26.02.2019.
Celebration of the 102nd Anniversary of Toplica Uprising
State Secretary in the Ministry of Labour, Employment, Veteran and Social Affairs Zoran Antić led today’s state ceremony of marking the 102nd anniversary of the outbreak of Toplica Uprising.
The wreath lying ceremony was held at the Monument to men from Toplica fallen in the wars from 1912 to 1918 and the victims to the People’s Uprising in 1917 which is located in the centre of the town of Prokuplje.The gathered citizens were addressed by the Mayor of Prokuplje Aleksandar Simonović and the State Secretary Zoran Antić.
The organiser of the ceremony is the Governmental Board for Cherishing the Traditions of Liberation Wars of Serbia. The wreaths were laid at the monument and the homage was paid by representatives of the Ministry of Defence and Serbian Armed Forces, Chief of Toplica Administrative District, Mayor of Prokuplje and the associations for cherishing the traditions of liberation wars and the citizens.
The Uprising, which broke out in Toplica and Jablanica in the end of February and early in March 1917, later spread on other parts under Bulgarian occupation, is an integral part of the liberation struggle of the Serbian people in the First World War. The Uprising represented the continuation of resistance initiated in Serbia from the moment of withdrawal of the Serbian Army through Albania and it lasted almost until its return to the fatherland. It was the only and true uprising at the back of the fronts with an elemental organisation and clear concept of fight for freedom.