Banovci, Vukovar-Syrmia County
Encyclopedia
Banovci is a village
on the east of Croatia
near the border with Serbia
.
It is connected by the D46 highway
. The village is 72 miles away from Belgrade
(Serbia
), 98 miles from Sarajevo
(Bosnia), 155 miles from Zagreb
(Croatia
) and 160 miles from Budapest
(Hungary
).
Local population still by and large calls it Šidski Banovci (Serbian Cyrillic: Шидски Бановци). The first word is a possessive adjective derived from the name of the nearest town of Šid
, located 12 kilometers from Banovci in neighboring Serbia. It also distinguishes it from the adjacent village of Vinkovački Banovci
.
Most of the approximately 500 people who live in Banovci declared themselves as Orthodox Christians
and Serbs
.
The most important source of income of the population is agriculture. The big problem is unemployment which is a consequence of war and ethnic intolerance of the majority-Croatian population.
In the village there is an interesting Orthodox church of Saint Parascheva of the Balkans from the 18-19th century, built in neoclassical
style style. One can also still find old houses built in the traditional style of the Pannonian Plain.
Slobodan Bajić Paja
who was born in the village was a People's Hero of Yugoslavia
because of his participation in the resistance to the Nazis in World War II
. During that war, Harold Alexander
visited Banovci and praised the fighting spirit of the regional military.
. According to the census of 1910, Banovci had 990 residents, and 668 were Germans. They had developed a social life and a multitude of public institutions. The most important was the local Protestant church. Next door to the church was the school, which served as the city hall, and a bank was nearby. Local residents cherished traditional values, it was a village that maintained its strong work ethic. In late 1944 villagers had just barely escaped from Sidski Banovci. This was similar to that experienced by thousands of other ethnic Germans in the latter stages of World War II. The new post-war government declared that ethnic Germans in Yugoslavia were no longer citizens and confiscated their property. By 1945, nearly 500,000 Germans had been expelled the term that would be used in Article XIII of the Potsdam Agreement
was “transfer”—from Yugoslavian territory. The residents of Sidski Banovci had some advanced warning from the German Army that they would have to leave their homes and evacuate the village. On October 17, with the Sidski Banovci church-bells pealing, a caravan of 40 to 50 families formed and proceeded out of the village and into the uncertain terrain ahead. They headed northwest toward Hungary. Huber family (Wilhelm Huber was born in 1824 and became the first Huber to settle in Sidski Banovci), in book The Past Rebuilt-The Huber Family Journey to Success, will describe their memories of that period.
(January 6), residents in the churchyard fallen bonfire which cold Badnjak which is Serbian word for Christmas Eve. In this occasion locals takes oak tree from the surrounding and make the ritual fire. These nights the locals remember their old Slavic religion and symbolically confirm Christianity.
In the rest part of year, villagers are organized around the celebration of New Year's
, Women's Day
, the day labor, on the occasion of the end of the school year, important religious holidays etc.
There are active and the football club, pensioners club, the Protestant community
and the Women's Caucus, which also periodically organizes public events.
, Šidski Banovci and Vinkovački Banovci
. Elementary School Ilača-Banovci carries the educational programs of general elementary school education. Classes are taught in Croatian
and Serbian language
.
The Šidski Banovci School used to host the center of the school administration, before it was moved to Ilača in 2002. Classes in Šidski Banovci are conducted in the Serbian
version of Serbo-Croatian language
. The school is located in the center of Šidski Banovci. The campus contains a small gym, garden and football field (Before the war there was a large hall which has not yet been restored to function).
In addition to classes that are listening at the other two schools, students in Banovci have also the following classes- Serbian Language, Orthodox Religion Education, 30% of History of Serbia, 30% of Geography of Serbia and 30% of Arts and Music of Serbia. The students of Šidski Banovci Campus have so far shown remarkable success in secondary school enrollment and thus entered schools in Šid
, Vinkovci
, Vukovar
and Zagreb
such as Gymnasium Vukovar
, Gymnasium Vinkovci
or Serbian Orthodox Secondary School "Kantakuzina Katarina Branković"
...
The school organizes several annual celebrations in which involving the entire local community (at the start of school year, at Bread day, at Sport day, at St. Sava, and at the end of school year).The perfect location of school in the center of safe village in a beautifully decorated small park, make Šidski Banovci School integral part of the local environment. The combination of experienced teachers with young and ambitious teachers, provide Banovci students a solid foundation to continue of their further education.
