Prime Minister of the Republic of Srpska Zeljka Cvijanovic led the Government Delegation which attended the ceremony of marking the 75th anniversary of the Battle of Kozara which took place at Mrakovica on the Kozara Mountain on 2nd July 2017. On this occasion the Prime Minister stated that the people of Kozara were freedom loving people who showed by their example and bravery during WWII how to win and defend ones’ freedom.
“It is very important that we cherish those important historic events and it is particularly relevant that the Government of the Republic of Srpska participates and is actively involved in the marking of this and many other dates and events which are related to the antifascist struggle and also the events from the last war”, the Prime Minister said.
The wreath were laid by the President of the Republic of Srpska Milorad Dodik, delegations of the National Assembly of the Republic of Srpska, BiH Presidency, Organization of WWII Veterans, the embassies of Serbia and Russia to BiH, associations of war camp inmates of WWII from Serbia and Republic of Srpska and cities and municipalities in Kozara area.
Representatives of the Third Infantry Republic of Srpska Regiment of the BiH Armed Forces, of the Veteran Organization of the Republic of Srpska and civic associations founded after the last defense-patriotic war and the OSCE Mission in BiH also laid wreath at the Kozara Mounment.
The ceremony of marking the 75th anniversary of the Battle of Kozara has been organized by the Governments of the Republic of Srpska and Serbia.
The Battle of Kozara started on 10 June 1942 and lasted for 27 days until there was breakthrough on the southwest part of the Mountain, 15 kilometers east of the village of Medjuvodje.
During that period, from 10 June to 15 July 1942, 10,000 partisan soldiers and 40,000 civilians got killed on the Kozara Mountain. This battle during which outnumbered partisan units were defending the people was very important for the whole partisan movement since it represented an example of bravery and determination of partisan soldiers in front of a stronger and better equipped army.
Historians gathered data about 33,398 killed soldiers and civilians, while the destiny of many is unknown until now.
source: Vlada RS
