The Expulsion of Serbs from Slavonia and Srem
In June of 1941, the Ustase were already carrying out the finer points of their plan to "kill a third, convert a third, and expel a third" of the Serbian population. This letter, dated June 2, 1941, concerns the "cleansing" of about 3,000 Serbs from the regions of Slavonia and Srem, over the border to Serbia proper. By referring to the planned disembarkation points in the precincts of Bosanska Raca and Bijeljina, this document proves that the cleansing operation was organized and planned well in advance, rather than a result of "overzealous" Ustase prefects.

 

PLATOON HEADQUARTERS BIJELJINA
Number 16.
June 2nd, 1941.
In Bijeljina

Request for reinforcement of
the platoon during transition of
emigrants to Serbia:

TO THE BORDER POLICE HEADQUARTERS

TUZLA

On the 31st of May 1941. the undersigned was informed by the Ustase commissar from the main Ustase headquarters in Zagreb, Mr. Grgic Tomislav, and in agreement with the district commissariat in Bijeljina, that between the 8th and 15th of June 1941, there will be about 3,000 Serbs from the territory of Slavonia and Srem sent to Serbia over the river Drina. -The mentioned people will cross the border of the state of Croatia to Serbia on the territory of police stations Bosanska Raca and Bijeljina of this platoon.

So that the transport could be carried out undisturbed it is necessary to reinforce mentioned stations with needed number of policemen, that is with 15 more policemen at both stations, so that this way this job could be carried out undisturbed.

I deliver the above for a competent decision.

 

Platoon commander,
Frane Debeljak
Master Sergeant.

 

:: filing information ::
Title: The Expulsion of Serbs from Slavonia and Srem
Source: Army Archive, Archive of the NDH. Quoted in Zlocini: Na Jugoslovenskim Prostorima u Prvom i Drugom Svetskom Ratu, Zbornik Documenata, p 71. Translated by Sinisa Djuric.
Date: May 31, 1941 Added: January 2002