From afar, the white stones dotting the hillside near the Serbian village of Volujac could be mistaken for construction debris. But up close, a different story emerges as these unassuming slabs are part of the Kadinjača Memorial Complex and represent the belligerent forces in one of Yugoslavia’s most pivotal World War II battles.
By: Omri Westmark
Date: 19:59 01.03.25
Last Update: 19:59 01.03.25
In the autumn of 1941, amidst the turmoil of the Second World War, a remarkable episode unfolded in western Serbia. Partisan forces, led by Josip Broz Tito, liberated the city of Užice from German occupation and shortly thereafter founded the short-lived Republic of Užice. This liberated territory, often referred to as the “Užice Republic,” became a symbol of resistance and hope in a Europe largely under Axis control.
The Republic encompassed a significant portion of western Serbia, an enclave of freedom for approximately 300,000 inhabitants. Within this autonomous region, the Partisans organized a functional administrative system, operated schools, published the newspaper Borba, and even managed postal services and railway lines. As a testament to their resourcefulness, an ammunition factory was ingeniously set up in the vaults beneath the Užice bank.
However, this newfound autonomy was ephemeral. By November 1941, German forces reclaimed the territory and dismantled the burgeoning resistance. A decisive confrontation occurred near the village of Kadinjača, about 14 kilometers from Užice. Here, the Workers’ Battalion, a brigade of Partisan fighters, mounted a courageous defense against the advancing German troops. Despite being heavily outnumbered, their resistance bought crucial time for Tito and other Partisan units to evacuate Užice, preserving the core of the resistance movement.
In recognition of the sacrifices made at Kadinjača, the then Yugoslav government commissioned a memorial on the battle site. Inaugurated in 1952, the Kadinjača Memorial Complex has since undergone several expansions, with significant additions completed by 1979. The complex features a museum, copious sculptures, stairways, and a network of stone walkways. Notably, 88 trees were planted in memory of Josip Broz Tito, who was 88 years old at the time of his death.
photography by: Omri Westmark
photography by: Omri Westmark
photography by: Omri Westmark
photography by: Omri Westmark
photography by: Omri Westmark
photography by: Omri Westmark
photography by: Omri Westmark
photography by: Omri Westmark
At the heart of the complex stands a marble rectangular structure topped by a pyramid-shaped spire, marking the burial site of the fallen Partisans. This monument, designed by Stevan Živanović, was the first to be erected on the site.
The most striking elements of the memorial are the white, slanted concrete slabs. Arranged in clusters, some are smooth and featureless, while others bear abstract facial features. This juxtaposition is interpreted by some as representing the opposing sides of the battle: the featureless slabs symbolizing the German soldiers and the human-like slabs depicting the Serbian Partisans.
The arrangement of the slabs leads visitors through a series of small plazas, each offering sweeping views of the surrounding countryside. The design culminates in a 14-meter-tall concrete monolith, its central void symbolizing both the physical distance to Užice and the profound loss experienced during the battle. Intricate details within the monolith resemble anguished faces. This, in turn, evokes the harrowing moments faced by the Partisans as they confronted a superior enemy force.
The site’s pyramid-shaped spire
photography by: Omri Westmark
photography by: Omri Westmark
photography by: Omri Westmark
The quirky concrete monolith
photography by: Omri Westmark
photography by: Omri Westmark
photography by: Omri Westmark
