20.01.2022.
Commemoration of Anniversary of Death of Great Serbian War Leaders Pavle Jurišić Šturm, Živojin Mišić and Petar Bojović
Today, at the New Cemetery in Belgrade, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence Nebojša Stefanović PhD led the state ceremony of lying wreaths and paying homage on the occasion of marking 100 years of the death of General Pavle Jurišić Šturm and the anniversary of death of generals Živojin Mišić and Petar Bojović.
Minister Stefanović pointed that they traditionally gathered on that day to pay their homage to our glorious war leaders Mišić, Bojović and Jurišić.
- We are here so that all of us and in this manner never allow that the memory of them fades in any way. Each of them built their lives in the foundation stones of our fatherland, they gave their knowledge, skills, and fought with all their being for free and independent Serbia and for better future of our people – Minister Stefanović said after having laid a wreath at the grave of General Pavle Jurišić Šturm.
-The world history - Minister Stefanović reminded – pays tribute to them and places them among the greatest war leaders of the First World War.
- The spirit of each of them still lives in our soldiers, and their great words instil courage in our armed forces and resound as guiding principle of dedicated service to the fatherland. At the behest of each of them, today we fight in peace and freedom to build as strong and as unified Serbia as possible. We are also obliged to have our children and descendants know their history, to know and be proud of being born in a country of Živojin Mišić, Petar Bojović and Pavle Jurišić Šturm - Minister Stefanović underlined.
He reminded that on that day they paid special honour to General Jurišić.
- We commemorate the centennial of death of this unique man, of unusual biography and exceptional military knowledge, who left a truly special mark on Serbian war history. He was a Lusatian Serb, born in the heart of Saxony, who loved our country and our people so much that despite being a Prussian officer he joined the Serbian army as a volunteer, and that happened in the decisive years for Serbia when it fought for its liberation. And that was not all, because it was a man who held Serbia in his heart so much that he changed his name and became Orthodox Christian - Minister Stefanović explained.
Pavle Jurišić Šturm, as the minister of defence noted, became a renowned Serbian general due to his merits and selfless sacrifice.
- He spent the most difficult and the most glorious years for our country shoulder to shoulder with Serbian fighters, in trenches, on Thessaloniki front and wherever the honourable military service demanded. He was a true patriot, whose entire family dedicated its knowledge, work and lives to Serbia. He fought in no less than seven wars that Serbia waged and he won numerous victories for our people. The history has recorded his extraordinary merits, particularly those bright ones of famous Cer and Kolubara battles. Chroniclers wrote that he had shown in those battles what it meant to be the first among the equals and fight in line with one’s soldiers – Minister Stefanović stressed.
More than 40 decorations that he received are the proof of his knowledge and courage – Minister Stefanović pointed out.
- General Jurišić was a true soldier of our Serbia, and he gave a lot both to Serbia and the Serbs without asking anything in return. This modest man left us in silence back in 1922, but because of his heroic deeds he will be remembered for all eternity. That is why today we loudly say “Thank you” to one of our greatest heroes, and we thank him for everything that he did for this country which he immeasurably loved! May the memory live forever of the great Serbian soul of General Šturm! – Minister Stefanović exclaimed.
In the following part of the ceremony, Minister Stefanović laid wreaths at the grave of Field Marshal Petar Bojović, on the occasion of 77th anniversary of his death, and at the grave of Field Marshal Živojin Mišić on the occasion of 101st anniversary of his death.
At the New Cemetery in Belgrade, wreaths were laid at the graves of General Pavle Jurišić Šturm and Field Marshals Živojin Mišić and Petar Bojović by State Secretary in the Ministry of Labour, Employment, Veteran and Social Affairs Zoran Antić, and representatives of associations of descendants and admirers of the warriors of the First World War.
The three renowned war leaders died in Belgrade – Field Marshal Mišić on 20th January 1921, Field Marshal Bojović on 19th January 1945, and Army General Pavle Jurišić Šturm died on 14th January 1922.
