ABSTRACT
During the Second World War in a small corner of Eastern Europe, Yugoslavia came to represent a potent symbol of defiance, as well as the largest resistance force anywhere in the world. Yugoslavia in particular weighed heavily in Balkan considerations due to its geographical position on the potential frontline and because it held the largest military in the region. Yugoslavia’s position was unenviable, and Germany effectively accomplished the strategic encirclement of the country by early 1941. This placed tremendous pressure on Yugoslavia to side with the Axis, who continued to pursue a non-committal policy. In the interim, the hasty collapse and surrender of Yugoslavia, along with the flight of the newly minted Royal Yugoslav Government of King Peter into exile, was a considerable setback for the Allies. Whitehall was certainly not keen to see revolutionary movements making waves in Britain’s purported post-war sphere of interest; however, events in Yugoslavia were demanding redress.
