Few are aware of it but, a little Balkan country which had recently gained its independence from the Ottoman Empire, played a profound role in the development of the Mauser rifle. Serbia's purchase of the Model 1871 rifle came just in time to save the Mauser company from bankruptcy. Serbia,is where other developments that made the Mauser action one of the most sought after bolt action rifle designs of the 20th century.
In 1918 Serbia was drafted into a new country, the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes. This was soon supplanted by the Kingdom of Yugoslavia. The greater region as a whole had long been known by that name; Jugoslavia, "Land of the Southern Slavs." At the same time, the Mauser action became the long arm of Yugoslavia's military and gendarmerie.
There is a brief history of Serbia and Yugoslavia and arms development and manufacturing there. Paul Mausers connection with Serbia. And of course, as the title suggests, there are the rifles; Serbian Mausers (rifles prior to 1918) models 1880 and 1884, also 1899, 1910, and carbine 1908 among others in this period. Then Mausers of Yugoslavia; Models 1924 rifle and carbine configurations. Also other Mausers with 1924 as the standard. These are prized collectors items. Then post-WWII- the Tito years- refurbished model 1924s- the 24/47 and Yugoslavian designed M48 series — Mr. Bogdanovic's book is the first English edition to provide a complete discussion of these, and every other "Yugoslav" Mauser rifle from 1880 to the present, including all sniper rifles, hunting and target rifles and .22 sporting rifles. In Serbian and Yugoslav Mauser Rifles, each model is discussed in its own chapter. All serial numbers are presented by year in tables. The many and varied markings are presented and translated and finishes and changes to models are described in text and charts and well illustrated with both photographs and excellent drawings for clarity, both period and new. These are the rifles that proved so deadly to the Nazi occupiers in World War II in the hands of the famous Yugoslav "partisans" Also brief reference to post war experimental models that didn't make it to production.
Regretfully, the book doesn't reflect upon the Mauser rifle's role in Yugoslavia's final years as it was being written in the midst of those years and their uncertainty. The book closes with appendices discussing satellite work and repair shops and factories, Serbian & Yugoslavia's financing for arms production and suchlike. And at the last a photographic description of how to break down a Mauser rifle for cleaning.