Chief of the General Staff (Yugoslavia)

Chief of the General Staff
Chief of the General Staff
Начелник Генералштаба (Serbo-Croatian); Načelnik Generalštaba (Serbo-Croatian);
	Standard of the Chief of the General Staff (1995–2003)
	Longest in office; Colonel general Stane Potočar; 15 October 1972 – 10 July 1979
	Royal Yugoslav Army (1918–41); Yugoslav People's Army (1945–92); Armed Forces of Serbia and Montenegro (1992–2006)
Type	Chief of staff
Status	Abolished
Abbreviation	NGŠ
Member of	General Staff
Reports to	Minister of Defence of Yugoslavia
Seat	Yugoslav Ministry of Defence building, Belgrade (1965–99)
Appointer	Head of state of Yugoslavia (1918–92); President of Serbia and Montenegro (1992–2006)
Term length	No fixed length
Precursor	Chief of the Serbian General Staff
Formation	1 December 1918
First holder	Field Marshal Živojin Mišić
Final holder	Lt. Col. General Ljubiša Jokić
Abolished	3 June 2006
Superseded by	Chairman of the Chiefs of Joint Staff (BiH); Chief of the General Staff (Croatia); Chief of the General Staff (North Macedonia); Chief of the General Staff (Montenegro); Chief of the Serbian General Staff; Chief of the General Staff (Slovenia)
Deputy	Deputy Chief of the General Staff

The Chief of the General Staff of Yugoslavia (Serbo-Croatian: Начелник Генералштаба / Načelnik Generalštaba; Slovene: Načelnik Generalštaba; Macedonian: Началник на Генералштабот, romanized: Načalnik na Generalštabot) refers of the chief of the General Staff of the Royal Yugoslav Army from 1918 to 1941, the Yugoslav People's Army from 1945 to 1992 and the Armed Forces of Serbia and Montenegro (officially named the Armed Forces of Yugoslavia between 1992 and 2003) from 1992 to 2006.

List of chiefs of the general staff[edit]

† denotes people who died in office.

Royal Yugoslav Army (1918–1920)[edit]

No.	Portrait	Chief of Staff of the Supreme Command	Took office	Left office	Time in office	Defence branch
1		Mišić, ŽivojinField Marshal Živojin Mišić (1855–1921) ^[a]	1 December 1918	5 May 1920	1 year, 156 days	Royal Army

Royal Yugoslav Armed Forces (1920–1941)[edit]

No.	Chief of the General Staff	Took office	Left office	Time in office	Defence branch
1	Mišić, ŽivojinField Marshal Živojin Mišić (1855–1921)	5 May 1920	20 January 1921 †	260 days	Royal Army
–	Pešić, PetarGeneral Petar Pešić (1871–1944) Acting	21 January 1921	10 March 1921	48 days	Royal Army
2	Bojović, PetarField Marshal Petar Bojović (1858–1945)	10 March 1921	8 December 1921	273 days	Royal Army
3	Pešić, PetarGeneral Petar Pešić (1871–1944)	8 December 1921	4 November 1922	331 days	Royal Army
–	Milovanović, MilanGeneral (when appointed) Divisional general (since 1923) Milan Milovanović (1874–1942) Acting	4 November 1922	30 July 1924	1 year, 269 days	Royal Army
(3)	Pešić, PetarArmy general Petar Pešić (1871–1944)	30 July 1924	11 April 1929	4 years, 255 days	Royal Army
4	Milovanović, MilanArmy general Milan Milovanović (1874–1942)	11 April 1929	18 April 1934	5 years, 7 days	Royal Army
–	Kosić, PetarDivisional general Petar Kosić (1881–1949) Acting	18 April 1934	1 June 1934	44 days	Royal Army
5	Nedić, MilanArmy general Milan Nedić (1877–1946) ^[b]	1 June 1934	9 March 1935	281 days	Royal Army
–	Kosić, PetarDivisional general Petar Kosić (1881–1949) Acting	10 March 1935	12 May 1935	63 days	Royal Army
6	Marić, LjubomirArmy general Ljubomir Marić (1878–1960)	12 May 1935	8 March 1936	301 days	Royal Army
–	Kosić, PetarDivisional general Petar Kosić (1881–1949) Acting	8 March 1936	6 September 1936	182 days	Royal Army
–	Nedić, MilutinDivisional general Milutin Nedić (1882–1945) Acting ^[c]	6 September 1936	6 September 1937	1 year	Royal Army
7	Nedić, MilutinArmy general Milutin Nedić (1882–1945) ^[c]	6 September 1937	25 August 1938	353 days	Royal Army
–	Bodi, MihailoDivisional general Mihailo D. Bodi (1884–1953) Acting	25 August 1938	15 September 1938	21 days	Royal Army
8	Simović, DušanArmy general Dušan Simović (1882–1962)	15 September 1938	3 January 1940	1 year, 110 days	Royal Air Force
9	Kosić, PetarArmy general Petar Kosić (1881–1949) ^[d]	3 January 1940	27 March 1941	1 year, 83 days	Royal Army
(8)	Simović, DušanArmy general Dušan Simović (1882–1962)	27 March 1941	14 April 1941	18 days	Royal Air Force
–	Kalafatović, DaniloArmy general Danilo Kalafatović (1875–1946) Acting	15 April 1941	17 April 1941	2 days	Royal Army

