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Title: Dušan T. Simovic writings
Dates: 1941-1962
Collection Number: 92076
Creator: Simovic, Dušan T., 1882-1962
Collection Size:
2 manuscript boxes
(0.8 linear feet)
Repository:
Hoover Institution Archives
Stanford, California 94305-6010
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.
Physical Location: Hoover Institution Archives
Languages: In In
English and
Serbian
Collection is open for research.
The Hoover Institution Archives only allows access to
copies of audiovisual items. To listen to sound recordings or to view videos or films during your visit, please contact the Archives
at least two working days before your arrival. We will then advise you of the accessibility of the material you wish to see
or hear. Please note that not all audiovisual material is immediately accessible.
For copyright status, please contact the Hoover Institution Archives.
[Identification of item], Dušan T. Simovic writings, [Box number], Hoover Institution Archives.
Acquired by the Hoover Institution Archives in 1992.
Materials may have been added to the collection since this finding aid was prepared. To determine if this has occurred, find
the collection in Stanford University's online catalog at
http://searchworks.stanford.edu/ . Materials have been added to the collection if the number of boxes listed in the online catalog is larger than the number
of boxes listed in this finding aid.
| 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 |
Scope and Content of Collection
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.
The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the library's online public access catalog.
World War, 1914-1918--Serbia.
World War, 1939-1945--Yugoslavia.
World War, 1939-1945--Diplomatic history.
Yugoslavia--History--Axis occupation, 1941-1945.
Yugoslavia--Politics and government--1918-1945.
Yugoslavia--Foreign relations--1918-1945.
Statesmen--Yugoslavia.