| Formation | October 8, 1908 |
|---|---|
| Type | revolutionary organization |
| Purpose |
|
| Location | |
Key people | Jovan Dučić andBranislav Nušić |
Narodna Odbrana (Serbian Cyrillic:Народна одбрана, literally, "The People's Defence" or "National Defence") was aSerbian nationalist organization established on October 8, 1908 as a reaction to theAustro-Hungarian annexation of Bosnia and Herzegovina. At the time, it was concerned with the protection of ethnicSerbs inAustria-Hungary. To achieve their goals, the Narodna Odbrana spreadpropaganda and organizedparamilitary forces.
Among the notable founders and members of the organization wereJovan Dučić andBranislav Nušić.
At the beginning of the 20th century, the Nationalist Serbs throughout the Balkans sought unification under a single state. In addition to theKingdom of Serbia and thePrincipality of Montenegro, two states with predominantly ethnic Serb populations that didn't yet share a common border, many more Serbs lived within the borders of neighbouringAustria-Hungary (specificallyBosnia-Herzegovina condominium,Croatia-Slavonia, and southern part ofHungary) as well asOttoman Empire (Bosnia Vilayet,Kosovo Vilayet,Sanjak of Novi Pazar, and to a lesser extent in parts ofMonastir Vilayet andSalonica Vilayet). With the Austria-Hungarian 1908annexation of Bosnia (where there was a heavy concentration of Serbs) as well as the resultingAnnexation Crisis, the Serbs expressed a need for cultural and territorial protection, which gave rise to the Narodna Odbrana.
A 1911 pamphlet namedNarodna Odbrana Izdanje Stredisnog Odbora Narodne Odbrane (Народна одбрана издање стредисног одбора народне одбране) focused on six main points:[1]
The pamphlet makes it clear that hatred of Austria-Hungary was not the aim of the group, but instead, it was a natural consequence of the desire for independence and unity within a single nation.
The Central Committee of the Narodna Odbrana was located atBelgrade.
Immediately afterannexation ofVardar Macedonia to theKingdom of Serbia, the Macedonians were faced with the policy of forcedserbianisation.[2][3] The population of Macedonia was forced to declare asSerbs. Those who refused were beaten and tortured.[4] According to theReport of the International Commission to Inquire into the Causes and Conduct of the Balkan Wars, members of the Narodna Odbrana have committed serious war crimes against the civilian population.[5] InSkopje there was a central committee of "National Defense". A population of Skopje called their headquarters "Black House", after the "Black Hand",secret organization that stood behind them. In the "black house" disloyal individuals were taken and beaten.[5]
{{cite journal}}:Cite journal requires|journal= (help)