The following not only serves as Pravda‘s biography of Arso Jovanović, but also a notice of death. The language utilized should be read closely — such high praise in the top Soviet press organ was only seen for the most esteemed of political and military personalities. According to Academician Branko Pavićević, this was published alongside a five-million Red Army honour-guard for Yugoslavia’s wartime military commander. Notably, only two paragraphs convey a sense of ideology, while the others emphasize Jovanović’s professionalism and patriotism, a sharp contrast from typical Pravda editorials (even though the usual epithets are still present). This short article serves as perhaps the clearest insight into how Stalin and the Soviet leadership viewed Arso Jovanović.
Sava Press
Arso Jovanović
(Biographical Note)
The name Arso Jovanović, recently villainously murdered in Yugoslavia, is well remembered by all who fought against fascism.
Arso Jovanović is a true and beloved hero of the Yugoslav people. He is known as an outstanding and recognized leader of all the most important military operations during the Yugoslav National Liberation War against fascism.
Comrade Arso Jovanović, a Serb by nationality, was born in 1906 into a poor peasant family. From a young age, Jovanović demonstrated both a natural inclination for and ability in military affairs. He graduated from a military academy and later completed officer training courses at the General Staff of the Yugoslav Army.
Even while serving as an officer in the old Yugoslav army, Arso Jovanović opposed the pro-German reactionary regime in Yugoslavia. When the German and Italian fascists occupied his homeland, he, as a faithful son of the Yugoslav people, joined the ranks of active anti-fascist fighters and began organizing partisan units.
In the battles against fascism, Arso Jovanović proved himself to be a fearless hero. Through his legendary personal bravery and courage, he earned the respect and love of the Yugoslav people.
From the very beginning of the war against the German and Italian occupiers, Arso Jovanović’s great military talent and organizational abilities became evident. He played a leading role in transforming fragmented partisan units into a unified National Liberation Army. From July 1941 onward, Jovanović served as Chief of the General Staff of the National Liberation Army, a position he held until the defeat of the fascist occupiers.
Arso Jovanović was the very soul and mind behind all major strategic and tactical operations in the struggle against the occupiers.
For his outstanding military service, Comrade Jovanović was awarded the rank of Colonel-General in the Yugoslav Army. He was also decorated with two Partisan Star Orders, 1st Class; the Order for Bravery; the Soviet Orders of Suvorov, 1st Class, and Kutuzov, 1st Class; the Polish Order of Grunwald; the Czechoslovak Order of the White Lion; and the Albanian Order of the Partisan Star.
After the war, Jovanović pursued advanced military studies in Moscow at the Voroshilov Higher Military Academy, where he studied from late 1946 to May 1948. He graduated with top honours.
Arso Jovanović joined the Communist Party of Yugoslavia in July 1941, during the difficult period of the Yugoslav people’s struggle against the German occupiers. Throughout his party life, he remained committed to the principles of Marxism-Leninism and proletarian international solidarity. In 1948, when the current Yugoslav leadership openly embraced nationalism, Arso Jovanović denounced their nationalist stance and aligned himself with the well-known Cominform resolution on the situation in the Communist Party of Yugoslavia.
Arso Jovanović was a loyal friend of the Soviet Union and a Yugoslav army officer raised in the spirit of love for the great socialist country. He believed in the Soviet Union and saw friendship with it as the guarantee that Yugoslavia could defend its independence and freedom and develop along the path of socialism.
In July 1948, Arso Jovanović returned to Yugoslavia from the Soviet Union and was appointed head of the Yugoslav Military Academy. In August 1948, Arso Jovanović was villainously murdered by agents of the executioner Ranković.
The death of Arso Jovanović — for which full responsibility lies with the current leadership of the Communist Party of Yugoslavia — is a great loss not only for the Yugoslav people but also for all fighters in the anti-imperialist camp.
(Translated from the Russian original: Pravda, No. 252 (10993), September 8, 1948, p. 2.)