http://www.croatia.org/crown en-us http://www.croatia.org/crown N/A letters@croatia.org Mon, 04 May 2026 09:22:01 +0000 20 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/11415/1/Croatian-mariners-in-the-ARCTIC-EXPEDITION-in-1872-1874.html The crew of the ship Tegetthoff was composed of 24 persons, out of them 12 Croats. Their names are Petar Lusina (from the island of Cres), Lovro Marolla (from Rijeka), Ante Vecerina (from Draga near Rijeka), Petar Falesic (from Bakar), Juraj Stiglic (from Bakar), Jakov Sucic (from Volosko), Fran Lettis (from Volosko), Vicko Palmic (from Lovran, on the photo), Josip Latkovic (from Plomin), Ante Katarinic (from Mali Losinj), Ante Lukinovic (from Pucisca on the island of Brac), Ante Zaninovic (from Sv. Nedilja on the island of Hvar). darko_zubrinic@yahoo.com (Prof.Dr. Darko Zubrinic) Sat, 06 Jul 2024 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/11409/1/1145-years-since-the-first-international-recognition-of-Croatia-879---2024.html The Croatian Prince Branimir, 9th century, made important steps in strengthening the relations with Rome. During the solemn divine service in St. Peter's church in Rome in 879, Pope John VIII gave his blessing to the prince and the whole Croatian people, about which he informed Branimir in his letters, the first one dated on May 21, 879. This was the first time that the Croatian state was officially recognized (at that time the international legitimacy was given by the Pope), which, as we see, happened more than eleven centuries ago! darko@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach and Darko �ubrini�) Fri, 07 Jun 2024 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/11392/1/Bokeljska-trilogija-Vicka-Tripkoviaea-Podnopljskog--uredio-Vinicije-B-Lupis--.html Izdavaèka kuæa Gospa od ©krpjela - Perast u Crnoj Gori, objavila je 2023. knjigu Bokeljska trilogija Vicka Tripkoviæa Podnopoljskog, koju je dr. sc. Vinicije B. Lupis (na slici) uredio, opremio i popratio uvodnom studijom "Vicko Tripkoviæ Podnopoljski (Dobrota, 1870. Zagreb, 1938.), zaboravljeni hrvatski knji¾evnik, autor svojevrsne bokeljske trilogije". Pripovijetke koje èine ovu trilogiju tiskane su u dubrovaèkom knji¾evnom èasopisu Srð poèetkom 20. stoljeæa. darko@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach and Darko �ubrini�) Sat, 25 Nov 2023 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/11391/1/Vukovar-road-to-recovery.html We provide an audio presentation "Vukovar road to recovery" by Thomas Burns. We also provide a description of the drama in the Vukovar Hospital by the end of 1991, when its director was late Dr. Vesna Bosanac (on the photo). Dr. Vesna Bosanac sent numerous messages during several months of Serbian attacks on the city, asking for help. We also add a video-film "Operation Storm" produced by Nikola Knez. Another video contains a song Croatia written and composed by Dr. Drago ©tambuk in 1991, musically arranged by Arsen Dediæ. darko@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach and Darko �ubrini�) Sat, 11 Nov 2023 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/11382/1/Nikola-Tesla-1856-1943-the-father-of-Radio-Technology-and-Wireless-Communication-since-1893.html The principles of Radio Communication and Wireless Communication were layed down by Nikola Tesla, distinguished Croatian - American inventor, in 1893, during his spectacular public lecture in the St Louis concert hall, in front of 5000 people. The event was described in detail by Margaret Chaney in her monograph Tesla / Man Out of Time, in Chapter 6 entitled Radio. We provide an important testimony by William Gundry Broughton, son of Henry Primm Broughton (1865-1959) who served as Tesla's assistant during his lecture in St. Louis. Nikola Tesla is the precurusor of mobile-phone technology for more than hundred years. darko@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach and Darko �ubrini�) Fri, 21 Jul 2023 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/11452/1/Raveno-Cuvalo-assassinated-on-2nd-July-1991-in-Zagreb-by-the-Yugoslav-Army.html Raveno Èuvalo was one of those citizens of Zagreb, who on 2nd July 1991 tried to stop with their bare hands the tanks leaving the the infamous "Marshall Tito Military Camp" (also called "Mar¹alka"). He was then at the age of 32, employed at Kemoboja, playing piano and counterbass, singing at the Ivan Goran Kovaèiæ Choir, one of the best of Croatia. On these days, most of the citizens of Zagreb were hiding in cellars of their houses for months. darko@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach and Darko �ubrini�) Sun, 02 Jul 2023 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/11372/1/Miho-Demovic-1934-2023-distinguished-Croatian-music-historian-and-St-Pauls-shipwreck-on-the-island-of-Mljet.html Miho Demoviæ, Croatian priest, defended his PhD in Germany (Koeln), dealing with the history of Croatian music in the city of Dubrovnik. He is best known for his numerous musicological studies and monographs dealing with Croatia, especially with Dubrovnik. He initiated scholarly studies of the problem of ubication of the well known shipwreck of St Paul in the 1st century AC (described in the Acts of Apostles of the New Testament), that showed that it occured near the island of Mljet near the city of Dubrovnik, and not on Malta. darko@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach and Darko �ubrini�) Wed, 22 Mar 2023 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/11365/1/Buddha---one-of-the-most-popular-saints-in-the-Christian-calendar-of-the-Middle-Ages.html Could you ever imagine that one of the most popular saints in the Christian calendar of the Middle Ages was - Buddha? After ten years of researche, Katarina Livljaniæ and her ensemble Dialogos, bring the incredible story of saints Barlaam and Josaphat, a christianized version of Buddha's life, which crossed over at least four religions and was transmitted through almost all the medieval languages. Powerful songs sing the legend about the king's son, prince Josaphat, who leaves the noisy world of opulence to search for inner peace - songs which follow the path of his story from one medieval language to another, from Greek, Latin to Old Croatian, Italian, Church Slavonic... darko@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach and Darko �ubrini�) Fri, 30 Dec 2022 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/11353/1/Croatian---Indian-Links-monograph-marking-30-years-of-diplomatic-relations-1992-2022.html The publication Croatian-Indian Links: Thirty Chapters for Thirty Years of Diplomatic Relations (1992-€"2022) marks the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between and India and Croatia and highlights a legacy in which the contributions of our writers, scholars, artists, travellers, politicians are unified in one volume. Some chapters in the volume present certain important individuals and others present some themes or groups of individuals. Preparing this publication was suggested by H. E. Mr. Raj Kumar Srivastava, ambassador of India to Croatia (on the photo). darko@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach and Darko �ubrini�) Sat, 29 Oct 2022 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/11342/1/Hrvojka-Mihanovic-Salopek-Digital-Recording-of-the-Croatian-Mariological-Heritage.html This cultural project is carried out under the auspices of the Committee for Education, Science and Culture of the Croatian Parliament and the Council for Culture of the Croatian Conference of Bishops. Videos are published in English and Croatian (Digital Recording of the Croatian Mariological Heritage, i.e., Digitalno snimanje hrvatske marijanske ba¹tine). The Project leader, scenarist and director: Hrvojka Mihanoviæ-Salopek, Ph.D., employed at the Croatian Academy of Sciences and Arts in Zagreb. darko@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach and Darko �ubrini�) Thu, 07 Jul 2022 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/11331/1/Ukraine---Croatia-cultural-and-historical-relations.html This article illustrates some of deep connections between Ukraine and Croatia: White Croatians in Ukraine, Kiev Glagolitic folia (10th century), Kiev Rus, The Reims Evangel (11th century and 1395), Ivan U¾eviè, Ester eggs traditions in Ukraine and Croatia, Greek-Catholics in Ukraine and in Croatia, Ukrainian monuments in Croatia, Eduard Miloslaviæ, toponyms and hydronyms in Croatia and Ukraine of the same name, etc. On the photo: Taras Belej, a fine Ukrainean artist, living in Ivano-Frankivsk. This article was prepared in support of achieving peace in Ukraine. darko@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach and Darko �ubrini�) Tue, 01 Mar 2022 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/11330/1/Romain-Rollands-1924-book-quotMahatma-Gandhiquot-translated-into-Croatian-as-quotNa-Gandhiquot-Our-Gandhi.html Romain Rolland's book was published on the occasion of the 150th anniversary of the birth of Mahatma Gandhi (celebrated in 2019), and Stjepan Radiæ (honored in the year 2021). The original Croatian version of the book was published in 1924, entitled "Na¹ Gandhi" (Our Gandhi!). Issuing this reprint was suggested by Mr. Joginder Singh Nijjar, the president of Croatian-Indian Society in Zagreb. It appeared under the auspices of highest Croatian political, cultural and scientific institutions, as well as under the auspices of the Embassy of the Republic of India to Croatia. We provide a presentation of the reprint written by Ante Beliæ. darko@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach and Darko �ubrini�) Wed, 16 Feb 2022 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/11327/1/1143-years-since-the-first-international-recognition-of-Croatia.html The first international recognition of Croatia came in 879 from Pope John VIII, i.e., 1143 years ago! The Croatian Prince Branimir, 9th century, made important steps in strengthening the relations with Rome. During the solemn divine service in St. Peter's church in Rome in 879, Pope John VIII gave his blessing to the prince and the whole Croatian people, about which he informed Branimir in his letters, the first one dated on May 21, 879. This was the first time that the Croatian state was officially recognized. A special cultural program was organized on 15th January 2022 at Croatian Embassy in Tokyo on the occasion of the first diplomatic recognition of Croatia in 1992, on which occasion Yoko Nishii played her solemn pianistic concert. darko@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach and Darko �ubrini�) Sun, 30 Jan 2022 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/11308/1/Dr-Slobodan-Lang-1945-2016-quotStormquot-was-humanitarian-operation-that-prevented-genocide.html Operation "Storm" (August 1995) is the first ever military action that prevented genocide. It prevented genocide in the region of Bihaæ in the western part Bosnia, where there were at that time about 150,000 thousand people, and where I expected that if the case of Srebrenica happened again, there would have been about at least 12,000 people killed. For that reason I gave specifically asked president Tuðman to take military action. And now I will take a background. I am Jewish, I come from a Holocaust family... darko@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach and Darko �ubrini�) Thu, 05 Aug 2021 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/11285/1/Titanic-shipwreck-and-84-Croatian-saviors-out-of-300-on-Carpathia-ship.html The best known shipwreck in history is that of Titanic in 1912. Another ship called Carpathia, connecting Rijeka in Croatia and New York came to its rescue. Eighty four out of 300 members of the crew of Carpathia were of Croatian origin (i.e., nearly one quarter). We now know many more details about them and about the drama of saving the lives of the Titanic passangers. Duration of the corresponding film shot in Croatia's capital Zagreb is 47 min. A Croatian lady Marija Bartowski from the city of Osijek was on Carpathia, and her diary contains many details arround the Titanic shipwreck. On Titanic itself, there were 30 Croatian passangers, out of which 15 perished. All of their names are known. darko@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach and Darko �ubrini�) Sun, 14 Feb 2021 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/11278/1/Josip-Sersic-1948-2020-expert-in-Croatian-Austrian-connections.html Hrvatski centar gradi¹æanskih Hrvata u Beèu poslao je tu¾nu obavijest o smrti dr. Josipa Ser¹iæa u kojoj stoji: ÀžNa ©tefanje, 26. prosinca 2020. g. je preminuo dr. Josip Ser¹iæ (71), rodom s otoka Krka, a u Beèu posebno poznat i cijenjen kao polihistor, jezikoslovac i prije svega struènjak za noviju povijest gradi¹æanskih Hrvata. Izuzetno je aktivno i uvijek mjerodavno sudjelovao u dru¹tvenom ¾ivotu hrvatskih zajednica i udruga u Beèu. Posebno je bio vezan uz Hrvatski centar, gdje je bio i sudionik znanstvenog simpozija '400 godina Hrvata u Beèu' 2009. godine. Pet godina kasnije, 2014. objavio je zajedno s Mihaelom Ellenbogenom iznimno va¾nu knjigu 'Kroatisches Wien / Hrvatski Beè'. darko@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach and Darko �ubrini�) Fri, 08 Jan 2021 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/11245/1/St-Jerome--and-his-importance-for-Croatians.html St. Jerome, one of the most important spiritual writers of the Western Civilization, who translated the Bible into the Latin language, died in 420 AD. His importance for Croatia is analogous to that of St. Martin for France (who died in 397 AD). St. Jerome entered into the history of Croatian literature already in the Middle Ages. In Croatian lands there are as many as 63 sacral objects bearing the name of this saint. The present Papal Croatian Department of St. Jerome in Rome has its roots from the time of Pope Sixto V (end of 16th ct.), who was of Croatian origin. Protector of theologians, librarians, teachers and students, St. Jerome is celebrated on 30th of September. darko@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach and Darko �ubrini�) Sat, 01 Aug 2020 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/11232/1/Ljubo-Krasic-1938-2020-Croatian-Franciscan-founder-of-Croatian-Schools-of-America-and-Canada.html Krasiæ's contribution to the formative period of Croatian language instruction abroad was massive and aimed at promoting our language and culture in North America. He left his homeland with a broad educational background and worked in the frame of Catholic missions in the Croatian communities on the dissemination of our language and culture in the anglophone world, all whilst discharging his complex parish duties while resident in the USA and in Canada. He enriched his new home through the organisation of Croatian language instruction and the printing of textbooks, magazines and books. (Dr. Vinko Grubi¹iæ.) darko@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach and Darko �ubrini�) Wed, 01 Jul 2020 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/11229/1/1141-years-since-the-first-international-recognition-of-Croatia-879---2020.html The Croatian Prince Branimir, 9th century, made important steps in strengthening the relations with Rome. During the solemn divine service in St. Peter's church in Rome in 879, Pope John VIII gave his blessing to the prince and the whole Croatian people, about which he informed Branimir in his letters, the first one dated on May 21, 879. This was the first time that the Croatian state was officially recognized (at that time the international legitimacy was given by the Pope), which, as we see, happened more than eleven centuries ago! In his letter dated from 881 the Pope addressed Branimir as the "glorious prince". darko@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach and Darko �ubrini�) Sun, 21 Jun 2020 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/11227/1/Ragusa-Dubrovnik-in-Croatia-and-Ragusa-on-the-island-of-Sicily-in-Italy.html The article deals with erroneous interpretation of the Ragusa veduta dating from 1695, kept at the National and University Library in Zagreb, Croatia (and there are numerous copies kept in other European libraries, the first edition originating from 1638). It was published Matthaeus Merian Sr., but it does not represent the city of Dubrovnik (Ragusa) in Croatia, but Ragusa on the island of Sicily in Italy. Most of the authors do not distinguish between Matthaeus Merian Sr. and his son Matthaeus Merian Jr., which has caused numerous mistakes and contradictions. It is interesting that Matthaeus Merian Jr. (on the photo) prepared a well known veduta of the city of Dubrovnik (Ragusa in Croatia) in flames, after the 1667 earthquake, and not his father (who has died 17 years earlier, in 1650). darko.zubrinic@gmail.com (Ivana Marija Vidovic and Darko Zubrinic) Sun, 07 Jun 2020 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/11228/1/Franka-Miriam-Brueckler-author-of-three-math-books-published-by-Springer.html Franka Miriam Brueckler, employed at the Department of Mathematics of the University of Zagreb, has published already three mathematical books with Springer Verlag, all of them in German langague. The first two deal with the History of Mathematics, while the third one, which appeared in 2019, is dedicated to mathematical foundations of chrystallography (for both mathematicians and natural scientists): Mathematische Grundlagen der Kristallographie fuer Matthematiker und Naturwissenschaftler. The last book has 207 pp, accompanied with more than 100 drawings and several tables. Congratulations to the author for her fine work! darko@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach and Darko �ubrini�) Sat, 06 Jun 2020 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/11210/1/Croatian-folk-saga-quotFollowing-the-Sunquot-discovered-on-the-island-of-Krk-beginning-before-the-Christian-era.html Rado ®ic Mikulin and Leonard Eler¹ek are the authors of a monumental book Putom sunca (Following the Sun), dealing with the till now unknown saga from the island of Krk (the town of Punat) about the earliest Croatian history. It was registered by Rado ®ic Mikulin from one of his grandfathers, and the saga has been passed to the present day from time immemorial. The saga starts before the Christian era, on the Tigris river. The authors provide a wealth of traditional verses from the island of Krk, as well as a number of very interesting old maps, describing the movement of Croatians to the coast of the Adriatic Sea. darko@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach and Darko �ubrini�) Fri, 20 Mar 2020 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/11248/1/Carmen-Verlichak-objavila-je-knjigu-El-Genocidio-de-Bleiburg.html Krivodol PRESS, nakladnièka kuæa u Buenos Airesu, objavila je knjigu autorice Carmen Vrljicak El Genocidio de BLeiburg. Ta nakladnièka kuæa smatrala je kako je potrebno da ne samo Hrvati izvan Republike Hrvatske, nego i opæenito hispanofona publika sazna ¹to se dogodilo Hrvatima krajem Drugoga svjetskog rata. Bio je to jedan od najveæih. Knjiga sadr¾i veæi broj svjedoèanstava pre¾ivjelih koje je Vrljièak intervjuirala u Argentini. U nju su uvr¹tena i istra¾ivanja Nikolaja Tolstoya darko@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach and Darko �ubrini�) Thu, 19 Mar 2020 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/11200/1/Nikola-Teslas-schooling-in-Croatia-lecture-at-the-Embassy-of-the-Republic-of-Croatia-in-Paris-2020.html AMCA-Paris (association of former students of Croatian universities, living in Paris), organized a lecture delivered at the Embassy of the Republic of Croatia in Paris, dealing with the schooling of Nikola Tesla in Croatia during his formative years (from his 14th to 17 year). His most important professor from that period is Martin Sekuliæ, for who Tesla writes to be an ingenious man who enthused him for electricity. On the amusing photo from 1941 we can see Nikola Tesla (on the right, two years before his death) with Croatian-American boxer Fritzie Zivic, then the welter weight champion of the world. This is the only known photo on which Nikola Tesla smiles. darko.zubrinic@gmail.com (Darko �ubrini�) Thu, 30 Jan 2020 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/11201/1/Ante-Glibotas-speech-at-the-Symposium-on-Art-organized-in-the-Hofburg-Imperial-Palace-in-Vienna-2020.html Ante Glibota: "I am delighted with this happy initiative coming from our friend Prof. Zhang Xiaolong, Vice President of National Academy of Art of China from Beijing, who is also an excellent artist and thinker, to organize in the heart of Central Europe, in Vienna, which was and always remains one of the essential centers of the great artistic, scientific and philosopher's adventure of European civilization, this meeting between historians, artists and thinkers to briefly exchange ideas and reflections on the art and thought of these two major civilizations that are the millennial Chinese civilization and ours, European." darko@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach and Darko �ubrini�) Sun, 26 Jan 2020 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/11198/1/Nikola-Teslas-schooling-in-Croatia-and-his-professor-of-physics-Martin-Sekulic.html Here is Tesla's description of Martin Sekuliæ, his professor of Physics at the Higher Real School in Rakovac (near the city of Karlovac in Croatia, when Tesla was at the age of 14-17): I had become intensely interested in electricity under the stimulating influence of my Professor of Physics, who was an ingenious man and often demonstrated the principles by apparatus of his own invention... It is impossible for me to convey an adequate idea of the intensity of feeling I experienced in witnessing his exhibitions of these mysterious phenomena. Every impression produced a thousand echoes in my mind... Source: Electrical Experimenter, New York, April 1919. Nikola Tesla's live portrait by Croatian painter Ivan Benkoviæ, is on the left, shown for the first time to broad public. darko_zubrinic@yahoo.com (Prof.Dr. Darko Zubrinic) Sat, 18 Jan 2020 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/11197/1/Golden-formula-of-Croatian-language-quotEA---KAJ---TOquot.html The golden formula of the Croatian language "ÈA - KAJ - ©TO" is a Croatian intangible cultural asset listed on the List of Intangible Cultural Property of the Republic of Croatia in November 2019. The author, Dr Drago ©tambuk, is proponent and author of the concept of preservation of knowledge and practices provided by the close connection of Croatian language. We also announce the Scientific Conference on Computer Linguistics and the Golden Formula of the Croatian Language, to be held on May 22 to 23, 2020 in the city of Osijek. On the photo is the Petris Glagolitic Miscellany from 1468, written in all three Croatian dialects: èakavian, kajkavian and ¹tokavian. darko@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach and Darko �ubrini�) Thu, 16 Jan 2020 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/11182/1/Vladimir-Novak-Croatians-in-America-fascinating-photomonograph-published-in-2018.html  Vladimir Novak (1928-2016) darko@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach and Darko �ubrini�) Sun, 27 Oct 2019 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/11166/1/Vladimir-Paleeek-Croatian-humanist-and-founder-of-quotHungry-Childquot-international-fund-in-Croatia-1969.html Vladimir Paleèek: "A catastrophic earthquake hit Sicily in 1968 in which many men, women, and children lost their lives. Gibellina, Salaparuta, Santa Margarita, and Montevago were wiped off the map. ... When I walked through these places, when I saw hundreds of tents which had to replace warm homes, when I saw children without parents, when I saw children naked, barefooted, and hungry, who crowded around me, I came to the idea of creating a movement which would have one goal - TO HELP CHILDREN." With this article we mark 50 years since founding "Hungry Child", the only humanitarian NGO ever behind the "Iron Curtain". darko.zubrinic@gmail.com (Darko �ubrini�) Fri, 19 Jul 2019 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/11143/1/Josip-Krsul-Croatian-American-soldier-at-Iwo-Jima-at-the-age-of-108-in-2019.html Josip Kr¹ul is probably the oldest living veteran of the Iwo Jima battle, born in 1911, now at the age of 108 (in 2019). He has Croatian roots, and was born in the town of Selca on the Croatian coast, SE of the city of Rijeka. Hundred years since his birth, in 2011, he was back to Croatia again and to his native town of Selca. Several other Croatian heroes are known to have become a part of American history: Peter Tomich (Pearl Harbor), Louis Cukela (recipient of two American Medals of Honor), and Vinko Gecan. darko@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach and Darko �ubrini�) Thu, 14 Feb 2019 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/11135/1/Photo-of-the-Year-and-the-Family-of-the-Year-for-2018.html As a photo of the year we have chosen a detail from spectacular return of Croatian national team to the city of Zagreb, with a bus reliably driven for several hours by a nice lady (on the photo) along impossibly stuffed streets, without any accident or any injury. This is a feat maybe even more amazing that the wins of Croatian national football team agains teams like Argentina (led by outstanding world class Messi), England and the Russian Federation. As the family of the year we have chosen the family of Luka Modriæ, sharing in this way the opinion of millions of fans throughout the world. darko@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach and Darko �ubrini�) Tue, 01 Jan 2019 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/11134/1/Artur-R-Bagdasarov-published-an-important-book-quotArmenija---Noina-zemljaquot-in-2018.html Artur R. Bagdasarov, an Armenian scholar living in Moscow, is an expert in Croatian language and history. His newest book "Armenija - Noina zemlja" is his fifth book in Croatian language, and the third dealing with Armenia. Among interesting novelties published in the book, we mention the name of an Armenian Vagan Melik-Karaganjan, a honory citizen of the city of Biograd, who built the first hospital in this Croatian coastal city. It is not widely known that the congreation of Mhitarists, benedictine abeys of Armeno-catholic church, published more than 200 Croatian books in their printing house in Vienna. darko@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach and Darko �ubrini�) Sat, 01 Dec 2018 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/11116/1/Ante-Glibota-delivered-a-lecture-at-UNESCO-Paris-2018-on-the-occasion-of-100-years-since-the-First-WW.html Ante Glibota, distinguished Croatian scholar, delivered a lecture at the International Conference "Hundred Years Since the First World War" organized in Paris by UNESCO, 21st September 2018. His lecture, delivered in French, was entitled "The Causes of the First World War and Its Impact on the International Relations in the 20th Century". Mr. Glibota is one of three vicepresidents of the European Academy of Sciences, Arts and Lettres, situated in Paris. He is the curator of the Museum of Art and Urbanity in Shanghai, China. darko@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach and Darko �ubrini�) Tue, 23 Oct 2018 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/11115/1/World-Cravat-Day-18th-October---the-origin-of-the-CRAVAT-and-of-its-universally-known-name-is-Croatia.html CRAVAT, the universaly known name of the necktie, has its origin in the name ov Croats. As an unavoidable fashion element, especially for representative pruposes, it can be met in the remotest parts of the Globe. It is without any doubt the most widespread fashion element in the world, bearing a national name. On the photo on the left is Ivan Gundulic (1589-1638), distinguished Croatian Renaissance writer from Dubrovnik, bearing the earliest known version of the Cravat. World Cravat Day, established by Academia Cravatica in Zagreb, is celebrated each year on 18th October. darko@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach and Darko �ubrini�) Fri, 19 Oct 2018 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/11095/1/Silver-medal-of-diamond-glitter-for-Croatia-at-the-2018-FIFA-World-Cup-final-with-golden-France.html Croatia celebrates on of the greatest successes in its sports history - the second place at the FIFA World Cup Tournament in Moscow. We mention the deserving players: Mand¾ukiæ, Rebiæ, Modriæ, Peri¹iæ, Rakitiæ, Brozoviæ, Vrsaljko, Lovren, Vida, Striniæ, and the deserving coach Daliæ. We believe that the Croatian team has shown the most attractive football play during the World Cup tournament. It is no surprise that Luka Modriæ (on the photo) has won the prestigious Golden Ball - Balon d'or. Luka Modriæ shares his second name with Professor Paul L. Modrich, USA, 2015 Nobel prize winner Chemistry, who has Croatian roots. We also add a lovely story about the most famous photographer at the moment, thanks to the goal od Croatia. darko@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach and Darko �ubrini�) Sun, 15 Jul 2018 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/11084/1/1139-years-since-the-international-recognition-of-Croatia-and-26-years-since-its-diplomatic-recognition.html In the 9th century, more specifically, in 879 AD, Croatia obtained its first international recognition when Pope John VIII sent his letters to Croatian prince Branimir, in which he blessed him and his Croatian people. Croatia never lost its state continuity, even when it was a part of other empires, kingdoms and states. For example, Croatian Deit (Sabor) is one of the oldest in Europe, and in this sense, Croatia is one of the oldest states in Europe. Its diplomatic recognition was realized in 1992, under dramatic circumstances of Serbian and Montenegrin military aggression on Croatia. darko@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach and Darko �ubrini�) Tue, 26 Jun 2018 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/11077/1/Stjepan-Radic-1871-1928-a-great-Croatian-politician-humanist-and-martyr.html In 2018 we commemorate a tragic death of Stjepan Radiæ, one of the greatest Croatian politicians and humanists in history (on the photo with his grandchildren), assassinated in 1928 in the Belgrade Parliament. We provide an articl written by Dr. Ante Cuvalo, an information about a new street in the Prague bearing his name (and his wife Marija was a Czech schoolteacher), as well as an article about him written by a Danish writer Karin Michaelis, who used to know his family in person. We conclude the article with a very interesting article of Stjepan Radiæ about the Russian Branch of the noble Croatian family of Jelaèiæ. darko@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach and Darko �ubrini�) Tue, 05 Jun 2018 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/11042/1/Senoa-House-in-Zagreb-The-Museum-of-August-Senoa-described-by-Lady-Jadranka-Beresford-Peirse.html Lady Jadranka Beresford-Peirse, b. Njer¹, of Croatian origin, lives in London, and is a founder of The International Trust for Croatian Monuments already in 1991. Since then, she has organized numerous humanitarian and cultural events and undertakings. Here we reproduce her very interesting article published in London by "The Bridge", a journal of Croatian community in England, which deals with The ©enoa House, which is a private museum in the city of Zagreb, directed by Mrs. Jasmina Reis. August ©enoa is significant Croatian writer from the 19th century, one of the trademarks of Croatian literature. darko@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach and Darko �ubrini�) Thu, 01 Feb 2018 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/11040/1/Denis-Vignot-author-of-the-novel-Le-Choix--The-Choice-dealing-with-Croatia-published-in-France.html Denis Vignot from France wrote a deeply moving historical novel entitled Le Choix (The Choice), dealing with Croatia in the early 1990s during the Yugoslav and Serbian agression on Croatia. It is based on personal experiances in Croatia, dealing with love, with the country in trouble, with honor. This extraordinary book, published in France in 20016, containing more than 750 pages. One of the main protagonists in the book is Anton Domovina, former memeber of the French Legion, which the readers will easily recognize (Domovina = Homeland, in Croatian). The author, Denis Vignot, deserves our deep gratitude for having written this monumental literary testimony. darko.zubrinic@gmail.com (Darko �ubrini�) Tue, 16 Jan 2018 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/11032/1/Slobodan-Praljak-1945-2017-the-truth-about-Croatia-and-Bosnia-Herzegovina.html On the photo Slobodan Praljak 1945-2017, portrayed by Ante Gotovina. Slobodan Praljak is holder of three academic titles - in Electrical Engineering, in Humanities (Sociology and Philosophy) and from Theatre and Film Academy, all of them from the University of Zagreb. On Carla del Ponte: "If I, by any chance, Slobodan Praljak, had written or said such qualification [see in the article], no matter when, in any form whatsoever, in relation to any nation or group during the war in the territories of the former Yugoslavia, I would have been sentenced to 5 years of prison for it only." darko.zubrinic@gmail.com (Darko �ubrini�) Wed, 29 Nov 2017 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/11014/1/Mirko-Tomasovic-1938-2017-distinguished-Croatian-literary-historian-and-translator.html A member of Croatian Academy of Sciences and Arts, Mirko Tomasoviæ was the most prolific literary translator from Romance languages in Croatia and distinguished expert in Latinist literature. He left us important studies on the written Croatian and Latin heritage of Marko Maruliæ (1450-1524), the most important Croatian Renaissance writer. His translations into Croatian include about 20 books of Italian, French, Portuguese, Spanish, Catalan and Occitan poetry, as well as epic and drama literature. darko@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach and Darko �ubrini�) Fri, 08 Sep 2017 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/11002/1/University-of-Zadar-to-host-Inaugural-quotMay-of-Breanquot-in-2018.html Ivo Bre¹an (27 May 1936 - 3 January 2017) was a Croatian playwright, novelist, and screenwriter, known for political satire. From May 18-20, 2018 the University of Zadar will host the the inaugural "May of Bre¹an", an international academic conference dedicated to examining Bre¹an's works. Those wanting to participate in the conference have until December 1, 2017 to register. stecak@sbcglobal.net (Marko Pulji�) Wed, 09 Aug 2017 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/10985/1/Mike-Vucelic-1931-2012-Apollo-system-manager-for-NASA-and-Rockwell-in-charge-of-300-NASA-engineers.html Milojko Mike Vucelic, born in the town of Gare¹nica, Croatia, completed the Faculty of Machanical Engineering of the University of Zagreb in 1954. Since January 1962 he worked for Apollo, and subsequently he served as one of directors of the Apollo Program. The mission of Apollo 8 in 1968 was circulating around Moon's orbit with the crew of three astronauts, and Mike Vucelic considers this to be his greatest success in professional life in the USA. During the Apollo 11 mission, he was at the control of the flight, just beside Gene Kranz, who served as the chief of the control. Due to this success in saving the Apollo 13 crew (Hello Houston... we have a problem), he was awarded by the Presidential Medal of Freedom by the then president of the USA. darko@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach and Darko �ubrini�) Sat, 17 Jun 2017 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/10977/1/AMCA-Paris-organized-two-lectures-dedicated-to-Croatian-Glagolitic-Script-in-May-2017.html Upon the invitation of AMCA Paris (a society of former students of Croatian Universities, living in Paris), Mauricij Frka Pete¹iæ and Darko ®ubriniæ had the honor to deliver a joint lecture entitled "Croatian Glagolitic culture and its European context" (May 4th 2017), with a special emphasis on Croatian-French relations. Two days later, D.®. had a short palaeographic course for children about Croatian Glagolitic, based on manuscripts written arround 1400 at Sorbonne in Paris by Georges d'Esclavonie (+1416), Croatian Glagolitic priest who entered into the history of French literature. On the photo are the lecturers with Mrs. Lamia Barbier Ru¾diæ, president of AMCA Paris. darko@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach and Darko �ubrini�) Fri, 19 May 2017 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/10983/1/International-conference-in-Biograd-and-Zadar-on-the-phenomenon-of-glagolitic-script-in-May-12-13th-2017.html Thirty three scientists from Croatia, Austria, Italy, Japan, Russia and Slovenia participated at the Conference. It has been superbly organized by the city of Biograd and the University of Zadar (which the oldest Croatian university, founded in 1396), as well as by Croatian Academy of Sciences and Arts, Old Slavonic Insitute, Matrix Croatica Zadar. The Conference was held under auspices of the President of the Republic of Croatia. On the photo Dr. Keiko Mitani from Tokyo, one of the participants and contributors to the Conference. She speaks Croatian, and completed her PhD at the University of Zagreb, Croatia. darko@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach and Darko �ubrini�) Mon, 15 May 2017 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/10958/1/Marko-Veselica-1936-2017-Croatian-economist-and-politician-passed-away---article-by-Ante-Glibota.html Marko Veselica was distinguished Croatian economist and legendary human rights activist who spent 11 years in communist prisons in 1970s and 80s. We provide an article of his close colleague and friend Academician Ante Glibota, vicepresident of the European Academy of Sciences and Arts and Humanity in Paris, written in Croatian language. We also provide the titles of some of Veselica's relevant books and studies. ante.glibota@wanadoo.fr (Akademik Ante Glibota) Mon, 20 Feb 2017 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/10955/1/1138-years-since-the-international-recognition-of-Croatia-and-25-years-since-its-diplomatic-recognition.html In the 9th century, more specifically, in 879 AD, Croatia obtained its first international recognition when Pope John VIII sent his letters to Croatian prince Branimir (on the photo is a monument from 9th ct bearing his name). Croatia never lost its state continuity, even when it was a part of other empires, kingdoms and states. For example, Croatian Deit is one of the oldest in Europe, and in this sense, Croatia is one of the oldest states in Europe. Its diplomatic recognition was realized in 1992. The Embassy of the Republic of Croatia in Japan organized a nice celebration, in which Yoko Nishii participated with her pianist program that included Croatian and Japanese composers. darko@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach and Darko �ubrini�) Sun, 12 Feb 2017 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/10960/1/Jean-Lunt-Marinovic-has-published-One-Day-in-May-8211-Bleiburg-1945.html The author's mission in 'One Day in May – Bleiburg 1945' is to provide an up-to-date narrative of events known as the 'Bleiburg Tragedy'.  Written in the English language, this 314 page book focuses on the negotiations at the Bleiburg castle, includes maps and photographs, and provides answers to important questions using numerous sources, including British, American and Croatian. The author, Jean Lunt Marinovic, is of British background, has published over 100 articles in the Croatian-Australian media and has been active in the Croatian community since the 1980s. violicalvert@optusnet.com.au (Violi Calvert) Sat, 11 Feb 2017 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/10933/1/Zrinskis-in-Vienna-with-emphasis-on-Nikola-Subic-Zrinski-of-Siget---1566.html The defense of Siget by Nikola ©ubiæ Zrinski (on the photo) in 1566 entered all the annals of European history in the 16th century. With his 2500 brave soldiers, mostly Croats, he was defending the fortress of Siget in southern Hungary against 90,000 Turks. Cardinal Richelieu, a famous French minister at the court of King Lui XIII, wrote the following: A miracle was necessary for the Habsburg Empire to survive. And the miracle happened in Sziget. Ivan Zajc has composed the opera Nikola ©ubiæ Zrinski in 1876, which is very popular in Japan, especially its tune "U boj, u boj!". Zrinski's helmet and sward, kept in Kunsthistorisches Museum in Vienna, have been shown in Croatia in the city of Èakovec in September 2016. darko@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach and Darko �ubrini�) Thu, 22 Dec 2016 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/10934/1/Josip-Sersic-author-of-important-monograph-about-Croatians-in-Vienna---Kroatisches-Wien--Hrvatski-Bec.html Josip Ser¹iæ, living in Vienna, prepared a monograph describing the presence of Croatians in Vienna, from the military history to literature, science and music. On the photo is Paula von Preradoviæ, Croatian poetess and writer, author of the verses of Austrian national anthem.  We list some of additional names: noble family of Zrinski's, bishop Lepold Karl Koloniæ, Ruðer Bo¹koviæ, Nikola Toma Host, Nikola Tesla, Ivan Me¹troviæ, Lovro von Mataèiæ, Sena Jurinac, Clara Martinis, Emanuel Cenèiæ, Mirna Jukiæ and many other. darko@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach and Darko �ubrini�) Sun, 18 Dec 2016 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/10923/1/Vukovar-1991---2016-and-music-inspired-by-the-destiny-of-the-Baroque-city-on-Danube-river.html Twenty five years have passed since the 1991 Vukovar tragedy. We provide several music expressions inspired by the events which marked Croatian contemporary history, as well as that of contemporary Europe. Among others, we provide music by Nenad Bach, Tomislav Ivèiæ (on the photo), Veritas aeterna, Dalmatino, Klapa Adriaticum, Buco, Miroslav ©tivèiæ and others. darko.zubrinic@gmail.com (Darko �ubrini�) Sat, 19 Nov 2016 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/10914/1/Hrvojka-Mihanovic-Salopek-presenting-Croatian-Mariological-Heritage-of-the-Sisak-Bishopric.html Veneration of Mary, Mother of Mercy, in the city of Sisak near Croatia's capital Zagreb is the ninth film in the series Digital Recording of the Croatian Mariological Heritage, under the auspices of the Committee for Education, Science and Culture of the Croatian Parliament and the Council for Culture of the Croatian Conference of Bishops. The project leader, scenarist and director is Hrvojka Mihanoviæ-Salopek, Ph.D, who deserves our deep gratitude for her excellent work, as well as the producers, Alojzije Prosoli and Kre¹imir Renzo Prosoli. On the photo two angels from the Sisak bishopric. darko@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach and Darko �ubrini�) Wed, 26 Oct 2016 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/10908/1/Dr-Peter-Frankopan-Interview-About-The-Silk-Roads---A-New-History-of-the-World--.html Dr. Peter Frankopan (left) is Director of the Oxford Centre for Byzantine Research at the University of Oxford. His new book, The Silk Roads: New History of the World has become a best-seller and it's being hailed all over the world as a literary masterpiece. It has already won history book of the year by several media and journalistic outlets. William Dalrymple of the Guardian writes that this book, "is history on a grand scale with a sweep and ambition that is rare" and "a remarkable book on many levels.”  ruksj@aol.com (Steve Rukavina) Mon, 10 Oct 2016 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/10876/1/Ante-Gugo-In-the-Eyes-of-the-STORM.html Croatian war reporter’s, journalist’s and writer’s Ante Gugo’s best-selling non-fiction book in Croatia “Storm Which We Could Not Avoid” first released in 2015 in the Croatian language, twenty years after Croatia’s August 1995 swift and skillful Operation Storm liberated Krajina part of Croatia’s territory occupied and ethnically cleansed by Serb forces in early 1990’s, has now been translated into the English language and its title is “In the Eye of the Storm”. According to Dr. Slobodan Lang, "Storm" was humanitarian operation that prevented genocide. Congratulations on the occasion of Victory Day and the Day of Croatian Defenders on 5th August. darko@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach and Darko �ubrini�) Wed, 03 Aug 2016 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/10852/1/Sibe-Mardesic-1927-2016-distinguished-Croatian-mathematician-and-Fellow-of-the-AMS.html Professor Sibe Marde¹iæ: "I have been very devoted and faithful to Mathematics in Zagreb. I dedicated approximately equal shares of my time and energy to research, teaching and organization. I tried to transfer to Zagreb good things that I saw at other more developed places. I paid particular attention to teaching at the graduate level." Professor Sibe Marde¹iæ is a member of the Croatian Academy of Sciences and a Fellow of the prestigious American Mathemacial Society. He had over 260 lectures at conferences and universities in 20 countries. Besides his native Croatian, he fluently spoke six languages. We provide an interesting interview with him conducted by Professor James Keesling, USA. darko@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach and Darko �ubrini�) Sat, 18 Jun 2016 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/10870/1/Dvigrad-Festival-2016-offering-a-rich-program-of-Renaissance-and-Early-Baroque-music.html The Dvigrad Festival has been conceived by Alojzije Prosoli and his Musica Sacra / Sveta glazba society, along with numerous collaborators. This year, among distinguished soloists and players, the Festival will host Mario Penzar, Jelena Èila¹, Josue Melendez, Sarah Louise Ridy, Diego Leveriæ, Tin Cugelj, Martina Klariæ, Augustin Mr¹iæ, Ema Stein, Ana Jembrek, Anna Waszak, Edmund Andler-Boriæ, Silvio Richter, Darko Solter, Responsorium ensemble, etc. darko@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach and Darko �ubrini�) Wed, 15 Jun 2016 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/10849/1/1137-years-since-the-first-international-recognition-of-Croatia-more-than-600-years-before-the-discovery-of-America.html The Croatian Prince Branimir, 9th century, made important steps in strengthening the relations with Rome. During the solemn divine service in St. Peter's church in Rome in 879, Pope John VIII gave his blessing to the prince and the whole Croatian people, about which he informed Branimir in his letters, the first one dated on May 21, 879. This was the first time that the Croatian state was officially recognized (at that time the international legitimacy was given by the Pope), which, as we see, happened more than eleven centuries ago! On the photo is a stone monument from 9th century bearing the name of Croatian prince Branimir. darko@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach and Darko �ubrini�) Tue, 07 Jun 2016 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/10837/1/Nikola-Tesla-Croatian-citizen-advised-the-City-Hall-of-Croatias-capital-Zagreb-in-1892-about-electrification.html In 1892, Nikola Tesla (1856-1943) has been invited by Milan Amru¹, Mayor of the city of Zagreb, to visit the City Hall in order to give advice about future electrification. An interesting article from 1892 has been published in the Zagreb newspapers, which we provide for the first in English translation from Croatian original. We cite the following significant sentence from this 1892 article: Mr. Tesla considers it his duty, as a native son of this country [Croatia], to assist the Zagreb City Council in this matter offering his advice and helping in every way he can. The country he meant here is without any doubt Croatia. As a Croatian citizen, Nikola Tesla possessed the passport issued in the city of Zagreb in 1883. On the photo Nikola Tesla in 1941 with Fritzie Zivich, known as the Croat Comet, the then welter-weight boxing world champion. vesnablazina@hotmail.com (Vesna Bla�ina and Darko �ubrini�) Thu, 05 May 2016 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/10810/1/Pavo-Jurisic-published-an-important-monograph-about-50-years-of-pastoral-care-among-Croats-of-Melbourne.html The monograph And the hand of the Lord was with them / Celebrating 50 Years of Pastoral Care among Croats of Melbourne, written by Dr Pavo Juri¹iæ, is dedicated to Croatian immigrants in Australia, especially those in Melbourne who lived their faith and represented their homeland, and to their fellow countrymen in Australia, their new homeland which accepted them and gave them shelter. darko@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach and Darko �ubrini�) Sun, 21 Feb 2016 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/10800/1/Dubrovnik-celebrating-1044-years-of-the-Feast-of-St-Blaise-in-2016.html On the 3rd of February of 2016, the city of Dubrovnik celebrated the Feast of its protector, Sveti Vlaho (St. Blaise). The celebration is organized each year at this date for more than a thosand years, more specifically, for 1044 years. The Holy Mass was celebrated by the Sarajevo Cardinal Vinko Puljiæ, who was the official envoy of Pope Francis. Thirty archbishops and bishops concelebrated, among them Blaise Cupich, archbishop of Chicago (who is of Croatian origin), archbishop Kegham Katcherian, envoy of the Armenian Catholicos - upon the invitation of the Dubrovnik bishop Mate Uziniæ, as well as around a hundred priests. We provide numerous photos of Croatians in traditional dresses, who attended the Feast of Sveti Vlaho. darko@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach and Darko �ubrini�) Mon, 08 Feb 2016 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/10802/1/Anna-Givargizyan-exhbited-her-photos-of-Armenian-khachkars-in-Dubrovnik-Croatia-in-Feb-2016.html   The photo collection of khachkars, Armenian stone crosses, has been prepared by Dr Anna Givargizyan, an Armenian living in Moscow. The exhibition lasted from the February 2nd to March 3rd 2016, and was held in the hall of the Society of Friends of the Dubrovnik Antiquities. Except Dr Givarigizyen, in the solemn opening of the exhibition participated Armenian archbishop Kegham Katcherian, the Dubrovnik bishop Mate Uziniæ, Croatian historian Dr Vinicije Lupis and Mrs Naira Asatryan, who is a pianist living in Dubrovnik and is the founder of the Croatian-Armenian Friendship Society in the city. darko@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach and Darko �ubrini�) Wed, 03 Feb 2016 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/10792/1/May-2016-Croatian-Heritage-Tour-and-Cruise.html Join genealogist Robert Jerin for a unique cruise and heritage tour of Croatia! This cruise begins in Dubrovnik and works its way up the coast, visiting historic cities and towns like Korcula, Split Sibenik and Zadar. From there the tour works its way inland to the towns of Karlovac, Zagreb and Varazdin. You will have to hurry if you want to experience Croatia like this - seats are filling up! stecak@sbcglobal.net (Marko Pulji�) Tue, 19 Jan 2016 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/10789/1/Mladen-Ibler-and-Birgitta-Fritz-writing-about-Johan-Franke-a-Croatian-castle-commander-in-Sweden-in-15th-ct.html The castle commander Johan Vale or Franke in Sweden is identified by Dr Mladen Ibler (on the photo) as Ivan An¾ Frankopan, the eldest son of Count Nikola IV, viceroy (banus) of Croatia from 1426. The Scandinavian king Erik of Pomerania had met the young man at the court of his cousin King Sigmund in Budapest. After having decided to go on a pilgrimage to the Holy Land he had chosen this nobleman, who was familiar with Mediterranean conditions, to lead the tour. In Jerusalem the king knighted him and then afterwards recompensed him with the enfeoffments in Sweden. Besides those connections between the Scandinavian king and the Frankopan family the article also presents proofs of the king's stay at Dubrovnik, both on the way to Palestine and on the way back. mladen.ibler@gmail.com (Dr. Mladen Ibler) Thu, 14 Jan 2016 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/10787/1/Esther-Gitmans-interview-2016-about-Archbishop-Alojzije-Stepinac-and-his-role-in-saving-the-Jews-in-Croatia.html Dr Esther Gitman analized about 5000 archival documents kept in various Croatian archives. Especially important among them are 500 signed petitions for the rescue of Jews in Croatia during the WW2. Some of these documents contain as many as 150 names, signed by ordinary people, who risked their lifes in order to save the lifes of their endangered Jewish neighbors and friends. Furthermore, according to Dr Girtman, THOSANDS OF ORDINARY PEOPLE signed these petitions, which is a fact totally unknown in historigraphy (not only Croatian). Similar documents in such abundonce, cannot be found in any other European country, said Dr Gitman. We invite you to see and listen to this extremely interesting and important interview, conducted by the Laudato TV in Zagreb, Croatia. darko@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach and Darko �ubrini�) Thu, 07 Jan 2016 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/10773/1/Faces-of-War-exhibition-of-Croatian-History-Museum.html To commemorate the Operation Storm, as well as Victory and National Thanksgiving Day and Croatian Veterans Day on August 5th, the Croatian History Museum has organized an exhibition of Croatian war photography under the title “Faces of War.” The photographs encompass the period from 1991 to 1995, presenting events from Croatia’s Homeland War. In case you are interested in realizing the cooperation and hosting of the exhibition “Faces of War” in your country / institution, or have additional questions, we will gladly answer them. Please contact us on the following e-mail address: j.hotko@hismus.hr. On the photo a legendary Croatian photographer Pavao Urban (1968-1991),  assasinated in his native city of Dubrovnik with his photo camera in hands. darko@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach and Darko �ubrini�) Sun, 13 Dec 2015 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/10719/1/Almae-Matris-Croaticae-Alumni-AMCA-Toronto-published-Collection-of-Documents-1990-1999.html AMCA Toronto, an association of students and friends of Croatian Universities, founded in 1990, has become the centre of intellectual life of the Croatian community in Southern Ontario (Canada). During the Homeland Liberation War, AMCA Associations played an important role worldwide by providing systematic help to Croatia. AMCA Toronto concentrated itself on delivering humanitarian aid to Croatia and B&H and on lobbying and spreading the truth about the situation in Croatia. An enormous number of letters and proclamations have been pubished in Zagreb, Jan 2014, in two extensive volumes. The editor is Vladimir Benkoviæ, while an associate editor and sponsor is Dr Ivan Hrvoiæ (on the photo). Both of them are Croatian emigrants in Canada and experts in technical sciences. darko@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach and Darko �ubrini�) Fri, 04 Dec 2015 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/10741/1/Zlata-Blazina-Tomic--Vesna-Blazina-and-their-monograph-Expelling-the-Plague-from-the-city-of-Dubrovnik.html   Zlata Bla¾ina Tomiæ on the photo is a medical historian who worked at McGill University’s Osler Library, Canada. Vesna Bla¾ina is a translator and librarian who worked at the Université de Montréal, Canada. "Studying an extraordinarily rich set of documents in Dubrovnik, the authors Zlata Bla¾ina Tomiæ and Vesna Bla¾ina bring scholarly attention to an early public health office dedicated to surveillance and containment of plague epidemics. Social and medical historians will find this work very valuable.” Wrote Ann G. Carmichael of the Indiana University, USA. darko@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach and Darko �ubrini�) Fri, 16 Oct 2015 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/10734/1/August-Senoa8217s-historical-novel-The-Goldsmith8217s-Treasure-available-in-English-since-2015.html The first Croatian historical novel, written in 1871 August ©enoa (1838-1881), is the tale of a forbidden love between the daughter of a goldsmith and a nobleman's son set against the backdrop of the streets and squares of 16th century Zagreb. The town lies before you. In the words of ©enoa himself: “below the mountain, a jewel most precious to us glimmers in the sun, strong like a mighty hero - the town of Zagreb.” The book, published by Spiritoso, Zagreb, has 388 pp, and has been translated from Croatian by Neven Divjakinja. Except into English, the book has already been translated into German, Czech, Polish, French, Slovak, Russian and some other languages. darko@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach and Darko �ubrini�) Mon, 07 Sep 2015 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/10730/1/Marijan-Busic-The-Cravat-Day-to-be-marked-on-October-18th-each-year-throughout-the-world.html   Academia Cravatica, a non-profit institution dedicated to the phenomen and culture of Croatian necktie, the cravat, aims to promote the cravat as a part of Croatian, European and also world heritage. This year, Academia Cravatica decided to pay special attention to international celebration of the Cravat Day, and is now in the process of inviting numerous Croats and their ancestors living abroad to join together on October 18th, put on their Croatian cravat with pride and, joining with others, remember the values it represents. The founder and director of Academia Cravatica is Mr. Marijan Bu¹iæ, successful and very creative Croatian entrepreneur in the city of Zagreb. darko@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach and Darko �ubrini�) Fri, 21 Aug 2015 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/10723/1/St-Paul-the-Apostle-spent-three-months-on-Croatian-island-of-Mljet.html Saint Paul the Apostle had shipwreck on Croatian island of Mljet, and not on Malta. This is the subject of the monumental book written in elite Latin language by Ignjat Ðurðeviæ, published in Venice in 1730. Ignjat Ðurðevic was Croatian Baroque writer from the city of Dubrovnik. The island of Mljet is not far from the city of Dubrovnik. In The Geography of distinguished Armenian scholar Ananias of Shirak, written between 592-636 AD, it is stated that Saint Paul stayed in Dalmatia following a shipwreck that happened on the Adriatic island of Melita (Mljet). We owe our deep gratitude to Dr. Miho Demoviæ (on the photo), distinguished Croatian musicologist and historian of culture, to have unveiled many unknown facts concerning the shipwreck of St Paul the Apostle on the island of Mljet on the Adriatic sea. darko.zubrinic@gmail.com (Darko �ubrini�) Mon, 03 Aug 2015 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/10722/1/Ana-Rucner-Croatian-cellist-and-Klapa-Sinj-celebrating-the-tradition-of-Sinjska-alka.html On 5th August Croatia is celebrating Liberation Day, remembering not only the Storm Liberation Operation from 1995, but also endevours of generations of Croatian people during many centuries. Here we provide a beautiful video from the town of Sinj, featuring Sinjska Alka and Croatian cellist Ana Rucner, with typical songs from the Sinj area interpreted by Klapa Sinj, as well as the famous air U Boj, sang in Croatia's capital Zagreb by the Kwansei-Gakuin Choir from the city of Kobe, Japan. Finally, we end with a testimony of Dr. Slobodna Lang, distinguished Croatian humanitarian activist, professor at the University of Zagreb. darko@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach and Darko �ubrini�) Thu, 30 Jul 2015 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/10703/1/Pope-Francis-in-Sarajevo-in-2015-meeting-his-old-friend-f-Petar-Galauner-SJ-Zagreb.html Petar Nodilo, SJ Zagreb: We all were indeed happy to see how the Pope embraced our f. Petar Galauner, SJ, and how he was sincerely delighted to see him again. Our dear father Galauner, we wish you God's blessing so that you spend many years to come with us, with your confreres and with  numerous flock which loves you. Petar Galauner, SJ, is distinguished educator, living in Croatia's capital Zagreb. His last encounter with Pope Francis was about thirty years ago. They first met in the Vatican in 1974. darko@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach and Darko �ubrini�) Sun, 14 Jun 2015 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/10700/1/Artur-Bagdasarov-and-Vinicije-Lupis-promoting-their-joint-book-about-Dubrovnik-in-Moscow-on-14-June-2015.html Dr. Artur Bagdasarov and Dr.  