BOOK "POPOVO, VALLEY OF TEARS - USTASHA CRIMES IN WWII" PRESENTED

TREBINJE, JANUARY 23 /SRNA/ - The book “Popovo, Valley of Tears – Ustasha Crimes in World War II” by Sima Radić, historian and curator at the museum, which deals with the suffering of Serbs in the Popovo Polje area from 1941 to 1944, was presented this evening at the Herzegovina Museum in Trebinje.

The author stated that the book covers the atrocities in the Ržani Do pit, the Jagodnjača pit in the village of Čavaš, as well as the victims in the Pandurica pit near Ljubinje, and also documents individual Ustasha crimes that occurred in the summer of 1941 and again in late summer and early autumn of 1944.

The book presents a chronological overview of events during World War II, and a list of victims of the Ustasha genocide in Popovo Polje.

At the forefront are the victims themselves, whose names and basic details significantly contribute to raising awareness about the culture of remembrance.

Radić told reporters that the book focuses on the Serbs who suffered in the Popovo Polje area from 1941 to 1944, providing a complete list of Serbs who fell victim to the Ustasha genocidal policies.

“With this book, we are nurturing a culture of remembrance. A concept of culture of remembrance is defined by recognizing each victim individually, by name and surname, giving that number a human identity. Simply listing numbers gives only statistical data; in this way, everything gains weight and significance,” Radić said.

He explained that the idea for the book originated from the “Ržani Do” Association, which brings together descendants of those who perished at this site.

“They initiated the effort to create a complete list of victims; however, I felt it was also necessary to provide a chronological overview of all the events,” Radić said.

He added that the work on the book took about two years, during which he collected data from descendants’ testimonies and preserved statements from survivors, and also used archival material kept at the Herzegovina Museum, photographic collections, and professional literature.

“This book provides a starting point for further research, and through it, I want to encourage young researchers and historians to investigate micro-localities such as Popovo Polje, the Zupci area, Ljubomir, and the Trebinje forests. I believe that if you come from the region, you can present it most authentically,” Radić said.

Ivana Grujić, director of the Herzegovina Museum in Trebinje, told reporters that this book represents a very significant step for the museum’s work, as the institution’s curators publish material preserved in the museum’s collections.

The book was published by the “Knez Miroslav Humski” Foundation and the Herzegovina Museum in Trebinje.