Gimnasium Velika Kladusa

Gimnasium Velika Kladusa

Final paper

Theme: Velika Kladusa through centuries

May 2013

Student: Mentor:

Bakir Durakovic Elvira Catic Dizdarevic

Velika Kladusa through centuries

2 Gimnasium Velika Kladusa, May 2013

Content

Geo location of Velika Kladusa ..................................................................................... 3

Tales about origins of name Velika Kladusa and its surroundings ................................ 4

Origin of Velika Kladusa ................................................................................................ 5

Velika Kladusa in middle Ages ...................................................................................... 6

Mujo and Halil Hrnijca, Kladusas heroes ...................................................................... 7

End of the Ottoman ruling and “The new master“ ...................................................... 8

New war in Velika Kladusa ........................................................................................... 9

Life go on .................................................................................................................... 10

Velika Kladusa during the aggression on Bosnia ........................................................ 11

Velika Kladusa at present day .................................................................................... 12

Interesting facts about Velika Kladusa ....................................................................... 13

Conclusion .................................................................................................................. 14

Bibliography ................................................................................................................ 15



Geo location of Velika Kladusa

Velika Kladusa is little town located on the NW side of Bosnia and Hezegovina. On the south side it borders with Cazin and Buzim, and on the west, east and north it borders with Republic of Croatia.

Velika Kladusa is highly populated place, it has 46.400 residents, on the territory of 331 km2.

Velika Kladusa is also known as ‘‘ Gate of Bosnia‘‘ because it is a center of communication line between Croatia and Una-Sana Canton.

It is surronded with two rivers, Kladusnica on the south and west part of the town and Glina on the north, as natural border with Republic Of Croatia.

Velika Kladusa is very rich with natural resources like water, wood and many others mines.

Satellite footage of Velika Kladusa



Tales about origins of name Velika Kladusa and its surroundings

There are intesreting tales about origin of name of Velika Kladusa. Velika Kladusa

residents says that Velika Kladusa got it name from its master Kladar, a master of

Velika Kladusa and Vrnograc.

For the origin of name Vrnograc there are several tales. One of them says that

Vrnograc got its name from its master Vranic.

Other one says that rich man Ivan had three dothers : Bika, Vrana and Soka. He had a

lot of property in this lands and decide to split in three parts.

* Bika went to south and found town Bihac.

* Soka went to east for a long trip and found Sokolac.

* The youngest dother stayed close to her father and found village Vrnograc.



Origin of Velika Kladusa

When the life started in this region? What traces have left behind Avars and Slavens

after migration across this region?

Almost there aren‘t any kind of replies to this question based on firm evidence. Most

of the history of this region is based on folk tradition.

Iapods are the first people who lived in this region in Roman era. Iapods are the one

of the tribes of Ilyrics. Very important clue about Roman presence in this town is

piece of roman brick found 1891 on the left coast of river Kladusnica in place Crkvine.

It is believed that it belonged to the Roman military building, it has number 14

written on it or “XIV“ , according to scientist, it is barrack of Roman XIV legion.

There are a lot of objects found mostly in villages Sumatac and Sabici from the Bronze

Ages. These objects are mostly axes, daggers, spears, needles and sickles.

Sickles found 1899 in village Sumatac



Velika Kladusa in middle Ages

Name Velika Kladusa firstly has been mentioned in 1280 in the document of Prince

Babonic called “Cladusa‘‘.

Members of Babonic family were the masters of the Velika Kladusa and widely known

gentry. In this period, famous croatian family Frankopan was also ruled with Velika

Kladusa for few years.

People who lived here were very brave and loyal, example of that is that Velika

Kladusa was the last stronghold in Bosnia, what has been fallen into the arms of

Ottoman empire, at year 1582. Ottomans couldn't capture whole Bosnian territory

for almost 150 years, and when they succeded, they have burned almost all town of

Velika Kladusa that year. From that period for about 50 years Velika Kladusa was

deserted place. Ottomans have bringed a life to Velika Kladusa, when they moved

their military barracks to Velika Kladusa with almost 5000 soldiers.

