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'''Leftist errors''' was a term used by the [[Communist Party of Yugoslavia]] (CPY) to describe radical policies and strategies – described as the '''Red Terror''' by others – pursued by elements among the party and partisan units during [[World War II]], mostly in [[Montenegro]], [[Herzegovina]] and [[Serbia]], as well as to a lesser extent in [[Croatia]].<ref name="Goldstein2008">{{cite book|last=Goldstein|first=Ivo|authorlink=Ivo Goldstein|title=Hrvatska: 1918-2008|url=http://books.google.com/books?id=yyMqAQAAIAAJ|year=2008|publisher=EPH|page=287<!-- |quote=Bila je to akcija nazvana kasnije „lijeva skretanja" ponajviše provođena u Bosni i Crnoj Gori. a mnogo manje u Hrvatskoj. -->}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|title=NIN: nedeljne informativne novine|url=http://books.google.com/books?id=ft8xAQAAIAAJ|year=2002|publisher=Politika|page=4<!-- |quote=...тзв. лева скретања, односно убиства „кулака" у Херцегови- ни, Црној Гори, Босни и Срему, злочи- ни извршени у тзв. Ужичкој републи- ци и на крају масовна стрељања у Ср- бији и Београду октобра 1944. године. -->}}</ref> The policy included mass executions, burning of villages and confiscation of property,<ref name="Morrison2009">{{cite book|last=Morrison|first=Kenneth|title=Montenegro: a modern history|url=http://books.google.com/books?id=xKMtAQAAIAAJ|year=2009|publisher=I.B. Tauris|isbn=978-1-84511-710-8|page=55}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|title=NIN: nedeljne informativne novine|url=http://books.google.com/books?id=ft8xAQAAIAAJ|year=2002|publisher=Politika|page=4<!-- |quote=...тзв. лева скретања, односно убиства „кулака" у Херцегови- ни, Црној Гори, Босни и Срему, злочи- ни извршени у тзв. Ужичкој републи- ци и на крају масовна стрељања у Ср- бији и Београду октобра 1944. године. -->}}</ref> motivated both by fears of a "fifth column" and [[class conflict]].{{sfn|Hurem|1972|p=155}} As a result of the communist actions, villagers from Eastern Herzegovina and Montenegro, who were far from being collaborators or kulaks, joined Chetnik forces en masse.{{sfn|Banac|1988|p=82|ps=: "In the end, the red terror of 1941-1942 turned out to be a serious mistake. ... Terrorized peasants who were anything but collaborators or kulaks swelled the Chetnik ranks in Montenegro and Eastern Herzegovina." }}
'''Leftist errors''' was a term used by the [[Communist Party of Yugoslavia]] (CPY) to describe radical policies and strategies – described as the '''Red Terror''' by others – pursued by elements among the party and partisan units during [[World War II]], mostly in [[Montenegro]], [[Herzegovina]] and [[Serbia]], as well as to a lesser extent in [[Croatia]].<ref name="Goldstein2008">{{cite book|last=Goldstein|first=Ivo|authorlink=Ivo Goldstein|title=Hrvatska: 1918-2008|url=http://books.google.com/books?id=yyMqAQAAIAAJ|year=2008|publisher=EPH|page=287<!-- |quote=Bila je to akcija nazvana kasnije „lijeva skretanja" ponajviše provođena u Bosni i Crnoj Gori. a mnogo manje u Hrvatskoj. -->}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|title=NIN: nedeljne informativne novine|url=http://books.google.com/books?id=ft8xAQAAIAAJ|year=2002|publisher=Politika|page=4<!-- |quote=...тзв. лева скретања, односно убиства „кулака" у Херцегови- ни, Црној Гори, Босни и Срему, злочи- ни извршени у тзв. Ужичкој републи- ци и на крају масовна стрељања у Ср- бији и Београду октобра 1944. године. -->}}</ref> The policy was formulated by the Central Committee of CPY and included mass executions, burning of villages and confiscation of property,<ref name="Morrison2009">{{cite book|last=Morrison|first=Kenneth|title=Montenegro: a modern history|url=http://books.google.com/books?id=xKMtAQAAIAAJ|year=2009|publisher=I.B. Tauris|isbn=978-1-84511-710-8|page=55}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|title=NIN: nedeljne informativne novine|url=http://books.google.com/books?id=ft8xAQAAIAAJ|year=2002|publisher=Politika|page=4<!-- |quote=...тзв. лева скретања, односно убиства „кулака" у Херцегови- ни, Црној Гори, Босни и Срему, злочи- ни извршени у тзв. Ужичкој републи- ци и на крају масовна стрељања у Ср- бији и Београду октобра 1944. године. -->}}</ref> motivated both by fears of a "fifth column" and [[class conflict]].{{sfn|Hurem|1972|p=155}} As a result of the communist actions, villagers from Eastern Herzegovina and Montenegro, who were far from being collaborators or kulaks, joined Chetnik forces en masse.{{sfn|Banac|1988|p=82|ps=: "In the end, the red terror of 1941-1942 turned out to be a serious mistake. ... Terrorized peasants who were anything but collaborators or kulaks swelled the Chetnik ranks in Montenegro and Eastern Herzegovina." }}


