Dušan Pavlović, the director of the Center for Socio-Political Research (CSPR) of Republika Srpska, has issued an urgent appeal to the members of the German parliament for the official recognition and commemoration of the Day of Remembrance for the victims of genocide against Serbs in the Independent State of Croatia (NDH).
Pavlović urged the members of the Bundestag to establish April 22 as the national Day of Remembrance for the genocide against Serbs, with an educational program incorporated into school curricula.
In his letter to Bärbel Bas, the President of the Bundestag, and other members, Pavlović highlighted that April 22 represents a significant day in the history of World War II and human rights – the day in 1945 when the last group of prisoners at the Jasenovac concentration camp, often called “the Auschwitz of the Balkans,” made a desperate and heroic breakout for freedom, choosing to face death rather than continue enduring unimaginable atrocities.
Pavlović noted that this day is commemorated as the Day of Remembrance for the genocides against Serbs, Jews, and Roma under the brutal regime of the NDH, which operated under the political and military control of Nazi Germany.
“I write to you not only as the head of an institution that, among other things, is mandated to foster a culture of remembrance, but also as a certified lecturer on the Holocaust for Yad Vashem since 2005 and as a direct descendant of the victims of the genocide against the Serbian people in the NDH. The purpose of this letter is to address the deep moral failure and systemic oversight in your historical narrative, which continues to cause pain to survivors and their families,” the letter stated.
Under the auspices of Nazi Germany, Pavlović emphasized, the NDH carried out a dreadful plan for the systematic destruction of about two million members of the Serbian population on its territory – to kill one-third, expel another third, and forcibly assimilate the remainder through Catholicization and Croatization. This genocidal agenda, he pointed out, ran parallel to the harsh destruction of Jews and Roma/Sinti happening on the same territory, all under German supervision and complicity.
“According to current estimates, this genocide encompassed between 1.1 and 1.3 million Serbs in the NDH, reflecting a catastrophic period of targeted destruction that was ideologically and politically supported and controlled by Nazi Germany,” Pavlović emphasized.
He stated that this horrific genocidal policy, aimed at the extermination and assimilation of the Serbian population, has been extensively analyzed and confirmed by various credible sources – including Raphael Lemkin, the creator of the Genocide Convention, records from the Nuremberg Trials, and numerous leading scholars worldwide.
“These assessments thoroughly explain the political, military, and ideological complicity and responsibility of Germany in these crimes,” Pavlović highlighted.
Pavlović noted that this genocide, like others, should be recognized under the guidelines set by the UN Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide. It is the responsibility of the global community, including Germany, to acknowledge such crimes to prevent their recurrence and to universally respect human rights.
“The absence of official recognition of this genocide by Germany is an injustice that we still suffer today and that deepens wounds from the past. This omission can be perceived as a discriminatory act that awakens old prejudices and Serbophobia – a hint that Slavic and Serbian lives are less valuable and a painful reminder of the racial hierarchies propagated by Nazi ideology,” Pavlović wrote in the letter to members of the Bundestag.
Germany bears a special responsibility, Pavlović believes, given its historical role, to be a model in promoting understanding of these dark chapters of history and to work towards strengthening the influence of tolerance and justice.
“With deep concern, I point out a worrying inconsistency in Germany’s national policy. While Germany has sponsored initiatives in the UN General Assembly to recognize and condemn other recent mass crimes, it simultaneously hesitates to fully and transparently confront its historical sins and responsibility for the genocide against Serbs in the NDH,” Pavlović stated.
He emphasized that this selective approach not only undermines Germany’s credibility on the international stage but also questions its moral authority to advocate for human rights and justice worldwide.
“By avoiding recognizing this part of its history, Germany risks being seen as someone hiding behind a facade of selective memory, refusing to fully embrace the painful but necessary process of complete historical reconciliation. The perception of German hypocrisy is particularly unpleasant and harmful, both domestically and internationally, as it suggests conscious support for the survival of old ideologies and prejudices in new forms,” Pavlović emphasized.
Considering all said, he has called on the German parliament to correct
this oversight and adopt the resolution to officially recognize the genocide against Serbs in the NDH as soon as possible.
“Furthermore, I call for the establishment of April 22 as the national Day of Remembrance for the genocide against Serbs with an educational program within teaching plans and programs. This action would not only align German domestic policy on human rights with its international stance but would also strengthen the commitment to recognizing all victims of past atrocities and, finally, end discrimination against victims based on their cultural identity,” Pavlović urged.
He pointed out that the CSPR is dedicated to providing support for this goal through educational programs, research, and public engagement, to ensure that the truth about this dark chapter of history is fully recognized and remembered.
“We are ready to provide any necessary assistance to facilitate this important act of recognition,” Pavlović noted.
He also requested to be informed of all parliamentary actions or decisions related to this issue, recommending that transparency be ensured, which is crucial for recovery and correction of historical injustices.
“As we pay tribute to those who bravely fought for their dignity and lives on April 22, 1945, let us commit to uphold the values for which they sacrificed. I look forward to your support and witnessing a turning point in our shared history, where Germany recognizes and corrects the mistakes from its past, proving its commitment to truth, justice, and reconciliation,” Pavlović stated in the letter, which was published on the website in four languages.
Source: RTRS
