State Security Administration
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Služba državne sigurnosti Служба државне безбедности Služba državne bezbednosti |
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| Secret police overview | |
|---|---|
| Formed | 13 March 1946 |
| Preceding Secret police | |
| Dissolved | 1991 |
| Superseding agency |
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| Jurisdiction | Yugoslavia |
| Headquarters | Belgrade |
The State Security Service (SDB or SDS), more commonly known by its original name as the State Security Administration (UDBA or UDSA), was the secret police of Yugoslavia. Best known at all times simply by the acronym UDBA, in its latter decades it was composed of six semi-independent secret police organizations—one for each of the six Yugoslav federal republics—coordinated by the central federal office.
Although it operated with more restraint than other secret police agencies in the communist dictatorships of Eastern Europe, the UDBA was nonetheless a feared tool of control. It is alleged that the UDBA was responsible for the "eliminations" of dozens of enemies of the state within Yugoslavia and internationally (estimates about 200 assassinations and kidnappings). Eliminations vary from those of World War II Ustaše Croat leaders Ante Pavelić and Vjekoslav Luburić (in Spain and Argentina), to Croatian emigrant writer Bruno Bušić.
With the breakup of Yugoslavia, every republic formed its own secret police but only the Serbian branch kept its UDBA-era name State Security Service.
UDBA formed a major part of the Yugoslav intelligence services from 1946-1991, and was primarily responsible for internal state security. After 1946 the UDB underwent numerous security and intelligence changes due to topical issues at that time, including: fighting gangs; protection of the economy; Cominform/Informbiro; and bureaucratic aspirations. In 1945 and 1946, for instance, the UDB was organized into districts. In 1950, when the administrative-territorial units were abolished as authorities, the UDB was reorganized again. During this period the intelligence and security activities concentrated less on intelligence and more on internal security. There was an emphasis on collectivism, brotherhood, social harmony, loyalty, and tolerance towards those with different views. Deviation from this set of values became an immediate issue for security services.
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