19.02.2026.

“150 Years of the General Staff – A Century and a Half in Service to the Homeland”

To commemorate the 150^th anniversary of the establishment of the General Staff of the Serbian Armed Forces, an exhibition titled “150 Years of the General Staff – A Century and a Half in Service to the Homeland” was officially opened today at the Central Military Club in Belgrade.

The exhibition was opened by the Chief of the Serbian Armed Forces General Staff, General Milan Mojsilović. In his address, he noted that the exhibition stands as a testament to the institutional continuity and professional development of the General Staff from 1876 to the present day, and added that the 19^th century laid the foundation of modern Serbia.

- At the time, a need was recognised to form an organisational unit within the Ministry of Defence that would be responsible for preparing the armed forces for deployment, and for overseeing training, morale, the code of conduct, and all other functions that today fall under the General Staff. Today, we will have the chance to explore selected museum exhibits, records, and documents, familiarising ourselves with the development of the institution that is deeply rooted in our military and national history. This exhibition should act as a reminder of the importance of knowledge, organisation, and responsibility in building our military institutions - said the Chief of the General Staff, extending his gratitude to everyone involved in preparing and organising the exhibition dedicated to this important anniversary.

Zoran Anđelković, Director of Pošta Srbije, presented General Mojsilović with a philatelic set – a First Day Cover envelope featuring a stamp commemorating the 150^th anniversary of the General Staff.

He congratulated the General Staff on its 150^th anniversary, emphasising that Pošta Srbije has always been dedicated to commemorating major national anniversaries and key dates in our history. Through its stamps, Pošta Srbije aims to create a lasting memory and tribute to such important dates, and the General Staff’s anniversary is among the most important dates in Serbia’s history.

Today’s exhibition opening included the screening of a segment from the documentary “Strategic Gene – Mind of the Army – Chain of Command: 150 Years of the General Staff”, whose full premiere is scheduled for March this year.

The exhibition, displayed at the Grand Gallery of the Central Military Club and curated by Uroš Milivojević from the Military Museum, offers visitors a chance to learn interesting historical facts about the General Staff. The exhibition is a retrospective of all Chiefs of the General Staff, from its establishment to the present, featuring their original photographs, uniforms, traditional “šajkača” hats, books, orders, personal weapons, sabres, etc.

The exhibition opening was attended by members of the Defence Minister’s and the Chief of the General Staff’s collegiums, former Chiefs of the General Staff, Military Bishop Dositej – the Bishop of Lipljan, as well as representatives of various churches and religious communities.

The exhibition will be open until April 15, 2026.

The Main General Staff of the Serbian Army was established on January 24 (old calendar), i.e. February 5 (new calendar), 1876, as an integral part of the Ministry of the Army.

To mark the General Staff’s significant anniversary, the Ministry of Defence and the Serbian Armed Forces will organise a series of events this year to mark a century and a half of this important state and military institution.