Pavle Savic, distinguished Serbian scientist, Communist and Partisan, was twice in Moscow since 1944 to 1946: since April to October 1944, and since July 1945 to autumn 1946. Both times he dealt with ...scientific research in the Institute of physical problems, but during his second staying he paid special attention on providing funds, and financial and personnel assistance for the establishment of the Institute of Physics in Yugoslavia. Together with Soviet scientists led by academician Pyotr Leonidovich Kapitsa, Savic has compiled a detailed project for construction of institute of Physics, and predicted that necessary professional staff should be trained, and necessary material, instruments and apparatus should be purchased in Soviet Union. The project and plans were presented to Josip Broz Tito, and it was proposed to him to formally request help of Soviet government in realization of project, during his visit to Moscow in June 1946. In later memoirs it is mentioned that Tito was first to put forward the idea of building the institute of Physics in Yugoslavia during his visit to Moscow. But, the archival sources clearly indicates that Pavle Savic went to Moscow with a clear assignment to examine possibilities, to design the project and to win support for the construction of the institute. In autumn 1946 Savic came back to Belgrade, and since autumn 1947 he worked intensively on building of Institute of Physics in Vinca, but without the assistance of the Soviet Union, with which the Yugoslav leadership was on the threshold of bitter conflict.