Some noted alumni include:
means Fighter, which refers to local soldiers from the World War II
. Club owns the local playground in Šidski Banovci, which is by the words of the mayor of the Nijemci
, one of the best in that area. Club regularly achieves good results in the 3. County League and is regularly among the top three clubs. NK Borac is funded by donations from local communitie, municipalitie
and local businesses. Borac footballers take participation as volunteer and for their efforts do not receive financial benefits. Club celebrated it's 70th anniversary throughout 2010, when played many friendly matches with other local clubs.
In addition to their regular activities, NK Borac Banovci has developed a collaboration with local school within the project Sport Day. Sport Day is event which is held every year in mid-spring. On that occasion the students were released from classes to be on the Borac court competing in various sports activities such as football, racing and old sports.
To further engage youth and returned to the popularity of sports Borac also launched youth football club.
Village
A village is a clustered human settlement or community, larger than a hamlet with the population ranging from a few hundred to a few thousand , Though often located in rural areas, the term urban village is also applied to certain urban neighbourhoods, such as the West Village in Manhattan, New...
on the east of Croatia
Croatia
Croatia , officially the Republic of Croatia , is a unitary democratic parliamentary republic in Europe at the crossroads of the Mitteleuropa, the Balkans, and the Mediterranean. Its capital and largest city is Zagreb. The country is divided into 20 counties and the city of Zagreb. Croatia covers ...
near the border with Serbia
Serbia
Serbia , officially the Republic of Serbia , is a landlocked country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeast Europe, covering the southern part of the Carpathian basin and the central part of the Balkans...
.
It is connected by the D46 highway
D46 (Croatia)
D46 state road in the eastern part of Croatia connects the cities and towns of Đakovo and Vinkovci to the state road network of Croatia, and to the border with Serbia. The road is long...
. The village is 72 miles away from Belgrade
Belgrade
Belgrade is the capital and largest city of Serbia. It is located at the confluence of the Sava and Danube rivers, where the Pannonian Plain meets the Balkans. According to official results of Census 2011, the city has a population of 1,639,121. It is one of the 15 largest cities in Europe...
(Serbia
Serbia
Serbia , officially the Republic of Serbia , is a landlocked country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeast Europe, covering the southern part of the Carpathian basin and the central part of the Balkans...
), 98 miles from Sarajevo
Sarajevo
Sarajevo |Bosnia]], surrounded by the Dinaric Alps and situated along the Miljacka River in the heart of Southeastern Europe and the Balkans....
(Bosnia), 155 miles from Zagreb
Zagreb
Zagreb is the capital and the largest city of the Republic of Croatia. It is in the northwest of the country, along the Sava river, at the southern slopes of the Medvednica mountain. Zagreb lies at an elevation of approximately above sea level. According to the last official census, Zagreb's city...
(Croatia
Croatia
Croatia , officially the Republic of Croatia , is a unitary democratic parliamentary republic in Europe at the crossroads of the Mitteleuropa, the Balkans, and the Mediterranean. Its capital and largest city is Zagreb. The country is divided into 20 counties and the city of Zagreb. Croatia covers ...
) and 160 miles from Budapest
Budapest
Budapest is the capital of Hungary. As the largest city of Hungary, it is the country's principal political, cultural, commercial, industrial, and transportation centre. In 2011, Budapest had 1,733,685 inhabitants, down from its 1989 peak of 2,113,645 due to suburbanization. The Budapest Commuter...
(Hungary
Hungary
Hungary , officially the Republic of Hungary , is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It is situated in the Carpathian Basin and is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine and Romania to the east, Serbia and Croatia to the south, Slovenia to the southwest and Austria to the west. The...
).
History and society
The village of Banovci was previously called Novi Banovci (up to 1900), and Šidski Banovci between 1910 and 1991.Local population still by and large calls it Šidski Banovci (Serbian Cyrillic: Шидски Бановци). The first word is a possessive adjective derived from the name of the nearest town of Šid
Šid
Šid is a town and municipality in the Srem District of Vojvodina, Serbia. Šid town has a population of 16,301, and Šid municipality 38,921.-Name:...
