Ceremony of laying of wreaths on Stanovljansko Polje by the monument of 44 Slovakian soldiers of the 71st Austro – Hungarian Infantry Regiment in Kragujevac marked the 101st anniversary of the execution of 44 soldiers who rebelled against Austro-Hungarian monarchy. Wreaths are laid by H.E. Dagmar Repcekova, Ambassador of the Slovak Republic to Serbia, State Secretary of the Ministry of Labour, Employment, Veteran and Social Policy Mr. Svetozar Aleksov, members of the Ministry of Defense and on behalf of the City, the President of the City Assembly Miroslav Petrasinovic and Mayor’s Deputy Ivica Momcilovic.
By expressing the gratefulness to all present who paid the tribute to the fallen soldiers, the Ambassador of Slovakia H.E. Repcekova said that everyone who ever came to Serbia from Slovakia visited with great respect this place where Slovakian soldiers are buried, Serbian and Slovakian heroes. She expressed the pleasure for the fact that Serbia and Kragujevac would become part of the European and world peace tradition organized by the Slovakian government. In the memory to fallen soldiers during the WWI the Republic of Slovakia initiated the Project of planting the lime tree, the symbol of all Slovenes and their unity and which is going to be planted in October by this monument. Along with the plant the bronze plaque will be placed on the base made of Slovakian stone.
Each year at the same place we are gathered around the memory of the brave members of the 71st Infantry Regiment. The monument to 44 soldiers who rebelled against the nonsense of war is both the memorial place and sacred place symbolizing the brethren relations of Serbian and Slovakian people. Kragujevac, the Victim of War City deeply respect the sacrifice of the fallen soldiers and they will forever be the symbol of resistance and values, the base of new future creation, said Miroslav Petrasinovic, the President of the City Assembly.
State Secretary Svetozar Aleksov said that the Ministry of Labour, Employment, Veteran and Social Policy and the Board for cherishing the traditions of liberation wars have the programme of celebration the significant dates in Serbian history among which is June 21, as one of the few dates that commemorates the sacrifice of the foreign soldiers.
Slovakian soldiers sacrifice is of multiple significance because of the fact that they did not only die but refused to continue to fight against the Serbs in 1918 and that decision cost them life. That act of theirs was a demonstration of the nonsense of war and fighting in the foreign country. The fact that they are buried far from their home and beloved country is our responsibility to keep the memory of them and their message – there is no point in making war and conquering other countries, said the State Secretary Mr. Aleksov.
After the 101st commemoration ceremony of the execution of Slovakian soldiers known as Kragujevac Mutiny that is the peace motif of all Slovenes, the delegations of the Embassy, Army, the Ministry and the City of Kragujevac laid the wreaths by the monument of the executed pupils and professor in Kragujevac.
