That is Walter

We were shopping in Banja Luka a little earlier, and I spotted this pivo (beer).

The label intrigued me.

This pivo is from the Sarajevo brewery.

The name of the beer is "That is Walter".

 It also has the red star of the Jugoslav Partizans.

I knew a little about "Walter" but did some research.

Vladimir “Walter” Perić was the legendary leader of the Sarajevo resistance movement during World War II.

His memorial is near the Skenderija Bridge in Sarajevo.

"Walter" assumed leadership of Sarajevo’s underground anti-fascist movement in the summer of 1943. 

The members of this network carried out many acts of sabotage and attacks on German and Ustashe troops. 

On the night of April 5, 1945, Walter was killed during the final battle that was being waged to win the city’s freedom – he and a group of volunteers were defending the power station against the Ustashe who were intent on destroying them even as they began to withdraw from Sarajevo. 

"Walter" was made a National Hero of Yugoslavia on July 24, 1953.

The legend of this fearless and courageous resistance (Partizan) leader came to life on the big screen when the Bosnian director, Hajrudin Šiba Krvavac, made the movie, Walter Defends Sarajevo (1972).

At the end of the movie, SS Standartenführer von Dietrich of the SD muses that he has finally realised why he never managed to defeat his nemesis Walter.

Standing on a hill he points at Sarajevo below and remarks in German: Sehen Sie diese Stadt? Das ist Walter! ("You see that city? That's Walter!") This was intended to send a message of unity consistent with the official politics of the multi-ethnic state of Jugoslavija.

More Balkan History Hits in future posts.