Boško Palkovljevic Pinki
Encyclopedia
Boško Palkovljević "Pinki" was a prominent Yugoslav Partisan fighter from World War II
and People's Hero of Yugoslavia.
), in the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes (today Serbia
). After finishing the elementary school, he enrolled at the High School for Mechanics in Novi Sad
. Pinki joined the SKOJ
while in school, and, in 1940, became the leader of the school's SKOJ section. Soon he organized student strike
, during which the students demanded better conditions for studying and better treatment from professors. He was later arrested because his organization took part in the textile workers' strike. He spent two months in detention
, but was released due to the lack of evidence against him.
During the Axis Invasion of Yugoslavia
in April 1941, although he was not in the army, Pinki responded to the call from his party
and joined the fighting, where he was captured. During the transport to the concentration camps, he managed to escape in the city of Ruma
, and to steal a hand grenade
and a machine gun
from the provisional airport in Veliki Radinci
. After that, he joined Partisans at the Fruška Gora
mountain.
Pinki was among the organizers of the escape of communist inmates from the Ustasha prison in Sremska Mitrovica
. After they planned the escape, on on 22 August 1941, Pinki and his comrades helped the 32 inmates to escape through an underground tunnel they dug. Afterwards, they took them to Fruška Gora. A decision was made that four of the escaped communists should remain on Fruška Gora, while the others should be transferred to Serbia
. Pinki took them to Bogatić
, where they were picked up by Mačva
Partisans.
Pinki took part in the anti-fascist fights and diversions. He blew up a train in Srem
with a home-made mine. Soon after that, he tried to blow a bridge on Bosut river disguised as a Croatian Home Guard
soldier. He approached Ustasha guardian on the bridge and asked for a lighter
. The Ustasha called him to a barrack where Pinki killed him, and another Ustasha who came to help. Then he placed a mine and blew up the bridge.
Boško Palkovljević was the first Partisan courier
from Srem to reach the High Command of the People's Liberation Army and inform them on the activities of Vojvodina
Partisans after the Axis
offensive in Western Serbia and the withdrawal of Partisans toward Bosnia
and Sandžak
. Between early December 1941 and January 1942, during an entire month, Pinki pressed through enemy territory. He was even captured by Chetniks
, but he managed to escape and to come back to Srem with the High Command's orders.
After he returned from the bridge destruction activities on 10 June 1942, Pinki was in the village of Mala Remeta
when German forces attacked. Pinki opened fire on the Germans in an attempt to slow them and allow people to escape into the woods. While he was trying to escape too, he was shot by a machine gun.
He was among the first to be awarded Order of the National Hero on 25 October 1943.
Pinki was buried at the memorial cemetery in Sremska Mitrovica. Many streets and schools in SFRY Yugoslavia were named after him including the High School for Transport in Novi Sad
. Hala Pinki
sports hall in Zemun
is also named after him.
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...
and People's Hero of Yugoslavia.
Biography
Palkovljević was born on 14 December 1920 in the village of Manđelos (part of Sremska MitrovicaSremska Mitrovica
Sremska Mitrovica is a city and municipality located in the Vojvodina province of Serbia, on the left bank of the Sava river. As of 2002 the town had a total population of 39,041, while Sremska Mitrovica municipality had a population of 85,605...
), in the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes (today 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...
). After finishing the elementary school, he enrolled at the High School for Mechanics in Novi Sad
Novi Sad
Novi Sad is the capital of the northern Serbian province of Vojvodina, and the administrative centre of the South Bačka District. The city is located in the southern part of Pannonian Plain on the Danube river....
. Pinki joined the SKOJ
Skoj
Skoj is a cider-based soft drink, manufactured by the Swedish Skoj Beverage Group. Skoj is the Swedish word for fun.Skoj is 15 percent fruit juice sweetened with sugar...
while in school, and, in 1940, became the leader of the school's SKOJ section. Soon he organized student strike
Student strike
A student strike occurs when students enrolled at a teaching institution such as a school, college or university refuse to go to class. This form of strike action is often used as a negotiating tactic in order to put pressure on the governing body of the university, particularly in countries where...
