Memorial Service Honors Young Lives Lost in 1944 Conflict

A memorial service was held at the site known as Lobanje glave to honor the young men who lost their lives on August 25, 1944, during World War II. The service, attended by families and supporters, was led by Metodije, the Bishop of Budimlja-Nikšić, alongside clergy and monastic representatives from the Montenegrin-Primorska Metropolitanate and the Budimlja-Nikšić Diocese.

During his address, Metodije expressed deep sorrow for the young victims, stating that even after 81 years, their graves remain unknown. He highlighted the tragic fate of these young men, many of whom were executed without trial. He remarked, “The entire Montenegro at that time, every able-bodied man, distanced themselves from the criminals at the beginning of World War II due to various atrocities committed by the communists and joined the Yugoslav Army in the Fatherland to defend their land.”

The bishop emphasized that only two brigades were identified as Montenegrin and partisan, suggesting that a minority was responsible for the majority of crimes during that period. He noted that thousands participated in the movement, but the crimes committed affected countless innocent lives, particularly in the Krnov area.

The memorial was organized by the association “Kosovski božur from Nikšić,” with Andrija Mandic, the President of the New Serbian Democracy, also in attendance. He described the event as a significant commemoration of the “youth of Montenegro,” stating that a terrible crime occurred against these young individuals in 1944.

Mandic called for the establishment of a memorial at the site of the tragedy in Krnov to honor the approximately 350 victims. He laid a wreath during the service, reflecting on the brutal execution of mainly adolescent boys during this tragic chapter of Montenegro’s history.

He remarked, “The fact that only one of them had descendants at the time of his death speaks volumes about the magnitude of this crime against the youth of Montenegro.”

The service offered a moment for reflection on the past and a commitment to remember those who suffered during the dark days of the war. The attendees united in a call for remembrance and recognition of the lives lost, emphasizing the need for a dedicated memorial to honor their memory.