Issue: Description

ORGANIZED JEWISH EMIGRATION FROM YUGOSLAVIA TO ISRAEL (1948-1952) AND THE YUGOSLAV ARMY

Authors:
Milan Radovanović

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Members of the Yugoslav Army constituted a distinct group among those registered for organized emigration to Israel, requiring special attention from the leadership of the Federation of Jewish Religious Communities. Their participation in the mass emigration was coordinated with the Ministry of National Defense. While they were in principle free to emigrate, conscripts had to include a demobilization certificate with their application, and military personnel or specialists employed by the army also needed formal approval from the Ministry. This made their situation unique. The requirement to obtain a demobilization certificate often caused unforeseen delays in the emigration process, sometimes preventing individuals from departing on scheduled transports to Israel. Such delays also affected family members who were part of the same migration process. Military personnel were especially burdened, as they needed both demobilization and release from their employers before they could leave the country. This article explores the specific role of conscripts and military personnel in organized emigration, and the broader implications of these additional requirements. The analysis is based on materials preserved in the Archives of the Jewish Historical Museum.