Vinicije Lupis are promoting their joint book about Dubrovnik in Moscow. The book deals with Armenian and Croatian ties via St. Vlaho who is an Armenian saint and patron of the city of Dubrovnik. The presentation is organized by ®am journal on 14 June 2015 at 19:00 at Pokrovka 27, str. 1, cultural center Pokrovskie vorota, m. Kitaj-gorod, Èistye prudy, Moscow. The admission is free. darko.zubrinic@gmail.com (Darko �ubrini�) Wed, 10 Jun 2015 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/10699/1/Kolinda-Grabar-Kitarovic-president-of-the-Republic-of-Croatia-visited-pope-Francis-on-28-May-2015.html Kolinda Grabar Kitaroviæ, president of the Republic of Croatia, had a friendly meeting with Pope Francis in the Vatican on 28 May 2015. They communicated in Castillano language. Besides her native language, Mrs. Grabar Kitarovic is fluent in several other languages. They were discussing, among others, the collaboration between the Church and the State for the common good of Croatian society, especially the support of families and the young. darko@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach and Darko �ubrini�) Tue, 09 Jun 2015 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/10690/1/U-boj-u-boj-sung-by-Kwansei-Gakuin-University-Choir-from-Japan-in-Croatias-capital-Zagreb-2014.html Connection between Croatian arias and Japanese students is already well known. Male choir of one of the most prestigious Japanese universities - Kwansei Gakuin University, Kobe - for its anthem chose "U boj, u boj ", the famous air from the Croatian opera "Nikola Subic Zrinski". Japanese choirs are singing this air exclusively in the Croatian language for the last 90 years, and it is believed that the persona and life of Nikola Zrinski of Siget found its admirers in distant Japan because of his courage and honourable samurai death in 1566. The opera was composed by Ivan pl. Zajc 1832-1914, distinguished Croatian composer, on the photo. darko@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach and Darko �ubrini�) Fri, 22 May 2015 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/10688/1/1136-years-since-the-first-international-recognition-of-Croatia-more-than-600-years-before-the-discovery-of-America.html The Croatian Prince Branimir, 9th century, made important steps in strengthening the relations with Rome. During the solemn divine service in St. Peter's church in Rome in 879, Pope John VIII gave his blessing to the prince and the whole Croatian people, about which he informed Branimir in his letters, the first one dated on May 21, 879. This was the first time that the Croatian state was officially recognized (at that time the international legitimacy was given by the Pope), which, as we see, happened more than eleven centuries ago! darko@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach and Darko �ubrini�) Thu, 21 May 2015 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/10679/1/Artur-Bagdasarov-and-Vinicije-Lupis-creating-a-bridge-of-friendship-between-Armenia-and-Croatia.html Artur Bagdasarov (Moscow) and Vinicije Lupis (Dubrovnik) are the authors of an important book Armenija - domovina sv. Vlaha  (Armenia - Homeland of St Blaise), dealing with the history St. Blaise tradition in the city of Dubrovnik, going back to the 10th century. St. Blaise, known in Croatia as Sveti Vlaho, is an Armenian saint who lived in 3rd and 4th centuries. The monograph provides a detailed account of historical contactcts between Croatians and Armenians. Dr. Artur Bagdasarov is an expert in Croatian linguistics, while Dr. Vinicije Lupis is a distinguished Croatian historian. darko@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach and Darko �ubrini�) Sat, 25 Apr 2015 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/10678/1/Hrvojka-Mihanovic-Salopek-and-her-Stella-Maris-Croatiae-project.html Hrvojka Mihanoviæ Salopek, PhD, of the Croatian Academy of Sciences and Arts, is the director of important cultural project Stella Maris Croatiae, the aim of which is to present the most important examples of the veneration of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Croatia, including noted Marian shrines and an anthological selection of Marian works from the theological, artistic and musical heritage. Dr. Mihanoviæ Salopek and her team deserve our deep gratitude for her project and for their fantastic achievement, this time concentrated on the Southern Croatian islands and on Slavonian wheat fields. darko@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach and Darko �ubrini�) Sat, 25 Apr 2015 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/10675/1/Grgich-Hills-Estate-celebrates-the-35th-anniversary-of-The-Great-Chicago-Chardonnay-Showdown.html ken@grgich.com (Ken Morris) Sun, 19 Apr 2015 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/10667/1/Croatian-artisans-in-Kreevo-preserve-unique-tradition-of-ornamenting-eggs.html Located just west of Sarajevo, the predominantly Croatian town of Kre¹evo is home to a centuries old tradition of "shoeing" eggs. This tradition is only practiced by only a handful of skilled artisans, and Kre¹evo is said to be the only town in Bosnia and Herzegovina, where this tradition survives. The egg has always been a symbol of new life, and the horseshoe a symbol of happiness. In almost every yard in Kre¹evo has tree on which are hung shod eggs of different colors. stecak@sbcglobal.net (Marko Pulji�) Wed, 08 Apr 2015 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/10666/1/Mirogoj-Cemetery-in-Croatias-capital-Zagreb-through-the-lens-of-Nikola-Piasevoli.html Mirogoj is one of the most beautiful city cemeteries in Europe. It has been designed by Austrian architect Herman Bollé, starting from 1879 to 1929 when it was completed. Many famous Croatians are burried there. Furthermore, with its pleasant atmosphere and numerous high quality works of art, it is a nice place for rest and meditation. All the photos have been taken by Mr. Nikola Piasevoli from Zagreb. With this presentation we wish all the readers of the CROWN and their families a happy Easter. nikola@piasevoli.com (Nikola Piasevoli) Fri, 03 Apr 2015 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/10662/1/Croatian-American-Radio-Club-of-Chicago-Celebrates-80th-Anniversary.html Like many great things Croatian, it all starts from a social gathering. Think legendary soccer team Hajduk Split. The soccer team was started after a group of students in Prague went to a pub after a soccer game. It was during this 'social gathering' the great club was created in 1911. 24 years later in 1935, another 'social gathering' took place, this time in Chicago in the home of Ivan Majdak. It was agreed a radio station was needed for the Croatian-Americans in Chicago, as a means to hear news of the homeland, news of the community, and preserve the language and traditions, a way to keep the cultural identity alive. stecak@sbcglobal.net (Marko Pulji�) Sun, 22 Mar 2015 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/10655/1/Frank-Westermans-book-about-the-Lipik-Lipizzaners-translated-into-Croatian.html Frank Westerman's book about Lipizzaner horses, with emphasis on their destiny in the 20th century, especially during the Serbian aggression on Croatia in 1990-1995, originally published in Dutch, has been translated into 15 languages and has 40 editions until 2015. As stressed by Frank Westerman in his book, the CROWN (Croatian World Network) and Nenad Bach had an important role in launching the international media campaign aiming to return from Serbia the stolen Croatian Lipizzaners from back to their homeland. Mr. Westerman visited on many occasion the town of Lipik, in which numerous noble Lipizzan horses have been mercilessly assassinated during the aggression. darko.zubrinic@gmail.com (Darko �ubrini�) Wed, 11 Mar 2015 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/10646/1/Kolinda-Grabar-Kitarovic-Croatias-first-woman-president-inaugurated-on-15th-February-2015-in-Zagreb.html Mrs. Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic was sworn in as Croatia's first female president in history. She was a former foreign minister, ambassador of the Republic of Croatia to Washington and an Assistant Secretary General of NATO for Public Diplomacy. She was the first woman ever to be appointed Assistant Secretary General of NATO. Mrs. Grabar-Kitarovic is at the age of 47, and except her native Croatian, she fluently speaks English, Castillano and Portuguese and can also communicate in French, Italian and German. darko@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach and Darko �ubrini�) Sun, 15 Feb 2015 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/10643/1/10-Annual-Heritage-and-History-Tour-of-Croatia-with-Robert-Jerin-September-12---September-26-2015-.html Join noted genealogist, Robert Jerin, for this custom designed exploration of Croatia’s history and heritage. We’ll have a chance to meet with local villagers as well as professionals working in the field of genealogy while we tour this country rich in tradition and benefiting from a confluence of cultures for thousands of years. This year’s tour will include a tour of places on the lovely, but often overlooked, Istrian Peninsula, Gorski Kotar known as the Green Heart of Croatia, including Mrkopalj, Plitivice Lakes Park, Slavonia, the centuries old pilgrimage town and church of Marija Bistrica, Zagreb and Samobor. Included are many scrumptious traditional meals and several performances by Croatian musical groups including Klapa and Tamburitza. stecak@sbcglobal.net (Marko Pulji�) Tue, 20 Jan 2015 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/10642/1/Michael-Bilandic-mayor-of-Chicago-1977-1979-proud-of-his-Croatian-heritage.html Michael Bilandic was born in 1923 in Chicago, Illinois and was one of four children born of his Croatian immigrant parents. His father was from a village near Sinj, Croatia and his mother was from the island of Brac, also in Croatia. In 1977 he was elected as Chicago’s 40th mayor until 1979. He was devoted to his family, faithful to his church, and proud of his Croatian heritage. He was presented the Vinodol Code Award in recognition of his outstanding contribution to the administration of justice in Illinois. darko.zubrinic@gmail.com (Darko �ubrini�) Mon, 19 Jan 2015 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/10619/1/Faust-Vrancic-1551-1617-Memorial-Center-on-the-island-of-Prvic-near-the-town-of-Sibenik-in-Croatia.html Faust Vranèiæ was a distinguished Croatian inventor and encyclopaedist during Renaissance 16/17th centuries. Among his most important inventions we mention the parachute as we use today (very different from Leonardo da Vinci'c), suspension bridge and wind turbine. He wrote an important five language dictionary of the most noble Eureopan languages, which included Latin, Italian, German, Croatian and Hungarian. Faust Vranèiæ, born in the town of ©ibenik, now has a superb Memorial Center on the nearby island of Prviæ, where he was burried according his last wish. darko.zubrinic@gmail.com (Darko �ubrini�) Wed, 08 Oct 2014 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/10596/1/Operation-quotStormquot-1995-prevented-new-genocide-in-BiH-and-liberated-occupied-parts-of-Croatia.html Congratulations on the occasion of Victory Day and the Day of Croatian Defenders on 5th August to citizens of Croatia and all Croatians in the world.  The old Fortress of Croatian King Zvonimir (from 11th century) under the Croatian flag, in liberated town of Knin, just a few days after the start of the operation "Storm" in 1995, has been visited by dr. Franjo Tuðman, the then president of the Republic of Croatia, together with Gojko ©u¹ak, Minister of Defense (both on the photo), general Ante Gotovina and others. The town of Knin has been liberated after five years of occupation. darko@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach and Darko �ubrini�) Sun, 03 Aug 2014 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/10591/1/Michel-Iellatchitch-from-France-descendant-of-the-Russian-branch-of-noble-Croatian-family-of-Jelacic.html Mr. Michel Iellatchitch, citizen of France living in the province of Alsace, visited the city of Zagreb from April 25th till 28th with his two sons Victor and François. While walking through the Zrinjevac park, a local guide, describing them important Croatian historical persons, asked them if they are familiar with the name of Jelaèiæ. They answered: "Yes, we are Jelaèiæ's!" Mr. Michel Ielatchitch is a descendant of the so called Russian branch of this noble Croatian family, about the history of which he has written a very nice historical survey in the French language, available via Internet. darko.zubrinic@gmail.com (Darko �ubrini�) Wed, 23 Jul 2014 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/10575/1/1135-years-since-the-first-international-recognition-of-Croatia-more-than-600-years-before-the-discovery-of-America.html The Croatian Prince Branimir, 9th century, made important steps in strengthening the relations with Rome. During the solemn divine service in St. Peter's church in Rome in 879, Pope John VIII gave his blessing to the prince and the whole Croatian people, about which he informed Branimir in his letters, the first one dated on May 21, 879. This was the first time that the Croatian state was officially recognized (at that time the international legitimacy was given by the Pope), which, as we see, happened more than eleven centuries ago! darko@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach and Darko �ubrini�) Sat, 14 Jun 2014 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/10568/1/Memorial-plaque-to-three-Croatians-from-the-17th-century-in-the-Garden-of-Gethsemane-in-Jerusalem.html On March, 29 2014 the Garden of Gethsemane in Jerusalem was filled with pilgrims from Croatia. The reason for this great gathering was the ceremony of putting up a memorial plaque to the Croatians, brothers Pavao, Antun and Jakov in this biblical place on the slopes of the Mount of Olives where Jesus prayed the night before his crucifixion. In 1681 these knights of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem bought the Garden of Gethsemane and donated it to the Custody of the Holy Land. On the photo Cardinal Vinko Puljiæ, the Sarajevo Archbishop, who unveiled the memorial plaque. darko@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach and Darko �ubrini�) Fri, 30 May 2014 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/10565/1/Ljubo-Krasic-director-of-Croatian-Ethnic-Institute-in-Chicago-USA.html The Franciscans established the Croatian Ethnic Institute in 1975, with headquarters in Chicago, for the purpose of preserving and promoting the Croatian heritage in the United States and Canada. This foundation was established with one far-sighted goal, namely, that all which is valuable and in any way related to the Croatians could be found in one place and used for various kinds of research. An additional goal of the Institute was to promote Croatian history, culture, literature, and heritage. The current director of the Croatian Ethnic Institute is fra Ljubo Krasiæ. darko@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach and Darko �ubrini�) Thu, 22 May 2014 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/10556/1/Ivan-Bjelovucic-the-first-in-history-to-fly-over-the-Alps-in-1913.html One of the greatest successes of Ivan Bjelovuèiæ (1889 – 1949) was achieved on 25 January 1913 when, as a French pilot, he managed to fly over the Alps between Brigue and Domodossola in 26 minutes and thus become the first pilot in the history who did it. Born in Peru, on his father's side he was a descendant from the family of sea captains from Janjina, Pelje¹ac peninsula in Croatia. Recently a postage stamp was issued in his honor in Croatia in 100,000 copies. marinko.frka@gmail.com (Mauricij Frka-Pete�i�) Fri, 02 May 2014 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/10548/1/The-Croatian-Academy-of-America-celebrates-61-years-1953---2014.html The Croatian Academy of America is celebrating its 61st anniversary with its Annual Dinner to be held on Saturday, April 26, 2014 at Appetito Ristorante in New York City with cocktails starting at 6:30 p.m. and dinner starting at 7:30 p.m. The keynote address will be made by Frank Jankac on “Enemy Aliens: Recovering the Unknown Story of the Internment of Croats in North America During World War I”. An additional presentation will be made to commemorate the work of the late Karlo Mirth. stecak@sbcglobal.net (Marko Pulji�) Fri, 18 Apr 2014 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/10535/1/Croatian-Fraternal-Union-CFU-founded-in-1894-in-the-USA-celebrates-120-years-of-existence.html From a membership of less than 300 in 1894, the Croatian Fraternal Union, or in Croatian - Hrvatska bratska zajednica, has grown into an organization with approximately 60,000 members worldwide. The history of the Croatian Fraternal Union actually coincides with the history of the Croatian people in North America. From the beginning, when an itinerant young newspaperman came to Pittsburgh from Chicago in the late fall of 1893, Zdravko V. Mu¾ina attracted more than 300 people to a meeting on Jan. 14, 1894, to organize a mutual benefit society for all Croatians. On the photo Mr. Bernard Luketich, president of CFU. darko@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach and Darko �ubrini�) Sun, 16 Mar 2014 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/10528/1/Heritage-and-History-Tour-of-Croatia-with-Robert-Jerin-September-26---October-9-2014.html Join noted genealogist, Robert Jerin, for this custom designed exploration of Croatia’s history and heritage. We’ll have a chance to meet with local villagers as well as professionals working in the field of genealogy while we tour this country rich in tradition and benefiting from a confluence of cultures for thousands of years. We will be visiting: Dubrovnik, Peljesac, Medjugorje, Makarska, Split, Brac Island, Plitvice Lakes, Karlovac, Zumberak, Samobor, Zagreb stecak@sbcglobal.net (Marko Pulji�) Thu, 27 Feb 2014 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/10514/1/-Joko-Paro-in-Houston-for-the-United-Nations-Remembrance-Day-2014-.html His Excellency, Mr. Jo¹ko Paro, Croatian Ambassador to the United States (left) was in Texas on January 27, 2014 to make a presentation to the Houston Holocaust Museum. This was part of the United Nations Remembrance Day commemorations. There was also recognition of the Croatian "Righteous Among Nations". slavonac46@gmail.com (David Byler) Sun, 02 Feb 2014 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/10513/1/Karlo-J-Mirth-1917-2013-distinguished-Croatian-writer-and--lifetime-president-of-Croatian-Academy-of-America.html Karlo Mirth was born in Otoèac in Croatian region of Lika, where also Nikola Tesla was born. He studied Forestry and Civil Engineering at the University of Zagreb. Forced to leave Croatia after 1945, he studied  Journalism at the University of Rome. He later studied at the Universities of Barcelona and Madrid, and the Library Sciences at Columbia University. Karlo Mirth was a prolific writer of many articles related to Croatian culture and history. He was very active in Croatian Academy of America, and in 2013 published his autobiographical book ®ivot u emigraciji (Life as an Emigree). darko.zubrinic@gmail.com (Darko �ubrini�) Sun, 02 Feb 2014 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/10505/1/Croatia-Summer-Conservation-Field-School-June-20---July-18-2014-initiated-by-the-University-of-Oregon-USA.html The Croatia Conservation Field School adds an exciting international element to the University of Oregon's Historic Preservation Program. It is an intensive program that allows students to gain hands-on experience in a culturally rich setting. Students will explore villages, while learning the history of the area of the city of Trogir (protected by UNESCO, on the photo) and on the island of Braè, documenting and analyzing important structures, and participating in a hands-on building project. The program is open to undergraduate and graduate students. z@zerostudio.net (Zoran Orlic) Fri, 03 Jan 2014 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/10499/1/Andrija-Mohorovicic-1857-1936-great-Croatian-scientist-discoverer-of-the-MOHO-discontinuity-in-Earths-crust.html The MOHO is the boundary between the crust and the mantle in the Earth. This is a depth where seismic waves change velocity and there is also a change in chemical composition. Also termed the Mohorovièiæ discontinuity after the Croatian seismologist Andrija Mohorovièiæ (1857-1936) who discovered it. The boundary is between 25 and 60 km deep beneath the continents and between 5 and 8 km deep beneath the ocean floor. The discovery of MOHO is one of the greatest achievements in the history of Croatian science. Andrija Mohorovièiæ was born in the town of Volosko on the northern part Croatian coast. darko.zubrinic@gmail.com (Darko �ubrini�) Mon, 16 Dec 2013 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/10498/1/Frok-Zefi-Catholic-priest-historian-and-publicist-in-Croatia.html Besides his regular duties in his parish, Don Frok Zefi (on the photo) is very active as a historian and publicist. Till now he has published about a dozen of books and monographs, most of them in Zagreb and Osijek, and some of them printed in Albanian as well. No doubt, the greatest Albanian in history was legenedary Mother Teresa, educated as a girl by Croatian Jesuits. The greatest expert in the history of Albanians was distinguished Croatian scientist and polyglot Milan pl. ©ufflay (1879-1931). darko.zubrinic@gmail.com (Darko �ubrini�) Fri, 13 Dec 2013 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/10495/1/Bijeli-Put---White-Path-10-26-December-1993-the-greatest-humanitarian-action-in-European-History.html Dr. Slobodan Lang is one of initators of White Path / Bijeli Put humanitarian project. Bijeli Put 1993 is the greatest humanitarian project in European History. It is the first and only successful joint humanitarian project of Catholic Christians and Muslims. In December 2013 the 20 years since the White Path has been solmenly marked in the building of the Council of the City of Zagreb. darko.zubrinic@gmail.com (Darko �ubrini�) Wed, 11 Dec 2013 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/10485/1/-Vesna-Drapac-Deconstructing-Yugoslavia---a-Transnational-History-a--monograph-reviewed-by-Dr-Mladen-Ibler.html Deconstructing Yugoslavia would be probably a more appropriate title of this book. The country failed twice as an integrated state – first as a Kingdom and next as a Communist state. Apart from the communist party and the army, which where the repressive organs of a corrupt and self-serving ruling elite after the Second World War, all cross-republican institutions fell well of atracting lasting interest. The idea of Yugoslavia died well before the state finally disapeared at the end of 20th century. The monograph has been written by Vesna Drapac, associate professor at the University of Adelaide, Australia. mladen.ibler@gmail.com (Dr. Mladen Ibler) Sun, 24 Nov 2013 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/10483/1/Vukovar-is-an-indelible-part-of-European-and-World-History.html In this article we have collected some of the songs and verses dedicated to the tragic destiny of the city of Vukovar and its citizens. The destiny of numerous victims is still not known. This Baroque city on the Danube river was savagely destroyed in 1991. darko.zubrinic@gmail.com (Darko �ubrini�) Mon, 18 Nov 2013 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/10479/1/Nenad-Bachs-life-in-America-is-described-in-a-film-called-quotEverything-is-Foreverquot.html Home Team Productions has nearly completed the documentary film about Nenad's life in America called "Everything is Forever" and is directed by Victor Zimet and produced by Stephanie Silber. Congratulations to Nenad for being selected as an advisor for the State Office for Croatians Abroad! Advisors will assist in the creation and execution of activities pertaining to Croatians who live outside of the Republic of Croatia. The band will be performing at Percolator Coffeehouse next Sunday, November 10, 2013 starting at 7:00 p.m. HRT 1 will be rebroadcasting the band's concert at Lisinski Hall on Monday November 4, 2013 at 6:20 New York time.  You can watch the live stream at http://htv1.hrt.hr . darko.zubrinic@gmail.com (Darko �ubrini�) Mon, 04 Nov 2013 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/10478/1/Queen-of-Croatians-Chapel-on-the-mount-of-Medvednica-near-Zagreb-celebrates---80th-birthday.html In 2013 the Chapel of Mother Mary of Sljeme near Zagreb, also known as the Queen of Croatians, solemnly celebrated 80 years since it has been built. The Holy Mass  was served in September 2013 by cardinal Josip Bozaniæ, the Zagreb Archbishop. In October 2013 an interesting mass has been served by F. Josip Ro¾mariæ, SJ, and by Rev. Oleh Hirnyk, Greek-Catholic priest from the city of Lviv, Ukraine; see the photo. darko.zubrinic@gmail.com (Darko �ubrini�) Sat, 02 Nov 2013 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/10443/1/Carmen-Verlichak-Croatian-Argentinean-writer-published-a-monograph-El-Cardenal-Stepinac-in-Buenos-Aires-2013.html In 2013 Carmen Verlichak, Croatian-Argentiean writer living in Buenos Aires, wrote a monograph about Blessed Cardinal dr. Alojzije Stepinac 1898-1960, entitled El Cardenal Stepinac. It has been published by the Krivodol Press in Argentinean's capital. This is the first monograph in Castellano about this important historical and religious figure published in South America. In 1998 Cardinal Alojzije Stepinac was beatified by Pope John Paul II in Marija Bistrica, during his second Apostolic visit to Croatia. darko.zubrinic@gmail.com (Darko �ubrini�) Sun, 28 Jul 2013 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/10433/1/Croatia-in-EU-on-July-1st-2013-seen-by-professional-designers.html Croatia has 12 centuries of uninterrupted international legitimicy, much longer than great majority of other members of the EU. As such, Croatia as an international subject is much older than EU itself. Among the most important moments of Croatia's recent past are June 25th 1991, when Croatian Deit (one of the oldest in Europe), as a result of 93,24% majority of votes of Croatian citizens, decided to become a sovereign state, as well as the decision of Badinter's Committee from September 7th 1991 about de facto recognition of Croatia. On the photo is an amusing pair of shoes, designed by Teo Bekavac, professional Croatian designer. The red one represents Croatia, and the blue one the EU. darko@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach and Darko �ubrini�) Sun, 30 Jun 2013 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/10428/1/1134-years-since-the-first-international-recognition-of-Croatia-more-than-600-years-before-the-discovery-of-America.html During the solemn divine service in St. Peter's church in Rome in 879, Pope John VIII gave his blessing to the prince and the whole Croatian people, about which he informed Branimir in his letters. In his letter dated from 881 the Pope addressed Branimir as the `glorious prince'. This was the first time that the Croatian state was officially recognized. As wee see, this happened in the 9th century, or more precisely, more than 600 years before the discover of America. darko.zubrinic@gmail.com (Darko �ubrini�) Mon, 24 Jun 2013 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/10423/1/Nikola-Primorac-Croatian-captain-of-City-of-Ragusa-craft-sailing-from-Liverpool-to-New-York-and-back-in-1870.html There are honored people in Croatian maritime history who contributed to the various fields of maritime affairs. One of them is Captain Nikola Primorac, born in Dubrovnik on July 27, 1840, who sailed in his small boat across the Atlantic from Liverpool to New York and back to Liverpool, England. In Liverpool he made a bet with one Englishman for 100 pound sterling that he will cross the Atlantic in a small boat. It was sensational news in Britain which the London "Times" wrote: "It is an incredible brave and crazy adventure ever made that could turn into tragedy or triumph". darko.zubrinic@gmail.com (Darko �ubrini�) Tue, 18 Jun 2013 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/10422/1/Destination-CROATIA-Destination-CROATIA-Destination-CROATIA-Destination-CROATIA.html Croatia, one of the most beautiful countries in the world, is a land which its citizens often call her Lijepa Na¹a, that is, Our Beautiful. It is not surprising that this is the title of Croatia's National Anthem as well. Croatia is a southern Central European country at the crossroads between the Pannonian Plain and the Mediterranean Sea. Its southern and western flanks border the Adriatic Sea. In this article we show two fantastic films about Croatia. On the left is a photo of probably the most beautiful cape in the world, called Zlatni Rat (Golden Cape), on the island of Braè in Croatia. darko.zubrinic@gmail.com (Darko �ubrini�) Thu, 13 Jun 2013 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/10408/1/Call-for-proposals-for-international-conference-on-Croatian-history-language-and-migration.html The conference to be held from 5-7 February, 2014, honours 30 years of Croatian Studies at Macquarie University in Sydney Australia. The focus of the conference is on the development of the identity and political consciousness of Croatians in Croatia or abroad through the exploration of the construction and expression of personal and group identities of Croatians of all social classes, in all periods from the Middle Ages to the modern day. Themes include but are not limited to: identity, history, language, art, trans-national communities, literature and politics of Croatians in Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and all the other places where Croatians live as a minority group or diaspora community. stecak@sbcglobal.net (Marko Pulji�) Thu, 16 May 2013 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/10398/1/Documentary-film-Lovers-and-Madmen-is-now-available-in-English.html Lovers and Madmen, (based on a book of memoirs by the same title), is a documentary film about the life of Zvonko and Julienne Busic, which was broadcast on Croatian State Television on March 9, 2013. The facts are straightforward: in 1976, the Busics, along with three other Croatians, hijacked a TWA airliner with the sole goal of forcing major world media to publish a leaflet on the human rights abuses against Croatians and others in the former Yugoslav dictatorship: murders, assassinations, imprisonment of students and intellectuals. stecak@sbcglobal.net (Marko Pulji�) Mon, 15 Apr 2013 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/10397/1/Margaret-Thatcher-1925-2013-It-is-a-great-pleasure-to-speak-to-you-here-in-the-ancient-capital-of-your-beautiful-country.html Margaret Thatcher passed away on 8 April 2013. One of her greatest achievements came when she was no longer Prime Minister. She came out in support of recognising and arming Croatia in 1991 when Serbia had invaded and she did the same for Bosnia-Hercegovina when Belgrade turned its aggression onto that country. In so doing she helped focus international onto who was the aggressor. She played her role in combating the return of genocide to Europe. (Brian Gallagher, London) darko.zubrinic@gmail.com (Darko �ubrini�) Tue, 09 Apr 2013 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/10380/1/Croatian-Coats-of-Arms-in-the-20th-century.html Croatian Coats of Arms are quite widespread among Croatians in the USA, in South America, Australia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and in Western Europe. Easy to recognize, it served and still serves as a sign various organizations and societies, and many Croatian families keep it as a dear decoration on carefully chosen places in their houses, in hundreds of witty variations. It is an interesting element of fashin of Croatian sportsmen and sportswomen. On the photo Croatian Coat of Arms with two angels, from 1919, on the ceiling of a hall in Ethnographic Museum in Zagreb. darko.zubrinic@gmail.com (Darko �ubrini�) Mon, 04 Mar 2013 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/10377/1/Croatian-Coats-of-Arms-in-the-15th-and-16th-centuries.html Croatian Coat of Arms is among the oldest national symbols in Europe. It can be encountered already since the 15th century in numerous European countries. By Croatian Coat of Arms here we mean the well known red-silver square pattern, by which Croatia is universally recognizable. Rather amazing Croatian Coats of Arms can be seen for example in the Prague Cathedral of St Vitus, on the mount of Hradèany, in the Republic of Czechia, dating from the first half of the 16th century. On the photo is Croatian Coat of Arms from Innsbruck, Austria, painted in 1495, that is, three years after the discovery of America. The presentation is dedicated to the memory of Adam Eterovich. darko.zubrinic@gmail.com (Darko �ubrini�) Sat, 02 Mar 2013 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/10372/1/Oleh-Hirnyk-translated-Hrvoje-Kacics-monograph-from-Croatian-into-Ukrainian-and-published-in-Kyiv-2013.html   Mr. Oleh Hirnyk translated an important monograph by Dr. Hrvoje Kaèiæ, Serving My Country (U slu¾bi domovine), from Croatian into Ukrainian. The Ukrainian title is Hrvats'ki proriv (Croatian Break Through). The monograph has an extensive preface to the book, written by the translator, revealing many little known details from the history of relations between Croatia and Ukraine. The book has been published in 2013 in Kyiv, and we congratulate Mr. Oleh Hirnyk and the Ukrainian publisher Tempora on great job. The book was previously translated from Croatian into English, Castillian, German, and now into Ukrainian. darko.zubrinic@gmail.com (Darko �ubrini�) Tue, 19 Feb 2013 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/10370/1/Profdr-Kresimir-Cosic-Kako-smo-promijenili-tijek-rata-Operacijom-ZIMA-94.html Hrvatski general prof.dr. Kre¹imir Æosiæ opisuje povijesna dogaðanja vezana uz tzv. Prvu bihaæku krizu i njenu povezanost s operacijom “Zima ’94”, koja su gotovo su potpuno nepoznata ¹iroj javnosti. Meðutim, mo¾e se reæi da je Hrvatska vojska upravo tom operacijom neizravno sprijeèila pad Bihaæa i tragediju civilnog puèanstva srebrenièkih razmjera jo¹ u zimi 1994., ... Sjeæanja, èinjenice i izvorni dokumenti svjedoèe o tome kako je Hrvatska vojska jo¹ krajem 1994. braneæi Hrvatsku, u suradnji s 5. korpusom Armije BiH branila i obranila Bosnu i Hercegovinu. Èlanak opisuje i razgovore hrvatskih generala Janka Bobetka i Kre¹imira Æosiæa  u Pentagonu. kresimir.cosic@fer.hr (Prof.dr. Kre�imir �osi�, Croatian general) Thu, 14 Feb 2013 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/10356/1/Jacob-Jake-Matijevic-1947-2012-NASA-engineer-of-Croatian-origin-father-of-Curiosity-rover-on-Mars.html  Jacob (Richard) Matijevic, also known as "Jake" Matijevic, (3 November 1947 - 20 August 2012) was an American NASA engineer of Croatian origin who worked on Mars Exploration Rovers. Dr. Matijevic, PhD in Mathematics from the University of Chicago, was involved in developing the "Sojourner", "Spirit", "Opportunity" and "Curiosity" rovers. For his contributions to the rover projects, NASA named several landmarks (including "Matijevic Hill" and "Jake Matijevic" rock) for him on the planet Mars. darko@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach and Darko �ubrini�) Sun, 30 Dec 2012 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/10347/1/Croatie---la-voici-Lalphabet-glagolitique-croate-en-France.html Croatia - here it is! Croatian Glagolitic Alphabet will be exhibited in France in the Museum of Tau in Reims, France. A famous Evangel of Reims, Croatian Glagolitic book ,is kept in the City Library of Reims since 16th century as a special tresure. The book has an amazing biography: handwritten in 1395 in the Prague, tied with an even older Cyrillic Evangel from Kiev, Ukraine, from 11th century, it is a significant symbol of European cultural landscape, connecting Western and Eastern Christianity. An exhibition entitled THE CROATIAN GLAGOLITIC SCRIPT will be open 13 Dec 2012 - 24 Feb 2013 in Palais du Tau, in Reims. darko.zubrinic@gmail.com (Darko �ubrini�) Mon, 10 Dec 2012 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/10346/1/Jeffrey-Kuhner-The-Washington-Times---Croatia8217s-national-independence-finally-has-been-secured.html Croatia’s national independence finally has been secured. This is the real meaning of the recent ruling by the U.N. war crimes court in The Hague to overturn the conviction of Croatian Gen. Ante Gotovina. Gen. Gotovina embodies Croatia’s struggle for independence. Gen. Gotovina’s actions effectively smashed Belgrade’s campaign of mass killings and ethnic cleansing. No one - neither the European Union, the United Nations nor NATO - did more to end the savage fighting in Croatia and Bosnia than Gen. Gotovina. Rather than being a war criminal, he is a great Croatian patriot and hero. darko.zubrinic@gmail.com (Darko �ubrini�) Thu, 06 Dec 2012 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/10342/1/Documentary-Celebrating-100-Years-of-St-Jerome-Parish-in-Chicago-to-premiere-December-9-2012-on-WTTW-.html The film about St. Jerome's 100th Anniversary "They Never Walked Alone" will debut on Chicago's WTTW (PBS Ch. 11) on Sunday Dec. 9th, 2012 from 6pm-7pm. Only part of the film will be featured (only 40 minutes) that evening, Chicago's anchorman Bill Kurtis and actor Goran Visnjic have narrated the film. Please encourage your parishioners and listeners to tune in at that time and if they are inclined to purchase the DVD and support both the church and WTTW. stecak@sbcglobal.net (Marko Pulji�) Tue, 27 Nov 2012 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/10341/1/Brian-Gallagher-a-historic-day---the-Croatian-diaspora-can-take-pride-in-its-support-of-Croatian-generals.html Brian Gallagher: Certainly there were those outside Croatia who also supported the generals. I will single out here the former adviser to Margaret Thatcher, Robin Harris. He helped raise the profile of the case and was forthright in support. That was quite brave; believing in the innocent of alleged war criminals is not necessarily a very popular thing to do. The Croatian diaspora can take pride in its support. Indeed, Croatian Americans took part in the defence – Luka Misetic and Tom Kuzmanovic. And from Canada was Ana Katalinic, the Gotovina case manager. letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Mon, 26 Nov 2012 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/10339/1/Petar-Janjic---Tromblon-defendor-of-Vukovar-and-Croatia--in-1991-and-twenty-years-after.html Petar Janjiæ nicknamed Tromblon, was an active participant of the defense of Vukovar in 1991, and survived infamous concentration camps in Serbia. He is speaking about his life and about Croatian defenders in his important and unique autobiographic book about the 1991 Vukovar tragedy, entitled "®edni krvi gladni izdaje" (Those Thirsty of Blood and Hungry of Treason). He is openly and very courageously describing some of the current problems of contemporary Croatia. darko.zubrinic@gmail.com (Darko �ubrini�) Sun, 18 Nov 2012 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/10338/1/Ante-Gotovina-and-Mladen-Markach-with-their-families-in--Croatia-after-seven-years-of-grave-injustice-in-the-Hague.html   We are pleased to send our cordial greetings to Mr. Ante Gotovina, Mr. Mladen Markaè, Mr. Slobodan Praljak, Mr. Dario Kordiæ, and their families, in the name of the readers of the CROWN. They are all defenders of European values and true Croatian ambassadors in the EU. Croatian general Mr. Ante Gotovina contributed enormously to the dignity of Europe during the operation STORM in 1995, which according to distinguished Croatian humanist Dr. Slobodan Lang, was the first ever military action that prevented genocide. darko@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach and Darko �ubrini�) Fri, 16 Nov 2012 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/10329/1/-The-unbelievable-story-of-a-Croatian-hero-Michael-Palaich.html We asked Mr. Palaich about his activities during the 1991-1995 war in Croatia and Bosnia-Herzegovina, as well as about an indictment against him in the USA, that stemmed from his efforts to help Croatia and Bosnia-Hercegovina to defend themselves against Serbian aggression. Those who know Mike, are well aware of his hesitation to talk about himself. But since so many have already forgotten about what happened in a not so distant past, and for the sake of new generations, he agreed to answer to a few questions, so that we may all remember how much liberty and independence meant, not only to Croatians in the homeland but to those around the world as well. cuvalo@gmail.com (Dr. Ante �uvalo) Wed, 10 Oct 2012 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/10326/1/Dr-Borislav-Arapoviae-A-Remarkable-Address-Given-by-a-Croatian-Minister-to-Those-Going-to-War-1778.html An amazing anti-war, pacifist sermon was given in 1778 by an anonymous Croatian preacher to Croatian soldiers, immediately before the battle between Austrian and Prussian troops in Bohemia. While the Croatian original is still unknown, that same year eight translations were published in German in 1778, Dutch in 1778 (in the Hague (sic!), Amsterdam, and Leeuwarden), in Swedish in 1778 and 1779, and in Latvian in 1804 and 1805. The existing documents have been published by Dr. Borislav Arapoviæ, Croatian scholar living in Stockholm, honorary president of the Biblical Institute in the capital of Sweden, foreign member of the Russian Academy of Sciences. darko.zubrinic@gmail.com (Darko �ubrini�) Sun, 07 Oct 2012 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/10324/1/Joint-Injustice-Against-Croatia-and-Croatian-Generals.html All the participants in documentary film "Joint Injustice", made by Vecernji List newspaper and journalist Jadranka Juresko-Kero, have followed closely the work of the ICTY Tribunal for many years and conclude that the court proceedings demonstrate failings of an ad hoc court and that the judgment against the Croatian Generals dated 15th April 2011 was delivered on the basis of inadequately confirmed and inadequately legally relevant evidence. darko@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach and Darko �ubrini�) Wed, 26 Sep 2012 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/10323/1/Josip-Pecarics-activities-in-Pakistan-and-Croatia-from-Mathematics-to-Croatian-history.html   Academician Josip Peèariæ has 13 PhD students in Pakistan. Six of them already earnd PhD degrees in Mathematics. He is visiting professor at a prestigious Abdus Salam School of Mathematical Sciences in Lahore, named after distingushed Pakistani Nobel Prize winner for Phyisics. He was Chairman of the Scientific Committee of the International Conference on Mathematical Inequalities and Applications organized Lahore in 2010, where about 200 scientists from 19 cuntries participated. His public activities in Croatia are well known. darko.zubrinic@gmail.com (Darko �ubrini�) Mon, 24 Sep 2012 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/10303/1/Celebrating-Croatia8217s-D-Day-Operation-Storm-August-5th-1995.html The profound respect, delight and the sense of ultimate justice for freedom WWII D-Day generates in the lands of WWII Allies is nothing less, nothing more than what "Operation Storm 1995" generates for Croatia and Croatians. The Operation Storm prevented genocide over Muslim Slavs in the Bihaæ area in Bosnia and Herzegovina. On the photo Dr. Franjo Tudjman, president of the Republic of Croatia, kissing the national flag in 1995 on the fortress of Knin, a former royal city of Croatian kings. darko@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach and Darko �ubrini�) Sun, 05 Aug 2012 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/10302/1/-Jorge-Luis-Subiabre-Matiacha-published-a-monograph-about-Croatians-in-Punta-Arenas-in-Chile.html Huellas y Rastros de Croatas en Punta Arenas (The Impressions and Traces of Croatians in Puntas Arenas) is a fascinating, trilingual, Spanish-English-Croatian book of photos by Jorge Subiabre Matiacha and Tatiana Alfaro Chavez, that Jorge recently published in Puntas Arenas. Matiacha has Croatian roots and works as a graphic designer, photographer and writer, while co-author Tatiana is a photographic technician.  Both have already participated successfully at photo exhibits. The book features many black & white photos of Croatians, most with roots from the Croatian island of Braè, with a selection from the poetry of Pepita Turina (1907-1986) in the foreword. darko.zubrinic@gmail.com (Darko �ubrini�) Mon, 30 Jul 2012 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/10297/1/Passion-Heritage-of-Croatians-in-The-Danube-Region-conference-held-in-Sombor-2012.html Mrs Marija ©ereme¹iæ initiated organizing the international conference dealing with the Passion Heritage among Croatians in the Danube Region. It was held in the lovely town of Sombor, in cooperation with the local Croatian society called Urbani ©okci directed by Mrs ©ereme¹iæ, and by the Agency for Culture of Vojvodina Croatians from Subotica, directed by Mr Tomislav ®igmanov. The conference was superbly organized and very successful. darko_zubrinic@yahoo.com (Prof.Dr. Darko Zubrinic) Tue, 17 Jul 2012 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/10292/1/1133-years-since-the-first-international-recognition-of-Croatia-879---2012.html The Croatian Prince Branimir, 9th century, made important steps in strengthening the relations with Rome. During the solemn divine service in St. Peter's church in Rome in 879, Pope John VIII gave his blessing to the prince and the whole Croatian people, about which he informed Branimir in his letters, the first one dated on May 21, 879. This was the first time that the Croatian state was officially recognized (at that time the international legitimacy was given by the Pope), which, as we see, happened more than eleven centuries ago! On the photo old a detail from Croatian pre-Romanesque monument from the 9th century containing the name of Branimir. katarina.tadic@zg.t-com.hr (Katarina Tadic) Fri, 06 Jul 2012 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/10273/1/Living-Cells-a-new-book-by-Julienne-Eden-Busic-available-on-Amazon.html “Living Cells,” now available in English in paperback and for Kindle, is a novel based on the true story, including actual tapes, of a young Croatian woman  who was held hostage as a sex slave, or “comfort woman”, for over two months by Serbian soldiers during the occupation of the eastern Croatian city of Vukovar in 1991. stecak@sbcglobal.net (Marko Pulji�) Mon, 04 Jun 2012 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/10271/1/Life-of-Croatian-peasants-near-Zagreb-described-in-a-silent-film-from-1920s.html The film was shot probably in 1920s in the village of Mraclin south of Zagreb, the region of Turopolje, near the town of Velika Gorica. It describes the daily life of a family community in Turopolje (Turopoljska zadruga) during one ordinary day, starting from early in the morning. Especially interesting is to see making the sign of the Cross on the bread before lunch, and the sign of the Cross on small children when they go to bed. We illustrate the old customs by a nice collection of photos from Radio Velika Gorica, Croatia. darko_zubrinic@yahoo.com (Prof.Dr. Darko Zubrinic) Sat, 02 Jun 2012 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/10270/1/Christophe-Dolbeau-wrote-a-new-important-book-about-French---Croatian-historical-relations.html The newest book by Christophe Dolbeau is written in French, and its title is  Croatie - France, Une Belle Amitié, i.e. France  - Croatia, a Nice Friendship. It reveals us many new details about various historical contacts between Croatia and France. It has 138 pp, and covers the period since the Middle Ages till the 19th century. This book will be a wonderful gift to anybody wishing to known more about Croatia in the context of European relations throughout centuries, with a special reference to France. darko_zubrinic@yahoo.com (Prof.Dr. Darko Zubrinic) Thu, 31 May 2012 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/10259/1/HRT-dokumentirao-Jugoslavenske-tajne-slube-na-YouTube-u-Bleiburg-planiran-jo-u-Drvaru.html Jugoslavenske tajne slu¾be 1-7 opisane su na YouTube-u. Filmove je priredila i emitirala HRT (Hrvatska Radio Televizija), a sinopsis napisao Obrad Kosovac, pod struènom recenzijom prof.dr. Josipa Jurèeviæa. Scenarist je Andrej Rora, a producent i redatelj Miljenko Manjkas. Glavni urednik dokumentarnog programa HRT je Ninoslav Lovèeviæ. Poèetak osvjetljavanja tamne pro¹losti, tako da iz povijesnih dokumenata uèimo i ne ponavljamo iste gre¹ke. Jedini pravi naèin izgradnje temelja prave demokratske Hrvatske je suèeljavanje s pro¹lo¹æu, bila ona dobra, lo¹a ili indiferentna. Na¹a je. darko@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach and Darko �ubrini�) Fri, 18 May 2012 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/10249/1/Sinking-of-the-Titanic-in-1912-and-Croatians.html April 15, 2012 marks the 100th anniversary of the sinking of the famous Titanic liner.  Among 1,316 passengers, out of which 818 died in this horrific tragedy that stunned the world, there were also a number of Croatians and/or people coming from Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina. Carpathia was the only ship to come to Titanic’s passengers and crew rescue. At the time of Titanic’s sinking Carpathia was on its regular route New York – Rijeka (Croatia). There were 76 Croatians working as crew on the Carpathia – the hero ship. cuvalo@gmail.com (Dr. Ante �uvalo) Thu, 19 Apr 2012 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/10244/1/Armenian-and-Croatian-contacts-described-by-Dr-Vinicije-B-Lupis.html A special bond between the city of Dubrovnik and Armenia is the cult of the City's patron saint St. Blaise from Armenian Sebaste. Croatian Jesuit Josip Marinoviæ, 18th century, wrote the first history of Armenians in the West. The Croatian-Armenian Friendship Society was founded in 2003 in Zagreb. In March 2012 a small gathering of members of the Society has been orgnized in Zagreb, aiming among others to promote a Small Croatian-Armenian / Armenian-Croatian Dictionary. darko_zubrinic@yahoo.com (Prof.Dr. Darko Zubrinic) Wed, 04 Apr 2012 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/10241/1/Ljubica-Stefan-1921-2002-Croatian-Righteous-courageous-historian-and-publicist.html With this article we commemorate 10 years since the death of Ljubica ©tefan, distinguished Croatian intellectual, exceptionally courageous historian and publicist, recipient of the medal of Righteous among the Nations from Yad Vashem. On 17 March 2012 the Holy Mass has been served in her memory by Rev. Josip Kuhtiæ in the Zagreb Cathedral, assisted by Mons. Dr. Juraj Batelja. She risked her life living in Belgrade until 1992,  and publishing her books in Zagreb under several pseudonims during the Serbian aggression on Croatia and BiH (Bosnia and Herzegovina). In 1992 she left Belgrade leaving there literally all her property. The Prize of Ljubica ©tefan has been established in her honour in Zagreb in  2009 for exceptional publicist and scientific work. darko_zubrinic@yahoo.com (Prof.Dr. Darko Zubrinic) Fri, 16 Mar 2012 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/10228/1/1040-years-of-uninterrupted-tradition-of-celebrating-the-Day-of-St-Blaise-in-Dubrovnik.html Celebrations of the fest day of St Blaise (in Croatian, Sveti Vlaho), Dubrovnik patron saint, is celebrated since 972 AD, that is, continuously for 1040 years. This patron relates Dubrovnik and Croatia with Armenia, because St Blais was Armenian saint. The Festival of St Blaise is also the City of Dubrovnik Day. Croatian-Armenian friendship society has been founded in Croatia's capital Zagreb in 2003. Its current president is Croatian pianist Naira Astaryan of Armenian origin. darko_zubrinic@yahoo.com (Prof.Dr. Darko Zubrinic) Fri, 03 Feb 2012 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/10215/1/REFERENDUM-AFTER-THE-FINAL-VERDICT-FOR-CROATIAN-GENERALS.html The Geneva convention states that: ”Nothing in this Protocol shall be invoked for the purpose of affecting the sovereignty of a State or the responsibility of the Government, by all legitimate means, to maintain or re-establish law and order in the State or to defend the national unity and territorial integrity of the State.”