07.08.2016.

Serbia marks 140 years since the Battle on Javor

By laying of wreaths at the monument to Major Mihajlo Ilic and those killed on the Javor battlefield and in Kalipolje battle in 1876, and by the festive programme at the point where this battle began over 140 years ago, Serbia marked this important jubilee in the history of our struggle for freedom and unification.

General Ljubisa Dikovic, Serbian Armed Forces Chief of General Staff laid the wreaths on the ossuary and the monument as a representative of the main sponsor of marking this jubilee, the President of Serbia Tomislav Nikolic, and presidents of municipalities of Ivanjica and Nova Varos, representatives of several associations of descendants of Serbian veterans from 1912 to 1918, representatives of Stara Raska humanitarian organization, Ravna Gora movement of Ivanjica, Serbian Host Association and representatives of Major Ilic elementary

school from Kusic.

"It is my personal and military honour to have the opportunity on this historic site, at the scene of a great battle and selfless sacrifice for freedom, to pay tribute to the heroes whose work is woven into the tradition of the Serbian Armed Forces which we preserve and which we are proud of", General Dikovic, the first soldier of Serbia said on that occasion, conveying at the same time the message of President Nikolic to those present.

President Nikolic pointed out that the first Serbian-Turkish war, in 1876, was the fight between David and Goliath, the war of small and poorly prepared Serbia against powerful and well-armed Turkey. But the Serbian Army, as the message of President Nikolic reads, had an arsenal more which is sometimes difficult to counter: in that war, the fight was fought by the heart of a hero, primarily.

"This is not only a place of remembrance but also a reminder that our ancestors, famous fighters, knew that they are gaining our independence, liberating us from slavery and uniting for all times. Our pilgrimage to this place of suffering and victory does not mean our intention to live in the past but the need to better get to know and understand ourselves."

Battles for Javor and around this mountain in 1876, were part of a major conflict with Turkey, which Serbia entered because of the terrible reprisals of the Turkish Army against the Serbian population in Bosnia following the Herzegovina uprising. The whole conflict, as well as the second Serbian-Turkish war in 1877 and 1878, was a part of many-century lasting geopolitical problem known as "the Eastern Issue". Javor theatre of war was opened on 6 July 1876, on Kalipolje, and the Serbian Army on this front was first commanded by General Franjo Zah. After exceptionally large losses on the first day and the wounding of Zah, the Serbian Army was demoralized, and encounters of the Turks threatened to cause collapse of this part of the front. Several officers, primarily Lieutenant Mihailo Ilic, by daring manoeuvres and their personal initiative, prevented a disaster and defeat in this theatre of operations, which would significantly impede the Serbian war effort in other theatres of war. In memory of Kalipolje battle and the events known by the people of this region as Javor war, a monument to Mikhail Ilic and heroes of the battle was erected.