Orlovi rano lete is a Yugoslavian children's book written by Branko Ćopić

Branko Copic

Branko Ćopić was Yugoslav writer. He was an ethnic Serb born in the village of Hašani near Bosanska Krupa. He attended schools in Bihać, Banja Luka, Sarajevo and Karlovac before moving to Belgrade to study philosophy at the University of Belgrade until his graduation in 1940.Upon the uprising in...

 and published in 1959 and made into a film in 1966.

Synopsis

The book involves several young boys and girls and their role in assisting the Partisans

Partisans (Yugoslavia)

The Yugoslav Partisans, or simply the Partisans were a Communist-led World War II anti-fascist resistance movement in Yugoslavia...

 in fighting the Germans

Nazi Germany

Nazi Germany , also known as the Third Reich , but officially called German Reich from 1933 to 1943 and Greater German Reich from 26 June 1943 onward, is the name commonly used to refer to the state of Germany from 1933 to 1945, when it was a totalitarian dictatorship ruled by...

 invading

Invasion of Yugoslavia

The Invasion of Yugoslavia , also known as the April War , was the Axis Powers' attack on the Kingdom of Yugoslavia which began on 6 April 1941 during World War II...

 Yugoslavia during 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...

. There are allusions throughout to mythology such as the children's fear of the drekavac

Drekavac

Drekavac , also called drek and drekalo 'дрекавац' in Serbian is a mythical creature in south Slavic mythology.-Original beliefs:Drekavac come from the souls of children who have died unbaptised....

(monster) which they are told lives in the forest. The children are forced to conquer their supposed fear in order to assist the Partisans.