History is full of the names of men who proved to be heroes, who were good warriors. I believe that many of you know how to list a few names of men who were warriors. But what about women? Have you ever heard of a woman who took part in wars? Who was a real warrior and heroine?
Let me introduce you to the first woman in Serbia who went to war as a brave girl and came out of the war as a brave heroine and soldier.
Her name is Sofija Jovanović.
The younger ones wanted to meet her, shake hands, congratulate her on her heroism. The elders knew about her exploits from the Balkan wars when she caused a lot of trouble to both Turks and Bulgarians.
She was a high school graduate when the first Balkan war broke out. She is only nineteen years old; she doesn't think about studies, much less about marriage: she would like to go to war! She reported to the National Defense, but they didn't even want to hear it there. They told her, jokingly, that it would be the greatest sin for her death when she was so young and beautiful because Serbia sends heroes to the Turks, not high school graduates.
She returned penitent but came again the next day. When a major saw her, he said:
- What do you need, girl?
- I want a rifle and a war schedule! She said firmly.
- I'm not leaving without a rifle. If I give up or get scared of the task, kill me. The whole of my family is in the war, I will not sit at home either.
- All right, girl! The major told her.
- You can't go to the front, but we can take you for a nurse. To see the wounds of heroes.
- I want a rifle! She repeated.
- Take nurses for nurses. I want to beat the Turks too!
They had nowhere to go: they received her.
She cut her hair, put on a uniform, and, together with other volunteers, practiced for a few days how to shoot a rifle and how to throw a bomb from thirty meters, and then she went towards Kumanovo, Macedonia. She passed behind enemy lines, carrying out diversions and sudden attacks. She started receiving medals decorations, and French reporters called her "Serbian Joan of Arc" (Serbian: Jovanka Orleanka).
There was talk and writing about her heroism. The decorations on her heroic breasts also testified to that. She was the first woman fighter in the Serbian army.
Proud to have had women like this in our ranks!
Merry Christmas dear!