Jabuka
Encyclopedia
Jabuka is a village
in the Republic of Serbia. It is situated in the Pančevo
municipality
, in the South Banat District
, Vojvodina
province. The village has a Serb ethnic majority and its population is 6,312 (2002 census).
. The Hungarian and German names for the village have same meaning. In Serbian
, the village is known as Jabuka (Јабука), in Macedonian
as Јабука, in Hungarian
as Torontálalmás (Alma means "apple" in Hungarian) and in German
as Jabuka or Apfeldorf ("Apple village"). The German population called the village Jabuka, named after a former destroyed village founded by Serb fishermen; it was named Apfeldorf when the German army occupied the area in World War II.
In prehistoric times, there was a human settlement at this location. Development of this settlement was divided into two time periods, one belonging to the prehistoric culture of Vinča
, and another to the prehistoric culture of Starčevo. First written records about this settlement are dating from year 1385 during the administration of the Kingdom of Hungary
. At the end of the 16th century the area of the south-western Banat
near the Danube
was made of swamps and forests. Except the towns of Pančevo
and Kovin
there were no other settlements.
The modern village of Jabuka was founded by Serb
fishermen in the end of 17th and beginning of the 18th century. They found a big apple tree and hence named their settlement Jabuka ("apple"). In the first half of the 18th century there were about 15 houses in the village. After the peace treaty with the Ottomans
in 1726, Claudius Florimund Graf von Mercy, a man with Lorraine
origin, took control of the administration of the Military Frontier
. He ordered the inhabitants of Jabuka to be members of the border battalion (Grenzbezirkshauptmannschaft) Opovo
- Pančevo
. The census from 1733 recorded 19 Serb
families in the village. Some of the settlers originated from Macedonia, and, according to some opinions, some might originated from Romania or Bulgaria. In the middle of the 18th century, there was 60 houses in the village, and during this time, its inhabitants were Serbs.
The small number of Serb border police was insufficient to control the border. Therefore the captain of the border police, Graf Engelshofer, called for reinforcement from Germany
for the border settlements Jabuka, Glogonj
, Sefkerin
and Opovo
at the Janitscharen insurgencies in 1755 - 1756. The German
population started to settle here since 1764, and Hungarian since 1766. In the same year (1766), some Serb inhabitants left Jabuka and settled in Crepaja
and Dolovo
. This old village named Jabuka was destroyed about 1770.
The new settlement was founded 11 km north of Pančevo
on the left side of the Tamiš
river from 1772 - 1774 near the place of formerly destroyed old Jabuka. In 1774, the population of the village numbered 88 families and this was time when Romanians
started to settle in the village. In 1789, many Serbs left Jabuka and settled in Sefkerin
. The laying of the foundation stone of the Catholic Church was on 14 November 1833, replacing the ramshackled former church. In 1901, the Romanians founded their Orthodox church dedicated to Saint Dimitrije.
In 1921, the population of the village numbered 3,265 inhabitants, including 2,918 Germans
, 348 Romanians
, 73 Hungarians, 20 Serbs
and Croats
, 2 Slovenes, 2 Russians
, and 1 Englishman
.
During the World War II
, the village was under Axis
occupation. During the war (from 1941 to 1944), on a location named Stratište near the village, German forces killed more than 10,000 people (Serbs, Jews, and Roma) who mostly were brought from Sajmište concentration camp
near Belgrade
. At the same place, German army also operated a furnace for burning. In 1945, a monument (memorial pyramid) dedicated to these victims was built, and later, another monument with memorial house was built too.
After the defeat of Axis Powers, in 1944, one part of German population left from the region, together with defeated German army. The remaining Germans of the village were sent to prison camp in Knićanin
that existed until 1948. Some of the Germans died in this camp from starvation, cold, and disease. Some were shot or tortured. 423 German civilians from Jabuka did not survive the prison camp. After prison camps were dissolved (in 1948), the remaining German population left Yugoslavia because of economic reasons.
