Execution of hostages in Pančevo. Musicians of the "Großdeutschland" Regiment visiting the hanged people at the Orthodox cemetery in Pančevo. On 22 April 1941, at the Pančevo cemetery, 18 people were hanged and 14 were shot in retaliation for an assault on German soldiers and for (allegedly) committing violence against ethnic Germans (four more persons were shot the previous day). The hanging was carried out by ethnic Germans, while members of the "Großdeutschland" Regiment did the shooting. This infantry regiment originates from the most elite, guard unit of the German Army, which celebrated 20 years of existence the very same year (and what a way to celebrate them). The tourists, Yugoslav too, could watch members of this unit in Berlin during the ceremonial changing of the guard in the city centre, and take their postcards home as a souvenir. The pictured musicians are members of the regimental band – the most famous German military band of the time, which also celebrated its 20th anniversary. (There was a book published about this orchestra and its principal conductor after the war, and several CDs with their music were released as well; however, their presence at the Pančevo cemetery on 22 April 1941 went unnoticed.) The regiment remained in Serbia for a month, and its members also participated in the formation of Soldiers' Radio Belgrade, soon one of the most popular radio stations, which would launch the hit song "Lili Marleen". Also singing at the official opening of the radio, four days after the Pančevo crime, were soldiers of the Infantry Regiment "Großdeutschland".
Text: Ivan Ž.
Photographer: unknown.
Date: 22 April 1941.
Date: 22 April 1941.
Location: Pančevo, Yugoslavia.
Original caption: unknown.
File source: Yad Vashem, 8303/7.
NOT ALLOWED: removing source credits from the files – using text without crediting the original author – using files and information for political propaganda and commercial purposes.
Pogubljenje talaca u Pančevu. Muzičari puka "Velika Nemačka" u obilasku obešenih ljudi na pravoslavnom groblju u Pančevu. Dana 22. aprila 1941. godine, na pančevačkom groblju obešeno je 18 i streljano 14 lica, u cilju odmazde za napad na nemačke vojnike i zbog (navodnog) vršenja nasilja nad folksdojčerima (još četiri osobe streljane su prethodnog dana). Vešanje su izvršili folksdojčeri, a streljanje pripadnici puka "Velika Nemačka". Ovaj pešadijski puk vodi poreklo od najelitnije, gardijske jedinice nemačke vojske, koja je upravo ove godine slavila 20 godina postojanja (i na kakav način ih je proslavila). Pripadnike ove jedinice mogli su i turisti iz Jugoslavije posmatrati u Berlinu prilikom ceremonijalne smene straže u centru grada, i njihove su razglednice mogli poneti kući kao suvenir. Muzičari na slici pripadnici su pukovskog orkestra – najpoznatijeg nemačkog vojnog orkestra tog vremena, koji je takođe proslavljao svoju dvadesetogodišnjicu. (Posle rata je o ovom orkestru i njegovom glavnom dirigentu objavljena knjiga, a izdato je i nekoliko CD-ova sa njihovom muzikom; međutim, njihovo prisustvo na pančevačkom groblju 22. aprila 1941. ostalo je nezapaženo.) Puk se u Srbiji zadržao mesec dana, a njegovi su pripadnici učestvovali i u formiranju Vojničkog radija Beograd, uskoro jedne od najslušanijih radio-stanica, koja će lansirati hit-pesmu "Lili Marlen". Na zvaničnom otvaranju radija, četiri dana posle zločina u Pančevu, pevali su i vojnici Pešadijskog puka "Velika Nemačka".
Tekst: Ivan Ž.
Fotograf: nepoznat.
Datum: 22. april 1941.
Datum: 22. april 1941.
Mesto: Pančevo, Jugoslavija.
Originalni natpis: nepoznat.
Izvor fajla: Yad Vashem, 8303/7.
NIJE DOZVOLJENO: uklanjanje naziva izvora sa fajlova – korišćenje teksta bez navođenja izvornog autora – korišćenje fajlova i informacija u političko-propagandne i komercijalne svrhe.
