{"id":3236,"date":"2025-01-28T00:45:47","date_gmt":"2025-01-28T00:45:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/umetnickifaktor.rs\/2025\/01\/28\/the-first-belgrade-stadium-and-the-falcons-of-the-kingdom-of-yugoslavia\/"},"modified":"2025-02-04T13:32:35","modified_gmt":"2025-02-04T13:32:35","slug":"the-first-belgrade-stadium-and-the-falcons-of-the-kingdom-of-yugoslavia","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/umetnickifaktor.rs\/en\/the-first-belgrade-stadium-and-the-falcons-of-the-kingdom-of-yugoslavia\/","title":{"rendered":"The First Belgrade Stadium and “the Sokoli” of the Kingdom of Yugoslavia"},"content":{"rendered":"

Today, Belgrade<\/strong> is home to several stadiums<\/strong>, each an integral part of the city\u2019s history and popular culture<\/strong>. It\u2019s hard to imagine any major city<\/strong> without its stadiums<\/strong>. Yet, few Belgraders know<\/strong> about the first stadium ever built in their city<\/strong>. Why? Unfortunately, that stadium has long been lost to history<\/strong>, but that doesn\u2019t mean it should be forgotten<\/strong>. On the contrary\u2014it was revolutionary in many ways<\/strong>, and we should remember it with pride<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

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Dragutin Inkiostri Medenjak, Beli Orao, 1922.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The first stadium in Belgrade<\/strong> was designed specifically for the Sokol Rally<\/strong>, held in 1930<\/strong>. Just like their stadium, the Sokoli movement<\/strong> has also faded from public memory<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

The Sokoli<\/strong> were founded in 1862<\/strong> by Miroslav Tir\u0161<\/strong>, a name now best known from a street that runs past the former Sokol Hall\u2014today widely recognized as Stari DIF<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Tir\u0161 established the Sokol movement in Prague<\/strong> with the goal of uniting Czechs living under Habsburg rule<\/strong> through gymnastics, athletics, and other sports<\/strong>, strengthening their national identity and culture<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

The movement quickly spread<\/strong> beyond the Czech lands, becoming a widespread phenomenon<\/strong> among other Slavic nations<\/strong> within the Habsburg Empire<\/strong>. The Sokoli played a crucial role in strengthening the Pan-Slavic movement<\/strong>, which ultimately contributed to the formation of Poland, Czechoslovakia, and the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats, and Slovenes (later Yugoslavia)<\/strong> following the collapse of Austria-Hungary after World War I<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

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The poster for the Sokol Rally of the Sokoli of the Kingdom of Yugoslavia, 1930.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Although the Sokol movement<\/strong> nurtured Slavic traditions and identity<\/strong>, it was neither exclusive nor elitist<\/strong>. On the contrary, members of Sokol societies came from various religious backgrounds, social classes, and nationalities<\/strong>, and even both genders<\/strong>. Women were considered equal to men<\/strong> within the Sokol movement, which significantly contributed to the emancipation of women<\/strong> in areas where Sokol activity was present. While most Sokoli were amateur athletes<\/strong>, some individuals, such as Leon \u0160tukelj<\/strong>, represented the Kingdom of Yugoslavia<\/strong> and won Olympic medals in gymnastics<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Although widely associated with socialist Yugoslavia<\/strong>, the Slet<\/strong> was originally invented by the Sokoli<\/strong>. It was the most important event<\/strong> for gathering Sokoli from all Slavic countries and beyond<\/strong>. Thousands of Sokoli and Sokolice<\/strong>participated in these rallies, performing perfectly synchronized exercises<\/strong>. This format was later fully adopted in socialist Yugoslavia<\/strong>, particularly for the Day of Youth celebrations<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Slet events were held in specially designed stadiums<\/strong>, known as sleti\u0161ta<\/strong>, which were distinct from Olympic-style stadiums<\/strong> due to their square-shaped layout<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

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Sokolica at the All-Sokol Convention in Belgrade, 1930.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Momir Korunovi\u0107, The situation and foundation of the Sokol Stadium, Vreme, 1930.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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The Slet rallies<\/strong> had a populist character<\/strong>, aiming to promote the Sokol ideology<\/strong> in an engaging and collegial manner<\/strong>. Since Belgrade<\/strong> lacked a suitable stadium to host such a large-scale event<\/strong>, the Sokol Association of the Kingdom of Yugoslavia<\/strong> commissioned architect Momir Korunovi\u0107<\/strong>, who was also the chairman of the construction section of the Slet Committee<\/strong>, to design a temporary stadium specifically for the event<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Korunovi\u0107 had been introduced to the Sokol movement<\/strong> early in his career, during his stay in Prague for professional training in 1911 and 1912<\/strong>, and from that moment, he became a dedicated member<\/strong>. Over the course of his career, he designed as many as 25 Sokol Halls<\/strong>, leaving a significant architectural legacy<\/strong> within the movement.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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The wooden stadium of the First All-Sokol Landing in Belgrade, 1930.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The original location<\/strong> proposed for the stadium was Donji Grad (Lower Town) of the Belgrade Fortress<\/strong>. The idea was to construct a grand, prefabricated stadium<\/strong> with a capacity of 5,000 performers and 100,000 spectators<\/strong>. However, King Alexander I Kara\u0111or\u0111evi\u0107<\/strong> rejected this ambitious proposal<\/strong> due to the high costs<\/strong> associated with terrain leveling and embankment construction<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

