Page 40 - Zbornik 40

40 Esad Rahić 40/2017

Esad Rahić
Novi Pazar

SANJAK DURING WORLD WAR II

Summary: The territory of Sanjak became, after the occupation, a subject
of expansionist ambitions of Germany and Italy and war marionette’s creations of
Independent State of Croatia (NDH) and Great Albania. There were heavy fights in
Sanjak between the two ideologically opposed movements: Partisan and Chetnik’s
upon whom a biological survival of Bosnian people was dependant on. The area of
Sanjak was already striken by the rebellion fights from 14th July 1941. Sanjak was
the centre of the highest area and Yugoslav army and party management of NOP
(National Liberation Movement), and from 20th November 1943 until 29th March
1945, it had the Country’s Antifascist Council of the National Liberation of Sanjak,
with the entire country’s military and civic authority structure. From the first five
Proletarian brigades, Sanjak had three (the third, fourth and fifth), and it also had
its own 37th Sanjak Division. There were 15.000 fighters of the Bosnian nationality
from Sanjak and Montenegro within the NOR (National Liberation War). Sanjak
gave 27 national heroes.

Key words: Sanjak, Area Committee of KPJ (Communist Party of Yugoslavia)
for Sanjak, ZAVNOS (Country’s Antifascist Council of the National Liberation of
Sanjak), Rifat Burdžović Tršo, Sanjak Brigades, Sreten Vukosavljević, Partisans,
Chetniks, Ustashas, Germans, Italians