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Monument to the Revolution of the People of Moslavina

The Monument to the Revolution of the People of Moslavina is a commemorative World War II sculpture by Dušan Džamonja, located in Podgarić, Berek, Croatia. Inaugurated in 1967, it honors the people of Moslavina for their resistance against the occupying forces during the Second World War. The monument features a large aluminum “eye” set on a winged structure, with the graves of soldiers surrounding it. A plaque notes that 900 soldiers from the Moslavina region are buried there, having given their lives for freedom and independence during the National Liberation Struggle from 1941 to 1945.

Monument to the Revolution of the People of Moslavina on a grassy hill, with a central circular concrete form and broad abstract wings.
The Monument to the Revolution of the People of Moslavina rises above a grassy hill near Podgarić.
© · Public domain
Monument to the Revolution of the People of Moslavina, a brutalist concrete sculpture with wing-like forms and a central metallic disc.
The Monument to the Revolution of the People of Moslavina in Podgarić, shown with its bold concrete forms and central metal disc.
August 2018 © · CC BY-SA 4.0
The Monument to the Revolution of the People of Moslavina, a large angular concrete sculpture with a circular center, standing among green hills.
The Monument to the Revolution of the People of Moslavina rises above the surrounding hills in Podgarić.
© · Public domain
Textured dome detail of the Monument to the Revolution of the People of Moslavina against a blue sky.
Close-up of the textured dome on the Monument to the Revolution of the People of Moslavina in Podgarić.
© · Public domain
Engraved metal plaque with a five-pointed star at the Monument to the Revolution of the People of Moslavina in Podgarić.
A dark engraved plaque at the Monument to the Revolution of the People of Moslavina in Podgarić.
© · Public domain

Identification

TitleMonument to the Revolution of the People of Moslavina
Original-language titleSpomenik revoluciji; Spomenik Revolucije Naroda Moslavine; Le monument à la Révolution
Original-languageSerbo-Croatian
TypeMonument; commemorative sculpture; World War II memorial sculpture; abstract sculpture; brutalist abstract sculpture
Alternative titleMonument to the Revolution

Historical context

Hospital complexTwo partisan hospitals were located in the forest near Podgarić and served mainly about 6,000 soldiers of the 10th Zagreb Partisan Corps
Dedicated toThe people of Moslavina and their struggle for independence during the National Liberation Struggle and World War II
PurposeTo remember the 900 soldiers who died in the hospitals of the area
CasualtiesAbout 900 partisans were killed in attacks on the hospital complex
Enemy attacksThe hospital complex was attacked by the Ustaše
Hospital operation began27 January 1942
Partisan activityFrom winter 1941, Podgarić became an important center of partisan activity and of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Croatia
Reason for local resistanceThe Ustaše aimed to create a nationally homogeneous Croatian state, which caused opposition among part of the inhabitants of Moslavina
Related wartime eventsIn April 1941, the Kingdom of Yugoslavia was defeated by the Axis powers and Moslavina was incorporated into the Independent State of Croatia (NDH)
Political contextThe monument commemorates anti-fascist resistance against the German Wehrmacht and the Ustaša after the occupation of April 1941
Commemorated eventThe local revolutionary and partisan struggle in Moslavina during World War II
SubjectThe people of Moslavina's resistance against the occupying forces during World War II
Historical period commemoratedWorld War II

Creator

ArtistDušan Džamonja
NationalityCroatian; Yugoslav
OriginMacedonian origin
Life dates1928–2009
AssistanceVladimir Veličković assisted with the construction; described as a painter and architect

Discovery and provenance

Related workVery similar to Džamonja's 1967 metal relief The Sun at Youth Center Belgrade, designed by Momčilo Belobrk; it is unclear whether the two works were planned together or whether one was a precursor to the other
Postage stampThe monument was the motif of a Yugoslav postage stamp
Media recognitionIn 2014, CNN named it one of the ugliest monuments in the world
CommissioningRegional politicians, local authorities, and regional veteran groups pushed for and initiated the monument in the 1960s; Dušan Džamonja won the competition and was commissioned to design it
Inaugurated byJosip Broz Tito, President of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia
Completion year1967
Construction period1965–1967
Inauguration date7 September 1967

Location and ownership

LocationPodgarić, Berek municipality, Croatia
Site featuresA path leads to the monument; crypts and a mass grave are located along the path; the graves of the soldiers are around the monument
Landscape featureA small artificial lake lies at the foot of the monument complex
Lake creationThe lake was created by building a small dam on the Kamenjače River

Physical characteristics

FeaturesTwo wings and a central eye; the wings are divided into two plates on one side and three on the other
Central motifA central honeycomb-like core formed by a centrally mounted aluminum ornament in the shape of an eye or circle
Widthabout 20 meters
FormA hovering abstract object with side wing-like forms
Heightabout 10 meters

Materials

Primary materialReinforced concrete
CladdingAluminum panels
Additional materialAluminum elements
Alternative material wordingConcrete

Iconography and meaning

SymbolismThe central core symbolizes life, expressing the victory of life over death

Appearance

InscriptionHere are buried 900 soldiers from the Moslavina region who gave their lives for the freedom and independence of our nation during the National Liberation Struggle, from 1941 to 1945.