After World War II
the village was settled with South Slavic families that originated from all parts of Yugoslavia. Most of the settlers were from Macedonia. 571 Macedonian
families settled, mostly originating from Kriva Palanka
. According to 1961 census, population of the village numbered 5,245 inhabitants, including 3,471 Macedonians, 1,303 Serbs, 74 Hungarians, 33 Croats, 16 Montenegrins, etc. According to 1971 census, Macedonians
comprised 61.48% of population.
(numbering 3,224 people), the village also have a large ethnic Macedonian
minority (numbering 2,054 people). Macedonians are an officially recognized minority population in Jabuka. There are also members of other ethnic groups as well.
Population and major ethnic groups through history:
people have formed the "Crni Biseri" association. In 1961 the cultural house "Kočo Racin
" was founded in the village. Every year the national holiday Ilinden
is celebrated by Macedonians in the village, whist since 2008 the ethno-festival Tavče Gravče has been also celebrated in the village.
Village
A village is a clustered human settlement or community, larger than a hamlet with the population ranging from a few hundred to a few thousand , Though often located in rural areas, the term urban village is also applied to certain urban neighbourhoods, such as the West Village in Manhattan, New...
in the Republic of Serbia. It is situated in the Pančevo
Pancevo
Pančevo is a city and municipality located in the southern part of Serbian province of Vojvodina, 15 km northeast from Belgrade. In 2002, the city had a total population of 77,087, while municipality of Pančevo had 127,162 inhabitants. It is the administrative center of the South Banat...
municipality
Municipality
A municipality is essentially an urban administrative division having corporate status and usually powers of self-government. It can also be used to mean the governing body of a municipality. A municipality is a general-purpose administrative subdivision, as opposed to a special-purpose district...
, in the South Banat District
South Banat District
South Banat District is a northeastern district of Serbia with the seat of the district in Pančevo. It borders Romania to the east. The district lies in the region of Banat, in the autonomous province of Vojvodina...
, Vojvodina
Vojvodina
Vojvodina, officially called Autonomous Province of Vojvodina is an autonomous province of Serbia. Its capital and largest city is Novi Sad...
province. The village has a Serb ethnic majority and its population is 6,312 (2002 census).
Name
The name Jabuka means "apple" in SerbianSerbian language
Serbian is a form of Serbo-Croatian, a South Slavic language, spoken by Serbs in Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Croatia and neighbouring countries....
. The Hungarian and German names for the village have same meaning. In Serbian
Serbian language
Serbian is a form of Serbo-Croatian, a South Slavic language, spoken by Serbs in Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Croatia and neighbouring countries....
, the village is known as Jabuka (Јабука), in Macedonian
Macedonian language
Macedonian is a South Slavic language spoken as a first language by approximately 2–3 million people principally in the region of Macedonia but also in the Macedonian diaspora...
as Јабука, in Hungarian
Hungarian language
Hungarian is a Uralic language, part of the Ugric group. With some 14 million speakers, it is one of the most widely spoken non-Indo-European languages in Europe....
as Torontálalmás (Alma means "apple" in Hungarian) and in German
German language
German is a West Germanic language, related to and classified alongside English and Dutch. With an estimated 90 – 98 million native speakers, German is one of the world's major languages and is the most widely-spoken first language in the European Union....
as Jabuka or Apfeldorf ("Apple village"). The German population called the village Jabuka, named after a former destroyed village founded by Serb fishermen; it was named Apfeldorf when the German army occupied the area in World War II.
History
Vinca culture
The Vinča culture is a Neolithic archaeological culture in Southeastern Europe, dated to the period 5500–4500 BCE. Named for its type site, Vinča-Belo Brdo, a large tell settlement discovered by Serbian archaeologist Miloje Vasić in 1908, it represents the material remains of a prehistoric society...
, and another to the prehistoric culture of Starčevo. First written records about this settlement are dating from year 1385 during the administration of the Kingdom of Hungary
Kingdom of Hungary
The Kingdom of Hungary comprised present-day Hungary, Slovakia and Croatia , Transylvania , Carpatho Ruthenia , Vojvodina , Burgenland , and other smaller territories surrounding present-day Hungary's borders...
