Srbac Municipality

Summary

Srbac municipality lies on the northern border of Bosnia and Herzegovina, surrounded by Derventa to the east, Gradiška to the west, Laktaši to the south-west and Prnjavor to the south east. On its northern side, it is bordered by the River Sava and the Republic of Croatia. It lies in the Republika Srpska entity, and its borders remain the same as those before the 1992-95 war, and its territory covers a total of 452.5 km2.

Between 1966 and 1973, the most comprehensive nationwide survey of immovable monuments to the NOB to date was carried out under the auspices of the Republic Institute for the Protection of Monuments. However, it was not until 1981 that a summary of this survey list was published (Tihić, 1981). In total, 2,049 immovable properties were recorded on the territory of SR Bosnia & Herzegovina, with a total of 11 being recorded upon the territory of Srbac municipality in a survey conducted in December 1967, categorized as follows:

-        Memorial plaques – 4

-        Memorial busts – 0

-        Fountains, wells and cisterns – 0

-        Artistic monuments – 6

-        Identified individual graves, mass graves and ossuaries – 0

-        Cemeteries of Partisan fighters and Victims of Fascist Terror – 1

Although the construction of memorials and monuments continued long after this period (with a wave of monuments being created in the wake of the death of Josip Broz Tito, and continuing throughout the 1980s), no further Republic-level survey of monuments was undertaken before the secession of Bosnia and Herzegovina from Yugoslavia in 1992.

Prior to this survey, however, a number of internal documents created by SUBNOR hint to the progression of construction of monuments and memorials on the territory of Srbac municipality: In 1959, a report for (the then-)Srez Banja Luka states that 2 monuments existed on the territory of Srbac municipality by 1959, while 5 memorial plaques were created by 1955, with 0 being created in the period 1955-59 (SO SBNOR Banja Luka, 1959). In 1961, a Republic-wide report claimed that 1 Partisans’ cemetery existed on the territory of the municipality, which was ‘temporarily arranged’, with a wooden fence and wooden grave markers (GO SBNOR BiH, 1961). In 1967, a similar report claimed that an ossuary was being prepared for 25 fallen fighters ‘of Polish nationality’ (GO SUBNOR BiH, 1967).

Several articles published on the portal Glas Srpske in 2019 and 2020 suggested that a total of 24 monuments and memorials commemorating the People’s Liberation War were erected on the territory of Srbac municipality (see, for example, Jovičić 2019; Jovičić 2020), and that Srbac’s SUBNOR organization maintained records of these, while one article on Radio Srbac placed the number at 25 (Radio Srbac, 2020d).

Contact was made with Bogdan Davidović of Srbac’s SUBNOR organization in November 2021. The organization shared their records of all sites known on the territory of the municipality, with Davidović also accompanying Dalibor Miljević to map and photograph the sites. However, it is known that the list compiled by SUBNOR is not a comprehensive list of all monuments and memorials that existed on the territory of the municipality, as an insufficient number pre-date the December 1967 survey. In total, the documentation compiled by SUBNOR details 25 monuments and memorials, including the fountain in Vlaknica, which appears to have had no specific memorial purpose (see below, p.38).

A second document compiled by SUBNOR Srbac in August 2020 details a total of 27 monuments and memorials. This list omits the 1984 monument to fallen fighters in Kaoci and the fountain at the site of the narodni zbor in Vlaknica. It does, however, include a collective grave of Victims of Fascist Terror in the village of Nova Ves (1960) not included on any other lists. This grave contains the remains of 10 civilians of Czech nationality killed in an assault on the village by a group of Četniks on 22 August 1944. The grave is religious in nature, and appears to have been created by members of the local community in the local cemetery. The decision was therefore made to exclude it from this report. It should be noted, however, that the grave is well-maintained, with commemorative events being held on or around the anniversary of the attack each year.

