, the administrative center of the Republic, the city of Užice.

History

The Republic of Užice comprised the entire western Serbia and had a population of more than 300,000 people. It lay between the line Valjevo - Bajina Basta in the north, the river Drina in the west, the Great Morava in the east and the Raska region in the south.

The government took over people's councils ( Odbors ), the Communists opened schools and published the newspaper Borba ( The Battle ). They operate a postal system and around 145 km long railway line. They took the captured munitions factory in the vaults beneath the bank in Užice in operation. In November 1941, in the so-called First anti - Partisan offensive, German troops occupied this area again during which the majority of partisan towards Bosnia, Sandžak and Montenegro fled.

Monument to the Fallen Partisans in the fight on the hill Kadinjača about 14 km north- west of Uzice

Trivia

The historical film from 1974 Uzicka republika tells the events surrounding the existence of the Republic of Užice.