MEMORIAL PLAQUE COMMEMORATING THE VICTIMS OF THE NOVI SAD RAZZIA REVEALED

Memorial plaque commemorating the victims of the Novi Sad Razzia was revealed as part of the infamous pogrom 73rd anniversary. The plaque was set up on the edifice façade at 1, Kralja Aleksandra St. commemorating the Čura Family, whose members perished in the 1942 Novi Sad and Čurug pogroms, and it reads the following inscription „This building was home to the family of Dr. Mihajlo Polit Desančić, a lawyer who defended Svetozar Miletić; of Jovan Subotić, a lawyer, a poet, and editor of the Matica Srpska Letopis; of Ozren Subotić, a travelogue writer; of Dr. Vladislava-Beba Polit, a philosophy doctor; of Savka Subotić, a women's rights activists; of Milorad Sazdanić, owner of the Novi Sad cinema; of Dejan Subotić, the Governor of Russian-administered Manchuria; Dr. Vladislav Subotić, a surgeon and founder of Belgrade Medical Faculty. “Life can be short, but the trace it leaves behind can be eternal” Isidora Sekulić.”

The plaque was revealed by the Member of the City Council in charge for Culture Mr. Vanja Vučenović and the President of the Novi Sad Razzia Anniversary Organization Committee Mr. Miroslav Ilić

- By this commemoration we express our reverence to the Čura Family, as well as to all those who perished in mass executions committed during the Novi Sad Razzia. At the same time this is a reminder for all that we should build, but also what we should do in order to avoid such crimes from ever repeating again. All of us who participate in politics and public life are responsible for contributing to a society which will resolve its conflicts peacefully, and build unity among nations – said Vanja Vučenović.

On January 23rd 1942, Nаdеždа Čurа (40) and Ljubicа Sаzdаnić (44) were taken out of this building and executed during the Novi Sad Razzia. In Čurug, during the same pogrom, Vlаdimir Čurа (13), Kristinа Čurа Тinkа (14), Аnđеlkа Čurа (16), Rаdа Čurа (17), Brаnkа Čurа (18), Ljubicа Čurа (20), Мirјаnа Čurа (21), Мilоrаd Čurа (37), Bоgdаn Čurа (47), Јеlеnа Čurа (48), Мirоslаvа Čurа (49), Јоvаn Čurа (53), Rаdа Čurа (73) and Rаdојkа Čurа were also executed.

The memorial plaque commemorating the Čura Family was set up by the City of Novi Sad, following the initiative of the Association for Serbian Culture and Art Improvement and International Exchange “Adligat”, among whose founders is a survivor of the Novi Sad Razzia professor Ileana Čura Sazdanić, PhD, who was eleven years old at the time and was taken out of the building to be executed along with her family, but survived and remained an orphan. President of the “Adligat” Association Mr. Viktor Lazić extended his gratitude to the representatives of the City and expressed his hopes that, in the period to follow, a museum commemorating the Novi Sad Razzia will open.

In Novi Sad, January 23rd 2015