»In dieser Nacht hörte ich Schreie und Gebrüll aus Gradina«

Rights held by: Milan Radosavljevič | Provided by: Croatian State Archives (Zagreb/Croatia) | Archived under: HR-HDA-421 / Javno tužilaštvo SR Hrvatske / Box 128

ZAPISNIK
sastavljen dana 10. marta 1952.g. kod Kotarskog suda u Vinkovcima povodom preslušanja svjedoka RADOSAVLJEVIĆ MILANA starijeg u krivičnom predmetu protiv Artuković dr. Andrije zbog krivičnih djela iz ćl. 124., 125 i 128. Krivičnog Zakona.
Prisutni:
1. Belamarić Frane, sudac Kotarskog suda u Vinkovcima
2. Kavšek Jovanka, zapisničar
Svjedok RADOSAVLJEVIĆ MILAN stariji, sin Tanasije, zemljoradnik iz Novih Jankovaca, rodjenog u Novim Jankovcima, star 43 godine, nepismen.
Nakon što je utrdjena istovjetnost svjedoka Radosavljević Milana starijeg, te nakon što je u smislu čl. 168. Zakona o krivičnom postupku opimenut na dužnost kazivanja istine, upoznat sa predmetom svjedočenja iskazuje:
Ja sam porjeklom Ciganin. od svog rodjenja pa do mjeseca maja 1942.g. ja sam stalno živio u selu Novi Jankovci, kotar vinkovački, gdje sam se bavio nadničarenjem, jer svoje zemlje nisam imao, a pored toga bavio sam se i palenjem ugljena. Imao sam svoju porodicu koja se sastojala od žene Kaje, stare 30 godina i troje djece od kojih je Živko imao 12 godina, Marko 7 godina i Katica 4 godine.
U Novim Jankovcima u to vrijeme živjelo je oko 830 Cigana. U mjesecu maju 1942.g., a to je bilo dan uoči Duhova, svi kućegospodari bili su po organima tzv. Nezavisne države Hrvatske prevedeni u općinsko poglavarstvo u Jankovcima i tu su morali dati podatke o svim članovima svoje porodice. tom prilikom bilo nam je saopćeno da ćemo sa svojim porodicama biti preseljeni u Rumunjsku ili Banat te da ćemo tamo dobiti kuće i dovoljno zemlje za obradjivanje. Medjutim, iste večeri naše je cigansko naselje u Novim Jankovcima bilo opkoljeno od naoružanih i uniformiranih lica, te je bilo zabranjeno da napuštamo svoje naselje. Drugo jutro su nas istjerali iz naših domova i prepratili u Vinkovce. Tom prilikom uzeli smo sobon najnužnije predmete iz svog kućanstva i nešto hrane. Neki Cigani koji su imali vlastite konje i kola strpali su svoju imovinu u kola. Kad smo došli u Vinkovce tu su nas ustaše počeli tuči batinama i natjerali nas u jedan podljikavom žicom ogradjeni prostor koji se je nalazio odmah iza mosta pokraj rijeke. Tu smo prenoćili, a primjetio sam da su se u tom prostoru pored nas nalazili još i Cigani iz susjednih sela Mikanovci i Privlaka. Drugo jutro prepratili su nas na željezničku stanicu i tu nas strpali u marvinske vagone, koje su zatim zatvorili. Tom prilikom smjeli smo sobom ponijeti samo najnužnije predmete, a konji i kola su ostali na onom mjestu gdje smo prenoćili. U tim vagonima bili smo zatvoreni sve do poslije podne kada je vlak krenuo. Vagoni su bili jako natrpani i nisu nam davali ni hranu ni piće. Vidjeli smo da smo prevareni i da ćemo nastradati pa su uslijed toga mnogi cigani stalno plakali.
Idućeg jutra rano odmah nakon svitanja stigli smo u Jasenovac. Vlak je stao izvan logora i nas su odmah po izlasku iz vagona naoružani ustaše otjerali u prostor ogradjen bodljikavom žicom. Tu su nas odmah odvojili od naših žena i djece, a nama muškarcima naredili su da predamo sav novac, predmete od vrijednosti i hranu, nakon čega su nas otjerali u jedan bodljikavom žicom ogradjeni prostor na kojem nije bilo nikakvih zgrada ni nastamba. Na tom prostoru nalazilo nas se je pretpostavljam oko 1000 muškaraca. Pored nas u udaljenosti od svojih 20 met. nalazio se sličan bodljikavom žicom ogradjeni prazni prostor u kojem su bili smješteni naše žene i djeca. Naš logor nalazio se odmah kraj nasipa pored obale Save. Toga dana nas muškarce nisu dirali niti su nam davali hranu, a u noći smo iz ženskog logora povremeno čuli viku i vriskanje pa smo zaključili da su tamo ustaše silovali naše žene i kćeri.
Idućeg jutra iz ženskog logora izvedena je i nekuda odvedena jedna grupa žena i djece. Budući da se taj logor nalazio u blizini ja sam vidio da je bila odvedena i koja žena Kaja sa djecom. Otprilike sat kasnije došli su u naš muški logor ustaše i pitali tko od nas želi ići na rad. Ja sam se javio zbog toga da bi lakše saznao kuda će mi biti otpraćena žena i djeca, a javila se je i još jedna grupa cigana. Ustaše su nas odvojili 12 i pod oružanom pratnjom bili smo prebaćeni skelom na južnu obalu Save u tzv. Gradinu. Tom prilikom nisam vidio onu grupu žena i djece koja je bila izjutra izvedena iz logora. U Gradini se nalazilo odmah kraj obale nekoliko stambenih zgrada koje su očito bile napuštene, jer se nitko nije u njihovoj blizini kretao. Tu smo dobili lopate i nakon što smo bili odvedeni nizvodno uz rijeku Savu bilo nam je naredjeno cda na jednom mjestu, koje je bilo otprilike 20 do 30 metara udaljeno od obale, a preko puta logora, kopamo jame. Toga dana iskopali smo 2 jame veličine 8 x 5 metra, a duboke oko 3 metra. Jame su bile jedna pored druge, a između njih je ostavljen prazan prostor širok otprilike 3 metra. Kada smo se u sumrak toga dana vraćali kući i prolazili pored spomenutih napuštenih kuća, primjetili smo, da je oko tih kuća bila postavljena ustaška straža koja je očito čuvala neke ljude koji su se nalazili u tim kućama. Iste večeri negdje oko 10 ili 11 sati čuli smo iz našeg logora u pravcu Gradine povremeno vriskanje i jaukanje.
