Many flock to celebrate Dražin Dan in London / "Britić - The British Serb magazine" July 19, 2018

Britić - The British Serb magazine
July 19, 2018

Many flock to celebrate Dražin Dan in London

People came together to commemorate General Draža Mihailović, the leader of the first anti-Nazi resistance in Yugoslavia, who died 72 years ago.

And among those who came to honour Čiča Draža last Sunday was HRH Princess Katarina Karadjordjevic.

Dražin Dan started in the traditional manner, with a memorial service at St Sava’s in London conducted by parish clergy. Lunch was served at the Ravna Gora Hotel, which was very well-attended.

A cultural programme followed at Dom Nikolaja back in Notting Hill. Traditional Serbian folklore dance groups Avala from Corby and Rastko in London entertained the audience.

Andjelka and Zoran sang songs into the night.

Marko Govoruša, Secretary of the Pokret’s London Club, noted some details on the life of Draža:

"Dragoljub – Draža Mihailović was executed on 17th July in 1946. He was the Army General and Chief of Staff of the Yugoslav Army in the Fatherland. During the Balkan wars and the First World War, Draža was an officer in the Serbian army in the Kingdom of Serbia. He was a 19-year-old cadet when he first saw battle. The Balkan wars have interrupted his studies, but at the end of the war he came home with a silver medal for courage and the rank of second lieutenant. In the First World War he survived the retreat over the Albanian mountains ​​along with his soldiers, participated in the breakthrough of the Salonika front and the liberation of Serbia in 1918. After the establishment of the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes in 1918, Mihailović continued his military career. He continued his studies in France and in the period from 1935 to 1936 he served as military attache in Bulgaria, and from 1936 to 1937 in Czechoslovakia. In late December 1939, he was appointed lecturer at the Military Academy. In October 1940, he was promoted to an assistant to the military staff, and from 1 April 1941 he was appointed Chief of the Operations Department of the Third Army. At that time he already had the rank of colonel.

"The capitulation of the Yugoslav Royal Army, which was signed on 17 April 1941, found Colonel Mihailović in Eastern Bosnia. He refused to accept the military capitulation and went to Serbia to continue his resistance. He organized a group that was the beginning of what will later become the Ravna Gora Movement. The new Yugoslav royal government headed by academician Slobodan Jovanović, formed on 11 January 1942, appointed Mihailović Minister of the Army, Navy and Air Force. During the war years that followed, a civil war broke out in the Kingdom of Yugoslavia between the Partisans and the Chetniks. That war has had devastating consequences for the Serbian people and the country. Even today there are debates and divided opinions about the events from those war years. The reason for this are precisely the two sides and the fact that England and other Western countries changed their strategic support to one or the other on several occasions. By the end of the war, the Partisans prevailed and General Mihajlović was arrested on 13 March 1946. Shortly after he was convicted and the death sentence was executed on July 17, 1946. Even today no one knows exactly where the grave of General Mihailović is."

Thanks to Marko Govoruša and Dušan Parojčić for information and photos.

http://www.ebritic.com/?p=672328

*****

If you would like to get in touch with me, Aleksandra,

please feel free to contact me at ravnagora@hotmail.com

*****

Poster for the documentary film “General Draža Mihailović” / Плакат за филм “Генерал Дража Михаиловић“ / 2018

Poster for the documentary film “General Draža Mihailović”

"On Draža’s day in 2018, the Pogledi Film Company from Kragujevac, Serbia, published a poster for its documentary film “General Draža Mihailović,” which is in the production process. The poster was created by university professor of applied design, Nikola Berbakov. It is available in Serbian and English.

"The length of the film is 110 minutes. Production is expected to be completed in October of this year.

"To learn more about the film, including the trailer, please see here:

http://kingdom-of-yugoslavia-in-ww2.com/documentary-general-draza-mihailovic/

http://kingdom-of-yugoslavia-in-ww2.com/%D0%B0-poster-for-documentary-film-general-draza-mihailovic/

*****

Плакат за филм “Генерал Дража Михаиловић“

"На Дражин-дан 2018-те године, предузеће за кинематографију “Погледи“ д.о.о. Крагујевац, објављују плакат за документарни филм “Генерал Дража Михаиловић“, чија израда је у току.

"Плакат је дело универзитетског професора графике Николе Бербакова, а постоји српска и енглеска верзија.