! In stark contrast to these proclamations, the EU punished Croatia by abolishing the Phare programme on only the second day of the liberating military operation “Storm”, calling upon false accounts of excessive shelling of Knin. Following on from this logic, the prosecution of the ICTY indicted the Croatian Generals and fabricated the legal norm of a “joint criminal enterprise” so that it would be able to charge the entire Croatian civil and military leadership. ... darko@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach and Darko �ubrini�) Wed, 04 Jan 2012 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/10208/1/Cristophe-Dolbeau-expert-in-Croatian--French-relations.html Mr. Cristophe Dolbeau is distinguished expert in Croatian-French relations, with a deep insight into Croatia's past and present. He published several books an numerous articles, and some of the articles have been translated into Croatian. his very interesting brochure "France - Croatie, Aperçu des relations entre le XIe et le XIXe siecle", Lyon 1994. In its fifteen chapters, the brochure contains a wealth of data, some of them of interest also for specialists. His newest book is "Croatie - Sentinelle de l'Occident", 300 pp. darko_zubrinic@yahoo.com (Prof.Dr. Darko Zubrinic) Thu, 15 Dec 2011 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/10197/1/Georges-dEsclavonie-Croatian-professor-at-Sorbonne-in-Paris-and-French-spiritual-writer-around-1400.html Georgius de Sclavonia or Georges d'Esclavonie wrote his book Le chasteau de viriginte in 1411. With this article we mark 600 years since its appearance in France, at the Beaument Benedictine Abbey in the city of Tours. This Croatian scholar studied at the famous Sorbonne in Paris, where he became professor at the beginning of the 15 century. The Municiapl Library of Tours keeps his texts written in the Croatian Glagolitic Script (see on the left), which he expressly calls Alphabetum Chrawaticum. This texts constitute the earliest known Croatian handwritten manual for children, which he reproduced at Sorbonne in Paris, accompanied with his commentaries in Latin. darko_zubrinic@yahoo.com (Prof.Dr. Darko Zubrinic) Mon, 12 Dec 2011 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/10201/1/VUKOVAR-1991---2011-CRIME-WITHOUT-PUNISHMENT---ZLOEIN-BEZ-KAZNE.html Remember Vukovar! darko@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach and Darko �ubrini�) Fri, 18 Nov 2011 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/10187/1/Esther-Gitman-and-Jadranka-Juresko-Kero--The-Harriman-Institute-on-November-3rd-2011.html New York premier of the documentary film made by Jadranka Juresko Kero (photo left). This is a story about dr Esther Gitman, a historian of Jewish origins who has written the book “When Courage Prevailed”. Dr Gitman’s message is the film’s main motive. Her message is that the rescue of the Jews in the Independent State of Croatia and the role played by Archbishop Stepinac deserve internationalization so that the whole truth is known about the Croatian people whose courageous representatives were the only ones in Europe during World War II to openly oppose Hitler’s racist laws. letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Thu, 13 Oct 2011 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/10166/1/Badinter-Committee-decided-on-factual-recognition-of-Croatia-on-7-September-1991-.html Robert Badinter is French lawyer, university professor and politician. Badinter’s arbitration commission, established by the European Community, stated that Croatia and Slovenia acquired their sovereignty on 7 September 1991, and from that date Croatia and Slovenia are independent and sovereign states. darko_zubrinic@yahoo.com (Prof.Dr. Darko Zubrinic) Fri, 09 Sep 2011 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/10152/1/Gordan-Lederer-Croatian-cameraman-and-reporter-killed-during-Serbian-aggression-on-Croatia-in-1991.html A letter from Gordan Lederer's mother: I hereby announce publicly that my son GORDAN LEDERER was treacherrously murdered on 9th August 1991, by a mercenary gang of Chetniks while holding a camera in his hand, and that, thanks to the Chetnik collaborator, General Raseta, he was denied any chance of survival. Gordan Lederer's mother, Vlasta Lederer, Ph.D., consultant, spec. anaesthesiology and reanimatology. Published in Vjesnik, Zagreb 14th August 1991. With this article we mark 20 years since the tragic death of our friend Gordan on 10th August 1991. Seventeen Croatian newspaperman and cameraman have been assassinated during the Serbian 1991-1995 aggression on Croatia. darko_zubrinic@yahoo.com (Prof.Dr. Darko Zubrinic) Wed, 10 Aug 2011 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/10150/1/Operation-quotStormquot-1995-prevented-genocide-in-Bihaae-area-of-BiH-and-liberated-occupied-parts-of-Croatia.html Ministry of Defense of the Republic of Croatia (MORH - Ministarstvo obrane Republike Hrvatske) provided a short 5min video about the operation "Storm", and a photogallery. The operation started on 5th August 1995, which is celebrated as the Victory Day and as the Day of Croatian Defenders throughout of Croatia. On the photo Croatian president Tuðman and Croatian defense minister Gojko ©u¹ak on the fortress above the town of Knin just a few days after the start of operation "Storm". darko@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach and Darko �ubrini�) Fri, 05 Aug 2011 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/10143/1/Croatian-merchants-from-Dubrovnik-built-the-church-of-St-Blaise-St-Vlaho-in-Goa-in-India-in-the-16th-century.html  Nicholas Mirkovich in his study “Ragusa and the Portuguese Spice Trade”, Slavonic and Eastern European Review, London, March 1943, wrote the following: “During the absence of Venice the largest part of the oriental trade was taken over by Ragusa, which about 1530-1540 had a virtual monopoly of that trade. For a decade or two there existed a sharp competition between Ragusa and Portugal, which was carried on also in Portugal's own East Indian empire. The Ragusan (i.e. Dubrovnik) colony Sao Braz (Saint Vlaho) near Goa is one of the strangest and most interesting examples of the economic expansion of that little Republic in the period of the commercial revolution.” Article by Adam S. Eterovich Bracanin, on the left. croatians@aol.com (Adam S. Eterovich) Sat, 16 Jul 2011 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/10140/1/Carmen-Verlichak-Vrljieak-Hrvati-u-Argentini---Croatians-in-Argentina.html Carmen Verlichak is distiguished Croatian writer living in Buenos Aires, Argentina, born in Madrid, Spain, expert in the history of Croatians in South America. In 2011 her publishing house Krivodol Press seated in Buenos Aires, and named after a small Croatian village of Krivodol from which her predecessors arrive, issued an extremely interesting book Hrvati u Argentina (Croatians in Argentina), in Croatian langauge. It is closely related to her previous very successful edition bearing the same title, but in Castellano: Los croatas de la Argentina. The book is is full of exceptionally interesting life stories of Croatian families, accompanied by several dozens of photos. It is a pleasure to read this book. darko_zubrinic@yahoo.com (Prof.Dr. Darko Zubrinic) Tue, 12 Jul 2011 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/10137/1/Branko-Fucic-1920-1999-representative-collection-of-conference-papers-published-about-his-life-and-work.html  Sixty three conference papers from the International Scholarly Seminar on the Life and Work of Academician Branko Fuèiæ (1920-1999) have been published in 2011 in voluminous, representative monograph comprising 844 pp. Branko Fuèiæ was distinguished expert in Croatian Glagolitic Script, in the history of Croatian church art, in particular for the area of Istria, dr. honoris causa in theology, and recipient of Herder's prize in Vienna. The monograph has been edited by dr. Tomislav Galoviæ of the Faculty of Arts and Letters, University of Zagreb. darko_zubrinic@yahoo.com (Prof.Dr. Darko Zubrinic) Sat, 02 Jul 2011 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/10135/1/Dr-Hrvoje-Kacic-The-Hague-Tribunal-omits-establishment-of-the-truth.html Dr. Hrvoje Kaèiæ, distinguished Croatian expert in maritime law, gave two interviews. In the first one he describes the importance of the decision of the Badinter Comission on 7 September 1991 about factual recognition of Croatia. The second interview concludes that the Hague Tribunal does not meet the goals for which it was established. darko_zubrinic@yahoo.com (Prof.Dr. Darko Zubrinic) Mon, 27 Jun 2011 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/10132/1/The-Croatian-Academy-of-America-Issued-New-Volume-of-the-Journal-of-Croatian-Studies.html The Croatian Academy of America issued volume 44 of the Journal of Croatian Studies, its annual interdisciplinary review. Contributed articles by Darko ®ubriniæ: William Feller (1906-1970) - an outstanding Croatian-American mathematician, Vinko Grubi¹iæ: The three alphabets used in the printing of Croatian Reformation books in Germany, John Felix Clissa: Migration history of the Italo-Croatians of Molise to Western Australia, Jure Kri¹to: Brother's keeper The surveillance of American Croats by FBI during World War II, Stan Granic: Canadian Ethnic Studies (1969-2003) and Polyphony (1977-2000) as sources for the Croatian Ethnological Community stangranic@hotmail.com (Stan Granic) Wed, 15 Jun 2011 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/10119/1/1132-years-since-the-first-international-recognition-of-Croatia.html The first international recognition of Croatia came in May 21st 879 from Pope John VIII, i.e. in the 9th century, in his two letters to Croatian prince Branimir. He gave his blessings to the prince and the whole Croatian people. Croatians live in Europe near the Adriatic coast since the 7th century. katarina.tadic@zg.t-com.hr (Katarina Tadic) Sat, 21 May 2011 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/10112/1/Dr-Slobodan-Lang-quotStormquot-was-humanitarian-operation-that-prevented-genocide.html Dr. Slobodan Lang, distinguished Croatian scholar and humanist, gave interview for the readers of the CROWN on 25 April 2011 concerning the 1995 operation "Storm": "... This Court never heared me speaking! It is too strongly afraid of its own shameful history. And that's why it will be a Court of shame! There will be nothing that will be remembered of it, because it did not start from anything. And that's why it is a failure. ..." darko@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach and Darko �ubrini�) Sun, 01 May 2011 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/10107/1/Statement-by-the-Croatian-Conference-of-Bishops-on-The-Hagues-Verdict.html The formulation "joint criminal enterprise" is an unfounded and grave insult to the Croatian people, and to justice in general. This is also how we feel about the verdict against the Croatian state leadership at that time and the generals who led campaigns to liberate territory during the war. We believe that these judgments could provide dangerous and indirect support for new violence, as well as a source of further injustice in the world. darko@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach and Darko �ubrini�) Wed, 27 Apr 2011 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9745/1/Jack-Baric-presents-Searching-for-a-Storm.html Is the UN complicit in the wartime tragedies of the former Yugoslavia ... and is the Croatian general Ante Gotovina indicted for war crimes to justify their failed policies? Robin Harris, London: Gotovina is a scapegoat of  the politics and judiciary. letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Sun, 17 Apr 2011 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/10100/1/Slobodan-Praljak-The-truth-about-Croatia.html Slobodan Praljak: Who destroyed the bridges in Mostar and the water pipelines which connected the sources (right coast of Neretva) and the eastern part of the town? The Old Bridge was destroyed on 9th November 1993. The started investigation about the tank crew which fired on the Old Bridge, in spite of my requests was never completed by any authority of BIH or Federation of BIH. A perpetrator was produced and a lie became the "truth". darko@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach and Darko �ubrini�) Sat, 16 Apr 2011 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/10087/1/Croatian-generals-are-not-guilty.html The monograph [PDF], published in English by the Croatian Cultural Council, contains contributed articles by Milan Vukoviæ, Josip Jurèeviæ, Robin Harris, Mile Bogoviæ, Miroslav Tuðman, Hrvoje Kaèiæ (on the photo), Josip Peèariæ etc. From the introducton by Hrvoje Hitrec: "In August, 1995, the Croatian Army liberated large sections of its territory, which had been occupied by the Serbs for many years. This operation is known as Operation Storm (Oluja). In Dalmatia, the most critical part of the operation was headed by Croatian general Ante Gotovina." darko@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach and Darko �ubrini�) Sat, 16 Apr 2011 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/10000/1/Jack-Baric-Croatian-American-filmaker-UN-Should-Be-Trailed.html Jack Baric: "...I wonder who is going to open a court to judge the UN, because in my estimation they were complicit during the war [in Croatia and Bosnia-Hercegovina] in the sense of their inactivity in stopping it..." His film Searching for a Storm deals with Croatian general Ante Gotovina. darko_zubrinic@yahoo.com (Prof.Dr. Darko Zubrinic) Sat, 16 Apr 2011 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/10103/1/Exhibition-quot400-years-of-Croatians-in-Viennaquot-opened-by-dr-Jan-Kickert-in-Zagreb.html Dr Jan Kickert, ambassador of Austria in Zagreb, solemnly opened the exhibition "400 years of Croatian in Vienna" in the hall of the Matrix Croatica - Matica hrvatska. The exhibition has been prepared by dr. Josip Ser¹iæ and mr. Mijo Juriæ from Vienna, in collaboration with Gabriela Novak-Karall, Secretary General of Croatian Center in Vienna, and Petar Tyran, president of the Center. The exhibition was already shown in Vienna in December 2009, as well as in Slovakia. darko_zubrinic@yahoo.com (Prof.Dr. Darko Zubrinic) Thu, 14 Apr 2011 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/10099/1/Four-centuries-of-Croatians-in-Vienna.html Pozivamo Vas na izlo¾bu 400 godina Hrvata u Beèu 7. travnja 2011. u 19 sati u Galeriju Matice hrvatske, Zagreb, ul. Matice hrvatske 2. Autori izlo¾be su dr. Josip Ser¹iæ i g. Mijo Juriæ iz Beèa. Suradnici  su Gabriela Novak-Karall i Petar Tyran iz Beèa. Sudjeluje i dr. Jan Kickert, veleposlanik R. Austrije u Hrvatskoj.  Hrvati su prije èetristo godina (1609) imali svoje Hrvatsko Selo (Crabatendoerfel / Krowotendoerfel) u nekada¹njem beèkom predgraðu Spittelberga (Spitaljbrega). darko_zubrinic@yahoo.com (Prof.Dr. Darko Zubrinic) Wed, 06 Apr 2011 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/10096/1/The-Hague-Tribunal-does-not-meet-the-obligations-for-which-it-was-established.html Dr. Hrvoje Kaèiæ, writing about omissions of the Hague tribunal and the problem of “artillery logs”: ...there is no word of Vukovar, Vinkovci, Osijek, Sisak, Gospiæ and Dubrovnik (in particular the village of Osojnik), resulting in thousands of victims. The Hague tribunal was silent,... This farce has been going on too long, and the consequences can be worrying and painful. darko_zubrinic@yahoo.com (Prof.Dr. Darko Zubrinic) Tue, 29 Mar 2011 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/10083/1/Dr-Esther-Gitman-Croatians-saved-thousands-of-Jews.html Dr. Esther Gitman, American historian living in New York, wrote an important monograph entitled When Courage Prevailed. It is a scholarly study dealing with the history of  saving the Jews in Croatia during the WW2. She published original petitions signed by hundreds of ordinary Croatians in order to save their Jewish friends. According to dr. Gitman, no other European nation can show such documents. darko_zubrinic@yahoo.com (Prof.Dr. Darko Zubrinic) Sun, 27 Feb 2011 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/10081/1/Mate-Ujevic-1901-1967-the-founder-and-editor-in-chief-of-Croatian-Encyclopaedia.html Dr. Mate Ujeviæ was the greatest Croatian lexicographer of the 20th century. The first volume of Croatian Encyclopaedia was published on 10 February 1941. Five volumes were published until 1945, out of 12 planned volumes. He was editor in chief of The Martitime Encyclopaedia published in 1954 in eight volumes. Dr. Ujeviæ was posthumosly honoured by the title of righteous among the nations by Yad Vashem. ibirtic@gmail.com (Iva Ujevi� Birti� and Darko �ubrini�) Mon, 21 Feb 2011 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/10072/1/Dr-Kathleen-V-Wilkes-1946-2003-devoted-her-life-to-the-victory-of-Croatia.html Dr. Kathleen Vaughan Wilkes was a distinguished British humanist, professor of philosophy at the University of Oxford, and also taught at the Inter-University Centre in Dubrovnik, Croatia. During the Serbian siege of the City in 1991 and 1992, she was spreading the truth about its merciless destruction. Dr. Wilkes wrote on Dec 26, 1991: "Dubrovnik... there is still no water or electricity, scant food, no glass in the windows, temperature at freezing point..." darko_zubrinic@yahoo.com (Prof.Dr. Darko Zubrinic) Fri, 11 Feb 2011 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/10071/1/Dr-Hrvoje-Kacics-book-Serving-My-Country-translated-into-several-languages.html Prof. dr. Hrvoje Kaèiæ is a distinguished Croatian specialist in maritime law.  Since 1990 he was an independent M.P. of the Croatian Parliament, elected chairman of the Committee for Foreign Affairs during the first mandate. From 1994 to 2001 he was president of the State Commission for Borders of the Republic of Croatia. His book Serving My Country has been published in Croatian, English (three printings), Spanish and German. It will soon appear in Ukrainian and Polish. darko_zubrinic@yahoo.com (Prof.Dr. Darko Zubrinic) Thu, 03 Feb 2011 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/10066/1/Croatia-in-the-Early-Middle-Ages-published-in-English-and-French.html An excellent and easy to read book that should be available in all universities and libraries world-wide for scholars and anyone interested in studying the history of Europe's Middle Ages. Croatia is one of the oldest continuously existing countries in Europe. Hilda Foley. This luxorous monograph  containing 30 extensive articles with numerous photos, has been published by the Croatian Academy of Sciences and Arts. darko_zubrinic@yahoo.com (Prof.Dr. Darko Zubrinic) Mon, 24 Jan 2011 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/10055/1/Rudjer-Boskovic-a-famous-Croatian-scientist-born-300-years-ago-in-1711.html Rudjer Boskovic (1711-1787), born in Dubrovnik 300 years ago, was a member of the Royal Society of London, a member of St.Petersbug Academy, "membre correspondant" of the French Academie Royale des Sciences. According to Werner Heisenberg, "Boskovic occupies outstanding place as a theologian, philosopher, mathematician, and astronomer." On the left portrait of Boskovic by Edge Pine, London 1760. darko_zubrinic@yahoo.com (Prof.Dr. Darko Zubrinic) Sat, 01 Jan 2011 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/10050/1/New-book-by-Slavica-Jakeliae-quotCollectivistic-Religionsquot.html "Collectivistic Religions" by Slavica Jakeliæ addresses questions of religion and collective identity, religion and nationalism, religion and public life, and religion and conflict. It moves beyond the attempts to tackle such questions in terms of 'choice' and 'religious nationalism' by introducing the notion of 'collectivistic religions' to contemporary debates surrounding public religions. stecak@sbcglobal.net (Marko Pulji�) Mon, 13 Dec 2010 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/10048/1/James-J-Sadkovichs-monograph-quotTudjman-the-first-political-biographyquot.html James Sadkovich is the author of the monograph Tudjman: prva politicka biografija, his first political biography, in 2010, Zagreb (in Croatian). He is an independent scholar who holds a Ph.D. in history from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.  Dr. Sadkovich completed the initial research for this monograph  while a Public Policy Scholar at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars. We provide an interview by Julienne Eden Bu¹iæ. julienne-eden.busic@zg.htnet.hr (Julienne Busic) Sat, 11 Dec 2010 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/10046/1/Croatian-language-and-name-during-centuries.html Croatian language and name can be effectively followed at least since the 11th century. We provide a selection of relevant documents where the Croatian national name had been written in its traditional way: Hrvat (as we call it today), Horvat, and their various derivatives. Outstanding monuments include The Baska Tablet from circa 1100, The Vinodol Code 1288, Istrian Boundaries 1275 and many other. On the left Hrvatskoj in Cro Glagolitic, 15th ct., see the 2nd line. darko_zubrinic@yahoo.com (Prof.Dr. Darko Zubrinic) Thu, 09 Dec 2010 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/10032/1/Michael-McAdams-1947-2010-historian-and-sincere-Croatian-friend.html C. Michael McAdams (1947-2010) is best known for his important monograph Hrvatska - mit i istina (Croatia Myth & Reality), published in Croatian, Swedish, Danish, Spanish (2 editions), and English (3 editions). Other translations are planned. We invite you to read an article by Croatian historian Dr. Ante Èuvalo written in memory of Michael McAdams. cuvalo@gmail.com (Dr. Ante �uvalo) Sat, 13 Nov 2010 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/10029/1/Dr-Ante-Cuvalo-PhD-dissertations-dealing-with-Croatia-and-Bosnia-Herzegovina.html By the courtesy of  Dr. Ante Èuvalo,  distinguished Croatian historian, we can offer you an impressive and yet incomplete list of recent Ph. D. dissertations dealing with Croatia and Bosnia-Herzegovina, on various subjects, defended in the past several years throughout the world. cuvalo@gmail.com (Dr. Ante �uvalo) Thu, 14 Oct 2010 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/10009/1/Tomislav-Raukar-laureate-of-the-Anton-Gindely-Prize-in-Vienna-Austria-2009.html Tomislav Raukar, distinguished professor of Croatian Middle Age History at the University of Zagreb and a member of the Croatian Academy of Sciences and Arts, is a laureate of the prestigious Anton Gindly Prize in Vienna, Austria, for 2009, conferred to him by the Institute for Danube Area and Middle Europe in Vienna. It is a state prize in Austria established about 30 years ago. darko_zubrinic@yahoo.com (Prof.Dr. Darko Zubrinic) Sat, 21 Aug 2010 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/10003/1/George-Jure-Prpic-1920-2009-Croatian-American-historian.html Dr. Jure Prpiæ, Professor Emeritus of History, John Carroll University,  Cleveland USA, authored numerous books, booklets and articles. He wrote many articles in various Croatian immigrant publications., and deserves a special place in the history of the Association for Croatian Studies. Besides being one of its founders (1977), for quite a long time he was its main pillar and promoter. He was truly a gentle soul, a genuinely good person. darko_zubrinic@yahoo.com (Prof.Dr. Darko Zubrinic) Sat, 07 Aug 2010 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9991/1/481-foreign-volunteers-from-35-countries-defended-Croatia-in-1991-1995.html Sons of Croatia! 72 were killed in action (15 from England, 14 from Germany, 8 from France,...), and 88 wounded in action. Present in every front-line brigade, volunteers could be found on all of Croatia's five fronts. They were an enormous boost to civilian morale and their presence in battered front-line towns brought resolve to exhausted defenders. Jean-Michel Nicollier from France on the photo is one of the victims, assasinated in Ovèara near Vukovar. darko_zubrinic@yahoo.com (Prof.Dr. Darko Zubrinic) Sat, 24 Jul 2010 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9981/1/Studia-Croatica-founded-in-Buenos-Aires-Argentina-celebrates-50-years.html Studia Croatica is an important Croatian quaterly in Spanish founded in 1960 in Buenos Aires. It has published thosands of pages devoted to various historical, cultural and political issues dealing with Croatia and Croatians. The past directors were Ivo Bogdan, Franjo Nevistiæ, Radovan Latkoviæ, and Joza Vrljièak (photo), who established its internet versional at www.studiacroatica.org, capital achievement in preserving the history of Croatians. darko_zubrinic@yahoo.com (Prof.Dr. Darko Zubrinic) Sat, 26 Jun 2010 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9979/1/John-Kraljic-and-his-Croatian-historical-studies.html John Kraljiæ was born in New York City of Croatian parents from the area of Rijeka. John is a member and an officer of the Croatian Academy of America and member the Croatian Studies Association, as well as a contributing editor of the Review of Croatian History, published by the Croatian Institute of History (Hrvatski povijesni institut). Mr. Kraljiæ is the President of the National Federation of Croatian Americans. darko_zubrinic@yahoo.com (Prof.Dr. Darko Zubrinic) Tue, 22 Jun 2010 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9970/1/1131-years-since-the-first-international-recognition-of-Croatia.html  The first international recognition of Croatia came on May 21, 879 from Pope John VIII, that is, 1131 years ago. During the solemn divine service in St. Peter's church in Rome in 879, Pope John VIII gave his blessing to Croatian prince Branimir and the whole Croatian people, about which he informed the prince in his letters. A detail of Croatian sacral monument from 9th century can be seen on the left, with the name of prince Branimir. katarina.tadic@zg.t-com.hr (Katarina Tadic) Fri, 14 May 2010 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9969/1/Erazmo-Ben-Ticac-Croatian-leading-planner-of-Savannah-nuclear-ship-1959.html The Savannah nuclear ship, the first nuclear-powered merchant ship, was built to the plans of Erazmo Tiæac 1904-1968, a Croatian  born near the naval port of Rijeka. After the president Dwight Eisenhower announced his decision to build an experimental nuclear-powered merchant ship, Tiæac became the leading planner. The ship was launched in 1959. On a plaque above the entrance to the ship's lounge was written in golden letters: "Ben Tiæac, naval architect". darko_zubrinic@yahoo.com (Prof.Dr. Darko Zubrinic) Sun, 09 May 2010 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9957/1/Dr-Edward-L-Miloslavich-Croatian-investigator-of-the-Katyn-Forest-tragedy.html Dr. Edward Lucas Miloslavich (Eduard Luka Miloslaviæ), professor at the University of Zagreb, Croatia, was one among 12 medical experts who investigated the Katyn Forest tragedy in 1943. In 1951 and 1952 he gave an official report also to the Congress of the USA. We express our deep condolances to the Polish people on the occasion of the airplane tragedy of April 10 2010. darko_zubrinic@yahoo.com (Prof.Dr. Darko Zubrinic) Sun, 11 Apr 2010 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9956/1/Croatians-of-Chicagoland-book-set-to-launch-May-17-2010.html The Chicago area is home to more than 150,000 people of Croatian descent. In its heyday, the community grew so robust, it was known as the "second Croatian Capital." In her new book "Croatians of Chicagoland, " Maria Dugandzic-Pasic examines how this community and its leaders, clergy, laborers, politicians, athletes, benevolent societies and social organizations helped build and shape Chicago's history. stecak@sbcglobal.net (Marko Pulji�) Thu, 08 Apr 2010 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9949/1/Professor-Henrik-Heger-founder-of-Croatian-studies-at-Sorbonne-in-Paris-in-1981.html  Henrik Heger, distinguished Croatian scientist, is professor at Sorbonne in Paris, one of the most prestigious universities in the world. He founded Croatian Studies at Sorbonne already in 1981. In 1983 professor Heger organized an important international symposium Les croates et la civilisation du livre  (Croatians and the Civilization of the Book). He has contributed enormously to spreading the knowledge about Croatian culture. darko_zubrinic@yahoo.com (Prof.Dr. Darko Zubrinic) Mon, 29 Mar 2010 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9946/1/-Lipik-presented-in-the-cultural-magazine-Croatian-Review.html The city of Lipik was presented in Croatian Review, a cultural and political magazine that was first published in 1928. From 1945 to 1950 the magazine was prohibited. Thanks to the Croatian emigrants Vinko Nikoliæ and Antun Bonifaèiæ, the magazine came back to life in Argentina. In the years between 1951 and 1990 it was published in Buenos Aires and Paris and then in Munich and Barcelona. Since 1991 it has been published in Zagreb by Matica Hrvatska. darko_zubrinic@yahoo.com (Prof.Dr. Darko Zubrinic) Mon, 22 Mar 2010 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9943/1/Dr-Ante-Cuvalo-Croatia-at-the-crossroads-1990.html The following is an article written in June of 1990 by dr. Ante Èuvalo, distinguished Croatian historian, after the first free elections in Croatia.  It was published in the then émigré publication, Hrvatska revija [Croatian Review], No. 3, September, 1990, pp. 601-605. We provide it as a parallel Croatian and English text. darko_zubrinic@yahoo.com (Prof.Dr. Darko Zubrinic) Thu, 18 Mar 2010 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9923/1/Armenian-bishop-Nareg-Alemezian-in-Dubrovnik-Celebrating-the-Day-of-St-Vlaho.html   A special bond between Croatia and Armenia is the cult of the saint Sv. Vlaho (St. Blaise) from Armenian Sebaste, patron of the city of Dubrovnik. Armenian bishop Nareg Alemezian on the left visited the City and participated in the annual festivity, 1038th in order! The author of the first history of Armenian people published in Europe was Croatian - Josip Marinoviæ, in 18th century. darko_zubrinic@yahoo.com (Prof.Dr. Darko Zubrinic) Wed, 03 Feb 2010 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9904/1/Miho-Demovic-Two-millenia-of--St-Pauls-shipwreck-near-the-Croatian-island-of-Mljet.html  Dr Miho Demoviæ is the editor of important collection of articles from a scientific meeting dealing with "Ignjat Ðurðeviæ and the Dubrovnik tradition of St Paul's shipwreck tradition in the waters around Croatian island of Mljet." The monograph written by top Croatian scholars has been published in Zagreb in 2009, 418 pp. It provides credible proofs that St Paul's shipwreck occured in the waters of Mljet, and not Malta. darko_zubrinic@yahoo.com (Prof.Dr. Darko Zubrinic) Mon, 21 Dec 2009 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9896/1/400-years-of-Croatians-in-Austrias-capital-Vienna.html Krowotendörfel, ie Croatian Village, was the name of a small village near Vienna which dissappeared in 1683 during the second Turkish seige of the city. In 1529 Croatian troups defended Vienna under their own national flag, see on the photo, during the first Turkish siege. An important exhibition 400 Years of Croatians in Vienna (400 Jahre Kroaten in Wien) is held  until the end of January 2010 in Amthaus Wieden, Favoritenstrasse 18, Vienna. darko_zubrinic@yahoo.com (Prof.Dr. Darko Zubrinic) Fri, 11 Dec 2009 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9888/1/Croatians-in-the-Banja-Luka-bishopric-in-Bosnia-and-Herzegovina.html Dr. Franjo Komarica, bishop of Banja Luka on the left, warmly accepted a group of visitors from Zagreb. He described the life of Croatians from that part of BiH, now scattered throughout the world, as very difficult. Those rare who returned have problems from existential to unsecured basic human rights, as witnessed by the bishop. darko_zubrinic@yahoo.com (Prof.Dr. Darko Zubrinic) Sat, 14 Nov 2009 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9879/1/Vukovar-was-the-target-of-more-than-1500000-grenades-in-1991.html In 1991 the city of Vukovar in Croatia, on the Danube river, was the target of more than 1,500,000 grenades of all kinds of sizes in just a few months, and more than 13,500 houses were devastated. A favorite target during the Serbian aggression was 50m high water tower, on the left. The city is the birthplace of professor Lavoslav Leopold Ru¾ièka, distinguished expert in chemistry, one among three Croatian Nobel Prize winners. darko_zubrinic@yahoo.com (Prof.Dr. Darko Zubrinic) Tue, 27 Oct 2009 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9864/1/White-Croats-in-Ukraine-and-their-archaeological-site-Stiljsko-near-the-city-of-Lviv.html Dr. Orest Korèinski, Ukrainian archaeologist on the left, investigates the site of Stiljsko on Carpathian mountains near Lviv in Ukraine, an important site of the White Croats from 8th to 10th centuries. We provide an article by Rev. Oleh Hirnyk, dealing with a little known early history of the Croats. The whole site, with surrounding settlements, had around 40,000 inhabitants in 9th century, more than Kiev at that time! darko_zubrinic@yahoo.com (Prof.Dr. Darko Zubrinic) Wed, 16 Sep 2009 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9850/1/Villa-Ruzic-in-Rijeka-and-Croatian-Tales-of-Long-Ago-by-Ivana-Brlic-Mazuranic.html Villa Ru¾iæ, situated in the city of Rijeka, is a top monument of Croatian culture. Among other things it comprises numerous editions of the famous Croatian Tales of Long Ago published by Ivana Brliæ Ma¾uraniæ in 1916. The book intended for children was translated into some fourty languages, including Chinese. The Villa Ru¾iæ is superbly directed by Mr. Theodor de Canziani Jak¹iæ on the left. darko_zubrinic@yahoo.com (Prof.Dr. Darko Zubrinic) Thu, 20 Aug 2009 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9825/1/Julienne-Eden-Busic-Your-Blood-and-Mine-waiting-for-Zvonko-for-32-years.html Julienne Eden Bu¹iæ's speech at the book promotion, "Your Blood and Mine", held in an overcrowded hall of the Mimara Palace in Zagreb, May 21, 2009, in the presence of her husband Zvonko, both on the photo from 1970s. They met each other again in 2008 after 32 years of separation. darko_zubrinic@yahoo.com (Prof.Dr. Darko Zubrinic) Thu, 02 Jul 2009 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9796/1/Hrvojka-Mihanovic-Salopek-and-her-Stella-Maris-project-of-St-Marys-heritage.html  Dr. Hrvojka Mihanoviæ Salopek is the leader of an important project Stella Maris - Sea Star, devoted to centuries of St. Mary's heritage in Croatia in the broadest sense: from church architecture and sacral paintings to church music, poetry, literature and Croatian Lenten chants. Till now the project resulted in 5 excellent DVD's which describe an important part of 13 centuries of Croatian spirituality and culture in Europe. darko_zubrinic@yahoo.com (Prof.Dr. Darko Zubrinic) Sat, 23 May 2009 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9793/1/1130-years-since-the-first-international-recognition-of-Croatia.html The first international recognition of Croatia came on May 21, 879 from Pope John VIII, that is, 1130 years ago. During the solemn divine service in St. Peter's church in Rome in 879, Pope John VIII gave his blessing to Croatian prince Branimir and the whole Croatian people, about which he informed the prince in his letters. A detail of Croatian sacral monument from 9th century can be seen on the left, with the name of prince Branimir. katarina.tadic@zg.t-com.hr (Katarina Tadic) Wed, 20 May 2009 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9790/1/Kronika-povratka-Zvonka-Busica-u-Hrvatsku.html Nakon 32 godine provedene u amerièkim kazamatima Zvonko Bu¹iæ vratio se u domovinu Hrvatsku. Dne 24. srpnja 2008. godine sletio je u zagrebaèku zraènu liku, gdje ga je uz suprugu Julienne doèekao i velik broj rodbine, prijatelja i po¹tovatelja iz javnog i politièkog ¾ivota Hrvatske. Bu¹iæ je kao zatvorenik s najdu¾im sta¾om deportiran iz Terre Hautea, gdje je bio jedini nemuslimanski zatvorenik. julienne-eden.busic@zg.htnet.hr (Julienne Busic) Thu, 14 May 2009 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9787/1/Ivo-Macela-distinguished-Croatian-medical-scientist-in-Prague-and-Bratislava.html Dr. Ivo Maæela 1891-1952, born in Trpanj on Pelje¹ac peninsula, was professor at the Charles University in Prague and at the Comenium University in Bratislava. In 1945 he founded the Medical Faculty in Plzen in Czech Republic. In 1947 he was nominated unanimously candidate for the Nobel Prize by the Council of Professors at the Medical Faculty of the Charles University in Prague, for his research and important achievements in endocrinology. najka.mirkovic@du.t-com.hr (Najka Mirkovi�) Sat, 02 May 2009 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9784/1/Jack-Baric-SEARCHING-FOR-A-STORM-screenings--in-USA-Canada-and-Australia.html   In North America the film SEARCHING FOR A STORM by Jack Bariæ will be shown in San Pedro, Vancouver, Vancouver Island, Toronto, Chicago, Cleveland, Montreal, and New York. In Australia it will be screened in Melbourne, Adelaide, Sydney, Gold Coast, Perth, Canberra, Brisbane, and Geelong. jackbaric@hotmail.com (Jack Baric) Wed, 22 Apr 2009 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9778/1/The-Vukovar-Hospital-1991-important-monograph-about-its-tragedy.html The English edition of the monograph The Vukovar Hospital 1991 has been published in 2008 by the Vukovar Hospital and "Society of the Croatian doctors and volunteers in 1990-1991". Its Organizer council consists of Dr. Vesna Bosanac, Dr. Juraj Njavro, and Dr. ©tefan Biro. Especially important is an article by professor Andrija Hebrang, entitled: Silence of the International humanitarian organizations about the tragedy of the Vukovar Hospital. darko_zubrinic@yahoo.com (Prof.Dr. Darko Zubrinic) Mon, 13 Apr 2009 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9765/1/Jerry-Blaskovich---Anatomy-of-Deceit.html Jerry Blaskovich is a US physician of Croatian origin. During the 1991-1995 war in Croatia, nobody had to tell Dr Blaskovich where to go, what to do, whom to help, and what to write. Although living in California, Jerry knew what his homeland needed, what tasks suited his abilities, what pressure his family was able to go through, and what his health and strength allowed him to do. joza.vrljicak@gmail.com (Joza Vrlji�ak) Wed, 01 Apr 2009 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9753/1/Brian-Gallagher-interviewed-Croatian-American-filmmaker-Jack-Baric.html Exclusive interview with American Croatian filmmaker Jack Baric, the director of the new film, 'Searching for a Storm', published by Croatian Herald (Australia) 13 March 2009. New documentary about 'Operation Storm' which liberated the occupied parts of Croatia in 1995, and saved the city of Bihaæ in BiH from tragedy. Interviewer: Brian Gallagher, London; Jack Baric on the photo. brigall@yahoo.co.uk (Brian Gallagher) Sat, 21 Mar 2009 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9746/1/Louis-Cukela-recipient-of-USA-Navy-and-Army-Medals-of-Honor-during-WWI.html Louis Cukela (Vjekoslav Lujo Èukela, 1888-1956), was awarded both the Navy and Army Medals of Honor for extraordinary heroism in France 1918 during World War I. He was the only living man to hold two such decorations for extreme bravery in a single war. Èukela was born in Split in Croatia, and emigrated to the USA in 1913. letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Mon, 16 Mar 2009 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9733/1/Pliva-In-Memoriam-ili-Kuda-quotplivaquot-na-Hrvatski-brod.html Povijest Plive zapoèinje otvaranjem vrata dionièarskog dru¹tva i tvornice "Ka¹tel" u Karlovcu 1921.g. Prvi je predsjednik odbora prof. dr. Gustav Janaèek. Ovaj tekst je geneza jedne Hrvatske prièe,  da se  ne bi ponovila. Kuda "pliva" na¹ Hrvatski brod. Mo¾emo li bolje? Odgovor znamo, ali tko ima petlje odraditi to s integritetom,  po¹tenjem i znanjem? Ima nas samo se tek povezujemo. doroteja.kirhmajer@zg.t-com.hr (Doroteja Kirhmajer Vuj�i�, mr. sci.) Thu, 26 Feb 2009 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9732/1/Croatian-Woman-celebrating-80-years-of-existence-in-Chicago-2009.html "Croatian Woman" was founded in 1921, in Zagreb, with a simple mission: Help Croatians who are in need and less fortunate. Already in 1929  its first branch would open in Chicago. It was the original idea of Agata Durak and her daughter Vilma Strunjak to start a woman's organization in Chicago's Croatian community. darko_zubrinic@yahoo.com (Prof.Dr. Darko Zubrinic) Thu, 26 Feb 2009 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9730/1/Croatians-in-Romania-celebrate-500-years-of-their-roots.html Croatian community in Romania is not large, but is stable with well-preserved traditions and language. It is estimated that the number of Croats in Romania number around 14,000, but likely the number is higher. They are a part of one of the oldest communities in the Croatian diaspora. They have lived there over 500 years. letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Tue, 17 Feb 2009 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9693/1/Research-concerning-Croatian-Professionals-in-Illinois-and-NW-Indiana.html Dr. Ante Cuvalo (left) is preparing a book on the history of Croatians in the Chicago area and Northwest Indiana. The book will include names of outstanding Croatians from this part of the country. If you want to help with the project, e-mail him a short CV and any other information that might be useful for the project. stecak@sbcglobal.net (Marko Pulji�) Tue, 06 Jan 2009 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9692/1/Dr-Vinko-Ribariae-Hawaiian-captain-John-Dominis-originates-from-the-island-of-Rab.html Captain John Dominis is the father of John Owen, the husband of the last Hawaiian queen Liliuokalani. Prof. Dr. Vinko Ribariæ, on the photo, has issued a monograph in 2008 proving that both John Dominis and his son John Owen have their roots from the island of Rab in Croatia. darko_zubrinic@yahoo.com (Prof.Dr. Darko Zubrinic) Mon, 05 Jan 2009 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9663/1/Dr-Slaven-Letica-If-Streets-Could-Talk-Kad-bi-ulice-imale-dar-govora.html If Croatian streets and squares could talk, what a thrilling story they could tell about the meaning of all the name changes, and the dramatic, bloody, and tragic history that lies beneath. In my book, One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, I decided to "freeze history", at least for a brief moment. I gambled on posthumous recognition for my efforts, fully aware that any such appreciation in Croatia is always fleeting, and never long-lasting. slaven1947@gmail.com (Prof.Dr. Slaven Letica) Sat, 29 Nov 2008 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9658/1/Lavoslav-Ruzicka-Croatian-Nobel-Prize-winner-from-Vukovar.html Lavoslav Leopold Ru¾ièka (1887-1976) is one among three Croatian winners of the Nobel Prize. Born in the town of Vukovar, he obtained the Nobel Prize for chemistry while working et ETH, Zurich, Switzerland. In Vukovar the home of his birth has been renovated in 2007 from the 1991 destruction, now known as the Ru¾ièka House. darko_zubrinic@yahoo.com (Prof.Dr. Darko Zubrinic) Tue, 18 Nov 2008 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9657/1/Dr-Slaven-Letica-Vukovar-ili-hrvatska-knjiga-postanka-Gdje-zlo-ne-otima-NADU.html Ovo je osvrt dr. Slavena Letice na pad Vukovara kroz dva èlanka, jedan iz 1991. i drugi iz 2008. Naslovi èlanaka su "Vukovar ili hrvatska knjiga postanka" i "Vukovarski pouèak ili Odva¾nost hrvatske nade". slaven1947@gmail.com (Prof.Dr. Slaven Letica) Mon, 17 Nov 2008 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9656/1/Dr-Drago-Stambuk-Speech-at-the-Holy-Mass-for-Vukovar-Victims-Tokyo-2008.html Dr. Drago ©tambuk in his speech in Tokyo at the Holy Mass for Vukovar Victims, November 16th 2008, said that "... Vukovar's treatment by the Serbian forces onslaught from August to November 1991, when up to 15,000 missiles would fall daily on this beautiful baroque town, turned its citizens into martyrs and town into a waste land. The lives of the inhabitants were conducted inside cellars..." darko_zubrinic@yahoo.com (Prof.Dr. Darko Zubrinic) Sun, 16 Nov 2008 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9653/1/Croatian-Heroes-Kata-oljiae-legendary-Croatian-mother-died.html Kata ©oljiæ, considered as a hero of Homeland War, lost her four sons who defended Croatia in 1990s during the Battle for Vukovar. She was seeking the remains of her children for twelve years, and the last one was found in 2003. During the Second World War she lost her four brothers. Kata ©oljiæ died in 2008 in Zagreb, at the age of  87. darko_zubrinic@yahoo.com (Prof.Dr. Darko Zubrinic) Mon, 10 Nov 2008 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9651/1/St-Paul-visited-Croatian-island-of-Mljet-on-his-journey-to-Rome.html An important conference is organized in Dubrovnik where outstanding specialists will prove that St Paul went to Rome across the island of Mljet in Croatia, and not via Malta. This fact is contained in a book by Ignjat Ðurðeviæ, 18th century Croatian Baroque writer from the city of Dubrovnik. The prinicpal contributor on the conference is Dr. Miho Demoviæ, on the photo. darko_zubrinic@yahoo.com (Prof.Dr. Darko Zubrinic) Sun, 09 Nov 2008 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9649/1/Croatian-Heroes-Heroes-of-Vukovar-TV-serial-by-Eduard--Dominik-Galic-part-10.html Part 10 is the last one from the Vukovar Heroes series by Eduard and Dominik Galiæ, entitled Blago Zadro. It will be available on Friday 07.11.2008 20.10. This episode is about legendary Blago Zadro and his influence on Vukovar's defenders. dominik.galic@missart.hr (Dominik Gali�, producer) Wed, 05 Nov 2008 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9641/1/Croatian-Heroes-Heroes-of-Vukovar-TV-serial-by-Eduard--Dominik-Galic-part-8.html Part 8 of the Vukovar Heroes series by Eduard and Dominik Galiæ, entitled Slavonska and Hercegovaèka Street will be available on Friday 24.10.2008, at 20.10. You'll meet Mirko Brekalo senior, Nenad Gagiæ (on the photo), Ivan Kapular, Ivica Lukiæ, Dragan Luketiæ, Ivica Habajec. dominik.galic@missart.hr (Dominik Gali�, producer) Wed, 22 Oct 2008 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9637/1/The-CRAVAT-instead-of-a-TIE-and-NECKTIE.html On the occasion of the International Day of The Cravat on the 18th of October we invite all the English speaking individuals to call the knotted scarf around their neck by it's original name the cravat instead of tie and necktie. The earliest known cravat in history was worn by Ivan Gunduliæ from the City of Dubrovnik, a famous Croatian poet from the 17th century. Linda@croata.hr (Linda Prosenjak) Thu, 16 Oct 2008 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9636/1/Croatian-Heroes-Heroes-of-Vukovar-TV-serial-by-Eduard--Dominik-Galic-part-7.html Part 7 of the Vukovar Heroes series by Eduard and Dominik Galiæ, entitled New Banijska Street will be available on Friday 17.10.2008, at 20.10. Main characters in this episode are Miroslav and Tomislav Josiæ, Vlatko Voloder, Ivica Bano¾iæ, Ivan Kapula and Dragutin ©pac (on the left). dominik.galic@missart.hr (Dominik Gali�, producer) Wed, 15 Oct 2008 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9633/1/Croatian-Heroes-Vinko-Gecan-USA.html Vinko Gecan (1862-1916) is one whose name is woven into the historical fabric of our Croatian and American people. True heroism is not something that is planned. Rather, it is something that takes place under difficult circumstances as presented by life. Heroic moments are those that for some mysterious urge within us surface out of love for others - those in danger or need. cuvalo@gmail.com (Dr. Ante �uvalo) Sat, 11 Oct 2008 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9632/1/Croatian-Heroes-Heroes-of-Vukovar-TV-serial-by-Eduard--Dominik-Galic-part-6.html We invite you to see Part 6 of the Vukovar Heroes series by Eduard and Dominik Galiæ, entitled Technical building. It will be available via Croatian Television on Friday, October 10th, 2008,  at 20.10. Main characters in this episode are Marko Filkoviæ, Ivo Kom¹iæ, Zdravko Mamiæ, and Ivica Mikula (on the left). dominik.galic@missart.hr (Dominik Gali�, producer) Fri, 10 Oct 2008 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9629/1/Croatian-Heroes-Heroes-of-Vukovar-TV-serial-by-Eduard--Dominik-Galic-part-5.html Part 5 of the Vukovar Heroes series by Eduard and Dominik Galiæ is among others about Zdenko Horvat, Croatian defender (on the left), who destroyed 10 tanks and one armored vehicle and almost alone stopped a large enemy breakthrough in Vukovar across Bobota channel in 1991. dominik.galic@missart.hr (Dominik Gali�, producer) Thu, 02 Oct 2008 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9626/1/Croatian-Heroes-Heroes-of-Vukovar-TV-serial-by-Eduard--Dominik-Galic-part-4.html Turbo platoon was sent on most delicate and dangerous tasks in Vukovar's defense. Blago Zadro formed the platoon and was their leader. The main characters are Miro Radmanoviæ, Tomo Jakovljeviæ and Nevenko Mauzer (on the left). Part  4 of the Heros of Vukovar TV serial, Turbo platoon - Friday 26.09.2008 20.10, on Croatian Television. dominik.galic@missart.hr (Dominik Gali�, producer) Thu, 25 Sep 2008 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9622/1/Croatian-Heroes-Dr-Juraj-Njavro-legendary-surgeon-at-the-Vukovar-Hospital-died.html  Dr. Juraj Njavro (1938-2008) was a legendary Croatian surgeon at the Vukovar Hospital in 1991, during one of the most dramatic events in the history of Croatia. He was known as exceptionally pleasant and tolerant person. He wrote a book about his internment after the Serbian occupation of the city of Vukovar. darko_zubrinic@yahoo.com (Prof.Dr. Darko Zubrinic) Mon, 22 Sep 2008 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9618/1/Croatian-Heroes-Heroes-of-Vukovar-TV-serial-by-Eduard--Dominik-Galic-part-3.html  Little groups of people had been organizing the defense, and soon volunteers have joined. Graduates, peasants and shoemakers became warriors. Heroes of Vukovar TV serial by Eduard & Dominik Galic proceeds with its third episode on Croatian Television: 3. Yellow Ants and Desert Rats -  Friday 19.09.2008 20.10. On the left Blago Zadro, a legendary Croatian defender. dominik.galic@missart.hr (Dominik Gali�, producer) Mon, 15 Sep 2008 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9617/1/Cradle-Of-Football-Is-Not-England-But-Dalmatia.html In the 1st ct BC, young Illyrian Delmata tribe warriors, bided their time by passing each other a ball made from leather or bull hair. Sinj-based amateur archaeologist Josip Bepo Britvic dedicated his entire life to proving and providing evidence for this theory. Taking a walk in 1947, in hometown Sinj, he saw a rooted relief on a facade, showing a young man holding...a "football". mocnaj@gmail.com (Ratimir Mocnaj) Fri, 12 Sep 2008 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9616/1/Croatian-Heroes-Heroes-of-Vukovar-TV-serial-by-Eduard--Dominik-Galic-part-2.html Please, do not miss to see Episode 2 of the serial Heroes of Vukovar by Eduard and Dominik Galiæ on Croatian TV, Friday 12. 09. 2008. at 20.10.  On the photo on the left is Marko Babiæ, a legendary Croatian defender. dominik.galic@missart.hr (Dominik Gali�, producer) Fri, 12 Sep 2008 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9611/1/Croatians-in-America---photo-collection-by-Vladimir-Novak-part-3.html Mr. Vladimir Novak brings us a new series of exceptionally interesting photos related to life and work of Croatians in America, collected over several decades in the USA. As in previous two presentations,  much of this material is presented for the first time, exclusively for the readers of CROWN. On the left Marin Plestina, a famous wrestler. darko_zubrinic@yahoo.com (Prof.Dr. Darko Zubrinic) Wed, 27 Aug 2008 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9610/1/Croatian-Heroes-Heroes-of-Vukovar-TV-serial-by-Eduard--Dominik-Galic.html What about heroic 1991 resistance in Vukovar, which made Croatian state possible? What about men who destroyed those tanks and created the myth about Vukovar. Where are they? What are their names? What were they doing before the war? Who are they after all? And maybe the most important - how did they defeat the enemy so much stronger? In ten episodes. dominik.galic@missart.hr (Dominik Gali�, producer) Mon, 25 Aug 2008 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9603/1/Croatian-Heroes-Pavo-Urban-defended-Dubrovnik-with-his-camera.html Pavo Urban was a young photographer. He lost his life in 1991 during Serbian and Montenegrin shelling and bombing of the city of Dubrovnik with his photo camera in hands. His last photos are taken literally a few seconds before his tragic death. His photos reveal subtle spirituality of a young soul. Great talent. darko_zubrinic@yahoo.com (Prof.Dr. Darko Zubrinic) Wed, 06 Aug 2008 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9602/1/Croatian-Heroes-Dubrovnik-defenders-in-1991.html Dubrovnik is one of the most beautiful mediaveal cities in the world. Its flag is unique by its inscritpion LIBERTAS, that is, Freedom. We want to remind the reader on the dramatic days in 1991 when the City was mercelesly bombed and shelled during the Serbian agression on Croatia. We also present the Memorial Room of Dubrovnik Defendres. darko_zubrinic@yahoo.com (Prof.Dr. Darko Zubrinic) Tue, 05 Aug 2008 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9589/1/Stjepan-Radiae-1871-1928-The-Russian-branch-of-our-Jelacics.html Stjepan Radiæ is one of the greatest Croatian personalities of the 20th century. We present his article dealing with a branch of the Croatian noble family of Jelaèiæ in Russia and their contribution to the Russian culture. With this article we mark 80 years from his tragic destiny. darko_zubrinic@yahoo.com (Prof.Dr. Darko Zubrinic) Mon, 14 Jul 2008 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9573/1/Croatia---Russia-historical-and-cultural-relations.html We indicated some very interesting facts that connect Croatia and Russia via history, culture and sports. For example, did you know that the earliest monument built in honour of the famous writer L.N. Tolstoy was erected not in Yasnaya Polyana, but in Croatia, on the island of Brac. darko_zubrinic@yahoo.com (Prof.Dr. Darko Zubrinic) Fri, 27 Jun 2008 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9560/1/The-town-of-Lipik-in-past-and-present-described-on-YouTube.html The town of Lipik is described by a series of very interesting and important films, all of them available via YouTube. Especially important are testimonies and endevours of Mark Cook from the early 1990s. ipuscenik@yahoo.com (Ivan Pu��enik) Tue, 10 Jun 2008 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9518/1/Croatia-Has-a-NATO-Invitation---A-Historical-Day-for-Croatia-April-2nd-2008.html The fact that an invitation was sent is also a result of a process that began with Croatia’s  hard road to independence via the Croatian War of Independence in which 15,000 people gave their lives. Besides NATO, it is expected that Croatia receives an invitation for the EU soon. letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Thu, 03 Apr 2008 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9512/1/Croatians-in-America---photo-collection-by-Vladimir-Novak-part-2.html Mr. Vladimir Novak is well known for his rich collection of photos related to life and work of Croatians in America, collected over several decades in the USA. We continue with the second part of a series of articles. Much of this material is presented for the first time, exclusively for the readers of CROWN. darko_zubrinic@yahoo.com (Prof.Dr. Darko Zubrinic) Thu, 20 Mar 2008 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9505/1/Reinhard-Grabher-Austrian-journalist-to-direct-documentary-about-Goli-Otok.html Reinhard Grabher (left), a journalist from Salzburg, Austria will direct a documentary about Goli Otok. The documentary will include interviews with former inmates, including an interview with Josip Zoretiæ, author of Goli Otok "Hell in the Adriatic." Subtitles will be in Croatian, English, and German. mzoretic@gmail.com (Marko Zoretic) Fri, 07 Mar 2008 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9475/1/Australias-Prime-Minister-Kevin-Rudd-Apologizes-to-Aboriginals.html Australian Parliament progresses Reconciliation between Australia's Indigenous and non-Indigenous people by tendering a formal apology for the hurt caused by past government policies. Left Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd. A historical moment for Australia and the whole world. WE LEARN FROM OTHERS ! Quantum leap in human consciousness. violicalvert@optusnet.com.au (Violi Calvert) Fri, 15 Feb 2008 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9457/1/Croatian-Educational-Club-in-St-Louis-Missouri-1910.html Croatian Educational Club Zrinski - Frankopan was founded in St. Louis, Missouri, already in 1910. On the left is the photo from that time with Croatian Coat of Arms. We invite you to enjoy the Croatian langauge spoken 100 years ago. cuvalo@gmail.com (Dr. Ante �uvalo) Fri, 01 Feb 2008 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9431/1/Dr-Ante-Euvalo-Historical-Dictionary-of-Bosnia-and-Herzegovina-2007-2nd-edition.html In this update of a 1997 edition, Cuvalo (Joliet Junior Coll.), who is both an academic expert on the Balkans and a native of the region, treats his complex subject with breadth, depth, and clarity... - Nadine Cohen Baker, University of Georgia, Athens darko_zubrinic@yahoo.com (Prof.Dr. Darko Zubrinic) Mon, 14 Jan 2008 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9426/1/Dr-Drago-tambuk-Speech-in-Hiroshima-for-the-Vukovar-victims.html The speech of the Ambassador of the Republic of Croatia to Japan Dr. Drago ©tambuk during the Holy Mass for Vukovar's victims now available in Croatian and English. "...Vukovar is a canopy of celestial bodies, frozen in our mind, evoking earthly shortcomings, calling for a higher destiny..." darko_zubrinic@yahoo.com (Prof.Dr. Darko Zubrinic) Thu, 10 Jan 2008 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9421/1/Croatians-in-America---photo-collection-by-Vladimir-Novak-part-1.html Mr. Vladimir Novak, on the left with Alma Franuloviæ Planèiæ in Croatian national costume, is well known for his rich collection of photos related to life and work of Croatians in America, collected over several decades in the USA. We start with a series of articles, presented for the first time exclusively for the readers of CROWN. darko_zubrinic@yahoo.com (Prof.Dr. Darko Zubrinic) Mon, 07 Jan 2008 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9394/1/Hiroshima-2007-requiem-Mass-for-the-victims-of-the-Vukovar-tragedy.html The requiem Mass was said by Hiroshima Bishop Misue Joseph Atsumi with the Croatian Ambassador to Japan, Drago ©tambuk. "Vukovar je umro da bi Hrvatska ¾ivjela. Preobrazio je suze u zvijezde, prostrijelne rane u snopove svjetlosti, mrtve u anðele. Vukovar je svod nebesnika, zaustavljenih u na¹em sjeæanju, podsjetnik na zemaljske nedostatnosti i zazivatelj vi¹e sudbine." letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Wed, 19 Dec 2007 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9372/1/Marco-Polos-Croatian-roots-based-on-solid-research---London-Financial-Times.html The article mentions that Croatians believe Marco Polo was born in the town of Korcula on the island of the same name in Croatia. His being born there, or certainly his family coming from there, is based on solid research of the Polo Croatian family roots - by Hilda Marija Foley hmfgsf@juno.com (Hilda Marija Foley) Thu, 06 Dec 2007 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9354/1/Archaeological-sites-near-Dubrovnik-with-several-important-discoveries.html Croatia is a paradise for archaeological research. Dr. Zdenko ®eravica, a renowned Croatian archaeologist from the City of Dubrovnik, unveils us some of the miraculous sites in ®upa Dubrovaèka and Konavle near the City. The research over the past years has resulted with several important discoveries. zdenko.zeravica@du.t.com.hr (Zdenko �eravica, Ph.D.) Sun, 25 Nov 2007 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9353/1/In-1880-local-Croatian-young-men-began-to-play-football-in-Zupanja.html In 1880 local Croatian young men began to play football in Zupanja. Since there were only nine of the Englishmen who came to Croatia several years before as experts for exploitation of oak forest, they invited local boys to join them. There is the first written record of local young men playing English football and having genuine Englishmen as tutors and team-mates. letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Fri, 23 Nov 2007 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9292/1/President-Mesiae-decorated-the-US-Admiral-Lunney-with-the-Order-of-Trefoil.html The decoration was presented to Lunney at a ceremony in the Croatian Permanent Mission to the United Nations in New York on Sept. 26th 2007. Admiral Lunney invested a lot of efforts, time and enthusiasm to find the family of Croat Peter Tomich, who was killed in the attack on Pearl Harbour on 7 December 1941, so as to present them with the Congressional Medal of Honor. letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Fri, 19 Oct 2007 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9287/1/145-godina-od-dolaska-prve-eljeznice-u-Zagreb.html Ovogodi¹nju proslavu Dana H®-a povezali smo sa 145. obljetnicom dolaska prvoga vlaka u Zagreb, nakon ¹to je u promet bila predana pruga Zidani Most - Zagreb - Sisak, inaèe prva pruga sagraðena na podruèju onda¹nje Kraljevine Hrvatske i Slavonije. letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Thu, 04 Oct 2007 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9284/1/Henry-Suzzallo-president-of-the-University-of-Washington-from-1915-to-1926.html Henry Suzzallo (1875-1933) was president of the University of Washington from 1915 to 1926. The central library of the University of Washington is called Suzzallo Library. His parents Petar and Ana Suzzallo, Croatians originating from Dalmatia, arrived to San Francisco in 1852. darko_zubrinic@yahoo.com (Prof.Dr. Darko Zubrinic) Mon, 01 Oct 2007 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9283/1/Vukovar-is-THE-Croatian-sacred-ground-and-somebody-just-pissed-on-it.html The absurdly light or no prison terms handed out to the three most responsible for the Vukovar massacres and torture are not consistent with the crimes. It was not a lack of evidence but a devaluation of the crimes, or more accurately, the lives of the victims and all of us.  letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Sun, 30 Sep 2007 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9282/1/A-Diplomatic-quotHunting-Partyquot---part-2-and-3.html On the plane, Holbrook from the outset began to pressure that we abandon or trade Gorazde. It struck me as rather strange at that time why Holbrooke had placed the emphasis of this conversation on "us" giving up Gorazde, the first hour of a 90 minute conversation. aconvenientgenocide@mac.com (Ambassador Muhamed Sacirbey) Sun, 30 Sep 2007 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9275/1/Search-for-CROATAN-Lost--Colony-continues-centuries-after-group-disappeared.html Croatian or/and  Croatan lost colony? IvanDobra@aol.com (Ivan Dobra) Tue, 25 Sep 2007 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9273/1/U2-in-Sarajevo-10-Years-After-September-23-1997.html Bono, The Edge, Larry and Adam were still in the dressing room underneath the rapidly filling Kosevo stadium stands. Paul McGuiness and I were standing behind the stage. aconvenientgenocide@mac.com (Ambassador Muhamed Sacirbey) Sun, 23 Sep 2007 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9262/1/Dr-Ante-Euvalo-Historical-Dictionary-of-Bosnia-and-Herzegovina.html At the end of August 2007, Scarecrow Press published the second and enlarged edition of Historical Dictionary of Bosnia and Herzegovina, written by dr. Ante Èuvalo, a recognized authority on the past and present of Bosnia and Herzegovina. letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Sat, 15 Sep 2007 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9260/1/Efforts-to-build-the-Church-of-Croatian-Martyrs-in-Udbina.html In September 9th, 2007 an invitation has been sent by Croatian Bishops from Udbina to continue with efforts to build the Church of Croatian Martyrs. The manifestation has been accompanied with a rich spiritual and cultural program. darko_zubrinic@yahoo.com (Prof.Dr. Darko Zubrinic) Sat, 15 Sep 2007 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9245/1/Istarski-gunjci-musicological-book-by-Vladimir-Perniae.html  Vladimir Perniæ wrote a very interesting book about a unique music phenomenon in Istria, Croatia - the tradition of GUNJCI. Istria is a paradise in many respects: music, architecture, nature, history, Glagolitic script, cuisine, olives, etc. darko_zubrinic@yahoo.com (Prof.Dr. Darko Zubrinic) Sat, 01 Sep 2007 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9237/1/Svjedoeanstva-o-zloeinima-jugoslavenskog-reima-1971-Mijo-Juriae.html  Sedam puta uhiæivan, pet puta suðen te godinu dana robija¹, Juriæ je naposljetku bio prisiljen bje¾ati u Austriju, gdje se potom, uhoðen i potvaran od sveprisutne Udbe i sumnjièen od austrijskih vlasti, dugo morao boriti da dobije politièki azil. prodecor@aon.at (Mijo Juri�) Tue, 28 Aug 2007 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9235/1/-New-England-was-first-called-New-Dalmatia-by-Adam-S-Eterovich.html  New England was first called New Dalmatia: La Dalmate Da Nouveau Monde, La Dalmazia del Nuovo Mondo, Dalmatia of the New World. New England is a part of the USA comprising Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hamshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont. The largest city is Boston. cvjetanovich@du.t-com.hr (Pero Cvjetanovich) Mon, 27 Aug 2007 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9217/1/The-biggest-known-post-WWII-execution-site-in-Europe.html In 1995, Serbian troops massacred 8,000 Muslims at Srebrenica in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The Tezno grave in Slovenia (near Maribor) was found in 1999 during highway construction, with the number of post-WWII victims exceeding even that of Srebrenica. brigall@yahoo.co.uk (Brian Gallagher) Fri, 17 Aug 2007 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9188/1/Croatian-Victory-for-Croatian-History-August-5th-1995---2007.html    Ancient people. Old nation. New democracy. letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Sun, 05 Aug 2007 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9186/1/Croatia-To-Celebrate-Victory-Day-Tomorrow.html   Tomorrow, Croatia celebrates Victory Day and homeland thanksgiving, and marks the 12th anniversary of the military-order operation "Oluja" (Storm), in which, after five years of Serbian occupation, the city of Knin was freed, as well as most of the occupied Croatian territory. letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Sat, 04 Aug 2007 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9181/1/Stolen-Croatian-Lipizzaner-horses-starving-in-Serbia.html   In October 1991, the largest Lipizzaner horse-farm in Croatia, situated near the town of Lipik, was bombed with napalm bombs. Out of 117 horses 27 of them were killed, and more than 80 taken away to Serbia, where they are also today. Believe it or not, the Serbs are trying to SELL stolen Croatian Lipizzaners to Croatia! From reliable sources we know that some of them have been already sold in Italy. letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Fri, 03 Aug 2007 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9161/1/Croatia-demands-10-billion-dollars-from-Serbia-just-for-military-assets-of-YU.html     letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Sun, 29 Jul 2007 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9156/1/The-perfect-wine-legacy---It-all-started-when-Peter-Vegars-great-grandfather-left-Croatia.html   It all started when Peter Vegar's great grandfather left Croatia with a grape cutting to escape the poverty and to fulfil his dream of living the perfect life in a vineyard. letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Wed, 25 Jul 2007 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9139/1/Congressman-Chris-Smith-history-of-sincere-support-for-victims--BiH.html  Congressman Chris Smith (left) has been consistent in his efforts on behalf of justice and a genuine peace and multi ethnic society in Bosnia & Herzegovina. aconvenientgenocide@mac.com (Ambassador Muhamed Sacirbey) Fri, 13 Jul 2007 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9138/1/The-12-year-anniversary-of-the-genocide-of-Srebrenica-July-11th-1995---2007.html is a change in both tone and commemoration. For the first 5 years, Except for the still grieving mothers and family of the mostly yet unidentified victims, no one dared even observe the anniversary. We were lectured that it was not consistent with Dayton for Bosnians and Herzegovinians to scratch an old wound best left untouched.   