These structures were commissioned by former Yugoslavian president Josip Broz Tito in the 1960s and 70s to commemorate sites where WWII battles took place (like Tjentište, Kozara and Kadinjaca), or where concentration camps stood (like Jasenovac and Niš). They were designed by different sculptors (Dušan Džamonja, Vojin Bakic, Miodrag Živkovic, Jordan and Iskra Grabul, to name a few) and architects (Bogdan Bogdanovic, Gradimir Medakovic...), conveying powerful visual impact to show the confidence and strength of the Socialist Republic. In the 1980s, these monuments attracted millions of visitors per year, especially young pioneers for their "patriotic education." After the Republic dissolved in early 1990s, they were completely abandoned, and their symbolic meanings were forever lost.
Has that Harsh eastern bloc feel to it. Amazing how we as humans can express our lives through our monuments.
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