Marking the 82nd anniversary of the dissolution of the "Campo Mamula" camp

The laying of wreaths at the Mamula Fortress on the island of Lastavica marked the 82nd anniversary of the dissolution of the "Campo Mamula" camp, following the capitulation of Italy on September 14, 1943.

On this occasion, members of the SOBNOR veterans' association from Herceg Novi, Kotor, Tivat and Budva, descendants of veterans, representatives of the Municipality of Herceg Novi, representatives of the Embassy of the People's Republic of China in Montenegro, representatives of the Orascom company and Mamula Island gathered on the island.

The ceremonial laying of wreaths and commemoration of prisoners from Boka Bay, eastern Herzegovina and southern Dalmatia was traditionally organized this year by OBNOR Herceg Novi and the Mamula Island Hotel, with the support of the Local Community of Luštica, the Municipality of Herceg Novi and the Association of Organizations of NOR Fighters 1941–1945, reports Mediabiro.

"Today, we have gathered in this special place, where every stone slab and every breath of wind is a witness to a painful past. Mamula is not just a fortress and an island — it is a symbol of memory, a symbol of the perseverance and strength of people who knew how to preserve hope, dignity and humanity. It is also a symbol of beauty and architecture, strength and renewal, a symbol of the vision that history should live and create and bring new values. As a hotel and as a community gathered around the Mamula Island project, we deeply respect and recognize the responsibility to preserve this heritage. Our mission is to foster a culture of remembrance in this place and for every visit to be an opportunity to pay tribute to those who lived through the most difficult days of their lives here," said Orascom PR Advisor Dragana Bećirović.

She recalled that it was precisely with the aim of remembering and admonishing that they prepared and opened the Memorial Gallery, which is the result of the work of an expert team of experts in the fields of architecture, conservation, fortifications, tourism, as well as representatives of the local community and veterans' organizations.

“In honor of Memorial Day, I am pleased to announce that the official website of the Historical and Memorial Gallery (IMG) is now available to the public at img-mamula.me. This digital platform represents an important step in the preservation and presentation of the rich history of the Mamula Fortress. The site offers a comprehensive overview of the historical significance of the fortress, including its architectural genesis, its role during the First and Second World Wars, as well as information about its recent restoration and transformation into a hotel,” added Bećirović.

The Vice President of the Municipality of Herceg Novi, Ivan Otović, also pointed out the importance of marking Memorial Day and cultivating a culture of remembrance.

"Finally, as a society, we have begun to build and nurture a culture of remembrance. This is what is recognizable for societies that want to be part of the circle of civilization. With this, we are taking a step forward in starting to institutionalize a culture of remembrance, and we owe a great debt of gratitude to the representatives of the Orascom company, Mamula Island, for working with us on establishing a memorial room. It is necessary to remember all those who suffered, all those who laid down their lives so that we could live in freedom today, but also those people who were victims of the whirlwinds of war without any provocation, without any participation in those events. We draw lessons from the past and live in the belief that only by working together can we contribute to the prosperity of our society and let us never forget those who came before us," said Otović.

Olivera Doklestić, on behalf of OBNOR Herceg Novi, pointed out the commitment of the Orascom company to preserving the memory and paying homage to the camp inmates and their families.

"We cannot find fault with the people who manage the island. We should give them all our praise. They, including our arrival, are very respectfully supporting and doing everything to ensure that the commemoration of the release of the last group of camp inmates from Mamula on September 14, 1943, goes off in the best possible way. We have no right to be angry with them, because they fulfilled everything that was asked of them. Mamula has become a new cultural and civilizational symbol, and we can no longer change anything about it, but we can preserve the memory through the memorial room, which must be brought to its intended purpose and gain in significance. We must not forget an important part of our history and its victims and victims," ​​Doklestić stated.

Radojica Radojević, president of SOBNOR of Montenegro, recalled that the evacuation of the Mamula camp began in early February 1943. He also drew attention to new "worrying trends of historical revisionism."

"Today we live in a serious time of great trials when individuals and groups are trying to deny our glorious anti-fascist past, when fascism killed people all over the world. Falsifiers of history are emerging who would like to diminish the significance of our magnificent National Liberation Struggle. We, the descendants of honorable, freedom-loving partisans and anti-fascists from this holy and exalted place, wish to warn the protagonists of such and similar attacks on the freedom-loving tradition of this people and to refrain from anything that offends our anti-fascist feelings. I greet you with the wish that the atrocities against innocent people, women and children who were imprisoned here on Mamula will never be forgotten and never repeated," said Radojević.