140th anniversary of the Military Geographical Institute

Abstract

The Military Geographical Institute celebrates 140 years of its existence, which is a significant historical path of an institution. It is a path through three centuries, through different national frameworks and other temptations, and frequent war situations in particular. The date of 5 February 1876, when the Second Section of the General Staff of the Serbian Army was formed, was taken to be the day of the establishment of the Military Geographical Institute and the beginning of the development of the Serbian military surveying and mapping service. This paper is an attempt of observing the historical facts through the prism of socio-political, military and professional circumstances. It covers the period of time through which this institution and its members passed since its foundation to the present day, and particularly highlights the condition of the service. The paper is conditionally divided into three periods: from 1876 to the end of World War I, from the creation of the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes until the end of World War II, and since the end of World War II until today.

Keywords

• military geographical institute
• geographical department
• military geodetic service
• mgi history
• 140th anniversary