Serbia General Pavle Pekic Group

[wlodzimierz]

During last researching tour I was able to take some photos of General Pavle Pekic group. As we know it is difficult to find a more or less complete YU group, and it is even more difficult to find group of JNA General. And it is almost impossible to find a group of JNA General who was chief of counter-intelligence in OZNA and main secretary in UDBA.

First we should start with general information about security and intelligence service in Yugoslavia and successor agencies.

OZNA Organization for the protection of the people (like Russian "Checka")

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

OZNA or Organ Za?tite Naroda (Armije) (Cyrillic: Орган Заштите Народа Армије, ОЗНА) or Oddelek za za?čito naroda (literally, Department for Protection of the People) was a security agency of the SFR Yugoslavia.

Founding

OZNA was founded on May 13, 1944 under the leadership of Aleksandar Ranković (nom de guerre Marko), a top member of the Politburo until his downfall in 1965/66, and a close associate of Josip Broz Tito.

Function

Until OZNA was established, intelligence and security tasks were carried out by several organizations. In spring, 1944, the tasks were carried out by the Section for Protection of Nations in central and western Bosnia, part of Croatia, and Vojvodina; centers of territorial intelligence in Croatia, Vojvodina and Montenegro; intelligence division of the Internal Affairs Section within the SNOS Presidency in Slovenia; and intelligence service of partisan detachments in Serbia, Macedonia, and Kosovo.

Organization

The reorganization of intelligence and security could not satisfy the growing needs of the Supreme Staff. OZNA was created as autonomous, military organization whose unitary structure and centralized leadership were to ensure a tough political line in the intelligence and counter-intelligence services. All OZNA tasks were divided into four groups, each comprising an organizational unit:

intelligence under Maks Baće Milić

counter-intelligence under Pavle Pekić

army security under Jeftimije (aka Jefto) Sasić, and

technical/statistics under Mijat Vuletić

.....

more under http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/OZNA

UDBA Internal State Security (like Russian KGB)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

UDBA or Uprava dr?avne bezbednosti/sigurnosti/varnosti (Serbian Cyrillic: УДБА, Управа државне безбедности) ("State Security Administration", literally state security directorate) was the secret police organization of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. .....

more under http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UDBA

General PAVLE PEKIĆ

VOJNA ENCIKLOPEDIJA, Vol. 6, Beograd 1964, page 704, column a. Index: Vol. 11: page 356: PEKIĆ, Pavle (gen. JNA u rez.) 6-704a

PEKIĆ, Pavle born in ?avnik/Montenegro on 3. VI 1910, reserve general-major in Yugoslav People's Army. Before the war he participated in progressive workers movement, and in 1939 became member of Comunist Party of Yugoslavia. In People's Liberation War since July, 1941.

He was commander of the town of ?avnik and commander of the Durmitor region up to 1942.

After that he was on different duties at the Supreme Staff and the chief of the 3rd department in Organizacija za za?titu naroda (OZNA) - Organization for the protection of the people (like Russian "Checka") up to 1947, when he took the position of the main secretary of Unutra?nja dr?avna bebednost (UDBA) - Internal State Security (like Russian KGB).

From 1953 he was State sub-secretary for the internal affairs of Federativna Narodna Republika Jugoslavija - Federate People's Republic of Yugoslavia (FPRY), and from April, 1963 secretary of the Administrative commission of - Federal Executive Councils (Government of SFR Yugoslavia).

He was awarded with OZN I (twice), OBJ I, OPZ II,...

Edited May 8, 2009 by wlodzimierz

[wlodzimierz]

Order of Brotherhood and Unity awarded on 13th of January 1948.

[wlodzimierz]

Reverse, look at two hallmarks, one is state hallmark of silver the other one are two letters 'HJ'. We had a discussion what does it mean, same said 'HJ' means Hrvatska Jugoslavia since this order was made in Zagreb. We know that one of the most important Tito slogans was as the name of this order says Brotherhood and Unity why should they on this order use the name of one Republic? Such hallmark would be contrary to this slogans. Therefore I think that 'HJ' use cyrillic letters and means Narodna Jugoslavia or People's Yugoslavia.

[wlodzimierz]

Awarding document issued on 13th of January 1948 kept in red tube. As you can see Pavle Pekic is 'Pukovnik' = colonel at that time.

Edited May 8, 2009 by wlodzimierz

[wlodzimierz]

Additional to awarding document a certificate has been issued with the same date. Note that the serial number is matching and that in 1948 still serial number of award was written on certificate.

[wlodzimierz]

Next is Order for National Merits 1st cl. Nr. 1769 awarded on 30th of May 1954.

We see new variant of pin-back needle and rare box.

[wlodzimierz]

Awarding document issued on 30th of May 1954. Written in Cyrillic.

[wlodzimierz]

And certificate issued on 30th of May, 1954. Note there is no serial Nr. on this document.

We have good opportunity to learn that between 1948 and 1954 serial number on certificate was not more needed.

[wlodzimierz]

Order of Labor 1st cl. issued on 27th of April, 1961.

[wlodzimierz]

Look at these two hallmarks, one hallmark for silver and another one - and this is the first time we see such hallmark on Order for Labor - two letters 'HJ' in my opinion first letters of Narodna Yugoslavia written in Cyrillic 'HJ' = People's Yugoslavia. This hallmark disappeared very quickly. Up today this is only Order with this hallmark I know.

[wlodzimierz]

Awarding document isseud on 27th of April, 1961. Nice red tube.

[wlodzimierz]

Order of the Republic 1st cl. with 5 torches awarded on 17th of June, 1965. Note that Order of the Republic was instituted on 6th of July, 1960. Three years later in 1963 coat of arms has been changed - instead 5, 6 torches was used. Between 1960 and 1965 - 142 Orders of the Republic 1st cl. was awarded. Even if we assume that all these orders have 5 torches, the total sum of Order of the Republic 1st cl. with 5 torches is very limited maybe to only app. 150 pieces.

[wlodzimierz]

Awarding document issued on 27th of April, 1965 and wonderful red tube.

[SasaYU]

WOW, Waldemar, thank you for showing us this group.

Where did you found it ?

I have few corrections to your text.

UDBA or correctly U.D.B. means "Uprava dr?avne bezbednosti" or in English: Direction of state security.

OZNA or correctly O.Z.N. means "Odeljenje za za?titu naroda" or in English: Department for national security.

[wlodzimierz]

Thank you Sasa for your corrections. I spent a couple of days in Zagreb and visited one OMD Dealer. He showed me this Group which already was sold to one russian collector. I think it was expensive Group but on the other side I think this mor or less complete group of a General and highest official of security and intelligence agency.

I was too late , unfortunately.

lp. w

[wlodzimierz]

Sasa,

do you know if there is an image of Gen. Pekic in VOJNA ENCIKLOPEDIJA?

I looked for his photo on internet but I was unsuccessful, do you know where could we get his photo?

lp w. :cheers:

[SasaYU]

Bad luck. I hope that you will have more luck next time.

On the other side, it is good that you had an opportunity to examine it personally and to take pictures.

[wlodzimierz]

Sasa,

what do you think about 'HJ' hallmark? :unsure:

[SasaYU]

No luck yet.

I am looking for info about hallmarks and photograph of Pavle Pekic.

If I find something, I will post it. :cheers:

[wlodzimierz]

Thank you Sasa

lp w

[Ed_Haynes]

A lovely group. Thanks for sharing it with us.

[Luka]

WOOOW, I am stunned, very nice grouping :speechless:

[wlodzimierz]

Thank you Ed,

as you know it is difficult to complete a group of YU awards. This group shows us some interesting facts.I hope you enjoyed this presentation.

lg. w.

[wlodzimierz]

Thank you Luka,

I wish I were not too late

lp. w

[File21]

simply stunning

I bet the price was also stunning too?

Filip