1 December 1918
The Kingdom of the Serbs, Croats and Slovenes is established merging the kingdom of Serbia, the independent kingdom of Montenegro, and the territories of Bosnia Herzegovina, Croatia and Slovenia, all three of which were previously part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire.
1924
The Yugoslavian Army carries out chemical warfare trials using 80mm to 100mm artillery shells of French and Czechoslovakian manufacture. The tests are conducted at facilities in the towns of Skopje and Tetovo, and at the Kragujevac arsenal. The fillings of the shells tested are not known but on the basis of subsequent information may have been Mustard agent.
—SIS Gas Warfare Report CX/12878 Jugo-Slavia: Gas, 23 October 1925, Public Record Office, WO 188/788, United Kingdom.
April 1924
The Kragujevac arsenal begins production of chemical warfare agents. It appears that two agents are manufactured - the lachrymator Chloroacetophenone (CN) and Mustard agent.
—SIS Gas Warfare Report CX/11512 Yugo-slavia: Summary of Gas Warfare in Yugo-slavia up to the 6th June 1925 compiled from Information received from SIS sources only, 6 June 1925, Public Record Office, WO 188/788, United Kingdom.
1925
The Obilcevo chemical complex in the town of Krusevac begins production of chemical protective masks for use by the Yugoslavian armed forces under the designation M-27. [Available images suggest that the mask is a local copy of the French ARS mask.]
— TRAYAL corporation website, <http://www.trayal.co.yu/English/history.htm> “Towards an Understanding of Yugoslav Capabilities: CBW Research, Development, Production,” The ASA Newsletter, <http://www.asanltr.com/ASANews-99/993a.htm>.
25-26 May 1925
In the course of discussions in Geneva on the draft text of the Protocol for the Prohibition of the Use in War of Asphyxiating, Poisonous, or other Gases, and of Bacteriological Methods of Warfare the Yugoslavian representative indicates opposition to a proposal that the protocol include a ban on the export of chemical weapons. The representative notes that in the absence of a rigorous ban on the use of chemical weapons, combined with security guarantees to non-producers, all states would be obliged to seek the means necessary to undertake the production of chemical weapons.
—Jozef Goldblat, The Problem of Chemical and Biological Warfare: Volume IV. CB Disarmament Negotiations, 1920-1970 (Stockholm: SIPRI, 1971), p. 61.
17 June 1925
The Kingdom of the Serbs, Croats and Slovenes (Yugoslavia) signs the 1925 Geneva Protocol.
—Status of Multilateral Arms Regulation and Disarmament Agreements, <http://disarmament2.un.org/TreatyStatus.nsf>.
25 August 1925
The British government lists the Yugoslavian chemical warfare arsenal as follows; 1,240 cylinders of Mustard agent imported from France; 3,000 cylinders of Mustard agent produced at the Kragujevac arsenal in Yugoslavia. The report notes that Yugoslavia took approximately two years to produce this quantity of mustard. The size of the containers is not specified.
—SIS Gas Warfare Report CX/12878 Yugo-Slavia: Gas, 25 August 1925, Public Record Office, WO 188/788, United Kingdom. [there appears to have been a duplication of reference numbers in the S.I.S. records]
7 September 1925
An internal report of the British government notes that “two Yugoslavian Army officers are being sent to France to study “gas warfare” at the Versailles based Ecole de Poudre.” British military intelligence believed that on their return to the Yugoslav army “these officers would take up duty as instructors."
—SIS Gas Warfare Report CX/9698 Yugo-Slavia: Military: S.C.S. Officers for study in France, 7 September 1925, Public Record Office, WO 188/788, United Kingdom.
May 1925
Yugoslavia receives a shipment of 150 cylinders of Phosgene and 50 cylinders of Chlorine from France. These cylinders are placed in storage at the Kragujevac arsenal.
—SIS Gas Warfare Report CX 12878, 5 July 1927, Public Record Office, WO 188/788, United Kingdom.
5 November 1925
The Yugoslavian Council of defense decides to proceed with the construction of an arsenal in the vicinity of Sarajevo. In addition to producing land-mines and artillery shells, and maintaining artillery pieces, the proposed facility will also include a section for the production of chemical warfare agents.
—SIS Gas Warfare Report CX 12909 Establishment of Military Factory at Sarajevo, 25 November 1925, Public Record Office, WO 188/788, United Kingdom.
