22.08.2010.

Celebration of 96th anniversary of Cer battle

At the ceremony marking the 96th anniversary of the Cer battle, the Serbian Armed Forces Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Miloje Miletic, on behalf of the Ministry of Defence and the Serbian Armed Forces, laid today a wreath at the memorial to Cer heroes in Tekeriš. Within the delegation of the Ministry and the Armed Forces there were the Chief of the Training Command Major General Aleksandar Zivkovic and Commander of Air Force and Air Defence Brigadier General Ranko Živak.

The ceremony on Cer was attended by the government and military officials, diplomatic representatives of the countries participants in the battle and the allies of the Kingdom of Serbia in the First World War, as well as the descendants and representatives of the local self-government. Wreaths at the memorial were laid by representatives of the Ministry of Labour and Social Policy of the Government of Serbia, the town of Loznica, the Czech Embassy in Belgrade, as well as many civil associations and organizations that foster tradition of Serbian liberation wars.

"The victory of the Serbian Army on Cer, as well as every great victory, is woven from many individual efforts of officers, NCOs and soldiers. A victory takes thousands of personal achievements, sacrifices and heroic deeds about which the history does not write often, but which are real and decisive for the outcome of war operations"- General Miletic emphasised, recalling the circumstances and significance of the Cer battle. Size and genius military leader, as Chief said, contribute to these nameless soldiers of his determination and courage.

According to him, today's meeting proves once again that with pride and all due respect we remember our ancestors, the hero of the Cer, but not to live in the past, he said, but in order to better understand who we are, where they come from and where we go.

"The obligation of all of us is to preserve the memory of the glorious victory of the Serbian army, and that their offspring learn from such history" - General Miletic said, expressing his respect as a soldier to all the killed enemy soldiers in the Cer battle.

Even during the greatest conflict, the Serbian Army, had appropriate relations with the enemy soldiers, respecting their dignity and profession, said the Chief of General Staff, adding that in the name of peace, relying on the proven values from the past, we may build successful relations with neighbours and the international community in the future.

"In the recent years, the Ministry of Defence and the Serbian Armed Forces have been promoting intensive cooperation with the armed forces of many countries in which we are recognised as a reliable and desirable partner" – General Miletic said. Participation in the international military exercises, multinational operations under the auspices of the United Nations, various forms of vocational training and similar activities, he added, confirm that the Serbian Armed Forces, as an institution of national importance, is fully involved in the global security trends.

"Respecting the tradition of the Serbian Army, but also understanding the contemporary global processes, this year we are completing the process of reform and professionalization of the Serbian Armed Forces" –the Chief of General Staff said, adding that in this way we are maintaining and increasing the reputation of our country and honour of the military profession.

General Miletic noted in the memorial book of the "Cer Battle" Museum - "We are proud to recall the courage of Serbian warriors, Jadar and Cer heroes, our ancestors to whom the freedom and the honour of the fatherland were the highest values and impetus to the superhuman feats. Their selfless sacrifice is the most sacred legacy to the generations who live in freedom. May they be in eternal peace! Long live Serbia! Long live the Serbian Armed Forces! "

The Mayor of Loznica Vidoje Petrovic, addressing the audience, said that the Cer heroes, for whom we are here today, long ago became a symbol of sacrifice and heroism.

"On the beautiful slopes of Cer, the Serbian soldiers, good hosts in peace, devoted fathers, took their positions and dug trenches through their orchards, fields and meadows. In spite of the two bloody heroic battles against the Turks, Bulgarians and Albanians in the Balkan Wars, they stood again in defence of their fatherland, won the enemy and crowned themselves with an immortal glory, obligating us not to forget", Petrovic said.

The Cer battle, which took place over a wide area of Cer from 16 to 20 August 1914, is one of the most important and biggest victories of the Serbian Army in the World War II. At the same time it was the first victory of the Allies. It is also known as "Jadar battle" because the major operations took place in the basin of the Jadar River. It was preceded by the fights of forward detachments on the Drina and Sava, who bravely resisted the advance of much greater and stronger Austro-Hungarian troops for four days. Serbian forces were commanded by General Stepa Stepanovic.

The operation of Cer ended with suppression of the enemy to the Drina and the final battle near the town of Sabac, from 21 to 24 August 1914. Serbia lost in battles more than 16,000 soldiers, while the Austro-Hungarians had about 25,000 killed. Because of their exceptional merits in the control and command of the Cer battle, Commander of the Second Serbian army Stepa Stepanovic was promoted to the rank of Voivode. The battle was a glaring example of a tactically well-designed and accomplished military operation.

Memorial crypt in Tekeriš was built in 1928, at the point where the fights that decided the outcome of the battle were waged from 15 to 19 August 1914. It was built during the reign of King Alexander I. It has the shape of a natural stone, 8.6 ? 7.6 meters and ten meters high. In the foundations of the crypt the remains of more than ten thousand killed Serbian soldiers were laid. There is an inscription at its front - "Your deeds are immortal."

The ceremony on the occasion of the Cer battle anniversary, which was also attended by the representative orchestra and the ceremonial unit of the Serbian Armed Forces Guards, was organized by the Ministry of Defence and the Culture Centre "Vuk Karadzic" in Loznica.