History

The era of peace and prosperity was abruptly shattered by the outbreak of the Balkan Wars and World War I. The men of Lebane answered the call to arms, serving in the Serbian Army during the First Balkan War to liberate Kosovo and Metohija, Old Serbia, and Macedonia from Ottoman rule. In the Second Balkan War, the local population formed the backbone of the legendary Second Infantry Regiment “Knjaz Mihailo”—famously known as the “Iron Regiment” for its unmatched courage.

Only a year later, the world was plunged into the Great War, a global conflict of unprecedented scale. While many soldiers endured the grueling retreat across Albania to Corfu and later fought on the Salonica Front, those who remained in Lebane refused to submit. In 1917, they joined the Jablanica-Toplica Uprising, the only armed rebellion in occupied Europe at the time. Led by legendary voivodes such as Kosta Pećanac and Dimitrije Begović, they fought fiercely against the forced “Bulgarianization” of the local population.

The occupation’s retaliation was brutal. Following the suppression of the uprising in late March 1917, Bulgarian forces mass-deported and executed many citizens of Lebane at Sinkovcе (Arapova Dolina) and Surdulica. Among those who sacrificed their lives for the Serbian cause, the story of Magdalena Nikolić, wife of MP Gaja Nikolić, remains a powerful symbol of national resilience and courage.

With the breakthrough of the Salonica Front in 1918 and the birth of the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats, and Slovenes, Lebane solidified its role as the administrative heart of the Jablanica District. This era saw a vibrant expansion beyond traditional agriculture, as craftsmanship, commerce, and professional services began to flourish.

The town’s skyline changed with the opening of numerous shops, credit institutions, and legal offices. By the 1920s, Lebane was a bustling hub with two major banks: the Commercial Bank A.D. and the Jablanica Credit Savings Bank. Healthcare also modernized rapidly; in 1919, Dr. Mitić opened the town’s first comprehensive medical practice—offering everything from pediatrics to minor surgery—followed shortly by the first pharmacy and the law firm of Mr. Erić. Since 1930, the Lebane Court has stood as a pillar of the region, today serving the municipalities of Lebane, Medveđa, and Bojnik.

The interwar period was also a time of spirited political life, defined by the rivalry between the Radicals and the Democrats. The Radical Party was led by the Dragović brothers, Milutin and Miloš—personal friends of King Alexander Karađorđević—while the Democrats were championed by Gavrilo “Gaja” Nikolić. By the late 1930s, the political landscape shifted again with the rise of the labor movement and the formation of the first underground communist cells in Buvce.  A lasting landmark of this era is the Church of the Beheading of Saint John the Baptist. Construction began in 1931 on a central plateau formerly owned by the Dragović family, and the church was finally consecrated in 1946, remaining a spiritual centerpiece of the town today.

Following World War II, Lebane experienced an industrial boom. The economy diversified from agriculture into thriving textile, metal, pharmacological, and wood-processing industries. Beyond industry, Lebane’s greatest export has been its intellectual capital. The municipality has produced over a dozen academicians and more than 30 PhDs, including renowned professors, historians, engineers, and doctors who have made significant marks on the global stage.