In the 1934 publication “Völkische Weltgeschichte (1879-1933)” by Albrecht Wirth, we can read that, among other things, political assassinations and murder as a political weapon was common in Serbia. It was encouraged during the invasion of Albania where Serbs carried out man-hunts. We also read that minimum 25,000 Albanians were killed in Nish after the Treaty of Berlin, constituting an early case of Ethnic Cleansing in 1878.

Cited:

The Czech Pan-Slavist Kramar.

“Among the Slavs, the Czech Kramar stood out for his particular activity. He helped with the Balkan League; he announced the World War on October 15, 1912; he was in Paris in the spring of 1913 for binding talks; on January 3, 1914, he called on the Russians to destroy Austria; he prophesied its downfall on March 15, 1914; he asks, “Isn’t it strange to think that Europe is already heading towards a world war in six to eight weeks because of the Irish question?” He boasts of the future victory and, in July, encourages the Serbs to resist through trusted men. The Serbs had long been stirring things up in St. Petersburg, Rome, Paris, and even America, where New York has 30, Chicago even 40 Slavic newspapers”.

Political assassination in Serbia

“Political assassination was familiar to the Serbs. They chose this means to rid themselves of their supposed main enemy, the Austrian heir to the throne, who was basically in favor of trialism and who hated their hereditary enemies, the Italians, most of all. An Austrian politician said years ago that Belgrade is a European Alamut. This place, Alamut, was the eagle’s nest where the assassins lived and from where they sent out their harbingers of death.

Indeed, it can be proven that the elimination of political opponents through assassination has become a custom in the Kingdom of Serbia. Even in Serbia itself, security conditions are not good; they are worse than in Turkey. The Greater Serbian idea has been on the rise for years before the Balkan Wars. But what is primarily promoting this idea? Violence.”

The extermination of 25,000 Albanians of Nish

“Thus, the Albanian population in the former Pashalik Niš, a population of at least 25,000 souls, was exterminated to the last remnant after the Treaty of Berlin. After that peace, the Albanians were fair game for everyone. One comes to the conclusion that the Serbs themselves eliminate roughly twenty times as many of their own people as they lose to enemy attacks. A true hypertrophy of murder.

Now, one must not think that the Serbian race itself should be held responsible for this. No, rather the disastrous mismanagement that has prevailed in Belgrade for decades. Not a single ruler has been able to govern unchallenged in Belgrade, and most died with assistance or went into exile. That the race itself is not to blame follows from the following consideration:

The Austrian annexed territories of Bosnia and Herzegovina are inhabited by people who speak almost exactly the same language as the population of Niš and Belgrade; the difference is less than between Swabian and Bavarian. But what do we see in Bosnia and Herzegovina? In both countries combined, the annual average of murders is approximately 24.

Robbery-murders are extremely rare; on average, not even one occurs annually. In contrast, the old Kingdom of Serbia had an annual average of 669. Murdered – that is a truly devastating result. But how can it be explained? Firstly, by the better security measures implemented in the Habsburg Monarchy, and secondly, by the leniency of the punishments awaiting criminals in the Kingdom of Serbia.

There is no executioner for the simple reason that such a person would always be swiftly eliminated by the deceased’s family. Criminals don’t always end up in prison because there isn’t enough space, and even then, not for long. Consequently, a murderer doesn’t have much to fear. This is quite different, and it must be emphasized, in the racially related Montenegro, where every crime is punished most swiftly and severely.”

Serbian murders as a political weapon in invaded Albanian lands

“Due to Serbian banditry, from which the actions of the Bulgarians and Greeks were not particularly different, murder was recently used as a weapon of war starting in 1904. Entire manhunts took place, as is now commonplace in the newly acquired Albanian territories, or at least was until recently, until the agreement between Belgrade and rebellious Albanian leaders against Durazzo. The strange “Hair Ducking Law” facilitated these manhunts. It was originally introduced under State Minister Vladan Georgievich”.

Source

Völkische Weltgeschichte (1879-1933). Albrecht Wirth. 1934