Serbia remembers Archibald Reiss

Serbian officials have marked the 80th anniversary of the death of Dr. Archibald Reiss this Sunday, placing wreaths and flowers at his grave in Belgrade. Labor and interior ministry representatives, a large number of local self-government officials and citizens gathered at his grave and at the renewed monument in the Serbian capital. Serbia remembers Archibald Reiss Today's commemoration was organized by the Labor Ministry and the Society for Upholding the Traditions of Serbia's Liberation Wars until 1918. Reiss, one of the leading forensic scientists of his time and a great friend of Serbia, was born in Germany in 1875. He studied in Switzerland, where he earned a masters degree in chemistry and became professor at the University of Lausanne, a statement from the organizers said. In 1909, he founded a criminology institute that listed Serbs among its students. Invited by the government of the Kingdom of Serbia, he arrived in the country in 1914, where he began forensic research into the crimes that invading Austro-Hungarian soldiers committed against civilian Serb population. His documented research had a huge effect, forcing the public to face the crimes of the monarchy, said the statement. At the same time, Reiss took interest in Serb peasants and soldiers, their conduct in tragedy and victory. Fascinated by their mentality and spirit, Reiss developed a permanent bond with the country. He joined the Serb army as it withdrew through Albania after Austro-Hungarian forces invaded. Reiss dedicated himself to help Serb refugees, find homes in Switzerland for Serb orphans, and by sending aid to the occupied population. It was after he arrived to the Macedonian front and joined the Serb army there, that Reiss "became one with the Serb being, and its inseparable part"; his efforts, that included tireless visits to the troops even in the most dangerous locations later earned him the Medal of Courage. His mission continued after the war, when he was tasked with submitting official reports on war crimes ahead of the Paris Peace Conference. Reiss later founded and was at the helm of a police school with the Serbian Ministry of the Interior. But after his views conflicted with the government, especially with Premier Nikola Pasic, he chose to withdraw from the public life rather than become a subject of intrigue. However, his popularity among the people never waned. His political testament – a manuscript written in French covering the period between 1918 and 1928 – entitled, Ecoutez les Serbes! (Listen, Serbs!), was published posthumously. Reiss died on August 8, 1929, and was laid to rest in Belgrade's Topcidersko cemetery. However, according to his wishes, his heart was buried separately, in a memorial complex on Mt. Kajmakcalan, that honors Serb soldiers who fought a victorious WW1 battle against the Bulgarian army there. The grave of Archibald Reiss this Sunday (Beta)

Serbia remembers Archibald Reiss

Today's commemoration was organized by the Labor Ministry and the Society for Upholding the Traditions of Serbia's Liberation Wars until 1918.

Reiss, one of the leading forensic scientists of his time and a great friend of Serbia, was born in Germany in 1875. He studied in Switzerland, where he earned a masters degree in chemistry and became professor at the University of Lausanne, a statement from the organizers said.

In 1909, he founded a criminology institute that listed Serbs among its students.

Invited by the government of the Kingdom of Serbia, he arrived in the country in 1914, where he began forensic research into the crimes that invading Austro-Hungarian soldiers committed against civilian Serb population.

His documented research had a huge effect, forcing the public to face the crimes of the monarchy, said the statement.

At the same time, Reiss took interest in Serb peasants and soldiers, their conduct in tragedy and victory. Fascinated by their mentality and spirit, Reiss developed a permanent bond with the country.

He joined the Serb army as it withdrew through Albania after Austro-Hungarian forces invaded. Reiss dedicated himself to help Serb refugees, find homes in Switzerland for Serb orphans, and by sending aid to the occupied population.

It was after he arrived to the Macedonian front and joined the Serb army there, that Reiss "became one with the Serb being, and its inseparable part"; his efforts, that included tireless visits to the troops even in the most dangerous locations later earned him the Medal of Courage.

His mission continued after the war, when he was tasked with submitting official reports on war crimes ahead of the Paris Peace Conference.

Reiss later founded and was at the helm of a police school with the Serbian Ministry of the Interior.

But after his views conflicted with the government, especially with Premier Nikola Pašić, he chose to withdraw from the public life rather than become a subject of intrigue.

However, his popularity among the people never waned.

His political testament – a manuscript written in French covering the period between 1918 and 1928 – entitled, Ecoutez les Serbes! (Listen, Serbs!), was published posthumously.

Reiss died on August 8, 1929, and was laid to rest in Belgrade's Topčidersko cemetery.

However, according to his wishes, his heart was buried separately, in a memorial complex on Mt. Kajmakčalan, that honors Serb soldiers who fought a victorious WW1 battle against the Bulgarian army there.