Orden Zasluge Za Narod 3rd class awarded to a Yugoslavian partisan
Extent and Medium
a: Depth: 0.625 inches (1.588 cm) | Diameter: 1.625 inches (4.128 cm)
b: Height: 0.375 inches (0.953 cm) | Width: 1.375 inches (3.493 cm) | Depth: 0.250 inches (0.635 cm)
c: Height: 1.250 inches (3.175 cm) | Width: 2.750 inches (6.985 cm) | Depth: 3.250 inches (8.255 cm)
Creator(s)
- Dudo Montiljo (Previous owner)
- Dudo Montiljo (Subject)
Biographical History
Duda Montiljo (birth name Leon Montiljo, 1909-1995) was born in Visoko, Austria Hungary (now Bosnia and Herzegovina) to Jakob and Rahele Montiljo. As an adult, he settled in Prnjavor and worked as a merchant. On April 6, 1941, Germany and Italy, supported by Hungary and Bulgaria, invaded Yugoslavia. Yugoslavia was partitioned, and central Yugoslavia, including Prnjavor, was formed into the independent State of Croatia, which was governed by the Ustaše and administered by the Germans. The regime enacted anti-Jewish laws, confiscated property and money, forced males to work hard labor and then began deporting Jews to camps. Dudo’s mother, Rahele, and his four siblings, Rene, Klare, Smoela, and Morica were deported to and killed in the camps. In 1943, Dudo joined the 3rd battalion of the 10th Brigade of the People's Liberation Army (Yugoslav partisans). He fought with the partisans in Yugoslavia during the war and lost three fingers, including the second and third fingers of his right hand. After recovery, Dudo worked in the People’s Liberation Committee in Hercegovina until the end of the war. After the war he retired from the military a lieutenant and was recognized as a disabled veteran due to his injuries. He was married to Anica Finci.
Archival History
The medal was donated to the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in 1993 by the Federation of Jewish Communities in Yugoslavia.
Acquisition
United States Holocaust Memorial Museum Collection, Gift of the Federation of Jewish Communities in Yugoslavia
Scope and Content
Yugoslav Ордена Заслуге за Народ III р. (Order of Merit to the Nation (People), 3rd class), awarded to Dudo Montiljo on April 1, 1949, in recognition of his service as a partisan during the Axis occupation of Yugoslavia from 1941 to 1945. The medal was awarded to those who distinguished themselves in the struggle for liberation and merit in securing and organizing the Yugoslav government and army, and for achievement in the economic, cultural and social spheres. Dudo lived in Prnjavor, where he worked as a merchant when Yugoslavia was invaded and partitioned by Germany and its allies in April, 1941. After the Yugoslav surrender, Dudo joined the 3rd battalion of the 10th Brigade of the People's Liberation Army (Yugoslav partisans). While fighting with the partisans Dudo lost three fingers, including the second and third fingers of his right hand. After his recovery, Dudo worked in the People’s Liberation Committee in Hercegovina until the end of the war. The Germans and their Croatian Ustaše collaborators deported and killed Dudo’s mother, Rahele, and his four siblings, Rene, Klare, Smoela, and Morica.
Conditions Governing Access
No restrictions on access
Conditions Governing Reproduction
No restrictions on use
Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements
a: Circular, silver and gold-colored metal medal with a relief image and a notched edge. The center is a raised depiction of a male partisan fighter standing in uniform. He is facing forward, looking and leaning left with a rifle slung over his right shoulder, and holding a flagpole with a waving banner in his left hand. The man is displayed on a raised, gold-colored, 5-pointed star, along with raised rays shooting out from between the arms to the notches in the edge and starburst grooves extending to the perimeter. The back has a centered screw back pin with a disc-shaped backer with embossed text. The face of the medal is tarnished. b: Metal bar pin covered with a red grosgrain ribbon and three centered, vertical blue stripes. On the back, a plate with a safety clasp pin is attached to the bar. c: Rectangular, hinged, cardboard, clamshell box covered with dark red treated paper. The top has five lines of centered gold-colored text, and the bottom is covered with white paper. The interior lid is padded and covered with red velvet fabric which also connects the lid and base. The base is lined with red cardboard, in addition to a cardboard insert covered in red velvet cloth, and a centered depression for the medal. The exterior edges and corners of the box are worn.
c: bottom, handwritten, black ink : 185703
Subjects
- World War, 1939-1945--Occupied territories.
- Yugoslavia.
- World War, 1939-1945--Jewish resistance.
- Holocaust, Jewish (1939-1945)--Jewish resistance.
- Holocaust, Jewish (1939-1945)--Yugoslavia.
- Holocaust survivors--Yugoslavia--Biography.
- Medals--Yugoslavia.
Genre
- Object
- Military decorations.
- Awards