== Name ==
== Name ==

Revision as of 11:57, 25 March 2014

Leftist errors
Part of the Yugoslav Front of World War II
Location
DateJuly 1941 — October 1944
Victims
  • 1941—42:
    • Herzegovina — 500
    • Montenegro — 500—624
PerpetratorCommunist Party of Yugoslavia

Leftist errors was a term used by the Communist Party of Yugoslavia (CPY) to describe radical policies and strategies – described as the Red Terror by others – pursued by elements among the party and partisan units during World War II, mostly in Montenegro, Herzegovina and Serbia, as well as to a lesser extent in Croatia.[1][2] The policy was formulated by the Central Committee of CPY and included mass executions, burning of villages and confiscation of property,[3][4] motivated both by fears of a "fifth column" and class conflict.[5] As a result of the communist actions, villagers from Eastern Herzegovina and Montenegro, who were far from being collaborators or kulaks, joined Chetnik forces en masse.[6]

Name

This policy was also referred to as the Leftist deviation or Left-wing deviation[7] or Left Errors[6].

In Titoist dogma after the World War II this policy was referred to as the "Mistakes of the left" [3] or "left deviations" while the others referred to it as Red Terror.[8] This policy is sometimes referred to as the "Second Stage"[6] because it was seen as a continuation of the uprising perceived as the first stage of the communist revolution.

Background

The strategy of Politburo adopted in July 1941 insisted that the Partisans should aim to create "liberated territories", cleared of enemies. According to the instructions of Poliburo, such territories were to be administered by the communists in state-like manner so the local population would be exposed to the ideas and practice of socialism. On the territories that came under their control communists adopted many leftist polices including radical socialism which antagonized many peasants in Serbia, Montenegro and Herzegovina.[9] Laziness was punished as desertion, peasants were punished with high taxes or forced labor if their houses were not tidy or if they got lice.[10]

Montenegro

Moša Pijade, one of the main protagonists of the Leftist errors in Montenegro

In June 1941 the Regional Committee of CPY for Montenegro, Boka and Sandžak issued proclamation inviting people to "final liquidation of capitalist system".[11] The leftist deviation policy was pursued in Montenegro since August while its intensity was increased since September 1941.[11][12][verification needed][13][9] This extremist policy was pursued by the Partisans in Montenegro under the influence of Milovan Đilas and Moše Pijade.Cite error: The <ref> tag has too many names (see the help page). After the initial success of uprising communists seized control of almost all Montenegro and began to fight against their class enemies. The substantial percentage of population of Montenegro supported Chetniks because they were afraid of the "red terror".[14] Despite instructions to minimize the revolutionary side of their policies, the leaders of Montenegrin Partisans introduced "soviet elements" in the summer of 1941, during the Uprising in Montenegro because they perceived the uprising as the first stage of the communist revolution.[9]

In the middle of August 1941 Đilas wrote a letter to the Regional Committee of Yugoslav Communist Party for Montenegro, Boka and Sandžak and recommended isolation and destruction of the "fifth column". He emphasized that tolerance and inactivity of communists toward spies is a crime equal to treason. At the end of August 1941 the Regional Committee issued a directive which follows the recommendations of Đilas and insists on cleansing of the villages from the fifth column. In another directive issued in October the Regional Committee repeated similar instructions insisting on the destruction of those who disturb the mobilization of insurgents even by saying "wait, its not yet the right moment".[15] Đilas himself wrote how retreating Partisans, who only punished their opponents in July, arbitrarily executed them following the Italian counteroffensive of August 1941.[8]

Before the war most of the people killed by the communists in 1941 were military and administrative officers of former Kingdom of Yugoslavia. During this first year of leftist errors the victims also included women who "flirted" with Italians.[16]

The Partisans occupied Kolašin in January and February 1942, and turned against all real and potential opposition, killing about 300 of the population and throwing their mangled corpses into pits they called the "dogs' cemetery". Due to this and other examples of communist terror, the Montenegrin population turned against the Partisans. "A land without Chetniks was suddenly overwhelmed by Chetniks" largerly due to the policy of Left Deviations.[11][17] Communist executions of notable tribal chieftains in Montenegro caused additional animosity of middle class peasants towards communists.[18]

