– Great Soviet Encyclopedia –
JOVANOVIĆ, Arso (1906-48) — Hero of the Yugoslav people, an outstanding leader in the struggle against the German-Italian invaders for a free, independent, people’s democratic Yugoslavia, Colonel-General of the Yugoslav army. He was born into a Montenegrin peasant family and received a military education. Even while serving as an officer in the Royal Yugoslav Army, he fought against the pro-German reactionary regime. After Yugoslavia was occupied by the Italian and German fascists (April 1941), Jovanović began organizing partisan detachments to fight the invaders. His military talent and organizational abilities allowed him to play an outstanding role in forming the National Liberation Army in Yugoslavia from scattered partisan groups. In July 1941, he joined the Communist Party of Yugoslavia. That same year, Jovanović became the Chief of the Supreme Headquarters of the National Liberation Army and remained in this position until the victory over the fascist invaders. Jovanović was the inspiration and organizer of all major strategic and tactical operations in the fight against the occupiers. He succeeded in carrying out these operations with the help of all honest Yugoslav patriots, despite the criminal plans and actions of traitors — who at the time had not yet been exposed — such as Tito and other imperialist agents who had deceitfully made their way into leadership positions in the national liberation struggle of the Yugoslav peoples. In battles against the enemies of the Yugoslav people, Jovanović proved to be a fearless and talented commander. For his outstanding service in the fight against fascism, he was awarded the military rank of Colonel-General and received numerous Yugoslav decorations, as well as the Soviet Orders of Suvorov First Class, Kutuzov First Class, and decorations from the Polish, Czechoslovak and Albanian republics. Jovanović was the author of several articles and pamphlets on military topics (The Belgrade Operation, The Historic Victories of the Red Army, and others). From 1946 to 1948, he furthered his military education in Moscow at the Higher Military Academy named after K.E. Voroshilov.
In 1948, when American and British spies who had infiltrated the leadership of the Communist Party of Yugoslavia openly took the path of betraying the cause of socialism and Yugoslavia’s independence, Jovanović expressed solidarity with the resolution of the Information Bureau of Communist Parties regarding the situation in the Communist Party of Yugoslavia. A fervent patriot, loyal to the principles of Marxism-Leninism and international proletarian solidarity, and a consistent advocate for alliance and friendship between Yugoslavia and its liberator — the USSR — Jovanović waged a determined struggle against the fascist clique of Tito and Ranković. In July 1948, Jovanović returned from the USSR to Yugoslavia. In August 1948, he was treacherously murdered by the fascist executioners of Ranković and Tito.
From the second edition of the Great Soviet Encyclopedia (Vol. 18, 1953, pp. 342–343)
(Translated from the Russian original)