, located 12 kilometers from Banovci in neighboring Serbia. It also distinguishes it from the adjacent village of Vinkovački Banovci
Vinkovački Banovci
Vinkovački Banovci is a village in Croatia in the region of Syrmia. It is inhabited mostly members of the Serbian minority. The first word of its name is an adjective for Vinkovci that distinguishes it from the adjacent village of Banovci.-Education:...
.
Most of the approximately 500 people who live in Banovci declared themselves as Orthodox Christians
Orthodox Christianity
The term Orthodox Christianity may refer to:* the Eastern Orthodox Church and its various geographical subdivisions...
and Serbs
Serbs of Croatia
Višeslav of Serbia, a contemporary of Charlemagne , ruled the Županias of Neretva, Tara, Piva, Lim, his ancestral lands. According to the Royal Frankish Annals , Duke of Pannonia Ljudevit Posavski fled, during the Frankish invasion, from his seat in Sisak to the Serbs in western Bosnia, who...
.
The most important source of income of the population is agriculture. The big problem is unemployment which is a consequence of war and ethnic intolerance of the majority-Croatian population.
| Population | |||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1857 | 1869 | 1880 | 1890 | 1900 | 1910 | 1921 | 1931 | 1948 | 1953 | 1961 | 1971 | 1981 | 1991 | 2001 | 2011 |
| 460 | 779 | 651 | 836 | 890 | 990 | 1047 | 1139 | 1028 | 1138 | 1084 | 975 | 778 | 653 | 479 | 438 |
In the village there is an interesting Orthodox church of Saint Parascheva of the Balkans from the 18-19th century, built in neoclassical
Neoclassicism
Neoclassicism is the name given to Western movements in the decorative and visual arts, literature, theatre, music, and architecture that draw inspiration from the "classical" art and culture of Ancient Greece or Ancient Rome...
style style. One can also still find old houses built in the traditional style of the Pannonian Plain.
Slobodan Bajić Paja
Slobodan Bajić Paja
Slobodan Bajić Paja was a People's Hero of Yugoslavia . He was an important leader of the partisans in World War II in Syrmia. During the fight with the Nazis in Eastern Bosnia, he was killed. He became a national hero in 1952.-Early life:...
who was born in the village was a People's Hero of Yugoslavia
People's Hero of Yugoslavia
The Order of the People's Hero was a Yugoslav gallantry medal, the second highest military award, and third overall Yugoslav decoration. It was awarded to individuals, military units, political and other organisations who distinguished themselves by extraordinary heroic deeds during war and in...
because of his participation in the resistance to the Nazis in World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. During that war, Harold Alexander
Harold Alexander, 1st Earl Alexander of Tunis
Field Marshal Harold Rupert Leofric George Alexander, 1st Earl Alexander of Tunis was a British military commander and field marshal of Anglo-Irish descent who served with distinction in both world wars and, afterwards, as Governor General of Canada, the 17th since Canadian...
visited Banovci and praised the fighting spirit of the regional military.
German community
Before World War II Šidski Banovci was mostly populated by GermansGermans
The Germans are a Germanic ethnic group native to Central Europe. The English term Germans has referred to the German-speaking population of the Holy Roman Empire since the Late Middle Ages....
. According to the census of 1910, Banovci had 990 residents, and 668 were Germans. They had developed a social life and a multitude of public institutions. The most important was the local Protestant church. Next door to the church was the school, which served as the city hall, and a bank was nearby. Local residents cherished traditional values, it was a village that maintained its strong work ethic. In late 1944 villagers had just barely escaped from Sidski Banovci. This was similar to that experienced by thousands of other ethnic Germans in the latter stages of World War II. The new post-war government declared that ethnic Germans in Yugoslavia were no longer citizens and confiscated their property. By 1945, nearly 500,000 Germans had been expelled the term that would be used in Article XIII of the Potsdam Agreement
Potsdam Agreement
The Potsdam Agreement was the Allied plan of tripartite military occupation and reconstruction of Germany—referring to the German Reich with its pre-war 1937 borders including the former eastern territories—and the entire European Theatre of War territory...
was “transfer”—from Yugoslavian territory. The residents of Sidski Banovci had some advanced warning from the German Army that they would have to leave their homes and evacuate the village. On October 17, with the Sidski Banovci church-bells pealing, a caravan of 40 to 50 families formed and proceeded out of the village and into the uncertain terrain ahead. They headed northwest toward Hungary. Huber family (Wilhelm Huber was born in 1824 and became the first Huber to settle in Sidski Banovci), in book The Past Rebuilt-The Huber Family Journey to Success, will describe their memories of that period.
