For the first time since 1944, in the very heart of Niš – just a kilometer from the infamous Nazi concentration camp “Crveni Krst” – the symbol of evil that marked the darkest chapter in human history has appeared once again. Just days after Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić, using his now-routine rhetoric, once again labeled students, opposition members, and independent thinkers as “Nazis,” his loyal followers in Niš went a step further – executing the worst possible campaign in full capacity.
Yes, you read that right. This morning, a banner bearing a swastika appeared at the entrance of the Niš Fortress – one of the city’s most prominent historical sites. Not crossed out, not in an anti-militarist or anti-fascist context – but displayed boldly and clearly, as a symbol of “patriotism” engineered by the SNS.
This city bore immense suffering during World War II. With the death camp “Crveni Krst” and mass executions at Bubanj, over 12,000 Serbs, Jews, and Roma were killed under this very symbol. And now – in the year 2025. – that same swastika is hoisted at the very same site, with a message that boils down to: “Better pupils than Nazis.”
First of all – someone had to design this banner. Not hastily on a piece of cardboard, but professionally: printed, produced, packaged, transported, and tied with ropes to the fortress walls. And this happened without any obstruction. In any normal society – this would be considered a high-risk incident. In Serbia – it has become a marketing strategy of the ruling party.
The prosecution says – no criminal offense. The municipal police say – they didn’t catch it in the act, they can’t act based on photos. The regular police – silent. The law – crystal clear. Displaying Nazi symbols in Serbia is punishable by law. Fines range from 5,000 to 50,000 dinars for individuals, and up to one million dinars for legal entities. But – if you’re not caught red-handed, nothing happens.
And the mayor of Niš – the same man who just days ago stated that the swastika was “an insult to a city that had a Nazi concentration camp” – is now silent. A few days ago, swastikas appeared near the Officer’s Club, on the riverside, and on the Fortress wall. They were removed. But this last one – professionally installed, bearing a political message – was only taken down after students and Kreni-Promeni activists reacted.
In their statement, they said: “With this kind of rhetoric, the authorities are deliberately inciting conflict, spreading hatred, and trying to intimidate young people who speak out against injustice. The regime promotes illiteracy, and brands anyone who dares to think as a traitor.”
And most importantly – they pointed out that a photo of the swastika, taken earlier, was deliberately inserted into regime media coverage of the student protests to discredit their movement. This level of manipulation is no longer just propaganda. It’s political perversion.
WHERE ARE WE NOW?
From October 14, 1944, to June 6, 2025 – nearly 81 years have passed. But clearly, some have learned nothing. Or worse – maybe they’ve turned the very worst parts of that era into their political platform. When a swastika is placed in the most visible spot in a Serbian city, and no official sanctions follow, the problem is no longer just the banner. The problem is the system that enables and supports it.
(Tpknews.com/@I.M.S.)
