FIRST TWO DECADES OF THE MUSEUM OF GENOCIDE VICTIMS
Present
Museum of
Genocide Victims
Publisher
Museum of Genocide Victims
Belgrade, Nikola Pašić Square 11/III
tel : +381113398883
e-mail: [email protected]
Special edition
Editor-in-chief
Dr. Veljko Đurić Mišina
Redaction
Petar B. Popović
Language-editing
Dragana Jovanović
FIRST TWO DECADES OF
THE MUSEUM OF GENOCIDE VICTIMS
Translation
Veljko Nikitović
Graphic Elaboration & Printing
Grafoprint, Gornji Milanovac
Issue
300
ISBN 978-86-86831-24-8
Copyright © by Museum of Genocide Victims
Kragujevac – Beograd, 2015.
Veljko Đurić Mišina
Acting Manager of
The Museum of Genocide Victims
At the first sight, the me­re ti­tle Mu­se­um of Ge­no­ci­de Vic­tims ha­ve so­me gra­
ce­less ef­fect for it con­tain two Ser­bi­a­ni­zed words.
In the Dic­ti­on­nary of Ma­ti­ca Srp­ska (No­vi Sad 2007, p. 797), the term mu­se­
um is ex­pla­i­ned as: „[gr. Mo­u­se­i­on] in­sti­tu­tion that get pre­ser­ving, exa­mi­ning and
ex­hi­bi­ting works of art, an­ti­qu­i­ti­es and ob­jects from dif­fe­rent do­ma­ins (sci­en­ces,
hi­story, tec­hnics etc.)“.
In the sa­me Dic­ti­on­nary, for the term ge­no­ci­de (p. 285) is ci­ted: „[s. Ge­no,
-ci­de] cri­me com­mi­teed aiming to ex­ter­mi­na­te cer­tain gro­up of in­ha­bi­tants on ra­
cial, re­li­gi­o­us or na­ti­o­nal ba­sis“.
***
It is not so sim­ple to un­der­li­ne, in a short text, the most im­por­tant facts con­
cer­ning hi­story of the in­sti­tu­tion li­ke The Mu­se­um of Ge­no­ci­de Vic­tims. Among
many re­a­sons that co­uld ex­pla­in this di­lem­ma is the qu­e­sti­on from which event we
must be­gin to wri­te our mu­se­um hi­story?
This di­lem­ma co­uld not be eli­mi­na­ted even af­ter the re­a­ding of the text col­
lec­tion edi­ted in Be­o­grad in 2003 en­ti­tled Ten years of the Mu­se­um the Vic­tins of the
Ge­no­ci­de over Serbs, Jews and Roms (Be­o­grad, 1992-2003) pre­pa­red by Mi­lan Bu­la­jić.
The Mu­se­um of Ge­no­ci­de Vic­tims was con­sti­tued by the law enac­ted in 1992
by the Po­pu­lar As­sembly of the Re­pu­blic of Ser­bia, but its re­gi­stra­tion oc­cu­red only
in Ja­nu­ary 27th, 1995 in Kra­gu­je­vac. The fact is, ho­we­ver, that this da­te de fac­to and
de ju­re re­pre­sent its real be­gin­ning, as from that day it be­ca­me le­gal en­tity, with the
adress, tran­sfer ac­co­unt and PIB num­ber...
Furt­her di­lem­mas are in­clu­ded in the qu­e­sti­ons: Why the Mu­se­um re­si­den­
ce is de­ci­ded to be in Kra­gu­je­vac and not in Be­og­ rad? Why the de­ci­sion to form the
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First Two Decades of the Museum of Genocide Victims
per­ma­nent ex­hi­bi­ti­on was ne­ver enac­ted? Why the Mu­se­um do not ha­ve an ade­qu­
a­te de­pot? Why the Mu­se­um can­not get ac­cord to ex­tend its stuff? Why..?
Se­ri­o­us at­tempts to ob­tain even par­tial an­swers to tho­se qu­e­sti­ons co­uld be
writ­ten on many hun­dred of pa­ges; but than it wo­uld be only lo­gi­cal to ask: What
for?
In this con­text it is im­por­tant to un­der­stand why even this oc­ca­si­o­nal pu­bli­
ca­tion is not tex­tu­ally „ric­hi­er“ and why it is so po­orly il­lu­stra­ted.
All tho­se qu­e­sti­ons, con­cer­ning the de­fi­ci­ency of da­ta abo­ut the ti­tles is­sued
un­der the sign of the Mu­se­um of Ge­no­ci­de Vic­tims, in­de­pen­dent or ma­de in copro­duc­tion, or why do not exist da­ta con­cer­ning oc­ca­si­o­nal ex­hi­bi­ti­ons, ha­ve one
sim­ple an­swer: All such in­for­ma­ti­ons, and com­ple­te ver­si­ons of is­sued pu­bli­ca­ti­ons
in pdf form, are ava­i­la­ble on In­ter­net si­te www.muzejgenocida.rs
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First Two Decades of the Museum of Genocide Victims
History
Modern history explain how Serbian people has survived massive suffering
in the Balkan Wars (1912-1913), the First World War (called Great War, 1914-1918),
the Second World War (1941-1945) and the Civil War (1991-1995) in which was
decomposed the Socialistic Federative Republic of Yugoslavia (SFRY).
It is well known that crimes of planned massive extermination of members
of the Serbian people was realized by the Austro-Hungarian soldiers during first
year of the Great War in Podrinje and Posavina, and similar atrocities were performed by Bulgar soldiers in 1917, after the Toplica Rebellion.
Serbs have also, as Jews and Roms, suffered genocide on the teritory and
during the existence of Independent Croatian State (1941-1945). Although afterwar
communist authorities have imposed the politics of specific relativization, equalization and oblivion of commited crimes, some publications were nevertheless edited
during those five decades of the existence of Yugoslavia.