Drugo jutro ponovno smo krenuli na posao i tom prilikom prilazili smo pod pratnjom ustaša pored jama, koje smo dan ranije kopali. Kad smo se približili tim jamama ja sam primjetio ispod jama prema obali Save hrpu ciganskog ženskog rublja. Došavši sasvim blizu jama primjetio sam na svoje zaprepaštenje da je prostor izmedju obih jama bio potpuno natopljen krvlju. Jame su bile na pola visine zatrpane, međutim zemlja je bila površno nabacana, tako, da nije mogla u cjelosti prekriti ljudska tjelesa koja su se u toj jami nalasila, pa su neki dijelovi tijela ostali nepokriveni. Ni smo se zaprepastili nad tim prizorom i jedan iz naše grupe neki Uzo Mitrović, Ciganin iz Novih Jankovaca, star oko 40 godina, čija je žena također bila dan ranije odvedena sa spomenutom grupom žena i djece, počeo je vikati i skočio u rijeku. Ustaše su odmah na njega otvorili vatru i on se uopće više nije pojavio na površini vode. Toga dana kopali smo jame nešto dalje od mjesta gdje smo dan ranije kopali jame. Kad smo se u sumrak istoga dana vraćali kući na drugoj strani Save čekala je na obali kraj skele jedna grupa žena u kojoj je moglo biti od prilike do 60 duša. Djece nisam primjetio. Sobom nisu ništa nosile. Odmah po našem dolasku na sjevernu obalu Save ova grupa ukrcana je u skelu i prebačena u Gradinu. Te noći ponovno sam čuo vriskanje i viku iz Gradine.
Trećeg dana kopali smo ponovno rupe u Gradini, medjutim od prilike 200 metara u dubinu od jama koje smo dan ranije iskopali. Budući da nismo taj put prolazili kraj ranije iskopanih jama nisam mogao vidjeti da li se u tim jamama nešto nalazi. Kad smo se u večer vratili kući u ženskom logoru nije bilo više ciganskih žena i djece i ciganski muškarci su nas pitali da li smo ih negdje vidjeli. Ne sjećam se, da li sam te noći čuo kakvu viku i vrisak kao ranijih noći.
Četvrtog dana kopali smo jame gotovo 1 kilometar daleko od obale. Toga dana bila je dovedena još jedna grupa cigana radi kopanja jama, a sjećam se da su medju nima lili i Mitrović Tošo i Mitrović Milan , cigani iz Novih Janovaca, koji danas tamo i žive. Za vrijeme rada primjetio sam da su ustaše dotjerali jednu grupu od možda 50 muškaraca obučenih samo u donje rublje u pravcu jama koje smo kopali ranijih dana. Jedan čovjek iz te grupe iskočio je i počeo trčati u našem pravcu. Trčao je neko vrijeme i tada pao pogođen mecima ustaša i srušio se u neku baru preko koje je upravo trčao. Ustaše koji su nas čuvali naredili su nam da legnemo potrbuške na zemlju i da ne gledamo u pravcu spomenute grupe, kaako ne bi vidjeli što se tamo dogadja. Ja sam stavio za vrijeme ležanja na zemlji ruke pred oči, medjutim gledao sam kroz prste, pa kako je taj teren bio potpuno ravan vidio sam da su ustaše počeli nekim predmetima udarati po spomenutoj grupi muškaraca. Pretpostavljam da su to bili sjekire ili neke batine, jer su se ljudi počeli rušiti i to čitavi redovi odjedared. Vjerojatno su bili medjusobno povezani žicom, pa kad je u jamu pao jedan, onda je za sobom povukao i ostale. Čulo je se i pucanje iz pušaka kao i vika ljudi. Sve to trajalo je kratko vrijeme, a moglo je biti od nas udaljeno 200 do 300 metara. Nakon toga ustaše su nam naredili da prekinemo rad i bili smo prebačeni na sjevernu obalu Save gdje smo nosili neku ciglu. Idućih dana kopali smo jame pored nekog groblje u čijoj blizini su bile neke napuštene kuće. Jednog dana tu nas je skoro pobila jedna grupa ustaša koji su smatrali da nas vode na likvidaciju i već su nam naredili da moramo legnuti na zemlju, međutim na to su intervenirali naši čuvari i objasnili ovim ustašama da mi nismo poslani na ubijanje, nego da kopamo rake. Sjećam se da sam baš toga puta u večer, kad smo se vratili sa posla na obali Save kod skele sreo grupu od 100 do 120 cigana muškaraca, koji su imali ruke vezane žicom. To su bili cigani iz našeg logora, a među njima sam ja vidio i svog oca, pa sam ga zapitao kuda ide, našto mi je otac ogovorio da ide na večeru. Budući da je bilo zabranjeno voditi bilo kakav razgovor, to me je odmah jedan od ustaša koji su nas pratili udario po glavi. Kad smo se te večeri vratili u logor zatekli smo sasvim mali broj cigana i to uglavnom onih, koji su vršili fizičke radove dok su ostali cigani u međuvremenu bili nekuda odvedeni.
Kad smo drugog dana ponovno prolazili pored groblja gdje smo ranije kopali jame primjetili smo da su te jame bile gotovo zatrpane ua u njihovoj blizini nalazili su se razbucani pojedini odjevni predmeti, dok se je u jednoj kući vidjela čitava gomila takovih odijela, kroz razbijena vrata.
Ja sam kopao na Gradini rake ukupno 12 dana. Kroz to vrijeme posljednjih dana vidio sam da su na Gradinu prebacivane grupe Cigana i to pomješano muškaraca, žena i djece, koji su iz vlaka izravno upućivani u gradinu, a da uopće nisu prolazili kroz logor. Sjećam se, da je jedna od takovih grupa po nalogu ustaša pjevala neke svatovske pjesme. Pretpostavljam, da su svi oni pobijeni i strpani u jame koje smo mi u tu svrhu bili kopali u Gradini.
Budući da smo se bojali da ćemo i mi biti pogubljeni kao i ostali muškarci iz našeg logora, to smo jedne noći kad je padala kiša i bila gusta pomorčina ispod žica prokopali zemlju i počeli bježati. Tom prilikom pila je na našu grupu koja je bježala otvorena vatra, pa su neki i poginuli, samo ja neznam koji su to bili, budući da sam ja izašao izvan žice medju prvima. Kasnije sam se našao sa Ciganima Tošom i Milanom Mitrović, koji su te večeri zajedno samnom pobjegli iz logora i uspjeli se spasiti. Nakon našeg bijega iz logora ja sam se ubrzo prebacio u partizane gdje sam ostao sve do konca rata.
Od moje obitelji koja je bila odvedena u logor nije se nikada nitko vratio, nego su oni očito pobijeni u Gradini i pobacani u jame, koje sam ja tamo kopao. Od cigana iz Novih Jankovaca uspjelo se je spasiti svega 5 ili 6 lica dok su svi ostali izginuli u Jasenovcu. Medju njima poginuli su i moj otac, Tanasije, star 60 godina, majka Mileva, stara 60 godina, moj brat Marko, star 32 godine, njegova žena Julka stara 30 godina i njihovo dvoje djece Luka star 6 godina i Katica stara 4 godine, kao i moja braća Stevo star 15 god. i Slavko star 8 godina.
Toliko mi je poznato o tom predmetu.
Nakon toga je svjedok na svoj gornji iskaz propisno zaklet u smislu čl.227.Zakona o krivičnom postupku.
DOVRŠENO.