January 1926
As part of a general reorganization of the Yugoslavian Supreme Military Command structure a decision is made to establish a Gas Warfare Department as a subsidiary body of the Yugoslavian General Staff.
—SIS Gas Warfare Report CX 112878 Reorganisation of the Supreme Military Command, 20 January 1926, Public Record Office, WO 188/788, United Kingdom.
Fall 1926
Four Yugoslavian Army Reserve officers, who are already qualified chemical experts, are detailed for foreign training in the use of chemical weapons. Two officers are sent to France and one each to Belgium and Germany.
—SIS Gas Warfare Report, Public Record Office, WO 188/788, United Kingdom.
September 1926
A fresh series of chemical warfare trials, involving live firing of 77mm artillery shells is undertaken at Skopje. It is not clear from the available information if these shells are imported or represent local production.
—SIS Gas Warfare Report, Public Record Office, WO 188/788, United Kingdom.
February 1927
According to British secret intelligence reports the Yugoslavian CW stockpile comprises c. 6000 drums of mustard, not all of which is serviceable, and smaller quantities of chlorine and phosgene. In addition, Yugoslavia holds c. 42,000 artillery shells variously filled with Di-phosgene and Hydrogen Cyanide. The greater part of this arsenal has been supplied by France. There is no indication of the caliber of these shells but the majority is probably 75mm [there are indications that France is supplying Yugoslavia with substandard materials from its surplus WW1 stockpile].
—SIS Gas Warfare Report, Public Record Office, WO 188/788, United Kingdom.
March 1927
The French government delivers a shipment of approximately 50,000 gas masks to Yugoslavia. These masks are not issued to the army but are stored at the Kragujevac arsenal as mobilization stores.
—SIS Gas Warfare Report CX 12878 R877/4, 27 January 1927, Public Record Office, WO 188/788, United Kingdom.
Mid 1927
Yugoslavian authorities begin efforts to recruit the services of Austrian and German chemical warfare experts.
—SIS Gas Warfare Report CX 12878, 5 July 1927, Public Record Office, WO 188/788, United Kingdom.
Late 1920s
Yugoslavia starts producing protective masks for chemical warfare purposes at the Obilcevo chemical complex in the town of Krusevac. [this information may be unreliable]
—"Towards an Understanding of Yugoslav Capabilities: CBW Research, Development, Production," The ASA Newsletter, <http://www.asanltr.com/ASANews-99/993a.htm>.
1927 to 1931
Dr. Hugo Stoltzenberg, a German chemist associated with the German government's clandestine chemical warfare activities in the early 1920s, is suspected of involvement in the transfer of technology and equipment related to the production of chemical weapons to the Yugoslavian government. Dr. Stoltzenberg is also involved in the supply of CW material and technology to Spain (1921 - 27), USSR (1923 - 27) and Brazil (1937 - 42). [This information is contested]
—Edward. M. Spiers, Chemical and Biological Weapons: A Study of Proliferation (New York: St. Martins Press, 1994), p. 8.
12 April 1929
Yugoslavia deposits its instrument of ratification of the 1925 Geneva Protocol adding the following reservation; "The said Protocol shall cease to be binding on the Government of the Serbs, Croats and Slovenes in regard to any enemy State whose armed forces or whose allies fail to respect the prohibitions which are the object of this Protocol."
—Status of Multilateral Arms Regulation and Disarmament Agreements, <http://disarmament2.un.org/TreatyStatus.nsf>.
28 September 1932
By Decree of the War Minister of the Kingdom of Yugoslavia, the Yugoslavian Army's first dedicated chemical defense unit, the Barutanski battalion, is formed as a part of the "Obilicevo" institute.
—Official website of the ABHO Branch of the Army of Federation of Serbia and Montenegro [in Serbian], <http://www.vj.yu/Abho/istorijat/index.htm>; <http://www.vj.yu/english/en_aktuelno/vesti/septembar2003/v0929-e.htm>; <http://www.mod.gov.yu/english/aktivnosti_VSCG-e.htm>.
1933
A gas mask production facility is established as part of the Obilicevo chemical complex. It begins license production of a Czechoslovakian designed gas mask under the designation M-1 for use by Yugoslavian troops.
—TRAYAL corporation official timeline, <http://www.trayal.co.yu/eng/istorija.htm>; Gasmask Museum, <http://www.gasmasklexikon.com/Page/Yugoslavia.htm>.
