Banovci (old name: Šidski Banovci), is a village in Vukovar-Srijem County, part of the municipality Nijemci, 30 km from Vinkovci, 18 km from Vukovar and 14 km from Šid.
Before the Second World War, a number of Germans lived in the village. After the war they moved to Austria. Today the majority of residents are of Serbian origin. According to the 1910 census, Banovci had 990 inhabitants, including 686 Germans.
In Banovci, on January 7, 1991, insurgent Serbs founded the "Serbian National Council of Slavonia, Baranja and Western Srijem" with the aim of annexing parts of Croatia to Serbia.
Church of St. Fridays in Banovci
The Church of the Venerable
Mother Paraskeva in Banovci is the central and only church of the
Orthodox Church Municipality of Banovac. Institutionally, it belongs
to the Diocese of Srijem with its seat in Srijemski Karlovci.
History
The church was built in the neoclassical style in
1818. During the first decade of this century, the interior and
exterior of the church were restored as the conditions required. The
church also has a spacious yard with a children's playground
(donated by the Red Cross) with an orchard. It is one of the three
churches in Croatia that institutionally belong to the Diocese of
Srijem.
Germans in Banovci
Until the Second World War, Banovci was
inhabited mostly by Germans who were evicted from Eastern European
countries by allied decisions, and according to the SFRY law on
colonization, Serbs from war-ravaged passive parts of southern
Croatia: Lika and northern Dalmatia moved into their homes.
According to the 1910 census, Banovci had 990 inhabitants, of which
686 were Germans.
Population
According to the 2001 census,
the settlement had 479 inhabitants.
According to the 2011 census,
the settlement had 432 inhabitants.
The majority of the
population is engaged in agriculture. Banovci is well connected by
traffic, located on the main road Vinkovci-Šid, and the railway also
passes through the place.
According to the age structure, the
largest share is of persons older than 50 years.
The place is
located about 15 kilometers north of the Danube. In the south,
between the place and the highway, there are ancient Spačva oak
forests. There is also a neoclassical Orthodox church of St. Petka
built in the first half of the 19th century.