Simo Dubajić
Encyclopedia
Simo Dubajić was a Yugoslav Partisan soldier. A Serb from Croatia
, he gained prominence by being involved in inter-ethnic conflicts between Croats and Serbs on two separate occasions, once during World War II
and again during the Croatian War of Independence
.
Dubajić was born in the village of Kistanje
near Knin
. When World War II
broke out, he joined the partisan resistance movement, and advanced in ranks to the rank of major. At the end of the war, Dubajić was the commander of a mechanized squad of the 4th Army of Yugoslavia (the Croatian branch of the Yugoslav National Liberation Army, led by Lieutenant General Petar Drapšin
). In the spring of 1945, they were stationed in the region of Kočevje
in Slovenia
, where they were reportedly involved in the events related to the Bleiburg massacre
.
After the war Dubajić retired as a potpukovnik (lieutenant colonel
) of the Yugoslav People's Army
. In the 1950s he studied arts in Zagreb and acted in the movie Družina Sinjeg galeba. He also assisted numerous film directors.
In the 1990s with the breakup of Yugoslavia, Dubajić became active in the creation of the Republic of Serbian Krajina
during the Croatian War of Independence
before moving to Belgrade
in 1991. Dubajić was allegedly courted by Vuk Drašković
to lead his Serbian Guard which was active in Slavonia
.
In 2006, Dubajić published a book entitled Život, grijeh i kajanje: Od Kistanja do Kočevskog roga where he talked about the World War II massacre of Croatian soldiers at Kočevski Rog
.
In March 2009, Dubajić was indicted by the Zagreb County State Attorney's Office of war crimes. At least 13,000 people are alleged to have been killed at the site by soldiers under Dubajić's command from May 26 to June 5, 1945.
Dubajić died in Belgrade
, on July 8, 2009, after a long illness.
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...
, he gained prominence by being involved in inter-ethnic conflicts between Croats and Serbs on two separate occasions, once 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...
and again during the Croatian War of Independence
Croatian War of Independence
The Croatian War of Independence was fought from 1991 to 1995 between forces loyal to the government of Croatia—which had declared independence from the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia —and the Serb-controlled Yugoslav People's Army and local Serb forces, with the JNA ending its combat...
.
Dubajić was born in the village of Kistanje
Kistanje
Kistanje is a village and municipality in Šibenik-Knin County, Croatia. According to the 2001 census, Kistanje municipality has 3,038 inhabitants of which 57.14% are Serbs and 41.31% are Croats.-History:...
near Knin
Knin
Knin is a historical town in the Šibenik-Knin county of Croatia, located near the source of the river Krka at , in the Dalmatian hinterland, on the railroad Zagreb–Split. Knin rose to prominence twice in history, as a one-time capital of both the Kingdom of Croatia and briefly of the...
. When 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...
broke out, he joined the partisan resistance movement, and advanced in ranks to the rank of major. At the end of the war, Dubajić was the commander of a mechanized squad of the 4th Army of Yugoslavia (the Croatian branch of the Yugoslav National Liberation Army, led by Lieutenant General Petar Drapšin
Petar Drapšin
Petar Drapšin was a Yugoslav Partisan commander.Drapšin was born to a family of farmers in the village of Turija near Srbobran. He was enrolled in a Belgrade high school when he first got introduced to Communist ideas through school's literary group. He joined SKOJ and in 1937 went to Prague for...
). In the spring of 1945, they were stationed in the region of Kočevje
Kocevje
Kočevje is a city and a municipality in southern Slovenia. In terms of area it is the largest municipality in Slovenia. It is located between the rivers Krka and Kolpa and is part of the traditional region of Lower Carniola. It is now included in the Jugovzhodna Slovenija statistical region...
in Slovenia
Slovenia
Slovenia , officially the Republic of Slovenia , is a country in Central and Southeastern Europe touching the Alps and bordering the Mediterranean. Slovenia borders Italy to the west, Croatia to the south and east, Hungary to the northeast, and Austria to the north, and also has a small portion of...
, where they were reportedly involved in the events related to the Bleiburg massacre
Bleiburg massacre
The Bleiburg massacre, which also encompasses Operation Keelhaul is a term encompassing events that took place during mid-May 1945 near the Carinthian town of Bleiburg, itself some four kilometres from the Austrian-Slovenian border....
.
After the war Dubajić retired as a potpukovnik (lieutenant colonel
Lieutenant colonel
Lieutenant colonel is a rank of commissioned officer in the armies and most marine forces and some air forces of the world, typically ranking above a major and below a colonel. The rank of lieutenant colonel is often shortened to simply "colonel" in conversation and in unofficial correspondence...
) of the Yugoslav People's Army
Yugoslav People's Army
The Yugoslav People's Army , also referred to as the Yugoslav National Army , was the military of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia.-Origins:The origins of the JNA can...
. In the 1950s he studied arts in Zagreb and acted in the movie Družina Sinjeg galeba. He also assisted numerous film directors.
In the 1990s with the breakup of Yugoslavia, Dubajić became active in the creation of the Republic of Serbian Krajina
Republic of Serbian Krajina
The Republic of Serbian Krajina was a self-proclaimed Serb entity within Croatia. Established in 1991, it was not recognized internationally. It formally existed from 1991 to 1995, having been initiated a year earlier via smaller separatist regions. The name Krajina means "frontier"...
during the Croatian War of Independence
Croatian War of Independence
The Croatian War of Independence was fought from 1991 to 1995 between forces loyal to the government of Croatia—which had declared independence from the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia —and the Serb-controlled Yugoslav People's Army and local Serb forces, with the JNA ending its combat...
before moving to Belgrade
Belgrade
Belgrade is the capital and largest city of Serbia. It is located at the confluence of the Sava and Danube rivers, where the Pannonian Plain meets the Balkans. According to official results of Census 2011, the city has a population of 1,639,121. It is one of the 15 largest cities in Europe...
in 1991. Dubajić was allegedly courted by Vuk Drašković
Vuk Draškovic
Vuk Drašković , leader of the Serbian Renewal Movement, is a Serbian politician who served as the Deputy Prime Minister of Yugoslavia and the Minister of Foreign Affairs of State Union of Serbia and Montenegro and Serbia.He graduated from the University of Belgrade's Law School in 1968...
to lead his Serbian Guard which was active in Slavonia
Slavonia
Slavonia is a geographical and historical region in eastern Croatia...
.
In 2006, Dubajić published a book entitled Život, grijeh i kajanje: Od Kistanja do Kočevskog roga where he talked about the World War II massacre of Croatian soldiers at Kočevski Rog
Kocevski Rog
The Kočevski Rog or Kočevje Rog or simply Rog is a karstified plateau in the Kočevje Highlands above the Črmošnjice Valley. The plateau is part of the traditional Lower Carniola region of Slovenia and of the Dinaric Alps. The highest area is the central part, with the 1099 meter high peak Veliki...
.
In March 2009, Dubajić was indicted by the Zagreb County State Attorney's Office of war crimes. At least 13,000 people are alleged to have been killed at the site by soldiers under Dubajić's command from May 26 to June 5, 1945.
Dubajić died in Belgrade
Belgrade
Belgrade is the capital and largest city of Serbia. It is located at the confluence of the Sava and Danube rivers, where the Pannonian Plain meets the Balkans. According to official results of Census 2011, the city has a population of 1,639,121. It is one of the 15 largest cities in Europe...
, on July 8, 2009, after a long illness.