Avdija M. PAVLOVIĆ 

AVDIJA AVDO PAVLOVIĆ, son of MUJO, born in Mostar on December 24, 1902. A locksmith (according to various sources, a miner or a machinist). An activist in the workers’ movement and the People’s Liberation War, arrested after the September demonstrations in 1940 in Mostar.

Avdija’s house was often used as a hiding place for underground fighters, and units would gather there before departing to join the partisans. “Don’t you worry, my dear!”, Avdija would say, welcoming many dangers. As a party member, he engaged in direct agitation and propaganda, encouraging workers to participate massively in the people’s aid campaign. Arrested after the return of the Battalion fighters to Mostar following the Battle of Sutjeska, due to a raid caused by the betrayal of a “demoralized” fighter. Executed in Ovojci along with the fighters of the Mostar Battalion. After Avdija’s death, his wife Munta continued to receive couriers.

A monument was erected in Ovojci after the war, bearing the names of the executed fighters.

Mensur Seferović described the raid in Mostar and Avdija’s demeanor:

“That morning, over a thousand and a half men gathered behind barbed wire, not far from the tobacco factory. Heavy machine guns were guarding the perimeter from trucks. In the middle of the wide circle stood a senior officer, next to him an agent and… Husković. Frightened, almost bewildered, Husković walked step by step in front of the prisoners, looking at each one in formation and, without a word, pointed his finger at his victims. The prisoner towards whom his hand extended stepped into the middle of the circle, and soon after the first treacherous move by Husković, there were about thirty prisoners, including people with whom Husković himself had hidden and been fed. He brought out Smajo Juga and Meho Pala, comrades with whom he fought in the fifth offensive, and Avdo Pavlović, in whose home many underground fighters always found safe refuge, from where many patriots went to join the units. “Don’t worry, my dear gold!” Avdija would say, welcoming many dangers. And this morning he was calm because among those arrested, there were no longer any battalion fighters who had quickly led the young comrades out of the city and regrouped in Podveležje.”