Germany’s War Against Serbia Is Still Raging

Germany and Austria-Hungary invaded and occupied Serbia in 1915. Throughout the invasion and subsequent occupation, some 1.2 million Serbians died—roughly a quarter of Serbia’s population.

History rhymed in 1941 when Germany invaded Yugoslavia, resulting in the murder of at least 500,000 Serbs over three years (according to the Encyclopedia of the Holocaust).

Gen. Franz Böhme, appointed by Adolf Hitler to rule Serbia, told his soldiers: “You can take revenge for your dead comrades, whose blood flowed here in rivers in 1914 because of Serbian treachery.”

During the 1990s Yugoslav Wars, which Germany essentially started by recognizing Croatian and Slovenian independence, about 35,000 Serbians were killed.

In 1999, the German Air Force aided nato’s 11-week bombing operation against Serbia, which Germany had lobbied for. According to former president Aleksandar Vučić, this led to the deaths of 2,500 Serbs, including 79 children.

“[T]he Germans want to control Europe,” Trumpet editor in chief Gerald Flurry wrote. “To do so, they must gain control of the Balkans, where their fiercest enemy is the Serbs.”

It might not be as overt, but Germany hasn’t given up on its fight against Serbia. Instead of using its military though, it’s using political muscle and its domination of neighboring nations, such as Croatia, which has a history of fulfilling German ambitions in the Balkans.

One obstacle was removed last month: Serbian President Aleksander Vučić, who recognized and largely opposed Germany’s domination of the Balkans.

Nazism Alive in Croatia

Just two months ago, Vučić told the United Nations General Assembly:

The most difficult thing for us in Serbia is when we see in our surroundings the resurgence of Nazism elevated to the position of social prominence, especially in the Republic of Croatia, which is proud of its Nazi past and of the use of Nazi slogans and symbols today.

The Serbian people, as people who suffered the most from Nazi hands, cannot accept the revival of the most terrible ghosts from the past responsible for the deaths of hundreds of thousands of Serbs, Jews and Roma in monstrous concentration camps like Jasenovac.

That is precisely why moral lectures coming from such sources are completely unacceptable to the Serbian people in Serbia.

The revival of those terrible ghosts can be witnessed in last month’s arrest of over a dozen Croatian soccer fans for chanting, “Crush the Jews” and, “Rise up Hitler,” during a visit by Ajax, a Dutch soccer team with associations to the Dutch Jewish community.

“Croatia is gaining capabilities that it does not currently have, or has ever had,” said Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenković in September. He said this as Croatia agreed to buy 18 Chunmoo K239 self-propelled multiple-rocket launchers from South Korea’s Hanwha Aerospace. Croatia has also modernized its air force with the purchase of Rafale fighter jets and plans to buy two new warships. By 2030, it plans to spend 3 percent of its gross domestic product on defense to meet nato’s requirements.

Despite the somewhat common occurrence of reports of pro-Nazi sentiment in Croatia, the German-led European Union has no issue with Croatia’s armament. In fact, Germany is selling Croatia 44 of its Leopard 2A8 tanks, which EU loans will fund.

Since Germany is supporting the armament of, arguably, Serbia’s fiercest enemy, it stands to reason Germany is still working to weaken Serbia. That can also be seen in how it labels Serbia as the belligerent power in the region for building up its military with Chinese and Russian weaponry.

Earlier this year, Vučić claimed Croatia and Albania were rearming because of orders from another nation (likely meaning Germany). “Those from the region have done this armament on someone’s orders, and it has happened before that they turn from defensive to offensive. That’s why we must be prepared,” he said.

Serbia Arms

To that end, Vučić announced plans in September to produce “long-range ballistic missiles.” Earlier, Serbia agreed to buy 12 French Rafale fighter jets for $3.4 billion and opened an Israeli drone factory on September 17, which Vučić told Serbian news outlet Nezavisne Dnevne Novine was to “preserve peace and stability” and to make Serbia “strong enough to deter all potential aggressors.”

In 2022, when discussing the significant increase in Serbian defense investments in recent years, he pointed out the double standard: While Germany invests to become Europe’s strongest army, “they shout at us when we invest a few million in armament acquisition.”