Greater interest in public for the investigation of those crimes come, before all, after the death of Yugoslav President Josip Broz Tito in 1980, in particular
after the issue of the book by Vladimir Dedijer entitled New Supplements to the
Biography of Josip Broz Tito. The trial to Andrija Artuković, in 1986, one of Ustasha’s
and Croatian leaders in the Independent Croatian State, could be, according to certain historians, defined asthe beginning of some more important and free interest,
not only of historians, for the investigation of the sufferings of Serbian people. In
following years many important books were issued concerning this dark side of our
history full of dreadful crimes.
The decay of communist Yugoslavia, the beginning of the Civil War in it, and
the announcement of the repetition of crimes over Serbian people in Croatia (comparison of the maps of crimes that occured during 1941-1945 and in 1991-1992
evidently suggested the accordance of geographic sites of crime), contributed to the
formation of one particular institution concerning investigations of the area subject
to genocide in Yugoslavia.
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First Two Decades of the Museum of Genocide Victims
***
It is not clear when is exprimed, for the first time, some need to gather comprehensive data on Serbian victims in World War II (1941-1945), but it is evident
that in 1981was constituted the Committee of the Serbian Accademy of Sciences
and Arts (SASA) with the aim to gather all data on genocide crime against Serbian
people and other citizens of Yugoslavia in the 20th century. No matter what and how
much has been done on that field, this committee was canceled in June 16th, 1994,
by means of the act of the President of the SASA, explaining that already exist the
Museum of Genocide Victims.
In the meantime, on the scientific meeting „Jasenovac 1945-1988“ held out
in Beograd (in November 21-22th, 1988) in the organization of SASA and its mentioned Committee for gathering data on genocide against Serbian and other peoples
of Yugoslavia in the 20th century, it was suggested that there are good reasons to
found the Museum of Genocide Victims. This suggestion was presented, in specific
form, to the National Assembly of the SFRY, but was rejected to the request of the
Croatian delegation.
The redaction of the weekly Politika Svet has organized, at the beginning of
February 1990, the round table concerning the „Opening of the Museum of Genocide
Victims in World War II in Yugoslavia“, with the subsequent edition of shortened
speeches of all participants. In the following, regular numbers of this weekly were
printed questionnaires for the evidence of war victims, with recommendation to be
send to the Archives of Serbia. On the end of the year there were collected towsends
of those filled questionnaires!
The start of the bloody decay of Yugoslavia in 1991 headed to the Civil War
and new war crimes. For this reason, the Assembly of the SFRY has formed, in March
18th, 1992, one special body entitled „the Commission for gathering data to establish
evidence of all crimes against humanity and international rights commiteed over the
Serbian and other nationalities during armed conflicts in Croatia and other areas of
the State“, in shorten form „The Commission for War and Genocide Crimes“. As the
Secretary of that Commission was appointed dr Milan Bulajić, lawyer and diplomate, but in July 23th, 1993, this Commission was repealed, and the same day were
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First Two Decades of the Museum of Genocide Victims
Letter of the academician Vladimir Dedijer concerning gathering of materials about
suffering of Serbian and other peoples in Yugoslavia; Beograd 1986.
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First Two Decades of the Museum of Genocide Victims
First Two Decades of the Museum of Genocide Victims
First newspaper article
about the necessity to
create the Museum of
Genocide Victims; Politika
Svet, April 1990.
Questionnaires for the
evidence of war victims in
Politika and Politika Svet.
Participants at the meeting
in Politika Svet redaction.
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First Two Decades of the Museum of Genocide Victims
First Two Decades of the Museum of Genocide Victims
constituted „the Committee for Gathering Data about Crimes Against Humanity
and International Rights“. The Committee has not made, as we know, deeper effects
although two books of collected texts about its work were issued in Beograd in 1995
and 1996.
***
The Popular Assembly of the Republic of Serbia accepted (July 16th, 1992),
the Law of the Constitution of the Museum of Genocide Victims with residence in
Kragujevac (Službeni glasnik Republike Srbije, July 16th, 1992). This law become valid the July 22th, and this date is officially the Museum’s Day of Constitution. Almost
all realisations of planned activities were confronted with numerous difficulties.
For example, during the scientific meeting entitled „The System of Untruths about
Genocide Crimes from 1991-1993“ (April 1-2th, 1993), in organization of the SASA,
were pronounced serious critics to particular State organs for they to not help the
realization of activities of the Museum of Genocide Victims – but this remained
„death words on paper“.
The Museum was registered (probably to the agreement of powerful politicians of the time), according to the Law of
Registration of that institution, in Kragujevac
not before January 27th, 1995, so that its transfer
account was open in that city, while all activities
(except accounting operations realized by employees in „Spomen-park 21. oktobar“, will take
place in Beograd, at the adress Trg Nikole Pašića
11/III, where is located the working space od the
Documentary Center.
Letter by Mr. Dejan Medaković, gen. Secretary of the Serbian Academy of Sciences and Fine Arts,
to Slobodan Milošević, President of the Presidentship of the Republic of Serbia, from 3rd December 1990, about the iniciative to be created the Museum of Genocide Victims.
12
***
To be reminded, the Museum of Genocide
Victims have been established „for the permanent memory of genocide over Serbs, gathering,
elaboration and use of data concerning those
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First Two Decades of the Museum of Genocide Victims
First Two Decades of the Museum of Genocide Victims
victims, and realization of engagements from the International Convention for the
Prevention and Punishment of the Genocide Crimes“. Beside that, as it is written inthe exposition, „The Museum can gather, elaborate and use data about genocide over
Jews, Roms and members of other peoples and national minorities“ in Yugoslavia.