In March 1942 communists from Nikšić burned villages Ozrinići and Zagarač.[19] According to some sources this was ordered by Đilas and Savo Kovačević[20][21] In period between the beginning of the Uprising in Montenegro and middle of 1942 communist killed between 500 and 624 people in Montenegro, most of them during armed conflict.[22]

Đurišić soon recaptured Kolašin and held it as a Chetnik bastion until May 1943.[23]

Herzegovina

In January and February 1942 only, Partisans executed 250 people in Eastern Herzegovina because they were accused to belong to "fifth column".[1] In Herzegovina alone the total number of civilians murdered by communists in 1941—42 was probably around 500.[6]

Consequences

The policy of leftist deviation proved counterproductive.[3] Leftist deviation gave a real meaningful sense to the policy of those nationalists who found a way out of the difficult situation in collaboration with occupying and quisling forces.[24] Negative consequences for the Communist Party of Yugoslavia caused by "red terror" were antagonizing most of the peasantry and angering the Soviet Union.[25]

The leftist errors had negative consequences for Partisan forces in Herzegovina. Because of the Partisan mistreatment of population of Herzegovina, particularly because of the leftist deviation, Partisans were chased away from Herzegovina in Summer 1942[26] not by Axis forces but by its population.[27]

Propaganda

Songs were composed to promote the policy of leftist deviation. One of them says: "Partisans, prepare machine guns, to greet the king and Englishmen" (Serbian: Партизани, спремите митраљезе да чекамо краља и Енглезе).[28][6] Partisan greeting "Death to fascism, freedom to the people" a new greeting "Red Army is with us - the victory is ours!".[10]

Major exponents

Milovan Đilas, one of the major exponents of the Leftist errors

The major exponents of this policy included Milovan Đilas, Ivan Milutinović and Boris Kidrič. They were never punished. Instead, the Communist Party of Yugoslavia condemned this policy (ignoring the fact that this policy was formulated by its Central Committee) and punished (by warning them) several local commanders (Petar Drapšin and Miro Popara in Herzegovina and several Montenegrin party leaders).[29] Petar Drapšin was stripped of his rank, removed from all functions in the communist party and its membership.[30] Moša Pijade was also held responsible for the adoption of brutal extremist policy of the CPY.[7]

In November 1941[31] Tito dismissed Milovan Đilas from the command of Partisan forces in Montenegro because of his mistakes during the uprising, including his "Leftist Errors".[32] Tito emphasized that Đilas made mistakes because he organized a frontal struggle of armies against a much stronger enemy instead of connecting the Partisan struggle with the people's uprising and adopting the partisan methods of resistance. Đilas was appointed as editor of the paper Borba, the Party's main propaganda organ.[33]

