KINGDOM OF YUGOSLAVIA
GENERAL
Area.
248,488 sq. km.
Population (xii. I928) ..
.
Density per sq. km.
Length of railway system (xII. 1927)
.
I3,290,000
53.5
9,840 km.
Army.
A.
THE SUPREME MILITARY AUTHORITY
AND ITS ORGANS.
The King is supreme head of all the armed forces In war-time, he
may, if he thinks fit, entrust the command of the field troops to a
Field-Marshal or a general, who receives the title of Commander of
the Field Troops and who is responsible to the Minister of War and
Marine.
I. MINISTRY OF WAR AND MARINE.
The Minister of War and Marine commands both the Army and Navy,
in time of peace, in the name of the King, and with the assistance of the
General Staff; he is responsible for the preparation of the Army and the
Navy for war.
The Minister of War organises and administers the Army and Navy,
military institutions and everything connected with the armed forces
of the country.
The Ministry of War consists of the following departments:
(i) General Staff Department;
(2) Personnel Department;
(3) Economic Department;
(4) Technical Artillery Department;
(5) Technical Engineering Department;
(6) Army Medical Department;
(7) Military Justice Department;
(8) Army Veterinary Department;
(9) Audit Department;
(io) Department of Marine.
KINGDOM OF YUGOSLAVIA
925
2. GENERAL STAFF.
The General Staff is the organ of the Minister of War and Marine.
Its duty is to prepare the nation and the armed forces for the defence
of the country and of its interests.
In peace time the General Staff serves both for the Army and
the Navy. At its head is the Chief of the General Staff. He directs
the work of the General Staff, is responsible for the recruiting of its
personnel and studies measures for increasing the efficiency of the staff.
The General Staff comprises three Sections, namely
The Operation Section;
The Organisation Section;
The Administrative Section.
3. INSPECTORATES OF TROOPS.
There is an inspectorate attached to each of the principal arms.
Inspectorates for any individual services may be created, if necessary.
Inspectorates are organs of the Ministry of War and Marine and are
under its authority. As regards instruction, they work under the direct
orders of the Chief of the General Staff.
The following are the Inspectorates at present existing
Inspectorate of Infantry;
Cavalry;
Artillery ;
Engineering;
Medical Services;
Economic Services.
The Commander of the Navy is at the same time Inspector of the Navy;
similarly, the Commander of the Air Department is the Inspector of the Air
Forces.
4. TECHNICAL COMMITTEES.
Military Committees are formed to study technical, intendance and
medical questions. The technical, intendance and medical committees
are organs of the Ministry of War and Marine.
B.
COMPOSITION OF THE ARMY.
The territory of the Kingdom of Yugoslavia is divided into five
army areas.
Each army area is divided into 3 or 4 divisional areas, making i6 in
all. The divisional areas are further subdivided into military districts.
Each army area includes
iz artillery regiment, consisting of 3 groups
Engineer detachment.
926 '
KINGDOM 'OF YUGOSLAVIA
The Engineer detachment comprises:
i pioneer battalion;
i bridging battalion;
i telegraph company;
i searchlight company;
I carrier-pigeon section;
A certain number of wireless telegraph stations.
Each
i
i
i
i
Divisional Area comprises:
brigade of infantry;
brigade of artillery;
battalion of non-combatants;
medical company;
i bakery company;
i squadron of train;
Hospitals, workshops and
depots.
The brigades of infantry consist of three or four regiments of
two, three or four battalions of four companies each, and one machinegun company per regiment.
The brigades of artillery consist of two regiments ; each regiment
consists of two or three groups of two or. three batteries'each.
One fortress command, that of'Boka Kotorska, is attached to the
Second Army Area. It consists of:
i regiment of infantry;
i medical company;
i regiment of fortress artillery; I squadron of train;
i engineer battalion;
i motor section.
i company of non-combatants;
The following arms and formations do not belong to the army and
divisional areas:
The Cavalry, which is organised in two independent cavalry divisions.
Each division consists of two brigades of cavalry and one group of
horse artillery. Each brigade comprises two regiments of cavalry,
each regiment consisting of four squadrons and one machine-gun
squadron.
The Corps of Frontier Troops, which consist of:
12 detachments allotted to subsectors;
i instructional company;
i section for the training of dogs.
