01.09.2020.
Opening of Exhibition “The British and the Second World War in Yugoslavia”
On the occasion of marking the 75th anniversary of the end of the Second World War, an exhibition of photographs titled “The British and the Second World War in Yugoslavia” was opened in the Small Gallery of the Central Military Club in Belgrade. The exhibition was organised by the Media Centre “Odbrana” and Embassy of United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland in Belgrade in cooperation with Strategic Research Institute of University of Defence and Department for Tradition, Standard and Veterans of the Ministry of Defence.
The celebration was attended by State Secretary in the Ministry of Defence Aleksandar Živković, Ambassador of the United Kingdom Sian MacLeod, the author of the exhibition Defence Attaché of the United Kingdom Colonel Nick Ilić, representatives of the Ministry of Defence, Director of Archive of Yugoslavia Milan Terzić PhD and lovers of history and photography.
Opening the exhibition and greeting the guests on behalf of Minister of Defence Aleksandar Vulin, State Secretary Aleksandar Živković underscored that the Serbian people remembered the contribution of their allies in their joint fight against German occupying forces in these parts.
- The exhibition that we are organising today brings testimonies about the time in which the peoples of these parts waged the war for freedom together with the allies, which, just like in the First World War, included the Great Britain. The exhibition “The British and the Second World War in Yugoslavia” whose setup consists of eight parts, brings a valuable testimony dedicated to the sacrifices of the Serbian people, and members of British units and all those who supported the fight of Yugoslav peoples until the final victory over fascism. The eternal testimony to cooperation of our and the people of the United Kingdom are the graves of 471 sailors and pilots at the Commonwealth War Cemetery in Belgrade. Hoping that the times of war alliances are behind us, and that the times ahead will bring opportunities for cooperation and prosperity of our peoples in the field of economy, culture and everything else that makes everyday life of a modern man more beautiful, I bid you welcome in the edifice of the Central Military Club, which is a testimony to Serbian military glory and which cherishes national culture and tradition – said State Secretary Aleksandar Živković opening the exhibition.
Ambassador of the United Kingdom in Belgrade, Sian MacLeod underlined in her address that she “strives to build even higher quality and more productive bilateral relations between the two countries, oriented towards the future founded on mutual understanding, respect and friendship formed through cooperation in both world wars as well”.
- The exhibition that we are opening today “The British and the Second World War in Yugoslavia” represents an important contribution to that goal – said Ambassador MacLeod. The author of the exhibition dedicated to the sacrifices of the Serbian people, members of British Special Operations Executive units and all those who, during the war, supported Yugoslav peoples in their fight for liberation of fatherland, Defence Attaché of United Kingdom Colonel Nick Ilić stressed that the Serbian people had been the first in Europe who rose against the common enemy and paid a huge price because of that, much greater than American, French and British peoples together.
- The Government of Great Britain was supporting Serbian fighters from the first day, firstly to the Yugoslav Army in the fatherland commanded by Colonel, and later General Mihajlović, and then to the People’s Liberation Army of Marshal Tito. Together with their allies, the Serbian people were the first to start the fight against the occupation, and members of Special Operations Executive, seven of them being buried in Belgrade, fought beside them. This exhibition is dedicated to them – Colonel Nick Ilić said.
The exhibition “The British and the Second World War in Yugoslavia” will be open in the Small Gallery of the Central Military Club until 17th September from 11 to 19 o’clock.
PHOTOGALLERY
VIDEOGALLERY01.09.2020
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