Analysis of Stjepan Mesić's Statements on Croatia's Role in World War II
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The question concerns the statements made by Stjepan Mesić, a former Croatian President, regarding Croatia's involvement in World War II. Specifically, the question asks about his assertion that Croatia "won" the war twice, once on the side of the Axis powers and once on the side of the Allies. This statement is highly controversial and requires careful examination of historical facts and Mesić's political context.
The historical context is crucial to understanding Mesić's statements. During World War II, the territory of modern-day Croatia was primarily encompassed by the Independent State of Croatia (NDH), a puppet state established by Nazi Germany and Fascist Italy in 1941. The NDH was allied with the Axis powers and committed atrocities against various groups, including Serbs, Jews, Roma, and anti-fascist Croats.[1] Simultaneously, a strong Partisan resistance movement, led by Josip Broz Tito, fought against the Axis occupation and the NDH regime. The Partisans were supported by the Allies and ultimately prevailed in liberating Yugoslavia, including Croatia, at the end of the war.[2]
Mesić's statement, therefore, is a highly contentious interpretation of history. It suggests that Croatia, as a political entity, was victorious twice. The first "victory" would refer to the NDH's existence and alliance with the Axis powers, which is a deeply problematic interpretation given the NDH's collaboration with Nazi Germany and its genocidal policies. The second "victory" would refer to the Partisan movement's success, which, while liberating Croatia, was not a victory of the NDH, but rather a defeat of the NDH and its Axis allies. Mesić's statement can be seen as an attempt to reconcile the complex and often contradictory narratives of Croatian history during World War II, but it is widely criticized for its historical inaccuracies and its potential to downplay the atrocities committed by the NDH regime.
Authoritative Sources
- The Holocaust in Croatia. [United States Holocaust Memorial Museum]↩
- Yugoslavia. [Britannica]↩
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