 In mid @-@ July 1941 , the Communist Party of Yugoslavia ( Serbo @-@ Croatian : Komunistička <unk> Jugoslavije , KPJ ) initiated a general uprising against the Italian occupiers . The uprising was triggered by the proclamation of a restored Kingdom of Montenegro headed by an Italian regent and led by the Montenegrin separatist Sekula Drljević and his supporters , known as " Greens " ( zelenaši ) . The insurgents also included large numbers of Montenegrin Serb nationalists known as " Whites " ( <unk> ) , who " stood for close ties to Serbia " . About 400 former VKJ officers , many of whom were willing to work with the communists , also took part . Some of the officers had recently been released from prisoner @-@ of @-@ war camps by the Germans and Italians , having been captured during the invasion . The VKJ officers assumed command , while the KPJ organised the revolt and provided political commissars . When the uprising commenced , Đurišić joined the committee that had been organised to lead military operations in the Berane district . 
