Valter Peric
Encyclopedia
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...
.
Valter was born in Prijepolje
Prijepolje
Prijepolje is a town and municipality in the Zlatibor District of Serbia. According to the 2011 census, the municipality of Prijepolje has a population of 36,713 people, while the town itself has a population of 13,068...
(present-day 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...
) in 1919. After completing his economics degree, he began to work in a Sarajevo bank in 1940. During this time, he joined the Communist Party Committee for the city of Sarajevo
Sarajevo
Sarajevo |Bosnia]], surrounded by the Dinaric Alps and situated along the Miljacka River in the heart of Southeastern Europe and the Balkans....
. During the war, he stayed in Sarajevo
Sarajevo
Sarajevo |Bosnia]], surrounded by the Dinaric Alps and situated along the Miljacka River in the heart of Southeastern Europe and the Balkans....
until 1942, when he escaped to the liberated territories controlled by Partisans
Partisans (Yugoslavia)
The Yugoslav Partisans, or simply the Partisans were a Communist-led World War II anti-fascist resistance movement in Yugoslavia...
. He subsequently became a deputy commander of the Zenica Partisan detachment. Later on, he became the commander of a battalion
Battalion
A battalion is a military unit of around 300–1,200 soldiers usually consisting of between two and seven companies and typically commanded by either a Lieutenant Colonel or a Colonel...
in the 6th Eastern Bosnian brigade. In 1943 he was ordered to return to Sarajevo and to take command of an underground partisan
Partisans (Yugoslavia)
The Yugoslav Partisans, or simply the Partisans were a Communist-led World War II anti-fascist resistance movement in Yugoslavia...
group which was tasked to drive out any Axis powers from the city.
Valter was killed by a mortar grenade in the fighting on the day of Sarajevo's liberation, April 6, 1945. He has since become something of a city icon, having the film Valter brani Sarajevo
Valter Brani Sarajevo
Valter brani Sarajevo is a Yugoslav partisan drama film that takes place during World War II.-Plot:Walter Defends Sarajevo takes place in Sarajevo, Bosnia against the German withdrawal from Yugoslavia towards the end of World War II in 1944. The Nazis are desperate to have their tank divisions in...
(Valter defends Sarajevo) named after him.
Trivia
- People still remember a famous quote from the movie Valter brani SarajevoValter Brani SarajevoValter brani Sarajevo is a Yugoslav partisan drama film that takes place during World War II.-Plot:Walter Defends Sarajevo takes place in Sarajevo, Bosnia against the German withdrawal from Yugoslavia towards the end of World War II in 1944. The Nazis are desperate to have their tank divisions in...
, when the GestapoGestapoThe Gestapo was the official secret police of Nazi Germany. Beginning on 20 April 1934, it was under the administration of the SS leader Heinrich Himmler in his position as Chief of German Police...
tried to find Valter in Sarajevo, one SS Colonel on the hill upon the city tells them: "Sehen Sie diese Stadt? Das ist Walter!" (Do you see this city? This is Valter!).
- In China, Valter's name is printed on the beer sticker, with the photo of the actor in the movie, Bata ŽivojinovićBata ŽivojinovicVelimir "Bata" Živojinović is a Serbian actor and politician.-Biography:Živojinović was born in the town of Koraćica, Mladenovac, Serbia , under the Kosmaj mountain...
.
- Elementary school in Prijepolje is named after Valter.
- Song by Dubioza Kolektiv is named "Vratiće se Valter" (Walter will be back)