The task of the Museum is the investigation of historical verticales and the
long lasting process of crimes against humanity in 20th century (ideas, movements,
roots, reflexions, their realization in the context of politics of military-ecconomic
Law on foundation of the Museum of Genocide Victims – Official Gazette of the Republic of
Serbia, no 49, 16th July 1992
14
Documents concerning the registration of
the Museum
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First Two Decades of the Museum of Genocide Victims
First Two Decades of the Museum of Genocide Victims
and ideological powers), demographic activities, conflicts of super-powers, projects
and realization of ethnocentric states, war conflicts in the Civil War and the decay
of Yugoslavia during 1990-1995, with the retrospection on crime wars against humanity and the humanitarian rights, and investigation of psychological aspects of
genocide psychopathology.
Particular place in the activities of the Museum have investigations of theoretical groundwork and practical reflexions of the concept of genocide, and factography concerning its qualification in the connection with scientific, educative and
informative activities and similar qualifications, investigations of racist theories,
ideas and praxis, as also their reflexions through legal regulatory rules, identifications of bearers of those ideas that act through movements, groups, parties, and the
misuse of the term genocide and its uncritical use to the inconvenient manifestations.
Programme tasks of the Museum proceed from the Law of the Foundation
of the Museum of Genocide Victims, regulations of the protection of cultural estates
and the Statute: gathering, investigation, preservation and presentations of the materials about the genocide over Serbian people on its ethnical and state areas, as over
other peoples, in particular Jews and Roms. The aim of those activities is, at the first
place, perception of the truth based on historical facts, more precisely on materials
that need to be presented in public. It is the best way to eliminate all possibilities
of manipulation with history and use of it in everyday political purposes. At the
same time it give us the opportunity to identify, in cognitive, educative and cultural
sphere, all manifestations that could provocate incidences that are not close to any
form of humanism.
The Museum is also a place where it is important to develop initiatives of
tolerance, the esteem of human rights, to drive the speech of hate back, in medias as
in activities of civic leaders, pointing again and again, based on historical facts and
on the experience of peoples, at the need to develop peace initiative and anti-war
mood.
To realize its duties, the Museum must gather, investigate and preserve data
about individual and collective victims of the genocide crime and other connected
facts (forced dislocation, hostages, prisoner’s camps, forced work, property pillage,
use of prohibited means in combat, devastation and pillage of cultural-historical
monuments and goods etc.); to gather, investigate and preserve data about executors
of genocide crimes, rescuers of potential victims, and also to participate in establishing those facts and denotation of such scaffolds. The Museum also insure the use
of cultural-historical documents and facts in cultural, educational and informative
purposes; and cooperate with similar institutions in country and abroad and organize competenc scientific meetings consecrated to the memory of genocide victims.
In the realization of program tasks, the Museum cooperate with similar institutions, governmental and non-governmental organizations and personalities in
the country and abroad.
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First Two Decades of the Museum of Genocide Victims
First Two Decades of the Museum of Genocide Victims
Important dates of the Museum
Monument on Staro
sajmište.
The Law of formation of the Museum of Genocide Victims prescribe that
„the April 22nd, the day of the breach of internees from the ustasha’s concentration
camp Jasenovac in 1945, have to be celebrated as the Day of Memory to Genocide
Victims, in memory to Serbs, Jews and Roms that perished in it“. On this occation,
for example, in Aprile 22nd, 1993, Serbian patriarch Pavle Stojčević, served funeral
in the cathedral in Beograd, and after that in SASA begun the scientific meeting entitled „Systeme of Lies about Genocide Victims in the period 1991-1993“.
In the activities of the Museum to preserve memories on our tragic past,
particular place belongs to the contacts and common projects with some organizations. One of them is the Union of Camp Inmates and their Descendants from
„Jasenovac“ – Complex of Camps in Independent State of Croatia. Together, we
have visited Jasenovac, Donja Gradina, Mlaka, Gradiška, Zagreb, that is camps, scaffolds and cimeteries which have marked their early youth, and importand dates as
is, for example, the April 22nd.
On the occasion of the 70th anniversary of breakthrough of the last camp
inmates from the Concentration camp „Jasenovac“, in Donja Gradina were kept, on
April 22nd 2015, funeral and memorial services to all victims of that scaffold during
World War II.
On the occasion of the mentioned camp inmates breakthrough were kept,
on April 22nd 2015, on Staro sajmište in Beograd, by the Monument to the Victims
of World War II, honours by outlived camp inmates, members of their families,
delegates of the Ministery of Defence and Ministery of Labour, Employment,
Combatants and Social Security, diplomatic representatives and numerous associations and citizens.
In recent years the Museum organize, on that day, casual presentation on its
new editions and planned activities for the next year.
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Wreathe layering on
the monument on Staro
sajmište by employees of
the Museum and members
of the Union of Camp
Inmates (and their descendants) from Jasenovac – Complex of camps
in Independent State of
Croatia.
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First Two Decades of the Museum of Genocide Victims
First Two Decades of the Museum of Genocide Victims
Wreathe layering on the monument in Jasenovac by members
of the Union of Camp Inmates
(and their descendants) from
Jasenovac – Complex of camps
in Independent State of Croatia.
Director
Appointment of dr Milan Bulajić, lawyer and retired diplomat, as a new
Director of the Museum of Genocide Victims was realized only in January 27th,
1993. The relieving ensued on the September 13th, 2002, during the session of the
Government of the Republic of Serbia.
The same day, Mr. Nenad Đorđević, curator-historian and director of the
„Spomen-park ’21. oktobar’“ in Kragujevac, was appointed as the acting manager of
the Museum of Genocide Victims, where he stayed to the June 28th, 2013, and have
been replaced by prof. dr Veljko Đurić, in the same status, who have some experience in museology.
Jasenovac, 22nd April 2015.
Official decision of the Government of
the Republic of Serbia on appointment of
the museum’s Director.
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First Two Decades of the Museum of Genocide Victims
Managing Board
First Two Decades of the Museum of Genocide Victims
Supervision Committee
The Government has appointed the first Managing Board only in June
th
7 , 1995. First president of the Board was dr Borisav Jović, and members Milica
Mihailović, director of the Museum of Jewish History, Dragoljub Acković, president
of the Rom Cultural Club and, from the Museum, Jasmina Dimitrijević and Jovan
Mirković.
