Roza Papo
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Roza Papo (1914–1984) was a
Early life
Roza Papo was born on 6 February 1914 into a
War service
Following the
As an officer, Papo served directly under Josip Broz Tito, the leader of the yugoslav resistance. She led the recruitment system and commanded the network of the different Partisan field hospitals.[3] Not wishing to be seen as a coward, she refused to take shelter during an air raid in 1942 and nearly lost an eye.[4] She reached the rank of captain in 1943 and was a major by 1945.[4]
Post-war career
The Partisans emerged victorious from the Second World War in 1945, but Papo's parents and both siblings had been
Papo received six medals for her contributions,[3] including the Commemorative Medal of the Partisans of 1941, the Order of Merits for the People, and the Order of Brotherhood and Unity.[4] In 1973, she was promoted to the rank of major general.[6] Yugoslavia at the time had more Jewish generals than Israel,[7] and Papo was the first woman general in all the Balkans.[3][4] As such, she was affectionately known as "the general with braids".[3]
Papo had a son, who died in 1969, and a daughter. She died on 25 February 1984 in Belgrade.[4]
Decorations
- Commemorative Medal of the Partisans of 1941
- Order of Bravery (October 1944)
- Order of Merits for the People (1952)
- Order of the Yugoslav Army - II degree (1956)
- Order of Brotherhood and Unity - II degree (1960)
- Order of Military Merit with a Big Star (I degree) (1971)
References
- ^ a b Samuel Elazar, Građa za istoriju Jevrejske zajednice u Gračanici, p. 137
- ^ a b c d Nikola Gažević, ed. (1973), Vojna enciklopedija (in Serbo-Croatian), Vojnoizdavački zavod Beograd
- ^ ISBN 978-9004206823
- ^ a b c d e f g h A.T. (1984), Pletenice opšivene plemenitošću (in Serbo-Croatian), Front
- ISBN 978-86-915145-0-1
- ^ Yugoslav Review, 1984
- ISBN 978-1438404479