1937
A study of international chemical warfare capabilities by Dr. R. Hanslian entitled Der Chemische Krieg (Chemical War) is published in Germany. It lists thirty countries known to the author to possess chemical warfare establishments within their military structure. In addition it identifies seven countries with active offensive chemical warfare programs. This list excludes Germany and Yugoslavia.
—Julian Perry Robinson, The Problem of Chemical and Biological Warfare: Volume I. The Rise of CB Weapons, (Stockholm: SIPRI, 1971), pp. 292-293.
1938
The British government identifies Yugoslavia as one of thirteen countries possessing an offensive CW capability. The report by the CDRD (Chemical Defence Research Department) notes rumors of a chemical battalion for offence. In addition it claims that Yugoslavia possesses "some stocks of gas and [a] limited capacity for production."
—Nineteenth Report of the Chemical Defence Research Department, 1938, Public Record Office, WO 33/1634, quoted in Edward. M. Spiers, Chemical and Biological Weapons: A Study of Proliferation (New York: St. Martins Press, 1994), pp. 7 & 9.
1940
A new plant for the production of gas masks is constructed at the Obilicevo chemical complex and commences license production of a new Czechoslovakian design (Vz-35) under the designation M-2.
—TRAYAL corporation official timeline, <http://www.trayal.co.yu/eng/istorija.htm>; Gasmask Museum, <http://www.gasmasklexikon.com/Page/Yugoslavia.htm>.
6 April 1941
The Obilicevo chemical complex is destroyed by German bombers as part of the invasion of Yugoslavia.
—TRAYAL corporation official timeline, <http://www.trayal.co.yu/eng/istorija.htm>.
April 1941
Germany conquers Yugoslavia and seizes its stockpiles of chemical weapons. These stocks of weapons are subsequently transferred to Germany where they are added to existing German stockpiles.
—Edward. M. Spiers, Chemical and Biological Weapons: A Study of Proliferation (New York: St Martins Press 1994).
Mid-1945
Chemical weapons produced by Yugoslavia prior to World War Two are discovered in Germany by allied forces. They are destroyed along with German stockpiles.
—Edward. M. Spiers, Chemical and Biological Weapons: A Study of Proliferation (New York: St. Martins Press, 1994), p. 7 and p. 7 note 17.
20 July 1945
The Yugoslavian Army reestablishes its chemical defense arm. This unit is initially equipped with a mixture of equipment seized from defeated German forces or imported from allies such as the Soviet Union.
—Julian Perry Robinson, The Problem of Chemical and Biological Warfare: Volume II. CB Weapons Today (Stockholm: SIPRI, 1973), p. 248.
1946
Reconstruction of the Obilicevo chemical complex begins.
—TRAYAL corporation official timeline, <http://www.trayal.co.yu/eng/istorija.htm>.
1948
The Obilicevo chemical complex is renamed Industry Miloje Zakic.
—TRAYAL corporation official timeline, <http://www.trayal.co.yu/eng/istorija.htm>.
1950 to 1952
A plant for the production of activated charcoal is established as part of the Industry Miloje Zakic complex. This development allows the possibility that the indigenous production of gas masks can be resumed.
—TRAYAL corporation official timeline, <http://www.trayal.co.yu/eng/istorija.htm>.
c. 1952
Yugoslavia resumes local production of gas masks at the Miloje Zakic complex. Produced under the designation M-3 the design used is a variant of that produced before the war as the M-2.
—Gasmask Museum, <http://www.gasmasklexikon.com/Page/Yugoslavia.htm>.
1956 to 1961
Yugoslavian army personnel attend United States Army CBW training courses.
—Julian Perry Robinson, The Problem of Chemical and Biological Warfare: Volume II. CB Weapons Today (Stockholm: SIPRI, 1973), p. 249.
1958
Laboratory scale production of CW agents begins at a facility in the village of Potoci, ten kilometers from the city of Mostar under the supervision of the Military Technical Institute.
—"Yugoslav Chemical Warfare Capability. Mostar's History of Chemical Weapon Research, Development, Production: What, When, Where, How Much?" The ASA Newsletter, <http://www.asanltr.com/ASANews-99/992a.htm>.
1959
A Phosgene production line with a capacity of 20 kg per day is installed at the Potoci MTI facility and begins operation.
