More stories and myths have been told and written about the four years of World War II, more dogmas accepted and challenged, more questions asked and answers given than about any other four years in Croatian history. These were the years in which the old political, economic, and social order was destroyed and a new one was created. Years that were celebrated, years that were despised, years that society remembered fondly or reluctantly. The collective memory of individuals, groups, and events from that time is still visible today through the names of streets, squares, entire neighborhoods, organizations, and businesses. The materialized memory, in the form of tens of thousands of memorial plaques, sculptures, monumental architecture, or memorial tombs, spread throughout the Yugoslav space, including the city of Dubrovnik.
The terror of occupying forces, imprisonments, torture, and executions of opponents, sabotage attacks on infrastructure, food shortages, economic crises, fascist and Allied bombings, and finally the retribution by the new national liberation authorities were the tragic experiences of Dubrovnik during this global conflict.
Dubrovnik's places of memory, both past and present, visible and invisible, are the theme of this exhibition. It features 39 locations where materialized memory of Dubrovnik’s experience of the most horrific global conflict was, or still is, found. The memory of people and events that still mark society today, though, like the places of memory themselves, they are often forgotten.
The production of the exhibition was financially supported by the Ministry of Culture and Media of the Republic of Croatia, the City of Dubrovnik, the Dubrovnik Tourist Board, and the Croatian National Tourist Board.
Admission the exhibition is free.
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