On the official Facebook page of the Zadar-based association Hrvatski domobran, a birthday tribute has appeared dedicated to the fascist leader and war criminal Ante Pavelić, head of the so-called Independent State of Croatia (NDH) and collaborator of Adolf Hitler. Although Pavelić died in 1959 in Madrid, members of the association publicly celebrated his birthday, posting a large graphic with a black background and his birthdate.
The comments from association members under the post are even more disturbing, with some writing: “Happy birthday, Poglavnik,” “Long live the NDH,” and even:
“When Croats come to power, Ante must be returned to his Croatia, while Tito’s monuments can be in the sea, Chetnik monuments can be in the sea, but Ante cannot—this proves that Croatia is still ruled by traitorous communists,” one member declared.
Despite being well aware of Pavelić’s alliance with Hitler and his intention for the NDH to become a part of the Third Reich, as well as his numerous war crimes, the association appears intent on erasing that dark chapter of Croatian history. Instead, they attribute to Pavelić the supposed merit of founding the NDH, disregarding the brutal crimes committed under his regime.
The association, which receives funding from the City of Zadar (a city that publicly distances itself from all war criminals), describes itself as follows:
“A patriotic association that brings together all veterans’ organizations and members of their families, as well as all patriots. We promote the truth about the Croatian soldier throughout history, and we research and mark the graves of Croatian soldiers and civilians.”
This incident raises serious concerns about historical revisionism and the glorification of fascist figures within parts of Croatian society.
Source: Antena portal Zadar