Culture
Every year on the Orthodox Christmas EveChristmas Eve
Christmas Eve refers to the evening or entire day preceding Christmas Day, a widely celebrated festival commemorating the birth of Jesus of Nazareth that takes place on December 25...
(January 6), residents in the churchyard fallen bonfire which cold Badnjak which is Serbian word for Christmas Eve. In this occasion locals takes oak tree from the surrounding and make the ritual fire. These nights the locals remember their old Slavic religion and symbolically confirm Christianity.
In the rest part of year, villagers are organized around the celebration of New Year's
New Year
The New Year is the day that marks the time of the beginning of a new calendar year, and is the day on which the year count of the specific calendar used is incremented. For many cultures, the event is celebrated in some manner....
, Women's Day
International Women's Day
International Women's Day , originally called International Working Women’s Day, is marked on March 8 every year. In different regions the focus of the celebrations ranges from general celebration of respect, appreciation and love towards women to a celebration for women's economic, political and...
, the day labor, on the occasion of the end of the school year, important religious holidays etc.
There are active and the football club, pensioners club, the Protestant community
Church of God (Cleveland, Tennessee)
The Church of God, with headquarters in Cleveland, Tennessee, is a Pentecostal Christian denomination. With over seven million members in over 170 countries, it is one of the largest Pentecostal denominations in the world...
and the Women's Caucus, which also periodically organizes public events.
- It is interesting that Banovci are one of the last places in Croatia that has retained its street names from the period of communist YugoslaviaYugoslaviaYugoslavia refers to three political entities that existed successively on the western part of the Balkans during most of the 20th century....
. This was done at the express request of the villagers. For this reason, the name of the main street still bears the name of former Yugoslav President Josip Broz TitoJosip Broz TitoMarshal Josip Broz Tito – 4 May 1980) was a Yugoslav revolutionary and statesman. While his presidency has been criticized as authoritarian, Tito was a popular public figure both in Yugoslavia and abroad, viewed as a unifying symbol for the nations of the Yugoslav federation...
, while other streets are named by prominent members of the anti-fascist movement during World War IIWorld War IIWorld War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
.
Education
Elementary School Ilača-Banovci is an elementary school situated in IlačaIlača
Ilača is a village in eastern Croatia. It is connected by the D46 highway.-Education:The village hosts a part of the Elementary School Ilača-Banovci . Since 2002, the school administration is based at the location in Ilača. Local school in the Ilača has the most students. Classes in Ilača are...
, Šidski Banovci and Vinkovački Banovci
Vinkovački Banovci
Vinkovački Banovci is a village in Croatia in the region of Syrmia. It is inhabited mostly members of the Serbian minority. The first word of its name is an adjective for Vinkovci that distinguishes it from the adjacent village of Banovci.-Education:...
. Elementary School Ilača-Banovci carries the educational programs of general elementary school education. Classes are taught in Croatian
Croatian language
Croatian is the collective name for the standard language and dialects spoken by Croats, principally in Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Serbian province of Vojvodina and other neighbouring countries...
and Serbian language
Serbian language
Serbian is a form of Serbo-Croatian, a South Slavic language, spoken by Serbs in Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Croatia and neighbouring countries....
.
The Šidski Banovci School used to host the center of the school administration, before it was moved to Ilača in 2002. Classes in Šidski Banovci are conducted in the Serbian
Serbian language
Serbian is a form of Serbo-Croatian, a South Slavic language, spoken by Serbs in Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Croatia and neighbouring countries....
version of Serbo-Croatian language
Serbo-Croatian language
Serbo-Croatian or Serbo-Croat, less commonly Bosnian/Croatian/Serbian , is a South Slavic language with multiple standards and the primary language of Serbia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Montenegro...
. The school is located in the center of Šidski Banovci. The campus contains a small gym, garden and football field (Before the war there was a large hall which has not yet been restored to function).
In addition to classes that are listening at the other two schools, students in Banovci have also the following classes- Serbian Language, Orthodox Religion Education, 30% of History of Serbia, 30% of Geography of Serbia and 30% of Arts and Music of Serbia. The students of Šidski Banovci Campus have so far shown remarkable success in secondary school enrollment and thus entered schools in Šid
Šid
Šid is a town and municipality in the Srem District of Vojvodina, Serbia. Šid town has a population of 16,301, and Šid municipality 38,921.-Name:...
