23.01.2019.
Remembrance of Novi Sad Raid in the Second World War
The infamous raid of the occupational forces in the Second World War, better known as Novi Sad raid, was one of the most tragic events in the history of that town, when Hungarian occupational fascist forces killed, or threw alive under the ice of the frozen Danube, between 1300 and 1700 Serbs, Jews and Roma, citizens of Novi Sad, many of them being women, children and old men. In memory of the victims, the 77th anniversary of their suffering was commemorated today in Novi Sad.
Apart from several thousand citizens of Novi Sad, the commemoration to the victims of the raid, which was jointly organised by the town of Novi Sad, Jewish Municipality and eparchy of Bačka, was also attended by the President of the Government of Vojvodina Igor Mirović, President of Assembly of Vojvodina Ištvan Pastor, Mayor of Novi Sad Miloš Vučević, Commander of the First Army Brigade Colonel Zoran Nasković, representatives of the Ministry of Defence and Serbian Armed Forces.
Mayor of Novi Sad Miloš Vučević addressed the citizens gathered at Novi Sad Quay of the raid victims, on the plateau in front of the monument “Family”.- Entire generations of innocent citizens disappeared in icy waters of the Danube. This monument is a warning for the future and a reminder that the evil of fascism must not be repeated in any form ever again. Hence, the fight against fascism must never cease - Vučević sent the message and added that a dignified memory had not and it would never recognise revenge and intolerance to something different, but that we would never stop remembering.
Along with a religious service of the priests of Novi Sad and Deacon of Serbian Orthodox Church, memorial service was led by Bishop of Bačka Irinej, while commemorative rite of the Jewish community, memorial ceremony and sermon was held by Chief Rabbi Isak Asiel.
During the commemoration, Deputy President of the Town Assembly of Novi Sad Branka Bežanov, Deputy Mayor of Novi Sad Srđan Kružević and representatives of Roma and Jewish community Miloš Nikolić and Mina Momčilović laid a wreath in the Danube water from the deck of River Flotilla auxiliary river boat “Šabac”, with the sound of boat sirens.
The programme for the commemoration of the 77th anniversary of Novi Sad raid included the participation of the choirs of Cathedral “Saint Georgije” and of the Jewish municipality “Hašira”.
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