Sudac
[nečitko]
Zapisničar
[nečitko]
Svjedok
[nečitko]

Kroatisch

PROTOKOLL

vom 10. März 1952 vor dem Amtsgericht von Vinkovci betreffs der Anhörung des Zeugen RADOSAVLJEVIĆ MILAN Sr im Strafverfahren gegen Artuković Dr Andrija für Verbrechen nach Art. 124, 125 und 128 des Strafgesetzbuches. […]
Ich bin Rom durch Abstammung. Von meiner Geburt bis zum Mai 1942 war ich permanenter Einwohner von Novi Jankovci, Bezirk Vinkovci, wo ich als Tagelöhner arbeitete, da ich selbst kein Land besaß. Außerdem arbeitete ich als Köhler. Zu meiner Familie gehörten meine Frau Kaja, 30 Jahre alt, und unsere drei Kinder – Živko, 12 Jahre, Marko, 7 Jahre, und Katica, 4 Jahre alt.
In Novi Jankovci lebten damals etwa 830 Roma*. Im Mai 1942, am Tag vor dem Pfingstfest, brachten die Organe des sogenannten Unabhängigen Staates Kroatien alle Hausbesitzer zur Bezirksregierung in Jankovci, wo sie gezwungen wurden, Informationen über sämtliche Familienmitglieder zu geben. Bei diesem Anlass wurde uns gesagt, dass wir und unsere Familien nach Rumänien oder in den Banat umgesiedelt werden sollten, dass wir Häuser bekämen und genug Land, um es zu bestellen. Am selben Abend jedoch wurde unsere Roma*-Siedlung in Novi Jankovci von bewaffneten und uniformierten Personen umstellt. Es wurde uns verboten, unsere Siedlung zu verlassen. Am nächsten Morgen wurden wir aus unseren Häusern getrieben und nach Vinkovci gebracht. […] Am nächsten Morgen brachten sie uns zum Bahnhof, und dort zwangen sie uns, in Viehwaggons zu steigen, die sie dann verschlossen. […]
Wir erreichten Jasenovac unmittelbar nach Tagesanbruch am nächsten Morgen. Der Zug stoppte außerhalb des Lagers. Direkt nachdem wir aus den Waggons gestiegen waren, trieben uns bewaffnete Ustascha in einen Bereich, der mit Stacheldraht umzäunt war. Hier trennten sie uns sofort von unseren Frauen und Kindern […].
Am nächsten Morgen wurde eine Gruppe von Frauen und Kindern aus dem Frauenlager geführt und irgendwohin gebracht. Da dieses Lager nicht weit weg war, konnte ich erkennen, dass meine Frau Kaja und unsere Kinder ebenfalls dabei waren. Etwa eine Stunde später kamen die Ustascha in das Lager der Männer und fragten, wer von uns bereit wäre zu arbeiten. Ich meldete mich freiwillig in der Hoffnung, so leichter erfahren zu können, wohin meine Frau und meine Kinder gebracht werden. Eine weitere Gruppe von Roma* meldete sich ebenfalls freiwillig. Die Ustascha suchten zwölf von uns aus und brachten uns mit einer Fähre zum Südufer der Sava, wo wir das sogenannte Gradina erreichten. Ich konnte die Gruppe der Frauen und Kinder, die am Morgen aus dem Lager gebracht worden waren, nirgendwo sehen. In Gradina befanden sich einige Wohnhäuser, gleich neben dem Flussufer. Diese waren offensichtlich verlassen, da sich in ihrer unmittelbaren Umgebung niemand bewegte. Man gab uns Schaufeln und befahl uns, nachdem man uns ein Stück flussabwärts die Sava entlang gebracht hatte, an einer Stelle Gruben auszuheben, etwa 20 bis 30 Meter vom Flussufer entfernt. An diesem Tag hoben wir zwei Gruben aus, 8 x 5 Meter groß und etwa drei Meter tief. Die Gruben waren nebeneinander. Dazwischen ließen wir Raum von etwa drei Metern Breite. […]
Am nächsten Morgen machten wir uns wieder auf den Weg zur Arbeit und kamen, eskortiert von den Ustascha, an den Gruben vorbei, die wir am Tag zuvor ausgehoben hatten. Als wir näherkamen, fiel mir ein Berg Kleidung von Romnja* auf, nahe an den Gruben in Richtung des Ufers der Sava. Als wir schließlich sehr nahe an den Gruben waren, sah ich schockiert, dass die Erde zwischen den zwei Gruben vollständig mit Blut durchnässt war. Die Gruben waren halb gefüllt, aber es war nur eine dünne Schicht Erde aufgefüllt worden. Die Leichen waren nicht vollständig bedeckt. Einige Körperteile ragten heraus.
Ich verbrachte insgesamt zwölf Tage damit, in Gradina Gräber auszuheben. Während dieser Zeit sah ich, wie Roma*, gemischte Gruppen aus Männern, Frauen und Kindern, mit der Fähre nach Gradina gebracht wurden, ohne überhaupt das Lager zu passieren. […] Ich nehme an, dass sie alle getötet wurden und in die Gruben geworfen wurden, die wir in Gradina zu diesem Zweck ausgehoben hatten. […]
Von den Mitgliedern meiner Familie, die ins Lager verschleppt worden waren, kehrte niemand zurück. Offensichtlich wurden sie in Gradina getötet und in die Gruben geworfen, die ich dort ausgehoben hatte. Nur fünf oder sechs Roma aus Novi Jakovci gelang es, sich zu retten. Alle anderen starben in Jasenovac. […]

