initially, the headquarters of keserović's forces was in the village of kupci, between kruševac and brus, and later in the village of kriva reka, brus, on kopaonik. in august 1942, mihailović issued his first orders that took a "definite position against the occupying powers". these orders were british-inspired and included orders to prepare to sabotage the railways in occupied serbia. after these orders, keserović issued a general direction urging peasants in his area of operations to hide grain, livestock, and fodder from the occupying forces. in august 1942, the joint axis forces of german and bulgarian troops attacked major keserović's chetniks on kopaonik and captured nine members of his headquarters; three of them were members of the british mission and were executed when they were leaving the village of kriva reka. in 1942, he maintained communication with nikolaj velimirović. shortly before italian capitulation in september 1943, keserović raided two german railway transports and pushed back german attacks to mihailović's headquarters.