aconvenientgenocide@mac.com (Ambassador Muhamed Sacirbey) Thu, 12 Jul 2007 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9133/1/Women-in-Homeland-War---The-Power-of-Love-to-do-Good.html This is an extremely important collection of authentic testimonies of efforts of Croatian women to save children, wounded, as well as their own human dignity during the Homeland War in Croatia, 1991-1995.  darko_zubrinic@yahoo.com (Prof.Dr. Darko Zubrinic) Wed, 11 Jul 2007 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9099/1/American-edition-of-Lovers--Madmen-A-True-Story-of-Passion-to-be-Released.html  Sunshine Publishing has released the American edition of Lovers & Madmen: A True Story of Passion, Politics, and Air Piracy, by native Oregonian Julienne Eden Busic. stecak@sbcglobal.net (Marko Pulji�) Wed, 04 Jul 2007 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9113/1/Zindependence-day.html  Zinfandel, like most of us, is not native to the United States. It's an immigrant, too, with a somewhat murky family history that goes back ultimately to Croatia, or so researchers believe. c.mateo@verizon.net (Martin Cvjetkovi�) Mon, 02 Jul 2007 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9109/1/Book-Review-Goli-Otok.html This rare, first-person account of physical and mental torture in the prison on Goli Otok should be read as widely as possible, because it tells the truth about inhumane conduct in peacetime.   TEPESHK@aol.com (Katarina Tepesh) Mon, 02 Jul 2007 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9112/1/St-Marcellinus-Church-A-history.html letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Fri, 29 Jun 2007 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9091/1/New-Zealand-David-Cunliffe---speech-for-Croatian-National-Day.html   Thank you for inviting me to your national day celebrations tonight here in the Croatian heartland of West Auckland....There has, of course, been a strong, successful Croatian presence in New Zealand for well over a century. letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Fri, 29 Jun 2007 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9083/1/HNS-Slavi-95-Godina-Postojanja---95th-Birthday-of-Croatian-Soccer-Association.html   Prije 95 godina u Zagrebu je osnovan Hrvatski nogometni savez. HNS je tijekom godina rada izrastao u najbrojniji sportski savez u Hrvatskoj istaknuo je Zorislav Srebriæ na konferenciji za novinare. letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Wed, 20 Jun 2007 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9078/1/ETHNIC-CROATIANS-KILLED-BY-NAZI-AND-FASCIST-FORCES---Introduction.html The Croatian struggle against Nazism and Fascism is one which generally remains underappreciated in the English-speaking world. While the events in Croatia during World War II have been well-documented by experts in the field, especially within Croatia, this rich literature, dating from both Communist and post-Communist times, remains virtually unknown in the West. JKraljic@msn.com (John Kralji�, Esq) Fri, 15 Jun 2007 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9059/1/A-major-link-exchange-with-The-Mac-Tutor-History-of-Mathematics-Archive.html The Mac Tutor History of Mathematics Archive is the leading web site dealing with the History of Mathematics. It contains also biographies of three outstanding Croatian mathematicians: Ruðer Bo¹koviæ, Marin Getaldiæ, and William Feller. In May 2007 the Mac Tutor included a link to a Croatian source dealing with Feller.  darko_zubrinic@yahoo.com (Prof.Dr. Darko Zubrinic) Thu, 07 Jun 2007 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9032/1/40th-Anniversary-of-the-Declaration-on-the-Name-of-the-Croatian-Literary-Language.html   The principle of the national sovereignty and full equality include also the right of each of our nations [in ex-Yugoslavia] to preserve all the attributes of its national existence and to develop maximally not only its economical, but also its cultural activities. Under these attributes, the most important role has the national name of the language, which the Croatian people use, because it is the inalienable right of each nation to name its language by its own name... (Quote from the 1967 Declaration) mmatijevic@arhiv.hr (Melita Matijevi�) Sun, 29 Apr 2007 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9021/1/100-Years-of-Tamburitza-Music-in-Carinthia.html Tamburitza music greatly influenced Slovenians to start organizing cultural events in Carinthia. It is said tambura instruments have charm and a strong appeal.  TEPESHK@aol.com (Katarina Tepesh) Mon, 16 Apr 2007 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9019/1/Colonel-Mark-Cook-and-the-Lipik-Orphanage.html  Colonel Mark Cook, outstanding British humanist, in a crucial way contributed to rebuilding of the Lipik Orphanage that was totally destroyed by Greater Serbian forces in 1991. This project included many people throughout the world, and resulted in a beutifully renovated building in 1993. darko_zubrinic@yahoo.com (Prof.Dr. Darko Zubrinic) Sun, 15 Apr 2007 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9017/1/Brigham-Young-University-is-seeking-contributions-of-digital-Croatian-historical-documents.html   EuroDocs is a portal to European primary historical documents. Please consider this a call and an invitation to join the EuroDocs family to help build primary historical documentation online for the European country or countries of your choice. You can request a password, after which you are invited to contribute as few or as many links to historical documents online as you like. deyrupma@shu.edu (Marta Mestrovic Deyrup, Ph.D.) Sat, 07 Apr 2007 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9010/1/Damir-Matausic-sculptor-and-medal-designer.html   The medal designer creates this system gradually as a symbolic sublimation of history. The central circle of values - the national culture - has been analitically articulated by Matausic. I would say: An incredible artist.   letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Thu, 29 Mar 2007 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/8988/1/Mijo-Juriae-Osamnaesto-Proljeaee.html   Na svim stranama osjeæalo se zajedni¹tvo i odluènost u borbi za samostalnost. Sloga i solidarnost postajale su dio nas. Pokrenuta je akcija prikupljanja novca za gradnju autoceste Zagreb - Split, koju smo veæ bili nazvali Autocesta kralja Tomislava. Ljudi su davali od srca, neki i preko granica svojih moguænosti. Govorilo se veæ i o èlanstvu Hrvatske u UN-u, o samostalnom nastupanju hrvatskih ¹porta¹a itd...1971. prodecor@aon.at (Mijo Juri�) Wed, 14 Mar 2007 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/8985/1/Marta-Mestrovic-Deyrup-Digital-Scholarship-Access-for-a-Connected-World.html   Keynote Address: Croatian Academy of America Annual Meeting, February 24, 2007. When I was asked to speak to you about the topic of digital scholarship, I thought at once about the activities of the Croatian Academy of America in particular in regards to its publication, the Journal of Croatian Studies. The journal, which began publication in 1960. deyrupma@shu.edu (Marta Mestrovic Deyrup, Ph.D.) Mon, 12 Mar 2007 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/8982/1/Genocides-most-wanted-Countries-and-people-shouldnt-be-allowed-to-get-away-with-genocide.html     rullid@yahoo.com (Dino Rulli, Ph.D.) Mon, 12 Mar 2007 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/8975/1/Joseph-Haydn---Austrian-and-Croatian-composer.html Jospeh Haydn (1738-1803) used numerous themes from Croatian musical folklore in his enormous opus. He named one of his songs Volkslied, before it became the anthem ("Gott erhalte Franz den Kaiser" - God Save the Emperor Franz). So, whenever you hear the German national anthem, remember its Croatian roots. An outstanding English scholar Sir William Hadow published a monograph in London in 1897, dealing with a Croatian composer - Joseph Haydn.  darko_zubrinic@yahoo.com (Prof.Dr. Darko Zubrinic) Fri, 09 Mar 2007 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/8929/1/Croatian-Gallery-2006.html We invite you to an excursion to Croatian Gallery 2006. It shows that Croatia is not at all a small country. Did you know that a mechanical and fountain pen have been constructed in Croatia? And the name of pen was given in honour of the inventor - E. Penkala.   darko_zubrinic@yahoo.com (Prof.Dr. Darko Zubrinic) Thu, 08 Feb 2007 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/8925/1/George-quotCatfishquot-Metkovich---Outfielder-and-First-Baseman.html Got the nickname "Catfish" from his Boston teammates, after he stepped on a catfish while trying to pull the hook out of its mouth and a barbed fin went through the crepe sole of his shoe, incapacitating him during Spring training.   olujanovine@hotmail.com (Tomislav Kapular) Tue, 06 Feb 2007 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/8911/1/Croatian-Gallery-2005.html Croatian Gallery 2005 is a web collection of photos and articles representing some of the most interesting features of Croatian history, culture and science. It shows that Croatia is not at all a small country, as many say. Its contributions in many fields of human activities are outstanding.   darko_zubrinic@yahoo.com (Prof.Dr. Darko Zubrinic) Fri, 26 Jan 2007 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/8905/1/Amateur-Radio-Club-Koprivnica-Celebrates-60-Years.html    stecak@sbcglobal.net (Marko Pulji�) Thu, 18 Jan 2007 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/8897/1/January-15th-Croatia8217s-International-Day-of-Recognition.html   The new Baska Tablet was introduced on the set of a special edition of HRT on January 15, 1992 for the day that Croatia was internationally recognized by 30 countries in Europe and the world. boris@studio-international.com (Boris Ljubi�i�, Akademski Slikar) Sun, 14 Jan 2007 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/8872/1/Admiral-Lunney-continues-with-Peter-Tomichs-story-in-The-American-Legion.html   2.5 million copies sold. Story about Croatian American hero Peter Tomich. Thank you Admiral Lunney and The American Legion. letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Sun, 17 Dec 2006 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/8869/1/William-Feller--outstanding-Croatian---American-mathematician.html  William Feller (Zagreb, 1906 - New York, 1970), graduated in mathematics from the University of Zagreb (1925), earned his PhD in Göttingen (1926), since 1939 living in the USA. One of the founders of Probability Theory as a scientific discipline. Many mathematical notions bear his name. Author of a one of the best math textbooks of the 20th century. Recipient of the National Medal of Science, USA. darko_zubrinic@yahoo.com (Prof.Dr. Darko Zubrinic) Fri, 15 Dec 2006 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/8823/1/Tens-of-thousands-gather-for-15th-anniversary-of-Vukovar-siege-1991---2006.html Vukovar, a city of 44,600, was captured by the Yugoslav army and Serb rebels in November 1991, at the end of a three-month siege. Buildings were razed, more than 1,000 civilians were massacred and 22,000 were expelled. On Friday a museum dedicated to the siege was opened in the basement of a hospital which came under attack almost daily.   letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Sat, 18 Nov 2006 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/8812/1/Albert-Einsteins-protest-against-the-murder-of-Milan-Sufflay-in-Zagreb-in-1931.html 75 years since an appeal of Albert Einstein and Heinrich Mann to the League of Nations against the murder of Croatian scholar Dr Milan Sufflay in Croatian captial Zagreb in 1931 at the age of 52   darko_zubrinic@yahoo.com (Prof.Dr. Darko Zubrinic) Mon, 13 Nov 2006 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/8807/1/Tesla-Motors---Electric-Car.html    With the Tesla Roadster, you get great acceleration and the highest energy efficiency at the same time. All while requiring no special driving skills to enjoy it. This makes the Tesla Roadster six times as efficient as the best sports cars while producing one-tenth of the pollution.   c.mateo@verizon.net (Martin Cvjetkovi�) Sun, 12 Nov 2006 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/8809/1/8220Croatia-My-Lovequot---the-truth-about-the-Homeland-War-in-Croatia.html "Croatia My Love", the film, depicts the truth about the Homeland War in Croatia. The proceeds from the sale of entry tickets to Jakov Sedlar's film, "Croatia My Love" ("Hrvatska ljubavi moja") will be paid into a 'foundation fund for the truth about the Homeland War in Croatia', located in Zagreb. antem@westnet.com.au (Jean Lunt Marinovic) Fri, 10 Nov 2006 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/8778/1/Rainbow-over-the-city-of-Zagreb--October-20th--2006--7-AM-Just-before-sunrise.html An attempt to explain the double rainbow can be found in Isaac Newton's book "The Optics", on p 147. No surprise. But the surprise is that on that page Newton cites a Croatian Jesuit, humanist and scientist Marc Antun Dominis (1560-1624). He spent six years in London, being invited by the English King James I. He lived at the Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury and was appointed to be the Windsor Dean and the King's chancellor.   darko_zubrinic@yahoo.com (Prof.Dr. Darko Zubrinic) Wed, 01 Nov 2006 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/8765/1/THE-BANJA-LUKA-DIOCESE-FROM-1881-TO-2006.html THE BANJA LUKA DIOCESE IN WORD AND PICUTRE FROM 1881 TO 2006, on the occasion of 125 years since founding the Diocese, a monumental and important book written by Franjo Maric and Anto Orlovic   darko_zubrinic@yahoo.com (Prof.Dr. Darko Zubrinic) Sat, 28 Oct 2006 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/8749/1/-A-Croatian-glagolitic-book-written-in-1395-in-Prague-Czechia-kept-in-France.html The Reims Evangelistary, or The Coronation Book, a Croatian glagolitic book written in 1395 in Prague, Czechia, kept in Reims in France since the 16th century, with which French kings were sworn in during the coronation in the Reims cathedral, among them Louis XIV  darko_zubrinic@yahoo.com (Prof.Dr. Darko Zubrinic) Sat, 21 Oct 2006 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/8723/1/On-This-Day-September-21-1947-Fiorello-La-Guardia-Dies.html   Fiorello La Guardia, three-time Mayor of New York City, died today in his sleep. Mr. La Guardia, through his knowledge of Yiddish, German, French, Italian and several Croatian dialects, obtained a job as interpreter at Ellis Island. He attended New York University Law School at night, and eventually was transferred to the legal department of the immigration service...   stecak@sbcglobal.net (Marko Pulji�) Mon, 25 Sep 2006 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/8699/1/Old-Photos-of-Croatians.html    Joseph M. Settich (left) was a student of St. Joseph Catholic School in St. Louis. This school was a part of St. Joseph Croatian parish and was closed in the 1980's. Joseph became a prominent attorney in St. Louis until his death in 1971. This photo was taken circa 1931. Photos submitted by Robert Settich. stecak@sbcglobal.net (Marko Pulji�) Thu, 14 Sep 2006 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/8536/1/E-Croatia-Officially-Condemns-Communist-Crimes.html Croatia Officially Condemns Communist Crimes Monday , 03 July 2006 Croatia on Friday joined the countries which have officially condemned communist crimes, with parliament adopting a declaration condemning crimes committed during the communist regime in Croatia from 1945 to 1990, and a declaration on the 1995 Operation Storm. The declaration condemning communist crimes says the fall of totalitarian communist regimes was not always followed by investigations of crimes committed by those regimes, that perpetrators were not brought to international justice, and that the consequence is a very low public awareness of those crimes. The Sabor is convinced that people's knowledge and awareness of historical events is one of the conditions to avert similar crimes in the future, reads the declaration. It underlines that the condemnation of crimes committed by totalitarian communism contained in the Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly's Resolution binds the Croatian parliament to condemn every crime committed in the name of totalitarian communism against Croatian citizens and Croats at home and abroad. The Sabor maintains it should become the key national institution for the condemnation of crimes committed by Yugoslav and Croatian totalitarian communism, and that science and judicial institutions should systematically investigate the history of those crimes. The Storm declaration says the operation was a victorious and decisive one, and that this military and police action must be understood also as an international allied war operation. The purpose and true objective of Storm was the liberation of occupied Croatian territory, the declaration reads, adding that the action was prepared and carried out by honouring all regulations of international war, humanitarian and civil law as well as all international commitments. Storm was a decisive battle not only for the war in Croatia but also for the end of the war in Bosnia and Herzegovina, the declaration reads. It says that the Sabor, Croatian experts, science and education institutions and the media have the obligation to transform the operation into a battle which must not and will not be forgotten. Remembering Storm is necessary for ourselves and our neighbours so that wars would not break out in this region again and so that Storm could be remembered as not only victorious and decisive, but also as "the last Croatian battle," the declaration says. Adopting the two declarations, moved by independent MP Slaven Letica, parliament wrapped up this week's sitting and will resume the 21st session on July 4. Croatian News Agency-HINA http://www.turkishweekly.net/news.php?id=34300 letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Thu, 13 Jul 2006 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/8535/1/E-Admiral-Lunney-on-TV-interviewed-about-Peter-Tomich.html Admiral Lunney's TV Interview about Peter Tomich MOH   http://www.croatia.org/crown/oldphotos/Lunney RNN TV.wmv letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Thu, 13 Jul 2006 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/8533/1/E-Croatia-marks-150th-anniversary-of-Nikola-Teslas-birth.html Croatia marks 150th anniversary of inventor's birth   A newly erected monument of scientist Nikola Tesla stands in his native village of Smiljan. Croatia has marked the 150th anniversary of the birth of Nikola Tesla, one of the pioneers of modern electrical engineering, who won fame in the United States as one of the world's greatest inventors.(AFP/Hrvoje Polan) by Zeljka Bilandzija Mon Jul 10, 12:34 PM ET SMILJAN, Croatia (AFP) - Croatia has marked the 150th anniversary of the birth of Nikola Tesla, one of the pioneers of modern electrical engineering, who won fame in the United States as one of the world's greatest inventors. "I am happy that we are here today to celebrate Tesla, a Croatian Serb, a son of Croatia and a citizen of the world," Croatian President Stipe Mesic said Monday. He spoke at a ceremony held just near the house where the scientist, an ethnic Serb, was born in 1856 in the south-central village of Smiljan while Croatia was a part of the old Austro-Hungarian empire. The event was attended along with several hundred people by Prime Minister Ivo Sanader, Mesic's Serbian counterpart Boris Tadic, other officials, foreign diplomats and representatives of Croatian Serbs. The officials emphasized that Tesla symbolized Croatia's and Serbia's shared past before the bloody break-up of the former Yugoslavia in the 1990s. They said his anniversary could be an occasion for further boosting of trust between the two countries, citing notably the scientist's statement that he was equally proud of his Serb origin and Croatian homeland. Ties between Croatia and Serbia have been gradually improving since Zagreb's 1991-1995 war of independence from the former Yugoslavia. During the war Belgrade politically and militarily backed Serb rebels who fought Zagreb forces. "I am happy that this ceremony is an opportunity to show that Croat-Serb relations are definitely entering a normal phase," Mesic emphasized. In Smiljan, the officials opened a Tesla memorial complex, including his restored childhood house. It has been turned into a museum with exhibits focusing on the early years and first inventions of the gifted child, who defied his father's wish that he follow in his footsteps and become a priest. The complex also includes a multimedia centre connected to the Niagara Falls power plant in the United States, which was designed by the inventor. Later in the day a monument to the scientist which was destroyed at the outbreak of the 1991-1995 war was to be unveiled in the nearby town of Gospic. The Croatian government late last year declared 2006 "The Year of Nikola Tesla." The US ambassador to Croatia and US President George W. Bush's envoy for the occasion, Robert Bradtke, recalled a message sent by Bush to Mesic in May to mark Tesla's anniversary. "Nikola Tesla is a proof that real greatness surpasses national borders and differences," Bradtke said in the Croatian language, quoting comments made by Bush. At the age of 28, Tesla moved to the United States where his genius blossomed as he churned out a vast of array of inventions, the most famous of which was the alternating current (AC) motor, used the world over today. A pioneer in the days when electricity was changing everyday life, Tesla was touted last year as one of the 100 greatest Americans by the Discovery Channel, the US cable television science and nature network. He patented more than 700 inventions over the years, including wireless communication, remote control and fluorescent lighting. Though he made the cover of Time magazine in 1931, Tesla, by then a naturalised American who saw himself as a citizen of the world, died alone in a New York hotel 12 years later at the age of 86. http://news.yahoo.com letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Tue, 11 Jul 2006 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/8534/1/E-ISLAND-OF-SUSAK.html ISLAND OF SUSAK     http://www.cosy.sbg.ac.at/~zzspri/travels/susak/ (in the Apsyrtides Archipelago) During our holidays in May 1998 we got a chance to make a boat trip to SUSAK Island. We boarded a medium size motor boat at CIKAT bay that took about 45 minutes to arrive at Susak's small harbor. This trip was for me a kind of old time remembrance as I made the same passage some 49 years ago. At those times Susak had still good economic basis which declined precipitously in the following 35 years. The exposed position of Susak at northern Adriatic and its vicinity to Italy caused this decline. Yugoslav Navy closed the island to foreign tourist and one needed police's permission to go over in a fisherman's boat from Mali Losinj harbor. It may be of some interest to see how the Islands' population changed during the period from 1857 to 1991 in some Adriatic islands. As a random sample I choose two most exposed islands from military point of view (Susak and Vis) and four other Adriatic islands down the coast.   Island  & municipality  1857 1910  -WW1 1921  +WW1 1931  Crisis 1948  +WW2 1991  Home War CRES 7.955 8.739 8.343 8.378 6.826 3.238 SUSAK 1.089 1.412 1.564 1.541 1.629 188 ZLARIN 1.643 1.846 1.980 1.480 896 359 HVAR 12.271 16.943 17.130 14.428 12.611 11.459 VIS 6.304 10.107 9.788 8.756 7.485 4.430 MLJET 1.330 1.915 1.934 2.050 2.086 1.237 Note: -WW1 -> World War One (1914-18); +WW1 -> After World War One Crisis - World wide economic crisis; +WW2 -> World War Two; Home War -> in 1991/2 prior to the Independence of Croatia I believe the above data give quite a significant information about the major emigration periods from six Adriatic islands. The islands changed hands between states like: Italy, Austrian-Hungarian Double Monarchy, to Kingdom of Yugoslavia and as from 1945 all to S.F.R. Yugoslavia. Southward aerial viev on Island of Susak. THE ISLAND OF SUSAK (SANSICUO or SANSACUS) The island of Susak is situated in the west of Kvarner's bay in the northern part of the Adriatic Sea with the northern latitude at 44ÃÂ31' and eastern one at 14ÃÂ19'. The surface of the island is 375 hectares with the highest elevation point at 98 m above sea level. Susak is a small open sea island that significantly differs from all other islands of Aspyrtides archipelago in geology, its non symmetrical shape and less indented shore. Susak is situated westward of Mali Losinj's harbor and across Channel of Unije. The islands Veli and Mali Srakan and Unije are further northwards where as island of Losinj closer i.e. some 8 miles from Mali Losinj's harbor. Susak is truly small island being 3 km long and 1.5 km wide. Its relief is not flat everywhere as there are depressions and ravines, which appeared as the result of loose sand erosion. Flat areas occupy the largest percentage of the island (253 ha or 67%), coves and depression some 107 ha or 29% while the rest the total island surface (15 ha or 4%) occupies the only settlement. It's a small wonder of nature differing by many characteristics to other Adriatic islands. The thick layers of minute sand of Aeolian origin cover deep down basic calcareous foundation of the island. One still doesn't know exactly how this sandy island developed. The first researches started Abbot Albert Fortis in 1770 and in 1903 D. Gorjanovic suggested that lower sandy layers were sediments created by the inflow of river Po. The upper layers of yellow sandy loamy material are Aeolin alluvion blown and deposited on top here. In thick layers of fine sand are concealed remnants of terrestrial snails but there aren't any remnants of sea life organisms (A. Bognar, 1979). It has also been suggested that submarine springs caused sand accumulation which surfaced with tectonic elevations. Ivan the Deacon mentioned the island's name as SANSAGUS in the Venetian chronicle for the first time in 844. Surprisingly there is a large number of old nautical charts, where the island is mentioned under the name of SUSAK. It was an important navigational western point of the archipelago on the outer sea passage from Istria to central Dalmatia. The oldest nautical chart, which mentions Susak, is "Carta Pisana" from the late 13th century. Its name is also found on 14th and 15th century charts including all the charts of Dutch and Italian cartographers of 16th century. Sgrooten's chart from 1593 contains for the first time a scheme of the settlement. Cornellius' chart from the late 17th century mentions the settlement's name with a tower as "Villa e torre di Sansego". In a more detailed chart by A. Fortis of 1771 shown is a settlement with the church , a harbor and a few coves and capes. Northward aerial view of the Old Susak - the Upper settlement - and the island's harbor. HISTORY OF THE ISLAND SUSAK The history books mention Sansego alias Susak relatively late. Early 11th century Ivan the Deacon wrote about Saracens who destroyed a Venetian fleet made them run away near the island in 844. Afterwards Susak was mentioned several times in various documents, charts and official papers of Venetian dodges like in 1208, 1229, 1280 and 1356. The island's history is painful but glorious since it has been exposed to conquest, plunder and violation of basic human rights, freedom and dignity. First known inhabitants were the Illyrians and some Greek sailors reached also this island. Romans settled down here some time before the birth of Christ. Under their domination Susak and other islands of Kvarner area, Istria and Dalmatia fall under the jurisdiction of the Province of Dalmatia. Together they became a part of the Illyrian Province. The Croats populated these islands in the early Middle Ages. After their immigration they lived together with other inhabitants under the supreme rule of the Byzantine Emperor. These islands became a part of the Croatian Kingdom during 10th and 11th centuries, which was reigned by a Hungarian king later. The Venetian Republic ruled over some islands until 1797 when they become part of the Napoleon's Illyria until 1815. The Austrian-Hungarian Monarchy annexed this region as per the Viennese congress' resolution. Susak stays under Monarchy's domination until the end of WW1 when it falls to Italy (the Treaty of Rapallo). There was a short partisan administration in 1943 until the German army occupied Susak staying there until end of WW2 in 1945. At last Susak became part of S.F.R. Yugoslavia upon Peace Treaty of Paris in 1947. POPULATION OF THE ISLAND SUSAK Susak was a summer resort for wealthier Romans who came from the land or the near-by islands. After the Saracens had defeated Venetians in the north Adriatic some took refuge on islands like Srakane and Susak. There was a Benedictine monastery on Susak since 11th century but inhabitants' number and dwellings are unknown. As from 14th century the monastery has declined and the church, as well as other churches on Unije and Ilovik turned into ruins. I've noticed some people having a different complexion compared to the other islanders during my first visit to Susak in 1949. One told us about several French armies' deserters who found refuge on the island early in 18th century. Soon after problems aggravated with the Yugoslav Navy on Susak which caused the great population exodus. The baroque altar to St.Nicholas from 17th century a cross from 12th century. 'VELI BUOH' in the parish church on Island of Susak. Now, 49 years later, Susak's small harbor provides a perfect mooring for sailing boats. Close to it a new settlement sprang out on old ground and one sees a lot of building activities still going on. In the Lower Susak one sees mostly renovated old houses and several newly built ones for tourists. There are few new commercial venues like restaurants, rent-a-houses and a new wine merchant enterprise. One has to ascend a steep stairway to get to the historical old or Upper Susak. We've visited there the recently refurbished Parish church where I've met Don Antun Turcic who presented me the first copy of his book (used for reference here). Most impressing of impressing items in the church is the cross "Veli Buoh" (Great God). Nobody knows how this cross (estimated from 12th century) came to the island but a legend says that it was washed ashore. Along a ravine grows reed and bamboo in the sandy loom of the island's higher plateau. MERINA - the graveyard on the Island of Susak. Reed and bamboo on sands of Susak island. One of Susak's ravine with reed and bamboo Walking on a slightly ascending path out of the village one comes soon to island's only graveyard "Merina" and its chapel of Mournful Lady. I was astonished finding there so many new tombs belonging to people who had emigrated and returned to their native ground as the dead only. It's interesting that there are rather few surnames engraved on white tombstones. These are family's surnames some of which still exist on the island today like: Busanic (6 families), Hroncic (1), Lister (2), Matesic (12), Mirkovic (1), Morin (9), Picinic (18), Sutora (1), Skrivanic (5) and Tarabokija (11). ECONOMY ON SUSAK A Cooperative wine cellar existed from 1936 to 1969 on the island. The late cellar's capacity was 6000 hectoliters and all necessary equipment for manufacturing wine. Before 1940 about 1400 tones of grapes were gathered a year in the period from 15th August until the end of September. The late cooperative produced about 88% of good black wine, 10% of white wine and 2% of table wines only. One produced following sorts: black wines "Suscan" and "Susac", red wine (rose) "Trojiscina", white wine "Krizol" and wines "Boldun" and "Ranac". The sweet "Prosek" is made from dried grapes and is our favorite but is getting to your knees too fast though. Therefore drink it slowly. However, there are some 15 nicely cultivated vineyards albeit 62% of island's surface are still abandoned vineyards today. NATIONAL COSTUME Susak's national costume was somehow different from the all other ones of Adriatic islands. Most interesting is women's costume consisting of several layers which artistic designs originate from various time periods and cultural environments. They are strictly made for a specific life age or certain occasion. Costume named "po susacku" (in a way of Susak) is for every day's use where as the one "po losinsku" (in a way of Losinj) is for festive occasions. Simple working attire of older female has two main characteristics: a very short black skirt "kamizot" hardly reaching knees, a vest called "bust" which tightens chest and waist so that the upper part of the body looks elongated. Bust is a sleeveless vest made of red or blue cloth and worn over a white cotton shirt tightened around the neck with a "bravaroul" made of white flaxen cambric. Black kamizot is opened at sides under which one sees several white kamizots called "suknica". Long linen underpants "mudande" can't be seen. High red socks or slippers "kalcete" are knitted wooden of thin wool weave which reach above knees. An elderly villager dressed po "susasku" and Ljiljana. Two women in festive folk costume. There are many more traditional parts of women's "po losinsku" costume to mention few: a blouse "zabajka", a little apron of artificial silk "tarvijerlica", under folded kamizot worn are many colored under skirts "sukna rakaman". Feet are in pink socks and in leather shoes "postoli" and the wedding crown is known as "vijel". The men's costume looks like from a recent period resembling the one from island Cres and is less attractive then women's one. It consists of a soft and wide black cap, ordinary shirt with white collar, black linen vest, black traditionally cut trousers held by simple belt of knitted of red or pink ribbon looking like a rope. The festive belt is wider and solid pink ribbon decorated with colorful threads. Men's and women's festive folk costume on the Island of Susak. MYTHIC FOLK STORIES Susak's inhabitants are mostly catholic and traditionally follow their religious customs and obligations but are not freed from old superstitious, which also exists on other islands in this area. Werewolves and witches are not familiar to the people by their names and substances. The noun STRIGA (tick) exists and is used as a derogatory term. The word "Mora" (nightmare) is a notion and "Mrak" (dark, darkness) is usually used instead. Mrak is an evil that waits and attacks men or women during nights strangling a person by lying on him or her. Mora differs from mrak for it only squeezes and suffocates but it doesn't suck out a person. It hits a person at crossroads so that head, arm, leg or any other part becomes swollen. There aren't any special means of defense against the darkness except physical resistance and one special element, which can be used against all kinds of evil "Fire". Old inhabitants believe that darkness exists on places like at "Obis" and at "Puntina" and nobody should go there. Those who went would get sick and die soon. Night darkness can harm clothes that a mother had left over night outside to be dried and such can harm a child. It can be fought by fire so a person who carries a torch or just smokes a cigarette is immune to the dark evil influence. Clothes, which were under the influence of darkness, should be put above a fireplace and a circle made around of burning fire. EMIGREES' DESTINY The immigrants' destinies inspired John Matesic from Susak to found "The Society of St. Mikula of Susak" in Hoboken on 18th April 1948. It got its statutory rules and had some 60 members from begin. The society's aim was to help those who fell sick, to find jobs and look after those who came to America from the homeland, to pay for funeral expenses. The members gathered on Saturdays and Sundays to talk and mingle with others and to entertain. Still on Sundays the entire community comes together in St. Anna's church for the holy Mass. The society organizes a big dance four times a year where it collects the money that will be used to help all those in need and for society's needs. The money was also used for renovating St. Nicholas parish church and Merina graveyard on the native island of Susak. There were about 200 members who celebrated Society's 25th anniversary at St. Anna's church in Hoboken. The Society moved to Fairview in New Jersey as from November 1985. Source: (1) Don Antun Turcic: SUSAK - the Island of sand, reed and vineyards; Publisher: Zupni ured Susak 1998, HR-51561 SUSAK 514; ISBN 953-96752-1-9. (2) Petar Strcic, Prof. DSc. Et Al.: CROATIAN ADRIATIC ISLANDS; Publishers: "LAURANA" & "TRSAT" Zagreb 1996. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- DISCLAIMER : On URL: http://www.cosy.sbg.ac.at/~zzspri/  published pages are originals and authorized by copyright of Zvonko Z. Springer, Salzburg 1999. Email Zvonko Springer at : zzspri@aon.at  http://www.cosy.sbg.ac.at/~zzspri/travels/susak/ letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Tue, 04 Jul 2006 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/8532/1/E-Group-Therapy-A-Nation-is-Born-by-Courtney-Angela-Brkic.html Group Therapy: A Nation is Born By Courtney Angela Brkic Not so long ago, when Croatia was part of Yugoslavia, soccer was an expression of ethnicity, of political orientation, of self. Many feel that a 1990 match between Zagreb's Dinamo and Belgrade's Red Star marked the beginning of Croatia's war for independence. At the beginning of the match, fans from both sides clashed in the stands and on the field. The Serb-dominated police beat Croatian fans while allowing Serb fans to run amok, and the events caused the already bubbling frustrations with Yugoslavia to boil over. Even the players were not immune. Upon witnessing a policeman beating a fallen Dinamo fan, midfielder Zvonimir Boban karate-kicked him, becoming a hero of the growing independence movement. The war that followed was long and brutal. More than ten thousand people were killed, and one thousand are still missing today. Not surprisingly, tourists stopped visiting the Croatian coast, and the region became associated with suffering. For a country so rich in potential, so enthusiastic about what it could achieve now that it was on its own, being classified simply as a war zone or a former Yugoslav republic was a blow. Croatia's independence was recognized in 1992, but the 1998 World Cup brought another form of recognition. Elation had already begun to sweep the country when Croatia beat powerhouse Germany in the quarterfinals. "Is it really possible?" people seemed to be asking one another, unable to contain their optimism. In Zagreb, large-screen televisions were set up on the city squares so people could watch the Croatia-Netherlands third-place match in raucous groups. It was a Saturday, and I watched in my apartment with friends, drifting out to the balcony to listen to the excited conversations and shouts coming from the cafÃs below. The sound of cheers filled the air when Croatia scored. It was like the city was one gigantic living room, everyone's eyes on a single television set. Traffic all but stopped, and the street below was empty. When the game finished with Croatia the winner, people flooded the streets. They filled the main square, and that night, all night, we heard happy, drunken voices singing. Coming nearly three years after the war ended, it was an emotional moment in a young country's history. On television, reporters interviewed grown men who could not stop weeping. The country had not seen such unified celebration since its declaration of independence. Now no one could deny Croatia its place on the map. (Courtney Angela Brkic is the author of Stillness: And Other Stories and The Stone Fields: An Epitaph for the Living.) Adapted from The Thinking Fan's Guide to the World Cup, edited by Matt Weiland and Sean Wilsey. HarperCollins, 2006. Printed with permission. http://www7.nationalgeographic.com/ngm/0606/feature1/index.html#croatia letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Tue, 13 Jun 2006 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/8531/1/E-Croatia-v-Australia-a-history-lesson-of-the-20th-centurys-longer-migration-trails.html Croatia versus Australia, in Group F, will be a history lesson World Cup teams welcome adopted sons The Sunday Times May 21, 2006 Croatia versus Australia, in Group F, will be a history lesson on one of the 20th centuryÀ™s longer migration trails. World Cup teams welcome adopted sons GermanyÀ™s shock World Cup selection, David Odonkor, is one of many sons of immigrants who will play for their parentsÀ™ new nations next month. By Ian Hawkey WORLD CUP hosts Germany have played their Theo Walcott card. When coach J&uumlrgen Klinsmann revealed his 23-man squad there was more bafflement than surprise at the selection of David Odonkor, a 22-year-old Billy Whizz who reckons he might even outsprint Walcott À” Odonkor runs 100m in under 11 seconds À” and has been picked on potential rather than goalscoring pedigree. He has only two goals in a 73-match Bundesliga career for Borussia Dortmund, and he is a striker. Odonkor had two routes to the World Cup. Being there with Germany would, until Monday, have been considered unlikely, but last year he was contacted by the Ghanaian Football Association, which was interested in seeing if he would like to commit to the country of his fatherÀ™s birth. He thanked them but decided he would stick with his birthplace, Germany. That did not rule out Ghana, because since January 2004 it has been possible under Fifa regulations for players of dual nationality with junior honours with one country to win senior caps for another. The rule only stipulates that they must make the switch before they are 21. Run through the 736 names going to Germany and political migration is reflected widely. Immigrant communities have always produced a disproportionate number of talented footballers. The relaxed Fifa ruling meant that in the days leading up to last MondayÀ™s deadline for squad announcements, there were frantic manoeuvring by various FAs to see if they could make players their own. Tunisia made a late plea to the exciting France youth player, Hatem Ben Arfa; he turned them down. Angola had been pushing for a pair of former Portugal youth players to represent them. Alas, the cases of Pedro Emanuel and Chainho, both over 21, would not meet FifaÀ™s guidelines. AngolaÀ™s best footballer, Rafael Nando, was hoping to be in OdonkorÀ™s position. Rafael was born in Angola, his parents fled the war there when he was eight, and by his teens he was making a career in Germany. He didnÀ™t make KlinsmannÀ™s squad, but Miroslav Klose and Lucas Podolski did. When they get together, they speak their fathersÀ™ tongue, Polish. When the draw was made, Podolski apparently sent Klose a text message saying: ÀœCan you believe it?À Germany will play Poland in the first round. The squads of France, Switzerland, England, Sweden and Holland are full of first- and second-generation immigrants, their countries having opened their borders in the 1970s and 1980s for political, humane or economic reasons. HollandÀ™s Khalid Boulahrouz is one of several young Dutch-Moroccans making reputations for themselves. SwedenÀ™s attack will be led by the son of a Bosnian, Zlatan Ibrahimovic. SwitzerlandÀ™s Balon Behrami has a Kosovan background, and Blerim Dzemaili is the child of Macedonian parents. Croatia versus Australia, in Group F, will be a history lesson on one of the 20th centuryÀ™s longer migration trails. Croatia goalkeeper Joey Didulica grew up in Australia but chose to follow the European branch of his family tree; Mark Viduka could have done the same, and played his first football in Europe for Croatia Zagreb. But next month Viduka will play against Croatia in Stuttgart as a dinkum Aussie. http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2093-2189802,00.html letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Sun, 21 May 2006 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/6216/1/E-Bleiburg-Anthology-by-Jean-Lunt-Marinovic.html  BLEIBURG ANTHOLOGYCroatian literature in the Diaspora has influenced my writing over the years and a constant theme has been the issue of British responsibility for the Bleiburg Genocide of Croatian people after WWII. My Open Letters to television Channels 10 and 28, and articles such as ‘Hiding Bleiburg Won’t Lessen the Guilt’ are typical of much of my earlier writings. (see Appendix) In those articles I have suggested that the genocide of Croatian people was the result of collusion between the British and the Yugoslavs as part of a deal to solve a border dispute. In hindsight however it is clear that the genocide of Croatian people was not the intention of the British leadership. In the West, WWII had officially ended, but in Eastern and South-Eastern Europe the war was not over. Indeed, the Churchill-Tito border conflict over Trieste and Carinthia in 1945 was the reason for Churchill’s famous original Iron Curtain statement, and marked the beginning of the Cold War. In what is also known as the ‘Klagenfurt Conspiracy’ thousands of surrendered Croats were disarmed and repatriated from the British sector of post WWII Austria, but the great majority of those Croats who were massacred by the Yugoslavs never reached the point of surrender, so were the British totally to blame for the massacres because of their relationship with Tito? Rather, it appears in hindsight that post-WWII political decisions illustrated British naivety and the necessary evil of having to spontaneously deal with Bolshevik tactics just when they thought they had won the war against totalitarianism. The 50-50 division of Yugoslavia never transpired as intended by Churchill and Stalin at Yalta. A lot had happened since that time. Although the Soviets did not move into the Croatian territory, their Partisans allies did enter wearing the soviet-supplied red stars. In addition, at the end of WWII most of the former Serbian Chetniks had joined the Partisans, thereafter dominating the ranks of the communist Yugoslav forces. The genocide of Croatian people was ordered by a Serbian-dominated Yugoslav Communist Central Committee.Croatian people in the Diaspora believe that Yugoslav Bolsheviks instigated and carried out the massacres, so it is ironic that they have been influenced by anti-western propaganda that it was the West’s fault. But, perhaps that is not so surprising, in the absence of an official enquiry in the West. Decades after the event some western archives have been opened, and in addition, it is now known that the West itself had been infiltrated by soviet spies preceding and during the Cold War. It is indeed unfortunate for the victims of Bleiburg, even after those discoveries, that no official British enquiry has been forthcoming.As argued above, the responsibility for the genocide of Croatian people does not fit so easily into just one category, and so one needs to look further for answers. There were other historical factors which led up to the tragedy. Perpetual Italian irredentism was an inextricable part of the border issues which the Allies found themselves caught-up in during May 1945. In this context between 1941 and 1945, the Croatian leadership had made flawed political decisions. Unfortunately the Croatian leadership had given in to WWII Italian demands and this decision had an direct effect on the outcome of the war. For example, the Rome pact signed between Italy and Pavelic in 1941, was a significant cause of disunity amongst Croatian people, and as a result many Croats formed their own partisan resistance against Italian occupation. In addition, the Croatian leadership had not had the vision to change allegiance in 1943 at the time of the initial Italian capitulation. It is possible that the 50-50 Yalta agreement between Stalin and Churchill could have been facilitated if the Zagreb leadership had adopted a different foreign policy. The Croatian decision to change allegiance at the end of the war was too late to be of any interest to the Allies who had been forced instead to win the war with the help of the partisans. The political decision to retreat from all Croatian front lines, and to take the same route as the retreating Germans in May 1945, had been made at a parliamentary level in Zagreb on April 30, and carried out after a personal appeal by Archbishop Stepinac. Military advice had not been taken into consideration. This depressing episode of Croatian political history is dealt with in detail in the book, ‘Operation Slaughterhouse’. Another factor may have had a detrimental effect on Allied-Croatian negotiations at Bleiburg. In the poem “The Bleiburg Connection” (see Appendix) the verse “Croatian refugees, lost without a leader” refers to the mysterious disappearance of the Croatian leader Pavelic and his government Ministers in May 1945 Austria. Thus abandoned, the remainder of the Croatian army and civilians were left to deal with the ill-advised political command to abandon the front lines in Croatia, and to evacuate Zagreb en masse. It was revealed later that many WWII Axis leaders had been smuggled out of Europe to South America with the help of the Vatican, and this included Pavelic and many Croatian government Ministers. The top secret Allied-Tito collusion over border issues was not the only clandestine activity going on. Vatican concordats existed with Mussolini, Hitler, and Yugoslavia, but not with Croatia.A concordat between the Vatican and Yugoslavia had been the dream of Croatian pan-slavists since the 19th century. The rise to power of Tito in communist Yugoslavia was facilitated by the Allies in 1945, but Yugoslavism had its roots in the politicization of a pseudo Yugoslav culture in 19th century Zagreb. Without the political support of the feudal estates the 19th century grass-roots Croatian national movement of Starcevic had no hope of survival. In addition, an entire culture, that of the Croatian Orthodox, albeit disappeared from the world. The disappearance of Croatian/Greek Orthodox Churches was the result of an expanding Serbian Orthodox church in the latter half of the 19th century in places it had never existed before inside Croatia and Dalmatia. An artificial south-slavic culture was imposed on Croatian people by the clerical elite who ignored Croatian national aspirations. In 1850 an artificial Serbo-Croatian language had been standardized (Vienna Convention). In 1861 in the sabor Serbs within Croatia were given a constituent status. In 1867 a south-slav or Yugoslav Academy of Arts and Sciences was built in Zagreb, and a Yugoslav ‘National’ Party was created to foster Croatian and Serbian unity, in Zagreb, by Bishop Strossmayer in 1871. So strong was the impetus of pro-Russian slavic ecumenism in Croatia that the London Times wrote in 1870 that Strossmayer wanted to fuse the Catholic minority in South-East Europe with the Greek Orthodox Slavs for the sake of obtaining political unity of the South-Slav nations. The political coalition between Serbs and Croats in the Croatian sabor culminated in the creation of a Yugoslav Committee and the Corfu Declaration of July 1917. In October 1918 the state of Serbs Croats and Slovenes was declared in the Zagreb sabor, which included Serbs and Croats within Croatia, and Slovenia; this union was later joined by Serbia in November 1918 to become the Kingdom of Serbs Croats & Slovenes with its capital in Belgrade. It is clear that 19th century south-slavism, or Yugoslavism in Croatia directly led to the creation of despotic Royalist Yugoslavia and Tito’s rise to power. In the book entitled, “Hrvatski Narodni Preporod U Dalmaciji i Don Mihovil Pavlinovic”, by Benedikta Zelic-Bucan, Matica Hrvatska, Split 1992, it is clear that south slavism in particular was connected to the Croatian religious elite’s ecumenical agenda. Other books confirm this unfortunate development in Croatia, such as “Bishop J.G.Strossmayer: New Light on Vatican I”, by Ivo Sivric, Ziral, Chicago 1975. Nearly fifty years after the Bleiburg Genocide, Croatian people won their freedom. The Yugoslav totalitarian state imploded, yes, but inside Croatia ubiquitous symbols of the artificial south-slavic culture are in every city. There is constant political opposition to public expression of the Croatian national consciousness, except perhaps in sport. Monuments to Croatia’s national leaders, heroes and kings can be only found in sparsely populated villages off the beaten track, with a few exceptions. Croatian people must accept the fact that Yugoslavia was not a British invention and that south-slavism was first politicized in Croatia, and was in fact criticized in the contemporary British press. In conclusion the British may have been instrumental in Tito’s rise to power during WWII, for the purpose of defeating the Axis, but the genocide of Croatian people was never intended by the British, and the belief that the British created Yugoslavia is ridiculous.Jean Lunt MarinovicMay 2006Appendix: A Condensed anthology of Bleiburg articles by Jean Lunt Marinovic2004 Tito’s Terrorism, article.2002 Has Mesic Lost Touch With His Own People, article.2001 Lessons From Bleiburg, Open Letter2000 Is the West on Trial at the Hague, article. 1999 Preserve Maribor Genocide Evidence, article. 1987 Hiding Bleiburg Won’t Lessen the Guilt, article. 1986 To Live in Harmony: Open Letter to Channel 28 Vox Populi.1986 Exodus from Yugoslavia to Australia, brochure.1986 Not a Single Bird, After Taking Flight Stops in Mid Air, speech. 1986 UN Year of Peace, Open Letter to Australian Coordinator. 1985 Open Letter to Channel Ten in Sydney. 