Branko Mamula
Encyclopedia
Branko "Đuro" Mamula is a retired Yugoslav
officer that participated in the Yugoslav Front of World War II. He was the Minister of Defence of Yugoslavia
from 1982 to 1988.
, now part of Croatia
, to an ethnic Serb family
.
Mamula joined Communist Party of Yugoslavia
in 1940 and at the start of World War II
in Yugoslavia in 1941 he joined the Partisan resistance movement
.
During the war he was put in charge of numerous units, moving through the ranks of the Partisan army. Before he became the Defence Minister he held the rank of Admiral
as Chief of the General Staff of Yugoslav People's Army
from 1979–1982. After becoming Defence Minister in 1983 he was promoted to Admiral of the Fleet
. He lived in Opatija
until 1991. Since 2007 he is living in Tivat
, Montenegro
.
Yugoslavia
Yugoslavia refers to three political entities that existed successively on the western part of the Balkans during most of the 20th century....
officer that participated in the Yugoslav Front of World War II. He was the Minister of Defence of Yugoslavia
Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia
The Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia was the Yugoslav state that existed from the abolition of the Yugoslav monarchy until it was dissolved in 1992 amid the Yugoslav Wars. It was a socialist state and a federation made up of six socialist republics: Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia,...
from 1982 to 1988.
Biography
Mamula was born in KordunKordun
The Kordun region is a part of central Croatia from the bottom of the Petrova Gora mountain range, which extends along the rivers Korana and Slunjčica, and forms part of the border region to Bosnia and Herzegovina. The southern border of Kordun touches the Lika region...
, now part of Croatia
Croatia
Croatia , officially the Republic of Croatia , is a unitary democratic parliamentary republic in Europe at the crossroads of the Mitteleuropa, the Balkans, and the Mediterranean. Its capital and largest city is Zagreb. The country is divided into 20 counties and the city of Zagreb. Croatia covers ...
, to an ethnic Serb family
Serbs of Croatia
Višeslav of Serbia, a contemporary of Charlemagne , ruled the Županias of Neretva, Tara, Piva, Lim, his ancestral lands. According to the Royal Frankish Annals , Duke of Pannonia Ljudevit Posavski fled, during the Frankish invasion, from his seat in Sisak to the Serbs in western Bosnia, who...
.
Mamula joined Communist Party of Yugoslavia
League of Communists of Yugoslavia
League of Communists of Yugoslavia , before 1952 the Communist Party of Yugoslavia League of Communists of Yugoslavia (Serbo-Croatian: Savez komunista Jugoslavije/Савез комуниста Југославије, Slovene: Zveza komunistov Jugoslavije, Macedonian: Сојуз на комунистите на Југославија, Sojuz na...
in 1940 and at the start of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
in Yugoslavia in 1941 he joined the Partisan resistance movement
Partisans (Yugoslavia)
The Yugoslav Partisans, or simply the Partisans were a Communist-led World War II anti-fascist resistance movement in Yugoslavia...
.
During the war he was put in charge of numerous units, moving through the ranks of the Partisan army. Before he became the Defence Minister he held the rank of Admiral
Admiral
Admiral is the rank, or part of the name of the ranks, of the highest naval officers. It is usually considered a full admiral and above vice admiral and below admiral of the fleet . It is usually abbreviated to "Adm" or "ADM"...
as Chief of the General Staff of Yugoslav People's Army
Chief of the General Staff of Yugoslav People's Army
The Chief of the General Staff was the chief of staff of the General Staff of Yugoslav People's Army. He was appointed by the President of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, who was the commander-in-chief.The first Chief of the General Staff was Lt...
from 1979–1982. After becoming Defence Minister in 1983 he was promoted to Admiral of the Fleet
Admiral of the Fleet
An admiral of the fleet is a military naval officer of the highest rank. In many nations the rank is reserved for wartime or ceremonial appointments...
. He lived in Opatija
Opatija
Opatija is a town in western Croatia, just southwest of Rijeka on the Adriatic coast. , the town proper had a population of 7,850, with the municipality having a total 12,719 inhabitants.-Geography:...
until 1991. Since 2007 he is living in Tivat
Tivat
Tivat is a coastal town in southwest Montenegro, located in the Bay of Kotor...
, Montenegro
Montenegro
Montenegro Montenegrin: Crna Gora Црна Гора , meaning "Black Mountain") is a country located in Southeastern Europe. It has a coast on the Adriatic Sea to the south-west and is bordered by Croatia to the west, Bosnia and Herzegovina to the northwest, Serbia to the northeast and Albania to the...
.