. At the end of the 16th century the area of the south-western Banat
Banat
The Banat is a geographical and historical region in Central Europe currently divided between three countries: the eastern part lies in western Romania , the western part in northeastern Serbia , and a small...
near the Danube
Danube
The Danube is a river in the Central Europe and the Europe's second longest river after the Volga. It is classified as an international waterway....
was made of swamps and forests. Except the towns of Pančevo
Pancevo
Pančevo is a city and municipality located in the southern part of Serbian province of Vojvodina, 15 km northeast from Belgrade. In 2002, the city had a total population of 77,087, while municipality of Pančevo had 127,162 inhabitants. It is the administrative center of the South Banat...
and Kovin
Kovin
Kovin is a town and municipality in South Banat District of Vojvodina, Serbia. The town has a population of 14,250, while the municipality has 36,802 inhabitants.- Name :...
there were no other settlements.
The modern village of Jabuka was founded by Serb
Serbs
The Serbs are a South Slavic ethnic group of the Balkans and southern Central Europe. Serbs are located mainly in Serbia, Montenegro and Bosnia and Herzegovina, and form a sizable minority in Croatia, the Republic of Macedonia and Slovenia. Likewise, Serbs are an officially recognized minority in...
fishermen in the end of 17th and beginning of the 18th century. They found a big apple tree and hence named their settlement Jabuka ("apple"). In the first half of the 18th century there were about 15 houses in the village. After the peace treaty with the Ottomans
Ottoman Empire
The Ottoman EmpireIt was usually referred to as the "Ottoman Empire", the "Turkish Empire", the "Ottoman Caliphate" or more commonly "Turkey" by its contemporaries...
in 1726, Claudius Florimund Graf von Mercy, a man with Lorraine
Lorraine (province)
The Duchy of Upper Lorraine was an historical duchy roughly corresponding with the present-day northeastern Lorraine region of France, including parts of modern Luxembourg and Germany. The main cities were Metz, Verdun, and the historic capital Nancy....
origin, took control of the administration of the Military Frontier
Military Frontier
The Military Frontier was a borderland of Habsburg Austria and later the Austro-Hungarian Monarchy, which acted as the cordon sanitaire against incursions from the Ottoman Empire...
. He ordered the inhabitants of Jabuka to be members of the border battalion (Grenzbezirkshauptmannschaft) Opovo
Opovo
Opovo is a town and municipality in South Banat, in the province of Vojvodina, Serbia. The town has a population of 4,664, while Opovo municipality has 10,938 inhabitants.-Name:...
- Pančevo
Pancevo
Pančevo is a city and municipality located in the southern part of Serbian province of Vojvodina, 15 km northeast from Belgrade. In 2002, the city had a total population of 77,087, while municipality of Pančevo had 127,162 inhabitants. It is the administrative center of the South Banat...
. The census from 1733 recorded 19 Serb
Serbs
The Serbs are a South Slavic ethnic group of the Balkans and southern Central Europe. Serbs are located mainly in Serbia, Montenegro and Bosnia and Herzegovina, and form a sizable minority in Croatia, the Republic of Macedonia and Slovenia. Likewise, Serbs are an officially recognized minority in...
families in the village. Some of the settlers originated from Macedonia, and, according to some opinions, some might originated from Romania or Bulgaria. In the middle of the 18th century, there was 60 houses in the village, and during this time, its inhabitants were Serbs.
The small number of Serb border police was insufficient to control the border. Therefore the captain of the border police, Graf Engelshofer, called for reinforcement from Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
for the border settlements Jabuka, Glogonj
Glogonj
Glogonj is a village in Serbia. It is situated in the Pančevo municipality, in the South Banat District, Vojvodina province. The village has a Serb ethnic majority and its population numbering 3,178 people .Also there is an ethnic Macedonian minority.-External links:*More about this village on *...
