The existing forms of physical education in the Yugoslav Army in the period 1945 - 1950

Abstract

Physical education was of profound social and military significance/impact in terms of conducting (basic) combat training of the Federal People's Republic of Yugoslavia Armed Forces in the period from 1945 to 1950. The subject of this research is the existing forms of physical education in the Yugoslav Army (YA) in the period from 1945 to 1950. The aim of the research was to indicate the existing forms of physical education through teaching activities, on the basis of relevant historical sources held in military archives and funds. In other words, the research aimed to present the first teaching contents and topics of physical education within combat training of the Yugoslav Army from 1945 to 1950, in order to enable their potential application in trainings today and direct them towards achieving the optimal physical abilities required when performing complex military tasks. A historical research method has been used in the paper. The directions of establishing and implementing the first forms of physical education in this period have been determined by the critical analysis of available archival military material, primarily funds from the Federal Secretariat for National Defence (FSND) and Yugoslav Army during the aforementioned period. The results of the research have shown that these existing forms of physical education in the Yugoslav Army made a significant contribution to the combat training process in terms of developing general physical skills of soldiers. Additionally, ideological significance was observed, since physical education was a mechanism unity in the formation of socialist society through mass, diversity and practicality. Physical education was an integral part of the physical education movement in the Federal People's Republic of Yugoslavia. By applying the existing forms of physical education through teaching activities within the military combat training, the Yugoslav Army became a driving and important factor in the rapid and mass development of this movement throughout the country. Keywords: ph