Vardar Corps

Vardar Corps
"For king and fatherland; freedom or death"
Active? — the beginning of March 1944
CountryKingdom of Yugoslavia Kingdom of Yugoslavia
Allegiance Chetniks
Brancharmy
Roleanti-fascist and anti-communist struggle
Size1,000 soldiers
EngagementsWorld War II in Yugoslavia
Commanders
Commander of the CorpStojan Krstić, Captain  †[1]
Commander of the Kumanovo BrigadeNikola Janjićijević, Lieutenant

The Vardar Corps was a corps of the Yugoslav Army in the Homeland (JVuO) that operated on the left bank of the river Vardar during the World War II in Yugoslavia on the territory of modern-day North Macedonia and southern Serbia.[2] Its commander was former Captain of the Royal Guard of the Royal Yugoslav Army Stojan Krstić.[3] It consisted of four brigades[4] with total number of 1,000 soldiers.[5] Together with Jablanica Corps, South Morava Corps and Flying Corps it belonged under Mountain Staff 110 (Serbian: Горски Штаб 110) located in Sijarinska Banja which was responsible for the territory of Southern Serbia (which included the territory of contemporary North Macedonia).[6] The four brigades were components of this Corps:

  • Kumanovo (or Žegligovo) Brigade
  • Ristovac Brigade
  • Preševo Brigade
  • Kriva Palanka Brigade

The commander of Kumanovo Brigade was Lieutenant Nikola Janjićijević.[7] Dragutin Keserović reported to Mihailović that the British mission at Vardar Corps HQ, headed by Captain Pervis, aborted their mission and left Chetniks on 20 December 1943, on the same day when the British mission with Toplica Corps headed by Captain Scott left its HQ.[8]

The territory in which this Corps operated was a triangle between Gnjilane, Vranje and Veles which belonged to the former Yugoslav counties of Preševo, Kriva Palanka, Kumanovo, Ovče Polje and Skoplje.[9]

The Vardar Corps was destroyed by Partisan units from Macedonia and Serbia at the beginning of March 1944.[10]

  1. ^ (Pettibone 2014, p. 389)
  2. ^ (Muzej 1965, p. 138): "Вардарски четнички корпус формиран је и деловао је на левој обали Вардара, са ослонцем на Скопску Црну Гору. "
  3. ^ (Muzej 1965, p. 138): "Командант корпуса био је капетан II класе краљеве гарде бнвше југословенске војске Стојан С. Крстић"
  4. ^ (MANU 1973, p. 600)
  5. ^ (Apostolski 1980, p. 78):" ... „Вардарски четнички корпус" од неколку бригади — во вкупна јачина од околу 1.000 луѓе."
  6. ^ 36. НОР, том I, књ. 20. док. 141, page 134
  7. ^ (Muzej 1986, p. 39)
  8. ^ (Latas & Dželebdžić 1979, p. 383)
  9. ^ (MANU 1973, p. 590): "Вардарски четнички корпус обухватао је тернторију прешевског, кривопаланачког, жеглиговског (кумановског), овчепољског и скопског среза, односно, углавном територију огранпчену линијом: Врање — Гњилане — Велес"
  10. ^ (MANU 1973, p. 600)