A reference to one memorial plaque not mentioned in the present-day records of Srbac’s SUBNOR organization can be found in the report Analiza o obilježavanju istaknutih ličnosti i događaja iz Radničkog Pokreta i Revolucije u Bosni i Herzegovini, published by the Commission for History of the Central Committee of the League of Communists of Bosnia & Herzegovina in April 1963. This mentions that a plaque to commemorate NH Danko Mitrov existed on the elementary school in (Donji) Srđevići at this time (p.13). On a visit to the site in June 2022, it was seen that this plaque no longer exists, and, furthermore, no definitive trace of its existence survives. This plaque may well have either been created in 1950, or, alternatively, replaced a monument created in 1950, as an article in the 27. Juli magazine of SBNOR Bosnia & Herzegovina, stated that a monument to Danko Mitrov was to be unveiled in Srđevići at this time (Jungić, 1950).

Furthermore, correspondence with Obrad Nikičević revealed that a plaque had previously existed on the wall of the elementary school in Povelič, with this later being replaced by the present-day monument. It would appear that this plaque dated to 1961. Likewise, no trace of this plaque remains today.

It is interesting to note that Patković & Plećaš (1975) only mention one site on the territory of the municipality: the Partisans’ cemetery, which at that time was stated to contain the remains of 55 fallen Partisan fighters and 22 Polish members of NOVJ units (p.43).

At present, Srbac municipality has no valid spatial plan that would potentially contain information on additional monuments and memorials on the territory of the municipality. However, in July 2014, a “List of monuments and memorials on the territory of Srbac municipality” was adopted (Službeni glasnik opštine Srbac 07/14) in accordance with the Republika Srpska’s 2012 Law on Monuments and Memorials to the Liberation Wars (Službeni glasnik Republike Srpske 28/12). An analysis of this list (Opština Srbac, 2014), which was not included in the decision, shows that its NOB-related contents are identical to those of the document provided by SUBNOR. However, it has been noted (Lawler, 2020) that such lists are often far from authoritative.

The recently published monograph Srbac: Monografski Zapisi (Šarić, 2020) mentions a number of memorial plaques and busts in passing, mainly in the section of the book profiling individual villages. However, the contents of this monograph are not exhaustive, and little attention is paid to the histories of these monuments to the People’s Liberation War.

Local news portal Radio Srbac also regularly publishes articles relating to commemorative events and restoration/cleaning of monuments. These have proven invaluable in studying the more recent history of the monuments and memorials on the territory of the municipality.

In total, during the course of research, 31 monuments and memorials to the People’s Liberation War were identified as existing or having existed on the territory of Srbac municipality, categorized as follows:

-        Memorial plaques – 8

-        Memorial busts – 3

-        Fountains – 1

-        Three-dimensional or sculptural monuments – 17

-        Identified individual graves, mass graves and ossuaries – 1

-        Cemeteries of Partisan fighters and Victims of Fascist Terror – 1

However, as implied above, it may well be the case that several more monuments and memorials – particularly memorial plaques – existed on the territory of the municipality, but have not been recorded in the sources consulted.


