Commemoration in Belgrade of soldiers fallen in the First World War

Since 2001, the commemorations have taken place in this period every year, during which the members of military diplomatic corps accredited to the Serbian capital lay wreaths at the memorial site. On behalf of Hungary, the wreath-laying ceremony also was attended by military re-enactors of the Centenary Re-enactment Honvéd Infantry Brigade. During the event, besides the soldiers of the Serbian armed forces, the guard of honor was provided by the Hungarian re-enactors.

At the commemoration, speeches were delivered by Hungary’s ambassador to Belgrade József Magyar and Austria’s ambassador to Belgrade Christian Ebner. Following the speeches, Reverend Father Msgr. Róbert Pastyik said prayers for the deceased in Hungarian, German and Serbian.

The ambassador of Czechia and the Deputy Head of Mission of Slovakia also paid their tribute at the wreath-laying ceremony. Besides the diplomats, also present were the defence attachés of the United States of America, Austria, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Czechia, the EU Delegation, Greece, Canada, Poland, Great Britain, Germany, Norway, Slovakia, Slovenia and Ukraine; the Ministry of Defence of Serbia; the Ministry of Labor, Employment, Veteran and Social Affairs; as well as representatives of the local government of the city of Belgrade and the NATO Military Liaison Office in Belgrade.

In the Austro-Hungarian Military Cemetery – a separated lot in the Novo Groblje cemetery of Belgrade – a common tomb was erected to those Austrian and Hungarian soldiers who had lost their lives during the First World War. According to the records, this lot is the final resting place of around 3500 soldiers. The chapel also houses the memorial site of the Imperial and Royal 68th (Jászkun) Infantry Regiment.