On the History of Conscription in the Kingdom of SHS/Yugoslavia

"It Has Always Been a Tradition in the Drava Banate That the Recruits Indulge in Revelry"

Abstract

Conscription represents one of the most important contacts between the military and civilian sphere. From the point of view of the state, conscription represents a "debt to one's country", while for young men it is an important turning point in life. In any case, it is a transformation, supposedly making men out of boys. The authorities promoted this "initiation" component, since thus the army gained new significance - it supposedly helped to shape the nation. Due to unitarianism in the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes / Yugoslavia, the significance of the military for the shaping of the nation was even more pronounced. However, the period of "transformation" into manhood involved drinking sprees and revelry, which the authorities tried to prevent. The author focuses on the organisation of recruitment in the Drava Banate in the years 1937-40. Serving alcohol was forbidden, but the recruits would get drunk anyway. Riots as well as political incidents would frequently take place. Civilian authorities at the lowest level were often ineffective, failing to bring the recruits to the assembly point. Conscription gave rise to interesting events, making the everyday life of local communities more interesting, regardless of whether the people were entertained or shocked by the recruits.