Peko Dapčević
Quick Facts
Biography
Petar "Peko" Dapčević (25 June 1913 – 13 February 1999) was a famous Montenegrin and Yugoslav communist who fought as a volunteer in the Spanish Civil War, joined the Partisan uprising in Montenegro, and became commander of the Yugoslav 1st and 4th Armies.
General Dapčević led the Partisan troops that, along with Soviet Red Army under General Vladimir Zhdanov, liberated Belgrade on October 20, 1944. He was the first person to be proclaimed as honorary citizen of Belgrade. In 1953 Dapčević was named Chief of the Yugoslav General Staff, but was demoted as a result of being indirectly involved in the Đilas troubles with the party.
Born in the village of Ljubotinj (near Cetinje), Kingdom of Montenegro, his father Jovan was an Orthodox deacon and his brother was Vlado Dapčević.
Dapčević died at the age of 86 in his home in Belgrade, FR Yugoslavia.