Krsto Žrnov Popović
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Captain Krsto Žrnov Popović was one of the leaders of 1919 Christmas Uprising against Serbian dynasty Karađorđević, organized by the greens (zelenaši), followers of dethroned King Nikola and Montenegrin dynasty Petrović-Njegoš. After the uprising has failed, Popović immigrated to Italy, just to return in June of 1919 and start guerilla warfare.
Both quarreled sides in Montenegro, the greens and the whites (bjelaši), have emphasized the importance of Montenegro in Serbdom. Thus, in official newspapers of Montenegrin government in exile, Glas Crnogorca (Voice of Montenegrin), December 10th, 1919 edition, Krsto Popović has noted that importance, saying, "Montenegro is the land where the spark of Serb freedom was kept and preserved". Meanwhile, only several months after his arrival to Montenegro, Krsto Popović has returned to Italy, where he serves in the army of Montenegrin government in exile, advancing to level of commander, and later to level of brigadier.
In 1929, from Belgium he sent the letter to King Alexander, where he begs the King to pardon him from responsibility for the civil war in Montenegro from December of 1918 until King Nikola's death. In this letter, he also proclaimed his loyalty to King Aleksandar Karađorđević. In October 18th, 1929, in Belgium, government of province of Liege, immigration police, issued him a passport, under number 9121, with visa number 94. Among personal information, filled in this passport, Krsto Žrnov Popović declared himself as Serb.
In the same year, he has returned to Yugoslavia, received pension and lived in retirement until World War II, when he organized his military formation zelenasi. This militia was under Italian occupation force control, and it waged war against Montenegrin communists. Militia official symbol was red-blue-white flag, Serb tricolor, also used by military formation loyal to dynasty Karadjordjevic in Montenegro, the chetniks. During the war his militia has split; one group joined the partisans, and other joined the chetniks. Krsto Popović didn't join either side. He was killed by communists in 1947.
