The marking of the 96th anniversary of “Viribus Unitis“ sinking
A ceremonial programme commemorating the 100th centenary of the outbreak of the World War I and 96 years of the sinking of the “Viribus Unitis” dreadnought battleship was held under the auspices of the President of the Republic, Ivo Josipović, in Pula on 31 October 2014.
It was attended by the Chief of the General Staff of the Croatian Armed Forces (also as envoy of the President of the Republic), General Drago Lovrić, Vice admiral Ante Urlić, the Croatian Navy Commander, Rear admiral Robert Hranj, Admiral Davor Domazet-Lošo (Ret.), representatives of the associations from the Homeland War and of the local government.
It was an occasion to hightlight the role and the contribution of Croatian officers in the Austria-Hungary Navy and the biography of the Janko Vuković de Podkapelski, the Croatian admiral commanding the “Viribus Unitis”, which was sunk by Italian diversionists on the night of 31 October 1918 (following the takeover from Austria-Hungary by the newly established State of Croats, Serbs and Slovenes), with the commander and over 250 Croatian seamen aboard.
The Chief of the General Staff of the Croatian Armed Forces, General Drago Lovrić stressed that the year 2014 has seen a number of events and ceremonies (in Europe and in the Republic of Croatia alike) marking the centenary of the outbreak of the World War I (“The Great War“), in which Croatians and their country had had a remarkable role.
“The Ministry of Defence and the Armed Forces of the Republic of Croatia have decided to commemorate the tragic event and the heroic act of Rear admiral Janko Vuković de Podkapelski, who had observed the age-long maritime tradition and stayed aboard the ship along with the crew. The admiral’s conduct was an example of valour characteristic of the Croatian soldiers throughout the history of the country, to include the Homeland War. This is a hommage to all generations of Croatian seamen too, who defended the Croatian sea, coast and rivers sacrifying their own lives“, said General Lovrić.
The programme also comprised a mass served for the fallen seamen in the church of Our Lady of the Sea by the bishop of Poreč and Pula, Ivan Milovan, a wreath-laying ceremony at the Naval Cemetery in Pula and at sea from the Croatian Navy’s landing craft “Cetina” in the port of Pula.
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