- Dušan Simović
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Dušan Simović 18th Prime Minister of Yugoslavia In office
27 March 1941 – 12 January 1942Preceded by Dragiša Cvetković Succeeded by Slobodan Jovanović Personal details Born October 28, 1882
Kragujevac, SerbiaDied August 26, 1962 (aged 79)
Belgrade, YugoslaviaCitizenship Yugoslav Occupation Soldier, politician Military service Allegiance Kingdom of Yugoslavia Service/branch Royal Yugoslav Army Rank General of the Army Dušan T. Simović (28 October 1882 — 26 August 1962) was a Yugoslav general who served as chief of the air force and commander-in-chief of the Royal Yugoslav Army and as the Prime Minister of Yugoslavia.
Life and career
Simović was born in Kragujevac. He graduated from the military academy in Belgrade in 1900. He earned an advance degree in 1905 and served in The Balkan Wars and World War I. After World War I, he became heavily involved in aviation and air defence, serving as commander of the Air Force from 1936 to 1938. Simović urged the government to accept his plan in the event of an attack by Nazi Germany, and when his plan was rejected, he participated in the coup d’état against Dragiša Cvetković.
After the coup Simović positioned Prime Minister[clarification needed] reaffirming Yugoslavia's intentions to fulfil its obligations as a member of the Axis.[1] But Nazi Germany did not trust him and invaded Yugoslavia on 6 April 1941. Simović fled the country with his family. After the end of the Yugoslav Front and the formation of Josip Broz Tito's second Yugoslavia, he returned to Belgrade and went on to author a number of books on military issues. He died in Belgrade.[2]
Political offices Preceded by
Dragiša CvetkovićPrime Minister of Yugoslavia
1941 – 1942Succeeded by
Slobodan JovanovićMilitary offices Preceded by
Milutin NedićChief of the General Staff of the Yugoslav Royal Army
1938 – 1940Succeeded by
Petar KosićPreceded by
Petar KosićChief of the General Staff of the Yugoslav Royal Army
1940 – 1941Succeeded by
Position abolishedReferences
- ^ Germany and the 2nd World War Volume III:The Mediterranean, south-east Europe, and north Africa, 1939-1941, Gerhard Schreiber,Bernd Stegemann,Detlef Vogel, 1995, p.484
- ^ Staff report (August 28, 1962). Gen. Simovic Dies; Yugoslav Leader; Headed Royal Government When Nazis Invaded in '41. New York Times
Categories:- 1882 births
- 1962 deaths
- People from Kragujevac
- Prime Ministers of Yugoslavia
- Yugoslavia stubs
- European military personnel stubs
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