Milenković family

The Milenković family is the collective name used for three Serbian individuals honored by Yad Vashem as Righteous Among the Nations: Svetozar Milenković, his wife Vida Milenković, and Vida’s brother Aleksandar Petrović. Their recognition relates to their efforts to protect members of the Fenje family, Jewish civilians who were threatened by Nazi persecution in occupied Serbia during the Second World War. Svetozar Milenković was a Serbian Orthodox priest, born in 1907 into a clerical family. His wife, Vida, was born in 1912 and was the daughter of Mihailo Petrović, who had previously fought as a Chetnik against the Ottoman Empire. Vida’s brother Aleksandar Petrović, born in 1917, was a student. The group is therefore not a commercial brand or corporate organization, but a historical family unit remembered for wartime rescue and resistance to persecution. After German forces occupied Belgrade in 1941, Jewish communities and individuals throughout Serbia faced arrests, deportation, and murder. The Fenje family—a father known by the title Doctor, his wife, and their two daughters—left for Raška in an attempt to escape the persecution taking place in Belgrade. When the occupation authorities began targeting Jews in Raška as well, many acquaintances and neighbors did not assist them. Svetozar and Vida nevertheless sheltered the family in their own home and helped organize additional hiding places. The rescue effort required the Fenjes to be separated and moved through a network of rural locations. Svetozar and Vida arranged for the father and one daughter to hide in nearby villages, while Aleksandar helped secure hiding places for the mother and the other daughter. The family used peasant clothing and moved between locations to reduce the risk of discovery. These actions took place amid a highly dangerous conflict involving German occupation forces, Chetnik units associated with Dragoljub Mihailović, and Yugoslav Partisans. Civilians suspected of aiding Jews or other targeted groups faced arrest and severe punishment. Aleksandar Petrović was eventually captured by the Nazis and deported to Mauthausen concentration camp. He was murdered by gassing at the Hartheim killing centre on 29 June 1944. Svetozar and Vida survived the war, dying in 1983 and 1992 respectively. On 24 October 2002, Yad Vashem formally recognized Svetozar and Vida Milenković and Aleksandar Petrović as Righteous Among the Nations. The honor commemorates non-Jews who risked their lives, freedom, or safety to save Jews during the Holocaust. The family’s historical significance rests on this rescue activity and on Aleksandar’s sacrifice, rather than on commercial production, ownership, or market activity.

The Milenković family designation refers to Svetozar Milenković, Vida Milenković, and Aleksandar Petrović, three Serbian relatives whose wartime conduct was later recognized by Yad Vashem. Svetozar was born in 1907 and became a Serbian Orthodox priest. He was the son of a priest, continuing a religious family background. Vida, born in 1912, was Svetozar’s wife and the daughter of Mihailo Petrović, who had fought as a Chetnik freedom fighter against the Ottoman Empire. Her brother Aleksandar, born in 1917, was a student. The events associated with the family occurred after the Axis occupation of Yugoslavia and the German occupation of Belgrade in 1941. Jewish residents were subjected to systematic persecution, arrest, and deportation. The Fenje family, consisting of a father known as Doctor, his wife, and their two daughters, fled Belgrade and went to Raška. When Jewish people in Raška also came under threat, the family sought assistance from people in the local community. Although former friends and neighbors largely refused to help, Svetozar and Vida took the Fenjes into their home and helped protect them. Because keeping the entire family together would have increased the danger of discovery, the rescuers organized separate hiding arrangements. Svetozar and Vida found places in nearby villages for the Fenje father and one of his daughters. Aleksandar arranged protection for the mother and the other daughter. The fugitives adopted peasant clothing and moved between locations while German forces and competing armed groups operated in the surrounding area. The presence of German security forces, Chetnik formations, and Yugoslav Partisan units made travel and concealment hazardous, and anyone suspected of being Jewish or of assisting Jews could be arrested. The rescue did not protect all of the rescuers from persecution. Aleksandar was captured by the Nazis and sent to Mauthausen concentration camp. On 29 June 1944, he was killed by gassing at Hartheim. Svetozar continued to live after the war and died in 1983; Vida died in 1992. Their actions, and Aleksandar’s participation before his capture, were later documented as an example of assistance to Jews during the Holocaust. On 24 October 2002, Yad Vashem recognized Svetozar Milenković, Vida Milenković, and Aleksandar Petrović as Righteous Among the Nations. The designation is awarded to non-Jews who risked their lives or safety to save Jews during the Holocaust. In historical and encyclopedia terms, the Milenković family is therefore associated with wartime rescue in Serbia, the protection of the Fenje family, and the death of Aleksandar Petrović in the Nazi concentration-camp system. There is no evidence in the cited material that the family constituted a business, brand, political organization, or continuing institution.

• 2002

  Recognition as Righteous Among the Nations

  [1]Milenković familyen.wikipedia.org

  On 24 October, Yad Vashem recognized Svetozar Milenković, Vida Milenković, and Aleksandar Petrović as Righteous Among the Nations for their wartime assistance to Jews.

• 1944

  Aleksandar Petrović is murdered at Hartheim

  [1]Milenković familyen.wikipedia.org

  After being captured and deported to Mauthausen, Aleksandar Petrović was killed by gassing at Hartheim on 29 June 1944.

• 1941

  Protection of the Fenje family begins

  [1]Milenković familyen.wikipedia.org

  After the German occupation and the expansion of anti-Jewish persecution into Raška, Svetozar and Vida Milenković sheltered members of the Fenje family and helped arrange additional hiding places.

A historical Serbian family remembered for civilian rescue and humanitarian courage during the Holocaust.

• 2002

  Yad Vashem recognizes the Milenković family members as Righteous Among the Nations[1]Milenković familyen.wikipedia.org

  Other

  Yad Vashem honored Svetozar Milenković, Vida Milenković, and Aleksandar Petrović for helping members of the Fenje family evade Nazi persecution in occupied Serbia during World War II.

1. 1Milenković familyen.wikipedia.org