Vukovar

The story about Vukovar
Vukovar is a city situated in Croatia, on the east of Croatia, on the west of Srem. It was founded more than 5.000 years ago, what prove numerous archeological discoveries such as plates, ornaments, stones…
Located near Croatia’s eastern border with Serbia, half way between Hungary and Bosnia where the Danube and Vuka rivers meet, it has highly favorable geographic and natural conditions what has been very attractive point for human habitation since prehistoric times.
Among various cultures, one of special significance for the Vukovar area is the Vucedol culture. Its name comes from the Vucedol site, five kilometers away from Vukovar down the Danube. The finds of this site include workshops for the processing of copper, specific houses (megaron) and outstanding pottery with white stylized ornaments on a black background. The most known has been Vucedol dove.
In the written documents that have been preserved, Vukovar was mentioned in the early 13th century as Valko, Walk, Wolkow i.e. Vukovo.
In the 14th century the Hungarian version of the name, Vukovar, was increasingly used.
During Turkish reign, Vukovar lost its strategic significance but it remained very important centre of trade on important transport route.
In the 18th and 19th centuries Vukovar played very significant economic, transport, cultural and administrative role. That is why people considered it the "capital of Srem".
The newer history of Vukovar begins with the year 1991. In that time, Vukovar municipality had about 90.000 of inhabitants, over 250 companies and institutions. The most important was the Borovo industrial complex for producing footwear, rubber, technical goods and machines. Also, there was Vuteks - producing of bed covers and other textile goods, and Vupik - agricultural producer. The wider Vukovar area was also famous by specific vineyards, especially around Ilok and Erdut.
These facts are not the most relevant for the year mentioned above. What is more indicative, lies in the tough and painful destiny that this town survived during 1991.
It is much better not to analyze when it started and why. Who pulled the trigger first and what was the reason. The one and only truth, the objective one, is that this beautiful city was almost erased from the Earth in the war that noone could ever imagine.
The tension between Serbs and Croats had been raising during years and it exploded there. It was the beginning of further clashes on Balkan, but Vukovar has remained a hard wound, the strongest pain that stroke ex-Yugoslavia. There was its first step to dissolution.
Many lost lives, destroyed town and clouds of weapon smoke...all what one could say about Vukovar in November 1991. when the war had been stopped. It seemed that life had stopped there forever. But, as soon as there was a single man who had decided to stand up again, there was a hope that Vukovar would breathe again.
Fortunately, it happened. Today, Vukovar has been rebuilding. It has its known contures again. It wont be the same town again, it is sure, but it will live. Along with Vukovar, there will remain its authentic symbols, myths and legends. It will also stay written in Vukovar history (better said in Borovo history) one legend with a human character. It is Sinisa Mihajlovic, extraordinary football player with an extraordinary personality. He was born in Vukovar, he lived and played in Borovo.
Today, these two places are different from time he remembers, but certainly still have special place in his mind and heart.
Vukovar and Sinisa, one story about the town and a story about a great man and footbal player. Everything has been said. They are connected by destiny.
Ljiljana Maric

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