—"Yugoslav Chemical Warfare Capability. Mostar's History of Chemical Weapon Research, Development, Production: What, When, Where, How Much?" The ASA Newsletter, <http://www.asanltr.com/ASANews-99/992a.htm>.
c. 1960
At the Miloje Zakic complex, Yugoslavia commences production of a new more modern gas mask design under the designation M-1. The mask is a straight copy of the M-9 model used by the United States in the 1950s. It is not clear whether or not this is a licensed copy. The mask is produced in two variants, one of which is for use by the armed forces and the other by civil agencies.
—Gasmask Museum, <http://www.gasmasklexikon.com/Page/Yugoslavia.htm>.
Until 1961
Thirty kilograms of Mustard agent and 143 kilograms of Sarin nerve agent are reportedly produced at the Prva Iskri factory in the town of Baric. This material is used to fill a number of 152mm and 155mm artillery projectiles for initial testing of designs and weapons effects.
—Igor Alborghetti, "Yugoslav Army has 40 Metric Tons of the Poisonous Gases Sarin and Mustard Gas in the Underground Storage Facility of the Chemical Plant in Lucani," Zagreb Globus, 16 April 1999, pp. 18-19.
1961 to 1969
Open-air live agent static testing of 152mm and 155mm shells filled with Mustard and Sarin is conducted in the Velez Mountain and Blidinje Lake regions of Bosnia.
—General Zlatko Binenfeld, Production of Chemical Weapons at the Military Technical Institute - Mostar Plant by the Former Yugoslav National Army (JNA), Statement at seminar on "National Authority and National Implementation Measures for the Chemical Weapons Convention" in Warsaw, Poland, 7-8 December 1993, p. 2.
1965
The Potoci facility's 20 kg per day Phosgene production line is relocated to the Industry Miloje Zakic chemical complex in Krusevac.
—General Zlatko Binenfeld, Production of Chemical Weapons at the Military Technical Institute - Mostar Plant by the Former Yugoslav National Army (JNA), Statement at seminar on "National Authority and National Implementation Measures for the Chemical Weapons Convention" in Warsaw, Poland, 7-8 December 1993, p. 2.
1965
Yugoslavian scientists at the Prva Iskri complex in the town of Baric begin in-depth research on production techniques for sulfur Mustard and Sarin.
—"Yugoslav Chemical Warfare Capability. Mostar's History of Chemical Weapon Research, Development, Production: What, When, Where, How Much?" The ASA Newsletter, <http://www.asanltr.com/ASANews-99/992a.htm>.
26 August 1965
A US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) National Intelligence Estimate (NIE) describing the Yugoslav Army says: “Yugoslav doctrine calls for the use of chemical weapons in support of small guerilla operations, but the ground forces have yet to develop any significant CW offensive or defensive capability.”
—Eastern Europe and the Warsaw Pact, NIE 12-65, Central Intelligence Agency, 26 August 1965, p. 16, <http://www.foia.cia.gov/docs/DOC_0000273191/0000273191_0020.gif>.
1965 to 1967
Initial development work begins on a facility for the production of methylphosphonyldichloride, a nerve gas precursor.
—"Yugoslav Chemical Warfare Capability. Mostar's History of Chemical Weapon Research, Development, Production: What, When, Where, How Much?" The ASA Newsletter, <http://www.asanltr.com/ASANews-99/992a.htm>.
1968
Installation of a line for the production of methylphosphonyldichloride is completed at the Miloje Blagojevic Powder Mill in the town of Lucani. The design capacity is 180kg per day. Trial operations begin.
—"Yugoslav Chemical Warfare Capability. Mostar's History of Chemical Weapon Research, Development, Production: What, When, Where, How Much?" The ASA Newsletter, <http://www.asanltr.com/ASANews-99/992a.htm>.
1969
Allegations surface that a Yugoslavian clandestine agency (Unutrašnja Državna Bezbednost) is active in Germany using CB weapons for assassination purposes.
—Julian Perry Robinson, The Problem of Chemical and Biological Warfare: Volume I. The Rise of CB Weapons, (Stockholm: SIPRI, 1971), p. 110.
1969 to 1970
Trial production runs of Sarin and sulfur Mustard are undertaken at the Potoci facility. This effort produces 600 kilograms of Sarin and 950 kilograms of Mustard.
—General Zlatko Binenfeld, Production of Chemical Weapons at the Military Technical Institute - Mostar Plant by the Former Yugoslav National Army (JNA), Statement at seminar on "National Authority and National Implementation Measures for the Chemical Weapons Convention" in Warsaw, Poland, December 7-8, 1993, p. 2.
