In early September 1941, the partisans spent some time at Livade near Galad, in the immediate vicinity of Milan Veskov's farm. Not all the fighters were present. A group had recently left for Ostro, as part of a new unit. Those who remained—Klima, Laza, Selika, Arkadije, Bracika, and Dragomir Pajić—were making the final preparations to transport the gathered supplies and food.
One evening, Klima called a meeting of local activists. He informed the comrades about the formation of the Severnobanatski Partisan Detachment near Melenačko Island and the imminent departure of more fighters to the island. Klima emphasized the significance of such a large partisan unit and its impact on further escalating the Uprising in this part of Banat.
At the meeting, it was noted that the ranks of the resistance should include all honest people willing to fight, regardless of their financial status or political affiliation. Some communists were skeptical about this idea, expressing distrust toward "the rich and the gentry." Klima explained in detail that the struggle was a national one, and all honest sons of the people—rich and poor, peasants, workers, and intellectuals—should take part. He emphasized that the working class was the main force behind the struggle, with the Communist Party (KPJ) as its organizer and leader. Therefore, the ranks should include people of all nationalities, economic status, class backgrounds, and political beliefs.
Klima spoke for about an hour on this issue, touching on many other important topics. By midnight, the meeting at Dragutinovac Cemetery concluded. As local activists cautiously made their way home, moving through streets, gardens, and yards, Klima visited a few comrades, and by dawn, he was already at the partisan camp in Livade.
The next evening, a group of partisans set out for Melenačko Island. Significant quantities of food, clothing, footwear, and other supplies were loaded onto three carts and transported to a location near the island, and from there to the partisan camp. This entire operation was completed in one night. Milivoj Đukić, Rade Đurić, and Rade Ješić, farmers from Kikinda, returned home by dawn after successfully completing the task.
Throughout September, the Dragutinovac partisans, as part of the Severnobanatski Partisan Detachment, participated in several major attacks on fascist targets and garrisons. In an attack on the border post near Srpska Crnja, all the Dragutinovac fighters participated. Klima distinguished himself in this action by sneaking up to the post, throwing a grenade through a window, and storming the building with his comrades. They disarmed the fascist unit and captured a significant haul: nine rifles, a machine gun, several hand grenades, and several crates of ammunition, as well as uniforms and other military equipment.
In another major operation, the detachment attacked a hemp factory near Bašaid. The attack was led by Laza and Arkadije, with the fighters divided into two groups. One group set fire to the dry, unprocessed hemp using gunpowder charges, while the other provided security. The flames illuminated the entire length of the factory. That same night, another group attacked the Bašaid municipality.
Throughout September, attacks on occupation forces, municipal buildings, and various other targets followed one after another. The Severnobanatski Partisan Detachment caused significant concern for the enemy, forcing them to take more serious security measures and deploy significant personnel and resources.
Several local couriers maintained communication with the fighters on the island. The most important connection was with the party organization, cared for by Dobrivoj Popov-Goca. At least once a week, he would travel to the island carrying important messages, weapons parts, ammunition, and other essential supplies.
Klima and Laza had their couriers in Dragutinovac and Beodra, who would occasionally visit them. Mikica Baštovanov visited a designated meeting spot in the Kumana field to meet with Klima; Zoran Belić and Đorđe Isakov maintained communication with Laza Pajić in a similar manner; Slobodan Čolak also kept in touch with Klima and Arkadije for a time, and later made weekly trips to meet with a Kumana courier at "Arača." On two or three occasions, Milivoj Đukić visited the island or a nearby location to meet with Klima, Laza, and other fighters. It is clear that there were likely even more such connections. All of these communications demonstrate the deep solidarity of the local population with the fighters, their determination to help in the difficult struggle against the enemy.
Under such circumstances, the villagers, who were in any way connected to the struggle, could not visit their fighters on the island due to the need for caution against the enemy. However, through their activists, they remained at least partially informed about the lives of their fighters, their battles, and many other matters.
The women of Dragutinovac, Beodra, and especially those gathered around Desanka Radnova, baked cakes ("gibanice") and sent them to their fighters along with other necessities. Several times, the carts of certain activists transported these supplies to the island, risking encounters with fascist patrols. But the mission had to be carried out at any cost. People usually set out on these journeys in the early evening and returned home in the early morning after completing their task.
From all this activity, it is clear that the villagers maintained a close connection with their fighters, even though they were about twenty kilometers or more away from the village. This connection was almost indistinguishable from the one that existed before September when all the partisans were gathered in the Dragutinovac-Beodra area.
Comments