"Филм ће трајати око 110 минута. Завршетак филма може се очекивати у октобру ове године.

Више о филму, укључујући и трејлер, можете видети овдe:

http://kingdom-of-yugoslavia-in-ww2.com/dokumentarni-film-general-draza-mihailovic/

http://kingdom-of-yugoslavia-in-ww2.com/%D0%BF%D0%BB%D0%B0%D0%BA%D0%B0%D1%82-%D0%B7%D0%B0-%D1%84%D0%B8%D0%BB%D0%BC-%D0%B3%D0%B5%D0%BD%D0%B5%D1%80%D0%B0%D0%BB-%D0%B4%D1%80%D0%B0%D0%B6%D0%B0-%D0%BC%D0%B8%D1%85%D0%B0%D0%B8%D0%BB%D0%BE/

*****

If you would like to get in touch with me, Aleksandra, please feel free to contact me at ravnagora@hotmail.com

*****

OUR LIBERTY, HIS DEATH. General Draza Mihailovich April 27, 1893 - July 17, 1946 / By Sandi Radoja / "American Srbobran" July 18, 2018

Legion of Merit awarded to General Mihailovich March 1948

Aleksandra's Note: It is with great pleasure that I have the opportunity to post this tribute to General Draza Mihailovich by Sandi Radoja, editor of the "American Srbobran", which is published by the Serb National Federation. Over many years, Sandi has been kind enough to publish various tributes and essays that I've written in the "American Srbobran" and has always done a wonderful job! She's been a pleasure to work with, always professional, and I'm honored to be acquainted with such a fine American Serb patriot!

Thank you, Sandi, for always honoring General Mihailovich and his Chetniks through your work. You have done them justice.

Sincerely,

Aleksandra Rebic

July 2018

*****

Cika Draza at his 1946 “trial”

The Chetnik Flag:

Za Kralja i Otacbinu – Sloboda ili Smrt

For King and Fatherland – Liberty or Death

OUR LIBERTY, HIS DEATH

General Draza Mihailovich

April 27, 1893 – July 17, 1946

He was captured and sentenced to death by firing squad in 1946.

He was the posthumous recipient of the Legion of Merit in 1948, bestowed by President Harry S. Truman, the highest award for a foreign military officer, for his efforts and that of his men in rescuing over 500 U S Airmen to safety.

He led nearly an entire generation of followers to freedom, to a new life in democratic societies all over the world, though he paid for it with his life.

In 2015 the Supreme Court of Cassation, the highest appellate court in Belgrade, Serbia, officially rehabilitated him in an historic final decision.

His principles and convictions, including his determination to stand and face the enemy knowing the consequences, have left all of us a lasting legacy.

He is Chetnik General Dragoljub “Cika Draza” Mihailovich who died over 70 years ago this month.

Generations of descendants owe him thanks for the lives they enjoy today. Countless people can trace back a connection to this single man, a true hero. 

The phrase “we must never forget” has been so widely used that it often loses its emphasis and importance. But, we have a responsibility to remember Cika Draza that must continue throughout the history of Serbian people all over the world.

Although I am a second generation American-born Serbian, I owe a lot to Cika Draza. My father-in-law Risto came to this country in 1951 with his wife Marija and their six-year old son Ratko who would become my husband in 1969. Risto was a Chetnik. They marched out to freedom that took a path through Displaced Persons Camps in Italy and Germany before reaching American soil. Their lives in America would continue and flourish with the benefits of steady employment in the steel mills, home ownership, educational opportunities and more.

Three generations from running through the woods to freedom, direct bloodline descendants of Risto and Marija add up to nine. Add three more including me who have married into the family and there are a dozen of us who owe Cika Draza the respect of remembrance.

Like my father-in-law, the Chetniks who were part of Cika Draza’s forces would fan out across the world, settling into communities foreign to them in places such as Australia, Great Britain, the USA and Canada. There they would set out to create the familiar inside and outside their homes, seeking community through churches. Where there was no church, a church was built. Existing churches would benefit with expanded memberships, as did the SNF lodges established by preceding generations. Voices were added to choirs, dancers would join folklore groups, and thousands of hands would help in the kitchens of Serbian halls making strudels and stuffed cabbages and soups.

