ON THIS DAY, AUSTRIA-HUNGARY EXECUTED SERBS IN ZEMUN: They paid with their lives for welcoming the Serbian army in 1914!

On this day, September 20, 1914, Austro-Hungarian authorities executed 15 men and women in Zemun who had welcomed and supported the Serbian army during its brief entry into the city in the first months of World War I. The event is documented by records from the Historical Archives of Belgrade cited in the work of historian Olga Manojlović Pintar.

Everything took place during fierce fighting between Serbia and Austria-Hungary. Following the Serbian army’s victory at Cer, an offensive across the Sava and Drina rivers was launched in early September under pressure from the Allies. Units of the Defense of Belgrade entered Zemun, which was then part of Austria-Hungary.

Part of Zemun’s population greeted the arrival of the Serbian army with enthusiasm. During its brief presence, the names of several central streets were changed — Glavna Street was renamed after King Petar, Gospodska after Prince Đorđe, and Bežanijska after General Živković. According to historical sources, General Mihailo Živković and Prince Đorđe Karađorđević visited the city on September 13.

However, the Serbian army soon withdrew, and on September 14, Austro-Hungarian authorities re-established control over Zemun. Strict measures of surveillance and punishment followed against residents who had cooperated with or supported Serbian forces.

Just six days later, on September 20, 15 residents of Zemun were executed. They were not all men — three women were also among those killed: Draga Nikolić, Danica Filipović and Milka Koprevnica. The victims included a baker, bagpiper, carpenter’s assistant, day laborer, greengrocer, coachman, farmers, a factory worker and a merchant.

The historical record lists the names of all 15 victims: Đura Alagić, Laza Erdeljan, Draga and Dušan Nikolić, Pero Vuletić, Stevan Gudović, Danica Filipović, Miša Vioglavić, Sava and Ilija Ivković, Milka Koprevnica, Lazar and Petar Stričević, Staja Diamatović and Svetislav Diamatović.

Their remains were exhumed on March 30, 1917, while documentation about the victims is preserved in the Historical Archives of Belgrade.

The events in Zemun took place while some of the fiercest battles of the first year of the war were being fought on another part of the front. It was precisely from September 19 to 22, 1914, that the bloody Battle of Mačkov Kamen was fought between the Serbian and Austro-Hungarian armies.