, Vinkovci
Vinkovci
Vinkovci is a city in Croatia, in the Vukovar-Syrmia County. In the 2011 census, the total population of the city was 35,375, making it the largest town of the county...
, Vukovar
Vukovar
Vukovar is a city in eastern Croatia, and the biggest river port in Croatia located at the confluence of the Vuka river and the Danube. Vukovar is the center of the Vukovar-Syrmia County...
and Zagreb
Zagreb
Zagreb is the capital and the largest city of the Republic of Croatia. It is in the northwest of the country, along the Sava river, at the southern slopes of the Medvednica mountain. Zagreb lies at an elevation of approximately above sea level. According to the last official census, Zagreb's city...
such as Gymnasium Vukovar
Gymnasium Vukovar
Gymnasium Vukovar is a secondary school situated in Vukovar, Croatia. Gymnasium Vukovar carries the educational programs of general secondary school, science and language direction. Classes are taught in Croatian or Serbian language. In the school year 2007/2008, 384 students were enrolled...
, Gymnasium Vinkovci
Gymnasium Vinkovci
Gymnasium Matija Antun Reljković Vinkovci is a secondary school situated in Vinkovci, Croatia. Gymnasium Vinkovci carries the educational programs of general secondary school, science and language direction. Classes are taught in Croatian language....
or Serbian Orthodox Secondary School "Kantakuzina Katarina Branković"
Serbian Orthodox Secondary School "Kantakuzina Katarina Branković"
Serbian Orthodox Secondary School Kantakuzina Katarina Branković is a gymnasium in Zagreb, Croatia....
...
The school organizes several annual celebrations in which involving the entire local community (at the start of school year, at Bread day, at Sport day, at St. Sava, and at the end of school year).The perfect location of school in the center of safe village in a beautifully decorated small park, make Šidski Banovci School integral part of the local environment. The combination of experienced teachers with young and ambitious teachers, provide Banovci students a solid foundation to continue of their further education.
Some noted alumni include:
- Ilija Kovačević (1948-) - doctor of mathematical sciences
- Mihajlo Juhas (1920- ) - doctor of political sciences
- Đuro Krneta (1950- ) - master of political sciences
- Dragan Lončina - musician (bassist)
Sport
NK Borac is a football club based in the Šidski Banovci. The club was established in 1940 year. It was founded by a group of local football fans. The name of the club in translation into EnglishEnglish language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
means Fighter, which refers to local soldiers from the World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. Club owns the local playground in Šidski Banovci, which is by the words of the mayor of the Nijemci
Nijemci
Nijemci is a village and a municipality in the Vukovar-Srijem county in Croatia. According to the 2001 census, there are 5,998 inhabitants in the municipality, 88.53% which are Croats. According to the 2011 census, there are 4,715 inhabitants in the municipality...
, one of the best in that area. Club regularly achieves good results in the 3. County League and is regularly among the top three clubs. NK Borac is funded by donations from local communitie, municipalitie
Nijemci
Nijemci is a village and a municipality in the Vukovar-Srijem county in Croatia. According to the 2001 census, there are 5,998 inhabitants in the municipality, 88.53% which are Croats. According to the 2011 census, there are 4,715 inhabitants in the municipality...
and local businesses. Borac footballers take participation as volunteer and for their efforts do not receive financial benefits. Club celebrated it's 70th anniversary throughout 2010, when played many friendly matches with other local clubs.
In addition to their regular activities, NK Borac Banovci has developed a collaboration with local school within the project Sport Day. Sport Day is event which is held every year in mid-spring. On that occasion the students were released from classes to be on the Borac court competing in various sports activities such as football, racing and old sports.
To further engage youth and returned to the popularity of sports Borac also launched youth football club.
Sources
- http://www.pillers.com/Pillers_The_Past_Rebuilt.pdf
- Site specializes for news in 3. County League
- Site of Nijemci county
- Regional magazine TNTL-sport part
- Regional magazine TNTL
- Official site of 3. County League
- article on page of Lexicographic Institute Miroslav Krleža about league in which is mentioned NK Borac Banovci