In March, Vučić admitted that Serbia had purchased a “significant” number of Chinese air-to-ground missiles with a 250-mile range. Croatia called the purchase a threat to the region’s stability, and its prime minister briefed nato regarding the purchase as if Serbia were threatening regional peace.

The lesson was clear: It’s fine for Germany and Croatia to arm themselves, but when Serbia builds its military, it’s a threat to regional peace.

The EU and Croatia don’t want Serbia to rearm because they want a weak Serbia. A weak Serbia is a subservient one. A subservient Serbia surrounded by powerful enemies could be forced to accept unfavorable terms in agreements, opening the door to greater German control of the Balkans, such as by giving up Kosovo, which Vučić was staunchly against.

Such tensions can result in conflict; however, it seems Serbia will bow to Germany without a single shot fired.

Recent Elections

Aleksandar Vučić resigned as president on September 27 and called snap parliamentary elections in which his party suffered a crushing defeat on October 25. His right-wing Serbian Progressive Party won 103 seats compared to the 140 won by the Student List candidates in Serbia’s 250-seat parliament.

This landslide win was a surprise—polls leading into the election suggested a close race.

In his speech conceding defeat to the Student List, Vučić suggested the election suffered from foreign interference from other European nations (which he didn’t specify) and even the United States.

This isn’t the first time he’s claimed foreign interference. He said the student-driven anti-corruption protests, which led to the formation of the Student List, were sponsored by foreign actors, namely Croatia and Albania.

Rigged or not, these elections ended Vučić’s 14-year reign. A new chapter for Serbia will open when parliament convenes on November 17 and the Student List begins to form a new government.

There’s much to suggest the essentially leaderless, politically vague and, therefore, moldable and controllable student movement will bring Serbia closer into the EU’s camp.

Consider what EU leaders have said following the List’s election victory.

EU Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos said that “in Serbia, we have seen backsliding across the fundamentals. The new government will have the chance to reverse the course.”

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said after the elections, “We stand ready to support reforms on the rule of law, media freedom, the fight against corruption and strong democratic institutions, and to work together to advance Serbia’s future in the European Union.”

Kos also stated, “The door to the EU is open, and we are ready to move forward together.”

Kos held a meeting with four Student List candidates on November 2 and, according to Euronews, “offered EU support on domestic reforms.”

This is Serbia’s chance to fall in line with the EU. Institutions anticipating the Student List’s accession to power have already begun cracking down on apparent Vučić-era corruption. Serbian authorities have arrested some of Vučić’s allies since the election. The list includes Marko Kricak, the chief of criminal police, and Boško Sekulović, former head of the Crime Suppression Service.

Vladimir Orlić, head of Serbia’s intelligence agency, is under investigation by the Public Prosecutors Office for Organized Crime. He’s been accused of illegal surveillance on Vučić’s political opponents. Several other investigations into corruption during the Vučić era are also being opened.

On October 30, the Serbian central bank canceled Alta Banka’s license over potential fraud by its owner, David Macura, who was known to have ties with Vučić. Alta Banka even sponsored one of Vučić’s podcasts.

Although these moves arrive before the Student List officially takes power, the timing suggests they are, on some level, intended to curry favor with the incoming government.

Remnants of Vučić’s rule, which included a degree of opposition to Germany and the EU, are being targeted as the EU tempts Serbia with membership and closer integration.

Germany’s Conquest of Europe

Today, the means of exerting control over Serbia have changed, but the motive and spirit remain the same.

Germany wants to be the unquestioned leader of a European superpower. The Balkans, with their strategic location, are vital for Germany to make that happen.

Many Serbian leaders believe the driving force behind the independence of Croatia and Slovenia was the Roman Catholic Church! This is only a small part of a rising Holy Roman Empire. Germany and the Vatican were willing to offend the whole world to recognize two little Roman Catholic republics!
—Gerald Flurry, Germany’s Conquest of the Balkans

Germany has conquered much of Yugoslavia on its path to revive the Holy Roman Empire. Yugoslavia no longer exists. Croatia and Slovenia were absorbed into the German-led European Union. Other Balkan nations are EU candidates—including Serbia, which seems set to continue its path to membership at greater speed.

Expect Germany to continue to force Serbia under its control, whether by working closely with its new leaders and removing the remnants of Vučić’s opposition or by other means.