Hundreds of people gathered on the Mount Igman near Sarajevo on Saturday to mark the 79th anniversary of the legendary WWII 'Igman March' operation that saved a Partisan unit.

Compared to previous years when this area was flocked by thousands, the coronavirus epidemic and restrictive measures prevented many from coming to the commemoration.

Na Igmanu počelo obilježavanje 79.godišnjice Igmanskog marša. @N1infoSA pic.twitter.com/faw1xIQ7Fn

— Tina Jelin-Dizdar N1 (@tinajelindizdar) January 30, 2021

The breakthrough of the 1st Proletarian Brigade through the German siege was made at the night of 27th January 1942 over Igman, the mountain overlooking Sarajevo.

The brigade marched through deep snow as temperatures hit -30 degrees. The exhausted soldiers started to fall asleep while walking and began to hallucinate.

However, the unit managed to escape to the eastern town of Foca.

Celebrating the determination, endurance, and discipline of the 1st Proletarian Brigade, participants sang on Saturday Yugoslav Partizan songs and sported symbols that used to unite all of them.

Despite the pandemic and travel restrictions, delegations from some neighbouring countries also attended the ceremony. They laid flowers and wreaths, and performed a symbolic march, continuing the 79-year long tradition.