Anniversary of Syrmian Front breakthrough

Anniversary of Syrmian Front breakthrough

The wreaths were also laid by delegations of the Defense Ministry, the Serbian Armed Forces, the province of Vojvodina and representatives of fighters of the National Liberation War.

Officials of the embassies of Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, Bulgaria, Montenegro and Macedonia and a representative of the Croatian Armed Forces also laid wreaths and paid tribute to the victims.

Addressing the participants of the Syrmian Front, descendants of the fallen soldiers and numerous guests and citizens, Dačić underlined that Serbia will have no future unless it respects its history, adding that the future cannot be built solely on the past.

The government should be brave, make great moves and take large steps forward, Dačić said.

He said that today's democratic Serbia is indispensable to all international processes, regional and European integrations.

“The Serbian government is therefore determined to continue pursuing the policy of intensive internal development of the country and positioning in line with the capacities we have in many fields,” the prime minister said.

Dačić said that the breakthrough of the Axis lines on the Syrmian Front is a very important segment of Serbia's historical identity, and called on the citizens to stand united and focus on common goals so that we could defend and build up Serbia as the homeland of equal and proud citizens.

In the manner, we will show respect for the legacy of our ancestors, the victors of WWII, Dačić underlined.

Miodrag Zečević, president of the National Liberation War Veterans Association (SUBNOR), noted that the battle on the Syrmian (Sremski) Front was the longest one in the territory of the former Yugoslavia, which brought the victory after a four-year fight and the final liberation from Nazi occupation.

The difficult and bloody battles, fought in heavy snow and fierce winds, claimed the lives of at least 13,500 Yugoslav soldiers, mostly young men sent to the front from Serbia and Montenegro, but the exact number and full names of the soldiers have never been established or listed.

The losses and casualties for the Russian Red Army numbered at least 1,100 soldiers, the Bulgarian Army lost 630 men and the Italian brigade went back home without 163 of their men.

The Axis side saw about 30,000 of its soldiers killed or wounded.