During World II, the Topovske Supe concentration camp in Nazi-occupied Belgrade held Jews and Roma before they were transported elsewhere for execution. Little has been done to preserve the historical significance of the site, which is crumbling, covered in graffiti, and identified only with a small plaque. Now, the remaining buildings are set to be razed within months as a business group turns the site into the biggest shopping mall in the Balkans.
Shopping Mall Planned At Site Of Belgrade Concentration Camp
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A broken window in one of the buildings at Topovske Supe, the site of a concentration camp from August 1941 to December 1942.
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Teodor Kovac looks at the site where his father was interned in Topovske Supe. The camp held some 5,000-7,000 people.
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Marijana Sibinovic shows a photograph of her father and his brothers, who were interned in Topovske Supe, on top of her father's death certificate. Some 70,000 Yugoslav Jews died during World War II.
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Serbia's largest private business group, Delta Holding, owns the site, and intends to demolish the ruins to build a large shopping center, to be completed by the end of 2015.
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Lucija Rajner (left), Marijana Sibinovic, and Teodor Kovac at the site where their fathers were interned during World War II. Many people have expressed anger at the development plans for the former camp.
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Teodor Kovac and Marijana Sibinovic inspect the interior of one of the buildings.
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Lucija Rajner (left), Marijana Sibinovic, and Teodor Kovac pose for a photograph in Topovske Supe.
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Referring to the development plans, Lucija Rajner told Reuters, “I don’t know why the state shows this kind of disrespect to things which should not be forgotten.”