After the resignation of dr Borisav Jović in September 13th, 2002, new president Aleksandar Radosavljević was appointed, and new members become Ivan
Čukalovič, associate university professor (acquited in June 25th, 2009), Predrag
Cvetković, professor, and representing the Museum Jasmina Dimitrijević and Jovan
Mirković.
Last change occured in November 8th, 2013, when was appointed new president of the Managing Board Slavonian episcope Jovan Ćulibrk, and new elected
members become dr Zoran Janjetović, senior counsellor in the Institute for Modern
History of Serbia, Aleksandar Nećak, arhcitect, Zoran Tucić, senior assistant in
the Institute for Protection
of Cultural Monuments of
Beograd, and Dragan Cvetković,
senior curator in the Museum of
Genocide Victims.
Supervision Committee was appointed in July 12th, 1995. First president
become mr Milovan Živković, and members dr Petar Kačavenda, director of
the Institute for Modern History and Miloš Hamović, curator in the Museum of
Genocide Victims.
The alternation occured according to the official decision of the Government
of the Republic of Serbia from September 13th, 2002, when have been appointed new
president Predrag Ilić, director of the Historic Archive of Šumadija, and members
Ninoslava Milanović, director of the National Library in Kragujevac, and Dragan
Cvetković, curator in the Museum of Genocide Victims.
Last alternation occured in November 8th, 2013, when were appointed, as
general manager, senior lecturer dr Aleksandar Životić from College of Philosophy,
and members dr Andrej Vujnović, museum counsellor in the History Museum of
Serbia, and Nenad Antonijević, senior curator in the Museum of Genocide Victims.
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First Two Decades of the Museum of Genocide Victims
Legal acts
First Two Decades of the Museum of Genocide Victims
Staffs
The Statute of the Museum of Genocide Victims has been accepted in June
3 , 1995, on the session of the Managing Board.
To be coordinated with the Law of Culture (Službeni glasnik Republike Srbije,
n0 72/2009), new Museum Statute was accepted in May 15th, 2012.
As new statute provisions give to the manager new competences, he proclamed new Regulations of the Systematization of Working Places (planned 13 employees) accepted at the beginning of August 1996 by the Managing Board, but it
was never activated.
rd
Boško Đenić, retired archivist of the Archives of Serbia, was the first employee in the Museum of Genocide Victims according to the contract made in March
25th, 1994 with the Republic Ministry of Culture.
After that (on limited time, according to the contract from February 8th,
1995) were engaged Jasmina Dimitrijević, lawyer (permanent employee from April
1st), Dušan Nikić, geographer (permanent employee from April 1st), and dr Miloš
Hamović, historian (permanent employee from May 1st; he died in April 21st, 1997).
After that, as permanent employees were engaged historians Nenad Antonijević
(from March 1st, 1996), Dragan Cvetković and Jovan Mirković (from March 1st,
1999, and librarian Gordana Šeatović (from March 1st, 2006).
Jasmina Tutunović-Trifunov was provisionally engaged in the Museum
from December 2008, as professional assistant, and become permanent employee
from November 1st, 2013.
With so modes staffs the Museum operate till today!
First contrat to the limited period have been signed with Dragoje Lukić
(project „Children, war victims“ that resulted in number of important book titles).
In contracted status of provisionally engaged person in longest term worked
Ana Požar, before the last war employed in the Monument-district „Jasenovac“ –
from August 1995 to March 1999.
To Bojan Đokić was given (from November 1st, 2013) status of the professional assistant for the realization of special and provisional activities.
Statute and rules on staffs systematization.
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First Two Decades of the Museum of Genocide Victims
Mrs. Jasmina Tutunović Trifunov, Dragan
Cvetković and Nenad Antonijević
Mrs. Jasmina Tutunović Trifunov, Jasmina
Dimitrijević, Ružica Vujičić, Vera Tadić, Nenad
Antonijević and Gordana Šeatović
Mrs. Jasmina Tutunović Trifunov, Nenad
Antonijević and Jasmina Dimitrijević
Mrs. Ana Požar, Brigita Knežević and Gordana
Šeatović
Mr. Nenad Đorđević
Mrs. Jasmina Dimitrijević, Gordana Šeatović and
Jasmina Tutunović Trifunov
Mrs. Izabela Martinov-Tomovič (left)
Mr. Veljko Đurić Mišina
Mr. Milan Bulajić
Mr. Miloš Hamović
Mr. Jovan Mirković
First Two Decades of the Museum of Genocide Victims
26
27
Mr. Dragoje Lukić
First Two Decades of the Museum of Genocide Victims
First Two Decades of the Museum of Genocide Victims
the realization of an urbanistic plan, but all remained only in plans!
Revival of the idea to realize the memorial complex „Staro sajmište“ started
in numerous occasions, but without results.
Accommodation
In the past 20 years there have been many attempts to change the adress of
the Museum of Genocide Victims, but without results till today. To remind only, in
January 18th, 1995, on the session in Kragujevac was signed the agreement that in
Beograd will operate the research section of the Museum and the residence of the
Director, and in Kragujevac the permanent exhibition on the ground that the city
will cede to the Museum without any compensation, and in the building that the
city will erect on its own expenses. As we know, unfortunately, nothing was realized!
First office accomodations in Beograd (offices 103 and 104, Trg Nikole Pašića
11/III) were ceded to the Museum from dr Petar Kačavenda, director of the Institute
for Modern History, and were taken over in November 4th, 1993.
Allotment of new accomodations occured in March 15th, 1996, after that
contract was concluded with the Commission for administrative questions of the
Federative Government. By means of this contract, the Museum received at a disposal four offices on a third floor of the building at the Trg Nikole Pašića 11, and in
February 26th, 1999, after the Annexe was signed, to the Museum were joined three
rooms more and the show-room at the ground-floor. However, this expansion was
realised only partially, for the third room wasn’t given to the Museum until 2014,
and in the show-room, in the meantime, moved the History Museum of Serbia!
