ABOUT DOBOJ

     

 

SOUTH-EAST EUROPE CROSS-ROADS - PICTURE PAGE

For arising and development of Doboj city, from prehistory to today is of crucial importance its geografical position situated bellow the Ozren, Trebava and Krnjin hills in the wide plain where the Bosna river excepts its junctions the Usora and the Spreca.
Because of satisfactory natural position this area was populated even in the older stone era (the tracks of the human existence are about 6000 years old), and life has been existing here in continuity even in the younger stone and metall era.

The history in this area signifies the Roman power from the begining of the first century when the first urbanization began and about is certify the best way the ruines of the well known fortification complex on the junction of the Usora into the Bosna river consisting of military camp - Castrum and a settlement - Canuba as well as frequent findings in Posavina direction Brod - Samac - Brcko.

At the end of the 4th century the Roman power failed as the result of gust of Slavic and other tribes during great migration of people to this area and the area has been populating by Slavic till 7th century. The Slavic tribes founded their associations - districts being in the following centuries part of medieval feudal states having in certain historical periods military and political superarity.
This area belonged to the district of Usora, under serbian king Dragutin Nemanjic, and from the 12th century it is a part of Bosnian feudal state and as the border area of the Norhern Bosnia became of interest of Hungarians.

In the 13th century (the latest) domestic feuds had been building the Doboj fortress with down part - through centuries a symbol of the town, for defence against enemies from north. DOBOJ, as the name of the town was mentioned for the first time in written documents not untill June 16th 1415. Regarding to the old legend, historically unverified, name of the town is made by two serbian words: valley (do) and fight (boj). The Doboj fortress was possesed by Turks from 1476 and the town itself from 1503.
During the 17th and 18th centuries Turkey and Austria were fighting about Doboj which was occupied by Austro - Hungarian monarchy from 1878 till its final breakdown.

With building of railway and industrial facilities beginning in the year 1879, the Doboj area develops quickly and it gets the urbanistic characteristics, even partly saved today.
During the World war, Doboj hes became mass grave for thousands of Serbs driven from border areas of BH to Serbia and Monte Negro (Podrinje and Stara Hercegovina). In the period from December 1915 to July 1917 through the camp passed about 45000 refuges and more than 5000 prisoners of war died in this collective death camp. Others had been deported to notorious camps Arad in Romania and Sopronjak in Hungary.

As the memory to these war causalties a wonderful monument complex was constructed (finished 1938) consisting of memorial chuch and memorial charnel house with monument.
In the Kingdom of Serbians, Croats and Slovenians, Doboj has started with intensive economic and spirit development. The first water pipe installations were built in 1922 and electrification was performed in 1925. Typical city business school was opened in 1927. Doboj became a regional center in 1933. 

During the World war II, Doboj was bombed some times. During World war II more than 3000 inhabitants of Doboj took part in antifascist people's liberation war and about 1000 of them gave their lives for liberty. At April 17, 1945 Doboj was liberated.

In the Socialistic Federative Republic Yugoslavia, Doboj experienced intensive development in the fields of economy, culture, education, medical care, sports, etc. The Region of Doboj has expanded to eight municipalities: Doboj, Derventa, Srpski Brod, Vukosavlje, Modrica, Samac, Petrovo and Teslic. Comprehensive Doboj development was stopped by tragical war 1992 - 1995 and its consequences are visible at each step.

With its 64 urban settlements, the city of Doboj covers an area of 628 square km, with a population of about 77,000 which is about 6% of the population of the Republika Srpska, with 12,000 people presently employed without private producing sector in agriculture. About 30000 inhabitants live in the city zone. The biggest villages are Boljanic, Stanari, Osjecani, Kožuhe, Podnovlje i Rudanka. The whole area is supplied with electricity and connected by phone lines with the world. The roads infrastructure is covered by 650 km of regional and local roads network and 60 km of main roads which are the quickest Doboj way to Banjaluka, Brod, Modrica, Teslic, Zenica etc.
The largest part of Doboj region is a plain with a high-quality cultivable soil for different agriculture growing, especially wheat, corn, barley, oats and rye. On the hilly territories, temperate continental climate caused fruit - especially plums, pears and apples production.

Doboj is a town with higly developed industry (metallurgy, textiles, chemicals and food) and mining and civil engineering, not to mention other activities such as transport, trade, catering industry, crafts, home businesses and public services.

Doboj is a very interesting territory for all types of economic activities and investments.
Doboj sprang up on the chops of the three rivers - Bosna, Usora i Spreca, at the intersection of important land routes. Thanks to owned geographical location, Doboj has became a very important land cross-roads, highway and railway traffic. In 1864, the first macadam road and in 1879, the first narrow-gauge railroad were built through this city. In ex-Yugoslavia, Doboj took the second place on the list of largest rail cross-roads. Today, Doboj is the largest railroad center of Bosnia and Herzegovina and one of the largest on the Balkan. 

Regarding to mentioned facts, Doboj is the seat of Railway Transport Enterprise of Republika Srpska and the Corporation for Railway Traffic of Boasnia and Herzegovina.
Doboj is a real trade-fair town. The international Small and Medium Enterprises, Entrepreneurship and Start-ups Fair Dobojexpo brings together a large number of domestic and foreign businessmen, which contributes to the establishment of direct contacts between local, regional, republic and international markets. Dobojexpo gathers numerous business subjects from abroad and from within the country, thus making it an important economic factor in the development of the town and of the region itself. Entrepreneurship development, from young enterpreneurs (educational enterprises) to real enterpreneurs (business companies), is the base for further Doboj city future.
Doboj is not only an economic center today. It is also a center of cultural, scientific, health care and school center. First literacy has been borned at monasteries and churches and, later, secular schools were founded (first in village Osjecani in 1852).

The Transport Faculty Doboj (from 2005) and Slobomir P. University Department Doboj (from 2003), the first high educational institutions in Doboj, are the addition to a very good organized primary and secondary schools system.
Centre for culture and education Doboj has a key role in intellectual Doboj city life, through the numerous art shows (theatre events, cinema, concerts, art exhibitions, literature evenings, folklore ensembles performances, etc.).

In the city with rich and significant wide national historical and cultural traditions, a lot of art and sport organizations are active. The most important sport event is traditional and international Handball TV Champions tournament. This tournament existed from 1965 and at the end of the summer, the best world handball clubs are competing in the championship, offering first-class sport results and developing cooperation and friendships among young people.