Gipsy and his trumpet

Around the globe gypsies are known as travelers in carriages, circus entertainers, fortune tellers but also as victims of Nazis in WW1 and WW2.If you put a side the “rest of a world” gypsies are known as a musicians in the Balcan states. Serbia, Bulgaria, North Macedonia, Croatia, Hungary… Here they are seen as singers and trumpet virtuosos.

In Serbia you can even go on trumpet festival named “Dragacevski sabor trubaca (Guca Festival)” where more than 70% of contesters are gypsies.

Orchestra that win first place gets money reward and best player of trumpet gets “Zlatna Truba (Golden Trumpet)”. Best players are always chosen by the jury that was put together from the audience.

There are many stories about famous gypsy players but this war story is pretty interesting and unknown for the most of the Balkan states and totally unknown for the “Rest of the World”. Before first and second World War there were many wars on Balcan. There were also first and second Balcan War. One of famous trumpet player from that time was Ahmed.

Ahmed Ademovic (1873–1965) was trumpet player in Serbian army in first and second Balcan war and he also participated in first World War. He was Serbian with gipsy origin that lived in Leskovac, in southwest part of Serbia where he was buried. During second World War two of his sons were killed by the German Nazis so he went to live with his grandson Fadil and died in 92 years.

Military Academy of France and Russia today have example of Ahmeds courage and trickery, simple and intelligent move that defeated whole army at the battle for Kumanovo.

Battle for Kumanovo was fought between Serbian Kingdom and Otoman Empire armies in October 24 at year of 1912. This was a battle of encounter, as both armies rushed towards each other. The Great victory at Kumanovo was the first Serbian victory in the First Balkan War and marked the imminent end of Turkish rule in the Balkans.

Famous move of Ahmed in this battle was behind enemy lines. Ahmed crept into the rear of the Turkish army and played, by ear, their trumpet signals for retreat. The confused Turkish army, which at that moment was in a violent rush, began to retreat. Then again, unnoticed, Ahmed crossed back among the Serbian troops, and played the signal for the attack. His courage and trumpet was one of the key factors for the Serbian victory in this battle.

Ahmed was awarded with the Star of Karadjordje with crossed swords. He was so proud of himself and he never took off the star for the rest of his life. The inhabitants of Leskovac city remembered and respected his heroism. They celebrated anniversaries of battle and he was given places of honor.

There were two other Romani (Gypsies) who received Karadjordje's Star, both trumpeters and both from Leskovac: Ahmet Ametovic (for the Battle of Bregalnica) and Rustem Sejdic (for the Battle of Kaymakchalan).[citation needed] It has been decided by a veterans' descendants organization to erect a statue, memorial sign or name a street in Leskovac in his honor.

Gypsies are today great trumpet players but even many of them don’t know the story of Ahmed. There are no trumpet players like Ahmed was and never will be. After his sons were executed by Nazis he did never play his trumpet again but his song remained. Musicians are trying to change the world for a long time and one surely succeed in that. He didn’t have any school and he wasn’t payed to play. He played one of the most beautiful song, song that liberated so many people. Gypsy and a trumpet.