Robert

Daniela

Robert Zadro was brave just like his father and he proved it in the most necessary moments

Robert Zadro often stands in the shadow of his father, Blaga Zadro, when Vukovar is mentioned. However, he was not only the image and likeness of his father in terms of heroism, but also in terms of personality. Robert was always known to his acquaintances and friends as a calm, reliable and objective person who, regardless of the situation, readily takes responsibility. One event in particular proves his poise and courage. It was, of course, when his father died.

After the dangerous operation of extracting Blaga's body, during which some of his comrades died, the fighters stood by the bier, by the motionless body of their greatest role model and hope. No one knew what to feel or say. Neither does Robert. After all, his father was blessed. After a long silence, with a pained face, he only said: "Let's go on fighting, there will be time to cry when this war is over."

It was with these words that he restored hope to the others. Some, they say, felt as if Zadro was among them again. Although he really resembled his father a lot, Robert had something of his own, which reinvigorated the fighters. His stoic attitude was just what they needed.

Stoic courage

Robert never stopped fighting for his beliefs - even when perhaps he should have

The last days of the defense of Vukovar. A new defense commander of the Borova settlement was to be chosen, and Robert's name was mentioned. His only answer to surrender was: "I will not! For the sake of my late father, I don't want it to be recorded that Zadro surrendered the city. I will fight with the boys as long as we can, but I will not surrender the city."

And indeed he did not surrender either the city or himself. He did not want the Chetniks to capture and torture him in order to blacken his name because of the memory of his father. In the last days when the city was falling, everyone just wanted to break through and get out. For Robert, the war could have been over - he lost his father, friends and city. He could have chosen to save his father's family, the family of Zadrina. But it is not. He gathered a handful of comrades and willingly, together with honor, laid down his life for his homeland, but this time Herzegovina, thus fulfilling his father's wish

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