Exhibition on the allied relations between the Kingdom of Serbia and the United States of America in the Great War

The exhibition "Allied Relations between the Kingdom of Serbia and the United States of America in World War I", which testifies to the development of Serbian-American relations from 1914 to 1919, opened today at the Central Military Club in Belgrade.

On behalf of the Minister of Defense, Bratislav Gašić, the guests were welcomed by the Acting Assistant Minister for Budget and Finance, Goran Momčilović, emphasizing that this gathering of Serbs and Americans is significant not only because of the shared historical memory of the alliance, but also from the perspective of the current moment.

- A strategic dialogue was recently established between the Republic of Serbia and the United States of America, which has raised our bilateral relations to the highest level in the past few decades. I am sure that the exhibition we are opening today will send a message to Belgrade and Washington that they share the intention to return their relations to their traditional and historical positions - emphasized Assistant Minister Momčilović.

He said that the ordeal of the Kingdom of Serbia, the Serbian people and the army deserves even greater respect when it is known that the small Serbian state, exhausted by the previous Balkan liberation wars, managed to organize itself and ensure the functioning of important state institutions throughout the duration of World War I.

The exhibition dedicated to Serbian-American relations opened in a year that marks two decades of cooperation between the Serbian Army and the Ohio National Guard, an elite American unit that in the fall of 1918, towards the end of the Great War, made an immeasurable contribution to strategically key Allied operations on the European battlefield.

Ohio National Guard Commander Major General Matthew Woodruff emphasized that Serbs and Americans stood by each other in World War I, not only as military partners, but also through humanitarian actions that brought hope in difficult times.

- Looking back on those historic moments reminds us that the strongest partnerships are built on shared values: courage, compassion, service, and a willingness to help others. This year is especially significant as we mark 145 years of diplomatic relations between the United States and Serbia and 20 years of the Ohio-Serbia Partnership Program. These important events remind us of the friendship between our nations and are built on a strong foundation and a long history of mutual respect - said Major General Woodruff, adding that it is important that these ties did not end in the Great War, but continued in World War II and are reflected in the magnificent Operation Halyard.

Speaking about the exhibition, the head of the Gallery of the Central Military Club, Jelena Knežević, emphasized that, after the Central Powers attacked, representatives of the American Red Cross remained to organize hospitals and distribute food to the Serbian population, and highlighted among them Dr. Earl Bishop Downer, who treated our patients as a surgeon for nine months.

The opening of the exhibition was attended by the Acting Assistant Minister of Defense for Policy Predrag Bandić, the Chief of the Operations Directorate of the General Staff of the Serbian Armed Forces Brigadier General Vladan Milosavljević, the Director of the Military Archives Colonel Petar Ivanović, the State Secretary at the Ministry of Labor, Employment, Veterans and Social Affairs Zoran Antic, members of the Ministry of Defense and the Serbian Armed Forces, and the Ohio National Guard.

The exhibition "Allied Relations between the Kingdom of Serbia and the United States of America in World War I" brings together archival documents, photographs, military records and museum objects that testify to the development of Serbian-American relations from 1914 to 1919.

The team of authors from the Military Archives, led by Dr. Marijana Mraović, particularly presented the work of the Serbian diplomatic mission in Washington and the exceptional contribution of Professor Mihajlo Pupin to the development of relations between the two countries, the decision of US President Woodrow Wilson to declare Serbia Day in 1918 and allow the Serbian flag to fly over the White House, as a unique act of friendship and alliance, the humanitarian actions of the American Red Cross, numerous charitable associations and prominent humanitarians, as well as the stories of thousands of volunteers of Serbian origin who came from the USA to join the ranks of the Serbian army.

The exhibition is open to visitors until October 10th.