Incredible Abandoned Yugoslavian Monuments #1

On August 8, 2015 by Tim Newman

After World War II, many monuments were designed and built across former Yugoslavia. They were built to commemorate battles, heroes, and massacres.

The design of the monuments (often by renowned designers and architects), and their position in remote rural areas means that since the dissolution of Yugoslavia into six countries, they have mostly been abandoned and left to rot.

The Soviet-esque style, as you might remember from those Soviet era bus stops, might most easily be described as surrealist art deco.

Below are a handful of those WWII monuments from across ex-Yugoslavian lands.

Bosnia and Herzegovina

Partisan Memorial in Mostar

The area fell to wrack and ruin and was heavily damaged in the war in 1992. But in 2006, the cemetery was proclaimed a national monument of Bosnia and Herzegovina and given the spit and polish treatment.

Since 2006, however, the cemetery has once again fallen victim to neglect, heavy vandalism, and rubbish dumping.

Monument of the Revolution (Kozara)

This World War II memorial was created by Dušan Džamonja. It’s located at Mrakovica, one of the highest peaks of Kozara mountain.

The monument is dedicated to the fierce battle and 2,500 Yugoslav partisan fighters and 68,500 mostly Serb civilians killed or deported to Ustaše concentration camps during German-Ustaše-Hungarian Kozara Offensive – June/July 1942.

Necropolis For The Victims Of Fascism

Located in Novi Travnik, Bosnia and Herzegovina. It was opened in 1975 to commemorate around 700 victims executed at this site during the Second World War.

The area around the monument was, until recently, riddled with landmines meaning that it fell into disrepair.

Now cleared of bombs, the vandals have moved in.

Vogosca Monument

Designed by Zlatko Ugljen and built in 1969. This odd monument commemorates the deaths of 62 Partisan fighters and illegal migrant workers.

Croatia

Monument to the Revolution of the people of Moslavina

World War II memorial sculpture by Dušan Džamonja, located in Podgarić, Berek, Croatia.

This epic oddity is dedicated to the people of Moslavina during World War II.

Monument to the Uprising of the People of Kordun and Banija

This World War II monument sits on the highest peak of Petrova Gora. It’s on the site of a tragic World War II episode, when about 300 desperate Serb peasants armed only with pitchforks, died attacking Ustaše – Croatian fascist troops who were hell bent on ethnically cleaning Croatia.

Today it is routinely robbed of its stainless steel and left to the elements.

Monument to Fallen Fighters and Victims of Fascism – Orebić

Located on the Pelješac peninsula near the village of Gornje Pijavičino.

It is dedicated to 395 fallen Yugoslav partisans and civilians killed in Italian and ustasha concentration camps. Designed by Ivan Mitrović and Zlatko Jerić, built in 1983.

Jasenovac Memorial Area

Dedicated to the concentration camp victims at the Jasenovac camp, held by the Ustaše.

This was one of the largest concentration camps in Europe, renowned for its brutality.

The majority of victims at Jasenovac were ethnic Serbs, whom the Ustaše wanted to remove from the NDH (new Croatian state), along with the Jews, anti-fascist or dissident Croatians, and Roma.