1985 The Ambush at Bleiburg: 40th Anniversary, poem1984 The Bleiburg Connection, poem1983 A Vision of Freedom, poem. Jean Lunt MarinovicMay 2006Copyright www.croatianviewpoint.com  Formatted for CROWN by Ivo Bach letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Thu, 18 May 2006 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/6214/1/E-Russia-Will-Pay-Off-USSR-Debts-to-Croatia.html ÂRussia Will Pay Off USSR Debts to CroatiaRussian Finance Ministry managed to decide upon USSRâs unsettled debt in clearing currency to ex-Yugoslavia--$806 million. According to Kommersantâs information, Russia and Croatia are to sign an agreement on Russiaâs paying $185.7 million of the debt by commodity supply. Other part of the debt, $105 million, will be covered through Tekhnopromexportâs building a power unit for heat power plant. The rest will be paid in helicopters. Yet, the question of Russiaâs debt to Serbia and Montenegro will probably be put off till 2007 due to the upcoming Montenegroâs separation from Serbia. The larger part of USSRâs debt to Yugoslavia, 1.291 billion clearing dollars (at the exchange rate of 0.625 rubles for 1 US dollar), appeared as a result of price reduction on oil imported into USSR in exchange for goods and industrial equipment. Russia's Vneshekonombank (Foreign Trade Bank) estimated the debt in June 2001. The debt was distributed between all ex-Yugoslavia republics: 38 percent to Serbia and Montenegro, 23 percent to Croatia, 16 percent to Slovenia, 7.5 percent to Macedonia, 15.5 percent to Bosnia and Herzegovina. Paying the debts off had been delayed till recently due to the prolonged talks with Bosnia.However, the process moved on in early May. Prime Minister Mikhail Fradkov gave approval to agreement with Croatia on covering the debt by supplying goods and services for $185.7 million. The agreement is to be settled by late May. Tekhnopromexport informed Kommersant that the larger part of the debt, $105 million, will be paid off by constructing a new 230-megawatt power unit for the heat power plant in the city of Sisak. The corresponding agreement with Croatia is to be signed soon.Tekhnopromexport has already signed contract for a large-scale project in ex-Yugoslavia on May 10. It will build two 900-megawatt power units in Novi-Sad in Serbia in cooperation with Swiss company Mentor Energy. Russia will supply helicopters to Croatia to pay off the last part of the debt. Russian Ministry of Finance was about to make agreements to cover $306 debt to Serbia and Montenegro. Yet, the process was suspended due to the referendum on Montenegroâs separation. Around a year and a half might be needed to continue the talks, should Montenegro separate from Serbia. The debt to ex-Yugoslavia is one of the last unsettled âclearingâ€? debts of former USSR. http://www.kommersant.com/page.asp?id=673846  letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Thu, 18 May 2006 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/6213/1/E-Founded-in-1857-CROATIAN-AMERICAN-CULTURAL-CENTER.html ÂCROATIAN AMERICAN CULTURAL CENTERHome of the Slavonic Mutual and Benevolent SocietySan Francisco (Founded 1857)A Non-Profit OrganizationPRESIDENT OF CROATIA IN SAN FRANCISCOA Reception honoring the President of Croatia, Stjepan Mesic, was held Saturday April 8, 2006 from 5PM to 8PM at theCroatian American Cultural Center in San Francisco. Over 200 members of our Society and members of the local CroatianFraternal Union attended.The Event commenced with an introduction of the President of Croatia and a short history of the oldest Croatian Society inAmerica (1857) in the Croatian language by Society Vice President Adam S. Eterovich; introductory remarks by SocietyPresident Sam Mosunic included mention of the Croatian Ambassador to America, Neven Jurica, and Croatian ConsulGeneral Ante Barbir also in attendance. President Mesic gave an excellent talk on the present status of Croatia. He waspresented with a San Francisco Cable Car and a history of Croatians in California, 1849-1999 as a gift.Tamburitza Band Novi-Stari and Dalmacijo Singers played two old Croatian melodies for the President. At the conclusion ofthe Reception Sam Mosunic and Adam Eterovich toasted the president with a good glass of California Zinfandel wine.Zinfandel originated in Dalmatia, Croatia.On November 17, 1857 in San Francisco a group of Dalmatians from Croatia organized the oldest Croatian Society in America then called the Slavonic Illyric Society. The present flag of Croatia incorporates Illyria along with Dalmatia, Slavonia,Dubrovnik and Istria. The Society, purchased a Croatian Catholic Cemetery in 1861; founded a Library in 1869; was theprime organizor of the Croatian and Slovene Catholic Church of Nativity in San Francisco in 1900. The Society built the firstcultural center in America at Sutter Creek, Amador County in 1873. Our Gold Rush pioneers had a branch of the Society inthe Amador, a branch in Sacramento in 1859, and a branch in Watsonville, California. Our membership includes sixgenerations of Californians. Our Logo or Coat of Arms incorporates the American Flag, the red, white and blue Croatian Flag,a fox and star as found in the Arms of Slavonia in Croatia. The flag of Croatia was first flown in America by our pioneers inCalifornia in 1857. Sam Mosunic Adam S. EterovichPresident Vice President letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Thu, 18 May 2006 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/6211/1/H-Ergelu-u-Djakovu-posjetila-Engleska-Kraljica.html ÂDRZAVNA ERGELA LIPICANACA ÂDJAKOVOKraljica Elizabeta II, princ Filip i princeza Margareta uDjakovuDoci u Djakovo, a, uz katedralu i druge znamenitosti biskupskoga grada, ne vidjeti Drzavnu ergelu lipicanskih konja, pravi je grijeh. Duga tradicija lipicanskog uzgoja toliko je ukorijenjena u ovaj prostor da je on sastavni, punopravni dio njegove svake turisticke, gospodarske i sportske razglednice.Vrijednost Ergele, njene vrhunske uzgojne, selekcijske i sportske rezultate u konjogojstvu 1997.godine prepoznala je i drzava koja je toj ustanovi tada postala 100 % vlasnik. Vlada RH postala je vlasnik Ergele u trenutku kada ta ustanova u ukupnom lipicanskom uzgoju RH participira sa cak 30 - tak posto Do pojave lipicanaca na nasim prostorima prevladavali su konji drugih pasmina poput arapa i noniusa. Djakovacka ergela prvi put se spominje 1506. god. i to u vezi sa Djakovackim biskupom Mijom Kesaricem koji je imao ergelu od 90 arapskih konja, no neki podaci govore da je ergela postojala i prije njenog pisanog spominjanja. Ergelu su osnovali bosansko srijemski biskupi na posjedima dobivenim darovnicom ugarsko - hrvatskog kralja Kolomana 1239.god.Uzgojno-selekcijski rad lipicanske pasmine konja u Djakovu, a time i u Hrvatskoj, datira od 1806.g. kada su rasplodna grla ove pasmine zbog ratnih opasnosti preseljena iz Ergele Lipica u ergelu Djakovacke biskupije. Djakovacki lipicanac odraz je uvjeta i prilika koji su utjecali na njegov uzgoj. On predstavlja snazniji tip i veci okvir u odnosu na uzgoj u ergelama Lipica i Piber. Kao pasmina lipicanci su pogodni za razna sportska i turnirska natjecanja, gdje su postigli zapazene rezultate na mnogim medjunarodnim priredbama. Rad na uzgoju i formiranju Djakovackog lipicanca je pod stalnim nadzorom konjogojskih strucnjaka, koji su u uzgoju dali zapazene rezultate. Uzgojno-selekcijski rad temelji se na strogoj i sustavnoj selekciji izborom elitnih grla za daljnji uzgoj sto potvrdjuju mnoga medjunarodna priznanja.Ergela ÂDjakovo funkcionira danas na dvije lokacije:Â1. ÂIVANDVOR :  - 1912. god je biskup Ivan Krapac izgradio staje za konje i stanove za ergelaske radnike. Ti su objekti izvorni oblik i vizure sacuvali do danas, a stopljeni s krajolikom i uronjeni u uhu ugodnu tisinu, uzajamnu privrzenost ovdasnjeg covjeka i lipicanskog konja, ambijent su nad kojim mnogima zastaje dah. Isti objekti su ove godine obnovljeni: promijenjeno kroviste, obojena glavna stala, prilazni putovi nasuti kamenom, napravljeno parkiraliste. - tu je smjesteno maticno stado kobila i pomladak koji se ondje odgaja i othranjuje do svoje trece godine nakon cega muska zdrebad odlazi na obuku u Pastuharnu u -Djakovo. - lokacija Ivandvor okruzena je sa 310 hektara livada i oranica koje radnici Ergele obradjuju vlastitom mehanizacijom i na taj nacin osiguravaju gotovo svu potrebnu hranu za konje u tijeku jedne godine (sijeno, slama zob).2. PASTUHARNA. Â- nalazi se u samom centru Djakova, koju tijekom god. posjeti samo oko 10000 ÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂturistaiz Hrvatske i inozemstva. U uredima pastuharne nalaze se mnogi Â strucni zapisi, originalni rodovnici najvrednijih primjeraka, stotine Â pozlacenih i srebrnih pehara koje su osvajali Djakovacki konji na brojnim  prvenstvima , te na pocasnom mjestu crnobijelu fotografiju britanske kraljevske ÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂobitelji snimljene u pastuharni koju su kraljica Elizabeta II, princ Filip i princeza Margareta svojerucno potpisali prilikom posjeta ergeli 1972. god.ÂPLAN RAZVOJA DRZAVNE ERGELE LIPICANACA - DJAKOVOÂA) IZGRADNJA ZATVORENE DVORANE ZA KONJICKE SPORTOVE: - lokacija DJAKOVO - PASTUHARNA., - period izgradnje 2005-ta godina - 2008 -e godine., - cijena projekta -financira vlada RH u iznosu od=2.300.000,00 EUR-a., - gradjevinska dozvola ishodjena., - projekt i troskovnicinapravljeni ., - karakteristike dvorane: - velicina 44,65 m x 75 m - prostor zajahanje-parkur 27,50 m x 64,50 m - tribina 800-1000posjetitelja - boksovi za konje 18kom - ugostiteljskiprostor 200 m2 Â Â - uredski prostor 250 m2 - suvenirnica 20 m2 - parkiraliste za  50automobilaÂÂÂB) UREDJENJE LOKACIJE IVANDVOR ( smjestene rasplodne kobile i omad ) - izmjena krovista na glavnojstali Ivandvor u tijeku., - obnavljanje fasade na glavnojstali Ivandvor u tijeku., - uredjenje prostora oko glavne stale s parkiralistem cca 2.000 m2 -pripremljen   za asfaltiranje - projekt financira MinistarstvoPoljoprivrede sumarstva i Vodnog Gospodarstva  i Ministarstvo turizma Objekt nakonobnoveÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂObjekt prije obnove ÂÂC) ADAPTACIJA STARIH UREDSKIH PROSTORIJA - U MUZEJ - vlastita sredstva - donacijeD) KOVACNICA- PRETVORITI U MUZEJ - vlastita sredstva - donacijeÂZ A K L J U C A KÂERGELA DANAS:-ÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂjedina Drzavna ergela-ÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂfinancira se sa oko 65 % iz Drzavnog proracuna-ÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂjedina je u najstarijih u Europi ( 2006 godineslavi 500 godina postojanja i200 godina uzgojakonja lipicanske pasmine) - bavi se uzgojem i selekcijomkonja  - posjeduje kvalitetno strucno osoblje  - vodi maticne knjige lipicanskih konja za cijelu Hrvatsku - povezuje i pomaze konjogojskeudruge - u sklopu Ergele funkcionira konjicki klub - godisnje Ergelu posjeti oko10.000 turista  - organizira jahanje za djecu sposebnim potrebamaÂERGELA SUTRA:Â-ÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂizgradnja zatvorene jahaonice - lokacija Djakovo-ÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂuredjenje lokacije Ivandvor i otvaranje prema turistima-ÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂjahaona ce omoguciti konstantan rad s konjima-ÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂizdavanje monografije za 500 godina Ergele -ÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂizrada brosura i ostalog propagandnog materijala-ÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂstari ured pretvoriti u muzej-ÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂkovacnicu pretvoriti u muzej-ÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂsudjelovati na konjickim medjunarodnim natjecanjima-ÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂprolazak koridora 5c kraj lokacije Ivandvor-1.000 m - Budimpesta--ÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂOsijek -Djakovo- Sarajevo - Ploce ( Jadransko more )-ÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂizgradnja i asfaltiranje nove prilazne ceste zalokaciju Ivandvor-ÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂrealizacijom gore navedenog realno se ocekuje povecanje turistickih posjeta zanekoliko puta - smanjenje financiranja od strane Drzave na 50%ÂKontakt:Ravnatelj Drzavne ergele lipicanaca:  Â Pavo Sabolski , dipl.ecc.ergela.djakovo@os.t-com.hr  letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Wed, 17 May 2006 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/6215/1/H-BLEIBURG---HOLOKAUST-HRVATSKOG-NARODA.html ÂGovor odrzan u Hrvatskom Domu u Buenos Airesu, dana 15.05.06, sjećanje na Tragediju Bleiburg.- Govorio Gosp. Mirko Hasenay.-BLEIBURG-HOLOKAUST HRVATSKOG NARODALanjske godine na ovom istom mjestu, u hrvatskom Domu - Buenos Aires, sjetili smo se hrvatskih zrtava, prigodom sjećanja na 'Bleibursku Tragediju', dogoÄ'aj u austrijskom gradiću 'Bleiburg' gdje se je izvrsilo biolosko istrebljenje Hrvata po nalogu Tita i uz pomoć i blagoslov Velike Britanije.Masovni pokolji Hrvata, koje su poÄ?inili jugoslavenski -komunisti -partizani, a podpomognuti britanskim udjelom u zloÄ?inu, saÄ?injavaju uÄ?inak ratnih zloÄ?ina u skladu sa svim poznatim definicijama.. Uzevsi u obzir da su oni pokolji, bez ispitivanja i predhodnog suÄ'enja, a u većini bez identifikacije zrtava zahvatili osim razoruzanih vojnika, takodjer i masu gradjanskog puÄ?anstva, onda se zaista radi o oÄ?evidnim zloÄ?inima protiv Ä?ovjeÄ?anstva. Pokolji i muÄ?enja s namjerom unistenja, posvemasnjeg ili djelomiÄ?nog jedne nacionalne ili etniÄ?ke, vjerske, rasne ili vjerske grupe' pokolj Ä?lanova grupe, ili 'teska povreda fiziÄ?kog ili mentalnog integriteta Ä?lanova grupe' saÄ?injavaju zloÄ?in meÄ'unarodnog prava u smislu konvencije Ujedinjenih Naroda, koja je kasnije izisla o zloÄ?inu genocidija, a na koju je Velika Britanija i komunistiÄ?ka Jugoslavija dala svoj podpis.Pokolj razoruzanih Ä?asnika,doÄ?asnika i vojnika saÄ?injava oÄ?evidnu povredu Zenevske konvencije od 27 srpnja 1929 godine, o postupku sa ranjenim vojnicima i ratnim zarobljenicima. Jugoslavenska komunistiÄ?ka vlada, koja se pozivlje na zakoniti kontinuitet monarhijske Jugoslavije, imala je i formalnu duznost postivati odredbe spomenute konvencije, kojoj se je prikljuÄ?ila Jugoslavija 20 svibnja 1931.- Nezavisna Drzava Hrvatska, kao priznata drzava od većine zemalja ondasnje Evrope i svijeta, takoÄ'er je pristupila toj konvenciji 29 sijeÄ?nja 1943.godine, a o tome je Federalni Svicarski Savjet informirao 13 ozujka iste godine sve drzave koje su konvenciju prihvatile, naglasujući da prikljuÄ?enje Hrvatske ima neposredni uÄ?inak.Većina zarobljenih vojnika i gotovo u cijelosti Ä?asnici i doÄ?asnici, bila je pobijena bez ispitivanja i bez sudjenja, i to nakon tezkih ponizenja, muÄ?enja i pljaÄ?ke. Oni koji nisu bili masakrirani u tom Ä?asu, morali su pjesaÄ?iti preko Slovenije i Hrvatske, izlozeni svim mogućim mjerama muÄ?enja, oduzimanja svega i strasnog ponizavanja, vezani zicom i u Ä?etvoredu takozvanih 'marseva smrti'. Većina ih je izginula u tim teskim zamornim marsevima, muÄ?eni i iscrpljeni, bili su streljani na mjestu.U svom preziru temeljnih naÄ?ela Ä?ovjeÄ?nosti, jugo-komunisti su sranjivali i preoravali razna groblja. Bacali su poklane zarobljenike i izbjeglice u bunare, rijeke, u jarke i protutankovske jame. Ima stotina tisuća nepoznatih grobova. Ova okrutnost s mrtvim protivnikom saÄ?injava najtezu povredu meÄ'unarodnih propisa, posebno onih u Zenevskoj konvenciji o ranjenicima, gdje se veli: ' Zaraćene strane paziti će da mrtvi, prije svog pokapanja ili paljenja, i ako je to moguće, treba to obaviti lijeÄ?nik, u svrhu ustanovljenja smrti i potvrditi identitet osobe i o tome obavjestiti. Osim toga, pobrinut će se, da ih se dostojno pokopa, da se njihove grobove postuje i da ih se lako moze naći.'Godine 1945 u momentu dogoÄ'aja na Bleiburg-u, je postojala jugoslavenska vlada i vojska, pod komunistiÄ?kom kontrolom, s priznanjem saveznika, kao jedna savezniÄ?ka vojska sa svojim organima i odgovarajućoj hierarhijom. Trupe koje su bile zaduzene za hrvatsku razoruzanu vojsku i za povratak izbjeglica, bile su redovite jedinice jugoslavenske vojske, kao i one koje su pratile 'marseve smrti', a koje su pljaÄ?kale, ubijale i masakrilale.Sam jugoslavenski diktator, Josip Broz - Tito, kao vrhovni zapovjednik, ' izdao je kao posebnu pohvalu jedinicama III Armije, koje su u svibnju zarobile na jugoslavensko-austrijskoj granici oko 100.000.- neprijateljskih vojnika i oficira.'Jugoslavenski komunistiÄ?ki voÄ'e nisu ni pokusali prebaciti odgovornost za povrede ratnih propisa i pravnih naÄ?ela na neodgovorne i podreÄ'ene elemente. U Jugoslaviji su Ä?inili sve da ih sakriju, ili u sluÄ?aju kad je to bilo nemoguće, pokusavali su im dati moralno i politiÄ?ko opravdanje, sto pokazuje pravi mentalitet te 'nove klase' otkrivajući njezinu pokvarenost.Isto tako, Britanci su masovno i pojedinaÄ?no, i prije i nakon Bleiburga, izruÄ?ivali hrvatske zarobljenike iz Koruske komunistiÄ?koj Jugoslaviji, sto je bilo protivno ustanovama Zenevske konvencije i meÄ'unarodnim ratnim zakonima i obiÄ?ajima, jer su oni slobodnom predajom postali britanski zarobljenici. Tako su se Britanci poistovjetili sa komunistiÄ?kim koljaÄ?ima, oni su svjesno hvatali i predavali Hrvate komunistima ,znajući da će ih oni ubitiJosip JurÄ?ević u svojoj knjizi : 'Bleiburg' slijedi izvorne dokumente i rekonstruira represivnost cjelokupnog jugoslavenskog sastava, djelovanje KomunistiÄ?ke Partije, vojske, posebice tajne politiÄ?ke policije OZNe i KNOJ-a koji je bio njena produzena ruka; prati njihovo djelovanje i sirenje razobliÄ?ujući specifiÄ?ni boljseviÄ?ki oblik bezakonja kamufliranog zakonima kojih se, prema tajnim i usmenim naredbama partijskog i drzavnog vrha, nitko ne pridrzava. To su bile dvije svemoćne partijske organizacije, preko kojih je koncem i nakon zavrsetka rata komunistiÄ?ki partijski vrh na Ä?elu s Titom vrsio snaznu represiju i brojne zloÄ?ine, od razliÄ?itih oblika, duhovne ,javne i politiÄ?ke iskljuÄ?ivosti, do najtezih oblika fiziÄ?ke represije, koja je podrazumjevala i provoÄ'enje sustavnih likvidacija bez evidencije i bez sudskog postupka te masovno zatvaranje rezimu nepozeljnih osoba u radne i koncentracijske logore. Budući je ustav nove vlasti i drustvenog uredjenja predstavljao opći diskontinuitet s pravnom, moralnom i svjetonazorskom bastinom koja se stoljećima razvijala na ovim prostorima.Represija je bila osnovno sredstvo provoÄ'enja i oÄ?uvanja drzavnog i drustvenog modela sto ga je stvarao jugoslavenski partijski vrh.Autor na temelju izvornih dokumenata pokazuje i dokazuje da zloÄ?ini jugokomunistiÄ?kih vlasti u Hrvatskoj potkraj Drugog svjetskog rata i odmah nakon njegovog svrsetka, nisu bili ni pojedinaÄ?ni ni samovoljni ekscesi nego sustavni, dalekosezno planirani i pripremani, te operativno zapovjeÄ'eni i bezdusno provedeni. A na Ä?elu svakog dijela i cjeline ovog procesa nalazio se najuzi vrh vlasti druge jugoslavenske drzave'Komentirajući knjigu 'Bleiburg' Stjepan Kozul pise u Maruliću( Br.2/2006.) 'Na brojnim predstavljanima ove knjige bila su mnostva ljudi, ali to nije od nasih medija popraćeno drugÄ?ije osim kakovom marginalnom noticom da se to dogodilo. Ni rijeÄ?i o sadrzaju knjige! Nikakva pokusaja 'profesionalnog i istrazivaÄ?kog' novinarstva o tim do juÄ?er zabranjenim temama 'I to dovoljno pokazuje tko je 'gospodar ' medijske javnosti u Hrvatskoj i tko tu javnost oblikuje po svojim politiÄ?kim opcijama!'Predsjednik Amerike George Bush osudio je u Rigi dogovor u Jalti, s kojim se je izruÄ?ila srednja i istoÄ?na Europa Sovjetskom Savezu gdje se je uveo komunistiÄ?ki totalitarni rezim. A isto tako nedavno je na 5 zasjedanju Europskog parlamenta 25 sijeÄ?nja 2006. usvojen tekst o potrebi osude zloÄ?ina totalitaristiÄ?kih komunistiÄ?kih rezima koji su vladali u srednjoj i istoÄ?noj Europi u proslome stoljeću, a koji su jos na vlasti u nekoliko zemalja svijeta, bili su, bez iznimke, oznaÄ?eni masivnim povredama ljudskih prava. Zanimljivo, da su neki predsjednici pohitili u Moskvu na proslavu 60. obljetnice pobjede saveznika, sto s pravom nisu uÄ?inili predsjednici drugih do juÄ?er komunistiÄ?kih drzava od baltiÄ?kih zemalja preko SlovaÄ?ke do MaÄ'arske, jer nisu tom pobjedom (1945) ni dobile, bas kao ni mi u Hrvatskoj, slobodu i demokraciju kao zemlje Zapada.' Zato bi bilo vrijedno,komentira Kozul, da ovu knjigu ( Bleiburg ) prouÄ?i mlaÄ'i, neopterećen narastaj u Hrvatskoj, pred kojim je budućnost i koji zeli znati istinu a ne komunistiÄ?ke falzifikate! Nije trenutak da se zlo i dalje prikriva i presućuje, iz politiÄ?kih i politikanskih razloga. Dolazi Ä?as novog narastaja i mlaÄ'ih politiÄ?ara, sto pokazuje i susjedna Slovenija, dolazi Ä?as da se i zlo komunizma u Hrvatskoj razobliÄ?i, osudi, znastveno obradi, istina predstavi javnosti i okrene nova stranica povijesti! 'ÂOd uspostave Hrvatske Republike (1990. ), svake godine hrvatska Vlada hodoÄ?asti na mjesto Bleiburgske tragedije, dajući poÄ?ast zrtvama ubijenih od jugokomunista. Tko su bile zrtve na Bleiburgu , marsevima smrti i tisuću jama otkrivenih u Sloveniji, Bosni i Hercegovini i Hrvatskoj? To su ljudi koji su osnovali i borili se za Nezavisnu Drzavu Hrvatsku. Uglavnom Ä?asnici i vojnici, civilni graÄ'ani, zene i djeca, Hrvati graÄ'ani NDH koji su se povlaÄ?ili pred komunistiÄ?kim nasiljem i ubijanjem, s namjerom da se predaju saveznicima, raÄ?unajući na Zenevsku konvenciju. Od proglasenja Republike Hrvatske sve hrvatske vlade se sjećaju neduznih zrtava i kriminalnog postupka poÄ?injenog po komunistiÄ?koj Jugoslaviji i već tim Ä?inom se klanjaju neduznim hrvatskim zrtvama. Kad je predsjednik Tudman posjetio Argentinu, i bio u razgovoru sa argentiskim predsjednikom Carlos Menemom,je izjavio: 'Doseljeni Hrvati iza drugog svjetskog rata, nisu fasisti ni nacisti, već borci za slobodnu drzavu Hrvatsku.'Komunizam je stvorio novog Ä?ovjeka. U romanu ÂHomo sovieticus sovjetski desident, Aleksandar Zinoviev, govori o tom novom Ä?ovjeku, koji je varalica, prevarant , kriminalac, ali i osoba sa nadprosjeÄ?nom negativnom inteligencijom, koja nema apsolutno nikakvih skrupula niti moralnih naÄ?ela; on je spreman, pod datim politiÄ?kim (podobnim) uvjetima, vjerovati u sva moralna naÄ?ela i sve moguće politiÄ?ke izmisljotine. Jedan dan 'homo sovieticus' se zaklinje u ' znastvene metode soc-realizma', a drugi dan on postaje vatreni antikomunist. Jedan dan 'homo sovieticus', moze sudjelovati u komunistiÄ?kim zloÄ?inima, a drugi dan on moze oplakivati i komemorirati svoje zrtve.Zinovjev s pravom tvrdi da masakri u sovjetskom savezu nisu samo djelo Staljina, već tisuća i miljuna malih staljinka.SliÄ?nu paralelu mozemo povući sa Brozom-Titom. Niti brozovstina, niti avnojestina ne bi dugo trajali bez suradnje tisuće i tisuće malih ourovski i sizovskih titića diljem bivse okupirane, korumpirane i komunizirane Hrvatske. KomunistiÄ?ke glavesine su s pravom morale dozvoliti sitnu pljaÄ?ku i lopovluk svojim radnicima i famoznim sekretaricama, jer su jedino na taj naÄ?in mogli samo-opravdati svoju vlastitu gigantsku pljaÄ?ku i pronevjeru. U danasnjoj Hrvatskoj, nakon ponovnog izronjavanja nemani zvane 'jugonostalgija', oÄ?ito da zvijerka 'homo balcanicus', odnosno 'homo sovieticus' ima jos budućnost. U tom smislu nije dovoljno promatrati fenomen jugo-komunizma samo sa politoloske perspektive, nego takoÄ'er i sa antropoloske, psiholoske i bioloske perspektive. Problem lezi i dalje u Ä?injenici da je komunizam (jugonostalgija), kao vrsta psihopatologije jos ziv. Jedna je stvar zaklinjati se u demokraciju i pravnu drzavu, a sasvim je druga stvar boriti se protiv negativne drustvene selekcije koju je jugokomunistiÄ?ki teror Ä?inio punih pedeset godina. Nije iskljuÄ?eno da će u slobodnoj Hrvatskoj trebati izumrijeti pet generacija prije nego sto nestane 'homo balcanicus jugoslovensis' ( Tomislav Sunić :Fragmenti Metapolitike)''Pokolj u Bleiburgu, kako kaze prof. Kazimir Katalinić ( na radiju u emisiji Glas Hrvatske 14. 05. 2005). je izvrsen nakon svrsetka rata, na razoruzanim ljudima, koji nisu predstavljali nikakav odpor i nikakvu opasnost. Ta smrt je vojniÄ?ki bila nepotrebna i nema nikakvo opravdanje ni vojniÄ?ko ni pravno a jos manje moralno. Radi se o oÄ?itom ratnom zloÄ?inu i to o jednom od najbrutalnijih ratnih zloÄ?ina dvadesetog stoljeća.Koje opravdanje moze imati ovaj genocid? Čemu je bilo potrebno ubiti toliko i toliko ljudi a osobito zena, staraca i djece?Postoji jedan jedini razlog a kojeg je iznio Milovan Djilas ' Hrvati su morali umrijeti da se uÄ?vrsti Jugoslavija ' Imao je pravo Akademik Dubravko JelÄ?ić kad je prije nekoliko godina, govoreći o Bleiburgu izjavio slijedeće: 'Bleiburg nije bio obraÄ?un izmedju komunista i ustasa, to nije rezultat borbe izmeÄ'u nekih antifasista i toboznjih fasista, nego je to borba i obraÄ?un izmeÄ'u imperializma srbsko-jugoslavenskog protiv Hrvata 'A isto tako je bio u pravu doktor Nedeljko Mihanović kad je prije deset godina izjavio: ' Trebamo drzati na umu: da smo sluÄ?ajno izgubili domovinski rat, dogodila bi nam se jos veća trragedija nego sto je bio Bleiburg 1945.god.' citira prof. KatalinićNije mrtav onaj koji je poginuo, nego je mrtav samo onaj, kojega ljudi zaborave. I danas dajemo poÄ?ast onima, koji su bili zrtve, a ne onima koji su ih ubijali. Hrvatska vlast mora uvesti u skole sjećanje na Bleiburg taj hrvatski ÂholokaustÂ, jer je on duboko usao u svijest hrvatskog naroda, treba istinu otvoriti, a ne raditi na kultu zaborava.Sudac dr. Milan Vuković inicijator za izgradnju ' Memorijalnog centra stradanja hrvatskog naroda' govori: 'Od istrazivanja zla ne smije se odustati, jer je lijek istine ono pravo sredstvo koje će nam dati snagu i odpornost pred napadom novih napasti i zala. Vjerujem da je potrebno izgraditi Memorijalni centar kako bi se ispunili uvjeti za povjesnu istinu o nasim stradanjima za slobodu i samostalnost na znastvenim i dokumentarnim temeljima. Vrijeme je, da pregledno i sustavno na jednom mjestu, svima dostupnom, odstranimo antihrvatsku promiÄ'bu o iskrivljenosti hrvatskog nacionalnog korpusa.''Povjesna istina nameće izgradnju znastvene i vizualne cjeline, koju Hrvatska jos uvjek duguje sama sebi. Duguje je svome narodu, a posebice mladomu narastaju, kojega mediji bombardiraju lazima i namjenskom tisinom o Ä?injenicama koje nisu za zaborav. Te su Ä?injenice razlogom naseg danasnjeg polozaja.Hvala lijepa!15.05.06 letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Tue, 16 May 2006 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/6212/1/E-Why-are-we-Croatians-so-afraid-of-the-Bleiburg-truth-.html ÂWhy are we Croatians so afraid of the Bleiburg truth ?As the 61. anniversary of the Bleiburg massacres is here. It is hard not to wonder why so many Croats seem to be going out of their way to ignore and even cover up the Bleiburg tragedy. By minimizing the actual number of victims of the biggest massacre in the Croatian, if not even the whole Balkan history. Is it perhaps the sense of shameful fact that we had done this to our selves. That the Communist Croats under the also Croat leader Josip Broz Tito have been behind the majority of the systematic murders of all the non-Communists in 1945. So it is in the interests of many to ease the gilt of such a gigantic scale of systematic slaughter of over half a million Croats, Bosnian Muslims, Slovenians, Cossacks, FolksDeutchers and all other ethnicities which attempted to surrender to the British after WW II at the Austrian border on May 14,1945. Just to ask the western powers for protection from the Communist, which were killing anybody who was not one of them, or sharing their ideologies. After all, the British did very much promote the so called western Capitalism and Democracy by that time. Therefore by all means a very anti-Communist view. It most likely was that fine like civilized British chivalry and so called British gentlemen's honor, from which this gullible Croatian trust, illusion and hope of western democracy, compassion and humane treatment of refugees came from in the first placeThough the question remains. Why is it that other Communist crimes such as the political camp island Goli Otok, or thousands imprisoned after Croatian Spring movement of 1971.are put in front the major biggest crime of them all.Of course, not to ignore the thousands of prisoners of Goli Otok, or those unfortunate imprisoned in 1971. Though it just seems that the less gruesome crimes are used for the purpose of distraction from the far more bigger and punishable crime against humanity and even genocide. Such as the Bleiburg tragedy it self.Is it perhaps the half of million murdered? Of which 300,000 alone were brutally slaughtered on the Way of the Cross death marches, during the month of May,1945. alone. Just in the woods and caves around Maribor in Slovenia only. After the years long investigations and according to excavations of skeleton remains between 1990-1999. The number of murdered right after the surrender between May 15 - 22. goes up to 180,000 and according to the mostly home guard (Domobrani) uniform remains. The majority were Croat home guardsmen and civilians. Yet, not one single Ustasa black shirt, or Cetnik uniform was found among them, as it is always stated and preached by the Partizans. Not to mention additional hundreds of thousands murdered on the forced death marches through north Croatia and Serbia all the way to Romania and Macedonia. The Bleiburg Way of the Cross was never "The punishment death march for the war criminal Nazis, Ustasas and Cetniks" as propagandized by the Communists to justify it.There is a reason why so many real Ustasas and Cetniks were alive and well in Australia, Argentina and so many just in Chicago, IL. alone. Besides, those more acquainted with the Military History. Especially with the U.S. History from the 50's regarding the Korean War. Will perhaps know, what were the Ustasa Black Legion under Rafael Boban doing in North Korea ten years later. Fighting for the Americans against the Communists. A big controversy for Tito in Yugoslavia later in the 60's when some of the U.S. POWs from North Korea were in fact Croats.Which in the confusion were then later handed to the Yugoslavian government and in fact ended up being the members of the former Ustasa Black Legion.Another proof that there were no Ustasa Party members, nor any professional guerilla military like the Black Legion, or the Royalist Cetniks killed on the Bleiburg death Marches.It very much was a deliberate and planned Stalin type mass murder of all anti-communists from the territory of then Independent State of Croatia (Mostly Croat home guardsmen, civilians, women and children) and the rest of the later Yugoslavia. Such similar operations were already used by Stalin in the 1930's pre WW II Soviet Union.There was a certain "Operation Slaughterhouse" ordered by Josip Broz Tito in December/January 1945. in then already Partizan and Russian controled Belgrade. For the purpose of clearing the then future Tito's Communist Yugoslavia of any potential political competition. Such as the anti-Fascist Croatian Peasant Party (HSS) under Vlatko Macek, or the anti-Fascist Catholic Church with Cardinal Alojzije Stepinac. For in the totalitarian system, there can only be two sides. The bad Fascist (Ustasa) side and the winning good Communist side. The only anti-Fascist movement, or institution allowed in the new Tito's rezhime could unconditionally and only be the Communist anti-Fascist movement. Any other possible option in Tito's one rule system such as the anti-Fascist Croatian Peasant Party (HSS) could not be acceptable. For as a "Croatian" and a non-Communist party it was more of a rival to Tito and his one Yugoslavia ideology, then the actual Fascist Ustasas and Ante Pavelic him self. That is why CPP's Vlatko Macek and Catholic "Cardinal Alojzije Stepinac would be accused of being "Fascist Ustasas" right after WW II and prosecuted as "Against the People". Even though, during the WW II, they were the victims of those same Fascist Ustasas.Though the plans for "Operation Slaughterhouse" were detailed by Josip Broz Tito, Milovan Djilas, Koca Popovic and etc. It was personally orchestrated and carried out by the Political Commissar, General Milan Basta who arrived at the Bleiburg castle on May 14,1945. after already made deals between Tito's Partizans and the British. Regarding the situation of Partizan presence in Carynthia,Southern Austria and Trieste. The Supreme Allied Commander for the Mediterranean, Field-Marshal Sir Harold Alexander had already arranged the mass repatriations of Croats to the Tito's Partizans, for exchange of absolute British control of Carynthia. Long before any negotiations with Croatians were to be made in the first place.While in Bleiburg castle, before the Croatian officials had arrived. Brigadier General, Patrick Scott was already making personal deals with Milan Basta about the unconditional surrender of all Croats. It was there very obvious that the detailed plan for the forced repatriation of Croatians back to Yugoslavia had been made before and without any talks to the Croatian representatives, or their opinions what so ever.Scott, together with Basta clearly and bluntly expressed to Croatian General Herencic and his interpreter Danijel Crljen. An unrealistic demand of surrender of all the hundreds of thousands of Croats in a period of only one hour. Otherwise the Partizans would start shooting at the colony of people (which they did anyways). Plus General Scott would allow all of his British Military and Tanks in the area to be at the Partizan's disposal at any time.It was then very clear, what was to be the ill faith of all those masses of uncertain people hoping for some kind of savior.In fact, the plan of such kind of a scenario had already dated back to Yalta Conference in February 1945. Where the faith of millions of unfortunate Central and Eastern Europeans had been bluntly mapped out. By the real perpetrators of the New World Order. Stalin, Churchill and F.D.Roosevelt. The infamous disastrous decision that all the nationals offering to surrender and asking for protectorate. Will unconditionally all be handed over to the governments of the countries they came from. Even if it be lethal for their health.Though, still all the Draza Mihajlovic's Cetniks were already let through by the British into the British occupied territory of Austria. Visa Vie the Cetnik Royalist connection with the Serbian King Petar in London. Rafael Boban and his parts of Black Legion Ustasas at Bleiburg on the other hand had already a plan B as an exit strategy if they would not be let through into Austria and started moving right away towards the south into Istria and to Italy via Trieste. Also known as zone A, B and C.At the end, what was left, was a mass colony of Croatian home guardsmen and hundred of thousands of civilians reaching as far as 60km from Bleiburg into Slovenia. All of them in the hands and absolute disposal of the Partizan murdering squads, which at that point had the absolute power over any law while Croats became literal practice targets for shooting at all times.All imaginable forms of frustrations to be taken out over the available unarmed Croats were now at the lawless Serbo-Communists and in the full motion. Rape, theft and murder became a non stop action of 24/7 for the many days to come. To the point that there was simply too many people to kill and not enough bullets, so the victims would then be tied by their ankles into the files of six and after the first in the row would be hit in the head with the hammer. He would pull the other five into the cave with him. Those which would not die from the fall, would mostly die from smothering by the other bodies falling over the them until the cave would be filled up. Then moving on to another murder site and another and etc.The witnesses around the killing sites in Slovenia (mostly farmers) would remember day and night, hours and hours of agonizing high pitched screams of victims right before their deaths. Those same Slovenian witnesses would later for years to come be threatened with their lives by the Communists for their forced silence about the events they witnessed.Even though the witnesses started coming out in 1990. when Communism started collapsing in Yugoslavia and the truth was being told through 1995. By 2000. Never the less, many of the witnesses were suddenly again afraid to talk about it? It has started to become more and more like that as well in Croatia regarding the Bleiburg lately.Perhaps the elements of dictatorship are coming back now in the 21.Century? A very dangerous thing is when a huge crime against humanity like this is never completely resolved and allowed to be forgotten, or at least attempted to become so.Even a dead criminal is still a criminal and his crimes still remain eternal until fully resolved and brought to justice.Half a million massacred, of which 300,000 were Croats, is huge loss of population.An almost 10% of the whole 4.5 million Croatian population. Making it the biggest genocide in Europe according to the nations population loss. Is it that such huge numbers are bringing panic to the former Croatian Communists and their children? The fear of such a gruesome truth blackening the 45 year built image of the"Good Victors". If it goes out to the world, or will the certain foreign lobbies still be making sure that such matters stay unresolved as for instance the J.F.K files.It makes sense that after WW II, the world needed a simplified version of the good and bad side. Of course, the winners write the history, so naturally all the crimes by the victorious Communists would remain under the rug and it was so for 45 years. Though, what does not make sense is that after the truth about Bleiburg finally came out in public in 1990. and after this bloody war for Croatian independence 1991-95. It seems that the biggest Communist crime against humanity in those parts is still unresolved 61 years later and being again hushed up and covered. Who would still 61 years later have an interest out of that and why?How can that be? Why is 2006. less free and open minded then 1996? Are we Croatians after 13 centuries still lost in our souls to the division among us? Still so afraid of truth, that even the grandchildren of the Partizans would rather cover up something so gruesome as the Bleiburg tragedy, then admitting it fully and freeing them selves and their subconscious from crimes that were done two generations before them by somebody else. Though why are so many of us still fighting against Bleiburg?Why are we still so afraid of it? Like the brother that kills his own brother in the fury and then covers it up for the rest of his life. Living in an agony of lies. Must the truth be only pleasant and comfortable in order for us to admit it. Haven't we evolved from that yet, or are we still stuck in the state of mind some 900 years ago in 1102. When we lost our original independence.Perhaps it is the possible subconscious fear of eternal damnation, that somehow we had something to do in contributing to this mass murder by being pro-Yugoslav, or having a certain nostalgia for that time period? Though, even if I also personally have nice memories from the 1980's Yugoslavia, such as music and films. It doesn't change the fact of what Communism really was and it's crimes still remain gruesome every which way. While the truth remains the same. We are also still the same Croats that we are.As more we run from the truth, the more it haunts us and it will haunt as even more and more. Unless the justice and absolute recognition of this very serious gigantic-scale genocide is brought out once and for all and stamped in the history as such without the possibility of tampering with the truth.It is very important that the truth also remains un politicized by the right wing Pro-Ustasas who use the Communist crime of Bleiburg, just for their political gain and as a reason to justify the Fascist Ustasas and their crimes. Not because they feel compassionate towards all those innocent victims. As they would like to claim and show. Just as the left wing Communists try to present Bleiburg as a "Fascist Propaganda". To some how justify it by making it look like the" Reprisals" of the people against the "Genocidical Fascists".Of course, both systems are very deceptive and definitely false. The victims of Bleiburg were unfortunately caught between the two very selfish political rivalries. All the people who died there had no political affiliation, other then perhaps Vlatko Macek's Croatian Peasant Party. There was no Ustasa Party members, Nazis, or Cetnik Royalists hurt there. Unless one accidentally somehow ended up with the regular more gullible honest population. A very unlikely thing though. Those who were actually guilty for any crimes, made sure not to be caught easily and already had their way out planned before.It is very important to remember that all those Croats who got slaughtered there were regular home guardsmen and civilians. The regular Croat population and honest representatives of our country. Who's only crime was being honest hard working Croats and non-affiliated to any party. A dangerous thing in those days. It is for that regular non-political population I write this article. For all those who died and suffered the consequences of being stuck in the middle of a civil war in our country between two very polar opposites of our nation. The Fascist and the Communist. While the war profiteers got away with the real guilt. Just as they did in our last and final war for independence in the 90's and every other war. The war profiteers get away, the honest innocent people end up dyeing. Because of some of my own family members who were murdered there and years of my own careful research in this huge injustice to our people. I can obviously see and very much do believe now that the actual huge numbers of victims in this genocide are being covered up and minimized lately by certain people for the sole purpose of distraction.I personally wish to give my full respect for all those 500,000 and more who were brutally murdered by the Communist death squads in those dark days from May 15,1945.on. This is for the truth, justice and recognition for all those masses of the unfortunate, that never received the proper peace they so deserve. Even today.By Ivan Pavletic letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Tue, 16 May 2006 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/6218/1/E-Filip-Vezdin-200-years-since-the-death-of-the-pioneer-of-European-indology.html CROATIAOverview of History, Culture, and Science main menuFilip Vezdin(1748-1806), 200 years since the death of the pioneer of European indologyBesides native Croatian he spoke Latin, Greek, Hebrew, German, Hungarian, Italian, Portugese and English. As a Carmelitan missionary Vezdin was sent to India in 1776, where he learned Sanskrit and several Indian dialects. Vezdin is the author of Sidharubam seu gramatica samscrdamica, the first printed Sanskrit grammar in Europe, published in 1790 in Rome. He wrote numerous works on Indian culture, and in addition to Sanskrit also learned Malayalam, the Malabar coastal language, in which he wrote his works as well. At the request of a local ruler, King Rama Varmer of the Travancore, he wrote an English-Portugese-Malayalam grammar. The King, enthuseasted with Vezdin's fluency in Malayalam, asked him to be his teacher of English and Portugese in his palace in Padmanabpuram. Vezdin's works are kept in Rome, Vienna and Uppsala. Filip Vezdin, pioneer of European indology,ÂVezdin's best known work is Systema brahmanicum liturgicum, mythologicum, civile ex monumentis Indicis Musei Borgian Velitris, Rome 1791, dealing with literature, mythology and civil order of brahmanic India, customs and the way of life. His most interesting and most popular work is his travel-book Viaggio alle Indie orientali, Rome 1796. He also published two philological studies about connections between Hungarian and Laponian languages. In 1999 Vezdin's image was carved into the white marble memorial plaque in the City Museum of Trivandrum, the capital of the Indian state of Kerala. He is considered as one of pioneers of European indology. About twenty of his books were published already during his lifetime. Some of them were translated into German, French, English and Swedish. It is therefore no surprise that he was a member of the Royal Academy in Naples, and of the Academy "Dei Volsci" in Velletri and Padova.A postage stamp issued by a Cultural Association, Hofam Leithaberge, Austria in 2006, commemorating 200 years since Vezdin's death.Many thanks to Dr Luca Leoni, Velletri.In 2006 a memorial tablet dedicated to Filip Fezdin was placed in Velletri, a town near Rome, on the building of Museo Borgia (in Via della Trinita), where Vezdin had been working. The tablet mentions his Croatian descent: "Croato del Burgenland". Also, on that occasion an Italian translation of the monograph by Dr. Branko Franolic about Filip Vezdin was promoted in the City Council of Velletri ("Paolino di San Bartolomeo, pioniere dell'indologia nell'Europa di fine Settecento", translated from the English original by Dr Luca Leoni). Memorial tablet dedicated to Filip Vezdin in Velletri, Italy, 2006Many thanks to Dr Luca Leoni, Velletri, for the photo and his translation: TO VELLETRI'S VOLSCIAN ACADEMIC PAOLINO DI SAN BARTOLOMEO BAREFOOTED CARMELITE IN THE WORLD IVAN FILIP VEZDIN BURGENLAND CROAT MISSIONARY IN INDIA PIONEER OF INDOLOGY FATHER OF INDOEUROPEAN PHILOLOGY FAITHFUL AND DEVOTED COLLABORATOR OF THE LEARNED PATRON CARDINAL STEFANO BORGIA HE MASTERED HIS STUDIES IN THE FAMOUS BORGIA MUSEUM FORMERLY PLACED HERE THE CITY OF VELLETRI PLACED THIS 1806-2006 Dr Luca Leoni (initiator of installing Vezdin's memorial tablet, and of the Filip Vezdin's Day in Velletri), Dr Viktor Tadic (Counsellor, Croatian Embassy at the Holy See), Father Paulose Ikareth and Father Stephen Watson (Carmelites like Filip Vezdin, the first from Kerala, the second from U.S.A. and responsible for Culture in their Order), Dr Bruno Cesaroni (Mayor of Velletri), Sister Janet (from Madras, India) and Sister Valeriana (from Kerala).ÂFilip Vezdin, portrait from 1793 probably by J.H. Cabott (1754-1841),once in cardinal Stefano Borgia's library in "Palazzo Altemps", Rome,now conserved in "Propaganda Fide", Rome(many thanks to Dr Luca Leoni, Velletri)Vezdin's research gave a great impetus to investigation of culture and civilization of India in Europe. In 1999 the following text was written in the Sanskrit, Malayalam, Croatian and English languages on memorial tablet in the City Museum of Tivandrum, capital of the state of Kerale in India: Ivan Filip Vezdin, Burgenland Croat, Discalceate Carmelite, with the monastic name Paulin of St. Bartholomew, a missionary in Malabar from 1776 to 1789. The author of the first printed Sanskrit grammar and forerunner of Indian and Indo-European studies to the great honour of his homeland and the Croatian and Indian people.  Ivan Filip Vezdin, gradiscanski Hrvat, bosonogi karmelicanin, 1776. - 1789., misionarski je djelovao na Malabaru. Pisac prve tiskane sanskrtske gramatike i preteca indijskih i indoeuropskih studija na veliku cast svojoj domovini te hrvatskom i indijskom narodu. In January 2006 a memorial Mass was held by Dr Luca Leoni in honour ofFilip Vezdin in the Cathedral of Velletri (near Rome). A memorial mass was also held in Vezdin's birthplace in Austria.www.croatianhistory.net letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Wed, 22 Mar 2006 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/6217/1/E-Western-Australian-community-to-mark-150-years-of-Nikola-Tesla-birth.html NikolaTeslaborn July 9/10, 1856, Smiljan, Croatiadied Jan. 7, 1943, New York CityÂÂHi Nenad"Western Australian community is preparing to host many celebrations to mark 150 years of Nikola Tesla birth, ranging from a special conference, museum exhibitions, a play about his life, celebration dinner, etc, all under auspices of WA Government and the local electrical utility Western Power Corporation.Regards NenadDr Nenad KOLIBASPerth Western Australiankolibas@iinet.net.auÂNikolaTeslaborn July 9/10, 1856, Smiljan, Croatiadied Jan. 7, 1943, New York Cityhttp://www.britannica.com/eb/article-9071814?query=tesla&ct= letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Wed, 22 Mar 2006 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/6221/1/E-A-Petty-Hitler.html ÂA Petty HitlerBy Wesley K. ClarkMarch 13, 2006; Page A18The Wall Street JournalSlobodan Milosevic's death in The Hague is a real tragedy for the international community. But most of all it will be a tragedy for the Serbs themselves. It will likely be another step in a series of historic Serb failures, martyrdom and isolation, all of which Milosevic himself grandly evoked to gain and maintain his power. I knew him as a nationalist leader and wartime adversary.Along with the other Americans on Richard Holbrooke's 1995 Balkan peace talks mission, I spent countless hours with Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic. As NATO's then supreme allied commander, Europe, I haggled with Milosevic about war criminals and the Dayton Peace Agreement implementation in 1997, delivered NATO's warnings and threat in 1998, implored his cooperation in heading off renewed conflict, and then, when all else failed, I led the NATO military campaign which forced him to end ethnic cleansing and remove his troops and police from Kosovo. In 2003, I faced him again when I testified for the prosecution in his war crimes trial at The Hague.While his death at The Hague ends his interminable trial, nothing is resolved. His death only compounds many of the difficult issues still facing the international community, Europe and Serbia itself.In his 64 years, Milosevic was an army officer, a Communist, a bureaucrat, a banker and, above all, a Yugoslav Serb who used his skills and harsh nationalist rhetoric to parlay himself into the highest office in Yugoslavia only to then alienate and attack his fellow Yugoslav citizens. In four successive conflicts which he all lost, Milosevic used war as a means of plundering and disassembling his own country. He forced millions from their homes and caused several hundred thousands of deaths. He was rational and sometimes cunning, often a brilliant tactical negotiator but ultimately a fool of a strategist, whose reckless crimes included murder and genocide, and who has cost humanity as a whole and his own Serbs dearly.* * *As a young man Milosevic was a dutiful communist and an outstanding student who scored top marks in school. His mother was a teacher who encouraged his studies but kept him away from sports. He fell in love with Mira Markovic, a personal favorite of Tito, who lost her mother during World War II in still unresolved circumstances. Her partisan mother was captured by the Nazis who interrogated, tortured, confessed and then supposedly killed her. More likely she was released only to be killed as a collaborator by fellow partisans. Milosevic himself lost both his parents and an uncle to suicide. But though he clearly had a dark side, I never saw Milosevic as a suicide risk -- he was too committed to himself and to his ideas.During the many hours of our negotiations in the summer and autumn of 1995, we dined with him, chatted with him about history and geopolitics, and talked about everything from his experiences as a young man in America to his concerns for his family. Given his gruff, commanding manner, many joked during the Dayton peace talks that he was the real Godfather. But we quickly came to think of him more appropriately as a petty Hitler, an unlawful dictator capable of malice, murder and ethnic cleansing. Any arrangement with him had to be weighed morally: for its legitimization of Milosevic as well as its value in ending a bloody conflict.During the Dayton peace talks, all of Milosevic's "qualities" were at display: his stubborn cunning and blustering outbursts, his often grandiose dreams of Serbia as one of the seven gateways of Europe, his patent disloyalty to his fellow Serbs and transparent lies about everything from Srebrenica to his attitudes toward other nations. He smoked and drank excessively, even as he complained about his blood pressure and his health. At the Paris signature ceremony for the Dayton negotiations, Milosevic was center stage, conversing with world leaders like President Bill Clinton. But he failed to deliver on many of his promises, especially regarding indicted war criminals like former Bosnian Serb President Radovan Karadzic. By the late summer of 1997, Serb resistance to NATO-led enforcement of the peace accords was rising and we called again on Milosevic for help. But he stubbornly refused to assist us. He still held dreams of a greater Serbia and he thought he had NATO's measure.In the spring of 1998 he unleashed the next round of ethnic cleansing in the Balkans, this time turning his Special Police against a prominent Albanian family in Kosovo, killing 60 of them, including women and children. For most of that year NATO struggled to find a balanced approach, alternating negotiations with intensifying threats to head off another war in former Yugoslavia. But Milosevic foolishly believed he could defy NATO warnings and launch a broad ethnic cleansing effort with impunity.It was another strategic miscalculation by Milosevic. NATO followed through in its threats, unleashing a 78-day, gradually intensifying air campaign and threatened ground intervention. Coupled with Russian diplomatic assistance and his indictment for war crimes, Milosevic was forced to pull his forces out of Kosovo. It was yet another blow to his vision of a greater Serbia. When he tried the next year to win re-election, his opponents in Belgrade were ready -- demanding an honest vote and his resignation. Soon he was delivered to The Hague.Predictably, his cause of death is being disputed by some of his Serb countrymen who blame the U.N. He will surely be lionized and glorified by the radical nationalists he so nurtured.History's longest war crimes trial will never be concluded. Milosevic's many victims and their families will be denied justice. And the Serb people themselves will have one more escape from the awful truth of the crimes under Milosevic's leadership. His death comes at a bad time. Serbia is struggling to acknowledge its past and face its future. Indicted war criminals like Ratko Mladic and Radovan Karadzic are still at large -- most likely living under official protection. The future status of Kosovo is unresolved and Serb participation in a resolution would be helpful. Another challenge will be Montenegro's upcoming referendum on its independence. And even as Serbia looks westward for help, its future alignment is still unsettled as the Serb people struggle to recognize how badly they have been deceived and misled.Even during Milosevic's rule, many in Serbia yearned to join the EU and work with NATO. Its economic modernization would strengthen all its neighbors, including NATO members Bulgaria, Romania and Hungary. Its participation as a modern state would help promote political reconciliation and development throughout the Balkans. But all this means giving up the kind of hypernationalism that Milosevic trumpeted and fanned, and for many in Serbia, this has long been a mythology they have come to believe to offset the reality of deprivations, corruption and poverty.Milosevic's death will likely bury the truth beneath another layer of charges and countercharges. His trial had been a long-running national TV drama in Serbia. The impact there of the evidence so painstakingly presented was blunted by Milosevic's star status at home and his grandiloquent and often irrelevant argumentation.Now there will be no conviction and Serbia's weak leaders will have to cope with yet another obstacle in re-educating and reorienting their people. His death is as much a tragedy as his life. Both in life and in death, Milosevic has deprived millions of people of justice, hope and a better future.Mr. Clark was supreme allied commander of NATO during the 1999 Kosovo campaign and a Democratic candidate for the U.S. presidency in 2004.http://securingamerica.com/node/728www.muhajabah.com/global/phidoux.typepad.com/phidoux/ letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Tue, 21 Mar 2006 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/6220/1/E-Britain-gave-butcher-a-green-light-to-use-force.html ÂThe green light of failureBy Tim LuckhurstThe Times March 15, 2006 Â"Britain gave him 'a green light' to use force. On that point alone the butcher of Belgrade was horribly right."SINCE Slobodan Milosevic died some familiar stereotypes have been revived. Like the one that Serbs wallow uncritically in myths of national superiority and live with their backs to the world. And that Britain despairs because Serbia lacks the maturity to accept Milosevicâs guilt and to surrender his henchmen Radovan Karadzic and Ratko Mladic. Yet these stereotypes conceal Britainâs culpable complicity in Milosevicâs crimes. It is pleasing to remember this countryâs role in the events that ousted Milosevic from power. British forces performed heroically in the liberation of Kosovo. They contributed ably to the Nato airpower that stopped the killing in Bosnia. But it was all too little far too late. The names Major, Hurd and Rifkind are spat with venomous fury in Bosnia. They are reviled in Belgrade too by the democratic minority, who said for years that Milosevic would buckle when force was deployed against him but were dismissed in Whitehall. When Bosnian Serb shells were creating hell in Sarajevo the Bosnian Government considered taking Britain to the International Court of Justice. British influence was being deployed to deny Bosnia its UN-mandated right to self-defence. While powerful voices in Washington demanded intervention, Douglas Hurd and Malcolm Rifkind denied Serbian guilt. To them successive wars in Croatia and Bosnia were not caused by Serbian aggression directed from Belgrade by President Milosevic. They were manifestations of the age-old Balkan instinct for violence. Ancient tribal loathings were being played out. Each faction was as bad as the others. Mr Hurd resolutely opposed international help for tortured Bosnia. Mr Rifkind fell back on the evasion that 'the furtherance of British interests ought to be the sole object of British foreign policy'. Mr Major took their advice. Between them these three are guilty of the worst dereliction of moral duty by a British government since non-intervention guaranteed Francoâs victory in the Spanish Civil War. The men and boys of Srebrenica would be alive today if Britain had supported prompt intervention. So would tens of thousands in Bosnia, Kosovo and Serbia. During his trial at The Hague, Milosevic claimed Britain gave him 'a green light' to use force. On that point alone the butcher of Belgrade was horribly right.http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,6-2086138,00.html letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Tue, 21 Mar 2006 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/6219/1/E-His-death-must-not-let-us-escape-Britains-responsibility-for-aiding-his-crimes.html ÂHis death must not let us escape Britain's responsibility for aiding his crimesÂSubject: Independent' feature- Britain's responsibilityThe Independent - 13 March 2006 - 1210 words - 31FeaturesMilosevic's death must not let us escape Britain's responsibility for aiding his crimes JOHANN HARIIt's hard to squeeze out even the most crocodile of tears for Slobodan Milosevic as he completes the tired character arc of tyrants throughout the ages - from zero to hero to Nero to a reviled grave. He died well-fed and well-clothed in his sleep, a luxury denied to more than 125,000 European men, women and children who died in the wars he stoked, poked and pioneered. But the doors of justice for the crimes committed in the Balkans in the 1990s should not slam shut with Milosevic's coffin, nor with the handover of those indicted Serb butchers Ratko Mladic and Radovan Karadzic. Today, there are men who helped and facilitated Milosevic's crimes at the heart of the British establishment. Indeed, these men are universally lauded as liberals and all-round Good Chaps. They have still not answered for their actions. In the swell of patriotic self-congratulation following the death of Milosevic - we helped to oust him, didn't we? - many people will want us to forget the role played by the last Conservative government in the Balkan wars. They would like us to forget that at the height of the shelling of Sarajevo - a democratic city three hours from Heathrow - the Tories were so complicit in the killing that the bleeding Bosnian government seriously considered taking the British government to the International Court of Justice for aiding and abetting genocide. To understand how this forgotten history came to unfold, you have to return to the early 1990s. Looking out on the fighting that broke out in the Balkans from the dusty offices of Whitehall, the ruling Conservative Party were - in John Major's words - "bewildered". They saw a bunch of foreigners with unpronounceable names killing each other for reasons that seemed to stretch back to 1389, and rather than enter into the tricky business of sifting the victims from the aggressors and supporting them, they fell back on their core prejudices. One was a belief that, as Malcolm Rifkind, soon-to-be Foreign Secretary, argued, "The furtherance of British interests ought to be the sole object of British foreign policy." Human rights? What human rights? Show us gas pipelines and corporate interests and then we're talking. The other belief was a borderline-racist view that the Balkan people were maniacal savages who relished slaughter. Sir Peter Hall, ambassador to Belgrade, told John Major: "Prime Minister, the first thing you have to know about these people is that they like cutting each other's heads off." No point helping them - they're all mad. In light of these principles, the Tories conveniently concluded that what was happening was a Balkan civil war where - the blue sing-song of the times - "all sides were equally to blame". Since there were no British interests at stake and nothing much could be done to stop naturally violent people from hacking away at each other, it was best to stay out, or even to hope for a strong Serbia to "discipline" the region and damp down the turmoil. Oh, and Britain should stop anybody else from foolishly intervening, of course. This argument had a certain superficial (if repellent) logic, but it was based on a glaring error. This was not a three-way civil war between Serbs, Muslims and Croats with all sides committing crimes equally. It was a racist war waged by Slobodan Milosevic to establish from the ruins of the former Yugoslavia an ethnically pure Greater Serbia under his control, one that had been "cleansed" of its Muslim population. There were real villains and real victims, not the incomprehensible tribal hodge-podge presented by the Tories. As Kofi Annan explained in his postmortem into the war, the Serbs' "central war aim [was always] to create a geographically contiguous and ethnically pure territory". Yes, when the Bosnian Muslims and Croat separatists responded to this fascistic Serbian agenda they did not always do so scrupulously, to say the least - but it is appalling to say this puts them on a par with the original and major criminals. Confronted with this racist agenda at the heart of Europe - designed to crush the democratic, multi-ethnic republic of Bosnia-Herzegovina - it would have been terrible enough to stand by and do nothing. But the Tories, led in foreign affairs by Douglas Hurd, did something worse. They insisted on an arms embargo on the entire region to prevent weapons being sold to any side. In practice, this guaranteed that the Serbs' massive military superiority at the start of the war was maintained, and - in Annan's words again - it "effectively prevented the Republic of Bosnia and Herzgovina of its right under the Charter of the United Nations to self-defence". Milosevic said at his trial that Hurd was in effect giving him "a green light" for the killing, and in a way he was right. Thanks to British policy, the Serbs could pound away at the Bosnian Muslims - killing thousands - and the Muslims could not fight back. Some British government spokesmen even started suggesting that the Bosnian Muslims were shelling themselves to get sympathy. Whenever the governments of France, Germany and the US mooted an armed intervention - in line with the pleading of humanitarian agencies such as Oxfam - the Conservative government used its veto. People across the political spectrum - from the Republican senator Bob Dole to the Europhile Jacques Delors - identified Britain as the main obstacle to intervention. But we, the British people, should not be tarred with this appeasing brush: while Hurd obstructed international help for the besieged Bosnians, 67 per cent of the British people wanted British troops sent in to stop the slaughter. The result of Hurd and Major's refusal to listen was mass death on our doorstep, a programme of killing so huge that even now - more than a decade later - more than 7,000 Muslim boys and men are missing, according to the Red Cross. When eventually British objections were overridden and Nato air-power was used in Bosnia in 1995, the killing ended, just as the bombing of Kosovo helped to precipitate the final fall of Milosevic in 1999. It could have happened years before, and saved tens of thousands. And the stench gets worse. Almost as soon as Hurd had fallen from office, he jumped on a flight to visit Milosevic to try to persuade him to flog off Serbia's utilities to a British company paying Hurd a fat fee. Money motivated Hurd, it seems, where blood could not. Today, he and Malcolm Rifkind and John Major are thought of as kindly old liberal Tories without a trace of Balkan blood on their hands, and the acts of racist murder they facilitated are consigned to the memory-hole. Yes, be angry that Milosevic dodged justice. But there are people far closer to home who bear responsibility for his killing-spree too - and there is still time to extract justice from them, if only we had the will. Thanks to British policy, the Serbs could pound away at the Bosnian Muslims and they couldn't fight back j.hari@independent.co.uk (c) 2006 Independent Newspapers letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Tue, 21 Mar 2006 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/6224/1/E-140-years-since-the-construction-of-torpedo-by-Ivan-Lupis-Vukic.html Ivan Lupis Vukic Inventor of torpedo the production of torpedo had started in 1866 in the Whitehead factory in Rijeka. He was born on the beautiful Peljesac peninsula near Dubrovnik.  