, Sefkerin
Sefkerin
Sefkerin is a village in Serbia. It is situated in the Opovo municipality, in the South Banat District, Vojvodina province. The village has a Serb ethnic majority and its population numbering 2,627 people .-See also:...
and Opovo
Opovo
Opovo is a town and municipality in South Banat, in the province of Vojvodina, Serbia. The town has a population of 4,664, while Opovo municipality has 10,938 inhabitants.-Name:...
at the Janitscharen insurgencies in 1755 - 1756. The German
Germans
The Germans are a Germanic ethnic group native to Central Europe. The English term Germans has referred to the German-speaking population of the Holy Roman Empire since the Late Middle Ages....
population started to settle here since 1764, and Hungarian since 1766. In the same year (1766), some Serb inhabitants left Jabuka and settled in Crepaja
Crepaja
Crepaja is a village in Serbia. It is situated in the Kovačica municipality, in the South Banat District, Vojvodina province. The village has a Serb ethnic majority and its population numbering 4,855 people .-Historical population:...
and Dolovo
Dolovo
Dolovo is a village in Serbia. It is situated in the Pančevo municipality, in the South Banat District, Vojvodina province. The village has a Serb ethnic majority and its population is 6,835 . Dolovo is very peaceful village. It has three churches and one school....
. This old village named Jabuka was destroyed about 1770.
The new settlement was founded 11 km north of Pančevo
Pancevo
Pančevo is a city and municipality located in the southern part of Serbian province of Vojvodina, 15 km northeast from Belgrade. In 2002, the city had a total population of 77,087, while municipality of Pančevo had 127,162 inhabitants. It is the administrative center of the South Banat...
on the left side of the Tamiš
Tamis
A tamis is a kitchen utensil, shaped somewhat like a snare drum, that acts as a strainer, grater, or food mill. A tamis has a cylindrical edge, made of metal or wood, that supports a disc of fine metal, nylon, or horsehair mesh. To use one, the cook places the tamis above a bowl and adds the...
river from 1772 - 1774 near the place of formerly destroyed old Jabuka. In 1774, the population of the village numbered 88 families and this was time when Romanians
Romanians
The Romanians are an ethnic group native to Romania, who speak Romanian; they are the majority inhabitants of Romania....
started to settle in the village. In 1789, many Serbs left Jabuka and settled in Sefkerin
Sefkerin
Sefkerin is a village in Serbia. It is situated in the Opovo municipality, in the South Banat District, Vojvodina province. The village has a Serb ethnic majority and its population numbering 2,627 people .-See also:...
. The laying of the foundation stone of the Catholic Church was on 14 November 1833, replacing the ramshackled former church. In 1901, the Romanians founded their Orthodox church dedicated to Saint Dimitrije.
In 1921, the population of the village numbered 3,265 inhabitants, including 2,918 Germans
Germans
The Germans are a Germanic ethnic group native to Central Europe. The English term Germans has referred to the German-speaking population of the Holy Roman Empire since the Late Middle Ages....
, 348 Romanians
Romanians
The Romanians are an ethnic group native to Romania, who speak Romanian; they are the majority inhabitants of Romania....
, 73 Hungarians, 20 Serbs
Serbs
The Serbs are a South Slavic ethnic group of the Balkans and southern Central Europe. Serbs are located mainly in Serbia, Montenegro and Bosnia and Herzegovina, and form a sizable minority in Croatia, the Republic of Macedonia and Slovenia. Likewise, Serbs are an officially recognized minority in...
and Croats
Croats
Croats are a South Slavic ethnic group mostly living in Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and nearby countries. There are around 4 million Croats living inside Croatia and up to 4.5 million throughout the rest of the world. Responding to political, social and economic pressure, many Croats have...
, 2 Slovenes, 2 Russians
Russians
The Russian people are an East Slavic ethnic group native to Russia, speaking the Russian language and primarily living in Russia and neighboring countries....
, and 1 Englishman
English people
The English are a nation and ethnic group native to England, who speak English. The English identity is of early mediaeval origin, when they were known in Old English as the Anglecynn. England is now a country of the United Kingdom, and the majority of English people in England are British Citizens...
