Marija Bursać

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Marija Bursać (Serbian: Марија Бурсаћ) (August 2, 1921 – September 22, 1943) was a young Serbian and Yugoslav communist who died heroically fighting for the Partisans during World War II.

Marija Bursać was born in Kamenica near Drvar, Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes. When World War II engulfed Yugoslavia, she joined the Communist Youth in October 1941, and the Communist Party of Yugoslavia in February 1942.

Since July, 1942 she served as a political commissar of the 3rd Company of the Working Youth Battalion. In February 1943, when the 10th Krajina Brigade was formed, she enlisted under the 2nd Company of the 1st Battalion. During an attack on the German bunkers at Prkos near Kulen Vakuf on September 17th, 1943, she was wounded and had to be transported to the hospital of the 5th Corps of the National Liberation Army which was 40 km away. She kept singing while she was being carried off the battlefield, but died before they could reach the hospital.

Bursać was the first woman awarded with the title of People's Hero of Yugoslavia, by the National Liberation Army Central Command on October 15, 1943.