Biography
Sergej Vukčević is a history student at the Faculty of Philosophy, University of Banja Luka, and a member of the "Dr. Milan Vasić" History Students' Association. Since February 2025, he has served as the Secretary of the City Association of Former Second World War Camp Inmates and Their Descendants. His research interests are primarily focused on the history of World War II in Yugoslavia, with a special emphasis on the suffering of the population of Bosanska Krajina and the culture of remembrance regarding the victims of the Jasenovac camp system.
He is the author of a notable research paper on the life and fate of Mile Ristić, a survivor of the Jasenovac breakout, in which he uses a micro-historical approach to reconstruct the mechanisms of individual survival and resistance under extreme conditions of captivity. In addition to his academic work, he actively participates in heritage preservation projects, including co-authoring the exhibition "Traces of Roman Times: Archaeological Heritage of the Banja Luka Region." In 2025, he was recognized as one of the top students at the Faculty of Philosophy for his outstanding contribution to extracurricular activities and the promotion of the faculty. He is particularly distinguished for his organizational work, for which he received a Letter of Thanks from the Minister for Scientific and Technological Development and Higher Education of the Republic of Srpska following the successful implementation of the Science Festival at the Faculty of Philosophy. Through his work, he strives to contribute to the promotion of new historiographical sources and the preservation of testimonies of local and national history. He is currently working on several projects.
Mile Ristić and the Breakout from Jasenovac: A Biographical Study
Abstract: This paper presents a detailed biographical study of Mile Ristić (1920–1980), a participant in the Jasenovac breakout, with a focus on his World War II experience and captivity within the Jasenovac concentration camp system. Through the reconstruction of his life path—from his pre-war upbringing, through his arrest and confrontation with the horrors of the Independent State of Croatia’s camp system, to his participation in the heroic inmate breakout and his post-war life—the paper illuminates a micro-historical perspective on the suffering of the Serbian people. Utilizing available historical sources, literature, and testimonies, the study analyzes the mechanisms of individual survival under the extreme conditions of death camps. In this context, the biography of Mile Ristić transcends the boundaries of personal or family history; it serves as a vital testimony documenting the scale of crimes as well as the strength of resistance. Through this case study, the paper seeks to contribute to the culture of remembrance and the shedding of light on local history, emphasizing the importance of preserving the individual testimonies of camp survivors for a more comprehensive understanding of macro-historical processes and the consequences of wartime destruction in this region.
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