Urban Remembrance: Sarajevo Roses

The Sarajevo Roses are some of the last physical reminders of the Siege of Sarajevo. Lasting 44 months, the siege was the longest in modern history, and resulted in the death of over 11,500 people — including almost 650 children. During the siege, Serb forces surrounded the city, cutting off food and medical supplies. Snipers were stationed on the hills around the city, killing those who dared to brave the streets, and nearly every inch of the city was shelled.

Map of the Siege of Sarajevo, located at the Tunnel of Hope memorial site
Photo taken July 2016

Sarajevo Roses are the marks left by shells hitting the pavement. When the siege was lifted, local activists marked the potholes with red resin, in honor of the blood that was spilt. In this way, all those who walk through Sarajevo will remember those who were killed during the three years that the city was surrounded.

One of the unrestored Sarajevo Roses, commemorating those who died in the siege
Taken July 2016

Since the roses are marks on the pavement, they began to disappear as the city was slowly rebuilt. In response, families of the victims lobbied for the roses to be protected and restored. Fikret Grabovica, president of the Association of Parents of Children Murdered in Besieged Sarajevo, said in a statement that the protection of the roses was important to “preserve the truth from oblivion.” Grabovica’s daughter, Irma, was killed during the second year of the siege, when she was only eleven.

As part of the demonstrations in favor of preserving the Sarajevo Roses, a group of nearly 200 people gathered in Markale street market on February 5, 2015, to mark the 21st anniversary of a massacre where 68 civilians were killed and 144 were wounded. The demonstrators laid roses atop one of the few remaining Sarajevo Roses in commemoration and protest.

The restored Sarajevo Rose in Markale Market
Source: Wikimedia Commons

As a result of the popular protests, the minister of the Canton of Sarajevo, Nedzad Ajnadzic, contracted a local company to begin the restoration of a number of the roses. During the siege, an average of over 300 shells were dropped on the city every day, and each shell left a mark where it landed; therefore, it would be difficult and impractical to preserve each and every rose. However, Minister Ajnadzic announced in May 2015 that 200 Sarajevo Roses would be restored by the end of the year.

The Sarajevo Roses are a quiet, poignant reminder of the tragedy that took place in the city. While they are not grand or elegant, they are a constant reminder. Their placement throughout the city ensures that everyone, whether they are tourists or locals, will see a rose daily. This also makes them an accessible memorial for those who live in the city. Rather than needing to travel out of the city to pay their respects to family and friends who died in the war, there are sites of memory just down the street.

A Sarajevo Rose located in front of the city’s main Catholic cathedral
Source: Wikimedia Commons

For an incredible photo essay on the Siege of Sarajevo, see here.

Sources: