Narodna Odbrana (literally, The People's Defense) was a Serbian nationalist group that was created around 1908 as a reaction to the Austria-Hungarian annexation of Bosnia and Herzegovina. At the time, it was concerned with the protection of ethnic Serbs in Austria-Hungary. To achieve their goals, the Narodna Odbrana spread propaganda as well as organizing paramilitary forces.

Basic ideology

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The Serbs had never been united under one single state, and there had been conflicts between themselves and other peoples such as the Bulgarians and Ottomans. With the Austria-Hungarian annexation of Bosnia and Herzegovina (where there was a heavy concentration of Serbs), the Serbs expressed a need for protection of the nation with a defensive organization. The Narodna Odbrana was born out of this need.

A 1911 pamphlet named Narodna Odbrana Izdanje Stredisnog Odbora Narodne Odbrane 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.

External links

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• English translation of Narodna Odbrana Izdanje Stredisnog Odbora Narodne Odbrane

Political organizations

民族自衛組織