The king also dismissed the idea<\/strong> of building the stadium on Banji\u010dko polje<\/strong>, believing that the location was too far from the city center<\/strong>. Ultimately, the decision was made to construct the stadium on a site behind the Technical Faculty building<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

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Portrait of Momir Korunovi\u0107 in a falcon suit, Du\u0161an Silno’s Falcon, 1928.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Korunovi\u0107 designed a stadium covering an area of 12,560 m\u00b2<\/strong>. Its structure required 5,100 m\u00b3 of timber<\/strong>, making it the largest wooden construction in Central Europe<\/strong> at the time. Although the stadium was prefabricated<\/strong>, its stands were supported by concrete footings<\/strong>. The static calculations<\/strong> for the stands were carried out by architect Predrag Zrni\u0107<\/strong>, who also oversaw the construction<\/strong> alongside engineer Radivoje Radulovi\u0107<\/strong>, a designer of several Sokol Halls<\/strong> himself. The construction took about two months<\/strong>, employing 450 workers<\/strong>, and its structural integrity<\/strong> was tested by three military regiments<\/strong>. The exercise area covered 12,600 m\u00b2<\/strong>, accommodating 3,500 gymnasts simultaneously<\/strong>, while the stands could seat 45,000 spectators<\/strong>. During construction, citizens were allowed to visit the stadium<\/strong> on holidays and Sundays for a fee of two dinars<\/strong>. A separate entrance<\/strong> for the royal family, government officials, and diplomatic corps<\/strong> was located on Aleksandrova Street<\/strong> (now King Alexander Boulevard<\/strong>), leading directly to the royal box<\/strong>. The general public could access the venue through four entrance gates<\/strong>, designed in Korunovi\u0107\u2019s signature national style<\/strong>. Performers had three dedicated entrances<\/strong> leading to changing rooms beneath the stands<\/strong>, from which they could access the training grounds.<\/p>\n

A Music Pavilion<\/strong> for the orchestra was integrated into the stands, equipped with Phillips speakers<\/strong>. The event was broadcast nationwide<\/strong> through a collaboration between Telefunken, Philips, and the Belgrade Radio Station Directorate<\/strong>, with 40 locations across the country<\/strong> transmitting the Slet rally.<\/p>\n

Korunovi\u0107\u2019s vision for the stadium also included a water supply system, electric lighting, a post office, a press room, and telephone booths<\/strong>. Above the royal boxes<\/strong>, towers were erected to serve as fire watch stations<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

The construction of the Sokol Stadium<\/strong> cost over 8,000,000 dinars<\/strong>, making it one of the most significant public works projects of its time<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

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The wooden stadium of the First All-Sokol Landing in Belgrade, 1930.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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King Alexander with members of the government and representatives of Sokol in the ceremonial lodge, Belgrade municipal newspaper, 1930.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Throughout June 1930<\/strong>, Sokol festivities<\/strong> were held across Belgrade. The immense significance<\/strong> of the Svesokolski Slet<\/strong> is evident from the fact that on its final day<\/strong>, a grand parade of 20,000 Sokoli and Sokolice<\/strong> from Czechoslovakia, Poland, and other countries<\/strong> where Sokol societies existed was watched by around 200,000 Belgraders<\/strong>. Given that Belgrade\u2019s population in the 1931 census was 288,938<\/strong>, it is clear that the entire city was engaged in the Slet celebrations<\/strong>. The event was also filmed for a documentary<\/strong>, which premiered in February 1931<\/strong> at the Kasina Hotel cinema hall<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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View of the stadium from Grobljanska Street, today’s Roosevelt Street.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Once the Slet festivities concluded<\/strong>, the stadium was dismantled<\/strong>, and the timber was sold to cover part of the expenses<\/strong>. Despite the Sokoli\u2019s efforts<\/strong> to secure a permanent stadium<\/strong>, political turmoil leading up to World War II<\/strong>continually delayed its construction<\/strong>. A video from the Yugoslav Film Archive, available on their official YouTube channel, showcases the arrival of the royal couple, King Alexander I and Queen Maria Kara\u0111or\u0111evi\u0107, the architecture of the stadium, and the spectacular performances of the Sokol rally.<\/p>\n