17.06.2014
Promotion of the book "For the Serbian Army - One Forgotten Story"
At the Gala Hall of the Central Military Club of Serbia, the book “For the Serbian Army – One Forgotten Story” was presented today. Mila Mihajlovic edited the Serbian and Italian reprinted issue of the original document “For the Serbian Army” which was published in 1917 by the Special Office of the Ministry of the Royal Navy of Italy.The book was presented by prof. Momcilo Pavlovic, PhD, Director of the Contemporary History Intitute, Milan Terzic, PhD and MA Mila Mihajlovic, and the Italian Ambassador in Belgrade Giuseppe Manzo also addressed the audience. On that occasion, he underlined the importance of the book that describes a humane gesture of the Italian Army, as well as the friendship between the Serbian and the Italian people.
The promotion was also attended by representatives of the Ministry of Defence and the Armed Forces of Serbia, representatives of the Italian Embassy and numerous guests.
According to Prof. Pavlovic, what the Italian Army had done for the Serbian Army, which was documented and published in Milan in 1917, was saved from oblivion by Mila Mihajlovic.- This forgotten story is one of many forgotten ones. The book is a document, a reminder of hardship and salvation, solidarity and humanity, but also a reminder of the present alliance. Moreover, it brings us back to reading and thinking. I would encourage the author to continue researching and contributing to broadening knowledge on the Serbian history, seen through the eyes of friendly Italy – Pavlovic said.
Milan Terzic, Senior science associate and Head if the Department of Military History of the Strategic Research Institute, mentioned that this truly is a forgotten story, although the topic of the First World War has been quite frequent in the past few months. Mila Mihajlovic told the guests the “forgotten story”, and then thanked the organizers of the promotion and her associates, while she expressed special appreciation to the Serbian and Italian soldiers who had integrated their lives into today’s modern, advanced and free Europe.
The book had its promotion in Rome, Italy, on April 14 at the edifice of the Altar of the Fatherland, with which Italy officially opened the marking of the centenary of the beginning of the First World War. The promotion was attended by representatives of the Defence Ministries and Armed Forces of Italy and Serbia.The book has been enriched with over 70 original, never before seen photographs and is the only historical source that documents the evacuation of the Serbian Army and people from Albania. From December 12, 1915, to February 29, 1916, the Italian Navy evacuated 260,895 Serbian soldiers and refugees from Albania, which required 250 vessels. At the peak of winter and under continuous war action, a total of 248 sailings were conducted.
