Monument in Kočani (Kapino Field)

The Italian occupiers shot a group of 25 young people near the Moštanica River and in Kapino field at early dawn, on July 25th, 1943. They were revenge victims due to great losses which the fascists endured in combat with the partisans. Murdered soldiers were buried in the mass grave in Kapino field, on a flattened hilltop, behind Vuk’s Bridge, about 3 km away from Nikšić. A monument was erected here, above their resting place. It is a concrete monument on a concrete pedestal, accessible from east by stone stairs. Five concrete pillars, bent and conected at the top. Each of them have metal plaques with five names of murdered soldiers placed at a hight of 170 cm. There is a marble plaque above the pedestal on the monument, between the pillars. It faces south and the main road. A metal plaque is placed on it and carries the inscription, “To brave fellow captives murdered by the fascist occupiers near the Moštanica on July 25th, 1943”.  Nikšić was not the only place where this kind of crime took place. It also happened in Bar, Cetinje, Podgorica, Danilovgrad, Andrijevica and Berane.

The monument is a work by the architect Slobodan Vukajlović. Krsto Popivoda, who presided the meeting of District committee LCY (Okruzni komitet KPJ) when a decision on uprising in the area had been made in Riđani in 1943,  made a speech at the ceremonial unveiling on July 13th, 1971.

Young YPA (JNA) and AY (VJ) soldiers who served the army in Nikšić had taken oaths right at this monument. Today, only flowers are placed on it on national and local holidays.