***
It is well known that it was, before the establishment of the Museum of
Genocide Victims, in the town-planning of Belgrade, foreseen the building of the
Memorial complex „Staro sajmište“. In the realization of that project particular place
was reserved to the Museum of Genocide Victims (about 4000 m2 of area for exhibitional activities and other purpose). The town Assembly formed, in 1991, the
Committee for the building of Staro sajmište, with dr Milan Bulajić at its head. The
same year it was proposed to built before all the monumet dedicated to genocide
victims, and to start the realization of the whole memorial complex. Than started
28
Documents on accomodation.
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First Two Decades of the Museum of Genocide Victims
Technic
First Two Decades of the Museum of Genocide Victims
Publishing
First technical tools, provided for better realization of museum activities,
were: computer IBM 386, laser printer HP4, and SHARP’s lap-top. In the following
years ensued the acquisition of new computers and their linkage in one operative
system.
Today, in 2015, the Museum dispose with modern technic, almost equal
with professional tools in best similar institutions, that enable successful realization
of usual activities in the Museum.
Documents on technical equipment.
30
Realization of programme jobs of the Museum is realized in the context of
regular activities, but also of special projects. Employees of the Museum issued great
number of articles in specialized periodicals in the country and abroad.
First article edited under the amblem of the Museum of Genocide Victims
was the manuscript written by the exterior assistant Dragoljub Acković entitled
Roma Suffering in Jasenovac Camp, Beograd 1995 (second edition, enlarged, issued in 1997 under the new title Roma Genocide in Jasenovac Camp). After that the
Museum issued over thirty printed manuscripts, independent or in collaboration
with other institutions.
On the occasion of 70th years
jubilee of the breakthrough of last
internees from the Jasenovac camp
and 50 years of its first edition, the
Museum reprinted the book by
Nikola Kustur, Return from the Dead
(Beograd, 2015). Edited in 1.500 copies, this book become the bestseller
in the history of the Museum. It is
important to underline that every
exemple of this book was donated to
charity purposes.
By reason of the content it is
important to underline the complete
bibliography: Jovan Mirković, Edited
Sources and Bibliography Concerning
Camps of Jasenovac, Laktaši, Banja
Luka, Beograd, 2000.
Following titles require, by
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First Two Decades of the Museum of Genocide Victims
First Two Decades of the Museum of Genocide Victims
reason of the issued index of victims, to be pointed out: Đuro Zatezalo, Jadovno,
Complex of Ustasha’s Camps in 1941, I-II, Belgrade 2007; Dragoje Lukić, They Were
Only Children. Jasenovac, the Cemetery of 19.432 Girls and Boys, I-II, Beograd,
2000; Silvija Krejaković, Identity of the Victims Shooted in Kraljevo in October 1941,
Beograd 2013...
The Museum has edited also, til now, five thematic miscellanies: Genocide
th
in 20 Century on the Area of Yugoslav Countries, collection of articles pronounced
on the scientific meeting that took place in Beograd, from April 22-23rd, 2005,
p.508; Dragoje Lukić – Parent of the Mowed Down Generation, Beograd 2008, p.
346; Israelite-Serbian Scientific Exchange in the Study of Holocaust, collection
of articles pronounced on the scientific meeting from June 15-20th, 2008, in Yad
Washem in Jerusalem; Beograd 2008, p. 478 (on Serbian and English); Contributions
to the Study of Genocide and War Crimes, Miscellanea, Beograd 2009; Studies and
Memorialization of Genocide and War Crimes, Miscellanea, Beograd 2012, p. 288.
In 2014 was established The Almanac of the Museum of Genocide Victims,
and in 2015 has changed the title in The Almanac for the Investigation of Genocide.
Our intention is to establish appropriate redaction and, from the very next volume
of the Almanac, to further raise the professionel and expert nivel of the articles, on
desired languages, and to present every volume on the same day – April 22nd each
year.
It doesn’t hurt to mention that almost all publications of the Museum are
present in every important library holdings, in scientific-researching institutions,
museums of similar activities on all five continents. This way the Museum has justified its existence and proved good reasons for its fundation and activities, taking
meritorious place in universal museology and historiography.
Museum of Genocide Victims publishing.
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Museum of Genocide Victims publishing.
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First Two Decades of the Museum of Genocide Victims
Museum of Genocide Victims
publishing.
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First Two Decades of the Museum of Genocide Victims
First Two Decades of the Museum of Genocide Victims
Presentation of the book: Nenad Antonijević, Albanian Crimes over Serbs on Kosovo and Metohija
during World War II; Beograd 2008.
Presentation of the Museum’s anthology;
Kraljevo 2010.
Presentation of the Museum’s anthology;
Beograd 2010.
Presentation of the book: Branislav Božović, Jews
in Belgrade; Beograd 2011.
Invitation cards for book presentations.
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First Two Decades of the Museum of Genocide Victims
Exhibitions
Presentation of the book: Silvije Krejaković,
Identities; Kraljevo 2014.
Presentation of the last publications of the Museum; Beograd, 22nd April 2014.
First exposition with the sign of the Museum of Genocide Victims was
organized under the title „Jasenovac – System of Ustasha’s Camps of Death“, and
was prepared in collaboration with the Museum of Vojvodina and opened in April
22nd 1993 in the Krsmanović House in Beograd (the building in which was proclaimed, in December 1st, 1918, the creation of the Kingdom of Serbs, Croatians and
Slovenians). Afterwards, this exposition have been presented in Novi Sad (May 13th,
1994), in Memorial-gardens in Kragujevac (Match 3rd, 1995) and in Vienna, Austria
(June 25th, 1995)...
In the occasion of 20 years jubilee of the aggression of Croatia on Srpska
Krajina, in August 2nd, 2015, in „Sava centar“ in Beograd took place the commemorative exposition „Oluja – Crime that will be remembered (Suffering of Serbs in
Croatia),“ organized by the Coalition of Associations of Refugees in the Republic
of Serbia.