RECORD
made on 10 March 1952 at the District Court of Vinkovci regarding the examination of the witness RADOSAVLJEVIĆ MILAN Senior in the criminal case against Artuković Dr Andrija for crimes defined in Art. 124, 125 and 128 of the Criminal Code.
Present: 1. Belamarić Frane, judge of the District Court of Vinkovci
2. Kavšek Jovanka, recording clerk
Witness RADOSAVLJEVIĆ MILAN Senior, son of Tanasije, farmer from Novi Jankovci, born in Novi Jankovci, 43 years old, illiterate.
After the identity of the witness Radosavljević Milan Senior had been established and after he was warned about the duty of stating the truth in accordance with Art. 168 of the Criminal Procedure Act and acquainted with the subject of the testimony, he stated:
I’m Romani by origin; from my birth and until May 1942, I was permanently resident in the village of Novi Jankovci, Vinkovci district, where I worked as a day worker, since I didn’t own any land, and I also worked as a charcoal burner. I had a family that consisted of my wife Kaja, aged 30, and our three children – Živko, aged 12, Marko, aged 7, and Katica, aged 4.
There were around 830 Roma living in Novi Jankovci at that time. In the month of May 1942, on the day before Pentecost, the organs of the so-called Independent State of Croatia took all house-owners to the district government in Jankovci, where they were forced to provide information on all members of their families. On that occasion, we were told that we and our families would be resettled in Romania or the Banat and that we would receive houses and sufficient land to cultivate. However, that same evening, our Romani settlement in Novi Jankovci was surrounded by armed and uniformed persons. We were forbidden to leave our settlement. The next morning, we were driven out of our homes and taken to Vinkovci. We took with us the most basic necessities from our homes and some food. Some Roma, who had their own horses and wagons, placed their belongings in the wagons. When we arrived in Vinkovci, the Ustaše immediately began beating us with clubs and forced us into an area enclosed with barbed wire, located just behind the bridge, next to the river. We spent the night there, and I noticed that the Roma from the neighbouring villages of Mikanovci and Privlaka were also in the same enclosure. Next morning, they took us to the railway station and here they forced us onto livestock carriages, which they then closed. We were allowed to take only the most basic necessities with us; the horses and wagons stayed behind. We were locked up in these carriages until the afternoon, when the train departed. The carriages were very cramped and we were given neither food nor drink. We saw that we had been tricked and that we would come to a bad end; many Roma were crying constantly.
We arrived in Jasenovac immediately after dawn the next day. The train came to a stop outside the camp and, immediately after we had got out of the carriage, armed Ustaše drove us into an area enclosed by barbed wire. Here they immediately separated us from our women and children, and we men were ordered to hand over all our money, valuables and food, after which they drove us to an area enclosed by barbed wire where there were no buildings or dwellings. I believe that there were around 1,000 men in this enclosure. Near us, some 20 metres away, was a similar but empty space enclosed by barbed wire in which they placed our women and children. Our camp was located immediately beside the embankment along the River Sava. That day they didn’t touch us men or give us food; during the night, we occasionally heard shouting and screaming from the women’s camp, so we concluded that the Ustaše were raping our wives and daughters there.
The next morning, one group of women and children was moved out of the women’s camp and taken somewhere. Since this camp was nearby, I could see that my wife, Kaja, and our children had also been taken. Approximately one hour later, the Ustaše came to our men’s camp and asked who among us wanted to work. I volunteered so that it would be easier for me to find out where my wife and children would be taken; another group of Roma also volunteered. The Ustaše selected twelve of us and we were taken to the southern bank of the Sava by ferry, reaching the so-called Gradina. I didn’t see the group of women and children who had been taken out of the camp in the morning. Several residential buildings were located in Gradina, right next to the riverbank. They were obviously deserted since nobody was moving in their vicinity. We were given shovels and, after we’d been taken downstream along the Sava, we were ordered to dig pits in one spot, located some 20 to 30 metres away from the riverbank. That day we dug two pits 8 x 5 metres in size and some three metres deep. The pits were one beside the other; between them was an empty space some three metres wide. When we were leaving at dusk and passed by those abandoned houses, we noticed Ustaša guards had been placed around them, obviously guarding people who were being held in the houses. At around 10 or 11 o’clock that evening, we heard in our camp occasional screaming and groaning coming from the direction of Gradina.
The next morning, we set off for work again and, escorted by the Ustaše, passed alongside the pits we had dug yesterday. When we got close to those pits, I noticed a pile of Romani women’s clothing next the pits, near the bank of the Sava. As I got very close to the pits, I was shocked to see that the space between the two pits was completely sodden with blood. The pits were half-filled, but only a thin layer of earth had been placed on top, so it couldn’t cover completely the human bodies in there; some body parts remained uncovered. We were shocked by this scene and one Uzo Mitrović, a Rom from Novi Jankovci, around 40 years old, whose wife had also been taken a day ago with the mentioned group of women and children, began shouting and jumped into the river. The Ustaše immediately opened fire on him and he never surfaced again. That day, we dug new pits somewhat farther away from the place where we had dug the first pits. When we were returning, we saw a group of women waiting for the ferry on the other bank of the Sava, perhaps 60 souls in all. I didn’t notice any children. They didn’t have anything with them. Immediately after we arrived, this group was taken aboard the ferry and moved to Gradina. That night I again heard screaming and shouting from Gradina.
On the third day, we were again digging holes in Gradina, but this time around 200 metres deeper than the pits we had dug yesterday. Since this time we didn’t pass alongside the pits dug earlier, I couldn’t see whether there was anything in those pits. When we returned home that evening, there were no more Romani women or children in the women’s camp and the Romani men asked us whether we had seen them. I don’t remember whether I heard shouting and screaming that night like I had during the nights before.
On the fourth day, we dug pits almost one kilometre from the riverbank. Another group of Roma was brought in to dig pits that day, and I remember that Mitrović Tošo and Mitrović Milan, Roma from Novi Jankovci, who still live there today, were among them. While I was working there, I noticed the Ustaše had brought a group of perhaps 50 men dressed only in their underwear and took them towards the pits we had dug during the previous days. One man from that group jumped out and began running in our direction. He ran for some time and then fell, shot by the Ustaše, and collapsed into the pond through which he had been running. The Ustaše guarding us ordered us to lie down flat on our bellies and not look towards the mentioned group, so we couldn’t see what was happening there. I covered my eyes with my hands while I was lying down on the ground, but I peeked through my fingers. Since the terrain was completely flat, I saw that the Ustaše had begun hitting the mentioned group of men with various objects, probably axes or clubs; entire rows of people began falling down together. They had probably been tied together with wire, so that when one fell into the pit, he dragged the others in with him. Rifle shots were heard and people shouting. All this lasted only for a short time, and must have taken place no more than 200 to 300 metres away from us. Thereafter, the Ustaše ordered us to stop our work, and we were transported to the northern bank of the Sava, where we carried some bricks. The next days, we dug pits near some graveyard in whose vicinity some abandoned houses stood. One day, we were almost killed by a group of Ustaše who thought they were taking us for liquidation and had already ordered us to lie down on the earth. However, our guards intervened and explained to these Ustaše that we hadn’t been sent here to be killed but to dig graves. I remember that the very same evening, when we were returning from our work, we encountered near the ferry on the bank of the Sava a group of 100 to 120 Romani men whose hands were tied with wire. These were the Roma from our camp, and among them I saw my father, so I asked him where he was going, and he answered that he was going to dinner. Since it was forbidden to make any conversation, one of the Ustaše accompanying us immediately struck me on the head. When we returned to our camp that evening, we found that only a very small number of Roma were left, mainly those who performed physical labour; the others had been taken somewhere in the meantime.
The next day, when we were once again passing by the graveyard where we had dug the pits, we noticed that those pits had been almost completely filled and various items of torn clothing lay scattered around them. A whole pile of such clothes could be seen through a broken door in one of the houses.
I spent twelve days in total digging graves at Gradina. During that time, I saw that Roma, mixed groups of men, women and children, were being ferried to Gradina without even passing through the camp. I remember that one of these groups was singing wedding songs at the command of the Ustaše. I assume that all of them were killed and thrown into the pits we had dug in Gradina for that purpose.
Because we were afraid that we would be executed, like the other men from our camp, one night, when it was raining and was very overcast, we dug a tunnel under the wires and began to run. We were fired upon and some of us were killed, but I don’t know who since I was among the first to move beyond the wire. I later met up with the Roma Tošo and Milan Mitrović, who had escaped from the camp on the same night as I did and had managed to save themselves. I joined the Partisans shortly after our escape and remained with them until the end of the war.
None of my family members who had been taken to the camp ever returned; they were obviously killed in Gradina and thrown into the pits that I had dug there. Only 5 or 6 of the Roma* from Novi Jankovci managed to save themselves; all the others died in Jasenovac. Among them were my father, Tanasije, aged 60, my mother, Mileva, aged 60, my brother Marko, aged 32, his wife, Julka, aged 30, and their two children – Luka, aged 6, and Katica, aged 4 – as well as my brothers Stevo, aged 15, and Slavko, aged 8.
This is all I know about the subject.
After giving this testimony, the witness swore an oath in accordance with Art. 227 of the Criminal Procedure Act.
FINISHED.

