brochure “Partizanski spomenik u Mostaru” (1980)
book “Spomenica Mostara 1941-1945.”
another document or proof of the memorial stone (e.g., a photograph).
Rafo S. DANON
RAPHAILO RAFAEL RAFA DANON, known as ADMIRAL TOGO, son of ZADIK*, born on October 15, 1912* in Mostar, as one of the ten children of the merchant Zadik and Estera Danon (The children were named David, Avram, Mirjana, Sida, Izidor, Sara, Rifka, Makso, Mošo, and Rafael. There were a total of 19 houses belonging to the Danon family in Mostar before the war.). He worked as a trade assistant, was a pre-war activist in the labor movement, and joined the Battalion in December 1941 as a fighter. He was captured during the Chetnik coup in June 1942 in Borci near Konjic. He was captured by the Chetniks along with Salom Finci, a worker from Sarajevo. They were taken to Nevesinje, where they were handed over to the Italians and killed.
Before the war, Rafo Danon “was the ‘commander’ of a column of several hundred bathers on the Neretva, and a song was sung about it:
“A yellow steamboat sets off down the Neretva,
The Admiral walks along the deck…”
In 1999, a Holocaust memorial was erected in the Jewish cemetery in Mostar, which also includes Rafael’s name.
*In the book “Spomenica Mostara 1941-1945,” his father’s name is mentioned as Zadik (initial Z).
Ćemalović, Enver (1986): Mostarski bataljon, Mostar; Seferović, Mensur (1957): „Tajna partijske ćelije“, Sarajevo; Seferović, Mensur (1970): Pred očima grada, »Informativni centar Mostar«, nagrada »14. februar« Skupštine opštine Mostar, 1970; http://www.most.ba/108/083.aspx ; grupa autora: Spomenica Mostara 1941-1945.
Photo of the memorial plaque: S. Demirović
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