History of Oslobodjenje

In August of 1943, Bijeljina, of Donja Trnova, printed the first edition of a small newspaper designed to fight against the oppression of Nazi Germany. The name "Oslobodjenje," which means "Liberation," was chosen to represent this cause. Though the circumstances were quite difficult, the newspaper continued to thrive and it remains a symbol of freedom within Bosnia and Sarajevo.

The early years

During World War II, the newspaper's headquarters were destroyed, but this did not deter the brave men and women of Oslobodjenje. The operations were simply moved to a bomb shelter for a better degree of protection. Unfortunately, five members of the newspaper were killed during the war. The subject matter of the newspaper naturally focused on issues of Nazism and the war during these early years.

Expanding to other fields

In subsequent years, the newspaper expanded into other areas of publishing. Magazines were the greatest focus of the organization and included several prominent titles, such as "The World." Several other small newspapers were also created. Each of these focused on a narrow segment, such as specialized areas of industry.

Modern times bring modern needs

Today, Oslobodjenje is a thriving newspaper and magazine publisher, but it also functions as a printer for clients. It is by far the largest printing service in Bosnia. In the late 1980s, a new state-of-the-art building was erected for newspaper and printing business. Prior to the war, it was among the most beautiful in Sarajevo, but was damaged significantly during the fighting of the mid-1990s.

Olslobodjenje has a proud history of standing up for liberty. Today, that tradition lives on through a number of publications. The organization has changed a great deal, but the commitment to liberty and justice remains strong.