![]() | Mediation of this dispute has been completed. The case pages should not be edited.
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For an explanation of why the case was closed, refer to the talk page or contact the Mediation Committee
The following groundrules have worked in other mediations to ensure that participants have a basis for collaboration. Note that you do not have to like each other, or even always see things the same way. The basis for the groundrules is respectful listening and problem-solving. We can customize these rules if we need to. But I suggest we try them. Sunray (talk) 21:02, 1 December 2010 (UTC)
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I've removed the editing marks of the section on "last days." It is posted here for final review before combining with other sections. Any final comments, or suggested changes? Discussion section is below. Next we can either look at the whole combined draft (along with sections of JJG's draft not yet included), or pick another section to finalize. Sunray (talk) 20:20, 9 May 2011 (UTC)
Mihailović travelled north with a group of several dozen Chetniks. In the village of Bulozi, near Goražde, on the night of 23 May 1945 Mihailović's son Vojislav was killed. During the next several days, Mihailović traveled toward the Drina River, with a group of 22 Chetniks, divided into several units for easy movement. Mihailović then crossed the river Drina, and remained in the vicinity of Krupanj and Bajina Bašta for some time, before returning to Višegrad. In February 1946, Mihailović fell ill of typhus fever. He was captured in a foxhold near Višegrad on 13 March 1946,[1] when his hiding place was revealed by one of his chief lieutenants, Nikola Kalabić, either accidently or exchange for leniency.[2][3] In his keynote address at the National Assembly, the Interior Minister of the Federal People Republic of Yugoslavia, Aleksandar Ranković, announced on 24 March 1946 that Mihailović had been detained in a communist prison.[4] Ranković reported from Belgrade to Josip Broz, who was in Warsaw at the Cominform meeting, that Mihailović had been caught.[4] Broz then phoned Joseph Stalin to report this important news. The news of Mihailović's arrest spread quickly, but there were differing interpretations of its significance, ranging from great enthusiasm in the communist East to skepticism and resentment in the democratic republic of the West.[4]
The trial of General Mihailović was held from 10 June to 15 July 1946.[5] Mihailović was tried with others in a group, including Slobodan Jovanović, Božidar Purić, Stevan Moljević, Mladen Mujović, Živko Topalović, Milan Gavrilović, Momčilo Ninčić, Živan Knezevic, Radoje Knežević, Konstantin Fotić, Đuro Vilović, Radoslav Radić, Slavoljub Vranješević, Milos Glišić, Petar Živković, Dragomir Jovanović, Tanasije Dinić, Velibor Jonić, Đuro Djokić, Kosta Mušicki, Boško Pavlović, Lazar Marković and Kosta Kumanudi.[citation needed]
The judges were Mihailo Đorđević (President of the Military Court), Milija Laković, Mihailo Janković, Nikola Stanković and Radomir Ilić. Todor Popadić served as Secretary. The prosecutor was Miloš Minić, who was helped by Miloš Jovanović.[5] All were members of the Communist Party and had fought with the partisans during the war.[citation needed] In his closing argument Mihailović said:
“ | I found myself in a whirlwind of events and policy ... Yet I stayed only a soldier. I am convinced that I was on the right track and I called all foreign correspondents, and even a mission of the Red Army to come to my Headquarters. Fate was merciless with me, cast me in such a cruel storm, the worst possible that could befall a man. (I strove for much, I undertook much, but the storm (galas) of the world have carried away both me and my work). I wanted so much, a lot of that I have started, but the gale of the world carried away me and my work.[6][7] | ” |
The Allied airmen he had rescued in 1944 were not allowed to testify in his favor[8].
Of the 47 charges laid by Miloš Minić on 10 June 1946 in Belgrade, Mihailović was convicted on eight counts. The first was:
“ | Is guilty because in that since the beginning of the second half of 1941, and for all time of war and enemy occupation, he led the organized armed formations of Chetniks known as "Mihailovic's Chetniks" and the so called Yugoslav Army in the Homeland, sought armed action and terror in cooperation with the occupying forces to support the occupation and suppress an armed uprising and freedom fight of the Serbian and other peoples of Yugoslavia.[5] | ” |
On 15 July 1946, Mihailović was sentenced to death, permanent loss of political and civil rights and confiscation of all assets. His son and daughter had denounced Mihailović as a traitor and joined the Partisans earlier during the war, and his wife was the only member of his immediate family to visit him during his confinement prior to execution.[9] Roberts asserts that the trial was "anything but a model of justice" and that "it is clear that Mihailović was not guilty of all, or even many, of the charges brought against him" although he notes that Tito would likely not have had a fair trial had positions been reversed. Mihailović was convicted of high treason and war crimes, and executed of July 17th, 1946[10] along with nine other officers in Lisičiji Potok, about 200 meters from the former Royal Palace. His body was reportedly covered with lime and the location of his unmarked grave was kept secret[11]. Execution was carried out two days later, on 17 July 1946, at an unknown place. To this date, the location of the grave is unknown.
This section obviously completes the sections on World War II and precedes the "Legacy" section. I will leave it here for a couple of days for a last look and then it should be combined in the "Combined draft" (see "Subpages." above). One possibility for a next step would be to add the combined draft to JJG's draft and then edit the whole shebang. If we get some energy working on this, we could have a re-vamped article up fairly soon. 00:07, 10 May 2011 (UTC)
Not everything works as one might wish, but this mediation has actually made a great deal of progress, in my opinion. There is some more work to be done to bring this phase to a close. Following that we will resume work on the article page and [I hope civil] discussions on the article talk page. I would like to hear from participants who have constructive suggestions about what we need to do to get closure on the mediation talk page. Participants are requested to sign the groundrules, if they haven't already, in order to take part in the further discussions. Sunray (talk) 16:44, 4 May 2011 (UTC)
I don't see much energy to do further work on the combined draft. So, I think we should use what we have: JJG's original draft and the combined draft (as far as it goes). Can we meld the two together, using the combined draft for the sections it covers and JJG's original draft as the default for those sections the combined draft does not cover? Sunray (talk) 14:51, 13 May 2011 (UTC)
Ok, I think the best tack to take at this point is to move the draft we have in to replace the current article, and I think it's the better version of the two. I am not happy with the quality of either, but we need to move forward. If no one objects, I'll proceed in a couple of days. --Nuujinn (talk) 11:05, 3 June 2011 (UTC)
In relation to a recent enquiry on my talk page, this message is to inform the participants in this mediation case that the histories of the case pages, which are currently hidden to preserve the privileged nature of mediation, will be undeleted tomorrow - absent further developments. The undeletion is pending the conclusion of private deliberations by the Mediation Committee on matters concerning this dispute. Thank you for your continued patience. For the Mediation Committee, AGK [•] 23:32, 12 June 2011 (UTC)