Yugoslav Division
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| Yugoslav Division | |
|---|---|
| Active | January 1918–December 1918 |
| Country |  Kingdom of Serbia |
| Branch | Royal Serbian Army |
| Type | Foreign volunteer |
| Role | Infantry |
| Size | Division |
| Part of | Second Army Group |
| Engagements | World War I |
The Yugoslav Division (Serbian: Југословенска дивизија / Jugoslovenska divizija) was a Royal Serbian Army unit, established in January 1918. It was mostly composed of South Slavs volunteers from the Serbs, Croats, and Slovenes Volunteer Corps, former Austro-Hungarian prisoners in Russia and Serb volunteers from the United States and Europe. The division was raised in Salonika and took part in the breakthrough of the Macedonian front and the subsequent operations for the liberation of Serbia during World War I.[1]
In late 1917, a large number of volunteers from South Slavic nations travelled to the Macedonian front to volunteer fighting on the side of the Allies. The company of volunteers grew into a battalion, and then into a brigade, eventually becoming a division with the arrival of the two divisions of the Serbs, Croats, and Slovenes Volunteer Corps, a unit composed of former Austro-Hungarian prisoners in Russia previously known as the First Serbian Volunteer Division.[2]
At the beginning of 1918 with the arrival of 12,500 volunteers of the corps in Salonica and following an influx of South Slav Volunteers, including 4,000 volunteers from America and more from Russia,[2] the Yugoslav Committee decided that a Yugoslav volunteer formation needed to be created.[3] Ante Trumbić, the president of the committee suggested in January to Regent Alexander that it should be called the "Yugoslav division of Serb, Croat and Slovene volunteers" but Alexander chose instead the Yugoslav division. The new unit was formed giving further support to the idea of creating a new South Slav.[4]
In February 1918, the Vardar division was disbanded and became part of the Yugoslav Division, which was part of the Second Army.[2] Most of the volunteers from Russia, retaining their formation structure from company to brigade, became part of the Yugoslav Division.[5]
The Yugoslav division had two brigades, the Yugoslav and the Vardar, of two regiments each.[5] The division numbered around 10,000 officers and men and became part of the 2nd Army.[2] On the occasion of the entry of a large number of Yugoslavs, most of whom were Serbs from the territory of Austria-Hungary and Montenegro, into the ranks of the Serbian army, the Chief of Staff of the Supreme Command, General Petar Bojović, sent an order to the troops and volunteers on 12 December 1917.
All soldiers, no matter where they come from, should live among themselves as true brothers and most sincere comrades; they should have full confidence in their officers and be convinced that they will always lead them in the greatest conscientiousness and care in these difficult and serious times.
— General Petar Bojović, 12 December 1917, [5]