14.12.2014.

Centenary of the Battle of Kolubara marked

The central manifestation of marking the centenary of the Battle of Kolubara was held at te Church and Memorial Bone House of Saint Demetrius in Lazarevac. This ceremony was attended by President of the Republic of Serbia Tomislav Nikolic, President of the Republika Srpska Milorad Dodik, ministers of the Serbian Government, Head of the General Staff of Serbia, defence attaches, heir to the throne Aleksandar Karadjordjevic, and representatives of warriors’ organizations, members of Duke Zivojin Misic’s family and of descendants of the heroes of the Battle of Kolubara.

A liturgy for the victims was offered by Serbian Orthodox Church Patriarch Irinej, and then wreaths were laid on the memorial bone house, including wreaths from the Austrian delegation.

During his commemorative speech, President Nikolic reminded of the greatness of the voctory of the Serbian military in the Battle of Kolubara and stressed:

- The myth of invincibility of German imperial weapons was erased in Kolubara and Suvobor, and that truth was finally sealed with the Serbian vicotry on Kajmakcalan and the Thessaloniki Front – President said. He stressed that this battle is being studied at all military academies of the world, as an example of military skills, courage of a general, tactics and strategy.

- Everything that happened will be our people’s epic and historical legacy, every verse, all christenings and requiems, weddings and slavas,

our genetic history and mythical array, all our predecessors came to the piece of heart that wages and wins battles. This is what made heroes in the Battle of Kolubara, mythical warriors from soldiers, historical persons from generals and strategists. This is the foundation of the Serbian land, the invisible threshold, that decided the victor – Nikolic said, adding that this battle is the greatest ornament in the glorious and victorious epopee of Serbia, not only in the Great War, won by the skill of military leadership and the devotion of each soldier.

As he stressed, fallen warriors from both sides are buried in the same tomb – the Church of St. Demetrius in Lazarevac.

- This message of forgiveness, understanding, humanity and respect for one’s enemy is a unique example. And this is the image of us that is the lesson for the future. As the victory of Kolubara is a lesson, as is the fact that Serbia has never led conquering wars in its history – President of Serbia said. He stressed that today, fortunately, we are fighting different battles, which called for different kind of wisdom and skill.

- We will win these battles by keeping the family vow to give our best, show our inherited virtues and love for the fatherland always and everywhere and on every occasion, because we have no right to betray our heroic ancestors - the Serbian president said.

The manifestation of marking the centenary of the Battle of Kolubara was attended by members of the Collegium of the Minister of Defence and the Head of the General Staff of Serbia, in the course of study travel “100 years of the Battle of Kolubara”. At Branicevo Brdo, at cotta 239, they attended a historical lesson “The course of the Battle of Kolubara”, with a theatrical display. Lieutenant Colonel, history professor at the Military Academy, spoke about the course of the battle.

The Battle of Kolubara is the pinnacle of efforts and commanding skills of the Serbian military. In toughest conditions, during an uncertain and difficult battle, the Austro-Hungarian military was completely defeated, which solved the war in 1914 in favor of the Serbian military. After the Battle of Kolubara, General Zivojin Misic was promoted to the rank of Duke.