ABSTRACT
An important element in the creation of a new socialist society in Yugoslavia after the Second World War was the attitude towards the physical education (fiskultura). In accordance with the Soviet model the task of the physical education in Yugoslavia was to improve the working and defence capabilities of citizens, where physical training was no longer the privilege of a minority (elite) than opportunity and obligation for everybody (transcending nationality, sex, age, social position, rural/urban location etc). At the same time sport and physical education have been used in the process of building new socialist society as a powerful political propaganda tool. Important aspect of building a new society was also to abolish all symbols of old (pre-war and war) regime. Partly due to a ‘faulty’ approach and partly due to cooperation with enemy regimes established in Yugoslavia during the Second World War, old sports association were being dissolved while new ones were being established under the control of communist authorities. Regarding that, an interesting case study was foundation of ‘Partizan – Physical Education Association’ (1951) as the successor of pre-war organization ‘Falcon’ and the role of ‘Falcon’ members in organizing a new physical education movement in socialist Yugoslavia.
