GRADIŠKA – In the “Cultural Center” of Gradiška, on the occasion of April 24, Liberation Day in the Second World War, on Tuesday evening, a book was presented and an exhibition opened under the common name “Born in battle”.
This shows the great contribution of Kozare women to the People’s Liberation Struggle.
The authors of the book, museum adviser Vedrana Adamović and senior curator Marina Ljubičić Bogunović, said that courage was the greatest virtue of Kozar women in the Second World War.
“The women of Kozara fought in the front ranks of the partisan movement, against the extermination of their people by the Independent State of Croatia, which aimed at the destruction of Serbian life on the territory of the NDH and thus of Kozara. We also researched the position of women in society and the family before of the war, considering the circumstances and difficulties they faced, in order to become heroines, and remain anonymous and unknown to the general public,” said the authors of the book. Professor and historian Sandra Lukić, reviewer of the book “Born to fight” pointed out the combativeness, commitment to the idea and solidarity of Kozare women in the Second World War.
“Many of them became prominent partisan fighters, nurses, brought food to the fighters and helped the resistance movement, not even regretting their sacrifice in that fight. They took it upon themselves to dress, thus making a great contribution to the fight for liberation from the occupier. the emancipation of women began, and it continued after the war. This is a new and important role for women in our society,” Professor Lukić pointed out.
She praised the audience in Gradiška, who recognized the value of the book and the exhibition.
“The audience that came en masse to the promotion impressed me. We live in a time when our history, our just fight for freedom is less and less respected. Gradiška showed that she appreciates her heritage from the Second World War, that she respects and does not forget her victims. That’s why we are all encouraged by this event,” emphasized Professor Sandra Lukić.
Miroslav Vuković, director of the “Cultural Center” of Gradiško, citing an important reason for the promotion of the book and exhibition, pointed to many artists who in their works shed light on the role of women, women from Kozar, in the Second World War.
Among them are Skender Kulenović, Branko Ćopić and other writers. Gradiška also preserves the memory of its women, heroes who lost their young lives in the fight for freedom. Among them is Lepa Radić.
“It is our duty to preserve the memory of the important figures of our turbulent and difficult history. It is important for future generations, not to forget the bloody and tragic but determined fight for freedom. If we do not do this, history will very soon be reshaped in the wrong direction way,” Vuković said.
The promotion of the book and the exhibition were organized by the “Cultural Center” in Gradiška, the “Kozare Museum” in Prijedor and the “Memorial Museum” in Mrakovica.
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