Serbian Vs Yugoslav. Destiny of the Graves of Serbian and Austro-Hungarian (of Yugoslav Origin) Soldiers from the First World War – A Few Observations

Abstract

After the end of the First World War, the graves of soldiers of
the three armies that fought against each other – Serbian,
Montenegrin and Austria-Hungarian, became war memorials
of the newly formed Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes
(Yugoslavia). The care of the state for these war graves was
in constant conflict of desires and needs on the one hand,
and financial possibilities on the other. Hence, there was an
unequal posture towards the graves. Nevertheless, the state
put in order a significant number of cemeteries and erected
memorial ossuaries. In some of these ossuaries, the bodies
of Serbian and Austro-Hungarian soldiers were laid together.
After the Second World War, graves, cemeteries and
ossuaries from the First World War fell into a state of neglect.
With the disintegration of Yugoslavia, a new phase of their
existence begins. These soldiers are separated again, and
the new, post-Yugoslav, states are now taking care of them.