Judge Recording clerk Witness
[illegible] [illegible] [illegible]

Englisch

Kroacijako Themesko Arhivo, HR-HDA-421, Perutni došalipaski Institucija kotar i Kroacija, Box. 128

[Rinćaripe]

HRAMOPE
Kedindo po 10. Mart 1952. b. ando Thanesko Krisi Vinkovci vaš e mujalnesko šunibe RADOSAVLJEVIĆ MILAN phureder ko došalipasko kejso mamuj o Artuković Dr Andrija pe kerde došalne kriminalutne buća ko Artiklo. 124, 125 thaj 128 kotar o Kriminalutno Krisi.
Lije than: 1. Belamarić Frane, krisari kotar e Kriseski Kancelarija Vinkovci
2. Kavšek Jovanka, hramomi
O mujalno RADOSAVLJEVIĆ MILAN phureder, Tanasijako čhavo, bustanari (phuvjako bućarno) kotar e Novi Jankovci, bijando ko Novi Jankovci, 43 beršengo, na džanel te hramol thaj te genavel.
Pala so kerdaspe e personalno identifikacija kotar o mujalno Radosavljević Milan phureder, thaj vakardo sas oleske kaj musaj te phenel o čačipe phanlo e Artkleja. 168 kotar o Kriminalutno Procedurako Akto, pindžardo sas e temasa vaš olesko vakaripe, vov mothavdas:

