Dimitrije Vujcic

Dimitrije "Mita" Vujcic was born on November 20, 1903 in Pozarevac, Serbia to father Jevrem and mother Ivana (née Petrovic). He was an Officer in the Royal Yugoslav Army where he reached the rank of Lieutenant. He was a member of the Royal Guard and played the trumpet in the Royal Guard's orchestra. For much of his service, he was stationed in Negotin. In the beginning of April 1941, the Kingdom of Yugoslavia was invaded, occupied and partitioned by Nazi Germany. On April 11, 1941, Vujcic was captured while on duty in Nis and taken to the German-run concentration camp Stalag XI-B (Barrack 39) in Fallingbostel and was given the ID #110469. Before being captured, Vujcic honoured his oath and never let his officer's sabre fall into the hands of the enemy. While at the camp, Vujcic attempted to escape a number of times with the intention of joining the American or British armies. Vujcic and others trying to escape were always prevented either by being noticed and re-captured or by illness, hunger and injury. In the camp, Vujcic became ill with tuberculosis and due to this he was released by the Germans on September 2, 1943. He returned to Yugoslavia where in 1945 he was forcefully mobilized by the new communist Yugoslav Army and sent to the frontline. While on the frontline, Vujcic became gravely ill with tuberculosis and was returned to his hometown of Pozarevac where he was further disrespected by the Communists. Vujcic passed away in 1945 from tuberculosis at the age of 42. He was survived by his two brothers in Belgrade, wife Jelena (1906–1974) and children Dragutin (1930–2011) and Jefrem (1932–1996). Vujcic is interred in the Staro groblje (Old Cemetery) in Pozarevac in a family plot with his parents, wife and son Jefrem (who is interred next to his wife Nadezda).