Access

The archives are at a former military technical college in Zarkovo, about 40 minutes by car from Belgrade. To visit, one must petition the Ministry of Defense (MOD) in writing. The wait time varies. Foreign researchers and journalists typically take longer — perhaps 30 days or more — than Serbian citizens. They usually get access within 14 days or less. Serbian journalists can wait almost as long as foreign visitors, For more information, visit the MOD’s website http://www.isi.mod.gov.rs/vojni_arhiv02/index.php?lang=en.

Security

Visitors fill out a simple questionnaire, show a passport, get a picture taken and within minutes receive a small, laminated card to use in the document reader. “The card tracks all documents you look at” and stores them on the massive server, said Maj. Rade Pavlovic, digitization supervisor. “If you lose your card, we can recreate a record of where you left off.” Video cameras record visitors’ every move in all corridors, research rooms, libraries and hallways.

Historical Records

Zarkovo’s trove of documents includes the Kingdom of Serbia (mid to late 18th century) through the Balkan Wars (pre-WWI); the Kingdom of Yugoslavia (1918-1945); the Socialist Republic of Yugoslavia under Josip Broz Tito (1945-1981); the rise and rule of President Slobodan Milosevic (1989-October 2000), to the present. Documents from 1961 to 2011 are classified, but may be viewed with special permission from MOD. 

What you will find: geographical maps, the oldest from 1714, military battle maps, campaign notes and some 40 million documents accessible on paper, or a smaller amount by digital scanner and search engine.

Researchers can look for details about entire campaigns, renegade troops, prison camps, Austrian or German reprisal raids, Allied bombing campaigns, and the like. Visitors can choose to print documents or to store them on a CD.

Genealogical Research

This archive is not for genealogical research per se. To be in the archive’s database, the person you want information on must have a military association, however small. Come prepared with as many details as possible: military unit, regiment, or rank of your relative; place of mobilization; battles fought; death certificates, if issued by military, etc.

Getting There

By car, the trip takes about 40 minutes; by bus #51 from the main Belgrade station, it takes up to 90 minutes. Go to end of line. From the Zarkovo gatehouse, it is a 15- to 30-minute walk to the archive building, depending on the weather and personal fitness. Next Article: Timeline: 1918-Present