Bosnjaci u Log pod Mangartom, Slovenia (WWI)

[fleur de lis]

The youngest soldier in Soca Battle, Slovenia. Elez was 11 years od when he came to Soca river battle field in the western part of Slovenia. Elez was born in Bijeljina, small town in north-eastern Bosnia and Herzegovina. His father was rich merchant. Elez was youngest soldier at Soca river. Later he was wounded and brought to the hospital in Vienna. Elez Dervisevic passd away few years ago in Damascus, Syria as retired major of Syrian army He is buried in Damascus.



Elez was very popular in Vienna. During his staying in the hospital, he had personal imam who taught him about Islam. When he came out, he attended military school. In the free time, he played with his best friend, Ernst. Ernst is on the left side of this photo.


On this picture we can see young Elez Dervisevic in uniform with his officer, Martinek who was Czech. Elez was later wounded in the battle and sent to Vienna to hospital. Martinek gave him a watch with words: "To my son, Elez...


Elez's big family before the first world war. Elez's older brother was killed when Austrian troops wanted to enter Serbia at the beginning of the war. He was killed when they wanted to cross the river Drina. Elez saw his brother's death.



The father of Elez Dervisevic. He was rich merchant before the first wolrd war in Bijeljina, north-eastern part of Bosnia.




This monument was made in the first world war by Kofranek, Czech. It can be seen in Log pod Mangartom, small village in western part of Slovenia where large Bosniak troops settled during the war. The monument was rebuilt recently and behind the monument you can see military cemetery with around 800 buried soldiers of different nationalities and faiths, including around 105 muslims from Bosnia and Herzegovina.



Two Bosniak soldiers from the unit BH3 in 1917. Unit BH3 was made from soldiers from Tuzla region (northern and eastern part of Bosnia and Herzegovina).


photo is showing Bosniaks, muslim soldiers from the unit BH3 in the mosque. It is not known which mosque is on the photo. Soldiers are holding hands up as Muslims do that when they ask God (reciting dua) for protection, help or better life.

[fleur de lis]

This photo was made during the first world war. You can see imam in the front during the funeral. Muslims first put the dead soldier in the grave and then recite Qur'anic verses. After the funeral, they put the soil on dead body and islamic gravestone (nishan) on the top. The right part of the body should be directed to Mecca, Islamic Holy city.


Bosniak soldier and ambulance in beautiful villageg Log pod Mangartom. Big Bosniak units were on the front-line above this village (Rombon, Cukla), that's why village had a hospital as well. People from the village were moved out during the war and they came back after the war. The village was never occupied by Italians





Buzdovan is wooden or iron bat with nails or sharp edge on the top. Bosniak infanrty used this weapon in face-to-face battle against Italians. It was deadly weapon. Some other troops in Austro-Hungarian army also used buzdovan but it was usally common to be used by Bosniaks.



This is a stone in small village Lepena, west-northern part of Slovenia. There was huge logictics center in the village during the war. Some experts say there was a military cemetery also. Supposedly they moved the bodies after the war to other cemeteries. The stone remained. In the left corner you can see fez. It was made by Bosniaks from the unit BH4. Their unit number can be seen under the fez. Photo was made in 2006.



This is old Bosnian emblem which can be seen at Javorca, inside the church. The church is few kilometres away from Tolmin, western Slovenia.


This is the picture of cross on the grave of Suljo Skender, Bosniak muslim soldier, buried in military cemetery in Log pod Mangartom. This cross was put by Italians in the second part of 1930s. It was replaced by nishan, islamic gravestone in August 2007.



Military cemetery in Log pod Mangartom looked like this in 2006. There is over 800 soldier of different nationalities and faiths buried here. The cemetery is behind the Kofranek's monument, except few lines of graves which can be seen in the front of monument. 105 Bosniaks muslims has crosses on their graves till August 2007 when they were replaced by nishans, islamic gravestones.

[fleur de lis]

Old Bosnian emblem can be seen in the village Kal Koritnica, some 200 metres from the main road, beside the river. It was made during the first world war by Bosniak logistics unit which used a bridge to cross the river. The emblem was made near bridge and this is how it looked like in June 2005. Very cold winters in western Slovenia made strong impact since 1916.


It was made during the first world war by Czech architect, Kofranek. It is dedicated to Bosniak and other soldiers of Austro-Hungarian army who fought on Rombon, Cukla and other front-lines above Log pod Mangartom. This village is located in the western Slovenia. The military cemetery is just behind the monument. Photo has been made in july 2006.


Bosniaks from the regiment BH4 on Rombon, western part of Slovenia


Bosniaks in south Tirolia during the first world war




Photo: Vinko Avsenak, Slovenia

Message on the stone: Heroes of IV. batallion of imperial and king's 4. bosnian and herzegovian infantry regiment 1916. Heroes of IV. batallion of imperial and king's 91. infantry regiment 1916, 15 March - 30 March 1916. Heroes of I. batallion of 26. infantry regiment.

[fleur de lis]

Bosniak soldiers near the hospital in Log pod Mangartom, western Slovenia during the first world war. There was a hospital in the village during the war where they took care of soldiers who were wounded in the mountais of Rombon, Cukla etc. Those who passed away were buried at the military cemetery, behind the monument. That's why approximately 105 Bosniak muslim soldiers were buried there. Mostly they were from Herzegovina (Mostar, Trebinje, Gacko, Bileca, Nevesinje, Konjic, Ljubuski).



Dr. Julius Kugy (in the middle with white beard) and Bosniak soldiers from the infantry regiment BH4 at Vrsnik where he taught them of climbing. Most of the soldiers have medals for courage on their chest. On Kugy's right side you can see Slovenian, local guy, Franc Ostan from Bovec (from photo colletcion of Boris Ostan from Bovec).

[fleur de lis]

in Log pod Mangartom, built by Bosniak soldiers from infantry regiment BH4 in 1916. Mosque was made from the wood. Mosque doesn't exist any more (from collection of Vinko Avsenak, Slovenia).





908 Bosniaks soldiers from the BH2 infantry regiment are buried on this first world war military cemetery. 294 of them are Muslims, mostly from Bosanska Krajina, western part of Bosnia. There are 246 more Bosniaks from the same unit buried on central cemetery in Graz. 55 of them are Muslims, also mostly from Bosanska Krajina. Lebring is around 30 kilometres away from Graz, Austria. Photo made by Vinko Avsenak


Big nishan (islamic grave stone) at the cemetery entrance. Photo: Hikmet Karcic.