Simo Kecojević ( sr-cyr, Симо Кецојевић; 1888–1953) was a Serbian freedom fighter, having participated in the irregular guerrilla forces in the Kosovo Vilayet between 1910 and 1912, then as regular soldier in the

Balkan Wars The Balkan Wars were two conflicts that took place in the Balkans, Balkan states in 1912 and 1913. In the First Balkan War, the four Balkan states of Kingdom of Greece (Glücksburg), Greece, Kingdom of Serbia, Serbia, Kingdom of Montenegro, M ...

World War I World War I or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting to ...

and

World War II World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

Life

Early life

Simo Kecojević and his twin brother Sćepan were born in Boričje,

Piva Piva may refer to: Locations * Piva (Drina), a river in Montenegro and Bosnia and Herzegovina * Piva, Montenegro, a region in Montenegro and tribe * Lake Piva, a reservoir in Montenegro * Piva River, Bougainville, Papua New Guinea * Piva Trail ...

Principality of Montenegro The Principality of Montenegro () was a principality in Southeastern Europe that existed from 13 March 1852 to 28 August 1910. It was then proclaimed a Kingdom of Montenegro, kingdom by Nikola I of Montenegro, Nikola I, who then became King of M ...

(in today's

Plužine Plužine (Cyrillic: Плужине, ) is a town in Montenegro in the northern region. In 2023 it had a population of 1,102. Location The municipality of Plužine is the seventh municipality in Montenegro in terms of area. The municipality is lo ...

Montenegro , image_flag = Flag of Montenegro.svg , image_coat = Coat of arms of Montenegro.svg , coa_size = 80 , national_motto = , national_anthem = () , image_map = Europe-Mont ...

), in 1888, the sons of Milovan Kecojević and Cvijeta (née

Živković Živković (sometimes transliterated Zivkovic, sr-Cyrl, Живковић, ) is a Croatian and Serbian surname derived from a masculine given name Živko. It is the most common surname in the Šibenik-Knin County in Croatia, and among the most fre ...

). The family moved to the

Kingdom of Serbia The Kingdom of Serbia was a country located in the Balkans which was created when the ruler of the Principality of Serbia, Milan I of Serbia, Milan I, was proclaimed king in 1882. Since 1817, the Principality was ruled by the Obrenović dynast ...

in 1895.

Balkan Wars and World War I (1910-18)

Kecojević was actively involved in all wars that Serbia (and later Yugoslavia) waged from 1910 to 1945. Between 1910 and 1912, he and his twin brother Sćepan participated in the irregular guerrilla forces in the Kosovo Vilayet which sought to join the region with Serbia. Simo, under the ''

nom de guerre A ''nom de guerre'' (, 'war name') is a pseudonym chosen by someone to use when they are involved in a particular activity, especially fighting in a war. In Ancien régime, ''ancien régime'' Kingdom of France, France it would be adopted by each n ...

'' Simče Kecalov, was appointed the ''vojvoda'' (commander, "duke") of

Prizren Prizren ( sq-definite, Prizreni, ; sr-cyr, Призрен) is the second List of cities and towns in Kosovo, most populous city and Municipalities of Kosovo, municipality of Kosovo and seat of the eponymous municipality and District of Prizren, ...

(today in

Kosovo Kosovo, officially the Republic of Kosovo, is a landlocked country in Southeast Europe with International recognition of Kosovo, partial diplomatic recognition. It is bordered by Albania to the southwest, Montenegro to the west, Serbia to the ...

), while his brother was appointed ''vojvoda'' of

Prilep Prilep ( ) is the List of cities in North Macedonia, fourth-largest city in North Macedonia. According to 2021 census, it had a population of 63,308. Name The name of Prilep appeared first as ''Πρίλαπος'' in Greek (''Prilapos'') in 1 ...

(today in

Republic of Macedonia North Macedonia, officially the Republic of North Macedonia, is a landlocked country in Southeast Europe. It shares land borders with Greece to the south, Albania to the west, Bulgaria to the east, Kosovo to the northwest and Serbia to the n ...

). During the

First Balkan War The First Balkan War lasted from October 1912 to May 1913 and involved actions of the Balkan League (the Kingdoms of Kingdom of Bulgaria, Bulgaria, Kingdom of Serbia, Serbia, Kingdom of Greece, Greece and Kingdom of Montenegro, Montenegro) agai ...

(1912–13), the brothers served as infantry in the Morava Division (nicknamed "The Iron Regiment"), under lieutenant-colonel Vlada Ristić. Serbian general

Radomir Putnik Radomir Putnik (; ; 24 January 1847 – 17 May 1917) was a Serbian military leader and the first Field marshal (Serbia and Yugoslavia), Field Marshal of Serbia. Serving as Chief of the General Staff (Serbia), Chief of the General Staff, he play ...

personally awarded Simo with the Bravery Medal for his action in combat during

. The brothers were also well-known leaders of the

Toplica Rebellion The Toplica Uprising () was a mass uprising by Serbian rebels against the Bulgarian occupation forces that took place in Bulgarian-occupied Serbia during the First World War. The rebels were motivated by grievances against the Bulgarian author ...

(1917). His brother Sćepan was killed by Bulgarians in

Varna Varna may refer to: Places Europe *Varna, Bulgaria, a city ** Varna Province ** Varna Municipality ** Gulf of Varna ** Lake Varna **Varna Necropolis * Vahrn, or Varna, a municipality in Italy * Varna (Šabac), a village in Serbia Asia * Var ...

while escaping from prison in 1917.

Between the world wars

Between the wars, Kecojević worked as a farmer and was an active member of the Democratic Party.

World War II and retirement

During

, Kecojević was initially a ''vojvoda'' of the

Chetniks The Chetniks,, ; formally the Chetnik Detachments of the Yugoslav Army, and also the Yugoslav Army in the Homeland; and informally colloquially the Ravna Gora Movement, was a Kingdom of Yugoslavia, Yugoslav royalist and Serbian nationalist m ...

in southern Serbia until late 1941, after a disagreement with

Kosta Pećanac Konstantin "Kosta" Milovanović Pećanac ( sr-cyrl, Константин "Коста" Миловановић Пећанац; 1879–1944) was a Serbian and Yugoslav Chetnik commander ('' vojvoda'') during the Balkan Wars, World War I and World ...

, when he joined the

Yugoslav Partisans The Yugoslav Partisans,Serbo-Croatian, Macedonian language, Macedonian, and Slovene language, Slovene: , officially the National Liberation Army and Partisan Detachments of Yugoslavia sh-Latn-Cyrl, Narodnooslobodilačka vojska i partizanski odr ...

and served as a commander of a battalion in Gajtan. Kecojević died in 1953 in

Srpski Miletić Srpski Miletić () is a village located in the Odžaci municipality, West Bačka District, Vojvodina, Serbia. As of 2011, the village has 3,038 people inhabitants. Name In Serbian the village is known as ''Srpski Miletić'' (Српски Мил ...

, Serbia.

References

Sources

* * * *

External links

Kecojevic.com - official website of the Kecojevic Clan
{{DEFAULTSORT:Kecojevic, Simo 1888 births 1953 deaths 20th-century Serbian military personnel Serbian soldiers Serbian guerrillas Serbian military personnel of World War I Serbian people of World War II Chetnik personnel of World War II Yugoslav Partisans members Recipients of the Medal for Bravery (Serbia) People from Plužine Serbian twins Royal Serbian Army soldiers