, during which the students demanded better conditions for studying and better treatment from professors. He was later arrested because his organization took part in the textile workers' strike. He spent two months in detention
Detention (imprisonment)
Detention is the process when a state, government or citizen lawfully holds a person by removing their freedom of liberty at that time. This can be due to criminal charges being raised against the individual as part of a prosecution or to protect a person or property...
, but was released due to the lack of evidence against him.
During the Axis Invasion of Yugoslavia
Invasion of Yugoslavia
The Invasion of Yugoslavia , also known as the April War , was the Axis Powers' attack on the Kingdom of Yugoslavia which began on 6 April 1941 during World War II...
in April 1941, although he was not in the army, Pinki responded to the call from his party
League of Communists of Yugoslavia
League of Communists of Yugoslavia , before 1952 the Communist Party of Yugoslavia League of Communists of Yugoslavia (Serbo-Croatian: Savez komunista Jugoslavije/Савез комуниста Југославије, Slovene: Zveza komunistov Jugoslavije, Macedonian: Сојуз на комунистите на Југославија, Sojuz na...
and joined the fighting, where he was captured. During the transport to the concentration camps, he managed to escape in the city of Ruma
Ruma
Ruma is a town and municipality located in Vojvodina, Serbia at . In 2002 the town had a total population of 34,229, while Ruma municipality had a population of 60,006.-History:...
, and to steal a hand grenade
Hand grenade
A hand grenade is any small bomb that can be thrown by hand. Hand grenades are classified into three categories, explosive grenades, chemical and gas grenades. Explosive grenades are the most commonly used in modern warfare, and are designed to detonate after impact or after a set amount of time...
and a machine gun
Machine gun
A machine gun is a fully automatic mounted or portable firearm, usually designed to fire rounds in quick succession from an ammunition belt or large-capacity magazine, typically at a rate of several hundred rounds per minute....
from the provisional airport in Veliki Radinci
Veliki Radinci
Veliki Radinci is a village in Serbia. It is situated in the Sremska Mitrovica municipality, in the Srem District, Vojvodina province...
. After that, he joined Partisans at the Fruška Gora
Fruška Gora
Fruška Gora is a mountain in north Syrmia. Most part of the territory is located within Vojvodina, Serbia, but a smaller part on its western side overlaps the territory of Croatia...
mountain.
Pinki was among the organizers of the escape of communist inmates from the Ustasha prison in Sremska Mitrovica
Sremska Mitrovica
Sremska Mitrovica is a city and municipality located in the Vojvodina province of Serbia, on the left bank of the Sava river. As of 2002 the town had a total population of 39,041, while Sremska Mitrovica municipality had a population of 85,605...
. After they planned the escape, on on 22 August 1941, Pinki and his comrades helped the 32 inmates to escape through an underground tunnel they dug. Afterwards, they took them to Fruška Gora. A decision was made that four of the escaped communists should remain on Fruška Gora, while the others should be transferred to Serbia
Nedic's Serbia
Serbia under German occupation refers to an administrative area in occupied Yugoslavia established by Nazi Germany following the invasion and dismantling of Yugoslavia in April of 1941...
. Pinki took them to Bogatić
Bogatic
Bogatić is a little town and municipality located in the Mačva District of Serbia. In 2011, the population of the town is 6,470, while population of the municipality is 28,879.-History:...
, where they were picked up by Mačva
Macva
Mačva is a geographical region in Serbia, mostly situated in the northwest of Central Serbia. It is located in a fertile plain between the Sava and Drina rivers. The chief town of this region is Šabac. The modern Mačva District of Serbia is named after the region, although the region of Mačva...
Partisans.
