InsideOfSerbianLife: Serbian History #3 - GENOCIDE AGAINST THE SERBS -

Before you start reading this post, play this song in new tab and simultaneously read the post. Thank you... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U8ffjXcpIk8

-Seven thousand nine hundred and fifty-

There were as many as our hearts are able to count, seven thousand nine hundred and fifty. .. They were fathers and mothers, sisters and brothers; they were peasants and workers, merchants and laborers, judges and artists and shepherds. They were the children of our plains and small hills. They were from the village and the city streets, from Vinkovci to Bosut and the forest between, from Zemun to Slankamen, from the lower Danube, the Cotova and Prnjavor, they came from every boundary of Srem. There were dark haired and gray-haired, there were bright and grouchy, spitfire and conciliatory. Each one was different, they were their own, they were someones, but most importantly they were ours.

They had seven thousand nine hundred and fifty names and just as many nicknames. Today they all share the same name, shooting victims in Sremska Mitrovica memorial cemetery.

Each of them, a national hero as columns of innocent hostages, members of the Communist youth (*SKOJ) with smooth faces still, or an experienced member of the Committee Srem, maybe wounded and or captured soldier, or a girl who is knitting clothes for endless paths that will cross the Srem Brigade, maybe an old woman in a headscarf , ... and any man who is guilty only for living in his own country, which was not to beat, or the relatives of the partisans. Ha, and the whole Srem was partisan relatives. They breathed their last breath, the Revolution.

However today, on that place, the place of their last pain. The torch monument is lifted. That monument turns his bloody forehead and speaks to the future: "They were seven thousand nine hundred and fifty, as much as our memories and love is able to count, they lived on their land of Srem and as martyrs they spilled their martyr blood on their native soil for freedom and socialism, for theirs and ours great nation." (Charter text of a memorial exhibition at the memorial cemetery)

On the place where the Germans and their collaborators, the Ustashe, during the four year occupation conducted unrecorded crimes, a memorial cemetery was erected in the name of dead patriots, in the year 1960. The cemetery project was one of the first projects of architect Bogdan Bogdanovic, who has worked on memorials across the country and world.

On that cemetery, that monument in the valley, the grand idea of reverence, the memory of the tragic events, innumerable victims and suffering and sacrifice for the right thing and a better life, expressed through ancient forms of that land: mounds and Mogiles, lawns and trees.. It is a monument to the country, simple and yet beautiful in its simplicity, the country's largest duration, enriched by the hand of man! country that gives and takes to give life again!Brick, stone, concrete and copper, in its own way complement the simplicity of the entire memorial space; in Mitrovica Memorial Cemetery, the signs are flames, torches and urn, symbolizing eternal life, light, and agape.

The total number of victims of fascist terror in this city is 21,597 men, women and children. Here, 7,950 of them have a proper memorial. At the memorial board of the Memorial Cemetery is inscribed:

"Here are the Germans and Ustashe from 1941 to 1944, they killed 7950 men and women. Here are the tortured people' males and females in the rain and snow, naked and barefoot,with bayonets they are forced to dig their own graves. Here, on the wounded they poured lime and buried them alive. Here are the martyrs to death waiting for rescue. They are over pits, the bayonets and machine guns singing. They were patriots, communists, veterans, they were people. They were and are the freedom and brotherhood of nation, our dignity"



Among the executed at the memorial cemetery there were many famous and respected people of Srem, as it was, Janko Čmelik, Svetozar Birovljev-Cvece (Flower) and many others. There were doctors and students. Among them, was also a well-known painter Sava Šumanović and national heroes Stanko Paunovic-Veljko, Bosko Pakovljević Pinky, Slobodan Bajic Paja (Donald) and Jovanka Gabošac, whom just before the execution spit in the face of the Ustashian officer. All convicted just because they could not tolerate the Germans and Ustashe presence and had been under the slogans of "rifle and to the Frushka," "do not give to the enemy a single grain of wheat" and “better grave than slave“. They rebelled to the woods and joined the partisans and swore partisan oath.

- The first executions-

Occurred almost simultaneously with the military operations of German occupiers, preparation followed by their servants - Ustasha for the repression of unmemorized scales. For the people of Srem repression was nothing new; in mid-January in Srem began the terror reign of Ustasha against the people. Through prisons in Ruma and Sremska Mitrovica passed thousands of men, women and youth from all parts of the Srem.

In the prisons were performed medieval tortures, especially in the prison in Ruma. At that time, in January 1942 the first execution were conducted in the northern part of the Orthodox cemetery in Sremska Mitrovica, where previously were buried prisoners and suicide victims. “Moving summary court” (Pokrijetni Preki Sud) first appeared in Sremska Mitrovica in the so called "Martinackoj affair", when 11 of the 24 trials resulted in death sentences. An Ustasha officer, in May 1942, made a recording which is three minutes length, the recording is now kept in the Museum of Srem. "Moving summary court" returned to Sremska Mitrovica, and more groups of defendants arrived. All were accused of "collaboration with the Communist Party," and "not reporting to the authorities what they knew about the work of others", from "Jarački group" ten people were executed.
In the second group there were 30 defendants. They mostly were inmates from the notorious prison in Ruma. They had already been tortured in the most barbaric ways. Among them was Milan Milutinovic, the Secretary of the Srem Committee and a member of the district committee of the Communist Party of Srem. Milivoje Veselinovic, a railway worker and member of the party of Stare Pazove. Sreta Popovic, a teacher from Golubinci, Uros Stojišić from Mandjelos, a teacher and member of the Party, Kaja Relic, Mica Kekezović, Jovanka Gabošac and other activists and fighters.
The shooting of 27 communist “soldiers” was performed during the day on 7 May in 1942. These workers, peasants, high school students, and others...They were all Murdered.
Saved images recorded specific moments from this shooting, and they are now in the Museum of Srem.

- A few facts about Memorial Cemetery-
One of the worst killing fields during the Second World War. The place where occupiers executed 7,950 men, women and children. Located by Orthodox Cemetery in Sremska Mitrovica. In order to honor the people of Srem who would not tolerate oppression of the fascist occupiers and traitors of their race, in the worst way of torturing and murdering the inhabitants of Srem.
Mass arrests of people and the most brutal torture methods practiced by the Ustashi in Jasenovac and other concentration camps. By the dozen patriots had to kneel next to the pit and wait for a shot in the head at close range, or lie in to the pit and wait for Ustashi to pour fresh lime on them. In September 1942 alone 800 people were killed. During the whole action under Tomic 6,000 people were killed and over 10,000 abused.
In addition to the victims that were killed in this place during the war, also killed here were 308 soldiers of our National Liberation Army. Also 20 soldiers of Bulgarian army, and 18 Red Army soldiers. Also here are buried the remains of four national heroes: Janko Cmelik, Stanko Paunovic Veljko, Bosko Pakovljevic Pinki and Slobodan Bajic Paja
Memorial Cemetery was constructed in 1960, and is the work of architect Bogdan Boganovic.
On 22 March 1965, Josip Broz Tito visited the Memorial Cemetery, and has written in the Book of impressions "I am deeply shaken by victims who fell for freedom and happiness of new generations"

A friend of mine Charles Cather and I made a video about Memorial Park witch you can see at this link http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A5DTf2KCMGk