Zelenaši
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The zelenaši (Serbian: Зеленаши, meaning Тhe Greens) were a group of Montenegrin dissidents, most notable for instigating the 1919 Christmas rebellion. They existed from 1918 to 1926 in Montenegro in the Kingdom of Yugoslavia, which supported the House of Petrović-Njegoš of Montenegro over the House of Karađorđević of Serbia, and were opposed to the mode Serbian unification had taken, with the disappearance of Montenegro as a political entity. They tended to emphasize the key role of Montenegro in "Serbdom" and many favoured a federal Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes. Notable leaders of the Greens included Krsto Zrnov Popović and Novica Radović.
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[edit] Name
The name of the zelenaši derives from the green voting cards that were used by the supporters the Kingdom of Montenegro at the Podgorica Assembly in 1918.
[edit] History
[edit] Christmas rebellion
The Greens opposed the unification of the Kingdom of Montenegro with the Kingdom of Serbia under the House of Karađorđević. With support from Italy, the Greens organised an uprising in 1919 with the aim of bringing the House of Petrović-Njegoš back to the Montenegrin throne.
The uprising might have taken a different course had King Nikola not been deceived by the Great Powers, who promised (and never fulfilled) to reestablish the sovereign state of Montenegro by diplomatic means if he would stop supporting the uprising.[citation needed] Based on this promise, he issued a proclamation in January 1919 asking for a stop to the resistance.[citation needed]
The rebellion failed and the rebels fled to Italy. Krsto Zrnov Popović and Novica Radović lead the uprising, along with Commander Savo Čelebić and Captain Đuro Drašković.
[edit] Guerrilla War
After the unsuccessful uprising, the Greens returned and in June started a guerrilla war. The core of the revolt was subdued in 1922-1923, but guerrilla resistance continued in the highlands for several more years. In 1926, the guerrilla war had ended. Reportedly, the last rebel to lay down his arms did so on the promise that he would receive a sable and medal from King Alexander Karađorđević.[citation needed]
[edit] World War II and their end
In World War II, the Greens were organized yet again in Montenegro under the command of the Fascist Italian occupation government and started a war against the Communist Partisans. Among the Montenegrin federalists, Krsto Zrnov Popović returned from exile in Italy to attempt to lead the Greens. The Greens' forces were called the Lovćen Brigade. Soon, they were disorganized and one group of Greens joined the Partisans, while another joined the Chetniks/Yugoslav Army in the Fatherland. After the Partisan victory in 1945, many leaders of the Greens were killed as the collaborators of the Italian occupation. At the same time, the Communists were killing many potential opponents all over Yugoslavia. This marked the end of the Greens.
[edit] Order of Freedom of Montenegro
The Order of Freedom of Montenegro was issued by the exiled King Nikola in January 1919. This order was mainly dedicated to the Greens.
