From the Adriatic to Kosovo: Bloody May 3rd in Recent Serbian History
Written by: Prof. Dr. Dejan Antić, historian, University of Niš
TL;DR
- May 3rd is a date etched in Serbian collective memory due to tragic events and injustices.
- The 'Zadar Crystal Night' on May 3, 1991, involved the systematic destruction of Serbian property and the expulsion of over 80% of Orthodox residents.
- The Dobrovoljačka Street incident on May 3, 1992, saw an ambush on a withdrawing JNA column, resulting in casualties and prisoners.
- On May 3, 1999, a NATO airstrike hit a civilian bus in Lužane, killing sixty people, including fifteen children.
- Operation Bljesak in 1995, from May 1-3, led to the expulsion of 15,000 Serbs from Western Slavonia.
- The common thread across these events is the lack of justice and accountability.
- The article stresses the importance of remembering these tragic events for present-day national unity and survival.
- Unity is presented as essential for Serbia's survival, especially in the current geopolitical climate.
- Historical experience teaches that division makes Serbia vulnerable, while unity ensures its resilience.