Dubica, Republika Srpska, Bosnia and Herzegovina

🇧🇦 Kozarska Dubica (Козарска Дубица), previously known as Bosanska Dubica (Serbian Cyrillic: Босанска Дубица) is a town and municipality located in northern Republika Srpska, an entity of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Geography It is situated in the eastern part of Bosanska Krajina region. The municipality of Hrvatska Dubica lies to the north, in Croatia. Bosanska Dubica is situated 26 km (16 miles) from the Zagreb–Belgrade highway. The town and its suburbs border Croatia to the north, the town of Gradiška to the east, the town of Kostajnica to the west, and the town of Prijedor to the south. The land area of Bosanska Dubica is 499 square km (193 sq mi).

Early history Kozarska Dubica was built in 930. Dubica on the right bank of the Una it was first mentioned in 1258 as Castrum. It was the seat of the Dubica county of the Kingdom of Hungary. In 1538 Dubica came under Ottoman rule Babonići-Vodički were in charge of the town until the 12th century. Kozarska Dubica became an important fort during the Ottoman Empire due to its geographic positioning. It became a vital and important border crossing for many years. The last Austrian-Turkish war was the so-called Dubica War (1788–91) and was fought in this area. During the war in Kozarska Dubica in the 1780s, the town, which was described at the time as having only a few houses and a mosque, was completely razed. The town fell under Ottoman occupation in 1538. Kozarska Dubica encountered many different rulers during the Ottoman Empire and the later Austro-Hungarian Empire.

During World War II, the town was occupied by Axis troops and was included into the Pavelić's Independent State of Croatia (NDH). The fascist Ustashe regime committed the Genocide of the Serbs and the Holocaust. During the war, the NDH armed forces killed over 7,000 Serbs in the municipality of Kozarska Dubica, while the municipality lost more than half of its pre-war population. The biggest massacre was committed by the Croatian Home Guard in January 1942, when the village Draksenić was burned and more than 1600 were people killed.

During the 1970s, Kozarska Dubica experienced a great improvement in its economy. During the 1980s there was a boom in construction and renovation which was halted by the outbreak of yet another war.

The Serbian Orthodox Moštanica Monastery (Manastir Moštanica) appears on the coat of arms of Kozarska Dubica.

Bosnian War During the period July–September 1992 all three of the town's mosques were completely destroyed. The main town's mosque Gradska Džamija (literally Town's Mosque), was rebuilt in 2003 and its Harem courtyard declared a national monument of Bosnia and Herzegovina. The bridge between Kozarska Dubica and Hrvatska Dubica was destroyed on the Croatian side. During the war the city was under siege by the Croatian Army during a failed operation called Operacija Una 95. On September 18, 1995, the Croatian army made a descent across the Una River and took control of some parts of Kozarska Dubica. The next day, on September 19, Serb units from other parts of the front line forced the Croat army to retreat back over the river, with Serb planes from the Banja Luka airport attacked in the vicinity of the villages Živaja and Šaš in Croatia. A total of 54 Serb civilians were killed by the regular Croatian army during a failed invasion from Croatia.

Settlements Aside from the town of Kozarska Dubica, the municipality includes the following settlements: • Aginci • Babinac • Bačvani • Bijakovac • Bjelajci • Božići • Brekinja • Čelebinci • Čitluk • Čuklinac • Demirovac • Dizdarlije • Donja Jutrogošta • Donja Slabinja • Donji Jelovac • Draksenić • Furde • Gornja Gradina • Gornjoselci • Gradina Donja • Gunjevci • Hadžibajir • Hajderovci • Jasenje • Johova • Jošik • Kadin Jelovac • Klekovci • Knežica • Komlenac • Košuća • Koturovi • Kriva Rijeka • Maglajci • Malo Dvorište • Međeđa • Međuvođe • Mirkovac • Mlječanica • Mrazovci • Murati • Novoselci • Odžinci • Parnice • Pobrđani • Pucari • Rakovica • Sjeverovci • Sključani • Sreflije • Strigova • Suvaja • Ševarlije • Tuključani • Ušivac • Veliko Dvorište • Verija • Vlaškovci • Vojskova i Vrioci.

Economy Situated in the valley of the rivers, the municipality of Kozarska Dubica has more than 316.09 square km (122.04 sq mi) of arable land, to which agriculture is an important development factor. Agricultural production is focused on land cultivation, cattle breeding, raising of industrial crops, and recently the development of fruit and wine growing. The climate of Kozarska Dubica is conducive to the cultivation of different kinds of vegetables.

Most of the economy comes from the livestock. The largest milk production company is Mlijekoprodukt located near the town of Kozarska Dubica. It continues its tradition of growing fruits in the area. Kozarska Dubica also has an important construction company, IGP "UNA", which was established in 1962. Prior to the war there was a sugar factory operating as well.

Culture Every year outside Bosnia and Herzegovina, the annual Bosansko Dubičko Veče is held. It is a celebration that brings together displaced Bosnians of all ethnicities from Kozarska Dubica. Celebrations in the United States are held in Chicago and St. Louis, Illinois. In Chicago it is always held on the Saturday before Memorial Day and hosted at the Rumija Cultural Center. Sydney, Australia, also holds the same celebration in order to gather people of Kozarska Dubica from different Australian and New Zealand areas. Work continues on creating a congress that would meet once every two years, in order to help young children born outside of Kozarska Dubica to retain the heritage and cultural traditions. These celebrations typically attract many Bosniaks; however, many Croats and Serbs also come to show their respect towards their heritage and the town of Kozarska Dubica, and to reunite with former neighbors.

Tourist Industry Hunting is a traditional sport of the municipality of Kozarska Dubica. One hunting organization is called Jele (Deer) The area used for hunting is around 500 square km (193 sq mi). Hunting is extravagant in Kozarska Dubica because of its two big mountains, Kozara and Prosara, with the hunting area filled with rich forests. Hunting ranges from deer to smaller animals such as wild ducks. Every April an international dog hunting competition occurs in Kozarska Dubica.

Spa Mlječanica is the centre for physiatrics, rehabilitation, and health in Kozarska Dubica, located on the north-west slopes of Kozara. A modern, specialized institution for physical medicine and rehabilitation, it provides ideal conditions for a successful rest and recovery for its clients.

Fishing is a highly important industry in Kozarska Dubica. Because of its location right on the Una River, fishing has developed into a long time tradition, drawing people from different areas. Also, the Sava River is located not far from Kozarska Dubica at Jasenovac, where the Una enters the Sava.

Sport Kozarska Dubica has an old tradition in sports that dates back to the early 20th century. In the 1930s, Kozarska Dubica established a football club named SK Una. Currently, FK Borac play in the second tier-First League of the Republika Srpska.

After World War II, Kozarska Dubica had an upsurge of different sport organizations. In 1962 the handball club Borac was established. On February 11, 1973, the basketball club BK Una was created. In 1982 the Karate Club Knešpolje was founded. Even today the different sports remain an important part of Kozarska Dubica. There are both male and female teams for handball. Also there are a couple of karate clubs and chess clubs.