.
During the World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, the village was under Axis
Axis Powers
The Axis powers , also known as the Axis alliance, Axis nations, Axis countries, or just the Axis, was an alignment of great powers during the mid-20th century that fought World War II against the Allies. It began in 1936 with treaties of friendship between Germany and Italy and between Germany and...
occupation. During the war (from 1941 to 1944), on a location named Stratište near the village, German forces killed more than 10,000 people (Serbs, Jews, and Roma) who mostly were brought from Sajmište concentration camp
Sajmište concentration camp
Sajmište concentration camp was a German run Nazi concentration camp located on the outskirts of Belgrade whilst part of NDH . It was established in December 1941 and shut down in September 1944...
near Belgrade
Belgrade
Belgrade is the capital and largest city of Serbia. It is located at the confluence of the Sava and Danube rivers, where the Pannonian Plain meets the Balkans. According to official results of Census 2011, the city has a population of 1,639,121. It is one of the 15 largest cities in Europe...
. At the same place, German army also operated a furnace for burning. In 1945, a monument (memorial pyramid) dedicated to these victims was built, and later, another monument with memorial house was built too.
After the defeat of Axis Powers, in 1944, one part of German population left from the region, together with defeated German army. The remaining Germans of the village were sent to prison camp in Knićanin
Knicanin
Knićanin is a village in Serbia. It is located in the Zrenjanin municipal area, in the Banat region , Vojvodina province...
that existed until 1948. Some of the Germans died in this camp from starvation, cold, and disease. Some were shot or tortured. 423 German civilians from Jabuka did not survive the prison camp. After prison camps were dissolved (in 1948), the remaining German population left Yugoslavia because of economic reasons.
After World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
the village was settled with South Slavic families that originated from all parts of Yugoslavia. Most of the settlers were from Macedonia. 571 Macedonian
Macedonians (ethnic group)
The Macedonians also referred to as Macedonian Slavs: "... the term Slavomacedonian was introduced and was accepted by the community itself, which at the time had a much more widespread non-Greek Macedonian ethnic consciousness...
families settled, mostly originating from Kriva Palanka
Kriva Palanka
Kriva Palanka is a town located in the northeastern part of the Republic of Macedonia. It has 14.558 inhabitants. The town of Kriva Palanka is the seat of Kriva Palanka Municipality which has almost 21.000 inhabitants....
. According to 1961 census, population of the village numbered 5,245 inhabitants, including 3,471 Macedonians, 1,303 Serbs, 74 Hungarians, 33 Croats, 16 Montenegrins, etc. According to 1971 census, Macedonians
Macedonians (ethnic group)
The Macedonians also referred to as Macedonian Slavs: "... the term Slavomacedonian was introduced and was accepted by the community itself, which at the time had a much more widespread non-Greek Macedonian ethnic consciousness...
comprised 61.48% of population.
Population
In the first half of the 18th century, Jabuka had been populated by Serbs, including some settlers from Macedonia as well. From 1772 to 1944, it was mostly populated by Germans, and some Romanians lived there as well. After World War II, Macedonians, Serbs and others were settled in the village. The village today has a Serb ethnic majority and its population is 6,312 (2002 census). Besides SerbsSerbs
The Serbs are a South Slavic ethnic group of the Balkans and southern Central Europe. Serbs are located mainly in Serbia, Montenegro and Bosnia and Herzegovina, and form a sizable minority in Croatia, the Republic of Macedonia and Slovenia. Likewise, Serbs are an officially recognized minority in...
(numbering 3,224 people), the village also have a large ethnic Macedonian
Macedonians (ethnic group)
The Macedonians also referred to as Macedonian Slavs: "... the term Slavomacedonian was introduced and was accepted by the community itself, which at the time had a much more widespread non-Greek Macedonian ethnic consciousness...
minority (numbering 2,054 people). Macedonians are an officially recognized minority population in Jabuka. There are also members of other ethnic groups as well.
