Victory Day at the Museum of Yugoslavia: Perspectives on Anti-Fascism Across Time and Space

The Museum of Yugoslavia will commemorate Victory Day over Fascism on May 9, 2025, with a rich, day-long program marking 80 years since the end of World War II and the defeat of fascism. Through a series of events, exhibitions, and artistic interventions, the Museum opens up space for reflecting on the legacy of anti-fascism and its relevance today.

Exclusive Display of the Order of Victory

A special highlight of the program is the exclusive display of the Order of Victory, the highest Soviet military decoration, awarded to Marshal Josip Broz Tito in 1945. Normally kept in a vault, the decoration will be on public view throughout the day as part of the permanent exhibition at the Museum’s 25 May building. The Order of Victory was awarded only 17 times in history, and only five of those recipients were foreigners—including Tito.

Through Forests and Mountains – Contemporary Interpretations of the Anti-Fascist Struggle

At 2 PM, a panel discussion will explore the legacy of the anti-fascist struggle through various micro-perspectives. Visitors will gain insight into how the ideas of anti-fascism, the history of resistance to fascism, and the Partisan values of collectivism, solidarity, loyalty, and equality are transmitted and reinterpreted in a contemporary context.

Participants include:

• Vojislav Martinov, historian and curator at the Museum of Vojvodina, co-author of the project “Along the Paths of Liberation”, which connects the history of the People’s Liberation Struggle with outdoor activities. It consists of a book and a map of monuments and sites related to the Partisan movement and anti-fascist resistance on Fruška Gora, offering a free guide with maps for two hiking and two cycling routes.

• Vladimir Bjeličić, art historian, curator, and visual artist, whose work “Mirko and Slavko – Illegal Emotions… or Another (Outcast) Love Story” reimagines the iconic Yugoslav comic book through photo performance. The project revives this forgotten symbol of the Partisan struggle while opening questions around emancipation, sexuality in the People’s Liberation Struggle, and representations of the body.

• Renata Poljak, visual artist and director of the feature-length documentary “The Forests Forests”, which centers around four key stories, combining visually striking segments with testimonies of female Partisans. The film searches for hidden feminine principles, forms, and meanings in stories we know, think we know, and those we have yet to discover.

The discussion will be moderated by Ana Panić, art historian and museum advisor at the Museum of Yugoslavia.

Following the talk, at 4 PM, there will be a screening of the film:

THE FORESTS FORESTS (documentary, 2024)

Director: Renata Poljak
Screenplay: Renata Poljak
Cinematographers: Bojan Mrđenović & Boris Poljak
Editor: Marta Bregeš
Sound Design: Bojan Kondres
Music: Nenad Sinkauz and Alen Sinkauz
Producers: Dijana Cetina Mlađenović and Vesna Teršelič
Country: Croatia
Duration: 68 minutes
Language: Croatian and Serbian with English subtitles