References

  1. ^ a b Goldstein, Ivo (2008). Hrvatska: 1918-2008. EPH. p. 287. Cite error: The named reference "Goldstein2008" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
  2. ^ NIN: nedeljne informativne novine. Politika. 2002. p. 4.
  3. ^ a b c Morrison, Kenneth (2009). Montenegro: a modern history. I.B. Tauris. p. 55. ISBN 978-1-84511-710-8.
  4. ^ NIN: nedeljne informativne novine. Politika. 2002. p. 4.
  5. ^ Hurem 1972, p. 155.
  6. ^ a b c d e Banac 1988, p. 82: "In the end, the red terror of 1941-1942 turned out to be a serious mistake. ... Terrorized peasants who were anything but collaborators or kulaks swelled the Chetnik ranks in Montenegro and Eastern Herzegovina." Cite error: The named reference "FOOTNOTEBanac198882" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
  7. ^ a b Preston, Paul; Partridge, Michael; Smyth, Denis (2002). British documents on foreign affairs: reports and papers from the Foreign Office confidential print. From 1945 through 1950. Europe / editor, Denis Smyth. University Publications of America. p. 76. ISBN 978-1-55655-769-9. {{cite book}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help) Cite error: The named reference "PrestonPartridge2002" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
  8. ^ a b Lampe 2000, p. 214. Cite error: The named reference "FOOTNOTELampe2000214" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
  9. ^ a b c Haug 2012, p. 68.
  10. ^ a b Banac, Ivo (1990). Sa Staljinom protiv Tita: informbirovski rascjepi u jugoslavenskom komunističkom pokretu. Globus. p. 89. ISBN 978-86-343-0407-7.
  11. ^ a b c Лакић, Зоран (1981). Народна власт у Црној Гори 1941-1945. Обод. p. 87. Cite error: The named reference "Лакић1981" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
  12. ^ Strugar 1997, p. 144.
  13. ^ Đorđević, Milinko (2000). Sedam levih godina. Naš dom. p. 14. Практична последица овог става су учестале ликвидације "непријатеља", које су "отпочеле у августу, а од средине септембра су биле доста честе", како то произилази из извештаја Покрајинског Комитета КПЈ за Црну Гору, Боку и Санџак од 8 Децембра 1941
  14. ^ Klemenčič, Matjaž; Žagar, Mitja (2004). The Former Yugoslavia's Diverse Peoples: A Reference Sourcebook. ABC-CLIO. p. 176. ISBN 978-1-57607-294-3. In a very short period of time almost all the territory of Montenegro (with exception of some important cities) fell into hands of the communists. But the communist made mistake and started to fight against their class enemy (i.e. members of the Montenegrin burgoise) which made them weaker. The Italians resumed their attacks and by the mid August 1941 had again enforced their control in Montenegro....Out of fear of the "red-terror," a significant percentage of Montenegrins started to cooperate with the Chetniks, who started to attack Partisans..... The Partisan movement strengthen again in Autumn.
  15. ^ Dragutin Papović: “LIJEVE GREŠKE” - DRUGO IME ZA ZLOČIN
  16. ^ Đorđević, Milinko (2000). Sedam levih godina. Naš dom. p. 14.
  17. ^ Zbornik za istoriju. Odeljenje za društvene nauke, Matica srpska. 1970. p. 68. Друга је ствар, међутим, као што констатује и ЦК КПЈ, да је политика левих скретања убрзала појаву четника, од- војила ... покрет и довела до његовог привременог разбијања у Црној Гори.
  18. ^ Zbornik za istoriju. Odeljenje za društvene nauke, Matica srpska. 1970. p. 68. Ликвидације угледних братственика и племеника у Црној Гори изазивале су још веће сумње
  19. ^ Istorijski zapisi. с.н. 1987. p. 119. ...спа- љени Озринићи и Загарач, што је најдрастичнији примјер неп- равилног рада.
  20. ^ Miljanić, Gojko (1970). Nikšićki NOP odred. Vojnoizdavaćki zavod. p. 242. Војо Шобајић, заменик комесара 1. ударног батаљона у својим сећањима пише да је од Милована Ђиласа добио писмо у коме се наређује да се потпуно спаси с. Озринићи. (Архив ОК Никшић 1/12 — Мемоарска грађа).
  21. ^ Đuretić, Veselin (1997). Violence against the Serb uprising. Institut. p. 274. Делу- јући у том правцу, Милован Ђилас и Саво Ковачевић нареди- ли су паљевину Озринића,
  22. ^ Pavlićević 2012, p. 14.
  23. ^ Pavlowitch 2007, pp. 104–106.
  24. ^ Strugar 1997, p. 286.
  25. ^ Bokovoy, Melissa Katherine (1998). Peasants and Communists: Politics and Ideology in the Yugoslav Countryside, 1941-1953. University of Pittsburgh Press. p. 15. ISBN 978-0-8229-4061-6. The "red terror" had proved a disaster for KPJ. The Yugoslav Communists had not only alienated a large part of the peasantry, but also angered their Interntional patron, Soviet Union.
  26. ^ Hamović, Miloš (1994). Izbjeglištvo u Bosni i Hercegovini: 1941-1945. Filip Višnjić. p. 94. Могло би се рећи да је епилог лијевог скретања у источној Херцеговини (и Црној Гори) био у томе што су домаће партизанске јединице биле принуђене да се повуку са тог простора и заједно са...
  27. ^ Strugar 1997, p. 267.
  28. ^ Зборник за историју. Матица српска, Одељење за друштвене науке. 1971. p. 60.
  29. ^ Banac 1988, p. 83.
  30. ^ Hamović, Miloš (1994). Izbjeglištvo u Bosni i Hercegovini: 1941-1945. Filip Višnjić. p. 94.
  31. ^ West, Richard (15 November 2012). Tito and the Rise and Fall of Yugoslavia. Faber & Faber. p. 36. ISBN 978-0-571-28110-7.
  32. ^ Irvine, Jill A. (1993). The Croat Question: Partisan Politics in the Formation of the Yugoslav Socialist State. Westview Press. p. 128. ISBN 978-0-8133-8542-6. Milovan Djilas, who had been removed from Montenego the previous fall for his "leftist errors,..."
  33. ^ Ramet 2006, p. 152.
Books

Further reading

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