From this period Velika Kladusa was border between Islamic and Christian religions in

Europe.

According to the folk songs Kladusas people were very warlike in this period, it means

that they were attacking and robbing neighboring villages for almost 100 years.



Mujo and Halil Hrnijca, Kladusas heroes

The most singed hero in this surrounding were Mujo Hrnjica and his brother Halil.

They came to Velika Kladusa from Udbina in Croatia, with recommendation from

Banjalukas masters. People loved Mujo, because of his courage and his fights against

evil and bad people, who constantly robbed and murdered people of Kladusa.

Mujo had a reputation all the way to the Zagreb and maybe widely, as a good ruler

and honest person.

Mujo succeded in his lifetime to reconcile relations between Muslims and Christians

in Velika Kladusa.

Mujo had a lot of enemies, but there was a legend that he couldn't die from bullet of

iron, so his cousin Meho because of envy killed Mujo with golden bullet.

There is monument of Mujo Hrnijca in Velika Kladusa, as symbol of real hero and

legend.



End of the Ottoman ruling and “The new master“

Ottomans ruled with Bosnia for almost 300 years. At the year 1878, new force from

north arrived in this country, so Ottomans were forced to back up. Austro-Hungarian

forces took almost whole country immediatly, except one part – Krajina. Velika

Kladusa again , second time in history was last stronghold in Bosnia. Brave Kladusas

people defended their town till the last drop of theirs blood.

Six soldiers from Kladusas fort “Stari grad“ were holding city for 14 days. They had

one cannon and when their ammunition was empty, Austro-Hungarian troops rushed

in fort. General Zach in his report said that they didn't found anyone in the fort, just

one cannon and three flags.

After this battle, the occupation of Bosnia was finally finished.

First school in Velika Kladusa was opened in 1896.It was elementary. Soon there were

6 more schools in nearby villages. Library in Velika Kladusa was opened 1908.

Many stores have been opened in this period, in 1899 there were 17 stores in Velika

Kladusa and its sorrounding.

From this period life in Velika Kladusa was peacful and only event worth of

mentionting was opening of Velika Kladusas mosq in the centre of town 27.09.1901.



New war in Velika Kladusa

People in this town had a normal and peaceful life for 20 years, and then the new war

was uprising. It was the World war II. In march 1940 Croatian Ustasa Army came to

Velika Kladusa and got their dictature. In 7 days more than 400 people were

murdered and slaughtered by the hand of Ustasas soldiers. The victims were mostly

Serbs. 27.03.1941. Communist organisation with Anton Tono Hrovat, Husein Huska

Miljkovic and Fadil Seric on top, started to uprise against fascists.

In fight for Velika Kladusa, 4880 soldiers were ready to give their life. 1492 man was

killed, and 1200 were wounded.

Resistance was stronger and stronger every day and Velika Kladusa was freed by

fascists on 23.02.1942. After this the WWII was ended for people of Velika Kladusa.

Many ordens for bravery were given to Kladusas patriots by Yugoslavian committee.

Some of them are: Zuhdija Zalic, Omer Duranovic, Ibrahim Mrzljak and many others.

Velika Kladusas soldiers during WWII



Life go on

Velika Kladusa was poor and little town until 1968. In this year the biggest company

in this surrounding was founded – AGROKOMERC.

In the 1970s, with its new president Fikret Abdid, Agrokomerc started to grow by

making connections with farmers in surrounding areas, building chicken farms and

providing jobs for thousands of unemployed people in the region that would have

otherwise moved out.

Shortly after, Agrokomerc became the main subject in all aspects of local life. With

positive influence on employees and the public, as well as with its own investments,

Agrokomerc made this region in one of most advanced regions in Yugoslavia. With its

own resources Agrokomerc built roads in the farthest parts of the region, provided

water supplies to almost every house in the region, invested in the school system to

get high educated employees.