The Air Force Command consists of:
6 air regiments;
i directorate of technical schools, parks and workshops.
The Railway Command, which includes 2 battalions.
The Motor Troops Command, which includes one battalion of motor
drivers, the necessary number of sections of motor troops, i park, depot
and workshops.
KINGDOUM OF ¥UGOSLAVIA
Y
C.
92 7
ARMS AND' DEPARTMENTS
The Army of the Kingdom of Yugoslavia includes the following arms
and departments:
Principal
arms:
Infantry.
Artillery.
Cavalry.
Engineers.
Air Force.
Auxiliary arms:
Communication troops.
Intendance troops.
Medical troops.
Technical troops.
Non-combatant troops.
i.
Special departments:
General Staff.
Economic services.
Technical department.
Army Medical Corps.
Military Justice department.
Chaplains department.
Veterinary department.
Bands.
THE ARMS.
Infantry.
Cavalry.
16 brigades.
57 regiments.
154' battalions.
616 companies.
57 machine-gun companies.
2
5
io
38
Io
divisions.
brigades.
regiments.
squadrons.
machine-gun squadrons.
Artillery.
16
32
5
i
i
2
brigades.
regiments of divisional artillery.
regiments of army artillery.
regiment of fortress artillery.
regiment of Royal Guard artillery.
groups of horse artillery.
195 batteries in all : 71 field, 45 mountain, 48 howitzer, 6 horseartillery batteries; 21 large calibre gun and howitzer batteries ; 4 batteries of the Royal Guard (two horse batteries,
i mountain, and i howitzer battery); and I6 companies
of fortress artillery.
Engineers.
5 pioneer battalions.
4 bridging battalions.
i special battalion.
making 41 companies in all.
Air Force.
6
i8
3
5
i
i
air regiments.
flights.
ballooning companies.
schools.
aero-technical institution,
air battalion.
KINGDOM OF YUGOSLAVIA
928
SERVICES.
2.
Staff Branch (see Chapter A).
General Economic Service. This department, which has charge of supplies,
Intendance, Administration, Auditing and
includes the following sections
Technical Sections.
The Intendance Section is responsible for supplies of foodstuffs and material.
The Administrative Section makes payments, provides clothing, administers
the depots, etc.
The Audit Section is an organ under the immediate direction of the Minister
of War and Marine. Its duty is to audit expenditure for the military budget.
The Technical Section deals with the technical side of supply questions.
Technical Service. This Department includes the following sections : Technical
Artillery Section; Technical Engineering Section; Technical Air Section; Geographical Section.
Army Medical Service. The Army Medical Service consists of five sections,
the Medical Section and the Pharmaceutical Section.
D.
TABLE OF COMMANDS AND UNITS.
SUMMARY
Miii-
Divi-
Divi-
Bri-
Regi-
Batta- Squa- Flits Com-
Areas
Areas
Areas
Areas
sions
gades
ments
lions
i6
-
571
154
-
-
48o
5.
Infantry ......
.....
Cavalry .
Artillery......
Air Force .....
.....
Engineers
...
....
Train
2
.
.......
-
-
.
E.
-
39
Io
I
-
-
17
—
2
—
5
i6
2
37
II
168
65
-
-
—
—
ries
r
673
i8
I
5
— -
-
-
One of the Royal Guard.
57 of which are machine-gun companies.
3 io of which are machine-gun squadrons.
2
-
10
51
6
-
.
.*
Army Medical Corps
. . .
Railway Troops
...
.
Motor Troops
Total
i6
-
Batte-
panies
p
drons
18
64195
3.5
41
17
7
4
761
195
4 Fortress troops.
Balloon company.
GENDARMERIE, POLICE AND FRONTIER GUARDS
The Gendarmerie is under the Ministry of the Interior. It is
considered as part of the Army only as far as organisation and discipline are concerned. It consists of 9 regiments, 2 independent battalions,
82 companies and i squadron.
The budgetary effectives of the Gendarmerie for I929-I930 consist of
45I officers, 3,930 N.C.O.s. and I3,573 corporals and gendarmes.
The Police, which is also under the Ministry of the Interior, amounts,
for the year 1929-1930, to 1,693 agents and guardians.