Presentation of the last publications of the Museum; Beograd, 21st October 2014.
Presentation of the book: Nikola Kostur,
Return from Dead; Batajnica, 10th May 2015.
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First Two Decades of the Museum of Genocide Victims
Patriarch of the Serbian people, Mr. Pavle; opening of the exposition „They were only
children“; Beograd, 22nd April 2005.
Opening of the exhibition „First Day of the Great War“; Kalemegdan, 28th July 2014.
Opening of the exhibition „My life innocently lost“;
Beograd, 9th November 2011.
Opening of the exhibition „Aggression on UR Yugoslavia, 24th March to 10th June
1999“; Ugljevik, 14th May 2014.
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First Two Decades of the Museum of Genocide Victims
Projects
Prospectus for the exposition „Albanian Crimes over Serbian People on Kosovo and
Metohija“; Pavilion „Cvijeta Zuzorić“; Beograd, 17-19th March 2014.
Exposition „R. A. Reiss – Reports on the Great
Crime“ open in 4th October 2014.
Exposition „Storm – the Crime that will be
remembered“ open in 2nd August 2015 in „Sava
centar“, Beograd.
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One of the most important projects is: „War Victims 1941-1945“ (revision of
the inventory of „War Victims 1941-1945“ from 1964). Principal aim is to establish
nominally all victims of the World War II with authentic identification, no matter
what is their national, religious, ethnic, ideological and military belonging.
Intended projects of investigation of the genocide crimes are: Crimes on
Kosovo and Metohija in 20th Century, Chronology and Lexicon of Crimes, Children
War Victims, Crimes against Humanity in Military Conflicts on the territory of second Yugoslavia 1991-1995, NATO aggression on United Republic of Yugoslavia, and
others. Special place in those activities belongs to gathering and elaboration vintage
that the Museum get from donors or acquire redeeming.
On the occasion of actual trials for crimes concerning accusations against
persons from the territory of the former Yugoslavia, the Museum prepare relevant
data base about those legal processes.
In the realization of its projects the Museum collabore and exchange experiences with other museum institutions and individuals in the country and
abroad, in particular with: Yad Vashem from Jerusalem, Museum of Holocaust
from Washington, Simon Wiesenthal Center for Tolerance from Los Angeles,
Documentationsarchiv des Österreichischen Wiederstandes from Vienna,
Documentary Center for gathering material concerning war conflicts 1991-1995
from Banja Luka, Documentary Center „Veritas“ from Beograd and Banja Luka,
Museum of Republika Srpska from Banja Luka, institutions and individuals from
Croatia (in particular Croatian Institute for History from Zagreb), that investigate
problems concerning war victims, etc. Special cooperation is realized with Jewich
and Romish institutions and organizations in the country and abroad.
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First Two Decades of the Museum of Genocide Victims
Library
Funds & Collections
Museum materials are preserved in collections and funds:
1. Collection of documents (Fund „War Victims 1941-1945“, Fund of materials concerning war conflicts from 1991, Fund of the International Court of Justice,
Fund of International Penal Court for Former Yugoslavia in Hague, Legacy Fund).
2. Objects collection.
3. Art collection.
4. Documentary photographs collection.
5. Multimedial collection (Videotheque, Audiotheque, Digital records fund,
Microphilms, Filmotheque, Maps).
6.Auxsiliary collections and funds (Archives materials copies fund, Internet
records fund, Digital records copies fund, Library, Chemerotheque).
Museum documentation, photo-documentation, library, videotheque, phonotheque, microtheque and chemerotheque offer good base for further work and
investigation of the anticipate program tasks, for education and informative activities.
Library of the Museum of Genocide Victims was inscripted in July 18th
2007 in the register of specialised libraries, as the branch-office of the Beograd City
Library.
One third of 150 m2 of office-space belonging to the Museum is adapted for
the reading-room and the library.
The library depo is equiped with five metal and combined (metal-wood)
shelves (total lenght 21 m). The reading-room is provided with apropriate equipment (computer, photo-copier, scanner).
The Library dispose with more than 5.200 monographic and about 10 serial
publications.
Books are organaized in two rows, according to UDC (Universal Decimal
Classification) system, in groups arranged in alphabetical order. On shelves are indicated specialized groups according to UDC.
Access to the library fung is free.
The library fund is constitued mainly of donated books. Important donations are „Dragoje Lukić Fund“ that consist of 711 books, „Špiro Lagator Fund“ of
407 books, and a great number of books donated by general Jefto Šašić, journalist
Branko Bokan, Branislav Božović and others.
Library materials evidence is operated electronically, on forms that contain
all groupings prescribed by the Evidence of librarian materials (Službeni glasnik
Republike Srbije, no 52/11).
At the beginning of 2008 have been installed the Programme for librarian
business NIBIS, designed on the College of Engineering in Niš.
The formation of the data base and catalogue data processing begun at the
end of 2008. To the mid of the year 2015 catalogically is processed over 1.600 titles.
Library fund mostly include materials connected with the history of
Yugoslavia, particularly the World War II, war crimes, genocide, concentration
camps, and also military literature (military problems, army forces, war opera-
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tions...), memoirs, town monographies, biographies, politics, politic parties and
movements, foreign affairs, and referent materials (encyclopedias, lexicons, vocabularies and manuals). Gathering of materials related to the World War I begun only
in 2014.
Beside the donations, publications are mostly procured by means of exchange and purchase, and also completed with our own published books.
So, in the period 2006-2015, thanks to our proper editions, we have established cooperation with many institutions and, thanks to book exchange, we have
enriched our fund with important publications. Our must successful cooperation
we realize with the exchange department of the National Library which gather for
us all books that are treating themes from our program, and from our side we deliver our proper editions to this institution, which distribute further, in frame of the
international exchange, our publications to the national and university libraries and
institutes all over the world.
