Italians as, despite the strategic importance of the adjacent Bay of Kotor as a naval base, and Montenegro's position on the route into the central Balkans, it was a food-deficit area into which they had to import 1,200–1,500 metric tons of foodstuffs every month. Religion The predominant religion in Montenegro was Eastern Orthodoxy. There was also a significant Sunni Islamic population and a smaller Roman Catholic one. Since the Metropolitanate of Montenegro unified with the Serbian Orthodox Church in 1920, the Serbian Orthodox Church was the dominant church among Montenegrins, divided into the Metropolitanate of Montenegro and the Littoral and the Eparchy of Budimlje-Nikšić, both led by Joanikije Lipovac. Lipovac was killed in the aftermath of the war by the Partisans after trying to flee Yugoslavia in 1945. The Catholic Church was divided into two dioceses, the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Bar and the Roman Catholic Diocese of Skopje. Notes References Governorates Montenegro, Italian governorate Yugoslavia in World War II States and territories established in 1941 States and territories disestablished in 1943 1941 in Montenegro 1942 in Montenegro 1943 in Montenegro 1941 establishments in Montenegro 1943 disestablishments in Montenegro 1941 establishments in Yugoslavia 1943 disestablishments in Yugoslavia Montenegro Montenegro Axis powers Client states of Fascist Italy Collaboration with the Axis Powers