Svetomir Dukich General of the Chetnik movement. Date of Birth: 29.05.1882 Country: Serbia

1. Early Life and Education
2. Olympic Involvement
3. Military Career
4. Chetnik Involvement and Post-War Life
5. Negotiations with Ante Pavelić

Early Life and Education

Svetomir Djukić, later known as a Chetnik general, was born in the village of Rajani near Kosjerić. After completing his primary education in Valjevo, he attended high school in Užice. He then went on to study at the Military Academy in Belgrade, graduating as a lieutenant and entering military service.

During his time as a cadet, Djukić excelled in various sports, including archery, fencing, swimming, running, gymnastics, and rowing.

Olympic Involvement

Djukić was the founder and first director of the Serbian Olympic Club, established on February 23, 1910. He also served as the first head of Serbia's Olympic selection for the 1912 Stockholm Games. In Stockholm, he attended the International Olympic Committee (IOC) congress and remained a member until 1948.

Military Career

As an officer in the Royal Serbian Army, Djukić participated in the Balkan Wars. During World War II, he played a role in the defense of Belgrade and held various positions in Ada Ciganlija and the liberation of Zemun. He was awarded the highest military honor.

In 1919, Djukić was elected vice-chairman of the newly formed Yugoslav Olympic Committee. In this role, he led Yugoslav athletes to the Olympic Games in Antwerp (1920), Paris (1924), Amsterdam (1928), and Berlin (1938). He was also instrumental in Belgrade hosting the International Olympic Committee in 1938 and the 15th Olympic Games in 1948.

Chetnik Involvement and Post-War Life

During World War II, Djukić joined the Chetniks. After the war, he resigned from the IOC in favor of other Yugoslav representatives in 1948 and spent the rest of his life in exile in Germany, where he died. In 2002, his remains were returned to Serbia and interred in the churchyard in Rajani.

Negotiations with Ante Pavelić

In April 1945, Djukić met with Draža Mihailović, who tasked him with negotiating with Ante Pavelić, the leader of the Independent State of Croatia. Djukić's mission was to secure passage through Croatian territory and supplies for the Chetniks.He arrived in Zagreb on April 17.

Djukić led the Chetnik delegation that negotiated with the Croats. These talks were strictly between Croatian and Serbian representatives, without Nazi German involvement.On the first day, Vladimir Predavec met with Pavelić and Andrija Artuković. On the second day, Djukić was joined by Zika Andrić and Mihailović's representative, Ranko Brašić, while Generals Đorđe Grujić and Vjekoslav Luburić replaced Artuković in the negotiations.

After the final meeting on April 22, Pavelić agreed to Djukić's requests.Pavelić later confirmed the discussions in his work "Hrvatska drzava zivi" (1949).