This novel, published in 2005, is dedicated to Jovan Bijelić - Joja, a legendary and fearless hero of Potkozarje and Kozara. Joja’s bravery and sacrifice turned him into a powerful symbol of resistance and a source of inspiration for journalists, writers, and filmmakers alike.
Author Karan vividly portrays a warrior who stayed true to the ancestral vow to protect his homeland. Joja stood firm against all who sought to destroy Kozara’s homes and erase the Serbian people from the region. His fight was not fueled by hatred - he never wished to kill - but by necessity. His captured machine gun, the “Brno”, became more than just a weapon; it was like a parent, his lifeline. His comrades were his brothers, united by blood and shared struggle.
The novel follows Joja’s wartime journey, beginning with his first firefight on Kruškovac above Dubica, through pivotal battles on Kozara, Grmeč, Bihać, and the long campaign toward the Drina River and Serbia. It concludes with the war’s aftermath, as Joja, reluctantly, lays down his weapon and adjusts to life beyond the frontlines.
Through Joja’s story, the novel recounts the most significant battles of Kozara and the Krajina region, alongside his reflections on the tragic events that unfolded in Yugoslavia and Europe. It vividly depicts the suffering of innocent Serbian civilians at the hands of Ustasha forces and German Nazis.
Karan’s narrative also weaves lyrical descriptions of Kozara and Potkozarje’s natural beauty - its dense forests, mountain dawns, and starlit nights -intertwined with Joja’s inner struggles, hallucinations, moments of hope and despair, hunger, pain, and resilience. This novel stands as a tribute not only to Joja and the Kozara Fifth Brigade but to the indomitable spirit of a people forged in the crucible of war.