Publications of the Museum are, by means of this exchange, present in following foreign libraries:
GBIP Moscow Gosudarstvenaja publicnaja istoričeskaja biblioteka, Russia
BRAN Sankt Peterburg – Biblioteka Rossijskoj Akaqdemii nauk, Russia
BSB Munchen – Bayerische Staatsbibliothek, Germany
HL Pittsburg – University, Hillman library, Pittsburg, USA
Library of Congress, Washington, USA
HL Ann Arbor – University of Michigan, USA
BL British library, London, England
SSEES London – University of London, Slavonic and east European studies, England
BAN Sophia – Bugarska akademija nauka, Bulgaria
DB Leipzig – Deutsche bibliothek, Germany
SI Regenzburg – Suedost Institut, Regenesburg, Germany
FF Brno – Filozoficka fakulta, Brno, Czekhia
SK Praha – Narodni knihovna, Slovenska knihovna, Prague, Czekhia
SES Poitiers, Faculté des lettres, France
SC Lodz – Uniwersyted Katowice, Poland
IFS Gdansk – Uniwersyted Gdanski, Poland
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First Two Decades of the Museum of Genocide Victims
ATH Bielsko Bjala, Akademia Techniczno Humanistyczna, Poland
FLFI Timisoara, Universitatea, Romania
Facultad de Filologia, Madrid, Spain
Orszagos Szechenyi Konyvtar, Budapest, Hungary
Scuola Superiore di Lingue Moderne, Triesate, Italia
Dipartimento di Studi Eurasiatici, Venezia, Italia
National Assembly Library, Seoul, South Korea
Our publications are also distributed in the libraries of former Yugoslav
Republics: Bosniac Institute, Sarajevo; National and University Library, Banja Luka;
College of Philosophy, Banja Luka; Department for Slavonic languages and literature, Zagreb; Central Serbian library in the Republic of Croatia, Zagreb; National
and University library, Zagreb.
We maintain successful cooperation with the Archive of Yugoslavia, Archive
of Serbia, Institute for European Studies, Institute for Modern History of Serbia,
Institute for Contemporary History, Belgrade Museum, History Museum of Serbia,
Jewish History Museum, Military Museum, Criminal-police Academy, Croatian
History Institute, Serbian Academy of Sciences and Arts and other similar institutions.
Furthermore, we donate our publications to some specific institutions, monasteries, high school libraries and prominent individuals in our country and abroad.
We will mention only some of them: Yad Vashem from Jerusalem, Memory-complex
„Jasenovac“, SKD „Prosvjeta“ in Zagreb, Native Museum Herceg Novi, monasteries
Hilandar on Sveta Gora, Velika Remeta on Fruška Gora, Ostrog near Nikšić, Karno
in Srebrenica, Tavna in Zvornik, Studenica and Cetinje monastery, Temple of Sveti
Marko in Beograd, etc.
By mean of exchanges and donations we are in posession of important,
mostly historical, serial publications.
Outdoor users of our library are mostly apprentices, historians, investigators, high schools students, college students and other people that are mostly motivated to learn more about the history of World War II. Those publications can be
used only in the library room.
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Organization of Symposiums and Round tables
The Museum of the Genocide Victims was, in the frame of its activities, organizer and co-organizer of many symposiums and round tables (Beograd, Banja
Luka, New York). The meeting entitled „War Crimes and Genocide Crimes 19911992“ was, for example, organized together with the Setbian Academy of Sciences
and Arts, from 6-8th August 1992 (on the day of the massacre of Serbs from the village Prebilovci and its vicinity in 1941). After the meeting the antology of articles
have been printed (together with two antologies with the same titles of those meetings – Genocide over Serbs in World War II and Systeme of Lies about the Genocide
Crimes in 1991-1993), and presented in Kragujevac, in March 3rd, and after this, in
April 18th, in Beograd.
First Two Decades of the Museum of Genocide Victims
Fund for Genocide Investigation
The Managing Board of the Museum of Genocide Victims has, on the initiative of the Director Milan Bulajić, organized the Fund for Genocide Investigation
as an independent institution, with the intention to help Museum activities. Initial
legal deposit have been donated by Milan Bulajić (about 66%) and the Museum of
Genocide Victims (about 33%).
The Fund was registered in November 26th, 1996, according to the Law on
Endowments, Foundations and Funds. Its residence was on the adress Muzej žrtava
genocida, Beograd, Trg Nikole Pašića 11/III.
President of the Fund was Milan Bulajić.
This Fund has never activated in
the form that Mr. Bulajić planned. After it
was acquited of a duty of the Museum director in 2002, the Fund ceased almost all
its activities. In the occasion of the 10-years
jubilee, in November 25th, 2006, was organized the round table, and an antology of
articles was edited in 2008.
Posters for the round tables in USA, where was present Mr Milan Bulajić.
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Institute for Genocide Investigations
First Two Decades of the Museum of Genocide Victims
Museum of Genocide Victims in TV Emissions and Documentaries
The Managing board of the Museum of Genocide Victims has started, in
August 15th, 1995, an initiative to establish the Institute for Genocide Investigation
and has informed the Government of the Republic of Serbia. In the answer of the
Ministry of science ant technology was stressed that the main condition for the
foundation of the futur Institute to have 10 doctors of sciences. Almost two decades
after this (in 2013), the Institute was mentionned in public only as a segment of the
future Memorial complex „Staro sajmište“.
It remain registered that the first TV record about the future Museum of
Genocide Victims have been emitted in July 2nd, 1990, on TV Politika in the emission „Otvoreni ekran“, and the second have been presented in March 14th, 1992, in
the emission „Teleobjektiv“ on RT Beograd (editor Predrag Vitas).
Collaboration with „Filmske novosti“ have been realized in the creation of
the documentary „Jasenovac“. It is well known that Milan Bulajić has contributed, with its recensions, that the first version of the screenplay authorised by Goran
Babić have been refused, and accepted the screenplay and realization of Milivoje
Obradović.