140 years since the construction of the first torpedo in history  Submitted by Darko Zubrinic, Zagreb www.croatianhistory.net letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Sat, 25 Feb 2006 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/6223/1/E-Australian-Croatian-Genealogical-and-Historical-Society.html Australian Croatian Genealogical and Historical Society Australsko Hrvatska Rodoslovna i Povijesna UdrugaFounder & President - Amanda L Fonti - BA - History - Politics - Humanities and Social Sciences University of Ballarat Victoria Australia Established Ballarat ,Victoria,Australia - January - 1999 Specializing in Croatian Immigration to Australia e-mail:amandafonti@hotmail.comhttp://www.geocities.com/amandafonti/ letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Sat, 25 Feb 2006 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/6222/1/E-Croatians-contribute-to-the-early-history-of-Australia.html Vincent Gercovich born 1839 in Dalmatia Croatia migrated to Victoria in the 1850's and and married Winifred Bennet in Ballarat at St.Alipius church (where the Croatian community in Ballarat today celebrate Croatian mass) 13th February 1867. They had 12 children ,between 1867 -1888.He worked in the mines first and later operated the Smythesdale toll gate. Vincent Gercovich died on the 19th August 1900, and is buried in the Ballarat new cemetary. His wife was later buried along side him. Winifred Gercovich was buried on the 13th December 1928 and was 76 yers of age . DR. JOZO METER AMBASSADOR TO THE REPUBLIC OF CROATIA IN AUSTRALIA 1999 UNVAILS GERCOVICH HEADSTONE MONUMENT, AT BALLARAT NEW CEMETARY. 24/04/1999.THE GERCOVICH GRAVE WAS UNMARKED PRIOR TO THE CROATIAN COMMUNITY DONATING THE NEW HEADSTONE MONUMENT WHICH STANDS IN THE CEMETARY TO THIS DAY FOR EVERYONE TO SEE. Vincent and Winifred Gercovich and Family (circa 1880's)Cemetary tours are conducted at Ballarat cemetary for tourists who visit this historic goldmining town,and the Gercovich Croatian monument is a feature of the tour.Now people from all over the world that visit Ballarat,Melbourne,and Australia, can see that Croatians played an important part in contributing to the early history of Australia. Vincent Gercovich is listed as a pioneer of Victoria Australia. letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Sat, 25 Feb 2006 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/6226/1/HE-15-svibnja-1926---Halo-halo-Ovdje-Radio-Zagreb.html ÂÂ80 Years of Croatian Radio and 50 Years of Croatian TelevisionÂMay 15, 1926 - May 15, 1956ÂFirst electronic medium of South-East Europe.ÂCroatia proudly leads the wayÂ"Halo, halo! Ovdje Radio Zagreb!''. Tim rijeÄ?ima izgovorenim izravno u eter 15. svibnja 1926. godine zapoÄ?inje emitiranje radija u Hrvatskoj, a na isti taj datum tri desetljeća kasnije i televizija postaje dio svakidaÅnjice. Kao najstariji elektronski medij na jugo-istoku Europe HRT u 2006. ponosno slavi 80 godina Hrvatskoga radija i 50 godina Hrvatske televizije.  letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Mon, 13 Feb 2006 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/6225/1/E-Croatian-History---Bartol-Gyurgieuits-1506---1566.html CROATIA Overview of History, Culture, and Science  Bartol Gyurgieuits (1506 - 1566?) 500 years since the birth of the author of the first known Croatian - Latin dictionary, of the practical Italian - Arabian - Hebrew - Chaldean dictionary. The Englishman Hugh Goughe wrote "The Ofspringe of the House of Ottomane" (1570) which is a translation of Gyurgieuits' book "De origine imperii Turcorum". In Goughe's book there is a dialogue in Croatian with a parallel English translation, alongside with two prayers in Croatian (Our father and Hail Mary). Gyugyieuits is called the "first Croatian lexicographer" in the book. Coat of arms of the Noble district of Turopolje from 1737, granted by King Charles III, where Bartol Jurjevic was born  letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Sat, 11 Feb 2006 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/6227/1/E-Croatian-History---William-Feller-1906-1970.html ÂWilliam Feller (1906-1970) One of the greatest experts in probability theory in history. He was born and educated in Zagreb, where he started his university study of mathematics, a professor at the Universities of Kiel, Copenhagen, Stockholm, Lund, Providence, Princeton etc., a member of many scientific organizations. Many important mathematical notions bear his name: Feller's process, Feller's transition function, Feller's semigroup, Feller's property. ÂÂWilliam Feller, 100 years since the birth of outstanding mathematicianwww.croatianhistory.net letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Sat, 28 Jan 2006 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/6228/1/E-135-years-since-the-birth-of-Slavoljub-Penkala-inventor-of-fountain-pen.html ÂEduard (Slavoljub) PENKALA(1871-1922)135 years since the birth of inventor of the mechanical pen and fountainpen,which are bearing his name and now they are in everyday use. Submitted by Darko Zubrinic, Zagrebwww.croatianhistory.net letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Thu, 26 Jan 2006 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/6229/1/EH-New-Book-Who-Saved-Bosnia---Da-Nije-Bilo-Oluje.html ÂÂNaklada Stih released the above titled book by Vitomir Miles Raguz, in bilingual Croatian-English format. It is available in Zagreb and Sarajevo bookstores and via Internet worldwide.You can order the book with personal check viaSTIHBOOKS@AOL.COM . Shiping is free from Amazon.com and StihBooks. Amazon.com:http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/9536959283/qid=1137520686/sr=1-1/ref=sr_1_1/103-8552018-7754205?s=books&v=glance&n=283155Another possibility to order the book:http://bookshop.pontes.com/index.asp?link=pop&idi=23063 Naklada Stih ANNOUNCEMENT: 12 December 2005CONTACT: Dr. Marijan Borsic, +385-91-788-3014,naklada.stih@net.hr New Book: Da nije bilo Oluje / Who Saved BosniaNaklada Stih last week released the above titled book by Vitomir Miles Raguz, in bilingual Croatian-English format. It is available in Zagreb and Sarajevo bookstores. In the US it will be available at the book presentation in the Cleveland area, on December 18th at World Cafà in Chesterland, at 6PM, or via mail order.Mr. Raguz, former Ambassador of Bosnia-Herzegovina to the EU and NATO and adviser to Croatian diplomats at the UN in New York, writes often in leading English language media, such as the Wall Street Journal Europe, commenting on contemporaneous policy issues and addressing recent history of the region.Naklada Stih wanted to bring his excellent writing to the regional audiences by translating a collection of previous and new essays. The English speaking audience will appreciate the new essays, published for the first time, as well as essays that were published in Zagreb media.âAt first, we thought this collection would primarily attract historians and policy peopleâ€?, said Coach Ante Kostelic, Biblioteka editor, âbut the reader quickly realizes that this book will have a much wider audience, given the authorâs style and the perspectives he brings forth regarding some key events of the 1990s.â€? He added: âthe book may be exactly what Santa would think for that very smart nephew who is still confused about what really happened in the region in the 1990s, and that righteous colleague at the office who knows exactly what happened since she reads the internet edition of the New York Times religiously.â€?An early reader of the book, Visnja Staresina, writer and former foreign affairs editor of Vecernji List comments: âAmbassador Raguz challenges the mainstream thinking about what Washington was preparing for BiH immediately prior to operation Storm in 1995, and why and how it aided the Storm. As a participant in many behind the scenes events, he provides details that shed new light on common wisdom regarding the Croatian Army withdrew from Posavina, source of the Muslim-Croat conflict, Tudjmanâs role in Herzegovina, and Croatiaâs recognition and later early EU candidate status,â€? among others.Given the recent arrest of general Gotovina, the reader may be especially interested in the essay on the origin and purpose of the Storm, which contradict the charges from the Tribunal, in the essays about his role in the Storm, as well as those on reasons why the US should be involved in his defense.Croatian readers may enjoy comparing Mr. Raguzâs views, for instance, on relations between Zagreb and Washington in regard of the Storm, to those of Croatiaâs former foreign minister Mate Granic in his recently published book âVanjski poslovi: iza kulisa politike.â€?Bret Stephens, Member of the Editorial Board of the Wall Street Journal notes: âThe essays on the interplay between international politics and international law are among the most thought-provoking to be found anywhere; those on the shortfalls of western policy in the Balkans written over past four years are especially relevant today when the debate on the issue is picking up in advance of the 10th anniversary of the Dayton accords at year end.â€? Igor Alborghetti, Editor-in-Chief of weekly Globus, says Ambassador Raguz writes from a unique perspective. On Euro-Atlantic integration issues, he sees him as a Euro-realist, who believes that Zagreb âshould focus its energies on market reforms and on finding ways to minimize the costs of those associations,â€? instead of being preoccupied with dates of membership. Book has 363 Pages. letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Tue, 17 Jan 2006 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/6230/1/H-Istina-rijetko-jest-i-moze-biti-politicki-korektna.html ÂFilm 'Izbavljenje iz ocaja' â zivi dokument istine o HrvatskojPise: Domagoj MargeticU Hrvatskoj rijetko mozemo vidjeti dokumentarni film toliko potkrijepljen cinjenicama, kao sto je to slucaj sa dokumentarnim filmom americke redateljice hrvatskoga porijekla Brende Brkusic: 'Izbavljenje iz ocaja' (Freedom from Despair'), koji je prikazan u Zagrebu, u subotu 12. studenog u Kinu Europa, u sklopu festivala dokumentarnog filma o hrvatskim iseljenicima, kojega je organizirala udruga 'Hrvatska dijaspora'.'Izbavljenje iz ocaja' biografski je film u kojemu Brenda Brkusic dokumentarno prikazuje zivot svojega oca u bivsoj Jugoslaviji neposredno nakon II. Svjetskog rata, u prvim godinama komunizma i Titove diktature. Međutim, kroz sudbinu Krune Brkusica, 'Izbavljenje iz ocaja' predstavlja film o nacionalnoj sudbini Hrvata u bivsoj Jugoslaviji. Mnoge se obitelji i pojedinci mogu poistovjetiti sa sudbinom ljudi o kojima govori film redateljice Brkusic. Sjedio sam u kinu i gledao film sa nekoliko dugogodisnjih politickih zatvorenika u bivsoj Jugoslaviji, od kojih je jedan i nekoliko puta osuđivan na smrt, ali je stjecajem okolnosti prezivio, i njegova je presuda na smrt svaki put preinacena u dugogodisnju zatvorsku kaznu. Ti ljudi najbolje znaju da Brenda Brkusic nije izmislila nista u svojemu filmu, oni su svjedoci vremena, zrtve jedne neljudske i bezbozne diktature o kojoj govori i film 'Izbavljenje iz ocaja'. I doista, Brenda Brkusic u svojem filmu beskompromisno, bez straha, bez zelje i namjere da bilo kome ugađa ili se pogađa oko istine, donosi istinu o Hrvatskoj o kojoj mnogi hrvatski novinari danas sute. Brendin film zasigurno danas i nije politicki najkorektniji, ali istina rijetko jest i moze biti politicki korektna. 'Izbavljenje iz ocaja' dokument je vremena o kojemu mnogi mladi ljudi u Hrvatskoj ne znaju gotovo nista, za njih ta istina o Hrvatskoj ne postoji, tu se istinu stalno nastoji sakriti pod prasnjave tepihe politickih hipoteka proslosti. Pa ipak, mlada americka redateljica hrvatskoga porijekla obracunava se s licemjerjem danasnjice i otresa prasinu sa istine o komunistickoj diktaturi u Hrvatskoj, odnosno u bivsoj Jugoslaviji. Kroz price o sudbinama ljudi koji su bili zrtve komunistickog rezima film nas ponovno podsjeca na ono sto smo prije samo desetak godina stalno govorili, a sada pomalo konformisticki zaboravljamo: postoji samo jedna istina, postoji samo jedna istina o Hrvatskoj! Istin ne poznaje dogovore, nagodbe, istina ne poznaje zgodne i nezgodne trenutke da se o njoj govori, istina ne poznaje i ne priznaje razloge za sutnju. Ona mora biti glasna, istinu se mora govoriti. Film Brende Brkusic nas na to opominje, kao zivi dokument istine o Hrvatskoj. Dokument koji sada predstavlja zivi spomenik hrvatskim zrtvama komunizma i opomenu generacijama koje dolaze, a koje nisu zivjele i odrastale u to nesretno vrijeme kada su mnogi hrvatski ljudi trazili svoj put za 'izbavljenje iz ocaja'.'Ne postoje dobra ili losa vremena. Postoje samo dobri ili pak losi ljudi u vremenu ...', rekao je ovih dana u svojoj propovijedi na desetogodisnjicu Crkve Svete Mati Slobode u Zagrebu pomocni biskup zagrebacki Valentin Pozaic. Tada sam prede ocima imao slike iz filma 'Izbavljenje iz ocaja', slike koje jasno svjedoce te biskupove rijeci. Slike o jednom vremenu iskusenja, patnje, zrtve, slike egzodusa Hrvata iz Domovine u dijasporu, svjedocanstvo o dobrim i losim ljudima u tom vremenu koje cemo pamtiti kao desetljeca mrznje, ali i desetljeca ljubavi onih koji su patili i trpili i zrtvovali se za Domovinu. 'Izbavljenje iz ocaja' na svoj je nacin spomen na te hrvatske mucenike i zahvala na njihovoj zrtvi za Hrvatsku koju su sanjali, a nase generacije ju dosanjale. letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Sat, 26 Nov 2005 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/6231/1/E-Knin-Not-in-the-Vojna-Krajina.html ÂKNIN NOT IN THE VOJNA KRAJINAKnin, like Benkovac, is over 50 kilometers from the historical boundary of Vojna Krajina as the crow flies. 50 kilometres may not seem a long distance in Canada, but on 19th century European mountain tracks, where every square kilometer has 3000 years of history, distance is a relevant factorA Response to Serbian PropagandaA propaganda campaign is spreading that Knin was in the Vojna Krajina, and that by association the so-called-krajina created in the early 1990s was part of the Vojna Krajina (âMilitary Frontierâ). Documented treaties in history show this propaganda to be a lie, a lie which served as a pretext for starting a war of aggression costing the deaths and displacement of hundreds of thousands of people. Official condemnation of the lies about the so-called-krajina should bea non-negotiable condition set by Croatia during negotiations for its EU membership. Serbs in Croatia had to âethnically cleanseâ one-third of Croatia of its Croats and other non-Serbs, and barricade major transportation routes in Croatia (so-called âlog-revolutionâ), before the fictitious so-called-krajina within Croatia could be materialized. Contemporaneous newspaper reports, and official census data over the past two centuries verify that there is no factual basis to Serbian claims of an historical right to Croatian territory. In addition, an exaggerated Serbian presence in Croatia has been claimed by alleging that most, or all of the Orthodox in Dalmatia and Croatia have always been Serbian. But many European documents contradict this claim. Indeed there have been many famous Croatian Orthodox people in history as well as Croatian Orthodox churches, all documented. And European Statutes exist which refer to the âVlachsâ€? in Croatia or the âMorlachsâ€? in Dalmatia, not to Serbs. Incredibly, on many internet reports and in many books the number of Serbs who allegedly left Croatia in 1995 varies from 40,000 to 600,000, depending upon the source. The fact is however that many of the Orthodox had fled the Serbian-occupied territory of Croatia long before 1995, and they were subsequently branded as traitors and cowards by the Serbian regime in Belgrade.The Serbian anti-historical claims about Croatian territory have been concocted as part of a long-term revolutionary plan to legitimize a Serbian presence there, in order to enlarge the Serbian state. Todayâs Serbian minority in Croatia are the most vocal of all other minorities put together, even though their numbers throughout Croatia in the most recent 2001 census is quite small in proportion to their demands. Serbs had initially objected to being called a minority because they had politically administered Croatia and the rest of the former Yugoslavia through a totalitarian system, until its collapse along with the collapse of the Berlin Wall. But as new âconflict resolutionâ legislation in post cold-war Europe was being discussed, the Serbs began to reformulate their demands within a âminorityâ frameworkâjust as they had reformulated the Yugoslav constitution many times in order to cater to re-servicing of former Yugoslaviaâs international debt. The Ominous Treaty of ParisDalmatia and its hinterland have been the object of barter in European treaties for centuries. In 1919 for example at the Treaty of Paris in Versailles the Italians obtained parts of Croatia from Istria throughout Dalmatia.I In 1995 the Dayton Accords became officially known as the Treaty of Paris, to be signed at the Elysee Palace in France. Given the tragic consequences of Versailles for Croatia, what legacy should Croats expect after the Dayton/Paris Treaty?II Since 1995, the administrators of the Dayton/Paris Treaty in Bosnia & Herzegovina have given-in to Serbian intransigence at the expense of Croatian peoplesâ human rights. Fifteen years on, Serbs still do not comply with Dayton in B & H, as Croats are unable to return to their ancestral homes in peaceâhomes which now fall within the boundaries of the newly created âRepublika Srpskaââa region formed by the ethnic cleansing and slaughter of hundreds of thousands of innocent people. The reinforcement of Serbian intransigence in B & H has caused Serbian intransigence to spread into Croatia. Serbian non-compliance with the Dayton/Paris Treaty in Bosnia is heard of occasionally with reference to indicted war criminals responsible for the Srebrenica massacre, etc., but how many people know about Serbian ultranationalism in Croatia? For example, in Croatia today Serbian provocation includes changing street signs, and spreading graffiti which says âthis is Serbiaâ.III One can easily conclude therefore that like the first Treaty of Paris in 1919, the 1995 Treaty of Paris has created a legacy of instability for Croatian people. Tragically Serbian fabrications are supported by foreigners who inadvertently encourage contravention of international law. As part of a very vocal pro-Serbian lobby around the world many books, websites, and international organisations have shown unquestioning support of false historical claims. On some unofficial maps of Croatia a non-existent region appears known as the so-called-krajina, an alleged historical region which exists only in the minds of Serbia and its foreign allies.IV Unfortunately the UN Hague Tribunal indictments, many NGOs, together with other official European institutions have apparently integrated the unauthenticated Serbian version of Croatian history into their documents and agendas. Croatiaâs Stolen HistoryBefore analysing the so-called-krajina fabrication, it is essential to understand that this propaganda is inextricably linked to the historical theft of the history of the Morlacchi, or Vlach presence in Dalmatia and Croatia. Up until the late 19th century there had been practically no Serbian churches in Dalmatia but there had been many âGreekâ Orthodox churches with mostly Croatian worshippers--many of whom had become integrated with Morlacchi hinterland families. In one of many sources which allude to the true ethnicity of the original Orthodox in Croatia, Larry Wolff in âVenice and the Slavsâ€?, writes that âThe heterogeneous Orthodox society of Zadar included Montenegrin officers and Sarajevo merchants â and (others) from Corfu and Crete â(The Venetians) were concerned to reduce foreign influence on Orthodox Dalmatians, including the Morlacchiâ€?.V The issue of the Morlacchi in Dalmatia is well documented and over the coming months I will analyse it in a separate article. Thus, Serbian propaganda has re-written the history of the Morlachi in Dalmatia, with falseclaims that most of them were of Serbian background. Until the feudalistic creation of the first Yugoslavia at Versailles there had never been a strong Serbian presence in Dalmatia. Only when Serbs ruled under a dictatorship and later under a totalitarian communist system did the Knin regionâs ethnic balance begin to change. This ethnic balance shift also occurred due to post WWII immigration into Croatia of Serbs, or due to the conversion or compliance of non-Serbian Orthodox for the purpose of their own social mobility or communist party membership. In communist Yugoslavia the Serbian numbers in Croatia swelled again due to their staffing of military garrisons, including for example, Benkovac and Knin. Its very important to understand that itâs because Serbs did NOT have numbers in Lika in the late 20th century that they had to include Knin municipalities in their so-called âkrajinaâ territorial claims. This led to the fabrication and spreading of the lie that Knin had always been part of the Vojna Krajina. Foreign-sics of Serbian PropagandaLike Chinese whispers, the following examples show how Serbian propaganda has reached the recent English language community, which has also unfortunately spread into some tourist guides. For example, relying on Silber & Little as a source in âThe Death of Yugoslaviaâ€?, on the internet the Canadian RCMP Inspector Graham Muir discussed his UN duty at âBenkovacâ€?. Tragically, Muir has been fooled by pro-Serbian propaganda: â â (in Benkovac) 50 km west of Kninâ€? â âI quickly came to understand that Vlade and his people were Serbs living in Vojna Krajina, a region that hugged the western boundaries of Bosnia-Herzegovina. The word Krajinaâpronounced Cryeena--comes from the Serbo-Croatian word Kraj, meaning end or edge. The name of the region means military frontier.â€? â that it was the Austrians who created the Krajina â and that Serbs directly were ruled by imperial Vienna.â€? VIIt is particularly unsettling for me as a Canadian to witness such misinformation from a member of the RCMP. The history of the RCMP (Royal Canadian Mounted Police) was the topic of my first school speech in grade 6 in Toronto. Because of my four-page speech, I experienced a youthful pride when watching the world-famous RCMP Ride. In 2003 I followed-up my family background in Ottawa with a visit to the old War Museum, the Chateau Laurier, the Canadian Archives, and a tourâone of the highlights of which for me was the RCMP headquarters. Knin, like Benkovac, is over fifty kilometers from the historical boundary of Vojna Krajina as the crow flies. Fifty kilometers may not seem a long distance in Canada, but on 19th century European mountain tracks, where every square kilometer has 3000 years of history, distance is a relevant factor. Before the UN arrived in 1992, Benkovac and predominantly Croatian villages around it had been ethnically-cleansed and the villagers slaughtered there under the command of Ratko Mladic (before he took command of Serb forces in Bosnia). The Serbian war crimes of nearby Skabrnje or Brusko have been dealt with at the Hague Tribunal; but other towns surrounding Benkovac which were cleansed by Serbs before the UN arrival included Lisane-Ostrovicke, Medvida, Rodaljice, Sopot, Polaca, Korlat, and Nadin. During 1991, every town with a Croatian majority was ethnically cleansed all along major roads, from the south of Knin to Korenica in northern Lika across the border from Bihac. About the 1991 Serbian attacks in the Benkovac vicinity a British archeological team wrote: âThe shelling of the city (Zadar) by the Serbian Army, or JNA, was shocking and distressing. News followed that many of the hilltop monuments investigated by the project had been taken over as military strongholds by the JNA; the damage caused to these sites by the excavation of army trenches cannot be underestimated. And the massacre by the Army of an unknown number of Croats in the hamlet of Nadin, where the project worked for three seasons, can only be the cause of the deepest regret.â€?VII Misha Glenny (of BBC) in his book,âThe Fall of Yugoslaviaâ€? blurs the meaning of Vojna Krajina and Krajina, by using the terms interchangeably and in reference to Knin, and says that the minorities question should include territorial integrity.VIIIGlennyâs version of history was refuted by Ivo Banac, a Yale History Professor, who writes: âFor example, the Knin area of northern Dalmatia was never part of the Hapsburg Military Frontier, or, more properly, of the Croatian-Slavonian Military Frontier, the inhabitants of the latter were predominantly Croats â(and) that the migration of Serbian patriarch Arsenije III Carnojevic to southern Hungary had virtually nothing to so with the Serb presence in Banija, Kordun, Lika and the Knin area ââ€? IXSimilarly, even Tim Judah, in his book which has a pro-Serbian bias, âThe Serbsâ€?, made the point that Knin and Southern Dalmatia were never part of the Habsburg Vojna Krajina.XIt appears Croatian historical boundaries and timeframes are being deliberately distorted to create a fictitious succession of Serbian power which did not exist in history. Another example of this is in US Ambassador Richard Holbrookeâs âTo End a Warâ€? (1998).XI Holbrooke, the architect of Dayton, inserts two maps which shows âKrajinaâ€? in Croatia. In his monologue Holbrooke refers to Kijevo as being in Krajina. Like Inspector Muir, Holbrooke also uses Silber & Little for a reference, that Serbs had lived in âKrajinaâ for generations. Silber & Little, (of BBC) in âThe Death of Yugoslaviaâ€? discuss Krajina as the âSerbo-Croatianâ word for Kraj or edge or end, or means Vojna Krajina, or Military Frontier. After the meaning of the terms Krajina and Vojna Krajina are discussed interchangeably, the book then continues with, âKnin is a lonely dust-bowl of a place in the isolated barren wastelands of Croatiaâs Dinaric mountains. Krajina forms the hinterland of Croatiaâs prosperous Adriatic coast, with which it had traded and intermarried for centuries. Knin and Krajina generally, were economically integral parts of southern Croatia.â€? XIIIn âA Paper Houseâ€? Mark Thompson writes: â â (Serbs) policed the vojna granica or vojna krajina (Military Frontier). A spartan tradition of pride and independence was transmitted from father to son, just as in the southern Habsburg borderlands, where Serb communities protected Knin and the Likaâ€? â (or) ââ named after the vojna krajina (Military Frontier) between the north Dalmatian coast and the Bosnian border â the historic territories of the Vojna Krajinaâ were proclaimed autonomous. â.XIII Just as with Silber & Little, after reading this text, Knin appears to have existed in Vojna Krajina, and of course no authentic European documents or relevant maps could be referred to. In the book âWar in the Balkans 91-93â€? there is a blur between the historical meaning of Vojna Krajina and the more recently alleged âKrajinaâ territory. Many glossy photographs and maps are explained on adjoining pages by text, ââ that Croatia has strong Serbian settlements, dating back to the 16th and 17th century and descended from the farmer soldiers who were encouraged by the Habsburgs to settle down in this region and â which became known as the frontierâin Serb âKrajinaâ â â in reference to the Zadar or Knin region.XIVThe propaganda which originated in a few pro-Serbian books has become widely spread over the internet. According to one internet site, âThe so-called Military Krajina (Vojna Krajina) comprised northern Dalmatia, Lika, Kordun, Banija and Bosnian Krajina (western Bosnia).XVAnother report on the internet, âMinorities in Croatiaâ€? shows a map of the âRepublic of Croatia 2000â€? marking the main regions of Croatia as Slavonia, Istria, Krajina and Dalmatia.XVIOne more example from the internet is of Heather Field of Australian Political Studies Association, discussing the âKnin Krajinaâ€? area and the minority issue in Croatia as being problematic because of its âhistorical tradition of not being under Croat or Zagreb control from when they had acted as the frontier military force and defence of the Austro-Hungarian empireââ€? XVIIInstead of referring to the official UNPA Sectors, the Hague indictments constantly refer to the unrecognized âKrajinaâ region of Croatia instead of Croatia.XVIII It would seem that âKrajinaâ has been recognized in many international circles including the Hague, even though it was not recognized by the UN. In addition even the OSCE (Org. for Security & Cooperation in Europe) talks in Europe rejected proposals to link âminority rightsâ with territorial demands in 1991. Croatiaâs Territorial Integrity If the Hague indictments do not use accepted international terms how then can one expect others to do so? The issue of territorial integrity and sovereignty should be a Croatian condition for EU entry, just as Turkey and other countries have their own set of counter-conditions. Croatiaâs historical territory around Knin has been documented in treaties by the Habsburgs, the Ottomans, and the Venetians, just to name a few. For example, several stages of Venetian occupation which rivalled Ottoman incursions over the centuries around the Knin region have been well documented. For centuries Knin has always been an integral part of Croatian history, not Serbian history. Even when under the Ottoman Empire, Knin was in âTurkish Croatiaâ (as designated by many official contemporaneous mapmakers). Later when Knin and the Dalmatian hinterland was occupied by Venice the majority of the inhabitants there were Croats with whom most of the Morlacchi became assimilated as either Orthodox or Catholics. In their official capacity Croatian government representatives must articulate in clear terms that they expect their territory and history to be respected, before Croatia enters the EU. Footnotes:I âPeacemakers: Six Months that Changed the Worldâ€?, M. Macmillan, London 2002 (p.300).II âThe Worldâs Bankerâ€?, S. Mallaby, Sydney 2005 (p.362).III âNarodni Listâ€?, Zadar, 01 rujna 2005.IV âThe Yugoslav Dramaâ€?, M. Crnobrnja, McGill-Queenâs UP, Montreal 1996 (page 16).V âVenice & the Slavs: Discovery of Dalmatia in the Age of Enlightenmentâ€?, L. Wolff, Stanford 2001 (p.148).VI âA Search for Something Betterâ€? by Inspector Graham Muir, from Legion Magazine website.VII âThe Changing Face of Dalmatiaâ€?, Soc. Of Antiquaries of London, Leicester, 1996 (Preface). VIIIâ The Fall of Yugoslaviaâ€?, M. Glenny, Penguin, London 1992, 1993 (p. 5-7, 101).IX âForeign Policyâ€? Winter 93-94, I. Banac book review, reprinted on internet by the âbosnian instituteâ.X âThe Serbsâ€?, T. Judah, USA, 1997 (p. 16).XI âTo End a Warâ€?, R. Holbrooke, Random House NYC, 1998 (p. 25, 30, 161, 238).XII âThe Death of Yugoslaviaâ€? (accompanies BBC TV series) L.Silber & A.Little, Penguin, London, 1995 (p. 100).XIII âA Paper House: The Ending of Yugoslaviaâ€?, M. Thompson, Random House, Sydney, 1992 (p. 236, 254, 260).XIV âWar in the Balkans 1991-1993â€?, Debay, etc., editors, 1993 (p. 30).XV âCrisis in the Balkans: Croatiaâ€?, internet site of Centre for Peace in Balkans, Toronto.XVI âMinorities in Croatiaâ€? from internet site of âMinority Rights Group Internationalâ, 2003.XVII âFailure of Post-Communist Political Arrangements in Former Yugoslaviaâ€? H. Field, APSA, Australia, 2001.XVIII âIntnl. Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslaviaâ€?, on internet, Case No. IT-01-45, & IT-03-73-1. JEAN LUNT MARINOVICOCTOBER 2005www.croatianviewpoint.com  letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Tue, 01 Nov 2005 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/6232/1/E-The-Baska-Tablet-precious-stone-of-Croatian-literacy.html ÂTHE BASKA TABLETprecious stone of Croatian literacy The Baska tablet is probably the most famous monument of early Croatian literacy, dating from about 1100. Its size and weight are impressive: 2x1 m, 800 kg. According to Branko Fucic and Eduard Hercigonja, the language of inscription is Croatian - Chakavian with elements of liturgical Church Slavonic, and the script isCroatian Glagolitic. It was found in the church of St. Lucy (Sv. Lucija) in Jurandvor near Baska on Krk, the largest Croatian island. JOSIP JOVIC and the question of free speech, freedom of thought, and free media in Europe  letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Sun, 09 Oct 2005 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/6235/1/E-Britain-and-the-Bleiburg-Tragedy.html ÂBritain and the Bleiburg TragedyBritain and the Bleiburg Tragedy is an artist’s impression of the terrible events which took place in Croatia during the early 1990s, and the virtually unknown, but horrendously destructive, events that have occurred since the end of the Second World War centred around attempts over a long period of time to create a Greater Serbia in the area commonly known as The Balkans. Since the end of the First World War, the history of the Balkans has been dominated by the Western Allies acceptance of the Serbs claim to be the dominant force in what became known as Yugoslavia after the disintegration of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. This was despite the Croatian decision in 1918 to vote for a “Neutral and Peasant Republic of Croatia”. At the direction of the so-called “Paris Peace Conference” in 1919 the State of Yugoslavia, including Croatia, was handed over to the Serbs under their King, ruling from the Serbian capital Belgrade with Serbian laws. Brooks-Pincevic, the author of the book, is a resident of New Zealand. She is both English and French and was born in Sydney. She is married to Gary Pincevic, a Croatian from Dubrovnik who migrated to Australia.Passionately eloquent in exposing the lies and hypocrisy prevalent in this history, she has vividly captured, both in word and painting, the horrible events, which took place in Croatia before, during, and after the Second World War, writing particularly about the misunderstandings and blatant misrepresentations of the Croatian people during that time.Particularly poignant is her profound handling of the Bleiburg Tragedy, when thousands of Croatian civilians were handed over to the Communist leaders of Yugoslavia and massacred. A Foreword, written in 1968 by Major-General Charles A. Willoughby from the United States Army for a book “Operations Slaughterhouse”, is included in this section of the book in which he described in great detail the massacre of thousands of disarmed Croatian soldiers and civilians in May 1945, with the “mute acceptance of the British and American Governments”.Suzanne Brooks-Pincevic’s paintings vividly portray the appalling events, which have taken place in Croatia since the Second World War and the commentary accompanying the paintings give clear testimony of the efforts since 1918 of the intent to produce a Greater Serbia. One of the great tragedies of the events described in the book is the lack of support given to the people of Croatia, Slovenia, Bosnia-Herzegovina and the other countries in the region by the Western Nations to claim their right to freedom from their oppressors. It is hoped that the Brooks-Pincevic book will clear the way for a better understanding of events in the Balkans since the end of the 1914-18 War.Review by Mark J Posa State Officer, National Civic Council, Adelaide, Australia.…“I commend this book by Suzanne Brooks-Pincevic which supports my research of the last 20 years by highlighting the only last major massacre of the 2nd World War – a massacre which remains officially unacknowledged and unatoned. The dead will not rest in their graves until the truth is brought out and recognized”….Count Nikolai Tolstoy, Berkshire, England. Author of: The Minister and the Massacres, Stalin’s Secret War, Victims of Yalta…“Lovers of music, art, history and skiing are familiar with the tiny, Alpine country of Austria but most likely they have never heard of its small town of Bleiburg. This book, through the masterful brush and poetic pen of Suzanne Brooks–Pincevic, brings “Bleiburg” to life so that its readers will never forget it and will do all in their power to awaken the consciences of those who must know about it and must in truth and justice undertake such corrective measures that the Bleiburg Tragedy will never be repeated”…John Prcela, Cleveland, Ohio 44121, USA. Editor-in-Chief of: Operation Slaughterhouse, Hrvatski Holokaust…“Suzanne Brooks-Pincevic is the author of a remarkable and unique book containing reproductions of the author’s original paintings. These, along with poems, prose (historical accounts) with eyewitness statements, present a dramatic document dealing with one of the most important and tragic events in modern Croatian history…..it is a well deserved tribute to all those hundreds of thousands civilians and soldiers who lost their lives for Croatia’s independence during the past 60 years”….Dr George J Prpic, Professor Emeritus of History, John Carroll University, USASend Orders to: LEON PUBLICATIONS LTD1 Lake Road, Northcote, Auckland, New Zealand.Tel/Fax: (0064-9) 419-0504 email: leon.art@xtra.co.nzhttp://www.hrvati-amac.com/suzanne_pincevic.doc  letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Sat, 20 Aug 2005 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/6234/1/E-COUNT-IVAN-ANZFRANKOPAN-by-Mladen-Ibler.html  COUNT IVAN ANZÂFRANKOPAN, THEÂROYAL STEWARDÂOFÂTHE ESTATE IN SWEDENÂ1426 - 1434  ÂÂÂÂÂby Mladen Ibler Within the framework of medieval history of Europe and its own geo-strategic location, Scandinavian royalties and nobility entertained contacts with central and Western Europe. Less known however, is the relationship between Eric of Pomerania, the King of the three Scandinavian realms and the Croatian nobility of Frankopans. This paper attempts to provide the short description of the conditions in Croatia and Scandinavia at the beginning of XV century, the relationship between Eric of Pommerania and count Ivan Anz Frankopan, and the role of the Republic of Dubrovnik (Ragusa) during King Eric's travel on his way to the Holy Land 1424-5. Based on Dubrovnik, Budapest, Vatican and Scandinavian sources, a special emphasis is being given to the events surrounding Ivan Anz Frankopan's visit to Sweden. In Venetian and Scandinavian sources, he is reffered to under the name of Gian Franchi and Johan Franke. Due to this reason, historians have been unaware of the real identity of King Eric's steward of the estate (fief) Stegeborg in Sweden 1426-34, count Ivan Anz Frankopan. Key words: Frankopan, Ivan Anz; King Eric of Pommerania; Stegeborg; Kalmar Union I. The Kingdom of Croatia, Dalmatia and Slavonia has been in personal union with Kingdom of Hungary since 1102. Its main parts, Dalmatia and Croatia were governed by a viceroy (Ban), and Slavonia, as the third part, was governed by its own viceroy. In the beginning of the fifteenth century the Kingdom was the object of fight between King Ladislas of Naples and his rival Sigismund of Luxemburg. Aware that he would not be able to hold the Hungaro-Croatian throne, King Ladislas of Naples sold parts of Dalmatia he still possessed in1409, i.e. towns of Zadar, Novigrad and Vrana, and the island of Pag to the Venetian Republic for 100,000 ducats. After Zadar, the islands of Rab and Cres, and the town of Nin also came under the rule of Venice which thus gained a substantial foothold in Dalmatia and kept it until its fall in 1797. In response to the Venetian aspirations to expand their rule to other Dalmatian towns, the new Hungaro-Croatian King Sigismund (Rex Hungarie, Dalmacie, Croacie etc.) waged a new war against Venice (1411-13) however with no success, losing towns Skradin, Ostrovica and Sibenik. A five year truce was concluded in Trieste, according to which each side retained its conquests. When the truce expired in 1418, another war started. Sigismund was defeated in Friuli and Dalmatia. After a long siege, Venice captured Trogir and Split, and the islands of Kor_ula, Bra_ and Hvar. The only parts of the Adriatic coast left to the Croatian Kingdom (i.e. Dalmatia, Croatia and Slavonia) were the Frankopan town of Senj (Segna) and the island of Krk (Veglia) in the north, and Omis (Almissa) with Krajina and Poljica in the south. [1] The most powerful noble family in Dalmatia and Croatia at the time were the Counts of Krk (Segne, Veglie et Modrusse comites) i.e. count Nikola IV, who became Ban (Viceroy) of Dalmatia and Croatia in 1426, and whose name Frankopan (de Frangepanibus) was officially accepted later. In the same year he loaned King Sigismund 28,000 ducats, obtaining almost all of Croatia as security. Next to the counts of Krk, the master of the largest estates was his friend, count Ivanis Nelipčić, whose possessions included parts of Dalmatia around Split and its inland.[2] The Dubrovnik Republic (Reipublica Ragusina) comprised in the first half of the fifteenth century the City and its environs, peninsula Peljesac, island Mljet, Konavle inland with the islet of Molunat. The Republic stretched from the Bay of Boka Kotorska to city of Neum. In terms of government, Dubrovnik was a patrician republic run by the Senate (Consilium rogatorum), with the Minor Council (Consilium minus) as the executive authority. The Mayor Council (Consilium maius) consisted of 203 patricians as members.The Republic was no military power, and it was therefore forced to pursue a very skilful and strictly neutral foreign policy in order to ensure its territorial integrity and freedom of trade. Beeing part of the Croato-Hungarian State, it paid tribute to King Sigismund. Ragusan ships plied active trade in all ports on the western coast of the Adriatic, as well as throughout the Mediterranean, in Portugal, England and Flanders. Dubrovnik was the strongest Croatian centre of business, and it was one of the most developed European states in terms of its national income and culture.[3]  II.  The union of Scandinavian states was the result of the initiative of Margareth, Queen of Denmark and her skilful diplomatic efforts and negotiations with Norwegian and Swedish nobility; however, it could not pass without an armed intervention against King Albrecht of Mecklenburg, who did not enjoy the support of the Swedish nobles. One of the primary reasons underlying the creation of the union was of a foreign political nature: Queen Margareth was quite aware that Denmark on its own could not resolve the issue of Schleswig, which had long been part of Denmark and was now claimed by the Counts of Holstein. Dynastic ties favoured such a union since Margareth was the daughter of of the Danish king Waldemar Atterdag, and her husband, the Norwegian king Haakon was of Swedish origin. Since their son died at an early age, and in order to secure succession, Margareth adopted the grandson of her sister Bugislawa of Pomerania, and gave him the popular Scandinavian name of Eric. Thus, on 17 June 1397, the Union of Kalmar came into being (after the town of Kalmar in southern Sweden), and Eric was crowned as the first king of Denmark, Norway and Sweden. However, because of his youth, the official ruler continued to be his step-mother, who was given an unusual and - as far as Scandinavian history is concerned - unique title of 'lady of our kingdoms, master and powerful guardian of our house'. She ruled until Eric's coming of age in 1401, and practically until her death in 1412. Through negotiations and avoiding the issue of possession, Margareth succeeded in obtaining the recognition of Danish sovereignty over Schleswig by the Counts of Holstein.[4] King Eric of Pomerania faced a number of foreign and domestic policy problems caused by his imposition of customs levies on ships passing through the Sund between Denmark and Sweden, his conflict with the Hanseatic League, the appointment of Danish and German stewards in Sweden, and differences between feudal systems of Denmark and Sweden.[5] After Margareth's death the Counts of Holstein again brought up the issue of Schleswig, and Eric was forced to seek the juridical support of his cousin, King Sigismund.[6] Taking due account of the different area and geostrategic situation, the Counts of Holstein posed for the Danish king Eric a danger similar to that posed by the Venetian Republic for the Frankopans. The claims of the Venetian Republic in Dalmatia and northern Italy on the other side, also clashed with the interests of King Sigismund. His relations with the Frankopans ought to be regarded as a reflection of current economic interests and of the balance of power in that part of Europe in the first half of the fifteenth century.   III.  Ivan Anz VI Frankopan was the son of Nicola IV, the most powerful of the Counts of Krk and Viceroy of Croatia and Dalmatia from 1426 to 1432 (Segne, Veglie et Modrusse comitem, Regni Dalmacie et Croacie Banus). He was the eldest of nine brothers. His name Ivan is translated as Johannes (Latin), Hans (von Zenge, German) and Gian, Zuan or Zian (Italian). His second name Anz, is abreviation of the latin name Angelus. In 1411, according agreement between the parents, he became engaged to Katarina, daughter of Ivanis Nelipčić, count of Cetina. He had adopted Ivan Anz more than a year before the engagement, because he had no male heir himself. During his war against Venetian Republic and en route to Friuli, King Sigismund issued a charter in Frankopan's town Brinje on 28 October 1412, whereby count Ivanis Nelipčić was given licence to give his daughter Katarina, fiance of Ivan Anz, as dowry all the estates of his family.[7] There are no records of Ivan's birth date, but in that year he and his younger brother Stjepan were mentioned as adult young men.[8] Because of the Venetian claims on their lands, the Counts of Krk were forced not only to negotiate with Venice but also to establish ties with its rivals in Italy (such as Duke of Milan, Fillipo Maria Visconti), nobles of German origin (Elisabeth, the cousin of Nikola IV, was married to Friedrich of Cilli, whose father Hermann was Ban of Slavonia), and with King Sigismund himself. There is no doubt that in addition to Croatian, Ivan Anz also spoke Latin, Italian (of Venetto-dialect) and German. He was probably educated in good manners, negotiation and the chivalric arts of the time. It may be concluded that he was brave - probably also of an adventurous spirit - and that count Nikola Frankopan trusted him as his oldest son and heir to the position of Ban of Dalmatia and Croatia.  IV.  Friedrich, the eldest son of Hermann, Count of Cilli and Viceroy of Slavonia, married Elizabeth, the daughter of Stjepan I Frankopan in 1405. Her uncle, Nikola IV Frankopan, was to pay 32,000 ducats as the dowry. As he was probably unable to produce such a sum, he pledged her and her husband Friedrich one-half of the island of Krk, and the Trsat, Bakar and Bribir, important cities north of Senj. Friedrich left Elisabeth in 1412 for his mistress Veronika Desinić, according popular belief, reputed belle from Zagorje in northern part of Croatia. His father, together with Frankopans tried for eight years to reconcile them, but without success. Elisabeth and Friedrich met at last in 1422 in a castle at Krapina, but on the first night Elisabeth died a violent death, probably slain by Friedrich by knife.[9] At that time, King Sigismund was engaged in a war against the Hussites, the Viceroy was not in Slavonia and as Friedrich's sister Barbara was the wife of King Sigismund, no one held Friedrich accountable for Elisabeth's death until 1424. Fearing revenge and a clash with other Croatian nobles, in June of the same year Friedrich fled on horseback to Buda in order to seek protection from his sister, Queen Barbara.[10] It was precisely the conflict between Frankopans and Friedrich of Cilli over the murder of Elisabeth, that occasioned the meeting between King Erik of Pommerania and Ivan Anz Frankopan.   V.  The paths of the first King of Kalmar Union and Ivan Anz crossed in Sigismund's Buda (then Offen) in June, 1424. In that year, King Sigismund convened in Buda an assembly of European nobility to discuss, among other matters, the dispute between his cousin, King Erik and the Counts of Holstein over possession of Schleswig.[11] Eric's father-in-low was Henry IV of Britain, and his sister was married to the Duke of Bavaria; along with the fact that he ruled the largest state in Europe, this facts also contributed to his reputation. Therefore, having arrived in Buda in February, he joined Sigismund in order to discuss the agenda of the assembly.[12] King Eric was then about 42 and, according to the description of Aenes Sylvius Piccolomini, his tall figure, fair hair, athletic build and supple movements attracted general attention and particularly the glances of womenfolk.[13] Ivan Anz Frankopan arrived in Buda at about same time, seeking satisfaction in a duel from Friedrich of Cilli for the murder of his cousin Elisabeth. Friedrich tried to avoid the duel and was hoping to take advantage of his kinship with King Sigismund. The king, on the other side, did not want to antagonize either the Frankopans or the Cillis, and did his best to avoid scandal and find Â  a compromise.[14] So, he found an ideal mediator in the Scandinavian king. After king Erik received, on 28 June, the charter of King Sigismund which resolved the controversy over Schleswig with the Dukes of Holstein to his advantage (count Hermann of Cilli, Ban of Slavonia, played important role in this decision),[15] he could only repay the favour and use his good services in order to talk young Ivan Anz out of confrontation with Friedrich of Cilli. His persuasiveness proved successful. It is certain that while talking to Ivan, King Erik became familiar with Ivan Anz's character, linguistic versatility and knowledge of circumstances in Dalmatia and Italy, and decided to take him along as an attendant and interpreter. It is worth to remember, that Ivan Anz's father, count Nikola, experienced the pilgrimage to the Holy Land some years before. According to historian Klaić, 'king Erik may have already grown found of the valiant young man at that time, as we find him at the Danish court eight years thereafter'.[16]  VI.  In the Middle Ages the pilgrimage to the Holy Land was the highest goal of every Christian, particularly for the nobility and crowned heads. Ivan Anz's father, Count Nikola Frankopan, also visited Jerusalem in 1411.[17] The pilgrimage, which was not without risk at the time, was often a sign of a ruler's gratitude for a particular success or gain. It was believed that Erik, after the favourable resolution of King Sigismund on Schleswig, decided to set off for the Holy Land. However, his visit to Venice en route to his destination (but not at his return!) shows that Erik, being indebted to King Sigismund, also had to carry out a political mission for the king.  The shortest route from Buda to the eastern coast of the Adriatic led across Croatia and the regions ruled by Counts of Frankopan, to their town and then important port of Senj.[18] On the advice of Sigismund, Eric certainly took that route and took Ivan Anz along as an attendant. It may be assumed that Sigismund was keen to have Ivan Anz away from Friedrich of Cilli for a time, and that brought his influence to bear on Erik to take him along, not only as an attendant on his journey to the Holy Land, but also subsequently to Sweden. The Dubrovnik Republic also played a part on that journey. Already on 19 March 1424 - during King Erik's stay in Krakow, i.e. before Sigismunds resolution on Schleswig - the Council of Dubrovnik received King Sigismund's letter informing about Erik's intention to visit the Holy Land and recommending the king to Council's attention.[19] The Ragusans replied on 17 May and informed Sigismund about the movements of hostile ships in the Mediterranean. The similar letter was sent also on 31 August.[20] On 31 July 1424, two envoys arrived to Venice from Senj, requesting that King Eric should be given free passage to Venice; they also requested a galley to be outfitted at the king's expense for the journey to the Holy Land, and finally, the loan af a sizable sum of 10,000 ducats. On the same day, the Venetian Senate granted the king's wishes and decided that he would be met at Senj by Francesco Minnio, capitano delle Gallere di Quarnero, accompanied by six envoys. It was also decided to place another galley at the disposal of the Count of Senj, who would escort the king to Venice. According to the records of the Venetian chronicler and historian Antonio Morosini, King Eric left in Senj 1000 horses and most of his escort.[21] It is possible that during his stay at Senj, a member of king's escort took over the figurative pattern of the Croatian coat of arms as his noble family's heraldic device in Sweden.[22] Accompanied by Count Nikola Frankopan, Viceroy of Croatia and Dalmatia (recorded by Morosini as el Signor de Segna) and some thirty noblemen and knights, King Erik experienced a solemn welcome in Venice on 24 August. He stayed at the Duke of Ferara's Palace, today 'Fondacci dei Turchi',[23] while Count Nikola stayed at the palace of Count Carlo Malatesta de Rimini.[24]. Along with the ceremonial part of the visit, the king also held political talks with the Doge, showing that his visit to Venice was intended as mediation in the conflict between Venice and Sigismund. Venice was then allied with Duke Fillippo Maria Visconti of Milan. The alliance was meant to strengthen Venice's hand in the war against king Sigismund for the possession of Dalmatia and Friuli. The Scandinavian king tried to leave the impression of a neutral go-between, humbly offering his bona officia, but there is not doubt that he acted on instruction of his cousin Sigismund, to whom the alliance of Venice and Milan was certainly a thorn in the flesh. On 1 September, the Doge reported the substance of the talks to the Senate, which accepted Eric's offer with gratitude, albeit with the reservation that no decision was possible without the agreement of theit ally, Visconti. Therefore, the Senate informed Duke Visconti of Eric's offer through the Venetian ambassador in Milan. Distrusting Eric's bona officia, Visconti declined the offer, as the Venetian ambassador reported to the Senate on 8 September. Having been appraised of Visconti's position, on 14 September the Senate instructed its ambassador to express the Venetian loyalty to the agreed alliance. During that time, King Eric was probably in Venice, which he presumably left only after hearing Visconti's response.[25] Although the description of King Eric's sojourn in Venice is rich and comprehensive, no word is mentioned about his interpretor, and among the names of Venetians involved in king's travel, the name of Gian or Zian Franchi is not mentioned. King Eric arrived to Dubrovnik on 16 September 1424, warmly welcomed by the authorities and citizens. During his meeting with the members of the Council, king Eric secretly declared that he, under any circumstances, has no intention to pass Venice on his return from the Holy Land. The Ragusans, in the letter of 20. September, informed King Sigismund of Eric's visit and asked him which other route to recommend when he returned to Dubrovnik.[26] There are no records of the king's stay in Jerusalem; on the way back he visited Rhodos, where he borrowed 2,000 ducats from the Knights Hospitaliers, which he later repaid, somewhat reluctantly, to their fellow brethren in Denmark.[27] King Eric arrived again at Dubrovnik on a Venetian ship on Christmas day 1424, escorted among others, by count Ivan Anz Frankopan and his younger brother Nikola. He resided at the Palace, and the authorities daily provided 60 perperi for his meals. He was permitted to import for himself a keg of Greek romagna wine.[28] [29] The Frankopans were offered accomodation in the mansion of Duke Sandalj[30] and the Council moved for a donation of 60 perperi in their favour [31]. The detailed records kept in The Dubrovnik Archives mention no interpreter named 'Gian Franchi' in the king's escort. In Dubrovnik the king dismissed the Venetian galley on board of which he arrived. However, lucking funds to pay it, he asked the Ragusans to loan him 2000 ducats. On 26 December the loan was granted, obviously with a guarantee and certain provisions. In the receipt the king undertook to repay the loaned in Senj, if possible, or deliver it in Buda to the Ragusan ambassador who would escort him on his journey.[32] The foregoing suggests that the Ragusans counted on King Eric to pass through Senj and borrow the money from Count Nikola Frankopan in order to be able to repay the Ragusan loan. On the Ragusan galley, the king sailed to Omis (Almissa) on 5 January 1425 in order to visit Count Ivanis Nelipčić, Ivan Anz's father-in-law. From Omis, he set off on horseback to Count Nikola Frankopan in Senj, from where he continued his return to Buda. [33] [34] According to the Venetian Morosini, the king's galley from Senj arrived in Venice in January, but without the king. It carried the ship's commander, Giovanni Giustinian de St. Apostolo and the king's interpreter messere Zian Franchi and two envoys, who expressed King Eric's apologies and regrets at having to return to his kingdom for important reasons, and beeing therefore unable to visit Venice.[35] The two enwoys were obviously the two Ragusan diplomats - ambassadors Ã?uro Gučetić and Dzore Palmotić.[36] It should be reminded, within the context of further considerations, that Venetian sources, which otherwise abound in details relating to the visit of Eric of Pommerania to Venice, do not mention the king's abovementioned interpreter, Zian or Gian Franchi (in Scandinavian sources Johan Franke), which means that he was not with King Eric when he arrived in Venice in August 1424, or when he left Venice in September of the same year. The records kept in The Dubrovnik Archives mention no word about the interpreter with such a name.  