Kovačević was born in the village of Nudo near Grahovo to father Blagoje and mother Jovana (née Perović), into a family of peasants. In his early age he worked as a lumberjack and blacksmith and adopted communism, becoming a member of the Communist Party of Yugoslavia (KPJ) in 1925. He gradually rose through the party ranks, became one of the communist leaders in Montenegro. He was often arrested for his activities.[1]
In June 1942 he became the first commander of the 5th Montenegrin (Sandzak) Brigade of the YPLA. His unit took part in 1942 Bosanska Krajina Campaign (Bosnian Frontier Campaign) - operation against Independent State of Croatia garrisons that brought large sections of Bosnia and Herzegovina under Partisan control. In February and March 1943, during the Battle of Neretva, (German operation Weiss) Kovačević commanded his brigade in attacks on Prozor against the Italians and Konjic against joint Italian-Ustasha-German defenders. On 6 June during the Battle of Sutjeska (German operation Schwarz) he became the commander of the 3rd Shock Division of the Yugoslav People's Liberation Army.[1] His division covered the rear of other Partisan units while they successfully broke through German lines. The 3rd Shock Division, which was encumbered with wounded Partisans, was less successful in its attempt at breaking out. On 13 June, Kovačević was killed while personally leading his men during a charge against trenches held by the German 118th Jäger Division at Krekovi near Tjentište, Eastern Herzegovina, on the Sutjeska river.[1][2]
Monument to Sava Kovačević and Yugoslav Partisans in Grahovo.
Owing to his humble background and habit of disdain for the privileges of rank, Kovačević was one of the most popular Partisan commanders. He was famous for his personal courage: one of the well known episodes happened on 20 February 1943 in Ostrožac on the Neretva river when he, with his brigade commissar Dragiša Ivanović, in an unexpected encounter with a group of Italian tanks, managed to climb onto two tanks, Sava on the second and Dragiša on the third of three tanks, to kill their crews and to capture one tank each. His heroic death made him into one of the Partisan icons.[1]
According to Milovan Đilas, the Montenegrin communist leadership had a hard time with Kovačević because he did not recognize Montenegrins as a separate nation from the Serbs.[3]
Legacyedit
In honour of Kovačević, numerous streets were named after him, as well as urban neighbourhoods in Zemun and Palilula. Also, Savino Selo (literally: Sava's Village) in Vojvodina is named after him. Naval repair facility which operated in Tivat, Montenegro was named "MTRZ Sava Kovačević" (popularly called Arsenal), until its conversion into the yacht marina "Porto Montenegro".
In popular cultureedit
In the 1973 film Sutjeska Kovačević was played by Serbian actor Ljuba Tadić.
Several songs have been written in memorization of Kovačević, singing about his heroism and death on Sutjeska. The most popular include "Što to huči Sutjeska" (What is Sutjeska up to)[a][4] "Sivi Sokole" (Peregrine Falcon)[b][6] and "Kraj Sutjeske hladne vode" (By Sutjeska, the cold water).[7]
Notesedit
^"Što to huči Sutjeska" was written in October 1943 during the war by the writer and then-manager of 4th Montenegrin and 2nd Proletarian Brigade Puniša Perović [sr], who met Kovačević in Lastva at the start of the war. He based the melody on the songs that he heard and liked during the war, "Song about Shchors [ru]" (Mykola Shchors) and "Po šumama i gorama". The song quickly became popular, and after the war, it started appearing in elementary school books and was considered a folk song.
^"Sivi Sokole" mentions Sutjeska being crossed to save the wounded, but Sava being found dead on the ground. Many versions of "Sivi Sokole" have been made, the most popular one from Ismet Krcić.[5]
^Milovan Đilas (1990). Revolucionarni rat. Književne novine. p. 176. ISBN9788639101060.
^"Što to huči Sutjeska". www.yugopapir.com. c. 1973.
^"Sivi sokole". Antifašistički vjesnik. 20 April 2016. Retrieved 27 April 2022.
^"Za Jugoslaviju: Sivi Sokole - pjesma Savi Kovačeviću". 5 May 2011.
^"Kraj Sutjeske hladne vode". Antifašistički vjesnik. 13 June 2017. Retrieved 10 March 2023.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Sava Kovačević.
