OZNA

OZNA or organ Zaštite Naroda ( Armije ) (Serbian: Орган Заштите Народа Армије, ОЗНА ) (English Department of Public Protection ) was an intelligence in Yugoslavia.

Predecessor

Prior to founding OZNA intelligence tasks were performed by different organizations. By the spring of 1944, these were: the " section for the protection of Nations" in central and western Bosnia, parts of Croatia and Vojvodina; Centers of territorial intelligence in Croatia, Vojvodina and Montenegro; the intelligence department of homeland security in Slovenia; Information procurement departments of the People's Liberation Army and Partisan in Serbia, Macedonia and Kosovo.

Foundation

OZNA was founded on May 13, 1944, led by Aleksandar Ranković, a member of the Politburo and close friend Tito. OZNA was established as an autonomous military organization whose central leadership should ensure a clear policy in intelligence work. The OZNA was divided into four departments:

The first section of organized intelligence activities in other countries, institutions and enemy occupied territories. They recruited agents and sent them out to commit espionage. She gathered information on police, enemy agents groups and military organizations.

The second section collected information from informants about political groupings of the freedom fighters, hostile intelligence activities and national armed groups who pose a threat to the regime.

The third division took care of the intelligence Security of the People 's Liberation Army and Partisan.

In the fourth section the technical side of intelligence has been edited. For this purpose, the information analysis and storage, communication facilities, encryption belonged among others

A fifth and sixth department were opened in March and April 1945.

The fifth division was responsible for detecting foreign intelligence networks in Yugoslavia. It was in 1946 merged with the Third Division.

The sixth section was responsible for the security of the foreign agent. A short time later it was merged with the Second Division.

Post-war period

After the People's Liberation Army had changed its name on 1 March 1945 in " Yugoslav People's Army ", the OZNA the Army has been assigned. In March 1946, the OZNA divided into a military and a civil part. The military part was the counter-intelligence service ( KOS - Contra Obaveštajna Služba ) and the civilian on Internal State Security ( UDBA - Uprava državne bezbednosti ).

Activities

The OZNA was feared in Yugoslavia due to its interrogation methods. A popular saying was " OZNA dozna sve " ( OZNA learn everything ).

• Historical News Service
• Yugoslav organization