Voices from Srebrenica: Survivor Narratives of the Bosnian Genocide

by Ann Petrila, Hasan Hasanović

In the hills of eastern Bosnia sits the small town of Srebrenica--once known for silver mines and health spas, now infamous for the genocide that occurred there during the Bosnian War. In July 1995, when the town fell to Serbian forces, 12,000 Muslim men and boys fled through the woods, seeking safe territory. Hunted for six days, more than 8000 were captured, killed at execution sites and later buried in mass graves. With harrowing personal narratives by survivors, this book provides eyewitness accounts of the Bosnian genocide, revealing stories of individual trauma, loss and resilience.

Genres: History

251 pages, Paperback

Published November 17, 2020

Reviews

[Karen Day · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have to admit that I was bit intimidated when I started Ann Petrila and Hasan Hasanovic’s new book “Voices from Srebrenica.” I knew little about the genocide in Bosnia and even less about the country. Once I began reading, I was immediately drawn in and finished it in a week. What a book!

It’s power rests in eye-witness accounts from the genocide, a harrowing documentation of rape, torture and murder as part of an of ethnic cleansing campaign by Serbian forces in the early 1990s. What struck me were how similar the stories were. Mass confusion. Lies. Threats. Several of the men survived during mass shootings by playing dead and then escaping. Others who lived described seeing terrible atrocities: a tortured dead man tied to a chair on the side of the road. Limbs blown off. Bullets to heads. In all, some 8,000 men and boys perished.

The authors prove to be a formidable pair. Hasanovic, who survived the genocide, offers his experiences and contacts as they travel the country, talking to witnesses and visiting genocide sites. But it’s Petrila’s voice that you hear throughout, guiding the witnesses as they tell their stories, offering historical references to set the scenes, sharing her enormous empathy. Her eye for detail is sharp. The food, the smells, the beautiful countryside, the descriptions of clothing and personalities.

In the end, I not only learned a great deal about the war and genocide but left with a humbled appreciation for a country that I hope to one day visit. It’s an important book, not only in that it sheds light on a horrible stain on humanity that most people know nothing about. But it’s also a reminder of what can go wrong when people are marginalized, and murdered, simply for the religion they practice.

[Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

You will not find a more clear-eyed account of the heartbreaking genocide of thousands of Bosnian men and boys in the mid-1990's. This book begins with a quick chronicling of the circumstances leading up to the horrific mass expulsion and killing. Even more importantly, the authors capture, for history, the voices and eye-witness accounts of survivors through sensitive interviews. The final chapters speak of courage, resilience and hope in today's Bosnia as survivors and the next generations work for justice and healing. A compelling read -- despite a painful subject.

[C · Rating 5 out of 5]

This comprehensive book about the genocide in Srebrenica is written with impressive scholarship and scope. The narratives humanize the victims of this war with great compassion and create a very readable book. The authors offer analysis and insight into the Bosnian story as it relates to current world events. This is a story we all need to hear and learn from.

[Michel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hét boek over de genocide in Srebrenica. Persoonlijke verhalen verteld met context en een overzicht van alle belangrijke evenementen, mensen, organisaties, emoties en definities van genocide. Zeer verhelderend en aangrijpend boek. Een voorbeeld voor hoe zo’n ingewikkelde geschiedenis levendig beschreven moet worden.

[Chris Hall · Rating 4 out of 5]

Horrific