Serbian Vs Yugoslav. Destiny of the Graves of Serbian and Austro-Hungarian (of Yugoslav Origin) Soldiers from the First World War – A Few Observations

Abstract

After the end of the First World War, the graves of soldiers of the three armies that fought against each other – Serbian, Montenegrin and Austria-Hungarian, became war memorials of the newly formed Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes (Yugoslavia). The care of the state for these war graves was in constant conflict of desires and needs on the one hand, and financial possibilities on the other. Hence, there was an unequal posture towards the graves. Nevertheless, the state put in order a significant number of cemeteries and erected memorial ossuaries. In some of these ossuaries, the bodies of Serbian and Austro-Hungarian soldiers were laid together. After the Second World War, graves, cemeteries and ossuaries from the First World War fell into a state of neglect. With the disintegration of Yugoslavia, a new phase of their existence begins. These soldiers are separated again, and the new, post-Yugoslav, states are now taking care of them.