Within the great melting pot of America, some Serbian traditions that may have begun to fall by the wayside were strongly reinforced and renewed by the influx of immigrants. They brought with them vibrant reminders of our beautiful music, food, dance and more. The Chetniks were received with open arms in their new lands, and were as grateful to their new countries as they were loyal to their fatherland.

No, we must never forget Cika Draza. We must honor him by not allowing his heroism to fade. We have a responsibility to teach our children and their children and every generation to follow about this great man whose leadership can be attributed as the source of tens of thousands who walk here in liberty and freedom today. Our family is among them.

-Sandi Radoja

Used by permission of Sandi Tumbas Radoja, editor of the American Srbobran, published by the Serb National Federation. This commentary originally published July 18, 2018. 

Note:  There is a ten-minute video on Facebook about the recent visit of the Lifeline Mission Trip to Pranjani, from where the American airmen were rescued and airlifted. It was broadcast on Radio Televizija Srbija. SNF President John Martich and sons, Lifeline Chicago President Dr. Milena Tatic Bajic, Father Nikola of Cudahy, Wisconsin, Nick Mihailovich of Highland, Indiana, and others are interviewed in this wonderful accounting of the visit and historical importance of this place. Search “Halyard Mission / Misija Halijard, Oko magazin RTS May28. 2018.” It is in the Serbian language with English subtitles. 

*****

If you would like to get in touch with me, Aleksandra,

please feel free to contact me at ravnagora@hotmail.com

*****

DRAZIN DAN - DRAZA'S DAY in Washington, D.C. Sunday July 22, 2018

MEMORIAL SERVICE SPONSORED BY MILAN STANOJEVIC OF THE "SERBIAN CHETNIKS AUSTRALIA" ORGANIZATION.

*****

If you would like to get in touch with me, Aleksandra,

please feel free to contact me at ravnagora@hotmail.com

*****

DRAZIN DAN - MEMORIAL SERVICE FOR GENERAL DRAZA MIHAILOVICH JULY 17, 2018 11:00 a.m. St. Sava Monastery, Chetnik Memorial Park, Libertyville, IL U.S.A.

Aleksandra's Note: Many thanks to Serbian patriot Dusan Ivancevic for sharing this "Drazin Dan Memorial Service July 2018" announcement.

Sincerely,
Aleksandra Rebic
Chicago, IL

*****

If you would like to get in touch with me, Aleksandra, please feel free to contact me at ravnagora@hotmail.com

*****

VIDEO / Бошко Обрадовић: Када се помене име Ђенерала Драже Михиловића да устанете и да се поклоните! / Bosko Obradovic of "Dveri" - "WHEN THE NAME OF GENERAL DRAZA MIHAILOVICH IS MENTIONED, YOU ARE TO STAND AND HONOR HIM!"

Mr. Bosko Obradovic / DVERI

Aleksandra's Note: Mr. Bosko Obradovic is the founder and leader of the Serbian political party "DVERI". Although this video is in the Serbian language, I'm compelled to provide the "English" essence of the speech he gave to the National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia in Belgrade on May 5, 2018, shortly before the 77th anniversary of General Mihailovich's uprising against the Nazis, begun in May of 1941, in the hills of Ravna Gora, Serbia. The fact that this speech was given publicly in an official government building in Belgrade is particularly noteworthy, and a good sign indeed. Anyone who knows the history of Serbia with regards to one of her greatest sons will understand why this is so important.

"WHEN THE NAME OF GENERAL DRAZA MIHAILOVICH IS MENTIONED, YOU ARE TO STAND AND HONOR HIM!"

Bravo, Mr. Obradovich, and Thank You.

Many thanks to Mr. Milorad Sofrenovich for sharing this video with me.

Sincerely,
Aleksandra Rebic
July 2018

*****

VIDEO:

"Бошко Обрадовић: Када се помене име Ђенерала Драже Михиловића да устанете и да се поклоните!"

Posted on You Tube by: "Двери у Скупштини"
Published on May 5, 2018

"Бошко Обрадовић, ПГ Двери, 9. део, наставак Четврте седнице Првог редовног заседања Народне скупштине Републике Србије у 2018. години 03.05.2018. (II)"

https://youtu.be/f2FnudlG0pQ


*****

If you would like to get in touch with me, Aleksandra, please feel free to contact me at ravnagora@hotmail.com

*****