Miro avipe si Rromano*, kotar o bijandipe thaj dži ko Maj 1942 berš me semas savaxt bešutno ko gav Novi Jankovci, than Vinkovci, kote so kerdemas sako dives buti sar so arakhlem, kaj naj sas ma miri phuv, kerdem buti thaj pe angarengo phabaripe. Sas ma miri familija, mancar sas akala džene; i Kaja miri rromni, phuri 30 berš, thaj mire trin čhavorre kolendar o Živko sas phuro 12 berš, o Marko 7 beršengo thaj i Katica sas phuri numa 4 berš.
Ko Novi Jankovci ki kodi vrama trajinas dži ke 830 Rroma. Ko čhon Maj 1942, b. jekh dives angleder e Mulengodives, e manuša kotar o anavno Korkorutno Kroacijako Them lije sa e bare kherenge dženen ko Themesko Kher, thaj kote musaj sas te den sa e anava pe familijenge. Pala kodo kedipe, sas amenge vakardo kaj amare familijenca ka ovas bičhalde ki Romanija vaj ko Banat kote so ka oven dende amenge khera, thaj dosta phuv te keras buti. Numa kodi raći ki amari Rromani mahala ko Novi Jankovci dije andre jagaljencar uniformirime manuša, kola so na mukle amen te iklas avri kotar amari mahala. Ko taharutni teharin paldije amen avri kotar amare khera, thaj ingarde amen ko Vinkovci. Amencar lijam numa e majprekuč šeja kotar o kher vi cerra xabe. Nesave Rroma*, kolen so sas grasta thaj vordona, pe šeja čhute ko vordon. Kana avilam ko Vinkovce kote e Ustašura lije te maren amen thaj čhute amen ko jekh than so sas phanglo e sastrune busavne barjasa, o than sas palal i phurt thaj i len. Kodi raći naklam odori thaj dikhlam avere Rromen kola so sas amenca andar aver gava Mikanovci thaj Privlaka. O aver dives anglal o mezmeri bičhalde amen pe trenosko staciono thaj kote čhuvde amen ande dživinenge vagonija, phanglinos e udara. Amenca šaj sas te las numa e majprekuč šeja, e grasta thaj e vordona ačhile po than kote kaj sutamas. Ko adala vagonija amen samas phangle sa dži ko palamezmeri kana o treno crdijas po drom. E vagonija sas pherde, na dije amenge xabe ni pani. Dikhlam kaj sam xoxavde thaj ka xasaras amare šere, sebet kodo but Rroma rovinde soro vrama.
Ko aver dives teharinako reslam ando Jasenovac. O treno ačhilas avral kotar o Lager thaj numa so iklistam andar e vagonora e Ustašura jagaljenca spidije amen ko than paša e sasturni busavni bar. Kote samas ulavde katar amare čhavorre thaj rromnja, amenge e muršenge dije komanda te ikalas sa e love, e šeja so sas amaro barvalipa thaj o xabe, thaj pale samas čhute ko jekh than ande sastruni busavni bar kode naj sas nisave khera vaj bešimaske thana. Gindiv kaj sas kote dži ke 1000 murša. Paša amende dureder 20 metre, sas inke vi jekh gasavo than phanglo e sastrune busavne barjasa, kote so sas čhuvde amare čhavorre thaj rromnja. Amaro Lager locirimo sas paša e len Sava. Kodo dives amenge e muršenge na kerde khanči, na dije amen ni xabe, a ki raći kotar o džuvlikano Lager ko vrama po vrama šundam rovipe thaj sar vareko kaj cipil, gindisardam kaj e Ustašora zorasa mangle te soven amare rromnjenca thaj čhajorenca.
O aver dives teharinako, jekh grupa kotar e rromnja thaj čhavorre sas ikalde thaj varekate ingarde. Me dikhlem kaj miri rromni e Kaja thaj amare čhavorre sas ingarde, kaj kodo Lager sas pašes. Buteder kotar o dopaš časo, e Ustašura avile ko amaro muršikano Lager thaj phučle amen, ko amendar mangel te kerel buti. Me phendem kaj me ka džav soske mangava lokheder te džanav kaj ka oven bičhalde miri rromni thaj me čhave, vi jekh grupa kotar e Rroma phende kaj bi ajlukosko ka džan te keren buti. E Ustašura alosarrde dešuduje dženen, kethanes telal i kontrola kotar e manuša so ingarenas puške ingarde sam plajasa ki teluni lenaki rig Sava po than akardo Gradina. Me na dikhlem kodole rromnjengi thaj čhavorrengi grupa so teharinako sas ikaldi avri andar o Lager. Nekobor bešipaske khera sas ki Gradina, paš i len. E khera, dikhlolaspe kaj sas mukle, kaj khonik kote na phirelas. Akate dije amenge komanda te hanavas i phuv, ingarde amen maj tele kotar i len Sava, phende amenge akate hanaven jekh xiv pe akava than, 20 dži ke 30 metre dureder ozo e lenako umalesko than. Kodo dives hanadam duj xiva bare 8 x 5 metre lungo thaj trin metre učo. E xiva sas jekh paša aver thaj maškar olende si muklo than lungo upre tele 3 metre. Kana kodo dives raćako irisaljam palpale khere naklam kotar e upre vakerde mukle khera, dikhlam kaj maškar kodola khera sas vazdimo varesavo cikno Lager vaš e Ustaša so arakhenas nesave manušen, von bešenas ko adala khera. Kodi raći paša e 10 vaj palem ko 11 časo ašundam ko amaro Lager, kova sas paša i Gradina, odotar povarkana cipibe thaj rovipe.
Ko teharutno dives ki teharin palem crdijam pe buti thaj telal e Ustašengi kontrola nakhlam paša e xiva so jekh dives angleder hanadam. Kana pašilam dži ke xiva me dikhlem kaj telal i xiv ko drom dži ke Sava jekh ulavdo than pherdo sas Rromane* džuvljenge uravimata. Avindos paša e xiv dikhlem pe miri bibaxt kaj o than maškar e duj xiva pherdo sas ratesa. E xiva sas dži ko dopaš phuvjasa pherde, i phuv sas numa čhudini, kadi so našti sas lačhes te učharel e manušenge trupura, nesave truposke kotora naj sas učharde. Amen samas šokirime katar kodo sureti thaj jekh Rrom* andar amari grupa o Uzo Mitrović kotar e Novi Jankovci, 40 berš phuro kaski romni sas jekh dives angleder ingardi kodole grupasa kotar e čhavorre thaj rromnja, crdijas te del vika, thaj hutlas ki len. E Ustašura kodo momento pe leste putarde jag, numa nikana ni iklisto upre andar i len. Kodo dives hanadam xiva, lemorja, maj dureder kotar o than kote so angleder jekh dives hanadam. Kana irisaljam palpale khere ki raći, pe aver rig kotar e Sava diklam jekh grupa kotar e rromnja kote so šaj sas te ovel upre tele 60 džeja. Sar so dikhlem ki grupa naj sas čhavorre. Pesa na ingarde khanči. Pala so avilam, akaja grupa sas lendi thaj e plajasa ingardi ki Gradina. Kodo raći kotar i Gradina palem šundam cepibe thaj rovipe.
