21–23 January 1942 – the Novi Sad raid, 1,246–4,000 Serbs and Jews executed by the Hungarians, bodies thrown into the Danube

21–23 January 1942 – the Novi Sad raid

21–23 January 1942 – the Hungarians carry out a raid in Novi Sad and 13 surrounding towns (Vojvodina, northern Serbia).

Victims: 1,246–4,000 Serbs, Jews and Roma executed (the number varies by source – officially 1,246 names documented, estimated up to 4,000).

Reason: "Cleansing Vojvodina of Serbs and Jews" – ethnic cleansing (the Hungarians occupied Vojvodina in April 1941 and wanted to change the demographics).

Method: The execution of civilians + throwing the bodies into the Danube (through a hole in the ice – many bodies were never found).

Duration: 3 days (21–23 January 1942).

This is the most terrible crime in Vojvodina during WWII.

🗓️ Chronology – how the raid unfolded (21–23 January 1942)

In total: 3 days of the raid (21–23 January) – 1,246–4,000 Serbs, Jews and Roma killed.

📊 The victims – who was killed?

Officially documented: 1,246 names (Museum of Vojvodina, Novi Sad – names documented in the archives).

Estimate: 3,000–4,000 killed (many bodies never found – thrown into the Danube, carried away by the current).

Youngest victim: 5 months old (a baby – thrown into the Danube with its mother).

Oldest victim: 87 years old.

Important: All were CIVILIANS – there were no Partisans among the killed. The Hungarians executed civilians on account of their ethnicity (Serbs, Jews) and religion.

🏙️ Towns struck by the raid – 14 locations

The raid took place in Novi Sad + 13 surrounding towns:

🔫 How was the raid carried out?

Method (Novi Sad – 21 January 1942):

1. Sealing off the city (21 January, morning):

• Hungarian troops (honvéds) seal off all entrances to and exits from the city
• No one can leave

2. Arrests (21 January, 10:00–16:00):

• The Hungarians enter Serbian houses, Jewish houses – arresting ALL men, women and children
• Checking of identity papers: if you are a Serb or a Jew → arrested
• Hungarians are let go, Germans are let go – only Serbs and Jews are arrested

3. Execution on the bank of the Danube (21 January, 17:00–23:00):

• The Hungarians take the arrested to the bank of the Danube (near the "Strand" hotel)
• They shoot them in groups (10–20 at a time)
• They throw the bodies into a hole in the ice (the Danube frozen, temperature –15°C)
• The hole in the ice is about 5 metres in diameter
• The bodies disappear beneath the ice – carried away by the current

Why through a hole in the ice?

• The Hungarians wanted to hide the evidence (bodies underwater)
• Many bodies were never found (carried by the current towards Romania, Bulgaria)
• Spring 1942: the ice melts – some bodies surface (dozens), but most vanished forever

👥 Testimonies of survivors

Jovan Đurić (32 years old, survivor of the Novi Sad raid):

"21 January 1942, morning. The Hungarians knocked at the door. They said: 'A Serb? Yes. Get outside.' They took me away with 50+ other Serbs. They led us to the bank of the Danube. I saw the hole in the ice. I saw them shooting people – and throwing them into the hole. The bodies vanished beneath the ice. Rows of people – all waiting to be shot. I was in the last row. I heard the gunshots. 10 people fell – thrown into the hole. Another 10. Another 10. My row. They began shooting. I fell – a bullet hit me in the shoulder. I pretended to be dead. Bodies fell on top of me. The Hungarians were checking – shooting in the heads of those who moved. I stayed motionless. When night fell, I crawled away. I survived. But I lost my brother, my father, 2 uncles – shot. Thrown into the Danube. I never found them."

– Jovan Đurić, survivor

⚖️ Why did the Hungarians carry out the raid? – "Cleansing Vojvodina"

April 1941 – the Germans attack Yugoslavia. Hungary (an ally of the Germans) occupies Vojvodina (northern Serbia).

The Hungarian government (Admiral Miklós Horthy) draws up a plan:

• "Magyarisation of Vojvodina" – to change the demographics
• To expel the Serbs and Jews
• To bring in Hungarians (settling them in Vojvodina)
• Aim: Vojvodina becomes a "purely Hungarian" territory

1941–1942 – the Hungarians begin ethnic cleansing:

• They close Serbian schools (Hungarian language compulsory)
• They ban Serbian newspapers
• They arrest Serbian intellectuals (teachers, priests, lawyers)
• But: not fast enough

January 1942 – the Hungarian government orders a "raid" – a more radical method:

"Carry out the cleansing of Vojvodina of unreliable elements (Serbs, Jews, Partisans). Use all necessary measures."

– Order from Budapest, January 1942

21 January 1942 – the raid begins.

🇷🇸 The Serbian perspective – never to forget

For the Serbian people, the Novi Sad raid = the most terrible crime in Vojvodina (WWII):

• 21–23 January 1942 – 3 days of executions
• 1,246–4,000 Serbs and Jews killed
• Bodies thrown into the Danube – through a hole in the ice (many bodies never found)
• Reason: ethnic cleansing – "Magyarisation of Vojvodina"
• The Hungarian army (honvéds) carried out the crime
• 14 towns struck – Novi Sad + 13 surrounding ones
• We will never forget – every name, every story

"21–23 January 1942 – the Hungarians carry out a raid in Novi Sad and 13 surrounding towns (Vojvodina). 1,246–4,000 Serbs, Jews and Roma executed (3 days). Bodies thrown into the Danube through a hole in the ice (many never found). Reason: 'cleansing Vojvodina of Serbs and Jews' – ethnic cleansing. The Hungarian army (honvéds) carried out the crime (with German support). Youngest victim: a baby of 5 months. The most terrible crime in Vojvodina (WWII). For us: 21–23 January = the Days of Remembrance. The 'Štrand' Memorial Park in Novi Sad – a memorial to the victims. Every name. Every story. WE WILL NEVER FORGET."