partizan

Partizan is a term with several notable uses. As a general noun, it denotes a member of a partisan or guerrilla resistance force that fights irregularly behind enemy lines rather than as part of a formal regular army. During World War II, the Yugoslav Partisans were a major resistance movement against Axis occupation, led by the Communist Party under Josip Broz Tito, operating across occupied Yugoslavia from 1941 to 1945.

In Serbia and the successor states, Partizan is the name of a major multi-sport club based in Belgrade. The Partizan sports society was founded in 1945 by the Yugoslav People's Army and has produced prominent teams, notably FK Partizan (football) and KK Partizan (basketball). These clubs have won multiple national championships and have competed in European competitions; the organization maintains a long-standing rivalry with Red Star Belgrade in the Belgrade derby. The Partizan club system has contributed to Belgrade’s prominence in regional sports and helped develop numerous professional athletes across several disciplines.

The term Partizan is also used in various languages to describe fighters who participate in resistance movements, often within national or regional histories where partisan activity played a significant role. The naming of sports clubs and other organizations in the Balkans reflects the broader cultural memory of partisan resistance and its enduring influence on regional identity.