Muhamed D. VUK 

MUHAMED HAMID VUK, son of DERVIŠ, born on January 22, 1924, in Mostar, a student at the Gymnasium. He became a member of the League of Communist Youth (SKOJ) in 1940. He participated in a series of actions, such as taking out ammunition and other equipment from the Northern Military Camp in Mostar on April 21, 1942. The action was carried out by Mehmed Trbonja, Živko Papo Henći, Rifat Frenjo, Marting Raguž, and Alija Muratbegović Šico, with the assistance of Meho and Omer Dina, Mehmed Frenjo, Hilmija Hakalo, Pero Lažetić, and Hamid Vuk. He was responsible for receiving groups from the detachment and accommodating them in Mostar.

Arrested by the Ustasha in July 1943. According to former SKOJ member F. Buturović, “he was caught in one of the raids near the Gymnasium, labeled as a Gypsy, an enemy of the state, and a political suspect, and was taken to Jasenovac from where he never returned.” Along with Mehmed Omeragić, he was transferred to the Stara Gradiška camp where he was killed in September 1943. According to one source, “the killings were carried out under the supervision of the camp administrators Stjepan Bosak, Jozo Stojčić, Mirko Runjaš, with a special band of Ustasha executioners (…).” Hamid’s father believed that he was killed in February 1944.

After the liberation of Mostar, Hamid’s 43-year-old father, Derviš Vuk, gave the following statement: “I had a son named Hamid, born in 1924, a student in the seventh grade of the Gymnasium, who worked for the national cause on the home front. However, at the end of August 1943, he was arrested by agents Berić Šimun, Topić Stanko, and Novi Mehmed. The order for the arrest was given by Pancun, and the police chief was Mate Roko. Hamid was in police custody for 39 days, and during that time, I corresponded with them in an agreed manner, and he informed me that Jurišić Ante, a railway worker, and Zekić Melča from Mostar incriminated him the most. After that, he was taken to the Gradiška camp. I received the last news from him on January 29, 1944. Husnija Bojo from Mostar was in the camp with my Hamid and returned from the camp seven months ago. He informed me that my son Hamid was killed in the camp in early February 1944. I suspect that he was killed by Ustasha officer Neđa Arapović, originally from Mostar. I want to emphasize that I am physically disabled with limited earning capacity, and Hamid took care of me and my mother. Claimant: Derviš Vuk.”

Hamid’s name was recorded on the memorial plaque at Mostar Gymnasium. The plaque disappeared without a trace during the events of the war from 1992 to 1995. A street in Mostar is named after Hamid Vuk.

EXCERPT FROM LITERATURE:

“Vučina – that’s what he was like in appearance and character, always ready for conflict. Our shield and striking force in frequent clashes with the fascists – Ustashas – in the classroom, corridors, and courtyard of the Gymnasium. A Roma* boy from Pasjak, the son of a war invalid, a shoemaker. I always saw him hammering on a shoe last, whether returning or borrowing a new book from Hamid, the librarian of our underground gymnasium library.”