12.04.2023.
Commemoration of sinking of Drava river monitor
Members of the Serbian Armed Forces commemorated today the sinking of the Drava river monitor, which was sunk during the April War in 1941, following a heroic battle against a far more superior Nazi aggressor.
As part of the ceremony marking the 82nd anniversary of the sinking of Drava, a SAF delegation, the descendants of the famous commander of the ship, Lieutenant Commander Aleksandar Berić, representatives of the local self-government and the Association of Navy Veterans laid wreaths at the memorial bust of this April War hero, at the local cemetery in Belegiš. In memory of the fallen crew members, a commemoration was held at the shipwreck site, at the Danube’s 1287th navigable kilometre in the vicinity of Čelarevo. The SAF delegation lowered wreaths to the water from a River Flotilla ship, to the sound of ships’ horns and honour guard’s salute.
In an unequal battle against the German air force, inflicting significant losses on the enemy, the heroic Drava crew fought courageously until the very end. At dawn on April 12, the ship sank taking with it the commander and 76 crewmembers to the bottom of the Danube.