XX Century - A Century of Mass Suffering

The Great War

The day after Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia in the summer of 1914, Belgrade was bombed. A year later Belgrade would be exposed to round the clock bombing by Austria-Hungary. Facing heavy defence fighting, Serbian army retreated south; with it left Serbian army commanders, the king, the heir to the throne, the government, state institutions and numerous inhabitants of Belgrade, among them pupils and “The Last Defence of Old Men”. Retreat across Albania to the island of Corfu represents another historical path of suffering. In September 1918 Serbian Army and Entente took the offensive – a breakthrough at the Salonika front. After the end of the war the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes was established based on Versailles Treaty of 1919. In 1921 Belgrade was awarded the French Cross of the Legion of Honour.

  • Knez Mihailov venac Street, Austro-Hungarian bombing, Belgrade, 1914, IAB, Zf.
    Knez Mihailov venac Street, Austro-Hungarian bombing, Belgrade, 1914, IAB, Zf.
  • A steam mill, last Austro-Hungarian bombing in Cara Dušana Street, Belgrade, 1915, IAB, Zf.
    A steam mill, last Austro-Hungarian bombing in Cara Dušana Street, Belgrade, 1915, IAB, Zf.
  • Army and civilians retreating across Albania in 1916. Supreme commander of the Entente French marshal Joseph Joffre described this retreat as the worst example of atrocity ever witnessed in history up to that time, IAB, Zf.
    Army and civilians retreating across Albania in 1916. Supreme commander of the Entente French marshal Joseph Joffre described this retreat as the worst example of atrocity ever witnessed in history up to that time, IAB, Zf.
  • Serbian students and their professors in Figeac, France. Many Serbian people were dispersed across Europe during World War I, 1916, IAB, Lf, MSP.(Page 1)
    Serbian students and their professors in Figeac, France. Many Serbian people were dispersed across Europe during World War I, 1916, IAB, Lf, MSP.(Page 1)
  • Serbian students and their professors in Figeac, France. Many Serbian people were dispersed across Europe during World War I, 1916, IAB, Lf, MSP.(Page 2)
    Serbian students and their professors in Figeac, France. Many Serbian people were dispersed across Europe during World War I, 1916, IAB, Lf, MSP.(Page 2)
  • Part of Protocol of Municipality of Belgrade on bestowing of Order of French Cross of the Legion of Honour, Belgrade 1921. Order was presented by French marshal and honorary commander of Serbian army Franchet d’Eperey. Only two other cities outside of France have received such honour – Liege and Luxembourg, IAB, OGB.
    Part of Protocol of Municipality of Belgrade on bestowing of Order of French Cross of the Legion of Honour, Belgrade 1921. Order was presented by French marshal and honorary commander of Serbian army Franchet d’Eperey. Only two other cities outside of France have received such honour – Liege and Luxembourg, IAB, OGB.
  • Part of Protocol on bestowing of Order of Military Cross of Czechoslovakia, Belgrade, 1926, IAB, OGB.
    Part of Protocol on bestowing of Order of Military Cross of Czechoslovakia, Belgrade, 1926, IAB, OGB.
  • View of mausoleum on the island Vido, Belgrade, 1938. Serbian burial-grounds from the Great War are in 17 states, Greece alone has 252. It is presumed that there are over 10.000 Serbian soldiers and recruits buried on the island Vido and in the depths of the sea (Plava grobnica) – a whole division, IAB, ZArh.
    View of mausoleum on the island Vido, Belgrade, 1938. Serbian burial-grounds from the Great War are in 17 states, Greece alone has 252. It is presumed that there are over 10.000 Serbian soldiers and recruits buried on the island Vido and in the depths of the sea (Plava grobnica) – a whole division, IAB, ZArh.

Second World War

Belgrade was bombed on 6th April 1941. German bombs were dropped on infrastructure and civilian buildings including the National library. Belgrade was under German occupational military and police administration. Occupier exercised harsh retaliation in ration 1:100 for every killed German soldier and 1:50 for every wounded. Amongst German concentration camps in Europe two were in Belgrade: Banjica and Sajmište. Before liberation Belgrade was bombed once more, this time by allies, advancing across the Balkans.

During World War II around 100.000 civilians and soldiers were killed in Belgrade due to bombing, retaliation measures, liberation struggle and in concentration camps.

Belgrade was awarded Medal of the National Hero (Orden narodnog heroja).

  • View of destruction caused by bombing, Belgrade, 1941, IAB, Zf RP I NOB socijalističke izgradnje.
    View of destruction caused by bombing, Belgrade, 1941, IAB, Zf RP I NOB socijalističke izgradnje.
  • Decree issued by Gestapo regarding Jews. Only 1115 members of the Jewish community out of 11870 before the war saw the liberation, Belgrade, 1941, IAB, ZP.
    Decree issued by Gestapo regarding Jews. Only 1115 members of the Jewish community out of 11870 before the war saw the liberation, Belgrade, 1941, IAB, ZP.
  • An open letter by Svetolik M. Dragačevac of Paraćin, a retired administration unit official, addressed to Adolf Hitler and Berlin’s response, Paraćin – Berlin, 1941, IAB, BdS.(Page 1)
    An open letter by Svetolik M. Dragačevac of Paraćin, a retired administration unit official, addressed to Adolf Hitler and Berlin’s response, Paraćin – Berlin, 1941, IAB, BdS.(Page 1)
  • An open letter by Svetolik M. Dragačevac of Paraćin, a retired administration unit official, addressed to Adolf Hitler and Berlin’s response, Paraćin – Berlin, 1941, IAB, BdS.(Page 2)
    An open letter by Svetolik M. Dragačevac of Paraćin, a retired administration unit official, addressed to Adolf Hitler and Berlin’s response, Paraćin – Berlin, 1941, IAB, BdS.(Page 2)
  • Concentration Camp Banjica. 30.000 prisoners passed through this camp between 10th July 1941 and 3rd October 1944, 4.286 were shot, IAB, Zf RP I NOB socijalističke izgradnje.
    Concentration Camp Banjica. 30.000 prisoners passed through this camp between 10th July 1941 and 3rd October 1944, 4.286 were shot, IAB, Zf RP I NOB socijalističke izgradnje.
  • Concentration Camp Sajmište, pavilion No. 5. Official names of the camp were: between 8th December 1942 and 10th May 1942 Jewish camp Zemun, where 6.320 Jews died; between May 1942 and July 1944 transit camp Zemun, through which 31.972 prisoners passed. 10.636 people died in the camp or immediately after leaving it, IAB, Zf RP I NOB socijalističke izgradnje.
    Concentration Camp Sajmište, pavilion No. 5. Official names of the camp were: between 8th December 1942 and 10th May 1942 Jewish camp Zemun, where 6.320 Jews died; between May 1942 and July 1944 transit camp Zemun, through which 31.972 prisoners passed. 10.636 people died in the camp or immediately after leaving it, IAB, Zf RP I NOB socijalističke izgradnje.
  • A report on questioning of detainee of Special Police Department Velimir Mitrović, with an established 1st category of guilt, Belgrade, 1943, IAB, UGB SP.
    A report on questioning of detainee of Special Police Department Velimir Mitrović, with an established 1st category of guilt, Belgrade, 1943, IAB, UGB SP.
  • Shell oil warehouse in Čukarica, bombed by allies, Belgrade, 1944, IAB, Zf.
    Shell oil warehouse in Čukarica, bombed by allies, Belgrade, 1944, IAB, Zf.