By the 1980s the company had millions of chickens, thousands of turkeys, thousands

of farmed rabbits, mayonnaise production, liquor production, chicken, turkey and

rabbit meat, salami and luncheon production, chocolate production, mushrooms

production, and owned cold and dry storage. With over 13,000 employees, its own

trucks for distribution of products, a bus service for employees and the public, huge

reputation for quality of products all over Europe and further, Agrokomerc was

considered to be a successful company and a food manufacturing giant.

The Agrokomerc Affair of 1987 was a banking scandal centered around Agrokomerc

that led to political destabilization of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

When the war broke out in the 1990s, Abdid created the Autonomous Province of

Western Bosnia, a de facto independent entity that existed in the northwestern

corner of the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina between 1993 and 1995.

Agrokomerc was the cornerstone of its economy.



Velika Kladusa during the aggression on Bosnia

29.09.1993. Fikret Abdic was expelled from Bosnian presidency, because signing

contract with Croatian and Serbian presidents of forming his own country.

At this time there were camps for opposition of Abdic's politics.

With Serbs, Abdics army executed Operation ''Spider''. During this special operation,

special forces ''Scorpions'' commited massive murders on Bosnian muslim population.

Abdics autonomy ended in 1995. after special operation of croatian army ''Storm''.

Beacuse of his war crimes Abdic was in prison in Croatia for 15 years.

In this war many people died, and there were a lot of wounded. This war destroyed

Velika Kladusas economy and politics. Result of crysis from this war feels in present

day.

Members of 506's Kladusas brigade



Velika Kladusa at present day

Velika Kladusa is town with 14 local communities. Its develoment is at very low level,

there are a lot of unemployed people.

Education

Elementar schools : 10 central elementary schools, 21 four-class elementary

schools, 5578 students, 382 employees.

High schools: 1 gimnasium, 2 mixed high schools, 2224 students, 142

employees.

Kindergartens: 1 with 95 kids and 19 empolyees.

Health care

Health institution ''Dom zdravlja Velika Kladusa'' with 7 regional health clinics,

with 27 doctors of medicine and dentistry, 75 medical technician.

Social care: Public institution ''Centar za socijalni rad Velika Kladusa'' , 2

employees, one pshychologist and one attorney.

Culture and sport

City library with 11700 books.

Cultural and Artistic Association ''Tono Hrovat'' , ''Biser'' , ''Vrnograc''.

Football clubs: ''NK Krajisnik'' , ''NK Mladost'' and ''FC ABC''.

Basketball club: ''KK Krajisnik''.

Karate club: ''Saniteks'' and ''23. februar''.

Equestrian club: ''Krajisnik''.

Hunting association: ''Fazan'' and ''Veteran''.

Fisherman association: ''Stuka''.



Interesting facts about Velika Kladusa

The highest point of Velika Kladusa is Vrnogracka Glavica with 413 m height.

The longest river is Kladusnica – 18 km.

The lowest temperature was measured in 1901. and the temperature was -

24,9oC.

The biggest local community is Zboriste – 5005,7 ha, and the smallest is Polje –

629 ha.

There are several caves in Kudici and Vidovska.The most known cave Hukavica

is still unexplored.There are evidences in this cave suggesting that the people

from Old ages lived here.Size of this cave is 3500 m2.

First families on Velika Kladusa were: Karajic, Mrzljak, Sabanovic, Sabic, Kudic

and Gracanin.



Conclusion

Velika Kladusa is very important place, for Una-Sana canton and for whole this

surrounding.It is attractive tourist place.

You must go through Velika Kladusa if you come to Bosnia from NW side.

Velika Kladusa has many natural resources, that is needed to build better

future for this region, economic and social.

I think every person from Velika Kladusa should kno its history, because you

will not have good future, if you don't know your history.



Bibliography

“Velika Kladusa kroz stoljeca“ – Aleksandar Ravlic

“Bihac i bihacka krajina“ – Radoslav Lopasic

Internet

Gimnasium Velika Kladusa

Documents

Transcript of Gimnasium Velika Kladusa