Population and major ethnic groups through history:
| Year | Total | Germans Germans The Germans are a Germanic ethnic group native to Central Europe. The English term Germans has referred to the German-speaking population of the Holy Roman Empire since the Late Middle Ages.... |
Romanians Romanians The Romanians are an ethnic group native to Romania, who speak Romanian; they are the majority inhabitants of Romania.... |
Croats Croats Croats are a South Slavic ethnic group mostly living in Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and nearby countries. There are around 4 million Croats living inside Croatia and up to 4.5 million throughout the rest of the world. Responding to political, social and economic pressure, many Croats have... |
Macedonians Macedonians (ethnic group) The Macedonians also referred to as Macedonian Slavs: "... the term Slavomacedonian was introduced and was accepted by the community itself, which at the time had a much more widespread non-Greek Macedonian ethnic consciousness... |
Serbs Serbs The Serbs are a South Slavic ethnic group of the Balkans and southern Central Europe. Serbs are located mainly in Serbia, Montenegro and Bosnia and Herzegovina, and form a sizable minority in Croatia, the Republic of Macedonia and Slovenia. Likewise, Serbs are an officially recognized minority in... |
Hungarians | Roma | Yugoslavs Yugoslavs Yugoslavs is a national designation used by a minority of South Slavs across the countries of the former Yugoslavia and in the diaspora... |
| 1833 | 2200 | 1840 | 360 | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1921 | 3265 | 2901 | 348 | 16 | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1944 | 2603 | 2323 | 260 | 16 | - | 4 | - | - | - |
| 1946 | 3784 | 14 | 260 | - | 3480 | 28 | 2 | - | - |
| 1971 | 5453 | 2 | 140 | - | 3380 | 1261 | 2 | 668 | - |
| 1981 | 6598 | - | - | 37 | 4179 | 1567 | 60 | - | 312 |
| 1991 | 5453 | 8 | 93 | 16 | 3177 | 2143 | 45 | 2 | 910 |
| 2002 | 6312 | 1 | 79 | 14 | 2054 | 3224 | 27 | 24 | 307 |
Culture
Given that Jabuka was mostly populated with Macedonian immigrants during the 1950s and 1960s, much of the cultural life of the village reflects these people's traditions. Macedonians living in Jabuka are united by the cultural organisation "Jabuka", whilst local RomaniRoma people
The Romani, who are known collectively in the Romani language as Romane or Rromane and also as Romany, Romanies, Romanis, Roma or Roms, are an ethnic group living mostly in Europe, who trace their origins to the Indian Subcontinent...
people have formed the "Crni Biseri" association. In 1961 the cultural house "Kočo Racin
Koco Racin
Kosta Apostolov Solev primarily known as Kočo Racin was a Macedonian revolutionary and poet who is considered a founder of modern Macedonian literature. His poem collection White Dawns is one of the most important masterpieces in the Macedonian modern literature...
" was founded in the village. Every year the national holiday Ilinden
Ilinden
-Events:* Day of the Republic in the Republic of Macedonia, celebrated on 2 August each year.-Geographic locations:* In Bulgaria:** Ilinden, Blagoevgrad Province, a village** Ilinden, Sofia, an urban municipality* In Macedonia:** Ilinden municipality...
is celebrated by Macedonians in the village, whist since 2008 the ethno-festival Tavče Gravče has been also celebrated in the village.
Sports
There is a football club named "OFK Jugoslavija" in the village. It was founded in 1936 as "SFJ" (Sodafabrik Jabuka), in 1950 it changed its name to OFK. Since 1959, there is a handball club named "Jabuka".See also
- Macedonians in SerbiaMacedonians in SerbiaMacedonians of Serbia are an officially recognized ethnic minority in Serbia.-Immigration:During the years 1945–1992, ethnic Macedonians and the Macedonian Language was a constituent part of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. Many Ethnic Macedonians migrated to other parts of the...
- List of places in Serbia
- List of cities, towns and villages in Vojvodina