Po trito dives, pale hanadam xiva ki Gradina, upre tele 200 metre dureste kotar o than ke avera divesa. Kodo dives ni naklam kole dromesa kotar e angleder hanade xiva, kodoleske me našti dikhlem si li vareso ke adala limorja. Kana ki raći irisaljam palpale khere, ko rromnjengo Lager naj sas but Romnja* vaj čhavorre thaj e Rromane* murša phučle amen te na dikhlam olen varekaj dromeste. Na dav ma godi kaj kodi raći šundem varesavo vrknipe vaj rovipe sar e anglune raća.
Ko štarto dives, hanadam xiva, te phenas sar jekh kilometro dureder kotar e lenaki phuv. Numa vi aver grupa kotar e Rroma* ande si te hanaven xiva kodo dives, dav ma godi po Mitrović Tošo thaj Mitrović Milan, Rroma andar e Novi Jankovci, kola so vi adives odothe bešen, von sas maškar e džene katar kodi grupa. Dži kote kana keravas buti odori, me dikhlem kaj e Ustašura ande trin grupe, šaj sas 50 murša, uravde numa ko sostenja thaj ingarde si ko than kaj so hanadam e xiva anglune nekobor divesa. Jekh manuš kotar i grupa iklilas andar e xiv thaj lijas te prastel karing amende. Varesavi vrama prastandilo thaj pal kodo pelas tele khuvdo kotar e Ustašengo glonco, pelas ko than kotar so prastijas. E Ustašura so arakhenas amen dije amenge komanda te pašljovas po vogi ki phuv thaj te na dikhas kori i grupa, te našti džanas so kerdolpe odori. Me kote pašlilem ki phuv, anglal mo šero čhutem me vasta angla me jakha, numa maškar me naja dikhlem so kerdolaspe odori, kaj e phuv sas orrto šaj dikhlemas sar e Ustašura lije varsave kotorenca te peken pe muruša, šaj sas tovera vaj ruvlja, e kolona kotar e manuša lije te peren tele jekh pala aver. Šaj kodo sas kaj savorenge vasta phangle sas jekhe šelesa, thaj kana ki xiv pelas jekh, crdijas pala peste saren. Šunde pes rafalija andar e jagalja, thaj e manušengo vrknipe. Sa kodo sas skurto vrama, šaj sas dureder amendar na buteder kotar e 200 vaj 300 metre. Pala akava, e Ustašura dije komanda te ačhas amare bućasa, bičhalde amen ki teluni lenaki rig kotar e Sava, te ingaras varesave cigle. Aver divesa hanadam xiva paša varesave limorja, kote sas varesave khera. Jekh dives, cera trubuj sas te meras kotar jekh grupa Ustašura kola so gindinde kaj trubuj te mudaren amen, von dije amenge komanda te pašlivas pe phuv. Baxtake e manuša so arakhenas amen ačhade olen phendindos kodole Ustašenge kaj amen naj sam bičalde te ovas mudarde, numa te keras buti, te hanavas e xiva. Dav ma godi kaj kodo raći, kana irisaljam palpale bućatar, pe umal kotar e len Sava dži ke plaj sas jekh grupa kotar e 100 dži ke 120 Rromane* murša kaske vasta sas phangle sastrune šelesa. Akala Rroma* avenas kotar amaro Lager, thaj maškar olende me dikhlem me dades, thaj phučlem le kaj džan, vov phendas mange kaj džan po xabe. Kaj na denas te vorbisarelpe, jekh kotar e Ustašura so sas amenca, čhaladas ma po šero. Kana kodi raći irisaljam palpale ko Lager arakhlam but maj cera Rromen* thaj numa kodolen so kerenas fizikalno buti, e avera sas varekate ingarde.
O aver dives, kana palem nakhlam paša e limorja kote so angleder hanadam xiva, dikhlam kaj kodola xiva sas učharde thaj paša olende sas čhudine šeja thaj aver kotora, numa ko jekh kher kotar o phago udar dikholas jekh xrpa gasave uravimata.
Nakhlem dešuduj divesa ki Gradina, kote so hanadem xiva. Ki kodi vrama, me dikhlem kaj e Rromen*, ko hamime grupe kotar e murša, rromnja thaj čhavora, kola so kotar o treno sas direktno bičhalde plajasa ki Gradina, na nakhenas buteder ko Lager. Dav ma godi kaj nesave kotar akala grupe gilavenas bijaveske gila telal e Ustašengi dendi komanda. Gindiv kaj savore si mudarde thaj praxome ande xiva, kola so amen sebet kodo hanadam ki Gradina.
Savore darasa kaj ka ovas vi amen mudarde sar avera murša kotar amaro Lager, jekh raći kana perelas bršind thaj sas baro raćako kalipe, crdijam te hanavas tunelo telal i sastruni busavni bar thaj lijam te našas. Pala amende putarde jag, nesave amender sas mudarde, numa ni džanav ko, soske me semas maškar e anglune so iklile telal e sastruni busavni bar. Pala kodo me maladem ma e Rromenca* Tošo thaj Milan Mitrović, kon našle manca andar o Lager thaj gija ačhilam dživde. Pala amaro našibe kotar o Lager me sigate gelem ke Partizaja thaj ačhilem kote dži ko maribasko agor.
Khonik kotar mire familijake džene kon sas ingarde ko Lager na irisardepe palpale; von sas čačes mudarde ki Gradina thaj čhudine andre ke xiva kola so me hanadem. Numa 5 vaj 6 džene kotar e Rroma* andar e Novi Jankovci ačhile dživde; sa avera mule ko Jasenovac. Maškar olende sas thaj mo dad o Tanasije, 60 beršengo, mi daj e Mileva, 60 beršengi , mo phral o Marko, 32 beršengo, oleski rromni i Julka 30 beršengi, thaj olenge duj čhavorre o Luka 6 beršengo, thaj i Katica 4 beršengi, thaj mire phrala o Stevo 15 beršengo thaj o Slavko 8 beršengo.
Akava si sa so džanav vaš akava.
Pala upre dendo vakaripe, o mujalno dijas sovel, proceduralno sar so phenel o Artiko. 227 kotar o Kriminalutno Proceduralno Akto.
AGORISARDO.