The person in question was obviously the oldest son of Count Nikola, Ivan Anz Frankopan, whom Eric had met in Buda i juni 1424, and who joined the king on his way to the Holy Land, probably in Senj or Omis, and whose name is recorded in the archives of Dubrovnik. According to historian Klaić, 'we find him at the Danish court eight years thereafter'. [37] According to the already cited Antonio Morosini, 'subsequently, the (king's) interpreter, messere Zian Franchi, properly outfitted and on horseback, left Venice to visit the king in his country.' Morosini added a malicious remark, which he would certainly have omitted had a distiguished citizen or a nobleman from the Republic of Venice been involved: '... looking forvard to a reward, which will enable him to keep up his knightly status ' (' lo dito so turzimano miser zian franchi, de qua eser vestido horevel mente, e con cavay in lo so pixe andando per vixitarlo, sperando ave una provixion per mantegnir la so chavalaria orevel mente.').[38]  VII.   The reasons which led King Eric of Pomerania to employ foreign noblemen as bailiffs and stewards of his castles on his estates in Sweden are certainly interesting. He trusted them more than Swedish noblemen, and could expect loyalty and greater tax-collection efficiency from them, mostly of Danish and German origin. The appointment of 'a simple interpreter and king's travel attendant' to the post of the bailiff of one of Sweden's major castles in the fifteenth century evoked amazement by some historians. [39] The same applies to the origin of Gian (Zian) Franchi, in Scandinavian historiography known as Johanes Franke. All Swedish historical works and treatises [40] relating to the identity of 'Gian Franchi' rely on information from Morosini, and the sources based on the records of Venetian seamen who, having suffered a shipwreck in 1432, stayed at the Swedish castle of Stegeborg en route from Lofoten to their homeland. Their report was published in Venice by Giovanni Batista Ramusio between 1553-59, and again by Bullo in 1881.[41] The latest translation appeared in Norway in 1991. [42] A comparative analysis of the abovementioned sources with the sources known to Croatian historiography points to the conclusion that Gian Franchi (Johan Franke) and Ivan Anz Frankopan are one and the same person. Having delivered, together with the Ragusan envoys, the message to the Venetian Senate to the effect that King Eric could not visit Venice for reasons of state, Ivan Anz Frankopan left, 'properly outfitted and on horseback', some time in late January or early February, for the country of King Eric, the first king of the Union of Kalmar. It is not known how and when he arrived in Scandinavia. The Swedish State Archives contain copies of two documents of 1426 mentioning the presence of Johan Franke, Steward of the estate (fief) and castle of Stegeborg. One of the documents is cited by the distinguished Swedish historian Styffe [43] , who claims that Johan Franke had certified the dowry given by Bengt Konigsmarck to Mrs. Ingrid Karlsdottir Gedda on 30 May 1426. Bengt Konigsmark was the Steward of the royal castle of Kalmar, and Ingrid Karlsdottir the daughter of a high royal dignitary. Further investigations in the Archives disclosed another copy of a document on a similar subject, in which Johan Franke, together with parson Haakon, certified a deed of donation whereby a certain Ragvald Puke donated to his wife some land at Ullalva; the deed is dated 29 May 1426, i.e. one day before the first document [44].  Along with Kalmar, among the other important Swedish castles were Stegeborg and KÃpingshus. Trusting Johan Franke (Ivan Frankopan), King Eric first appointed him Steward (hÃvitsman, fogdare) of the castle of KÃpingshus, and then of the castle of Stegeborg, with the respective estates.[45] Stegeborg was a well-fortified castle next to the narrowest part of the bay of SlÃtbakken on the eastern Swedish coast, and it guarded the approach to SÃderkÃping and to the interior. It was first mentioned in 1310, although its foundations are of an older date. The Danish queen Margaret used to visit the castle, as did relatively often, also King Eric. Until 1427 it was managed by the Swedish noble Magnus Drake, and thereafter by Ivan An_ Frankopan, known in Swedish sources under the name Johan Franke and under the italianized version of his name, Gian Franchi. In July 1432, the Venetian Pietro Querini stayed at Stegeborg with the remaining members of his crew, survivors of a shipwreck. On its journey from Crete to the Netherlands, their ship foundered off the Portuguese coast. Their boats were carried by the wind and the Gulf Stream until the surviving seamen - including one from Sibenik and Zadar on Dalmatian coast - finally landed on the Lofoten, crossed Norway and Sweden on foot, before they could board a ship and sail for Venice [46]. The record describes Ivan Anz Frankopan (in this case, under the name Zuan or Gian Franco) as an outstandingly hospitable and kind 'distinguished nobleman and esteemed baron in the service of King Eric'. He escorted them personally, continues the record, with a hundred horsemen to the boundary of the estate, and from there to the port of LÃdÃse they were escorted by his son Mapheo (Matheo?). It should be noted that the descriptions of the Querini and of his crew differ somewhat, and that there are possibly some errors of transcription in the Norwegian translation [47] . Indicatively, the record of Venetian seamen does not mention with a single word the exact origin of their benefactor, with whom they were able to converse in their own language after six months of tribulation and journeying through Scandinavia, and whom they supposed to be their countryman. Indeed, one would expect a mention of that point if a nobleman of Italian, and particularly Venetian, origin had been involved. However, the real identity of King Eric's Steward of ÂStegeborg has been revealed by the written record, originating far away from Scandinavia. Few weeks before Venetian seamen's arrival to Stegeborg, died Ivan Anz's father, Count Nikola Frankopan, Ban (viceroy) of Croatia and Dalmatia. Written by an uknown priest that very day, in a breviary from the island of Krk, the Frankopans' 'parent' region, it was noted that the Ban's son Anz, was in the service of the Danish king at that time, the summer of 1432:  'The good and noble Ban Nikola died on the twenty-sixth day of the month of June 1432. And his son Anz was by the king of Denmark ...'. The note, written by glagolytic script and in Croatian language, describes also that at the same time, Stjepan, Ivan Anz's younger brother, was by king Sigismund and that Bosnia has been invaded by Turks [48].    VIII.  Scandinavian sources call Ivan Anz Frankopan as Franchi or Franke, which corresponds to the belief that he was of Italian (Venetian) origin. In fact, that was an abbreviated Italian or German version of the name Frankopan, which was not yet known in Venetian Republic. Croatian sources first mention the name Frankopan in relation to Nikola Frankopan, Ivan Anz's father, in 1426, the very year in which Ivan Anz left for Sweden[49]. Four years later, the same name (de Frangepanibus) was confirmed to Nikola by Pope Martin V in Rome during a personal audience. However, King Sigismund's court mainly ignored the Ban's new name, referring instead to the Segne,Veglie et Modrusse comites. Sigismund recognised the title to the name given after the Roman Frangepani, and the Pope's approval, only in 1434, i.e., after Nikola's death, to his first and third-born sons, Ivan Anz and Stjepan [50]. There is another and important reason why the identity of Ivan Anz Frankopan, during his journey to th Holy Land in the capacity of King Eric's attendant, was not known, or was not supposed to be known, even to the Venetian Republic. The information that the son of the powerful 'el Signor de Segna' (as Count Nikola Frankopan is called in Venetian archives) was present on the ship sailing in the Mediterranean en route to the Holy Land would have been very valuable to the enemy ships and pirates in these waters [51] , because such a person could bring them a substantial amount of ducats in ransom; this would have jeopardized also the safety of King Eric [52], who travelled incognito[53], disguised as the ship's scribe, for the same reason. For Ivan Anz, an additional reason for caution and discretion was the risk which he could expect, on his way to northern Europe, while crossing the estates of the Counts of Cilli. Last but not least, it should be mentioned that Croatian historian Klaić does not exclude the possibility that Frankopans descend from the ancient family Franko of the island of Krk[54].  IX.  In Sweden, discontent with King Eric grew in the early fourteen-thirties and as of 1430 his visits to that country became less frequent. In Dalarna, the northwestern part of Sweden, the nobleman Engelbrekt Engelbrektson started an insurgency which soon spread to other parts of the country. The uprising against Eric of Pommerania reached its climax in 1434, when it was also joined by the high nobility (Bo Stensson Natt och Dag, Karl Knutsson Bonde and others) dissatisfyied with foreign stewards in royal castles [55]. The Swedish people called foreigners from the southern parts of Europe (Walloons, Italians, etc.) Waale; thus, in the well-known fifteenth-century Swedish chronicle on Engelbrekt Engelbrektson the master of the castle of Stegeborg was called Johan Waale [56]. Having captured the castles of BorganÃs and VÃsterÃs, in the summer of 1434, Engelbrekt laid sieg to the fort of KÃpingshus. Unable to to defend the fort, Frankopan withdrew to Stegeborg. Two months later he also surrendered that castle [57], which he hold since 1427 [58]. Considering the situation, it was understandible for Ivan Anz to decide to leave Sweden and return home. It is not known when and how he returned back to Croatia, and whether he kept coming back to Sweden. According to an document in the Swedish State Archives, he (under the name of Johan Franke) mortgaged an estate to the monastery at Vadstena in 1435 for 233 east Gothic pfennig; this would suggest that he needed money, perhaps to repay a debt or return to Croatia. Of particular interest is the fact that he - or someone else on his behalf - later paid off the mortgage, and that his son Matts Franke (in Croatian language Matija) sold it in 1437 to Karl Knutsson Bonde [59], commander of Engelbrekt's army and subsequently regent of Sweden. In Croatia and Dalmatia, after the death of Ban (viceroy) Nikola Frankopan, King Sigismund, in his capacity of sovereign, designated Nikola's sons as heirs in that part of the Kingdom. Stjepan II was Nikola's third-born son, but King Sigismund mentioned him first (inspite Ivan Anz was the eldest). It was partly because Ivan Anz was absent from Croatia, and partly because his younger brother Stjepan was at that time continuously in the king's retinue in Italian and German lands. He also confirmed the title of Ban to the brothers, and Stjepan and Ivan consequently signed themselves as Regni Dalmatiae et Croatiae Banus [60]. Ivan Anz's father-in-law died in May 1434, and Ivan inherited, through his wife Katarina, cities Klis, Omis and other etates. Having concluded peace with Venetian Republic, Sigismund was no longer politically and economically interested in Frankopans. In spite of the charter by which he had renounced, in 1412, his claim to the estate of Ivan Anz's father-in-law, he requested from Ivan Anz to reliquish the inherited estates. At the same time, Ulrich, son of Friedrich of Cilli, also claimed the unpaid dowry, i.e., the estates pledged by Frankopans to his father, Ivan Anz's opponent in Buda in 1424. Ivan Anz refused to bow to the king's request and to relinguish the estates, upon which he was proclaimed a rebel and divested of the title of Ban (viceroy) in January 1436. The king ordered the Ban of Slavonia to subdue Ivan Anz by force of arms. His military campaign against Ivan Anz in the summer of the same year was not particularly successful. However, Ivan Anz died on 20. November, of uknown cause, probably at his castle of Klis [61]. ÂHis acquaintance from Buda, King Eric of Pommerania, visited Stegeborg for the last time three years later[62], and after signing stillestÃndsfÃrdrag[63] on 21 August 1439, definitively left Sweden. [1] Sisić, F., Pregled povijesti hrvatskog naroda, Zagreb 1962, p. 221-222; Sunjić, M., Dalmacija u XV  ÂÂstoljeću, Sarajevo 1976, p. 40-66. [2] Klaić,V., Povjest Hrvata, 2, Zagreb 1901, p. 113-114. [3] Stulli, B., Povijest Dubrovačke Republike, 1989, Dubrovnik - Zagreb, p. 50-60 etc. [4] Lauring, P., A History of The Kingdom of Denmark, Copenhagen 1969, p. 106-113. [5] Scott, D.F., Sweden - the Nation's History, South Illinois Univ. Press 1988, p. 106-113. [6] letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Sat, 20 Aug 2005 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/6233/1/HE-Oba-su-pala---Heroji-Domovinskog-Rata---Our-War-Heros.html ÂOba su palaÂoba_su_palaWarInCroatia1991.mpegÂOvo je pocetak, Vi ispunite prazna mjesta i predstavite SVE HEROJE domovinskog oslobodilackog rata 1991-1998.ÂThis is a start. You fill the blanks and present all the heroes of the Croatian Liberation War of 1991-1998ÂNenad Bach letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Sat, 20 Aug 2005 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/6237/1/E-Croatia-to-Mark-10th-Anniversary-of-Storm-Operation-Friday.html Croatia to Mark 10th Anniversary of Storm Operation Friday4 August 2005 | 14:49 | FOCUS News Agency Zagreb. Croatia will mark the 10th anniversary of Storm operation Friday, as a result of which the town of Knin was liberated, Montenegrin agency MINA reported for FOCUS news agency. According to authorities in Zagreb, the liberation of the town marks the end of the Serbian occupation in the central part of Croatia. Croatian agency HINA reported that the liberation of Knin is of great significance for the country because since the summer of 1990 the town has been the center of unrest on the part of local Serbian population. At first the unrest came down to a road blockade and later aggravated to wild assaults on Croatian cities and villages, to murders and deportations of non-Serbian population supported by Yugoslav People’s Army, HINA reported. Storm military operation started on August 4 and almost one fifth of the state was liberated for only 84 hours. According to HINA, during the operation 174 Croatian soldiers die and fewer than one thousand are injured. http://www.focus-fen.net/index.php?catid=129&newsid=69523&ch=0 letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Fri, 05 Aug 2005 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/6236/1/E-Croatian-Air-force-Marking-10th-anniversary-of-Victory.html ÂCroatian Air ForceMIG-21 of the Croatian Air force painted in colors of Croatian coat of Arms flies over spectators during ceremony marking 10th anniversary of operation Storm in Knin, Croatia on Friday, Aug. 5, 2005. 10 years ago Croatian troops stormed rebel Serb forces stationed in and around Knin ending 4 years occupation of its territory and existence of self declared Republic of Krajina. (AP Photo/Filip Horvat) ÂFlying with flare : Croatian Air Force AN-19 planes release flares during a celebration of the 10th anniversary of the military operation 'Storm' in Knin, Croatia. (AFP/Str ) AFP - 1 hour, 27 minutes agoA Croatian holds a photo of his slain father during a ceremony marking 10th anniversary of operation Storm in Knin, Croatia on Friday, Aug. 5, 2005. Croatians on Friday celebrated the 10th anniversary of a military victory which quashed a rebellion, but still draws condemnations and haunts the country's international relations. (AP Photo/Filip Horvat) AP - Aug 05 6:12 AM letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Fri, 05 Aug 2005 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/6238/1/E-Operation-Storm-August-4-8-1995---2005.html Âwww.CroatianHistory.net Operation Storm, August 4-8, 19951995 - 200510 years from the liberation of parts of Croatia,in particular of Lika and Knin, from Greater-Serbian occupation 10 years of safe connection between Zagreb, Zadar, Sibenik, Split,Dubrovnik,... 10 years from the liberation of Knin, Croatian historic town !10 years from the deblocade of the town of Bihac inBiH,preventing the tragedy greater than that of Srebrenica in 1995 source: www.CroatianHistory.net letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Thu, 04 Aug 2005 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/6239/1/E-Croatias-Untold-Story-in-Film-Freedom-from-Despair.html ÂCroatia's Untold Story in Film Freedom from DespairThis feature-length documentary by Brenda Brkusic tells about the war against Croatian civilians within the context of decades of Serbian-led totalitarian rule. In this film the blueprint to create an ethnically pure greater-Serbian state beyond Serbia's borders is exposed. The untold Croatian story unfolds through the autobiography of the main character Kruno Brkusic, eye witness testimony, and archival footage. Scenes of the calm blue Adriatic Sea and Kruno's gentle melodies are contrasted with the insecurity of daily life in communist Yugoslavia which climaxed in full-scale Serbian aggression. These scenes of the Serbian bombardment of Croatia still have the power to shock us as we remember when the world looked-on as if gagged and bound. On one level Freedom from Despair informs us about the Croatian struggle for human rights and independence. But for its Croatian audience the film has an emotional dimension. Through Kruno's story, from Hvar to the forced annual free labour of youth in Yugoslavia, to the streets of Washington DC, the struggle of Croatian people is revealed. We are transported into a totalitarian society where ideological brainwashing, psychological abuse, and surveillance by secret police (UDBA) against the Croatian population begins in the primary school classroom, and follows them to the far corners of the world. According to interviewees in the film, even children had been expelled from school as an ‘anti-state element' or ‘reactionary', illustrating the role of ideology in former Yugoslav society. You were taught one thing at school and another at home. The personality cult of Tito was entrenched in former Yugoslav society.Croatian political refugees identify with the film's escape scene in the forest. The dialogue between young Kruno and his friends, about a better future in America, is contrasted to the American government's refusal to stop the Serbian bombardment. The film's pace slowly builds, through interviews about the Serbian-dominated communist party, and it increases in momentum with scenes of grief and bombardment. The climax of the film is reached when we learn that the protests and human rights of tens of thousands of Croats in the streets of Washington DC have been ignored by the media. The mood of despair and hope is captured in the bittersweet music of Nenad Bach, ‘Everything is Forever'. Croatia's Untold Story Bosnia, not Croatia, is the focus of most contemporary documentaries on the violent break-up of Yugoslavia. Often the inference is that the so-called third ‘Balkan' war was equally Croatia's fault, and that the alleged premature recognition of Croatia was also to blame. The one-sided Serbian aggression against Croatia must be left out of such documentaries in order to justify the allegation of equal guilt. Because the philosophy of equal guilt is central to post-Cold War conflict resolution strategies of containment, it has profoundly saturated the media today. I will argue that Freedom from Despair, set in post WWII Yugoslavia, shows how decades of Serbian-led oppression have led to the violent break-up of Yugoslavia. I have learned to be objective in my arguments because revolution and communist political systems was my university major. If there had been any bias on the topic of Yugoslav/Balkan politics in my essays I would not have a degree today. At the time university lectures on Yugoslavia generally reflected the status quo, but freedom of speech was not discouraged in tutorials or in essays. It's possible I was one of the first to write an essay on the causes of the break-up of Yugoslavia. ‘Yugoslavia and the Serbian Revolutionary Tradition' was the title of my ‘Balkans Special Readings' essay in April 1992. In that essay I argued that the political collapse of the rotating presidency and the transformation of the Yugoslav Peoples Army into a purely Serbian Army was part of a long term plan to create a greater-Serbian state. According to the Serbian dissident Djilas, Croats had to die so that Yugoslavia could live. By 1948 we witnessed the totalitarian takeover of the Yugoslav political, and military infrastructure by the Serbian ‘staatsvolk' or ‘nation builders'. Post WWII massacres discussed in Freedom from Despair included the murder of over 700 priests and Franciscans. Massacre sites were uncovered and eye witness accounts given. This immediate post-WWII period of communist Yugoslavia is known to Croats as the time of the Bleiburg Genocide, when hundreds of thousands of Croats were massacred. Ironically many Croatian communists or Croatian partisans had not escaped execution. One professor of communist political systems in Australia, J. Miller described the fanatical Yugoslav Central Committee before 1948 as “more Bolshevik than Bolsheviks” (La Trobe University, Lecture, 3 Aug 1989). The argument that nationalism was controlled under Tito is flawed. Serbian nationalism actually expanded under Titoism at the expense of Croatian human rights, and it was Tito who created a ‘Moslem' nationality in the 1974 constitution. Serbian nationalism was part of every day life. For example in the film we learn that Serbian songs were openly sung in public places in Croatia, but singing traditional Croatian songs was not permitted. The 1971 ‘Croatian Spring', virtually unheard of in contrast to other soviet crackdowns in Hungary or Czechoslovakia, is described in Freedom From Despair. Marko Dizdar's testimony, (a former Amnesty International political prisoner of conscience) described how the Serbian-led state “ignored the historical presence of Croatian people”. The fact that 32,000 Croatian party members were purged from their positions and found themselves on trial, in gulags, and assassinated as “enemies of the state” is central to why Yugoslavia broke-up violently. Over the ensuing decades operations for a greater-Serbia were coordinated on other fronts besides politics: during the Cold War Yugoslavia also built Europe's third best-equipped army. As elsewhere in Croatia, in Dalmatia the Serbian usurpation of power, and genocide and an accompanying Croatian exodus due to economic exploitation occurred. In Freedom from Despair, we see an example of this exodus from the island of Hvar, Kruno's birthplace. Thus, after WWII the demographics in some parts of Croatia had been deliberately altered, as in Zadar County. For example there was a post WWII Serbian influx into Knin, which had been included in Zadar's post-WWII enlarged boundaries. Knin was one of many army barracks in the region and because the Yugoslav Peoples Army leadership was dominated by Serbs their numbers and influence increased. Before WWII Knin had been in the Hrvatska Banovina region which had a majority of Croats. The plan for a greater-Serbia had its head in Belgrade and its feet in Knin. But Knin had never been in Vojna Krajina in history. The invention of a so-called ‘Krajina' was never the same as the Vojna Krajina. Most Orthodox Morlachi (Vlachs) in the region had originally been integrated into Croatian society and politics, not Serbian. Zadar boundaries had never included Lika. In the case of Zadar County, post WWII western loans ended up as investment in outlying Serbian-controlled townships, enforced by Serbian communist party members and Serbian police. Between 1990 and 1992, thousands of Croats were massacred or forcibly removed from those Serbian-controlled townships. Still others outside of the self-declared Serbian Krajina had to flee because of continued shelling which came from inside the UN ‘pink zone' in Sector South. In Croatia UNPROFOR had failed in its mandate to disarm the well-armed Serbs, who had kept an advantage due to the UN Arms Embargo. Yet all we hear is the fabrication that the Croatian constitution did not respect the ‘minority' rights of Serbs in Croatia. Human rights abuse so well documented in the film Freedom from Despair was being upstaged by the issue of ‘minority rights' as Serbian bombs struck Croatian civilian targets. The post Cold War lobby for a new definition of ‘minority rights' or ‘human security' in the OSCE in 1991 was unsuccessful, but by that time the commander of Yugoslav Peoples Army in Croatia, Mladic, had been transferred from Knin to Bosnia. When similar massacres later occurred in Bosnia it was called genocide, but in Croatia it has even been described as ethnic strife! Freedom from Despair documents the experience of Kruno with the American media and government which led him to the conclusion that the pro-Serbian bias of the US State Department led to a ‘green light' for the Serbian aggression. In the accusation against Eagleburger and his financial connections with Milosevic, Brkusic is not alone, as it has also come from more than one journalist, including Robert Manne, or Roy Gutman, author of ‘Witness to Genocide'. Richard Holbrooke in his book, ‘To End a War', discussed “the greatest collective security failure of the West since the 1930s”. But his claim is absurd, that President Clinton did nothing to stop the Serbian bombing because he had been brainwashed by Rebecca West's book, ‘Black Lamb & Grey Falcon'. You can fool some of the people some of the time but are we to seriously believe that one pro-Serbian author had the American intelligence community outfoxed?Canada's General Mackenzie is the ‘fox' in Carol Off's book, ‘The Lion, The Fox, & The Eagle'. This book criticizes the role of UNPROFOR's first general. Page 200 describes a meeting between the Canadian Prime Minister, his “Sarajevo-born” (Serbian) wife Mila and General Mackenzie in 1992; and how the responsibility for all decisions had been Canada's during the first months of the horror that ensued. It is well known that for decades Canada's internationalist foreign and defence policies had become inseparable from United Nations policy, and that this had placed Canada in a prominent position to influence the outcome of events unfolding in the former Yugoslavia. Canadian peacekeeping involvement ranged from participating in Europe's OSCE debate, to acting as European Monitors, and to leading the first UNPROFOR operation. Serbia didn't only have allies in the USA or in Canada, but also in Russia and Great Britain. For example, Russia's fanatical Zironovski stood on the bones of Croatian civilians in Vukovar and declared it to be Serbia, amongst a sea of Russian-UN Blue Helmets. A former Australian Labour Party Prime Minister has recently delivered a speech about how Australian patriotism can be defined. In 2004, at the launch of the Serbian St. Sava's Orthodox College in Australia, Mr Gough Whitlam's speech began with the words, “No patriotic Australian can vilify the Serbs”. This speech, on a web page devoted to Whitlam, enlightens us with the reasons for the traditional and unquestioning support for Serbs. He extolled the virtues of the ever-close Serbian monarchical ties to the British and Greek monarchy, along with claims about the importance of the West's Serbian alliance during WWII. The Siege on CroatiaThe climax of Freedom from Despair, for me, comes with the shock that there was a media blackout of the peaceful Croatian demonstration in Washington DC. Fortunately some rare support could be found in the Australian media. ‘We Must Rescue Croatia' was the title of an article in an Australian newspaper by Robert Manne, a regular columnist and La Trobe University lecturer of communist history (Herald Sun, Melbourne). On 13 December 1991, he wrote that the Yugoslav Army's one-sided military aggression (using Navy, Air Force and Army) against Croatia is the most savage since the end of WWII. The deaths of up to 10,000 people to date are all mostly innocent Croatian civilians, according to this article. Manne continued that over 100,000 homes and 200 Catholic churches have been reduced to rubble, and that in Croatia's case, only one side is perpetrating the military operations. According to Manne, the American State Department had given Belgrade a green light, that the Europeans' response has been futile and shameful, and he criticized the Australian peace movement's “vow of silence”. ConclusionsThis documentary exposes the human rights abuse of Croatian people under the former Yugoslavia. In addition, Freedom from Despair helps us to understand how Serbia's role was central to the violent break-up of Yugoslavia. I have also argued in the same theme as the film, that the traditional allies of Serbia and the United Nations were responsible for the spread of war to Bosnia. The ineffective international response to this one-sided aggression, and the dire consequences of re-defining terrorism as ethnic cleansing or ethnic tensions have led to the death of 250,000 innocent people. A further two million innocent civilians should not have been displaced to appease Serbian aggression (half a million Croats amongst them). The Croatian victims should not be on trial today for defending their homeland and their lives. Jean Lunt Marinovic www.croatianviewpoint.com July 30, 2005 letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Sat, 30 Jul 2005 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/6241/1/E-Descendants-of-Croatian-Stavemakers-Reunite-in-Alabama.html ÂStavemakers gather Croatians in AlabamaCroatian immigrant John Erzen with accordion / Alice and John Pezent in their latter yearsOver 80 descendants of the Erzens, Turks, Pezents and Pongeraytors pose for a reunion photo on the porch of the Clarke County Museum in Grove Hill Saturday. Klepac descendants were the only Croatian family not represented at the event. ÂCharles Pezent, left, listens as John Erzen shares memories with the group of his father and the other stavemakers who immigrated to south Alabama. These old-timers would probably smile at their off-spring striking a pose similar to this photograph from early in the 20th centuryStavemaker descendants demonstrated their ancestorsâ skills for other family members during the reunion. ÂStory and photos by Jim Cox Older men just one generation removed from Eastern Europe, their sons and grandsons, nephews and cousins took broad axes, hammers, mallets and drawing knives in hand Saturday to demonstrate the skills that brought their fathers, grandfathers and great-grandfathers to America. What started out to be a simple demonstration of stavemaking techniques, quickly turned into a âStavemakersâ Reunionâ€? of descendants of the Croatian families of Pezents, Erzens, Turks and Pongeraytors. The Klepacs were also stavemakers who lived in the county but they were not represented Saturday. The Clarke County Museum had received a grant to document stavemaking history. Children of the original immigrants have been interviewed and a demonstration was set up at the museum so that some descendants could be filmed doing the work of their ancestors. But other descendants, many who had never seen the work done, wanted to come too and over 80 turned out for a day of fun and reminiscing. Charles Pezent, left, listens as John Erzen shares memories with the group of his father and the other stavemakers who immigrated to south Alabama. Croatian stavemakers from the âold countryâ€? came to the United States around the turn of the 20th century in search of white oak timber used to make staves for barrel-making. The hardwood trees in Europe had been depleted but Americaâs southern forests were filled with huge specimens and they lured the Europeans here. Croatian immigrant John Erzen with accordion. As many as 30 or 40 of these Europeans were in Clarke County making staves in the early 1900s. There were others throughout the south at the same time. A stave crew consisted of four men, each with his own set of hand tools. Trees were cut and the blocks hewn into standard lengths. They were stacked to dry and then carried, mostly by wagon but sometimes by Model T Ford trucks, to river landings and railroad stations for shipment to Mobile and New Orleans where they were loaded on ships and taken to Europe to be made into barrels that were used for storing and aging Spanish and French wines, Scotch whiskey and palm oil in Italy and Lebanon. Alice and John Pezent in their latter years. Stavemaking was busiest from about 1900 until around 1930. World War I slowed the business a bit. Many of the young, unmarried men stayed in Clarke County and married local women. They blended their European ways with the American South to make a unique heritage. Immigrant John Erzen, who lived near Grove Hill, was known far and wide all his life for his accordion playing. His son, John, joked Saturday. âDaddy played that thing all his life and my mother was a Harrison (a local family known for their musical ability), but I canât hardly play the radio!â€? Over 80 descendants of the Erzens, Turks, Pezents and Pongeraytors pose for a reunion photo on the porch of the Clarke County Museum in Grove Hill Saturday. Klepac descendants were the only Croatian family not represented at the event.Many of the descendants have reconnected with their European cousins. Charles Pezent has been to his fatherâs boyhood hometown and slept in the house and in the bed that his father was born in. Erica Pezent, who graduated from the University of Alabama with a degree in business in May, has just returned from an European trip and said it was fascinating to visit with distant cousins and to see the countryside and villages where her forefathers lived. Saturday, descendants shared memories, marveled at the hard work and skills it took to produce staves and enjoyed a bountiful southern meal. Editorâs note: Information for this piece was taken from an article written by Charles Pezent for âHistorical Sketches of Clarke County, Alabamaâ€? in 1977. http://www.clarkecountydemocrat.com/news/2005/0721/Community/040.html  letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Thu, 21 Jul 2005 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/6240/1/E-Japan---Croatia-Jewels.html ÂJAPAN - CROATIA, JEWELSIt seems that a well known tune U boj, u boj from theopera Nikola Subic Zrinski by Ivan Zajc is taught inJapanese schools. Information by Mr. Nenad Bach, New York. Professor Vladimir DevidÃ,japanologist from Zagreb, considers this veryprobable: he remembered a very young boy walking on aTokyo street Komaba, wearing a huge rucksack filledwith books, and whistling the familiar melody - "U boj, uboj"! (personal information, 2004). A web page "U boj, u boj" has been prepared forJapanese readers, with historical account, where you can listen to the tune performed by Japanese choiresinging in Croatian! (Provided by Kwansei Gakuin Glee Club).http://www.croatianhistory.net/etf/uboj.html =====================================Lovro von Matacic, one of the greatest conductors ofthe 20th century (1899-1985), started his career in 1919 as conductorof orchestras in Osijek, Novi Sad, Ljubljana,Belgrade, Riga, and in Zagreb in 1932. From 1942-1945 he was conductor of the Vienna Opera. After1945 he was imprisoned by the Yugoslav communist regime, andtogether with Croatian poet Tin Ujevic and painter Kristian Krekovicsentenced to confiscation of all movable and immovable property. In 1950's hebecame organizer of Festivals in Dubrovnik and Split. In 1956 Matacicmoved to Germany to conduct East Berlin Opera and the famous DresdenStaatskapelle, then conducted at Bayreuth in 1959, and from 1961 to 1966was Gereralmuikdirektor in Frakfurt. He was also guestconductor in Vienna Opera, Milan Scala, in Chicago, Naples, Palermo, Rome,London, Cleveland, Tokio, Prague, etc., and was elected the honorarydirector of the Japanese Orchestra in Tokio. From 1970 to 1980 he wasconductor and artistic director of the Zagreb PhilharmonicOrchestra, and almost simultanesously from 1973 to1979 had the same role in the Monte Carlo Orchestra.http://www.croatianhistory.net/etf/et12.html#mata =====================================Miroslav Miletic, viola player, founded the Pro Artestring quartet in Zagreb, which in 1970's was among 10 best stringquartets in the world. Among his numerous students was Hiroshi Hirano,violist from Japan (Tokyo). As a composer he promotedCroatian folklore and church music (in particular from the island of Hvar). He considers theCroatian folklore music the most beautiful and the richest in the world.In 1975, accompanied by the Leningrad philharmony, heplayed his Viola concert. Maestro Miletic collaborated also with K. Stockhausenon electronic music. He has his works published atSchott, Berben, Meckverlag, Pizzicatto etc, and an LPissued in the USA.http://www.croatianhistory.net/etf/et12.html#miletic =====================================Croatian violoncellist Monika Leskovar (1981) iswinner of the prestigeous Tchaikovsky competition inJapan for 1995 (a student of maestro Valter Despalj),the third prize at the 1997 Rostropovic competition in Paris, the second prize at the 1998Eurovision contest for young instrumentalists, winnerof the 1999 Roberto Caruana competition in Milano, Italy, the second prize at the famous ARDcompetition in 2001.http://www.croatianhistory.net/etf/et12.html#monika =====================================Nenad Bach's work and his life story have beenfeatured on all the major US TV networks (CBS, ABC, NBC), on CNN, on SkyChannel, and on TV channels in Russia, France,Germany, Italy, Great Britain, Spain, Japan, and many other countries.http://www.croatianhistory.net/etf/et12.html#nenad =====================================It is interesting and little known that in Japan thereexist two recordings of Vlaho Paljetak's well knownsong Marijana - in the Japanese language! I had opportunity to listen them on tworecords issued in Japan, when I visited Mr. Mario Kinel in his appartment in Zagreb (Mr. Kinel was a well known pop-music composer andtranslator; he even translated Vu plavem trnaci into Italian and German).Of course, out of Japanese verses I understood only -Marijana. Marijana is also very popular in Czechia. It was included in both Croatianoriginal and Czech translation into the book "Svetove Evergreeny"(World's Evergreens), published in Prague in 2000(Petr Jansky - MUSIC CHEB).IT WOULD BE OF INTEREST TO LISTEN TO "MARIJANA" INJAPANESE ON THE WEB...http://www.croatianhistory.net/etf/akordi.html#fal =====================================Among Croatian Latinists and writers in Croatian acentral place is occupied by Marko Marulic, who is the"father of Croatian literature" (born in Split, 1450-1524). He was the most famousspiritual writer of his time in Europe, and also the first who defined andused the notion of `psychology', which is today incurrent use. His book De institutione bene vivendi (six volumes, 64chapters), published in Venice in 1506, had fifteeneditions until 1686 and was translated from Latin intoItalian, German (five editions between 1583 and 1614, all inKÃln, in parts already in 1568), French (7 editions, the first in 1585), Japanese (in parts, 1585) Portuguese and Czech, altogether 40 editions. It is well known that St.Francis Xaver had taken only two books on his long pilgrimage to the East(India, Japan and China): the Bible and De institutione. Furthermore, in his testament St. Francis Xaver asked that Marulic'sbook be burried with him. Therefore we may conclude that Marulic was a spiritual father of St. Francis Xaver. St. Francis Xaver's personal sample of Marulic's bookwas kept in Madrid in a collection of valuables until1937, when it had dissapeared. St. Ignazio Loyolaincluded De Insitutione into the list of basicreferences for the formation of Jesuits. Marulic left us many beautiful verses and the epicpoem Judita written in the Croatian language, forwhich he sais expressly to be written in the Croatian verses (versi harvatski). Some of hisoriginal verses are held in Glasgow (GB). His Judithwas translated into English, Hungarian, French,Italian, and some parts into Spanish. Marulictranslated from Latin into Croatian the famous "De imitatione Christi"by Thoma de Kempis. The original Marulic's manuscript of "De institutionebene vivendi" has been stolen from the CroatianNational Library in Zagreb around 1980. Any information about this would be appreciated. According to investigations of a French specialistCharles BÃnÃ, Marulic's texts have been usedextensively by Thomas More and Henry VIII. It is known that Marulic's "Evangelistarium" that wasread by Henry VIII bears many comments by the King. Itis considered that two of the king's three literaryworks were written under the influence of MarkoMarulic. Marulic's poem "Carmen de Doctrina Domini Nostri JesuChristi pendentis in cruce" was translated intoEnglish as "A Dialogue betwext a Christian and Christ hanging on the Crosse" by Philip Howard,Earl of Arundel (1557-1595). According to C. Verdiani, Marulic is also the authorof the Florence Codex, which contains a biography ofSt Jerome written in the Croatian language. There hewrote "St Jerome is our Dalmatian, a glory, honour and fame,and brilliant crown of the Croatian language". In Croatian: Jerolim je nass Dalmatin, on je dika,posstenje i slava i svitla kruna hrvatskoga jezika. Itis worth mentioning that preserved manuscripts of Marko Marulic show that he also usedthe cursive glagolitic script. Marko Marulic sent a dramatic letter to the PopeHadrian VI, describing an extremely tragic position ofthe Croats threatened by the onslaughts of the Ottoman Empire and asking for help. His books were known not only in the whole of Europe,but also in Japan (in the 16th century) and SouthAmerica. For example, parts of De institutione bene vivendi were translated into Japanese already in 1585. When St. Francis Xaver arrived to Kogoshima in Japanin 1549, he also brought Marulic's "De insitutionebene vivendi". According to bishop Hamao from Yokohama, president of Japanese Bishop's Conference and of Asian Caritas, the formation of earliest JapaneseChristians had been very probably based on the spirituality of Marulic.See here (in Croatian). It is interesting that in Berlin a monument of MarkoMarulic was set up in 2000. In the Library ofCongress, Washington, a symposium was held devoted tohis work.IT WOULD BE OF GREAT INTEREST TO HAVE A PHOTO OF THEFRONT PAGE OF MARULIC'S BOOK PUBLISHED IN JAPAN IN1585.http://www.croatianhistory.net/etf/lat.html#maru =====================================Anthony Maglica, holder of hundreds of patents andtrademarks, founded Mag Instrument, Inc, in LosAngeles in 1955, and designed Mag-Lite flashlight,which is now an American product icon, among 100 topproducts that "America makes best". The Maglite products havebeen honored by the Japan Institute of Design and theMuseum for Applied Art in Germany. Mag Instrument donated thousands of flashlights to aid inthe rescue efforts at the World Trade Center andPentagon in 2001. Born in New York, and as a child raised in Croatia, Tony Maglica has plenty ofother interests which include also Zlarin, Croatia,where he grew up.http://www.croatianhistory.net/etf/et22.html#maglica =====================================The SUVAG center for voice transmission forreeducation of speach disorders and deafness has beenfounded in Zagreb in 1961 by Academician Petar Guberina (1913-2005). The name of SUVAG iscoined from Systeme Universel Verbotonal d'Audition Guberina.His books were translated into many languages,including Arabic and Japanese. In France, he was awarded the Legion of Honour: Knighthood in 1968, the Officer’s Cross in 1989, whichhe was awarded in main quadrangle of the Sorbonne in Paris.http://www.croatianhistory.net/etf/et22.html#gub =====================================Danilo Blanusa (1903-1987), Croatian mathematician,professor at the University of Zagreb, was born in Osijek. Hediscovered a mistake in relations for absolute heat Qand temperature T in relativistic phenomenological thermodynamics, published by Max Planck in Annalen der Physik in 1908.This result that he published in Glasnik mat.-fiz iastr., 2/1947 in his article "Sur les paradoxes de la notion d'Ãnergie",was rediscovered 13 years later by Heinrich Ott, andpublished in "Zeitschrift fÃr Physik" in 1963. It is already time to correct wrong attributionof this discovery to Heinrich Ott in the scientificliterature, since Blanusa's priority is indisputable. Blanusa's most important work is related to isometricimmersions of two-dimensional Lobacevski plane intosix-dimensional Euclidean space and generalizations.This result is included in authoritative Japanese mathematical encyclopediaSugaku jiten published by Iwanami shoten, Tokyo, 1962,p. 612. His work about imbeddings of hyperbolic spaces into Euclidean spaces has been citedin 1956 by John Nash (well known mathematician, Nobelprize for economy; Blanusa is cited in his paper "The imbedding problem for Riemannianmanifolds", Annals of Mathematics, Vol 63, No. 1, 1956, pp. 20-63).http://www.croatianhistory.net/etf/et22.html#blanusa =====================================The Baroque art in the Croatian north is described bya famous Japanese photographer [Keiichi Tahara]:Quand un ami franÃaise m'a conseillà d'aller voir lesÃglises baroques en Croatie...je n'ai pratiquementrien trouvà sur ce sujet. Cela m'a paru Ãtrange, etj'ai cÃdà à la tentation... Keiichi Tahara: Les Anges de Croatie, Ãd. Assouline,Paris, 1995 (Baroque art of the Croatian north),translated into Croatian under the title Pamcenjeandjela, Nakladni zavod Globus, Zagreb, 1996, http://www.croatianhistory.net/etf/art.html#rang =====================================Ivan Rabuzin (1919) - designed a curtain decoratingthe stage of one of the best Kyoto theaters (Japan),as well as the Takarazuka theatre in Tokyo (10.5 x 24m, 1980), and several other museums in Japan: SategayaArt Museum in Tokyo, Saitama Museum of Modern Art inUrawa, Isetan. He also had exhibitions at Daimaru andShinsabashi in Osaka. Since 1976 his designs are usedby "Rosenthal", renowned producer of procelain ware.He is also a member of the Croatian Parliament(Sabor). It is interesting that Rabuzin's father was aminer, while his mother was blind. His art was exhibited throughout the world: Zagreb,Paris, Antibes, Zurich, Milano, USA (Louisiana,Smithsonian Institution, Carnegie Insitute Museum ofArt, Scottsdale Center for the Arts, Milwaukee MuseumArt Center, Chicago Public Library, C.W. Post ArtGalery/Long Island University, Pittsburgh), Oslo,Munich, Dusseldorf, Amsterdam, Verona, Brescia,Florence, Tokyo, Osaka, Geneva, Cologne, London, etc.Several films have been made about Rabuzin's work,including one in Japan (Moritani Shiro, Kyoto). Amonognumerous monographs devoted to his work we mentiononly the following one: Masayoshi Honme, Ivan Rabuzin/ Taiji Harada, 1990, published by Kodanasha, Japan. http://www.croatianhistory.net/etf/art.html#lack =====================================If we measure the quality (and popularity) of haikupoetry by a number of international prizes, thenCroatia can be ranked very high: immediately afterJapan and the USA (1993, 1995). This is due tocontinuous efforts and enthusiasm of Vladimir DevidÃ,a well known Croatian mathematician and japanologist.He obtained a prestigeous Japanese ``Order of SacredTreasure'' - Konsantà ZuihoshÃ. Here is his haikurelated to the aggression on Croatia written in 1991: A small pool of blood -Chilled in air raid: little girland her huge doll In the burned-out villagea wounded stray dogsniffing charred bones The unique beauty of Croatian landscape is offerend bythe magnificant mountain of Velebit, and the famousPrimosten vineyards, where folk builders used drystonewalls to protect every handful of soil from beingwashed away from the arid rocky terrain. Thus anamazing rocky lace of Primosten has been obtain overthe centuries, whose large sized photo can be seeninside the building of United Nations in New York. Itis not surprising that Velebit's Endemic Garden andVineyard from Primosten have won the gold medal atJapan Flora 2000 international exhibition of gardenarrangmenents. The exhibition in 2000 was held onAwaji islands near Kyoto, with participation of 60countries. http://www.croatianhistory.net/etf/art.html#haiku =====================================Charles Billich is outstanding Croatian painter bornin 1934 in the town of Lovran in Istria, and since1956 working in Australia. He has permanent exhibitionof his works at Hakane Museum in Tokyo since 1997, andwas designated the official artist of the AustralianOlypic team for Olympic Games in Sydney in 2000. Ilike his Canberra cantata. In 1998 Charles Billichcompleted his series of Bleiburg paintings. He waselected the official painter of Australian and the USAnational teams at Olympic Games in Greece, 2004. In2004 he was elected the Official Artiest of the 2008Bejing Olympiad. Laurate of the Milan & Spoleto Award,Italy, in 1989. His most famous galeries are BillichGallery in Sydney (100 George Street), Australia, andFortezza Gallery in the lovely town of Lovran,Croatia. In 2004 he had the exhibition of some ofimportant Croatian contributions to science, held inthe building of United Nations in New York (portraitsof Faust Vrancic, David Schwartz, Lupis Vukic,Slavoljub Penkala, Josip Vucetic, Nikola Tesla, MarinGetaldic, Rudjer Boskovic, Marco Polo, AndrijaMohorovicic, Spiridion Brusina, Lavoslav Ruzicka, alsoCroatian cravate, and an oil representing one of trulypainful Croatian themes from the period 1945-1948immediately after the WW2: Bleiburg). He wascommisioned to paint East Timor's officialindependence painting. He presented a pinting to popeJohn Paul II.Charles Billich Collections (incomplete): The Vatican Collection The Parliament of Japan The Royal Collection of Thailand The City of Rijeka, Croatia The Town of Lovran, Croatia The City of Orebic (Franciscan Monastery: The Way ofthe Cross), Croatia Embassy of Croatia, Canberra, Australia City of DÃsseldorf The City of Osaka, Japan The City of Sydney, Australia State Theater, Sydney, Australia The City of Melbourne, Australia United States Sports Academy New York State Govt. Port Authority Hall of Congress, Washington D.C., USA Internatinal Olympic Museum, Lausanne, Switzerland QinShiHuang BingMa Yong Museum, X'ian, China ...http://www.croatianhistory.net/etf/art.html#bilich =====================================The name of Croatian sportsman Mirko Filipovic Crocopis well known in Japan.http://www.croatianhistory.net/etf/sport.html#mirko =====================================This for sure is not everything that can be said aboutJapanese-Croatian cultural relations.However, already this is indeed impressive.Let us mention that there exist Japanese-Croatiancultural societies both in Japan and Croatia.Collected for the readers of CROWN, under theinitiative of Nenad Bach, byDarko Zubrinic, Zagrebwww.croatianhistory.net ÂOp-edAll of this above you can find onwww.croatianhistory.net/etf/japan.html Bravo Darko, your work is fantastic, inspiring and of national value.Supportwww.croatianhistory.net , a future encyclopedia.NB letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Thu, 21 Jul 2005 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/6242/1/E-Montenegro-ready-to-pay-Croatia-war-reparations.html ÂMontenegro ready to pay Croatia war reparations www.chinaview.cn 2005-07-19 02:05:38 BELGRADE, Serbia-Montenegro, July 19 (Xinhuanet) -- Montenegrin Finance Minister Igor Luksic said on Tuesday that Montenegro was ready to pay reparations to Croatia for war damages inflicted in 1991, said reports reaching here from Podgorica. "Montenegro has money in the budget reserves and can face paying reparations to Croatia if it should be agreed that it happens this year," Luksic was quoted by the official Tanjug news agency as saying. Both Montenegro and Croatia were republics of the former Yugoslav federation, which was disintegrated in 1991 into four countries resulting in wars between republics. Earlier in July, visiting Croatian President Stjepan Mesic saidin Podgorica that Montenegro would pay reparations for damage caused to Konavli, Croatia, in the wartime 1991, which would amount to some 100 million euros. "An agreement has been reached on the issue of reparations for Konavli and I think that it is now only a matter of time when (theagreement) will be realized," Mesic said. However, the agreement has met with resistance from Montenegrinopposition parties, which cited the tight budget. Besides, two Serb parties in Podgorica demanded Croatia pay compensation to Serb refugees from Croatia's Krajina. Luksic dismissed a possibility of a budget blockade if an agreement is reached with Croatia that Montenegro pays war reparations by the end of the year. He said that the Montenegrin and Croatian leaderships would soon reach a political deal and sign an agreement on war reparations. Enditem http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2005-07/19/content_3241386.htm letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Tue, 19 Jul 2005 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/6243/1/E-Justice-At-Last.html ÂJustice At Last?Embassy, July 13th, 2005COLUMNBy Gwynne DyerSrebrenica: Justice At Last?Sometimes diplomats can be very stupid. Right through late June and early July, British diplomats in the Balkans pushed the notion that the July 11 commemoration of the massacre of almost 8,000 Muslim men and boys by Serbian and Bosnian Serb troops at Srebrenica 10 years ago was an ideal opportunity for everybody there, including Serbian, Croatian and Bosnian Muslim leaders, to issue a joint declaration of "reconciliation and apology." To their surprise, the victims didn't think this was such a good idea. What happened at Srebrenica on July 11, 1995 was an act of genocide, carried out with meticulous attention to detail by Serbian and Bosnian Serb troops after the Dutch military force that was supposed to defend the UN-declared "safe area" delivered almost the entire Muslim population of the town into their hands without a fight. Neither Muslims nor Croatians had any reason to apologise for the horrors at Srebrenica. It is the Serbs and the Dutch who need to apologise -- but most Serbs are still in deep denial. In recent weeks, both the Serbian parliament in Belgrade and the Serbian caucus in the Bosnian parliament have refused to adopt or voted down proposed declarations that would have denounced the Srebrenica massacre. Somebody even planted two very powerful bombs near the memorial centre in Srebrenica, although they were discovered and disarmed in time. The reformist Serbian president, Boris Tadic, insisted on showing up for the ceremony, but his presence was condemned equally by Muslim survivors and by his own fellow Serbs. Forgiveness and reconciliation must happen one day, but it cannot even get onto the agenda while the chief organisers of the Srebrenica genocide, former Bosnian Serb political leader Radovan Karadzic and his military chief General Ratko Mladic, are still free and still seen as heroes by many other Serbs. Both men have technically been on the run since NATO forces imposed a ceasefire and a kind of UN trusteeship on Bosnia in 1995, but they moved freely around Serbia until their patron, Serbian president Slobodan Milosevic, was overthrown and delivered into the hands of the UN in 2001. Even now, they are hidden and protected by many willing Serbs. Although they were both indicted for genocide, war crimes, and crimes against humanity by the UN war crimes tribunal in The Hague 10 years ago, they have thumbed their noses at international law for a decade because NATO troops either couldn't find them, or didn't try to break through their rings of bodyguards and arrest them because the casualties would be too high. Now, however, the tectonic plates are finally beginning to shift in the geographical space that used to be Yugoslavia -- now splintered into Slovenia, Croatia, Serbia-Montenegro, Bosnia-Herzegovina, F.Y.R. Macedonia and Kosovo -- because the European Union has finally started to use its leverage. It's more carrot than stick: the real inducement for these countries to turn themselves into law-abiding democracies is that they have been led to believe that they might then qualify for EU membership, with all the prosperity and security that that would imply. But law-abiding democracies hand over indicted war criminals to international courts when requested to do so, so suddenly the mass murderers who carried out atrocious acts of "ethnic cleansing" become a liability for the governments that had hitherto been protecting them as war heroes. In 1998, five years after the war crimes tribunal was created the detention centre in The Hague only held five inmates. Now there are 62 detainees, including a former president, a former prime minister, a former defence minister and a former interior minister. Eighteen more are out on bail pending trial, and 56 others have already been convicted and moved to other prisons to serve their sentences. "This is without doubt the most active and productive period in the life of the tribunal thus far," Judge Theodor Meron, president of the tribunal, wrote to the UN Security Council last month. Twenty men, some of them very senior officials, have surrendered to the tribunal in the past six months, cutting the list of those still wanted to only 10. The missing 10 still include the biggest fish -- Karadzic and Mladic. The EU's refusal to continue with Croatia's entrance negotiations has transformed Zagreb's willingness to cooperate with the tribunal. Its refusal even to open talks with Serbia-Montenegro until Belgrade stopped stalling has had a similar result: In April General Nebojsa Pavkovic, former head of the Serbian army, surrendered himself in The Hague. There is suspicion that his and other recent wave of "surrenders" was eased by large cash payments by the Serbian government to the families of the indicted men, but the point is that it is actually happening at last. There is even hope that Karadzic and Mladic may soon be delivered to the tribunal. On July 7 Karadzic's son Aleksandar (Sasa) was suddenly arrested by NATO troops in the Bosnian Serb town of Pale, his father's former capital, and taken away for questioning. Nothing will bring the victims of the genocide back to life, but the hunt is closing in on the killers. http://www.embassymag.ca/html/index.php?display=story&full_path=/2005/july/13/dyer/  letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Sat, 16 Jul 2005 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/6244/1/E-Srebrenica-by-Courtney-Angela-Brkic-in-The-New-York-Times.html ÂSrebrenicaDear All,The New York Times today printed my editorial on Srebrenica. You can follow the link to see it, and I'm also pasting it at the bottom of this message.With best wishes to everyone,Courtney Angela'At the end of the Second World War, Allied troops forced German citizens to walk through Nazi death camps. They were confronted by crimes committed in their name, in order to ensure that those crimes could not be denied or minimized later. The people of Serbia and Montenegro, by contrast, have never been forced to acknowledge the crimes committed in their name.'Op-Ed ContributorThe Wages of DenialBy COURTNEY ANGELA BRKICPublished: July 11, 2005WashingtonTEN years ago this week, Serbian forces slaughtered more than 7,000 Muslim men in the eastern Bosnian town of Srebrenica. Despite the efforts of a dedicated few in Serbia, and despite the war crimes prosecutions at The Hague, Serbia is no closer today than it was a decade ago to reckoning with its war guilt.For years Belgrade has denied involvement by its citizens in Srebrenica and other massacres of the 1990s. The recent broadcast of a graphic video that showed Serbian paramilitary police executing six young men from Srebrenica should have made it very hard to sustain that revisionism. Amazing as it seems, however, the video was not enough to shatter what Serbian human rights activist Sonja Biserko has described as the country's "state of collective denial."Fewer than half of Serbs polled last spring believed the Srebrenica massacre took place. And while much has been made of the video's effects on a shocked Serbian public, it remains to be seen where that public will stand once the furor recedes. The Radical Party, which won 27 percent of the popular vote in the last national elections, making it the largest party in Parliament, has already criticized what it sees as the anti-Serb hysteria that "wishes at all costs to put the burden of all crimes on Serbia." Graffiti has appeared in several cities praising the "liberation" of Srebrenica. Rumors circulate that the video was doctored, or that the men committing the crimes were acting independently.Instead of coming to terms with its past, Serbia has circumvented the issue with the narrative skills befitting a psychopath. For example, a debate on Srebrenica at the Belgrade Law Faculty earlier this year was initially titled "10 Years After the Liberation of Srebrenica." In response to the video, Serbia's president, Boris Tadic, said, "Serbia is deeply shocked" that "the killers had walked freely among us." But Mr. Tadic's government surely knows that the killers in the video are but a small fraction of the number who continue to walk the streets of Serbia and Montenegro as free men.A fairy tale has passed for public memory until now in Serbia and Montenegro and it is conspicuous in its omission of Serb atrocities in Croatia, Bosnia-Herzegovina and Kosovo, which left hundreds of thousands dead. The Serbian version of that history denies the fact that President Slobodan Milosevic of Yugoslavia and those like him enjoyed overwhelming popular support in Serbia during the war, despite the evictions, rapes and unchecked slaughter by Yugoslav troops and irregulars. It suggests that Belgrade today has nothing to do with Belgrade as it was 10 years ago. It aims at an absurd relativism, placing Serbian atrocities within the context of crimes committed by other ethnicities (in fact, the C.I.A. has reported that Serbs were responsible for 90 percent of all atrocities committed in Bosnia). Mr. Tadic was quoted as saying, "Crimes are always individual." All of this is fiction.At the end of the Second World War, Allied troops forced German citizens to walk through Nazi death camps. They were confronted by crimes committed in their name, in order to ensure that those crimes could not be denied or minimized later. The people of Serbia and Montenegro, by contrast, have never been forced to acknowledge the crimes committed in their name.There are those who refuse to whitewash Serbia's recent past. The Helsinki Human Rights Committee in Serbia and the independent broadcaster Radio B92 are admirable examples. People like Natasa Kandic, chairwoman of the Humanitarian Law Center in Belgrade, have spent years fighting for the truth, often at great personal risk. Extremists threatened to lynch Ms. Kandic at the law school debate on Srebrenica, and one of them spat in her face.Eight of Serbia's human rights groups have drafted a declaration on Srebrenica that would obligate the country's government to confess to the massacre and to "expose and punish any ideological justification of crime." But the daily newspaper Blic reported that the majority of parties in Serbia's Parliament refused not only to endorse the declaration but also to debate it.Serbia must relinquish the fairy tale that its own wartime suffering was equivalent to the devastation it visited on others. Adopting an honest declaration on Srebrenica would have been an important first step, and the Serbian Parliament should have taken it. For as long as Serbia's people deny complicity in war crimes, they undercut any hope for justice and cheat their country out of any decent future. The Western aid money that has poured into Serbia may help rebuild the country's infrastructure, but it will do nothing to cut out the cancer that riddles the country's heart.Western governments are anxious for reconciliation in the Balkans, which would ensure future stability in the region. They are pushing hard for the arrests of people like Radovan Karadzic, the architect of the genocide, and Ratko Mladic, who carried it out, and they lauded the speed with which the Serbian government detained those suspected of being the killers shown on the video. But those arrests will not be nearly enough.Such men were not exceptions, nor were they acting independently, and Serbia must acknowledge this truth, rather than denying or minimizing it. That means surrendering all war crimes suspects to The Hague and paying reparations to the victims of war. The West should ask for no less than this when it considers Serbian requests for aid.Courtney Angela Brkic is the author of "Stillness: And Other Stories" and "The Stone Fields," an account of her work excavating mass graves outside Srebrenica.http://www.nytimes.com/2005/07/11/opinion/11Brkic.html  letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Mon, 11 Jul 2005 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/6246/1/E-White-House-and-Sibenik-Croatia-have-things-in-common.html Â'White House and our Gimnazija that are made of that same brilliantly white stone from island Brac in Dalmatia my faraway homeland Croatia.'