April 09, 2024
sava, kovačević, other, uses, disambiguation, serbian, cyrillic, Сава, Ковачевић, january, 1905, june, 1943, yugoslav, partisan, divisional, commander, during, world, heroes, communist, partisan, movement, 1942born, 1905, january, 1905nudo, montenegrodied13, j. For other uses see Sava Kovacevic disambiguation Sava Kovacevic Serbian Cyrillic Sava Kovacheviћ 25 January 1905 13 June 1943 1 was a Yugoslav Partisan divisional commander during World War II and one of the heroes of the communist Partisan movement Sava KovacevicSava Kovacevic in 1942Born 1905 01 25 25 January 1905Nudo MontenegroDied13 June 1943 1943 06 13 aged 38 Krekovi Independent State of Croatia now Bosnia and Herzegovina AllegianceYugoslav PartisansYears of service1941 1943RankColonelCommands heldNiksic Partisan Detachment5th Montenegrin Brigade3rd Shock DivisionBattles warsWorld War II Battle of Neretva Battle of Sutjeska AwardsOrder of the People s HeroOrder of Kutuzov Contents 1 Early life 2 World War II 3 Legacy 4 In popular culture 5 Notes 6 ReferencesEarly life editKovacevic was born in the village of Nudo near Grahovo to father Blagoje and mother Jovana nee Perovic into a family of peasants In his early age he worked as a lumberjack and blacksmith and adopted communism becoming a member of the Communist Party of Yugoslavia KPJ in 1925 He gradually rose through the party ranks became one of the communist leaders in Montenegro He was often arrested for his activities 1 World War II editAfter the German led Axis invasion of Yugoslavia Kovacevic was one of the leading organizers of the uprising in Montenegro against the Italian occupation He became commander of the Niksic Partisan Detachment 2 deputy commander of Main Headquarters of Montenegro and finally a member of Supreme Staff of the Yugoslav People s Liberation Army 1 In June 1942 he became the first commander of the 5th Montenegrin Sandzak Brigade of the YPLA His unit took part in 1942 Bosanska Krajina Campaign Bosnian Frontier Campaign operation against Independent State of Croatia garrisons that brought large sections of Bosnia and Herzegovina under Partisan control In February and March 1943 during the Battle of Neretva German operation Weiss Kovacevic commanded his brigade in attacks on Prozor against the Italians and Konjic against joint Italian Ustasha German defenders On 6 June during the Battle of Sutjeska German operation Schwarz he became the commander of the 3rd Shock Division of the Yugoslav People s Liberation Army 1 His division covered the rear of other Partisan units while they successfully broke through German lines The 3rd Shock Division which was encumbered with wounded Partisans was less successful in its attempt at breaking out On 13 June Kovacevic was killed while personally leading his men during a charge against trenches held by the German 118th Jager Division at Krekovi near Tjentiste Eastern Herzegovina on the Sutjeska river 1 2 nbsp Monument to Sava Kovacevic and Yugoslav Partisans in Grahovo Owing to his humble background and habit of disdain for the privileges of rank Kovacevic was one of the most popular Partisan commanders He was famous for his personal courage one of the well known episodes happened on 20 February 1943 in Ostrozac on the Neretva river when he with his brigade commissar Dragisa Ivanovic in an unexpected encounter with a group of Italian tanks managed to climb onto two tanks Sava on the second and Dragisa on the third of three tanks to kill their crews and to capture one tank each His heroic death made him into one of the Partisan icons 1 He was posthumously proclaimed People s Hero of Yugoslavia According to Milovan Đilas the Montenegrin communist leadership had a hard time with Kovacevic because he did not recognize Montenegrins as a separate nation from the Serbs 3 Legacy editIn honour of Kovacevic numerous streets were named after him as well as urban neighbourhoods in Zemun and Palilula Also Savino Selo literally Sava s Village in Vojvodina is named after him Naval repair facility which operated in Tivat Montenegro was named MTRZ Sava Kovacevic popularly called Arsenal until its conversion into the yacht marina Porto Montenegro In popular culture editIn the 1973 film Sutjeska Kovacevic was played by Serbian actor Ljuba Tadic Several songs have been written in memorization of Kovacevic singing about his heroism and death on Sutjeska The most popular include Sto to huci Sutjeska What is Sutjeska up to a 4 Sivi Sokole Peregrine Falcon b 6 and Kraj Sutjeske hladne vode By Sutjeska the cold water 7 Notes edit Sto to huci Sutjeska was written in October 1943 during the war by the writer and then manager of 4th Montenegrin and 2nd Proletarian Brigade Punisa Perovic sr who met Kovacevic in Lastva at the start of the war He based the melody on the songs that he heard and liked during the war Song about Shchors ru Mykola Shchors and Po sumama i gorama The song quickly became popular and after the war it started appearing in elementary school books and was considered a folk song Sivi Sokole mentions Sutjeska being crossed to save the wounded but Sava being found dead on the ground Many versions of Sivi Sokole have been made the most popular one from Ismet Krcic 5 References edit a b c d e f Kovacevic Blagoja Sava Heroji Jugoslavenske narodnooslobodilacke borbe 1941 1945 Slobodna Jugoslavija a b Sava Kovacevic The Great Soviet Encyclopedia 1979 Milovan Đilas 1990 Revolucionarni rat Knjizevne novine p 176 ISBN 9788639101060 Sto to huci Sutjeska www yugopapir com c 1973 Sivi sokole Antifasisticki vjesnik 20 April 2016 Retrieved 27 April 2022 Za Jugoslaviju Sivi Sokole pjesma Savi Kovacevicu 5 May 2011 Kraj Sutjeske hladne vode Antifasisticki vjesnik 13 June 2017 Retrieved 10 March 2023 nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Sava Kovacevic Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Sava Kovacevic amp oldid 1191311274, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
