22.04.2014.

Exhibition 'Prince Mihailo' Iron Regiment of Toplica

The exhibition entitled 'Prince Mihailo' Iron Regiment of Toplica opens today at 5 pm in the Small Gallery of the Central Military Club in Belgrade. The exhibition about the legendary Toplica Iron Regiment was organized in celebration of the centenary since the outbreak of the First World War and is the fruit of the collaboration between the Odbrana Media Centre and the National Museum of Toplica from Prokuplje and Association of the citizens of Toplica from Belgrade. The exhibition was opened by General Ljubisa Dikovic, Chief of General Staff of the Serbian Armed Forces.

The author of the exhibition is Petko Marjanovic, Museum Consultant to the National Museum of Toplica, and on the occasion of the centenary of the mobilization of the 2nd Infantry Regiment of the 1st call 'Prince Mihailo', the exhibition was displayed so far in all municipalities of Toplice district, in Nis and Aleksinac.

General Ljubisa Dikovic, Serbian Armed Forces Chief of General Staff, said on this occasion that this exhibition is a real wealth with plethora of authentic photographs, documents and objects that testify on the history of one of our military units.

- I admire anyone who dares to speak about Iron Regiment. I do not dare, therefore I can only bow to their spirits. It is my honour that as a soldier I can say that name today in the hope that the glory of the Iron Regiment will never fade – General Dikovic said declaring the exhibition open.

Ms Julka Kuzmanovic Cvetkovic, Director of the National Museum of Toplice, said that the institution has existed for 80 years, and pays special attention to the study of history of Toplice as this is the Serbian history in a nutshell.

Lieutenant Colonel Slavoljub M. Markovic, Director of the Odbrana Media Centre recalled that the exhibition has already been seen by 10,000 people in Toplice area, Aleksinac and Nis.

- During the liberation wars in 1912-1918, Serbia mobilized about 100 regiments. Only one of them received the honorary title of 'Iron Regiment'. It was the 2nd Infantry Regiment of the 1st call 'Prince Mihailo' which consisted of men aged 21 to 31. The regiment participated in all wars in the period 1912-1918 and it is the most decorated unit of the Serbian Armed Forces – Lieutenant Colonel Markovic said.

The regiment had fought with 208 holders of Order of the Karađorđe's Star with Swords and 36 double holders of Order of the Karađorđe's Star with Swords.

The exhibition opening programme was enriched by the amateur actors of 'Hranislav Dragutinovic' theatre from Prokuplje that performed an excerpt from the play entitled Serbian drama.

For the display in the boards and showcases, 12 maps, 247 individual and group photographs and 57 original documents were selected. In addition, the display included the exhibits from the Military Museum and the National Museum of Nis. A special section consists of decorations, documents and personal belongings of the two great heroes of the Iron Regiment – Janacko Jovic and Ljubomir Kojovic.

The Small Gallery of the Central Military Club will be open to visitors of the exhibition until 10th May 2014, every day, except Sunday, from 11:00 to 19:00 hours. Admission is free.