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The Collection of Papers “Culture of Memory: Children in War and from War” makes an important contribution to the study of the position and suffering of children in wartime circumstances, a topic that has long been on the margins of scholarly and public interest. The collection points to the importance of the culture of remembrance as a value that not only serves to preserve the past from oblivion but also encourages contemporary society to draw lessons from historical experiences and act responsibly toward the future. Society has the obligation to view children exclusively as those who must be protected, and not as actors in wartime events.

The monograph “Miomir Vukobratović: Pioneer of Robotics,” prepared by Ivan Stanić, brings the story of the life and work of one of the pioneers of humanoid robotics and represents a tribute to a man who, with his vision, innovation, and dedication to science, left a deep and lasting mark in the world’s scientific heritage. It is intended for all who love inspiring stories about great personalities, innovators, and visionaries, as well as for those who wish to understand how knowledge, curiosity, and perseverance can change the world.

The lecture by Bojana Stevanović “ The Serbian Royal Portrait in the Age of King Milutin” presented an analysis of numerous examples of frescoes from medieval churches, among which depictions of King Milutin and his contemporaries were highlighted. Particular emphasis was placed on the influence of Byzantine art, which in this period was more pronounced than before, especially after the marriage of King Milutin with Simonida.

The book by Miloš Timotijević on Nadežda Petrović represents a comprehensive historical study that places her life and activity within the broader political, cultural, and ideological framework of the era, relying on rich archival material. The author connects her artistic creativity with national and social engagement, emphasizing that she was part of a wider, European‑oriented liberal nationalism. This work brings fresh interpretations and shows that even about already studied figures there is always room for new knowledge and deeper understanding.

The engagement of Old Raška Muslims in the armies of foreign powers during the Second World War is viewed as part of a broader historical continuity of cooperation with great powers in conditions of political insecurity and local conflicts. That cooperation was motivated by the need for protection, the political interests of the local elite, and wartime circumstances, and was especially intensified after the capitulation of Italy in 1943 under strong German propaganda and organizational influence. The German‑Muslim alliance reached its peak in 1944, but soon collapsed with the change of wartime circumstances and the withdrawal of German forces.

The exhibition “Lojanik: Prehistoric Jasper and Opal Quarry” represents the culmination of a long‑term research process, which included thorough fieldwork, analytical approach, and great professional dedication. It is also the result of successful cooperation between various institutions, experts, and individuals, who through joint efforts contributed to bringing the complex and important topic of prehistoric quarries closer to the contemporary visitor. Thanks to this exhibition and the recently published monograph on Lojanik, the distant past becomes visible, understandable, and actively present in the contemporary cultural discourse, as an important part of our collective heritage and identity.

The National Museum Kraljevo and the Historical Archive Kraljevo, which publish the collection of papers “Our Past”, are inviting you to contribute to the printing of issue number 24 with your work. The deadline for submission of papers is May 1st, 2026.

Darko Gučanin, director of the National Museum Kraljevo, in his review of the year behind us, presents the most important successes of the institution: exhibitions, publishing activities, scientific conferences, research in the country and the region, the development of the Official Internet Presentation, as well as numerous other programs, summarizing the year behind us.

The Gallery of the National Museum Kraljevo hosted the ceremonial opening of the exhibition of photographs and video works by Stefana Savić, titled “This Is Not the Place.” The exhibition was authored by Ljubiša Simović, museum advisor at the National Museum Kraljevo. The central theme of the exhibition is the conflict between mental image and objective reality. Created at the moment of the artist’s return to her hometown, the project treats photography as a space where memory collides with lived experience. Using the language of staged photography, Savić reconstructs moments of everyday and private life, presenting them as independent events. Instead of offering clear answers, the exhibition introduces unease and questioning, confronting the viewer with the realization that “What once was, now is not”.

The Kraljevo and Kragujevac tragedies of October 1941, among the largest crimes committed by German troops in World War II, continue to cast a long shadow over Serbia’s culture of remembrance – not only because of the scale of suffering, but also due to incomplete justice and the absence of official apologies from Germany and Austria. The fate and responsibility of Wehrmacht officers behind the massacres – above all General Franz Böhme, Major Otto Desch, and Major Paul Koenig – were the focus of Nenad Karamijalković’s lecture at the National Museum Kraljevo, where he presented the results of his research into their biographies, ideological convictions, postwar destinies, and the broader system of impunity that shaped postwar Europe’s attitude toward crimes committed in Serbia.