Pinki took part in the anti-fascist fights and diversions. He blew up a train in Srem
Srem
Śrem is a town on the Warta river in central Poland. It has been situated in the Greater Poland Voivodeship since 1999; from 1975 to 1998 it was part of the Poznań Voivodeship...
with a home-made mine. Soon after that, he tried to blow a bridge on Bosut river disguised as a Croatian Home Guard
Croatian Home Guard
Croatian Home Guard or also, known as the "Homeland Defenders," was the name used for the armed forces of the Independent State of Croatia which existed during World War II.- Formation :...
soldier. He approached Ustasha guardian on the bridge and asked for a lighter
Lighter
A lighter is a portable device used to generate a flame. It consists of a metal or plastic container filled with a flammable fluid or pressurized liquid gas, a means of ignition, and some provision for extinguishing the flame.- History :...
. The Ustasha called him to a barrack where Pinki killed him, and another Ustasha who came to help. Then he placed a mine and blew up the bridge.
Boško Palkovljević was the first Partisan courier
Courier
A courier is a person or a company who delivers messages, packages, and mail. Couriers are distinguished from ordinary mail services by features such as speed, security, tracking, signature, specialization and individualization of express services, and swift delivery times, which are optional for...
from Srem to reach the High Command of the People's Liberation Army and inform them on the activities of Vojvodina
Vojvodina
Vojvodina, officially called Autonomous Province of Vojvodina is an autonomous province of Serbia. Its capital and largest city is Novi Sad...
Partisans after the Axis
Axis Powers
The Axis powers , also known as the Axis alliance, Axis nations, Axis countries, or just the Axis, was an alignment of great powers during the mid-20th century that fought World War II against the Allies. It began in 1936 with treaties of friendship between Germany and Italy and between Germany and...
offensive in Western Serbia and the withdrawal of Partisans toward Bosnia
Bosnia (region)
Bosnia is a eponomous region of Bosnia and Herzegovina. It lies mainly in the Dinaric Alps, ranging to the southern borders of the Pannonian plain, with the rivers Sava and Drina marking its northern and eastern borders. The other eponomous region, the southern, other half of the country is...
and Sandžak
Sandžak
Sandžak also known as Raška is a historical region lying along the border between Serbia and Montenegro...
. Between early December 1941 and January 1942, during an entire month, Pinki pressed through enemy territory. He was even captured by Chetniks
Chetniks
Chetniks, or the Chetnik movement , were Serbian nationalist and royalist paramilitary organizations from the first half of the 20th century. The Chetniks were formed as a Serbian resistance against the Ottoman Empire in 1904, and participated in the Balkan Wars, World War I, and World War II...
, but he managed to escape and to come back to Srem with the High Command's orders.
After he returned from the bridge destruction activities on 10 June 1942, Pinki was in the village of Mala Remeta
Mala Remeta (village)
Mala Remeta is a village in Serbia. It is situated in the Irig municipality, in the Srem District, Vojvodina province. The village has a Serb ethnic majority and its population numbering 151 people .-See also:*List of places in Serbia...
when German forces attacked. Pinki opened fire on the Germans in an attempt to slow them and allow people to escape into the woods. While he was trying to escape too, he was shot by a machine gun.
He was among the first to be awarded Order of the National Hero on 25 October 1943.
Pinki was buried at the memorial cemetery in Sremska Mitrovica. Many streets and schools in SFRY Yugoslavia were named after him including the High School for Transport in Novi Sad
Novi Sad
Novi Sad is the capital of the northern Serbian province of Vojvodina, and the administrative centre of the South Bačka District. The city is located in the southern part of Pannonian Plain on the Danube river....
. Hala Pinki
Hala Pinki
Hala Pinki is an indoor multi sports venue located in the Belgrade's municipality of Zemun, Serbia.The venue has an indoor hall and an indoor swimming pool...
sports hall in Zemun
Zemun
Zemun is a historical town and one of the 17 municipalities which constitute the City of Belgrade, the capital of Serbia...
is also named after him.