The Frontier Guard is under the Ministry of War and Marine. Its
effectives for 1929-1930 are 87 officers, 419 N.C.O.s. and 5,112
corporals and privates.
KINGDOM OF YUGOSLAVIA
F.
929
RECRUITING SYSTEM
Military service is universal.
All subjects who are fit to serve are liable for personal service;
they may neither send substitutes nor be exempted from service by
the payment of a tax.
-A military tax must be paid by men found unfit for service and by
persons deprived of their civil rights. The latter category have to pay
the tax and are in addition liable to serve in auxiliary services in rear
of the army in case of mobilisation or war.
Military service is compulsory as from 21 years of age, and ceases
at the age of 50.
(a) Men liable to military service serve in the active Army
from the age of 21I to the age of 40;
(b) In the reserve forces, from the age of 40 to the age of 50.
In case of mobilisation and war the Minister of War and Marine may,
if necessary, in pursuance of a decision of the Cabinet, call up young
men between i8 and 20 years of -age for service in the Army. The
period served in the Army is then deducted from the period of service
in the permanent cadres.
In similar circumstances he may also, if need be, call up all persons
of 17 to 55 years of age to serve in the Army or for auxiliary work in
rear of the Army, if they are fit for the latter form of service.
Service in the permanent units.
The period of service in permanent units is i8 months for all arms
and departments (except Navy and Aviation, where it is 2 years) reckoned
from the year in which the man attains the age of 21.
Men fit for military service who wish to engage voluntarily
before they are called up may do so after they have attained the age
of i8, provided that they obtain the consent of their parents or guardians
and undertake to serve for the normal period.
Reduction of the period of service.
The period of service in the permanent units may be reduced to 9 months
for men who are the supporters of families, and also under certain conditions
for students at the universities and pupils in certain colleges ; the period of service
in the aviation may also be reduced, under certain conditions, to 12 months.
Exemption from active service.
The following categories are exempt from active service:
(a) Men unfit for service;
(b) Men whose service has been postponed after they have attained 25 years
of age;
(c)
Sole supporters of a family who live by cultivating their own farms
or by labour, and pay a direct tax of not more than I2O dinars.
59
930
KINGDOM OF YUGOSLAVIA
Release from active service.
Soldiers belonging to one of the following categories are released from active
service before the termination of their period of service:
(a) Soldiers who have become unfit for service ;
(b) Soldiers temporarily unfit for service; they must rejoin if they
become fit before reaching the age of 25 ;
(c)
Soldiers sentenced to imprisonment or to hard labour who will not
have completed their sentences before reaching the age of 25 years ;
(d) Soldiers whose family or financial circumstances have changed may
also benefit by the provisions of the present law.
Finally, the law provides in certain circumstances for the postponement of
service in the case of men engaged in certain studies, in the case of sole
supporters of families and in certain other cases.
N.C.O.s.
G.
CADRES
The rank of corporal exists in all the arms and departments which
are organised in units, both in the active army and in the reserve.
In order to be promoted corporal the soldier must serve 6 months
and pass an examination on leaving the preparatory school attached
to his unit.
The N.C.O.s are recruited from among soldiers who have completed
their course in the schools for N.C.O.s in their arms or departments.
N.C.O.s who have completed their period of service may re-engage.
Officers.
Second lieutenants in the active army are recruited from among:
(i) Men who have completed their studies at the preparatory
school of the Military Academy;
(2) Men who are Yugoslav subjects and have completed
their studies at a foreign military school of the same' class as
the preparatory school of the Military Academy, if they apply to enter
the national army in the course of the first year after they leave
the school;
(3) Sergeants, sergeant-majors and sergeant-pilots in the Air
Force:
(a) Who have served as sergeants for at least 4 years;
(b) Who have been selected by their superior officers and
have passed the examination for second lieutenants ;
(4) Second lieutenants of the reserve and sergeants of the reserve
allowed by their superior officers to take the examination for the
rank of second lieutenant in the active army.
Promotion.
Officers of all arms and all services may be promoted to a higher rank:
(i) Up to the rank of lieutenant-colonel by seniority;
(2) For ranks higher than that of lieutenant-colonel, by seniority and
selection;
(3) To vacant posts on complying with the following conditions.
KINGDOM OF YUGOSLAVIA
931
Conditions of Promotion.
