Dušan Simović

Yugoslav Army officer

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July 13, 2026

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Dušan Simović was a Yugoslav Army officer who played a significant role in the events leading up to and during World War II. He was a prominent figure in the Yugoslav military and held high-ranking positions.

In March 1941, Simović led a coup d'état that overthrew the pro-Axis government of Prince Paul. This action was a direct response to Yugoslavia's decision to join the Tripartite Pact, aligning with Nazi Germany and its allies. Simović's coup brought to power a government that opposed the Axis powers, leading to Germany's invasion of Yugoslavia in April 1941.12

Following the invasion and the subsequent occupation of Yugoslavia, Simović went into exile. He remained an important figure for the Yugoslav government-in-exile during the war. His actions in March 1941 were pivotal in shifting Yugoslavia's allegiance and ultimately its fate during World War II.

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Prince Paul Karadjordjević
Dušan Simović and other air force officers. Paul fled to Greece, where he was captured by British forces. He spent the remainder of the war interred in Kenya and South Africa. After the war, he was declared an enemy of the state by the communist…
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Dušan Simović and other air force officers. Paul fled to Greece, where he was captured by British forces. He spent the remainder of the war interred in Kenya and South Africa. After the war, he was declared an enemy of the state by the communist…
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World War II
Central Europe and the Balkans, 1940–41
…Army officers, led by General Dušan Simović, executed a coup d’état in Belgrade, overthrowing the regency in favour of the 17-year-old king Peter II and reversing the former government’s policy.
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…Army officers, led by General Dušan Simović, executed a coup d’état in Belgrade, overthrowing the regency in favour of the 17-year-old king Peter II and reversing the former government’s policy.
Read More