bauhauswerk

Dear Coilers, today is the anniversary of one of the most tragic days in modern history of my country, Croatia, and post WWII Europe, the day on which the city of Vukovar, in 1991. had fallen into the hands of the occupiers.

It was the largest massacre of the war and the worst war crime in Europe since World War II up until that point.

One of the numerous heroes of the defence of the city was Siniša Glavašević, a journalist who decided to stay in his city and spread the truth thru radio till the very end...

On October 16th 1991. Glavašević said on Croatian Radio:

“Vukovar submits to Croatia, Europe and the world – either the Croatian authorities will do everything to obtain a permanent cease-fire, or they will send the necessary and efficient assistance, of the military kind, or they will evacuate the entire civilian population of this area. There is another option, and that is the complete and final destruction of the city and a massacre of the population, as well as two hundred and fifty heavily wounded. However, that option isn't on anyone's mind here. The heroes of this city are necessary for some time yet, as living witnesses of this war. Thank you Zagreb. Don't cut this part...”

(photo: Matko Biljak)

On November 18th 1991. Glavašević sent in his last report, which ended with:

“The picture of Vukovar at the 22nd hour of the 87th day [of the siege] will remain forever in the memory of the witnesses of this time. There are infinite spooky sights, and you can smell the burning. We walk over bodies, building material, glass, detritus and the gruesome silence. ... We hope that the torments of Vukovar are over.“....

Vukovar was bombed with up to 11000 shells a day!

.....The Vukovar massacre ended in the killing of Croatian prisoners of war and civilians by Serb paramilitaries, to whom they had been turned over by the Yugoslav People's Army (JNA), at the Ovčara farm southeast of Vukovar on 20th of November 1991. The massacre occurred shortly after Vukovar's capture by the JNA, Territorial Defence (TO), and paramilitaries from neighbouring Serbia. Again, it was the largest massacre of war and the worst war crime in Europe since World War II up until that point.

Glavašević disappeared during the fall of Vukovar. It was later found that he was executed by the Serbian paramilitary forces along with hundreds of others in the Vukovar massacre. Between November 18 – 20th in 1997. his body was exhumed from a mass grave in the nearby Ovčara farm.

TO FORGIVE – NEVER TO FORGET!

Continue reading with a Coil membership.