03.06.2026.
150th anniversary of Military Archive commemorated
Today, Minister of Defence Bratislav Gašić attended a ceremony marking the 150th anniversary of the establishment of the Military Archive. The event was held at the Central Military Club in Belgrade.
At the beginning of his address, Minister Gašić emphasized that the Military Archive is an institution “whose establishment is linked to one of the most important dates in our military history, when, in 1876, the History Department was established within the General Staff by decree of Prince Milan Obrenović.”- By the will of the ruler, an institution was established whose mission has remained unchanged for 150 years - to collect, safeguard, and process documents of permanent significance to the state and the armed forces. Many of the events that shaped the history of Serbia have been recorded in the archival materials safeguarded by our Military Archive. These documents bear witness to times of great trials, suffering and struggles for freedom, but also to the strength of the state to endure and preserve its identity. That is why the Military Archive is particularly significant. It safeguards Serbia’s historical memory and preserves testimonies of the most important moments in our national and military past - Minister Gašić emphasized.
The Minister of Defence noted that it is of particular importance that this valuable heritage has been preserved even through periods of great historical hardship and challenges, thanks to the dedicated work of generations of archivists and experts, and added that the Military Archive and its employees continue to carry out this important mission in a professional and responsible manner.- More than 40 million pages of documentation are kept in the Archive’s holdings, bearing witness to the military, state, and social history of the Serbian people, as well as documentation of particular importance for the defence system and the security of the Republic of Serbia. The sheer volume of the documentation shows how important this institution is for the Ministry of Defence and the Serbian Armed Forces. When we also take into account that these documents reflect the very life and existence of our nation over the past 150 years, it becomes evident that the significance of the Military Archive is beyond measure – Minister Gašić said.
The Minister expressed his sincere gratitude, as well as that of the Ministry of Defence, to the director of the Military Archive and to all former and current members of the institution whose knowledge, dedication, and responsibility have contributed to the preservation of Serbia’s military and national heritage.
- Your work is of lasting importance to Serbia, because a nation that preserves its history also preserves an awareness of its identity, freedom and statehood. I am particularly pleased that today the Military Archive is a synonym for a modern institution with a clear sense of purpose. While continuing to collect, process, and preserve documents from oblivion, it is also looking to the future to ensure that this historical treasure is preserved and made available to future generations. An important part of this mission is cooperation with archives, museums, and other cultural and scientific institutions in Serbia and abroad, which contributes to the preservation and presentation of our military and historical heritage to the wider public - the Minister of Defence stated.Addressing the personnel of the Military Archive, Minister Gašić stressed that by caring for Serbia’s historical heritage, they are also safeguarding the enduring values upon which the state, the Ministry of Defence and the Serbian Armed Forces rest, adding that their work is therefore precious.
- Thank you for your responsible, dedicated, and professional service. I wish you continued success in the future, because by preserving the testimony of our history, we preserve the seed of our historical memory. Happy anniversary -150 years of the Military Archive’s existence and service – Minister Gašić concluded.
At the ceremony, the director of the Military Archive, Colonel Petar Ivanović, presented Minister Gašić with a commemorative plaque of the Military Archive and an edition of selected historical documents.Addressing the audience, Colonel Ivanović said that for a century and a half the Military Archive has served as a guardian of the historical memory of the Serbian people and the armed forces, preserving evidence of both their glorious victories and immense suffering.
- Many people associate the word ‘archive’ with silence, dust and old papers. However, those of us who work in the Military Archive, as well as those who are aware of the historical value of documents, know that the truth is quite different. There is no silence in our repositories, for they echo with the commands issued in the battles of Cer and Kolubara, with the footsteps of the liberating army, and with records from whose pages emerge the sighs of the wounded and the pride of the victors - Colonel Ivanović emphasized, adding that a nation that forgets its history is condemned to relive it.In recognition of longstanding cooperation, certificates of appreciation were presented to representatives of the State Archives of Serbia, the Archives of Yugoslavia, the Historical Archives of Požarevac, the Intermunicipal Historical Archives of Čačak, the Historical Archives of the City of Novi Sad, and the Historical Archives of Belgrade.
The ceremony was enhanced by musical performances by the Ministry of Defence’s “Stanislav Binički” Art Ensemble. In cooperation with the Obrenovac Poetry Theatre and colleagues from the State Archives of Serbia, the Military Archive also staged a play titled Four Field Marshals in the Great War. Following the ceremony, guests toured two exhibitions in the Grand Gallery of the Central Military club, co-organized by the Intermunicipal Historical Archives of Čačak and the Military Archive: Four Field Marshals in the Great War and The Wars of Independence of the Principality of Serbia, 1876–1878.
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