Special conditions for the officers of the principal arms:
For the rank of 2nd lieutenant: 4 years' service in the inferior rank.
For the rank of lieutenant: 4 years.
For the rank of captain (second class) : 3 years.
For the rank of captain (first class) : 3 years.
For the rank of major : 4 years.
For the rank of lieutenant-colonel: 4 years.
For the rank of colonel : 4 years.
For the rank. of general in command of a brigade : 3 years.
For the rank of general in command of a division : 4 years.
For the rank of general in command of an army : must possess the necessary
qualifications for exercising supreme command and must have commanded a
division for one year.
In war time, a general in command of an army who has rendered distinguished
services may be promoted field-marshal.
Reserve Non-Commissioned Officers and Officers.
(a)
N.C.O.s. The following are eligible as reserve N.C.O.s
(i) N.C.O.s who have left the active army with the rank of
N.C.O.
(2) Any person liable to military service who obtains the rank
of reserve N.C.O.
Reserve N.C.O.s may, if they apply to do so and if their services are
required, be incorporated in the active army, subject to certain conditions.
(b) Officers. Resetve officers are recruited from among retired officers, students who have passed the examination for znd lieutenant
of reserve, and qualified N.C.O.s who have passed the examination for
reserve officers.
Reserve officers over 50 years of age may also be called up if they
are fit for military service. They are employed in rear of the army.
Military Schools.
(i) Military schools for N.C.O.s. There are schools for the non-commissioned
ranks in the various arms, in the Navy and in the Departments.
Troop schools for the preparation of N.C.O.s and petty officers are organised
as need arises in the units belonging to the various arms and in the Navy.
(2) Military Schools for Officers.
Schools for
The
The
The
The
the Training of Officers.
Preparatory School of the Military Academy;
Naval School;
Administrative School;
School for Reserve Officers.
Schools for Higher Ranks.
The Higher School of the Military Academy;
Preparatory Courses for Staff Officers.
KINGDOM OF YUGOSLAVIA
932
Schools for the Advanced Training of Officers of the PrincipalArms.
The School for Infantry Officers;
The Artillery School;
The Cavalry School;
The Engineers' School;
The Air School.
H. BUDGETARY EFFECTIVES
I. Officers :
Field-Marshals
..........
.
Generals (army commanders) ..
..........
Divisional-Generals ............
...
Brigadier-Generals ................
Colonels .....................
Lieutenant-Colonels ...............
Majors. ..............
Captains .....................
II.
2
7
54
97
399
497I
......
Lieutenants ...................
Second Lieutenants ................
Total
1929-30
44
.
.
..................
1,565
1,998
7,052
N.C.O.s .....................
8,393
III. Corporals and other ranks .............
Grand Total.
1,992
95,000
.............
.
II0,445
IV. Number of Students in the Military Schools
Military Academy ..................
1,260
Schools for N.C.O.s .................
Army Medical and Veterinary Schools ........
Administrative School...........
Carriage-smiths School ..............
3,765
29
I68
Total
....
..................
5,222
II.
Navy.
LIST OF UNITS
Cruiser:
Dalmacija
12 Torpedo-boats:
i. T. i-T. 4 (I913-I5)
2.
3.
T. 5-T. 8 (I913-I5)
T. 9-T. i2 (1906-07)
(1928 and 1929)
Displacement : 2,600 tons. Dimensions: 342
38 1/2 X I7 1/4 feet. H.P. 8,000ooo = 12 kts.
1/4
X
Displacement: 200-362 tons. Dimensions: 188.3 X
I8.7 X 4.9 feet. Guns: i ii-pdr. ; i iI-pdr. (A.A.).
Displacement: 200 tons. Dimensions: i8o x i8 X
4 Y2 feet. H.P. 3,000 = 27 kts.
Guns : 4 3-pdr.
KINGDOM OF YUGOSLAVIA
933
4 submarines (2 in 1928) :
2
submarines: Hrabri and Nebojsca launched in 1927. Displacement 975 tons;
1,164
kts.
1
Io
2
submarines (launched in 1928 and in 1929): Smeli, Ostvetnik. Displacement:
6 tons';
800
kts.
9
Miscellaneous :25 units (6 mine-layers, 4 mine-sweepers, Danube flotilla, etc.).
SUMMARY
TABLE OF NAVAL' UNITS.