Yugoslav Army Outside the Homeland (1941–1942)[edit]

No.	Portrait	Chief of Staff of the Supreme Command	Took office	Left office	Time in office	Defence branch
1		Lozić, MiodragLieutenant colonel Miodrag Lozić	1941	1942	0–1 years	JVvO

Yugoslav Army in the Homeland (1942–1945)[edit]

No.	Portrait	Chief of Staff of the Supreme Command	Took office	Left office	Time in office	Defence branch
1		Mihailović, DragoljubArmy general Dragoljub Mihailović (1893–1946)	1942	1944	1–2 years	JVuO
2		Damjanović, MiodragBrigadier general Miodrag Damjanović (1893–1956)	1944	1945	0–1 years	JVuO

National Liberation Army (1941–1945)[edit]

No.	Portrait	Name	Took office	Left office	Time in office	Party	Defence branch
N/A		Tito, Josip BrozMarshal of Yugoslavia Josip Broz Tito (1892–1980) Commander of the Supreme Headquarters and Commander-in-Chief	27 June 1941	1 March 1945	3 years, 247 days	SKJ	NOV i POJ
N/A		Jovanović, ArsoLt. Col. General Arso Jovanović (1907–1948) Chief of the Supreme Headquarters	12 December 1941	1 March 1945	3 years, 79 days	SKJ	NOV i POJ

Yugoslav People's Army (1945–1992)[edit]

The Chief of the General Staff (Serbo-Croatian: Načelnik Generalštaba - NGŠ, Начелник Генералштаба - НГШ; Macedonian: Началник на Генералштабот; Slovene: Načelnik Generalštaba) was the chief of staff of the General Staff of the Yugoslav People's Army (JNA) during its existence from 1945 to 1992. He was appointed by the President (after 1980 Presidency) of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, who was the commander-in-chief. While the Federal Secretary of People's Defence (defence minister) headed the Federal Secretariat of People's Defence (Savezni sekretarijat za narodnu odbranu - SSNO) and it was the most effective military person, the Chief of the General Staff (which was the formational part of SSNO) was the most professional and staff body.

No.	Chief of the General Staff	Took office	Left office	Time in office	Party	Defence branch
1	Jovanović, ArsoColonel general Arso Jovanović (1907–1948) ^[e]	1 March 1945	15 September 1945	198 days	SKJ	Ground Forces
2	Popović, KočaColonel general Koča Popović (1908–1992) ^[f]	15 September 1945	27 January 1953	4 years, 134 days	SKJ	Ground Forces
3	Dapčević, PekoColonel general Peko Dapčević (1913–1999)	27 January 1953	29 April 1955	2 years, 92 days	SKJ	Ground Forces
4	Vučković, LjuboColonel general Ljubo Vučković (1915–1976)	29 April 1955	16 June 1961	6 years, 48 days	SKJ	Ground Forces
5	Hamović, RadeColonel general Rade Hamović (1916–2009)	16 June 1961	15 June 1967	5 years, 364 days	SKJ	Ground Forces
6	Šumonja, MilošColonel general Miloš Šumonja (1918–2006)	15 June 1967	5 January 1970	2 years, 204 days	SKJ	Ground Forces
7	Bubanj, ViktorColonel general Viktor Bubanj (1918–1972)	5 January 1970	15 October 1972 †	2 years, 284 days	SKJ	Air Force
8	Potočar, StaneColonel general Stane Potočar (1919–1997)	15 October 1972	10 July 1979	6 years, 268 days	SKJ	Ground Forces
9	Mamula, BrankoAdmiral Branko Mamula (1921–2021) ^[g]	10 July 1979	5 May 1982	2 years, 299 days	SKJ	Navy
10	Gračanin, PetarColonel general Petar Gračanin (1923–2004) ^[h]	5 May 1982	1 September 1985	3 years, 119 days	SKJ	Ground Forces
11	Čanadi, ZorkoColonel general Zorko Čanadi (1925–2003)	1 September 1985	15 September 1987	2 years, 14 days	SKJ	Ground Forces
12	Mirković, StevanColonel general Stevan Mirković (1927–2015)	15 September 1987	29 September 1989	2 years, 14 days	SKJ	Ground Forces
13	Adžić, BlagojeColonel general Blagoje Adžić (1932–2012)	29 September 1989	27 February 1992	2 years, 151 days	SKJ	Ground Forces
14	Panić, ŽivotaColonel general Života Panić (1933–2003) ^[i]	27 February 1992	20 May 1992	83 days	Independent	Ground Forces

Timeline[edit]

Armed Forces of Yugoslavia / Serbia and Montenegro (1992–2006)[edit]

Following the breakup of Yugoslavia and the secession of four out of six constituent republic in the SFR Yugoslavia the remaining two (Serbia and Montenegro) established a federation in 1992 called the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (FR Yugoslavia). This lasted until 2003 when it was reconstituted as a state union called Serbia and Montenegro. In 2006 both countries declared independence and parted ways.

