Miladin Zarić (1889–1976) was a

Serbia , image_flag = Flag of Serbia.svg , national_motto = , image_coat = Coat of arms of Serbia.svg , national_anthem = () , image_map = , map_caption = Location of Serbia (gree ...

n and later, Yugoslavian teacher. At the end of

World War II World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

and liberation of

Belgrade Belgrade is the Capital city, capital and List of cities in Serbia, largest city of Serbia. It is located at the confluence of the Sava and Danube rivers and at the crossroads of the Pannonian Basin, Pannonian Plain and the Balkan Peninsula. T ...

, the capital of

Yugoslavia , common_name = Yugoslavia , life_span = 1918–19921941–1945: World War II in Yugoslavia#Axis invasion and dismemberment of Yugoslavia, Axis occupation , p1 = Kingdom of SerbiaSerbia , flag_p ...

on 20 October 1944, during their retreat, the

Nazis Nazism (), formally named National Socialism (NS; , ), is the far-right politics, far-right Totalitarianism, totalitarian socio-political ideology and practices associated with Adolf Hitler and the Nazi Party (NSDAP) in Germany. During H ...

have mined the Old Sava Bridge, in order to stop the progress of the Soviet Red Army and the People's Liberation Army of Yugoslavia that were chasing them. They would have got away with it if there was not Miladin Zarić, a school teacher and a plain civilian with a considerable experience in demining gained previously during Balkan Wars and

First World War World War I or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting to ...

. He saved the bridge from demolition, by cutting the detonator wires, making it the only large bridge in Europe, beside Ludendorff Bridge that the Germans didn't succeed in demolishing while retreating. The importance of his act is even bigger considering that the next bridge connecting

and Syrmia was in Šabac, 90 kilometers away.

Life

Zarić was born in Seča Reka near Kosjerić, in 1889. He enrolled at the Theological Faculty in

Prizren Prizren ( sq-definite, Prizreni, ; sr-cyr, Призрен) is the second List of cities and towns in Kosovo, most populous city and Municipalities of Kosovo, municipality of Kosovo and seat of the eponymous municipality and District of Prizren, ...

, but because disagreement with Nikolaj Velimirović leaves priesthood and became a teacher. He participated as a reserve officer in the Balkan wars, when cleared the bridge on the river Šemnica near Bitola, as well as in the

, during which he survived the retreat through Albania. For his service in the war, Zarić received gold and a silver medal for bravery "Miloš Obilić" Cross of King Peter I and Memorial medal for the withdrawal of Serbian army through Albania. After the war, he was a teacher in Kovilj and Užice, and later became a head of the primary school in his native Kosjerić, then moved to Žarkovo, the village near

, and then in elementary school, "Janko Veselinović", in which he worked during

. According to the testimony of his disciples, Zarić was a virtuous and noble man, also a dedicated teacher who tried pass his knowledge and positive life values even during the war, regardless of the time of war and the difficulties which are all facing.Teacher that have savet the Old Sava bridge
��, „Politika“, 17. October 2009; Stevan Mihailović - rubrika „Među nama“, „Politika“, 2. November 2009.

References

External links

Teacher Miladin Zarić that have saved Old Zemun pedestrian bridge
(„Политика“, 30. октобар 1944)
Teacher that have saved Old Sava bridge
(„Политика“, 17. октобар 2009) {{DEFAULTSORT:Zaric, Miladin 1889 births 1976 deaths People from Kosjerić Serbian educators 20th-century Serbian educators Serbian soldiers Serbian military personnel of World War I Serbian people of World War II