Monuments & Memorials


Village/MZ Address Name Type Year Author Still Exists Date Mapped Description
Srbac Town park Monument to fallen fighters and Victims of Fascist Terror Monument 1957 Replaced November 2021 Replaced original monument at same location dating to 1950, and constructed by Drago Trivalić. Demolished between 2004 and 2006, with new monument created on Ul. Danka Mitrova beside monument to 1992-95 war.
Srbac Ul. Danka Mitrova Monument to fallen fighters and Victims of Fascist Terror Monument 2006 Yes November 2021 Replaced monument originally situated in town park. Monument to 1992-95 war added beside, in similar style.
Srbac Ul. Mome Vidovića bb. Cemetery with 55 fallen Partisans & 22 fallen Polish fighters of the NOVJ Cemetery 1964 Života Đorđević Yes November 2021
Srbac Jovan Jovanović Zmaj elementary school Bust of NH Slobodan Mitrov Danko Bust 1969 Ahmed Bešić Yes November 2021
Srbac Jovan Jovanović Zmaj elementary school Bust of NH Zdravko Čelar Bust 1969 Ahmed Bešić Yes November 2021
Srbac Jovan Jovanović Zmaj elementary school Bust of NH Sava Vujanović Žuća Bust 1969 Yes November 2021
Srbac Town cemetery Ossuary and memorial for 13 Victims of Fascist Terror Ossuary 1976 Yes June 2022
Kaoci Community hall Monument to fallen fighters Monument 1984 Yes November 2021
Kaoci Community hall Plaque to commemorate fallen fighters and Victims of Fascist Terror Memorial Plaque 1961 Yes November 2021
Vlaknica Dolovi, beside Srbac-Derventa main road Monument to the 1st Krajinan Proletarian Brigade Monument 1954 Yes November 2021 Restored 2019
Vlaknica Beside Srbac-Derventa road Memorial fountain Fountain Yes June 2022
Vlaknica Elementary school Plaque to commemorate fallen fighters and Victims of Fascist Terror Memorial Plaque 1971 Relocated November 2021 Incorporated into monument to 1992-95 war.
Korovi Beside main road Monument to Victims of Fascist Terror Monument 1986 Yes November 2021 Monument to 1992-95 added beside in recent years
Gornja Lepenica Pasja Pravda Monument to the XII Slavonian Assault Brigade Monument 1981 Yes June 2022
Sitneši Vuk Karadžić elementary school Monument to fallen fighters and Victims of Fascist Terror Monument 1979 Yes June 2022
Donji Srđevići Opposite old school Monument to mark the place of death of Danko Mitrov Monument 1986 Yes June 2022 In relatively poor condition
Gornji Srđevići Rakovac, Motajica Monument to mark the place of death of NH Zdravko Čelar Monument 1976 Yes June 2022 Memorial plaque replaced after 2014. Replaced monument dating to 1949.
Razboj Župski Local cemetery Plaque to commemorate fallen fighters Memorial Plaque 1984 Relocated June 2022 Originally situated on wall of community hall. Relocated in 2016.
Nožičko Village centre Monument to fallen fighters and Victims of Fascist Terror Monument 1979 Yes November 2021 Replaced a monument dating to 1957 at the same location. Park around monument renovated in 2018. Well maintained and in good condition.
Stari Martinac Beside main road Monument to fallen fighters Monument 1955 Relocated November 2021 Renovated and relocated in 2020. Previously situated on village's community hall. Monument to 1992-95 war added beside.
Povelič Elementary school Monument to fallen fighters and Victims of Fascist Terror Monument 1979 Yes November 2021 Monument to 1992-95 war added beside.
Prijebljezi Community Hall Monument to fallen fighters and Victims of Fascist Terror Monument 1978 Yes November 2021 Monument to 1992-95 war added beside
Razboj Ljevčanski Village centre Monument to fallen fighters and Victims of Fascist Terror Monument 1967 Yes November 2021 Commemorates 19 fallen fighters and 24 Victims of Fascist Terror. Restored after 1995. Monument to 1992-95 war added beside.
Razboj Ljevčanski Stegića Ada Monument to Victims of Fascist Terror executed in March 1944 Monument 1987 Dragan Radaković Yes November 2021 New memorial plaque added in 2012
Dugo Polje Community hall Plaque to commemorate fallen fighters and Victims of Fascist Terror Memorial Plaque 1981 Yes November 2021 Commemorates 6 fallen fighters and 3 Victims of Fascist Terror
Donji Kladari Community Hall Plaque to commemorate fallen fighters and Victims of Fascist Terror Memorial Plaque 1977 Yes November 2021 Commemorates 9 fallen fighters and 5 Victims of Fascist Terror
Gornji Kladari Monument to fallen fighters and Victims of Fascist Terror Monument 1978 Yes November 2021 In poor condition as of 2019
Lilić Community Hall Plaque to commemorate fallen fighters and Victims of Fascist Terror Memorial Plaque 1980 Yes November 2021
Kukulje In front of Dositej Obradović elementary school Monument to fallen fighters and Victims of Fascist Terror Monument 1964 Replaced June 2022 Originally a large white cuboidal monument. Replaced by black stela in 2002. Monument to 1992-95 war added beside.
Donji Srđevići Elementary school (former) Monument to commemorate NH Danko Mitrov Monument 1949 Replaced June 2022 Replaced by new monument in 1986.
Povelič Elementary school Plaque to commemorate fallen fighters and Victims of Fascist Terror Memorial Plaque 1961 No Replaced by 1979 monument
Nožičko House close to school Plaque to commemorate place of death of 17 Partisan fighters Memorial Plaque 1957 In storage Placed in storage before 1989, possibly in community hall. [Note: not included in report]
Nova Ves Local cemetery Partisans' cemetery Cemetery Contains remains of 12 fallen fighters. Only 1 grave marked as of 1989.
Nova Ves Local cemetery Collective grave of Victims of Fascist Terror Communal Grave 1960 Contains remains of 10 women and girls killed by Chetniks on 22 August 1944. [Note: not included in report]
Gornji Srđevići Rakovac, Motajica Monument to mark the place of death of Zdravko Čelar Monument 1949 Replaced
Korovi House of Ljuba Dević (former) Plaque to commemorate fallen fighters Memorial Plaque 1953

