Alija R. MURATBEGOVIĆ

ALIJA MURATBEGOVIĆ, known as ŠICE, son of RAGIB, born on October 19, 1922, in Višići near Čapljina. Student at the Gymnasium in Mostar, where he lived with his family. Member of the League of Communist Youth (SKOJ) since 1941. He was part of the Skoj group that brought ammunition from the North Camp in 1941 for the needs of the Detachment (the group included: MLADEN BALORDA, the group leader, MUSTAFA ĆEMALOVIĆ ĆlMBA, RIFAT FRENJO, ALIJA MURATBEGOVIĆ ŠlCE, ŽIVKO PAPO HENĆI, MARTIN RAGUŽ, and HASAN ZAHIROVIĆ LACA).

In October 1941, he joined the People’s Liberation Army and Partisan Detachments (NOV i POJ) in the Mostar (Konjic) battalion. A fighter, he was killed in a Chetnik attack in June 1942 in Zaborani near Nevesinje. According to the memories of his comrades, “Ljubo Semiz, the political delegate of the platoon, and Alija Muratbegović Šice, a student from Višići near Čapljina, were with a squad in the position when they heard gunfire in Barama. Ljubo sent Alija to scout and find out what was happening. When he arrived in Bare, the Chetniks killed Alija as soon as they saw him.”

EXCERPT FROM LITERATURE:

“Engaged in constant battles, the battalion depleted its ammunition, and many fighters had only five to ten rounds left. The Battalion Headquarters received a message from the Operational Staff stating that their fighters were also running out of ammunition and requested assistance within our capabilities. Nenad and the Headquarters invited Mehmed Trbonja, Mustafa Ćemalović Ćimba, Zivko Papa Henći, and Hasan Zahirović Laca for consultation on how to obtain ammunition. Trbonja immediately proposed entering the North Camp in Mostar and collecting ammunition from the warehouse. The proposal was agreed upon by the Headquarters, and they set out on the task the same day. On the way from Dobrć to Mostar, the group encountered Rifat Frenjo, Martin Raguž, and Alija Muratbegović Šice, who were returning to the battalion after completing their assignments. They all continued together towards the city. Henći, Laća, and Ćimba went to Henći’s home, while the others settled in the bases at Carina. During the day, they arranged with Omer Ciber Beg, who worked in the German labor organization TODT, to transport the ammunition by truck after the operation in the camp. They also made arrangements with Muhamed Bostandžić, a gardener who worked in the North Camp, on how to reach the ammunition warehouse and avoid the guards. With the first darkness on April 21, 1942, the group gathered and set out on the task of obtaining ammunition. They entered the warehouse through the roof. Comrades carried out 22,500 rounds in 15 crates and 7 defective rifles. The ammunition and rifles were transported to Henći’s brother’s house near the camp. Throughout the operation, heavy rain fell, washing away traces of our fighters, the “intruders,” especially those leading the Papo family to their homes. Trbonja ordered Frenjo, Muratbegović, and Raguž to immediately go to Dobrć and each take a crate of ammunition, taking advantage of the night and rain, to save at least something in case the hiding place was discovered or seized during transportation. Arap also received the task to go to Dobrć and mobilize the villagers who would wait with horses near the fortress for the arrival of the truck.”