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Yugoslavia Territorial Defense Forces
The Territorial Defense Forces (TDF) were formed in 1969 as
an integral part of the TND doctrine
(see Military Doctrine
, this
ch.). TDF units were a vehicle for mobilizing able-bodied
civilian males and females to participate in national defense.
Between one and three million Yugoslavs between the ages of
fifteen and sixty-five would fight under TDF command as irregular
or guerrilla forces in wartime. In peacetime, however, about
860,000 TDF troops were involved in training and other
activities.
As originally formed, the TDF was highly decentralized and
independent. TDF units were organized and funded by the party and
governments in the republics, autonomous provinces, and communes.
The units were commanded by TDF commanders, but they were
responsible to both regional LCY leadership and the nearest YPA
command. The formation of TDF units strained the budget,
personnel, logistics, and training resources of the YPA without
giving it direct control over them. Because of its high initial
priority, the TDF also became a rival of sorts and detracted from
the status and prestige of the YPA.
Tension between the TDF and the YPA persisted throughout the
1970s. The possibility that one republic might form its TDF units
into an independent army capable of opposing the YPA brought
gradual centralization of the TDF. The process culminated in the
establishment of the Council for Territorial Defense under the
control of the federal secretary for national defense in 1980
(see Government Organization for Defense
, this ch.).
Additional changes made republican and provincial TDF
commanders directly responsible to the chief of the YPA General
Staff. Active duty and reserve YPA officers assumed command of
TDF units throughout the country. It became increasingly apparent
that the YPA would direct TDF units in combat, except in enemycontrolled areas or in case of a disruption in the chain of
command.
Despite losing control over their TDF organizations, the
republics and autonomous provinces continued to bear the
financial burden of supporting them. Those jurisdictions were
still required to provide infrastructure and logistical support
to TDF units operating on their territory. During the 1980s, the
cost of the TDF was estimated at approximately 1 percent of GNP
annually.
The TDF concept focused on small, lightly armed infantry
units fighting defensive actions on familiar local terrain. The
typical unit was a company-sized detachment organized by more
than 2,000 communes, neighborhood factories, and other
enterprises. These units would fight in their home areas,
maintaining local defense production essential to the overall war
effort. The TDF also included some larger, more heavily equipped
units with wider operational responsibilities. TDF battalions and
regiments operated in regional areas with older artillery and
antiaircraft guns and some obsolete armored vehicles. Using their
mobility and tactical initiative, these units would attempt to
alleviate the pressure of enemy armored columns, air strikes, and
air assaults on smaller TDF units.
In coastal regions, TDF units had naval missions. They
operated some obsolete gunboats in support of navy operations.
They were organized to defend strategic coastal areas and naval
facilities against enemy amphibious landings and raids. They also
trained some divers for use in sabotage and other special
operations.
The TDF was helped by the fact that most of its male
citizen-soldiers were one-time YPA conscripts who had completed
their term of compulsory military service. But TDF recruitment
was somewhat limited by the YPA desire to include as many
recently released conscripts as possible in its reserve. Other
sources of TDF manpower lacked prior military service and
required extensive basic training.
Data as of December 1990
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