DAY OF MOURNING IN SRPSKA

BANJA LUKA, APRIL 19 /SRNA/ - Today is a Day of Mourning in Republika Srpska in remembrance of the victims of the Ustasha genocide in the Jasenovac concentration camp and its largest execution site, Donja Gradina, in the NDH /Independent State of Croatia/ from 1941 to 1945.

The decision was previously adopted by the Government of Republika Srpska at a telephone session. This year marks the 81st anniversary of the breakout of the last group of Jasenovac prisoners and the closure of the notorious Jasenovac concentration camp. The breakout of the last group of prisoners took place on April 22, 1945, with the aim of telling the entire world the terrible truth about the atrocities committed against detainees in the Jasenovac concentration camp system and its largest execution site, Donja Gradina. The Jasenovac concentration camp was established in August 1941 and consisted of five camps. The village of Donja Gradina was incorporated into the camp system. The Ustashe transported prisoners by ferry across the Sava River to Donja Gradina for execution. Mass graves in Donja Gradina, 105 burial fields, bear witness to this today. According to data from the Donja Gradina Memorial Area, 700,000 victims of the Ustasha crimes perished in the notorious Jasenovac camp during World War II, including 500,000 Serbs, 40,000 Roma, 33,000 Jews, and 127,000 antifascists. Among the victims in Jasenovac were 20,000 children.