No.	Chief of the General Staff	Took office	Left office	Time in office	Defence branch
1	Panić, ŽivotaColonel general Života Panić (1933–2003) ^[j]	20 May 1992	26 August 1993	1 year, 98 days	Ground Forces
2	Perišić, MomčiloColonel general Momčilo Perišić (born 1944)	26 August 1993	26 November 1998	5 years, 92 days	Ground Forces
3	Ojdanić, DragoljubColonel general Dragoljub Ojdanić (1941–2020) ^[k]	26 November 1998	7 February 2000	1 year, 73 days	Ground Forces
4	Pavković, NebojšaColonel general Nebojša Pavković (born 1946)	7 February 2000	24 June 2002	2 years, 137 days	Ground Forces
5	Krga, BrankoColonel general Branko Krga (born 1945) ^[l]	24 June 2002	23 December 2004	2 years, 182 days	Ground Forces
6	Paskaš, DraganLt. Col. General Dragan Paskaš (born 1951)	23 December 2004	6 October 2005	287 days	Ground Forces
7	Jokić, LjubišaLt. Col. General Ljubiša Jokić (born 1958)	6 October 2005	3 June 2006	240 days	Air Force

Notes[edit]

^ Previously served as Chief of the Serbian General Staff.
^ Later served as the Prime Minister of the Government of National Salvation from 1941 to 1944.
^ ^a ^b Brother of Milan Nedić.
^ Removed from office in the Yugoslav coup d'état.
^ Killed by border guards while allegedly trying to escape to Romania during the Informbiro period.
^ Afterwards served as the Minister of Foreign Affairs from 1953 to 1965.
^ Afterwards served as the Minister of Defence from 1982 to 1988.
^ Later served as the President of the Presidency of SR Serbia from 1987 to 1989.
^ Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Yugoslavia from 20 May 1992.
^ Chief of the General Staff of the Yugoslav People's Army until 20 May 1992.
^ Afterwards served as the Minister of Defence in 2000.
^ Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Serbia and Montenegro since 7 March 2003.

Sources[edit]

Chief of the General Staff: 1876–2000, Ivetić Velimir, Belgrade 2000.

[1] Previously served as Chief of the Serbian General Staff.

[2] Later served as the Prime Minister of the Government of National Salvation from 1941 to 1944.

[Brother-3] Brother of Milan Nedić.

[4] Removed from office in the Yugoslav coup d'état.

[5] Killed by border guards while allegedly trying to escape to Romania during the Informbiro period.

[6] Afterwards served as the Minister of Foreign Affairs from 1953 to 1965.

[7] Afterwards served as the Minister of Defence from 1982 to 1988.

[8] Later served as the President of the Presidency of SR Serbia from 1987 to 1989.

[9] Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Yugoslavia from 20 May 1992.

[10] Chief of the General Staff of the Yugoslav People's Army until 20 May 1992.

[11] Afterwards served as the Minister of Defence in 2000.

[12] Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Serbia and Montenegro since 7 March 2003.

[a]

[b]

[c]

[d]

[e]

[f]

[g]

[h]

[i]

[j]

[k]

[l]

v t e Royal Yugoslav Armed Forces
Leadership	Commander-in-Chief Minister of the Army and Navy Chief of the General Staff Supreme Command
Branches	Royal Yugoslav Army 1st Army Group 4th and 7th Armies 2nd Army Group 1st and 2nd Armies 3rd Army Group 3rd and 3rd Territorial Armies 5th Army 6th Army Coastal Defence Command Royal Yugoslav Navy Ships Royal Yugoslav Air Force
Personnel	Ranks
Decorations	Orders, decorations, and medals

v t e Yugoslav People's Army
Leadership	Commander-in-Chief Federal Secretary of People's Defence Chief of the General Staff
Branches	Yugoslav Ground Forces Yugoslav Navy Ships Yugoslav Air Force Territorial Defense
Counterintelligence	KOS
Personnel	Yugoslav People's Army ranks
Decorations	Orders, decorations, and medals

v t e Armed Forces of Serbia and Montenegro
Leadership	Commander-in-Chief Minister of Defence Chief of the General Staff
Branches	Ground Forces of Serbia and Montenegro Navy of Serbia and Montenegro Air Force of Serbia and Montenegro
Counterintelligence	Security Directorate
Personnel	Ranks and insignia of the Armed Forces of Serbia and Montenegro
Decorations	Orders, decorations, and medals