Museum "21st October" in Kragujevac | Museums of Serbia

The Museum "21st October" is located in Kragujevac and is part of a memorial park that preserves the memory of one of the greatest tragedies in Serbia during World War II.

The museum exhibition consists of documents that testify to the victims, as well as artistic representations of the tragedy that occurred at this location in 1941, leaving no one indifferent even today.

The mass shooting of students and professors that took place in Kragujevac on October 21, 1941, represents one of the greatest crimes of the German army against the civilian population in Serbia. According to the available data from the museum, on that day, 2,264 people were shot, and only 31 people survived the brutal execution, who later testified about this tragedy. The victims were Serbs, Jews, Roma, Muslims, Macedonians, Slovenians, and others. Mostly men, aged 12 to 65.

The site where the shooting took place was transformed into a memorial park in 1953, which includes 30 mass graves. In 1976, the Museum "21st October" was established at the entrance to the memorial park with the aim of collecting, processing, preserving, and presenting documentation about the shooting and the victims.

The authentic museum building (without windows) itself carries symbolism, intertwined with symbols of blood, tombs, and the hopeless situation faced by the prisoners at that time. So far, 10 graves have been artistically marked, including the Monument to the Shot Students and Professors, which is now the most famous symbol of Kragujevac and the Šumarice Memorial Park.

A new exhibition was created in 2003 to adapt to contemporary trends while faithfully depicting the merciless event. Particularly poignant parts of the exhibition are personal belongings, photographs, documents, and the final messages of the civilian victims who had the last opportunity to say goodbye to their loved ones just a few minutes before their death.

In the lower level, in the gallery section, there is a permanent exhibition cycle of 27 paintings titled "Kragujevac 1941," which was donated to the institution by the renowned painter Petar Lubarda. The upper level features a multimedia exhibition titled "Kragujevac Tragedy 1941." The exhibition also includes school desks from the wartime period, transferred from the First Kragujevac Gymnasium.

Among the artistic sculptures that make up the permanent exhibition, the "Kragujevac October" stands out. It is a unique installation consisting of two different elements. One is composed of original German weapons and helmets, representing armed and depersonalized soldiers with machine gun barrels aimed at the other group - the riddled victims. The bronze frieze "Mother" is also striking, representing a sad procession of women dressed in black.

The Museum "21st October" is now one of the most significant tourist attractions in the city of Kragujevac and is open to visitors throughout the year, with working hours adjusted according to the demands of the tourist season. The ticket price for organized visits is 150 dinars, which includes a guided tour of the exhibition with panoramic sightseeing of the entire complex from a bus, tailored to the age of the visitors. The price for individual visits is 100 dinars per person.

You can find more information on the official website of the "21st October" Museum.