Report PDF


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Map

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Key

Number Name
1 Monument to fallen fighters and Victims of Fascist Terror, Srbac
2 Cemetery with 55 fallen Partisans & 22 fallen Polish fighters of the NOVJ, Srbac
3 Bust of NH Slobodan ‘Danko’ Mitrov, Srbac
4 Bust of NH Zdravko Čelar, Srbac
5 Bust of NH Sava Vujanović Žuća, Srbac
6 Ossuary and memorial for 13 Victims of Fascist Terror, Srbac
7 Monument to fallen fighters, Kaoci
8 Plaque to commemorate fallen fighters and Victims of Fascist Terror, Kaoci
9 Monument to the 1st Proletarian Brigade, Vlaknica
10 Memorial fountain, Vlaknica
11 Plaque to commemorate fallen fighters and Victims of Fascist Terror, Vlaknica
12 Monument to fallen fighters and Victims of Fascist Terror, Korovi
13 Monument to the XII Slavonian Assault Brigade, Gornja Lepenica
14 Monument to fallen fighters and Victims of Fascist Terror, Sitneši
15 Monument to mark the place of death of NH Danko Mitrov, Donji Srđevići
16 Monument to mark the place of death of NH Zdravko Čelar, Gornji Srđevići
17 Plaque to commemorate fallen fighters, Razboj Župski
18 Monument to fallen fighters and Victims of Fascist Terror, Nožičko
19 Monument to fallen fighters, Stari Martinac
20 Monument to fallen fighters and Victims of Fascist Terror, Povelič
21 Monument to fallen fighters and Victims of Fascist Terror, Prijebljezi
22 Monument to fallen fighters and Victims of Fascist Terror, Razboj Ljevčanski
23 Monument to Victims of Fascist Terror executed in March 1944, Razboj Ljevčanski
24 Plaque to commemorate fallen fighters and Victims of Fascist Terror, Dugo Polje
25 Plaque to commemorate fallen fighters and Victims of Fascist Terror, Donji Kladari
26 Monument to fallen fighters and Victims of Fascist Terror, Gornji Kladari
27 Plaque to commemorate fallen fighters and Victims of Fascist Terror, Lilić
28 Monument to fallen fighters and Victims of Fascist Terror, Kukulje
(precise coordinates can be obtained by contacting the author