Hivzija M. BRKIĆ 

HIVZIJA HIVZA BRKIĆ, known as BAUK, son of MUHAMED, born on January 18, 1920, in Mostar. Student of agronomy in Sarajevo, member of the Communist Youth League (SKOJ) since 1938 and the Communist Party of Yugoslavia (KPJ) since 1940, secretary of the Inter-School Leadership of SKOJ in 1938 in Mostar. Joined the Battalion in August 1941 but returned to Mostar for underground work. Arrested by the police of the Independent State of Croatia (NDH) in November 1941 in Mostar and after being released on January 19, 1942, he returned to the Battalion. Fighter, killed in Bijela near Konjic on the night of June 14/15, 1942.

One participant later recalled: “While we were sleeping, exhausted from the fighting and constant shelling by the Italian artillery, precisely at 3 o’clock bombs, rifle volleys, and machine gun fire rained down on us from all sides. In the first moments, chaos broke out among us, still dazed, because we didn’t know what was happening (…).” He was killed together with Muhamed Taslaman Beg. Allegedly, they were disarmed and killed on the approach to the school, when they had already managed to escape and were going to report to the Unit’s Command.

In the People’s Liberation War (NOB), his brothers and sister were killed: Hamdija Brkić, Ahmet Brkić, and Fatima Brkić Velika. A street in Mostar is named after the brothers Brkić.

EXCERPTS FROM LITERATURE:

“The following comrades were killed at their positions: HIVZIJA BRKIĆ BAUK, a student from Mostar; SULJO CILIĆ, a student from the village of Djevor near Jablanica and the first secretary of the party cell during the formation of the unit in Bijela; REMZIJA ĆIŠIĆ, a worker from Mostar; IBRO DIZDAREVIĆ, a worker from Mostar; AHMET GRCIĆ, a student from Konjic; MEHO HINDIĆ, a peasant from Jablanica; MUJO HUBANA, a peasant from Humilišani near Mostar; MEHMED ŠAPUH, a worker from Mostar; and MUHAMED TASLAMAN BEG, a worker from Mostar.”

“(…) The reactions of some young communists were sharp. Hivza Brkić, Enes Orman, and Hamo Taslaman, who were known for their impulsive nature, reacted openly and publicly. Hivza directly confronted individuals whom he believed to be Chetniks. Sometimes, seemingly insignificant incidents would lead to conflicts. The cook, a local resident, would usually give us, the people from Mostar, smaller portions when serving food from the cauldron. I was present when Hivza, on one such occasion, threw away the served portion and cursed King Peter while striking him on the head. The unit’s command took no action, and such incidents were ignored because the majority of the unit consisted of locals from Bijela. However, mistrust grew within the unit between peasant fighters and those who came from outside.”

“… familiar jokes from Mostar emerged, creating a cheerful atmosphere in the unit. During those spring days, the first cherries had ripened in gardens near Konjic. Mostar residents would sneak into the gardens at night to pick them. When Commander Rade Španac found out, he forbade them from doing so, as someone could get in trouble. However, since discipline was not their strong suit, Enes Orman, Hivza Brkić, Meho Taso, and Remze Ćišić continued their escapades. Going individually, unaware of each other, comical situations arose. It happened that one of them was already up in a tree, sitting among the branches, picking cherries. Later, another person arrived beneath the same tree and suddenly shouted through the darkness, ‘Who’s up there?’ and the one above replied, ‘Who’s down there?’ This happened right near the Italian positions.”

“On the initiative of the SKOJ organization, May 1, 1942, was celebrated with great ceremony. Prior to May 1, among other things, the youth created a massive slogan, ‘Long Live May 1st,’ on the hill of Pokline using a large quantity of wood, which they set on fire to make it appear as though the hill was ablaze. The slogan could be seen in Konjic, located 2.5 km away in a straight line. The following comrades were active in the SKOJ cadre: Enes Orman, Hivza Brkić, Meho Taso, Asim Džumhur, Refik Šećibović, Remza Ćišić, Rade Vukosav, Muhamed Šapuh, Ibro Dizdarević, Bera Arpadžić, Mira Haćam, Avdo Husrefović, and Ismet Dilberović, who served as the cadre secretary.”

“(…) The following comrades were killed at their positions: HIVZIJA BRKIĆ BAUK, a student from Mostar; SULJO CILIĆ, a student from the village of Djevor near Jablanica and the first secretary of the party cell during the formation of the unit in Bijela; REMZIJA ĆIŠIĆ, a worker from Mostar; IBRO DIZDAREVIĆ, a worker from Mostar; AHMET GRCIĆ, a student from Konjic; MEHO HINDIĆ, a peasant from Jablanica; MUJO HUBANA, a peasant from Humilišani near Mostar; MEHMED ŠAPUH, a worker from Mostar; and MUHAMED TASLAMAN BEG, a worker from Mostar.”