Number
i928
Cruiser ...............
Destroyers
. .
.
Submarines ..............
Miscellaneous craft 4
Total
.
.
.
....
.
.
.
Total Tonnage
1929
1
Depreciated Tonnage
1928
1[929
1928 2
-
-
I929
3
I. i
i
2,600
2,600
12
12
2,912
2,912
2
4
1,950
3,2Io
973
1,950
33
3,048
275
9,435
o,695
2,281
3,323
.,973
............
Total number of Naval Personnel ......
Reserve.
Officers
Other Ranks
256
164
2,000
570
1 The depreciated tonnage is calculated as follows:
2
3
(i) For battleships, battle-cruisers, coast-defence ships, monitors, aircraft-carriers and miscellaneous
craft, a reduction in original tonnage at the rate of i/20 per annum from date of completion.
(2) For cruisers and light cruisers, a reduction of 1/I7 per annum from date of completion.
(3) For torpedo craft and submarines, a reduction of I /i2 per annum from date of completion.
On January ist, 1929.
On January Ist, 1930.
4 River monitors.
III.
Budget Expenditure on National Defence.
A.
NOTES ON BUDGET PROCEDURE.
(i) The financial year covers the period from April ist to March 3ist of
the following year.
(2) The expenditure is divided into ordinary and extraordinary, the latter
comprising capital expenditure, outlay for construction and reparations.
(3) In the budget of the Kingdom of Yugoslavia all the receipts and all the
expenditure of the State are included. Prior to the financial year 1927-28 the
figures entered in the budget concerning State domain, public undertakings and
fiscal monopolies represented their gross receipts and expenditure, while those of
certain public undertakings, for the financial year I927-28, represent net surplus
or deficit, as the case may be.
Beginning with that of 1928-29 the budget is divided into two parts. The
first, the general budget, is that of the administration of the State; the second
contains the accounts of the State domain, public undertakings and fiscal monopolies, only the net receipts from fiscal monopolies and the net surplus or deficit
of public undertakings and State domain being entered in the general budget
of the State administration.
934
KINGDOM OF YUGOSLAVIA
(4) Beginning with the budget for 1928-29, war pensions were entered under
a separate heading - Pensions. They had previously been charged to the Ministry
of Social Welfare.
B. BUDGET EXPENDITURE ON NATIONAL DEFENCE.
I. Summary of Defence Expenditure.
TABLE I.
1926-27
1 1927-28
I 1928-29
I 29-3o
Estimates
Dinars (ooo,ooo's)
Ministry of the Army and the Navy . . .
2,413.0
j
2,349.0 (
2,428.6
2,428.6
II. Analysis of Defence Expenditure.
i. The following table gives details of the main headings of defence expenditure charged to the budget of the Ministry of the Army and the Navy.
TABLE 2.
1926-27
i 1927-28
1928-29
1929-30
Estimates
A. Amy:
A. Army:
Dinars (ooo's)
Ordinary Expenditure:
Pay of officers, non-commissioned officers,
men and civilian staff.
.......
Inspections, manoeuvres, military schools,
travelling expenses .........
467,237
487,718
496,483
66,390
Provisions ........
Forage .................
42,505
40,439
41,863
383,000
I30,815
319,650
101,540
206,658
343,790
I48,050
I56,680
343,167
147,527
151,763
I60,884
95,800
103,900
93,197
....
Clothing and quarters .
.
.
Lighting, heating, office supplies .96,500
502,I33
Artillery : expenditure for technical purposes .........
.
Engineering
service : expenditure for
96,345
75,400
85,996
80,299
technical purposes
.
Fortification, drainage, installations
Aviation ..
Health service .............
I9,550
25,500
59,200
58,740
13,350
20,500
98,080
43,720
I4,550
21,500
I30,600
44,570
14,900
21,600
I35,450
44,030
5,005
3,820
. . .
Geographical Institute .........
Total ordinary expenditure
3,756
. . .
1,613,69I
1,459,948
1,585,46I
3,840
1,588,890
Extraordinary Expenditure:
Quarters ...
..........
War material.
........
Engineering service..
Health service .3,400
Aviation. .
...
.............
Total extraordinary expenditure
Total
"A
. ..........