  Krisari                          Hramovari                       Mujalno

[našti drabardol] [našti drabardol] [našti drabardol]

Romanes

Rights held by: Milan Radosavljevič | Provided by: Croatian State Archives (Zagreb/Croatia) | Archived under: HR-HDA-421 / Javno tužilaštvo SR Hrvatske / Box 128

Lesung des Selbstzeugnisses von Milan Radosavljević

6.26 min

voi_00075

Lesung des Selbstzeugnisses von Milan Radosavljević | Spoken word | Deutschland | 2018 | voi_00075

Massenmorde in Gradina
Im Mai 1942 war Milan Radosavljević 43 Jahre alt. Er lebte mit seiner Frau und seinen drei minderjährigen Kindern – zwei Söhne und eine Tochter – in der Ortschaft Novi Jankovci (etwa zehn Kilometer von Vinkovci entfernt). Auf Basis eines Sonderrundschreibens des Innenministeriums und eines Erlasses des Sicherheitsdienstes der Ustascha vom 19. Mai 1942 begann die Deportation aller Roma im Unabhängigen Staat Kroatien (USK) ins Lager Jasenovac. Radosavljević wurde gemeinsam mit seiner Familie und anderen Roma aus Novi Jankovci zuerst zur Bahnstation in Vinkovci und von dort mit dem Zug ins Konzentrationslager Jasenovac gebracht.

Einige Roma wurden von den Lagerposten gleich bei der Ankunft im Lager getötet, andere wurden zunächst in verlassenen serbischen Häusern in Uštica untergebracht. Aufgrund von Überbelegung wurden einige Roma bald in die Ortschaft Gradina am Südufer des Flusses Sava verlegt, wo Massenhinrichtungen durchgeführt wurden. Im Lager Jasenovac verrichtete Radosavljević Zwangsarbeit in Gradina (Teil des Lagers Jasenovac, der sich heute in Bosnien und Herzegowina befindet). Er musste dort Gräben ausheben, in die die getöteten Lagerinsass_innen geworfen wurden. Kurz danach gelang ihm die Flucht. Er schloss sich der Partisanenbewegung an.

Milan Radosavljevićs gesamte Familie wurde in Jasenovac getötet. Als einer von einem Dutzend Überlebender aus Novi Jankovci war er ein wichtiger Augenzeuge des Massenmords in Jasenovac. Im Rahmen des Strafverfahrens gegen Andrija Artuković, dem Innenminister des USK, legte er im März 1952 Zeugnis vor dem Amtsgericht in Zagreb ab.

Danijel Vojak (2017)

Lesung des Selbstzeugnisses von Milan Radosavljević

6.26 min

voi_00075

Lesung des Selbstzeugnisses von Milan Radosavljević | Spoken word | Deutschland | 2018 | voi_00075