Abstract
The new Montenegrin edition of “Pavle Đurišić – the Controversial Chetnik Duke” by historian Dr. Radoje Pajović, published by Matica Crnogorska, presents a documented historical study of Pavle Đurišić’s role within Draža Mihailović’s Chetnik movement during World War II. Originally published in Zagreb and later expanded for Montenegrin audiences, the book responds to contemporary attempts at historical revisionism and the glorification of the Chetnik movement. Drawing on extensive archival research, including newly accessible Italian diplomatic and military archives, Pajović examines Đurišić’s political ideology, military organization, collaboration with Italian occupying forces, and involvement in wartime crimes. The expanded edition includes previously unpublished Italian documents that shed new light on Đurišić’s meetings with occupation authorities in early 1942. By presenting comprehensive documentary evidence, the study seeks to contribute to scholarly understanding and to counter nationalist reinterpretations of World War II history in Montenegro.
Through documents to the truth about Chetnik duke Djurišić The new edition of the book by historian Dr. Radoje Pajović “Pavle Đurišić – the controversial Chetnik duke” has been published by Matica Crnogorska as the second Montenegrin edition, after the first from 2005. The book was originally created for the “Trail of betrayal and crime” edition and published in Zagreb, only to be later supplemented and expanded for the Montenegrin edition.
The book “Pavle Đurišić – the controversial Chetnik duke” by Radoje Pajović, new edition of Matica Crnogorska
Documents to the truth about Chetnik duke Djurišić
The new edition of the book by historian Dr. Radoje Pajović, “Pavle Đurišić – the controversial Chetnik duke”, has been published by Matica Crnogorska as the second Montenegrin edition, after the first from 2005. The book was originally created for the “Trail of betrayal and crime” edition and published in Zagreb, only to be later supplemented and expanded for the Montenegrin edition.
As previously announced, the re-publication of Pajović’s study is a reaction, a response by Matica Crnogorska to the aggressive glorification of the quisling Chetnik movement and attempts at unargued historical revisionism by retrograde and nationalist structures in Montenegrin society.
The author’s wish was to present Đurišić’s personality and role in Draža Mihailović’s Chetnik movement, his specific collaboration and crimes necessary for understanding his character, in a documented, realistic and comprehensive manner.
This study on Pavle Đurišić is rich in data on the military structure of Đurišić’s organization, on the Chetnik political and grand-state program, Italian data on Đurišić’s political and national views, as well as on the NOP, Muslims and the crimes committed. Radoje Pajović made additions for the Montenegrin edition based on new scientific findings.
There is a wealth of archival material on World War II in foreign archives, which has only become available to researchers since 1995, i.e. after a time gap of 50 years.
– This is also the case with the Italian archives – the Historical (Diplomatic) Archives at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Central State Archives and the Historical Archives at the General Staff of the Army. During my last study visit to Italy, I found several thousand Italian documents about the Second World War on the territory of Montenegro, including those that speak about the Chetnik movement of Draža Mihailović. Among them, of course, there are also those that speak about Pavle Đurišić, his political views and his secret cooperation with the Italian occupier during January, February and March 1942.
During that period, Pavle Đurišić had eight meetings with official representatives of the Italian occupier, who were previously unknown to our or the scientific public, let alone the wider public. In the book’s supplements, we publish 12 Italian documents in translation and original (in Italian). These documents are almost sensationally reveal many unknown moments from the life and work of Pavle Đurišić – it is stated in the preface.
Matica Crnogorska owes its gratitude to the copyright holders, the family of the late academician Dr. Radoje Pajović, a prominent historian, Montenegrin and member of Matica Crnogorska. The book is signed on behalf of the publisher by Ivan Ivanović, Secretary General of Matica Crnogorska. The book “Pavle Đurišić – the controversial Chetnik duke” was published within the “Studies, Critiques, Essays” library.
Source
Balkan Academia 