Narodna Odbrana - Ideology

Ideology

At the beginning of the 20th century, the Serbs throughout the Balkans sought unification under a single state. In addition to the Kingdom of Serbia and the Principality of Montenegro, two states with predominantly ethnic Serb populations that didn't yet share a common border, many more Serbs lived within the borders of neighbouring Austria-Hungary (specifically Bosnia-Herzegovina condominium, Croatia-Slavonia, and southern part of Hungary) as well as Ottoman Empire (Bosnia Vilayet, Kosovo Vilayet, Sanjak of Novi Pazar, and to a lesser extent in parts of Monastir Vilayet and Salonica Vilayet). With the Austria-Hungarian 1908 annexation of Bosnia and Herzegovina (where there was a heavy concentration of Serbs) as well as the resulting crisis, the Serbs expressed a need for cultural and territorial protection, which gave rise to the Narodna Odbrana.

A 1911 pamphlet named Narodna Odbrana Izdanje Stredisnog Odbora Narodne Odbrane (Народна обрана издање стредисног одбора народне одбране) focused on six main points:

1. Raising, inspiring, and strengthening the sentiment of nationality.
2. Registration and enlistment of volunteers.
3. Formation of volunteer units and their preparation for armed action.
4. Collection of voluntary contributions, including money and other things necessary for the realization of its task.
5. Organization, equipment, and training of special revolutionary band (Komitee), destined for special and independent military action.
6. Development of activity for the defense of the Serbian people in all other directions.

The pamphlet makes it clear that hatred of Austria-Hungary was not the aim of the group, but instead, it was a natural consequence of the desire for independence and unity within a single nation.

The Central Committee of the Narodna Odbrana was located at Belgrade.