members. Popović fought with Spanish Republican forces and not the International Brigades, holding the rank of artillery captain. At the close of the Spanish Civil War Popović escaped through France and made his way back to Yugoslavia. World War II In 1940, as a reserve officer in the Royal Yugoslav Army, he was mobilized and told by his Colonel to watch out for subversive activities within the regiment. After the surrender of the Royal Yugoslav Army to the German Army in April 1941, Popović organized the Kosmaj detachment during the rising in Serbia. On the formation of the First Proletarian Brigade, Popović became its commander, and subsequently commanded the First Proletarian Division. During his time leading the Partisans he encountered William Deakin, leader of the British military mission to Tito's headquarters, who wrote of Popović: Post-war Alongside dozens of others WW2 and Spanish Civil War veterans, Popović was among founding fathers of Partizan Belgrade football club in October 1945. After the establishment of a communist regime in Yugoslavia in 1945, he served as the Chief of the Yugoslavian General Staff from 1945-1953. In this function he also conducted negotiations with the representatives of Western powers associated with the modernisation of the JNA during the conflict with the Soviet Union (i.e., Informbiro). Consequently, he became the foreign minister of Yugoslavia in 1953 and held this office until 1965. As the Foreign Minister, he was the head of the Yugoslav delegation to the UN General Assembly sessions on several occasions. From 1965 until 1972 he acted as a Member of the Federal Executive Council and the Vice-President of Yugoslavia from 1966 until 1967. In 1985 he and Peko Dapčević were considered for promotion in rank General of the Army, but they both rejected the proposition. He died in 1992 at the age of 84. Honours See also Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Yugoslav People's Army Yugoslav Partisans Titoism Josip Broz Tito References External links Ministry of Foreign Affairs 1908 births 1992 deaths Politicians from Belgrade People from the Kingdom of Serbia Vice presidents of Yugoslavia League of Communists of Serbia politicians International Brigades personnel Yugoslav people of the Spanish Civil War Serbian people of World War II Yugoslav Partisans members Chiefs of Staff of the Yugoslav People's Army Recipients of the Order of the People's Hero Government ministers of Yugoslavia University of Belgrade Faculty of Law alumni Generals of the Yugoslav People's