Second World War monuments in Yugoslavia as witnesses of the past and the future

Abstract

Memorializing the victims of the Second World War was an important part of the cultural and political propaganda in the socialist Yugoslavia. The heroes and the victims of war were remembered through numerous memorials, finding their place in the collective memory of the Yugoslav people. During the socialist period, many school excursions were arranged, but for more than 20 years these memorial sites were dropped from tourist and educational programmes. Today, after the passage of time, it is possible to discuss a complicated collective past. In this paper, the phenomenon of the Second World War memorials, their significance in the socialist Yugoslavia, their decline during the 1990s and increasing popularity at the beginning of the twenty-first century are considered. By analysing the way contemporary society experiences socialist memorials, it can be further considered how they can be represented as an important part of cultural heritage. The main purpose of this research is to point out the significance of memorial parks in Yugoslav socialist society, as well as to define their status today and finally to suggest ideas for their interpretation and presentation today.