Imperial Russia Russian Glory

[paja]

Monument and crypt with remains of Imperial Russian soldiers finished in 1936. It is located at Belgrade's Novo groblje (eng. New Cemetery). Author is Roman N. Verkhovsky, co-author is Valery Stashevsky and the idea came from Mikhail Skorodumov Imperial Russian officer and later general. According to information I found in one article the crypt contains remains of 13 officers and 274 NCOs and soldiers of the 2. and 4. special infantry brigade exhumed from southern parts of Kingdom (Thessaloniki Front), 138 NCОs and soldiers who lost their lives during the defense of Belgrade 1914-15, two sailors from the steamboat "Tiraspol" and 66 soldiers who died in Austro-Hungarian POW camps.

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[paja]

"Rest in peace warrior eagles" (Спите, орлы боевые) - inscription above the entrance.

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[paja]

"Eternal glory to the Emperor Nicholas II and 2 000 000 Russian soldiers of the Great War" (Вечная память Императору Николаю Второму и 2 000 000 русских воинов Великой войны).

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[paja]

"To our brothers Russians bravely fallen during defense of Belgrade, on Thessaloniki front and other parts of Kingdom of Yugoslavia 1914-1918" (Храбро палој браћи Русима при одбрани Београда, на Солунском фронту и осталој територији Краљевине Југославије 1914-1918).

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[paja]

Cross of Russian People's Opolchenie (Русское Народное Ополчение) - For Faith, Tzar and Fatherland (За Веру, Царя и Отечество).

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[paja]

Around the crypt is Russian Necropolis with around 3000 remains of Russian emigres and Iverskaya Chapel, an exact copy of the chapel that was demolished by the Bolsheviks in Moscow’s Red Square.

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[paja]

Page in Serbian with some interesting information: http://fondacijaruskinekropolj.rs/o-ruskom-nekropolju/

The whole complex was recently renewed.

[paul wood]

Nice to see that there is a portion of Imperial Russia in Belgrade.

Thanks for sharing.

Paul

[paja]

You're welcome Paul.

Across the street is the Cemetery of the Liberators of Belgrade 1944 with remains of 1.386 Yugoslav fighters and 711 fighters of the Soviet Red Army.

Apart from Russian there are British, French and Italian but also Austro-Hungarian and Bulgarian WW1 military graveyards at Novo groblje complex.

German WW1 military graveyard is on the other part of city called Banovo Brdo (if someone's interested I can give more precise information about it).

Interesting thing about that location is that Mackensen ordered that all of the fallen defenders of Belgrade are to be buried next to the Germans. There's even a monument with inscription "Serbian Heroes Rest Here" in German and Serbian (Hier ruhen serbische Helden - Овде почивају српски јунаци 1915). Because of that and respect he had for Serbian troops he is probably the most respected enemy in Serbia. Also Germans unlike troops of other occupiers didn't commit any atrocities, at least not that I know of.

[paul wood]

Looks like I will have to make a trip to Belgrade in the not to distant future, looks like there is plenty to keep my out of mischief for several days.

Paul

[paja]

Well when you decide to make that trip I will be more than happy to be your "local guide", of course if you need one. Luckily graveyards are not the only places worth visiting.

[paul wood]

Radmilo,

Thank you so much for your kind offer.

Paul

[TacHel]

Beautiful, incredibly interesting and historical. Thanks for sharing!

[paja]

Paul it would be my pleasure.

TacHel you're welcome. I been having this idea of visiting all of military graveyards in Belgrade, making couple of photos, and them posting them with detailed information in one big topic in the Places to visit section.

Unfortunately that takes much time and the winter is near so probably nothing until the spring.

[TacHel]

Looking forward to it!

[Sajkaca]

My humble contribution to the topic is a book called "Serbia and Russia in the Great War"  I have published in October. The book is bilingual, in Serbian and Russian with approximately 200 illustrations, photographs, documents and other items (head gear, badges, pogoni etc.)

 

[paja]

Greetings,

I've heard about your new book but still haven't got a copy of my own. Knowing your previous publications this one must be very interesting as well! 

I would like to mention one more book that somewhat deals with this matter "Recollections of Serbian Officer 1900-1918" by Vojislav Å ikoparija (Сећања ÑрпÑког официра 1900-1918 - ВојиÑлав Шикопарија).

It was also published recently, and the author is my relative's grandfather who was cadet in Kiev Cadet Corps and later finished Alexandrovsky Military School. He returned to Serbia and was promoted to infantry 2nd lieutenant in September 1912. just in time for the First Balkan War. Later after retreat through Albania he was sent to Odessa in 1916. as one of the officers which were to take part in creation of the First Serbian Volunteer Division. For his actions he was decorated with following decorations (among others): Order of the Star of KaraÄ‘orÄ‘e with Swords 4th class (1919), Order of the White Eagle with Swords 5th class (1915), Order of St. Vladimir with Swords 4th class (1917), Order of the Star of Romania with Swords 5th class (1917) and two MiloÅ¡ Obilić Bravery Medals.

Edited January 15, 2015 by paja

[paja]

Link to publisher's website with more information about the book: http://zavod.co.rs/index.php?route=product/product&filter_name=%D1%81%D0%B5%D1%9B%D0%B0%D1%9A%D0%B0+%D1%81%D1%80%D0%BF%D1%81%D0%BA%D0%BE%D0%B3+%D0%BE%D1%84%D0%B8%D1%86%D0%B8%D1%80%D0%B0&product_id=4612

[Sajkaca]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

and my recent appointment as a member of the Editorial Board of the Starii Zeughaus

 

 

[paja]

My congrats on your recent appointment and many thanks for sharing those pages from the book, especially the one with the badge of the First Serbian Volunteer Division.

This is the first time I see it, truly amazing piece!

Edited January 17, 2015 by paja

[Sajkaca]

Thanks Paja. There are some more "never seen" things inside. Beside Serbia, book is available on Amazon.com and Amazon.co.uk

 

http://www.amazon.com/Srbija-Rusija-Velikom-ratu-saveznistvo/dp/8650526160/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1421575117&sr=8-2&keywords=Dusan+Babac