70,100
346,000
74,505
30,400
400,000
71,500
4,300
23,500
400,000
46,280
3,300
52,870
48,255
i8,ooo
546,875
554,455
491,080
23,500
400,000
52,628
3,300
13,015
492,443
2,160,566 2,014,403 2,076,541 2,o8r1,333
935
KINGDOM OF YUGOSLAVIA
TABLE 2 (continued).
1926-27
I927-28 I i928-29
I929-30
Estimates
Dinars (ooo's)
B. Navy
Ordinary Expenditure:
Pay of officers, petty officers, men and
civilian staff ............
Travelling expenses, manoeuvres, etc. ...
Provisions ...............
34,294
14,448
22,650
45,3I10
16,031
25,582
44,024
15,722
24,000
50,429
I5,722
25,484
Clothing ................
14,599
I4,530
I2,830
13,670
7,760
7,335
6,580
50
34,000
7,000
5,200
280
37,000
8,500
34,680
400
40,750
8,500
31,400
430
38,350
8,500
30,400
700
,ooo
3,000
Io, ooo
3,000
14,000
3,000
I3,000
4,005
2,800
2,120
2,020
1. 45,706
205,048
203,326
207,805
500
2,900
50
1,888
1,I6o
10,995
50
2,747
2,000
22,550
500
2,600
7,250
I3,300
500
2,121
Heating, lighting, office supplies .....
Hydrographical Institute ........
Naval machinery and apparatus
Arsenal ................
Hydroplanes ..............
.....
Upkeep
and
of telegraph service
phones
Armaments
............
..............
tele...
I
Health service .............
Total ordinary expenditure
6,800o
. ..
Extraordinary Expenditure:
Buildings ...............
Repair of vessels and construction.
Health service .............
Miscellaneous expenses .i......
....
. .
Total extraordinary expenditure
Total "B".
. ..
.
.... ..
5,338
I4,952
27,650
23,I71
15I,044
220,000
230,976
230,976
93,374
250
2,100
99,127
350
3,030
I,0oo
I07,005
350
3,380
8,ioo
104,842
350
3,370
5,650
3,300
380
845
2,650
280
i,oio
41
2,580
170
3,150
101,390
II4,588
I2I,055
C. Frontier Troops
Ordinary Expenditure:
Pay of officers, non-commissioned officers,
men and civilian staff
Travelling expenses
Provisions ...............
........
Clothing and quarters...
Heating, lighting, office supplies .....
Artillery................
Engineering service ..........
Health service .............
Total "C"
. .........
2,380
II0
1,700
360
x,6io
310
116,262
Total expenditure of the Ministry
of the Army and the Navy.
. .
2,413,000 2,348,991
2,428,572 2,428,571
2. The following table shows the expenditure of the Ministry of the Army and
the Navy divided into ordinary and extraordinary expenditure
.
Ordinary
TABLE
expenditure
3
Financial year
1926-27
1927-28
1928-29
1929-30
..............
..............
..............
..............
Extraordinary
expenditure
Total
expenditure
Dinars (ooo's)
1,860,788
1,779,584
1,909,842
1,912,957
552,212
569,407
518,730
515,614
2,413,000
2,348,991
2,428,572
2,428,571,
~~~~~~
.......
936
KINGDOM OF YUGOSLAVIA
III. Receipts collected by the Various Departments of the Ministry of the
Army and the Navy.
The receipts collected by the Ministry of the Army and the Navy in the course
of administration, together with those derived from work done in military arsenals
for private persons and sale of disused material, have been estimated at 2,582,000
dinars for 1926-27, at 2,872,000 dinars for I927-28, at 4,465,000 dinars for
1928-29 and at 2,840,000 dinars for 1929-30.
IV. Expenditure referring to Previous Years.
(i) Debt Service. No debt service is charged to the budget of the Ministry of
the Army and the Navy.
(2) Military pensions are not included in the budget of the Ministry of the
Army and the Navy, but shown under the heading, Pensions, jointly with civil
pensions, from which it is not possible to distinguish them. War pensions,
shown in the budget for 1928-29 and later years under the heading, Pensions,
were previously included in the budget of the Department of Social Welfare; they
were estimated at 400,000,000 dinars for 1926-27, at 322,000,000 for 1927-28, at
.o
280,000,000 for 1928-29 and at 341,28I,050 dinars for i929-30