Драгољуб Јовановић и СССР (1939-1941)

Abstract

Dragoljub Jovanović was a representative of the Serbian political and intelectualelite, which in the sircumstances of accumulated inner political tensionsand foreign political threats to the existence of yugoslavian state endeavoured tosecure its support for political operations, both on inner and the foreign stage,through a wide support of the Soviet Union. Various political ongoings incitedDragoljub Jovanović to turn to the Soviets. The ideological closeness and traditionalRussophilia, fallout with his political comrades in the Alliance of farmersand the need for political security all led him to USSR. The posssibility ofGerman agression towards the yugoslavian kingdom and the increasing britishpresense in the political life of Kingdom of Yugoslavia turned him towards theSoviet Union. After establishing a close contact with the soviet diplomatic representativesin Belgrade, Dragoljub Jovanović often mediated in the confidentialmeetings between the soviet diplomacy and yugoslavian officials. Having earnedthe sovet trust, he found himself in a possition where the soviet side saw him asa representative of the strongest political group which, in the sircumstances ofoccupation and possible nationwide resistance organizing, would make a uniquefront along with the communists, which would gather antifascist forces whowould be ready to actively oppose the german, hungarian, bulgarian and italianoccupation of serbian national teritory.