19.08.2014.

The centenary of the Battle of Cer marked

Today, at the Memorial Complex “The Battle of Cer” in Tekeris, near Loznica, a central state ceremony was organized to mark the centenary of that battle. On this occasion, at the Monument to the Heroes of Cer, with highest state and military honors, wreaths were laid by Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic and President of the Republika Srpska Milorad Dodik, Defence Minister Bratislav Gasic and Head of the General Staff Ljubisa Dikovic, President’s representatives, ministers, representatives of the legislative, executive and judicial government, representatives of the diplomatic corps, veteran associations, the City of Loznica, Sabac, Valjevo and families and friends of the soldiers from that region.

Reminding of the significance of the Battle of Cer, Prime Minister Vucic pointed out that it was not easy to stand 100 years later at the place where Field Marshal Putnik and generals Stepanovic, Bojovic and Sturm had stood, and where, during the first battle of the Great War, almost 20,000 Serbs had been killed.

- Serbia and we were made then, defending ourselves and our freedom, defending our country – Prime Minister Vucic stressed, adding that, those who believed in Serbia then were the ones who believed in freedom, which they won against the most powerful enemy.

- We are prepared to make the same sacrifice that you were prepared to make. We are ready to give whatever it takes and win our Tekeris and Cer, because, today, we once again believe in Serbia and, as it had been for you, what we finally have is much greater for us than what we do not have, and that is – Serbia. Our dream is your dream; the dream of turning the country that was worth dying for to a country that is worth living for – Prime Minister Vucic stated.

According to him, it is time for us to once again give our country at least a part of what those who had given everything had given, to stand tall for Serbia; it is time for our sacrifice and our endeavor.

- It is a debt to those that had created us, and to those we are creating – a country where every citizen, like those 100 ago, will be able to cheer – Long live Serbia! – Prime Minister Vucic said.

The beginning of the ceremony was marked by trumpeter of the Representative Orchestra of the Serbian Guard, while the religious rite ceremony was held by Patriarch Irinej of Serbia.

In the course of marking the centenary of the beginning of the First World War, the General Staff of Serbia organized a study travel and a history lesson at Draginje village where, in mid-August in 1914, General Stepa Stepanovic had formed the commanding spot of the Second Army. The history lesson on the beginning of the Battle of Cer, the first victory of the Alliance in the Great War, was attended, among the rest, by Head of the General Staff General Ljubisa Dikovic with members of the Collegium and closest associates, and representatives of the Ministry of Defence.

In Draginje, replicas of the commanding spot of the Second Army were shown, and the position of the Maksim machine gun and the watchtowers from where the future Field Marshal Stepa Stepanovic overlooked the breakthrough of the Austria-Hungarian Second Army to Cer. The ambient was completed with authentic items and objects from the First World War, property of the Museum of the City of Koceljeva, the Military Museum and the Historical Museum of Belgrade. The watchtower was arranged according to watchtowers of the same period, and so were the costumes of members of the Second Army Command. During the history lesson in Draginje, a simulation of the Second Army Command’s work organization was held, and the officer playing and wearing the uniform of Stepa Stepanovic read the Order of the Supreme Command and the Field Marshal’s order to march towards Cer.

The Battle of Cer, which took place in August, 1914, is one of the most significant and greatest victories of the Serbian Military in the First World War. At the same time, it is a shining example of tactically well-designed and conducted military operation, and was the first victory of the Alliance over the Central Powers. By winning the glorious Battle of Cer, the members of the Serbian Military, led by General Stepa Stepanovic, gave the entire Europe an example of infinite courage and patriotism.