Collaboration with RTS was realized in preparation and realization of two
parts (from planned four parts) of the documentary emission concerning actual and
future activities of the Museum; the first was emitted in January 27th, and the second
in February 3rd, 2015.
First documentary film, in co-production of the Museum of Genocide
Victims and the RT Republike Srpske is entitled „Exit from Hell – Destiny of
Children in NDH and action of Diana Budisavljević“, based on the text and screenplay of dr Veljko Đurić Mišina, acting manager of the Museum (directed by Dragan
Ćirjanić, camera by Rodoljub Bogdanović, and photography of Boris Subašić).
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Sources and Bibliography
1. Documentation of the Museum of Genocide Victims.
2. Deset godina Muzeja žrtava genocida nad Srbima, Jevrejima i Romima (Beograd,
1992-2002); prepared by Milan Bulajić, Beograd 2003.
3. Deset godina Fonda za istraživanje genocida, Anthology from the Symposium,
November 25th 2006; Beograd 2008.
Museum History on Photographies
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International symposium: „Serbian-Jewish
scientific exchange“, Yad Vashem, June
2006; public and participants.
International symposium: „Serbian-Jewish
scientific exchange“, Yad Vashem, June
2006; participants in one session: Mr.
Dragan Cvetković, Jovan Mirković, Krinka
Vidaković-Petrov.
Meeting of participants with the manager
of the „Simon Wiesenthal Center“ from Jerusalem: Mr. Efraim Zuroff, Jovan Ćulibrk,
Milan Ristović, Milan Koljanin, Jovan
Mirković, Dragan Cvetković. Yad Vashem,
June 2006.
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First Two Decades of the Museum of Genocide Victims
Wreathe layering in the „Hall of Remembrance“, Yad Vashem Museum, Jerusalem. Serbian delegation: Mr. Aleksandar
Popović, Minister of Sciences in the
Government of the Republic of Serbia; Mrs.
Silvana Hadži-Đokić, from the Ministery of
Culture in the Government of the Republic
of Serbia; Mr. Jovan Mirković, deputy of the
Museum of Genocide Victims; June 2006.
Visit of montenegrian-dalmate metropolitan, Mr. Amfilohije Radović, 11th August
2014.
Participants of the International symposium „Serbian-Jewish scientific exchange“,
Yad Vashem, visiting Israel. Capernaum
on the Sea of Galilee: Mr. Milan Ristović,
Milan Koljanin, Jovan Mirković, Dragan
Cvetković, Nenad Antonijević; June 2006.
Subscription of the Contract on cooperation of the Museum of Genocide Victims
and the Union of survived inmates from the
Jasenovac Campus in Independent State of
Croatia: Mr. Veljko Đurić Mišina, acting
manager of the Museum and Mr. Milinko
Čekić, president of the Union;
19th November 2014.
Mr Bojan Đokić; International symposium
„Non-Jewish Jews during Holocaust; Destiny and Identity“, Yad Vashem, Jerusalem;
7th July 2015.
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Visit of dr Efraim Zuroff, manager of the
„Simon Wiesenthal Center“ from Jerusalem; 15th July 2015.
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First Two Decades of the Museum of Genocide Victims
On the occasion of 100 years of the Great
War was organized the round table „Sufferings of Serbs in the region of Srebrenica
in 20th century“ by the Assembly of the
District of Srebrenica, Serbian Republic –
Bosnia and Herzegovina, and the Museum
of Genocide Victims;
Skelani, 28th June 2014.
Mr. Dragan Cvetković and delegation of
the Union of Camp Inmates (and their
descendants) from Jasenovac – Complex of
Camps in Independent State of Croatia, on
the conference organized by the Alliance of
banished people of Slovenia;
Ljubljana, 26-27th June 2014.
Association of Fine Artists of Serbia and
the Museum of Genocide Victims had
organized the 10-years jubilee of the March
pogrom over Serbs on Kosovo and Metohija, 17-18th March 2014. Pavilion „Cvijeta
Zuzorić“ on Kalemegdan, Beograd.
Mrs. Gordana Šeatović and Jasmina
Tutunović Trifunov;
Donja Gradina, 26th April 2009.
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First Two Decades of the Museum of Genocide Victims
On the occasion of the 70-years jubilee
from the end of the WWII, the Museum of
Genocide Victims and NGO Fund of the
Strategic Culture had organized a round
table; Beograd, 28th April 2015.
Adaptations in the Museum of Genocide Victims; April 2014.
On the occasion of 20-yearsa jubilee from
the events in Srebrenica district, the Museum of Genocide Victims and NGO Fund
of the Strategic Culture had organized the
conference entitled „Srebrenica 1999-2015:
facts, dilemmas, propaganda“;
Beograd, 4th July 2015.
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Questionnary for the war victims 1941-1945.
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Politika, 14th September 2013.
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First Two Decades of the Museum of Genocide Victims
Publisher
Museum of Genocide Victims
Belgrade, Nikola Pašić Square 11/III
tel : +381113398883
e-mail: [email protected]
Special Edition
Edition-in-chief
Dr. Veljko Đurić Mišina
CIP - Каталогизација у публикацији Народна библиотека Србије, Београд
069.5:341.485(497.11)”1995/2015”
ЂУРИЋ, Вељко, 1953 Прве две деценије Музеја жртава геноцида / [Вељко Ђурић Мишина]. Београд : Музеј жртава геноцида, 2015 (Горњи Милановац : Графопринт). - 64
стр. : илустр. ; 24 cm. - (Библиотека Посебна издања / [Музеј жртава
геноцида])
На насл. стр. место издавања: Крагујевац-Београд, 2015. - Тираж 300. Библиографија: стр. 52.
ISBN 978-86-86831-24-8
a) Музеј жртава геноцида (Београд) - 1995-2015
COBISS.SR-ID 217687308
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