INŽINJERIJSKE JEDINICE U VOJSCI KRALJEVINE SHS/JUGOSLAVIJE 1918–1941.

Abstract

The formation of engineer units in the Royal Yugoslav Army during the 1920s and 1930s developed in two phases. The first was its engagement within the army divisions and in the second phase was the establishment of a unique engineering command, including pioneer, pontoon, and military traffic commands. Considering their different specialized activities, planned complex training demanded certain financial resources as well as an adequately qualified command staff. The lack of engineering officers and non-commissioned officers was one of the reasons why the recruits did not have regular lectures. Also, whole units were often sent out of their garrisons, especially for the purpose of strengthening the country’s borders, which posed a serious problem, which was not solved during the entire interwar period. Another problem was a small number of recruits, which is why they had to be taken over from other military units, plus the fact that they were mostly technically inexperienced and frequently even illiterate. In addition, modern equipment was scarce, all of which made good quality training impossible.