In 1941, with Nazi Germany invading, conquering, and dismembering Kingdom of Yugoslavia into territories administered by newly-established local collaborationist regimes or neighbouring Axis powers states, the Miljanićs were forced into fleeing Bitola by the occupying Bulgarian force that had been given Vardar Banovina. The fleeing family first settled in the town of Jagodina followed by relocating to Kragujevac, a city reeling from the October 1941 massacre of more than 2,700 civilians committed by the Wehrmacht force.