brochure “Partizanski spomenik u Mostaru” (1980)
book “Spomenica Mostara 1941-1945.”
another document or proof of the memorial stone (e.g., a photograph).
Omer A. MAKSUMIĆ
OMER MAKSUMIĆ TARZAN, son of ALIJA, born in 1917* in Kružanj near Mostar. A farmer. He joined the Battalion in May 1942. He joined the unit when the partisans attempted to disarm inhabitants of Podveležje – refusing to surrender his rifle, he joined the partisans. He was a fighter and machine gunner who, together with Omer Mrgan, “easily opened fire on the Ustashe”. He worked as a courier. On one occasion, he, Leo Bruk, and Omer Mrgan delivered mail to the Supreme Headquarters and met with Comrade Tito, which they later enthusiastically talked about. They received a heavy machine gun called “breda” with ammunition from the 1st Proletarian Brigade and brought it to the Battalion, forming a special unit immediately. He was killed in Duge near Prozor in February 1943. Some fighters mistakenly killed him during an escape attempt by two prisoners, believing he was one of them, unaware that Omer was chasing after them himself. He was remembered as a “mountain man from Podveležje, a true giant, with exceptional personal strength, humble, and above all, a beloved comrade who always wanted to help. His courage served as an example, but he never boasted about it.”
According to the archives of Radmilo Braca Andrić, the remains of Omer Maksumić were transferred and buried in the Partisan Memorial Cemetery in Mostar.
From the memories of comrades in 1942 when Omer joined the battalion:
“Due to the reluctance of Podveležje residents to join the Battalion and the fear that the locals, under the leadership of wealthier villagers, would turn to the Ustasha authorities and form a militia, it was decided, based on the proposal of Mustafa Pašić and Muhidin Bašagić Ager, to disarm the villages of Podveležje. In early May, Vasić and Duranović arrived in Podveležje with the Shock Squad, and together with our squad led by Džemal Dizdar, they began disarming the villages. About ten rifles, mostly old Austro-Hungarian rifles, were collected. When they asked Omer Maksumić for his rifle, he said, ‘I’m going with my rifle,’ and he joined the Battalion. Hasan Juklo also joined Omer.”
*According to the book “Spomenica Mostara 1941-1945.”
Ćemalović, Enver (1986): Mostarski bataljon, Mostar; grupa autora (1986): Hercegovina u NOB 4. dio, Beograd; Komnenović, Danilo; Kreso, Muharem (1979): 29. hercegovačka divizija, IZ, Beograd; grupa autora: Spomenica Mostara 1941-1945.
Photo of the memorial plaque: S. Demirović
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