ÂHi all,The author is a female civil engineer; lives in New Zealand. Regards,Branko PadjenBACKGROUND STORYQuite often, I see in the newspapers photos of the White House in Washington DC. It is a symbol of power and freedom to everyone, a sort of a guarantee, a promise of a better life for all the people. But most of all, I am fascinated by the whiteness of the stone it is made of.What is interesting is that my old grammar school in my hometown of Sibenik is made of exactly the same stone as the White House.But to me, our old grammar school "Gimnazija" is much more than just an old school. My father went to "Gimnazija". When I turned six, I started my first proper school classes in that old building. When I was eighteen, my grammar school graduation was held in that very building - to me, the most beautiful in the whole wide world - my "Gimnazija".Years went by, my life continued far away from my homeland. One day I saw on TV terrible photos of Manhattan. Destruction of innocent human lives, their work, hopes and dreams. I remembered then, how my daughter as a determined and feisty little girl used to watch every day on TV shows, serials and movies about America, New York, Manhattan. It was her dream then to go and live there on Manhattan when she grows up. She "decided" to have her own jewelry shop, "mostly diamonds of course" as she liked to say. It cheered me a great deal to hear my little girl talking about her "great life plans".-As a -teenager she too went to Gimnazija and then she learned that this building was made of that same stone as the White House in the country of her dreams where she were one day "to have her jewelry shop". September 11th hit hard, I was most deeply hurt because of all those innocent people and also that feeling that somebody had just swept away all those beautiful dreams about new greater life that my little girl had. That day I felt an even stronger bond between the powerful White House and our Gimnazija that are made of that same brilliantly white stone from island Brac in Dalmatia my faraway homeland Croatia.Copyright. 2002 All rights reserved http://www.thelinkcompany.com/travel%20background%20story.htm  letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Sun, 10 Jul 2005 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/6245/1/E-Montenegro-Willing-To-Pay-War-Damages-To-Croatia.html ÂMontenegro Willing To Pay War Damages To Croatia PODGORICA, Serbia-Montenegro (AP)--Montenegro is willing to pay an unidentified sum of money to Croatia for damages inflicted during the 1991 war, Montenegro's President Filip Vujanovic said Friday. Vujanovic spoke after meeting Croatia's Stipe Mesic in the Montenegrin capital, Podgorica, at the end of Mesic's three-day visit to Serbia-Montenegro, the country that has replaced ex-Yugoslavia. The visit was part of efforts to patch up ties after a series of conflicts that followed the bloody breakup of the former Yugoslavia in the early 1990s. Croatia declared independence from the Yugoslav federation in 1991, triggering a rebellion by its minority Serbs. The Yugoslav army bombed Croatia's ancient coastal city of Dubrovnik while its troops and volunteers, including those from Montenegro, moved in and looted the property in the Konavle region, near Dubrovnik. Mesic and Vujanovic did not specify how much Montenegro would pay Croatia in war damages. There was also no immediate reaction from Serbia - the main player in the conflict - with which Montenegro remains tied in a loose union. But Vujanovic's statement reflect a readiness by Montenegrin leaders to acknowledge the role of the Montenegro citizens in the conflict. Mesic said the agreement was mutual and that "it is only a question of time" until Montenegro's payment materialized. "They (Montenegro) cannot return the cattle that were taken from Konavle, or equipment from the (Dubrovnik) airport, but there should be financial compensation," Mesic added. "The inflicted damage is evident, and Montenegro intends to repay it," Vujanovic said. The payment is not related to lawsuits brought by Croatia and Bosnia before the International Court of Justice at The Hague, Netherlands, against Serbia-Montenegro. The suit could lead to a ruling that would include compensation for war damages. Earlier on his visit, Mesic also met with Serbian officials in Belgrade and visited the U.N.-run province of Kosovo, which formally is part of Serbia-Montenegro but has been a U.N. protectorate since 1999. July 08, 2005  letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Sun, 10 Jul 2005 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/6247/1/E-Remembering-Srebrenica.html ÂRemembering Srebrenica Friday, July 08, 2005Source: UN High Commissioner for RefugeesSREBRENICA, Bosnia and Herzegovina, July 8 (UNHCR) â The view from Jasmin Muminovic's home across the Drina River is one of the most spectacularly beautiful panoramas in the Balkans. But the 33-year-old former soldier sees only nightmares.Jasmin was severely wounded while serving as a soldier in the national army in the very early days of a series of wars which ripped apart the old Yugoslav Republic in the 1990s and created a series of new countries.Invalided from the front in the newly declared independent state of Croatia to his native village, he discovered that his own homeland in neighbouring Bosnia and Herzegovina had also plunged into war. Within days, he and nearly 50 fellow Muslims, or Bosniaks, were rounded up by their old neighbours and new enemies, ethnic Bosnian Serb troops.The majority of the Bosniak male prisoners were summarily executed. Jasmin was spared by a fluke of war at the last moment when his captors spotted his old Yugoslav army pack and freed him in a moment of mercy.Further tragedy befell the Muminovic family, however, when Jasmin's brother was killed as the fighting continued. Jasmin eventually ended up defending an obscure village tucked snugly into the hills of eastern Bosnia which would soon become a worldwide symbol of the depravity of the conflict, the emergence of a chilling tactic of war which became known as 'ethnic cleansing,' and the failure of the international community to protect an innocent civilian population despite solemn promises to do just that.Ultimately, the impending catastrophe also hastened the intervention of U.S. and NATO forces, an end to the fighting and the start of attempts to patch the region together again.GenocideSrebrenica entered the world's conscience during its darkest moment. On July 11, 1995, Serb units which had besieged the region for months â an area the U.N. had declared a protected zone â overran the town. Jasmin and thousands of other men escaped through the surrounding forests and hills. After seven days of running a gauntlet of ambushes, feints, hand-to-hand fighting, eating only unripe fruits and leaves along the escape trail, Jasmin reached safety and, as he described it recently, "I escaped from hell to heaven in a few short seconds." Many of his colleagues were cut down in the fighting or were captured and executed.In Srebrencia, women and children and the men who stayed behind fled in panic as the Serbs advanced, down the only road out of town to the headquarters of a battalion of Dutch soldiers who were there obstensibly to protect them. As the outnumbered U.N. blue berets watched haplessly, men and young boys were ruthlessly separated from the females, marched away and subsequently massacred over a five-day period.Nearly 8,000 civilians were slaughtered in the worst atrocity in Europe since World War II. The International War Crimes Tribunal in The Hague last year judged the action as genocide.On Monday, July 11, the town and a chastened international community commemorate the 10th anniversary of the massacre. Some 1,326 victims exhumed from more than 60 mass graves and whose remains were identified by DNA testing have already been buried at a memorial site a few miles down the valley from Srebrenica at a place called Potocari, directly opposite the brooding and abandoned headquarters of the Dutch troops in a former battery factory.A further 610 victims are being buried during the remembrance service on Monday, expected to attract as many as 30,000 people, including surviving wives, daughters and children of the dead men, regional and international diplomats and statesmen.Jasmin will not attend, left instead to brood with his own nightmares at his home, gazing across the Drina into neighbouring Serbia."I dream of dead bodies," he said. "I dream of dead friends, of endless war, of blood, of being hunted down."A tragic symbolSrebrenica is not only a symbol of the Balkans recent blood past, but also a gauge of how much progress, or lack of progress in the eyes of some analysts, has been made since the guns fell silent and the Dayton Peace Accord was initialled 10 years ago this coming November.Physically, the town, a narrow strip of buildings running along a valley floor and surrounded by blood-soaked hills, still has the appearance of a battered ghost town. More than 6,000 buildings were destroyed in the municipality, and many remain gutted.Security has improved, but remains fragile. Only days before the official commemoration, a large amount of explosives and detonators were discovered near to the burial site.Before the war, 37,000 people lived in Srebrenica, 73 percent of them Bosniaks and 23 percent ethnic Serbs. Today, 6,000 Serbs and 4,000 Muslims live there, reflecting both the precipitous drop in the overall population and a major change in its ethnic makeup.Survivors have been painfully slow to return."In 2001 we couldn't help any civilians because there were virtually no returnees to Srebenica to help," according to Udo Janz, the representative of the U.N. refugee agency in Bosnia. "We could count them on one hand."Since then, the pace of return, both to Srebrenica and across Bosnia and Herzegovina, has picked up. Despite setbacks and an uncertain future, Janz insists that "what has happened in Bosnia and Srebrenica is, in many ways, a modest miracle."Following a war in which at least 200,000 persons were killed, 2.2 million made homeless and an entire population deeply traumatized, "more than 1 million people in Bosnia have gone home in the last 10 years, even to a place where genocide took place," he said.Paddy Ashdown, the High Representative of the international community, also used the word 'miracle' to describe an admittedly delicate situation: "The miracle in Bosnia is how much has been done in 10 years," he said. "A sixteenth of the population was killed, more than in France after World War II, half the population made homeless, 90 percent of the buildings destroyed. We have lost touch with how long it takes; healing is always measured in decades."Jasmin Muminovic agrees that reconciliation will take a very, very long time."Not in my lifetime," he said. "Maybe in the lifetime of my grandchildren who will be able to forget what happened."A major roleUNHCR has been involved in the Balkan crisis from its very earliest days. Along with other humanitarian agencies, it was helping as many as 3.5 million people throughout the entire region at the height of the crisis.To feed its citizens, UNHCR launched a 3Â-year airlift into the besieged Bosnian capital of Sarajevo which eventually became the longest-running humanitarian air bridge in history.After the Dayton Peace Accord was initialled on November 21, 1995, the refugee agency began to assist the huge population of civilians who had been uprooted in their own countries or who had fled as refugees to neighbouring states to go home.In September last year, the agency officially announced that more than 1 million uprooted persons had returned to Bosnia, including nearly half a million to regions where they were in a minority and thus both more vulnerable and in need of more assistance and protection.Several hundred thousand other displaced persons permanently settled overseas and dropped off the monitoring screens of agencies such as UNHCR.Across Bosnia, around half of the estimated 500,000 homes damaged or destroyed during the fighting have been repaired, according to Janz, as an estimated $5 billion in international aid flooded into the country.The U.N. refugee agency itself spent an estimated $500 million since Dayton came into effect on housing reconstruction, de-mining programmes, essential infrastructure repair, establishing a legal aid network, the provision of basic humanitarian assistance, and other quick support projects.The number of troops from the United States, Europe and other countries sent to enforce security dropped from a high of 69,000 to a current level of around 7,000 as the overall situation improved.But the situation remains fragile. Nearly 300,000 civilians are still waiting to go home, though Bosnia and neighbouring Croatia and Serbia and Montenegro earlier this year agreed to try to get everyone back to their towns and villages by the end of 2006.UNHCR has been reducing its own presence and programmes for the last several years and will continue to do so.The massive inflow of international aid is steadily declining and the economy is barely limping along. The national unemployment rate is around 40 percent and up to 50 percent of the population live at or below the poverty line."A couple of years ago the overriding issue was security, security, security," Udo Janz said. "Today it is the economy, stupid."The new buzz word in Bosnia is 'sustainability' â whether the gains achieved in the last few years can be maintained in such an unfavorable economic climate or whether the country could begin to backslide.If overall security has improved immeasurably, some 10,000 suspected war criminals remain at large and true closure may never be achieved until at least many of them are called to answer for their crimes.At the Srebrenica memorial, a marble obelisk spells out both a hope and a warning to future generations:May grievance become hopeMay revenge become justiceMay mothers' tears become prayersThat SrebrenicaNever happens againTo no one and nowhereAt the foot of the plinth, a large bunch of red roses lie wilted in the warm summer sunshine.By Ray Wilkinsonin Srebrenicaposted by KosovaReport @ 11:48 AM 1 comments 1 Comments:At 8:27 PM, Anonymous said... I remember Srebrenica, I remember Bosnia, and I remember how Europe stood by. No words for this.http://kosovareport.blogspot.com/2005/07/remembering-srebrenica.html letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Fri, 08 Jul 2005 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/6248/1/E-Record-compensation-to-Norwegian-hostage.html ÂRecord compensation to Norwegian UN veteran6. Juni 2005Several thousand former Norwewgian UN soldiers may now demand compensation for occupational injury, after UN vetweran Paul Smines was awarded compensation in the NOK millions for his traumatic experiences in action.He was among other things held hostage by Serbian soldiers in Croatia, and was first offered a NOK 200,000 compensation.- An insult, Smines said, and took the case to court. In the end a compromise was reached.According to NRK, the veteran received a sum in the NOK millions, which according to the agreement will be kept confidencial. Smines is still troubled by his experiences in the UN service.- During the last 18 months seven of those I formerly served with (in the UN forces) have taken their own lives because they could not stand it any more, he says to NRK.This could open for compensation to more veterans, NRK states.Smines' lawyer, Jon Olav Holvik, says he had had contacts from a large number of UN and NATO veterans who want to claim compensation for occupational injury from the state.(NRK)http://www.norwaypost.no/content.asp?folder_id=1&cluster_id=27867  letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Mon, 06 Jun 2005 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/6249/1/E-The-people-who-saved-US-pilots-did-so-under-tremendous-personal-risk.html  The people who saved aviators did so under tremendous personal riskI would like to share with you the following excerpt from the book "Partizanske veze - Kopno - Otok Krk - Srednjodalmatinski otoci od 1941 do 1945" ["Partisan Ties: Mainland - Krk Island - Mid-Dalmatian Islands From 1941 to 1945], Rijeka: Adamic, 1999. The booklet contains the proceedings of a round table on the topic held on Krk on June 25, 1997.It should be noted that Krk was under Axis occupation - first annexed by Italy in 1941, it came under German military administration in late 1943. This was not Partisan controlled territory so that the actions taken to save Allied pilots was done in a traditional, "underground" manner.One of the individuals mentioned in the following excerpt is Ivo Albaneze from Omisalj, Krk. To give one an idea of the complexity of the war in Croatia, Ivo was a Partisan. His brother, Anton "Toto" Albaneze, is my uncle and was in the Domobrans. Anton survived the Bleiburg death march. Their 3rd brother (who's name I don't recall off hand) fought in both the Domobrans and Partisans and was killed as a Partisan in Bosnia. The following was stated by Ivan Nino Maricic:"If we weren't so good, then today we would not have here with us, after 55 years, the son of a saved American pilot who came to see the place where his father was saved and where he could thank this people. I was a participant in the effort by chance, as was Ivo Albaneze, when this group of seven or eight fell [to earth] here and we transported them out of here. I remember the one without legs, who fell in Gabonjina [on Krk], that Dr. Variola amputed his leg, that he laid down on some blue mattress, that I gave him tea, that we took him to Olib [Island] where a ship, an amphibious craft, came for him and took him further on. A similar situation occurred at Hlama where one soldier fell from a bombardier [the author calls it a "lajting (layting?) bomardier] and the women from Baska draga took him in. He was taken to Baska via the late Ivo Derecinovic,as well as the home of Ivo Volaric, and he was accompanied by Ivo Dorcic, Nino Tic, Dusan Dekanic and Bonefacic who took him to Rab and from Rab he succeeded in getting to Olib. It was because of [helping him] that the Sersic family - Ivan and Marija - ended up in Dachau." [pp. 79-80] [see however below concerning the Sersic family]Franjo Orlic gives some further details, noting that the person who was coming to Krk and specifically to Kornic [near Punat] was David Clied, the son of Henry. According to Orlic, Henry was the commander of a "Flying Fortress" which crashed near Krk. [p. 77].For Brian Gallagher's benefit in the UK, I note that Maksim Blazic, another participant at the roundtable, noted that in Fall 1944 Eugen Domijan from Dramalj (near Crikvenica) led three English paratroopers "to the little port of Vodna from where they were taken to Vis Island via Krk." [p. 24]Marijan Lindaric remembered the following: "In the western area of Krk English and American pilots came to the ground who were saved and taken care of and whose safe return to their bases was organized by our people. It must be stated that this was a difficult task as many of them were injured. Saving eight aviators from the sea, whose craft fell in the water between Krk and Cres, was an especially dangerous task as it took place during the day. The injured were taken to the Dobrinj area [on Krk] by hand. Ivan Zec, Ivan Jurasic, Nikola Marulic, Kuzam Franolic, Josip Lindaric, Petar Kosic and many others participated in these actions." [p. 39]I note that Maricic's story concerning the Sersic family on Rab may have resulted from some confusion on his part. According to Orfeo Ticac's article in Zbornik drugog pomorskog obalnog sektora Mornarice NOVJ, Rijeka, 1975, Ticac discusses the Sersic family's role in protecting American intelligence officers. These three men were sent to Rab sometime in early 1944. He was on Vis and he accompanied three American intelligence officers ("of Yugoslav descent," according to Ticac) to Rab. There they established a radio relay station with their headquarters in Italy. However, in March 1944 the Germans occupied the island and the work of the station came to an end. The Americans were hidden in the Sersic home and ultimately taken to safety. However, a German raid on the house uncovered certain material which the Americans were not able to take with them. Ivan and Franka Sersic were arrested and taken to Dachau where they survived. [pp. 62-63].The people who saved these aviators did so under tremendous personal risk. Unlike the Chetniks, they did not collaborate with the Nazis while saving pilots. I am sure we can find hundreds of examples of like actions taken by ordinary Croats during the War.John Kraljic  letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Fri, 20 May 2005 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/6250/1/H-BLEIBURG-JE-MJESTO-PLANSKIH-EGZEKUCIJA.html   BLEIBURG JE MJESTO PLANSKIH EGZEKUCIJABLEIBURG, 14. svibnja 2005. (Hina) - Predsjednik Hrvatskog sabora Vladimir Seks rekao je u subotu u Bleiburgu, na sredisnjoj komemoraciji u povodu 60. godisnjice bleiburske tragedije, da je to mjesto planski smisljenih egzekucija tisuca ljudi.Nasa je obveza nositi sjecanja na neduzne zrtve krvavoga hrvatskog proljeca 1945. godine, rekao je Seks, dodajuci kako treba utvrditi istinu o svim ratnim stradalnicima.Predsjednik Sabora, pod cijim se pokroviteljstvom obiljezava spomen-dan na bleiburske zrtve i zrtve Kriznoga puta, takoder je istaknuo kako se nece dopustiti kriminalizacija akcija Bljeska i Oluje, sto su mnogobrojni nazocni popratili uzvicima: "Ante, Ante!"Vrhbosanski nadbiskup, kardinal Vinko Puljic pozvao je na komemoraciji da se prestane manipulirati zrtvama.U propovijedi na misi u spomen na sve zrtve kardinal Vinko Puljic je porucio: "Prestanite s dvostrukim mjerilima u postivanju zrtve!" Istaknuo je kako zrtvama "ne zelimo stvarati ni mitologiju ni ideologiju", te je pozvao Hrvate da, bez obzira na granice, imaju srca jedni za druge.Kao hrvatski narod, moramo postivati svoje svetinje, istaknuo je, dodajuci da svaki narod ima pravo na svoj jezik, povijest i kulturu.Predsjednik Mesihata Islamske zajednice u Hrvatskoj Sevko Omerbasic pozvao je nazocne na prastanje, a Aziz efendija Halili molio se za zrtve islamske vjere.Predstavnik parlamenta Skupstine BiH Vinko Zoric tom je prigodom rekao kako "krvava istina iz nase povijesti treba biti ugradena u temelje nase drzave".Prije pocetka svete mise kardinal Vinko Puljic blagoslovio je novi spomenik bleiburskim zrtvama na mjestu tragedije.Idejno rjesenje spomenika dao je hrvatski kipar Stipe Sikirica.(Hina)Sveta misa zadusnica i komemorativna akademija odrzana je sinoc u Hrvatskom Katolickom Centru Duha Svetoga u Springvaleu, Victorija, Australija, u nazocnosti gotovo 300 Hrvatice i Hrvata koji su zajedno odali pocast zrtvama Bleiburske tragedije prigodom 60. obljetnice te iste tragedije. Opsirnije izvjesce u tijeku. - ur. M.B.    letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Sat, 14 May 2005 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/6251/1/E-Storm-is-a-brilliant-historical-military-and-police-operation.html   Storm is a brilliant historical military and police operation that we can be proud of, the operation which liberated central parts of the occupied Croatia, "And nobody will qualify Storm otherwise," Sanader said. CROATIA: Sanader- ICTY Prosecution Is Crossing the Line 2005-05-11 15:00:34 Ivo Sanader Prime Minister Ivo Sanader on Tuesday called on the Croatian public not to be alarmed at the proposal of the ICTY Prosecution to amend the indictment against General Mladen Markac and Ivan Cermak and added that "the more absurd the indictment is the easier will it be to contest it". The accusations are truly absurd, the PM said. We should not be alarmed at it, the more absurd the indictment is the easier will it be to contest it, said Sanader who is convinced that the final outcome in the assessment of Operation Storm would be absolutely positive. "I am a little concerned with the nervousness of the Prosecution which, lacking evidence, is crossing the line which has not been crossed before, namely it qualified Storm Operation, which has undoubtedly been a legitimate Croatian operation, as a criminal enterprise," the PM said. Storm is a brilliant historical military and police operation that we can be proud of, the operation which liberated central parts of the occupied Croatia, Sanader said. "And nobody will qualify Storm otherwise," he said. The prime minister said that such indictments and qualifications of Storm were contrary to the 1994 Declaration of the UN General Assembly which clearly states that those were the occupied parts of Croatia. In accordance with that if a sovereign country is occupied it has the right to liberate its territory, Sanader said. In connection with the proposal to expand the indictment against Markac and Cermak, Sanader reiterated that Croatia would fully cooperated with the UN war crimes tribunal adding that cooperation with the ICTY was Croatia's obligation under the Constitutional law and the country's international obligation. Source: Hina News Agency http://www.seeurope.net/en/Story.php?StoryID=55385&LangID=1   letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Wed, 11 May 2005 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/6257/1/E-Croatian-Antifascist-Movement-in-Istria.html ÂCroatian Antifascist Movement in IstriaHow the Yugoslav Communists Suppressed the Croatian Antifascist Movement in IstriaSent: Thursday, March 10, 2005 3:38 PMSubject: Re: Miller & IstriaI wanted to respond to Rudi Arapovic's comments to give one an idea of what I meant by pointing out the positive.Unfortunately, WWII history in Croatia has been and to a great extent continues to be ideologized and remains an issue of political contention till today. The Communists basically take and took all credit for the anti-Nazi and anti-Fascist struggle in Croatia.An excellent example is what occurred in Istria in Sept 1943 when Italy capitulated. The Communist Party of Croatia (KPH) had sent some representatives to Istria in an attempt to build support for the Partisan movement. However, in mid-1943 there were only 25 KPH members in all of Istria and there were no organized Partisan units whatsoever. There were also several dozen sympathizers. Ethnic Italian communists at the time did not support the Partisans or the KPH - they viewed the movement as overly nationalist and believed that communists should be working on a revolution in the cities rather than in the countryside.Despite the literal handful of KPH members in Istria, within several days of Italy's capitulation, the Croatian people in Istria, in a mass uprising that I do not believe can be compared to anything else in Europe, took over the entire peninsula - only Pula, Trieste and the eastern portion of Rijeka remained outside of their control.The KPH members themselves recognized at the time in contemporary documents that this uprising caught them by complete surprise and got away from their control. Using a Leninist phrase, they admitted that they found themselves in the "tail" of the movement.On Sept 13 members of the District National Liberation Committee for Istria issued the so-called Pazin Declaration (Pazinska odluka) where they declared the union of Istria with its homeland, Croatia (YU was not mentioned at all). People such as Berto Crnja and Dusan Diminic write in their memoirs of the nationalist euphoria which enveloped Istria at the time. They note that Croatian flags (not YU flags) were found everywhere. Diminic writes that he and a collegue went to visit one prominent priest (Zvonko Brumnic) who was so delighted that he invited them into his home where he played Lijepa nasa on his piano. Diminic or Crnja (can't remember which off hand) note that people in Pazin wrote graffiti on locomotives which said Zivili Nasi Domobrani, the writers noting that this showed that the people in Istria remained more or less unaware of the political differences which divided Croats in Croatia proper.Later in September a meeting of Communists and prominent non-Communist Croats from Istria met in Pazin and constituted themselves as the Provincial National Liberation Committee of Istria. Significantly, four Croatian priests were among the delegates - one of them was Josip Pavlisic, who currently is the retired Archbishop of Rijeka! At the meeting a number of resolutions were adopted including repealing all Italian fascist laws, calling for the removal from Istria of Italians sent to colonize Istria after 1918 and calling for the re-introduction of Croatian (not "Serbo-Croatian") in all churches in Istria.The three weeks of freedom and euphoria came to an end in early October when Germans launched an offensive in Istria. The newly constituted Partisan units in Istria were destroyed and an estimated 5,000 people were killed in Istria by the Germans in the next several months alone. German repressive activities continued throughout the rest of the war - in May 1944, for ex., the Germans executed over 250 people in the village of Lipa (near the border with Slovenia at Rupa). Another massacre occurred in Tinjan in western Istria where about 80 people were executed in one day. Hundreds of Croat Istrians were taken to concentration camps in Germany as well as the so-called Risseria camp in Trieste (the only one in Italy that had a crematoria). I encourage anyone driving thru the interior of Istria to take a couple of moments to look at the local "Partisan" monuments - most of the people listed were killed in 1943 or '44. More importantly, in light of the small number of KPH members in Istria at the time, there is little doubt that those listed were non-Communist civilians.During the last 2 years of the war the KPH gained its bearings in Istria and began to impose its ideological views. The support that probably all Croats in Istria gave to the anti-fascist movement began to dissipate in the face of Communist stupidity. An example of this was the relations between the KPH and Croatian priests in Istria which took a 180 degree turn as the KPH began to attack a number of prominent priests (such as Bozo Milanovic). The ultimate end of the war saw the now Yugoslav Army enter Istria in late April 1945.My point in this story is that what occurred in Istria in Sept 1943 (and indeed what probably occurred in Split at the same time) was not a Communist led uprising but a popular revolt against a regime which engaged in the open ethnic elimination of Croats and all things Croatian (e.g., the Italians removed the Ninski statue when they came to Split in '43; the well-known ban on the use of Croatian names and language in Istria since the mid-1920s, etc.). That the Communists were able to take over the leadership of the revolt is due to the fact that there were no other organized political parties or organizations in Istria as a result of the fascist regime's policies (the NDH attempted to send emissaries to Istria but their attempts were thwarted by the Germans who put Istria and the Kvarner under their direct control). They could only be opposed by the Church and as noted above the initial alliance forged with local priests came to a quick end. We should not allow the Communists to claim this truly remarkable story as something of their own doing - it wasn't. It was the doing of those Croatian patriots who remained in Istria throughout Italian rule and surreptitiously kept alive among the local people the desire to join their motherland and to destroy fascism at the same time.John Kraljic letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Mon, 09 May 2005 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/6256/1/E-Healing-with-words-A-survivor-of-war-shares-her-experiences.html ÂHealing with words: A survivor of war shares her experiencesMezetovic regrets that she didn’t take the threat of war seriously enough until it came to her front door. “When war broke out inCroatia,” she recalled, “I watched the news on TV as if it were far way. It’s as if war broke out in New Hampshire, it was that close. It didn’t occur to me that it could happen to us. I wish I had done something.” By Alexis Lathem | Special to Vermont Guardian Posted April 8, 2005Survivors of unspeakable atrocities are often conflicted about discussing their experiences. But Aftaba Mezetovic, a 35-year-old Bosnian refugee living in Burlington, is more than willing to talk about her wartime life. In fact, talking about it has become a mission. The first time we met, the torrent of words was unexpected. I had come to talk about her book of poems, Refugee: The Ugliest Word. We met in her small, cramped office at the Community Health Center in Burlington, where she works as a medical interpreter. Within minutes, I was transported to a war zone, where women are raped and thrown away onto piles of corpses. I wondered what is it like to carry that burden inside you. “You can’t imagine what we went through,” she said repeatedly. And yet she talked, proving in the process that you do imagine it.“People need to know what war is,” she said, “because this must never ever happen again.” With this as a goal, Mezetovic has been telling her story on college campuses and at other venues. Hearing from a flesh-and-blood person who lived through such terror makes it real, she believes.“This didn’t happen a hundred years ago,” she noted. “It’s not something out of a history book. It happened to me. And it could happen to you.”Mezetovic regrets that she didn’t take the threat of war seriously enough until it came to her front door. “When war broke out in Croatia,” she recalled, “I watched the news on TV as if it were far way. It’s as if war broke out in New Hampshire, it was that close. It didn’t occur to me that it could happen to us. I wish I had done something.” She tells her story so that others won’t later have the same regrets. And that story is both heart wrenching and, yes, unimaginable. Her three brothers were all killed; her father died of grief after having to identify the body of his youngest and last surviving son. She credits her grandmother with saving her life in the concentration camp: “She used to crawl out on her hands and knees to see what the soldiers were doing. She shaved our heads. She told us to rock back and forth so we’d be ugly, because the women were being raped and thrown away — thrown into piles of burning cars.”Laurie Brands Gagne, a St. Michaels College professor who invited Mezetovic to address her Peace and Justice class last year, said Mezetovic made a big impression on the students. “They found her talk fascinating,” Gagne recalled. “She has a way of making you feel what she has experienced. Some of her stories left the students in tears.” At the end of the year, the class chose Mezetovic as the speaker who most influenced them. Mezetovic herself feels that students have been highly receptive to her message. “They listen so attentively, they aren’t breathing,” she said. She feels close to college students because she was their age when she lived through the events she recounts. “I had my 23rd birthday in a concentration camp. It should have been the best time of my life — I had just gotten married; I just gave birth to my first child.” Later, Mezetovic found her way to a refugee camp where she became camp manager — her first job after graduating college. There, she gave birth to a son, just one month before her visa came through to enter the United States. She arrived with her husband and two children in New York City on Halloween, 1995. (No one explained why people were dressed so strangely.) The family then moved to Burlington, where Mezetovic studied English at St. Michael’s College and Community College of Vermont. She became U.S. citizen in 2001.Mezetovic now works 13 hours a day — at CCH and as an English language Learning instructor at Winooski Elementary School. She also gives cultural sensitivity training for medical students and health workers. Her salaries support not only her own family, but also her mother, the orphaned children of her brothers, and those of a sister who was disabled by the war. She sends the earnings from her second job to an orphanage for children who lost their families in the war. Her book Refugee is also a fundraiser for the orphanage. Now that she receives so many requests to speak at colleges, she almost has a fourth job. And this may be the most satisfying work of all. Only a year ago, when we first talked, she spoke bitterly about people not wanting to hear about her experiences.“9/11 was one day. I lived it for four years. But no one wanted to hear about it,” she said. When she applied for a small grant to publish her book of poems, she was turned down. But that has changed. “The word got out, I guess, that I can be effective as a speaker, that I’m an important resource,” she said. She also is no longer angry that she had to self-publish her book. “I’m glad I did it,” she said. Every day, she gets a phone call or e-mail from someone thanking her. “My biggest success is when I hear that people got my message,” she said.But she may be holding a finger in the dyke. It’s hard for her to understand the “cheering,” as she puts it, for the war in Iraq. “People don’t understand — war is killing. There are no winners. No heroes. War is rivers of dead bodies. I hated the decision to go to war. I can’t express how upset and angry it makes me. There has to be another way — anything but war.”“I was a human shield,” she added. “Thousands of people were shot all around me — but their lives weren’t valued. They didn’t count.”Mezetovic isn’t willing to judge the worth of the U.S. mission in Iraq, but whatever the goal, she believes that war is not the way.On the other hand, her gratitude and respect for U.S. troops has not diminished. “I can’t tell you what the flag means to me — the flag I saw on the sleeves of the troops who came to help us.” She suspects that many of them are unhappy about being sent to Iraq, and suggested that military recruits be sent to a real war zone before they commit to service, similar to the way business students get experience in a real workplace. They should “see what it’s all about. It’s a different thing than on paper. Reality changes people’s minds.”Reality also has away of haunting people and leaving lifelong wounds. Mezetovic has found her own way of living with her wounds — by writing and talking about her experience. The poems collected in Refugee: The Ugliest Word were written in the middle of the night, when she would wake up with a scream swelling in her throat. At these moments, she would run into her basement to cry out loud, hoping her children couldn’t hear her. “The rage just boils up,” she said. “It’s enough just to stay sane.”The striking thing about these poems is that they don’t call attention to her own suffering, but instead have a universal quality. Many of them empathetically adopt the voice of another.“Butterflies” assumes the voice of a father who has lost three sons, and then died himself “of an exploded heart” after having to identify a body: “On a full moon evening of 1993, / I was saying goodbye / To my youngest butterfly Who lost his leg / To an exploded grenade / And the next day / He passed away / ...On a rainy Monday of 1994 / I was saying goodbye / To my middle butterfly / Whose head was shot / By a bullet flying in the air …”It is obviously the voice of Mezetovic’s father, but the poem doesn’t tell us. Neither does the poem say Bosnia. This could be a father in the Sudan, the Congo, Afghanistan, or Iraq. The place is never named, but we are given the date, probably because she wants us to know that this didn’t happen in some distant past. In another poem, “We are Children,” the poet takes the point of view of a child: “Our school is burned / And teachers are gone / Our playground is tilled / By exploded grenades / As well as our kickball field …” The landscape isn’t unique to the Balkans, and the poem reminds us that the first victims of modern warfare are too often children.This same ability to transcend partisan or ethnic hatred — to speak to an essential humanity — is what makes Mezetovic’s message so compelling and universal. She empathizes with all refugees, and all children whose parents have been lost and whose schools have been destroyed. About the refugees she works with, many of whom come from the Sudan or Rwanda or Bosnia, Mezetovic says, “We have all worn the same shoes.” Stripped of their historical particulars, the poems swell with the loneliness of the refugee — who will always be set apart from the rest of humankind. “I always wonder / Is there anyone?” one poem begins. At times, she seems to be describing modern archetypes of evil and disorder. Her account of being taken from her home in the middle of the night by soldiers, the men separated from the women and marched off to a concentration camp, provides a kind of mythic inversion of the biblical story of Noah, in which the earth’s creatures are given refuge, male and female, from a world overrun by evil: “Being awakened / In the middle of the night, / Holding tightly, / Hand in hand, / Marching forward, / But didn’t know where. / To death or a life? / Nobody could tell. / After separation, / Female from male.”Is she still writing poetry? Yes, answered Mezetovic. “I’m trying to find peace,” he explained. “My experience in the camps is in my veins. It’s a part of me. I will never stop doing this. I will never stop talking about it.”Refugee: the Ugliest Word is available at the Peace and Justice Store in Burlington, or write to amezotovic@chcb.org .http://www.vermontguardian.com/culture/0904/Aftaba.shtml  letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Mon, 09 May 2005 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/6255/1/E-History-of-Mothers-Day-Celebration.html ÂHistory of Mother's Day CelebrationÂBy Katarina TepeshOn the second Sunday in May, many families and churches make a special point of honoring mothers, hoping that Mother's Day would increase respect for parents and strengthen family bonds.Historians claim that the holiday of Mother's Day emerged from the ancient festival dedicated to mother goddess.In Rome, too, a mother Goddess was worshipped as early as 250 BC. Historians say that there are reasons to believe that the Mother Church was substituted for Mother Goddess by the early church. Some say the ceremonies honoring Roman Goddesses were adopted by the early church to venerate the Mother of Christ, Mother Mary. In the sixteenth century, people brought gifts to their mothers on Mothering Sunday, as it was called then. Typical gifts were cakes and little mementos.The Origin of Mother's Day in the United StatesThe first mention of the idea of Mother's Day can be traced to Julia Ward Howe (1819-1910), who suggested it in 1872. Howe, who wrote the famous words to the Battle Hymn of the Republic, saw Mother's Day as being dedicated to peace. She organized Mother's Day meetings in Boston, Massachusetts every year.An American writer, lecturer, and reformer, Ms. Howe was one of the most famous women of her time. She was born in New York City into a prominent family and married American social reformer Samuel Gridley Howe in 1843. They moved to Boston, where she wrote poems and plays and helped her husband edit The Commonwealth, an antislavery paper. In 1861, during the Civil War, Howe visited military camps near Washington, D.C. There she was inspired to write "The Battle Hymn of the Republic" to be sung to the tune of the popular American song "John Brown's Body."Civil War soldiers liked to create their own marching songs by singing humorous lyrics to familiar tunes. Early in the war, Union soldiers began to sing the words "John Brown's body lies a-mouldering in the grave." In 1861, Julia Ward Howe heard an obscene version of the "John Brown" song at a Union army camp. She decided to write more appropriate lyrics and composed "The Battle Hymn of the Republic." By Julia Ward HoweMine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the LordHe is trampling out the vintage where the grapes of wrath are stored,He has loosed the fateful lightening of His terrible swift sword His truth is marching on. Glory! Glory! Hallelujah! Glory! Glory! Hallelujah! Glory! Glory! Hallelujah! His truth is marching on. It was published in the Atlantic Monthly in 1862 and soon appeared in all the Union army hymnbooks.After the war, Howe became increasingly interested in the women's movement. In 1868, she helped organize the New England Women's Club and served for many years as its president. Howe also became the first president of the New England Women Suffrage Association. Howe’s writings include A Trip to Cuba (1860), Sex and Education (1874), Modern Society (1881), Margaret Fuller (1883), and Reminiscences (1899). In 1908, she became the first woman elected to the American Academy of Arts and Letters.In 1877, it was the actions of an Albion, Michigan, Pioneer woman, Juliet Calhoun Blakeley, which continued setting Mother's Day in motion as a sign of respect honoring motherhood. But it is Anna Jarvis of Philadelphia who is credited with bringing about the official observance of Mother's Day. Her campaign to establish such a holiday began as a remembrance of her mother, who died in 1905 and who had, in the late 19th century, tried to establish "Mother's Friendship Days" as a way to heal the scars of the Civil War. For the first official Mother's Day service in 1908, Anna Jarvis sent 500 white carnations to the church to be given to the participating mothers. During the next several years, she sent more than 10,000 carnations there. Carnations –- red for the living and white for the deceased -– became symbols of the purity, strength and endurance of motherhood.In her campaign to have Mother's Day recognized as a national holiday, Jarvis called on clergymen, business leaders and politicians for help. In 1914, the U.S. House and Senate approved a resolution proclaiming the second Sunday of May as Mother's Day. President Woodrow Wilson endorsed it and issued the first Mother's Day proclamation, stating that the observance serves as a "public expression of our love and reverence for the mothers of our country." (This is more of a political statement than an explanation of the holiday, but it made it official!)But Jarvis' accomplishment soon turned bitter for her. Enraged by the commercialization of the holiday, she filed a lawsuit to stop a 1923 Mother's Day festival and was even arrested for disturbing the peace at a war mothers' convention where women sold white carnations - Jarvis' symbol for mothers - to raise money. "This is not what I intended," Jarvis said. "I wanted it to be a day of sentiment, not profit."When she died in 1948 in a sanatorium in Pennsylvania at age 84, Jarvis had become a woman of great ironies. Never a mother herself, her maternal fortune dissipated by her efforts to stop the commercialization of the holiday she had founded, Jarvis told a reporter shortly before her death that she was sorry she had ever started Mother's Day. She spoke these words in a nursing home where every Mother's Day her room had been filled with cards from all over the world. On the day of the funeral, the bell on Andrews Church in Grafton tolled 84 times in her honor.**** letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Mon, 09 May 2005 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/6254/1/E-Is-Image-Everything-American-Stereotypes-of-Croatia.html ÂIs Image Everything? American Stereotypes ofCroatia and Croatians.Text for a Talk Delivered in Chicago on April 26, 2005.James J. SadkovichLet me address two questions this evening:1. Why does Croatia have such a bad image in the United States?2. Why do Americans mourn the disappearance of Yugoslavia?Mourning the Loss of OzTo understand the second question takes us some way to understanding the first, so let me begin with it. If you have seen Evita, you may recall the refrain, âDonât cry for me Argentina, the truth is I never left you, all through my wild days, my mad existence, I kept my promise; don't keep your distance.â€?But few of us would sing a similar refrain for Yugoslavia. All of its leaders have now left, and few of its former citizens mourn its passing. Yet there is a certain nostalgia for Titoâs state, the former leader of the non-aligned nations, among intellectuals in both Yugoslavia and the United States, just as there is a lingering nostalgia among some Argentineans for Juan PerÃn. The sense of loss is palpable, similar to the disorientation that some subjects of the Dual Monarchy experienced after 1918 when Austria-Hungary also collapsed under the pressures of war. But it is unlikely that Yugoslavia can be reconstituted even as a loose regional confederation.The nostalgia reflects support for the former Yugoslavia, whose passing was resisted by the international community as a whole and in particular by the United States. Through June 1991, American statesmen and diplomats did all they could to hold the Yugoslav state together, and during the rest of that year the American government refused to admit that Yugoslavia was falling apart, even after the Yugoslav Army and Serbian paramilitary forces had attacked Slovenia, carved up Croatia, and laid waste to the village of Ravno in Bosnia, where the Bosnian HDZ was founded. When the journalist Flora Lewis expressed her hope that Yugoslavia might yet be resurrected in some form, she was not alone.1 A golden era had passed, never to be reclaimed. All that remained were the nasty little successor states, greedy heirs to a noble ideal.Paradigms Tend to Endure: Assigning BlameSomebody must take the blame for this tragedy, but when American policy-makers, diplomats, and journalists finally admitted that Yugoslavia had collapsed, they did not point the finger only at Milosevic and the JNA; they joined Warren Zimmermann and Serbian spokesmen in blaming âCroatian insensitivityâ€? to Serbian fears of a fascist, âUstasaâ€? revival as the root cause of the conflict. This explanation had already been much ballyhooed by the Serbian media and echoed by American journalists and pundits from the spring of 1990. So it was well established, whatever its actual explanatory value, and American academics adopted it as well. Indeed, many helped to promote it. Most Americans, both scholars and the general public, knew woefully little about Yugoslavia, but they knew what they considered to be fair. At the time, a colleague dismissed the whole business by expressing his thanks that Americans were not âlike you people.â€? Since I was born in Milwaukee, it took a minute to get his meaning. What he was expressing was the concept of moral equivalency, projecting his own fears onto what Maria Todorova has defined as the Balkan âother.â€?2 He was also expressing a very crude version of the two dominant paradigms for grasping the wars that accompanied Yugoslaviaâs dissolutionâancient hatreds and moral equivalency, both of which erased the distinction between victim and victimizer, aggressor and defender.Another colleague recently told me that I was too harsh to blame Milosevic and the Serbs for the collapse of Yugoslavia and the wars that followed. âDonât you think,â€? he said, âthat is too much guilt for a single people to bear?â€? My answer was that I followed Michael Walzer, who argues that whoever starts a war, is primarily responsible for all that follows.3 Serbian leaders needed to bear as much guilt as they had earned. It was not a welcome reply, and not only because he felt badly for the Serbian people. He had earlier asked me whether I really believed that Croatia was a democracy, given its treatment of its Serbian citizens. Like many in this country, he had imbibed and digested a one-sided view of Croatia, and precisely because he was not a specialist who kept up with events, he had no difficulty viewing Croatia as essentially fascist, despite the fact that the State Department and Freedom House rank Croatia as a democratic country, a bit behind Slovenia and the Czech Republic, but well ahead of Serbia and Bosnia.4 But reality was largely irrelevant because his paradigm, constructed over a decade ago, was still sufficient to categorize and explain everything that had happened and continues to happen in Croatia.5Who Points the Finger?Of course, he has had some help in this regard. Let me take as an example a book by James Gow, a well-respected British academic who has worked long and closely with the Prosecutorâs Office of the ICTY (International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia). Gow analyzes the âSerbian projectâ€? and âits adversaries,â€? but in the process he implies Serbians had a âlegitimateâ€? right to demand that they live in a single state, he argues that Serbian leaders did not wage a war of aggression, and he insists that because the actions of Serbian forces were based on military necessity, only military experts have the right to judge Serbian commanders. Gow devotes much of his section on Bosnia to Croatiaâs alleged aggression against its Muslims, and he argues that Croats wanted Serbs to attack their towns in 1991 so they could enhance their âstrategy of victimhoodâ€? and gain even more world sympathy. He also believes that the Serbian people should be praised for getting rid of Milosevic, who was solely to blame for all that went wrong. In effect, Gow treats Serbia as the protagonist in a Greek tragedy and the Croats as a nasty clutch of furies harassing both Serbs and Muslims, or in the words of an American diplomat, as so many âjunkyard dogs.â€?6 Even though Slobodan Milosevic and Vuk Draskovic threatened war against Croatia in 1991, Gow sees Tudjman as equally âwarlikeâ€? because he promised to defend his country against attack. His views would not matter if he was a Serbian propagandist; but Gow is one of the best known scholars on the Yugoslav wars and his book on the Serbian project is required reading for those interested in the conflicts. It is also a subtle attack on Tudjmanâs government and the Croatian army. Indeed, Gow begins his analysis of Milosevicâs âprojectâ€? to create a Greater Serbia by separating it from the âSerbian question,â€? which he considers legitimate. He also strives to save the reputation of the Serbian military by insisting that Croatian forces were both irrelevant and vicious in 1995; while NATO air power subdued the Serbs, Croatian soldiers slit the throats of old people.Finally, Gow provides some wonderful examples of how to use prose to obscure, rather than clarify. Vukovar, he writes, was only the âfocal point of a conflict in which local social-ethnic tensions had led to an upsurge of mutual hostility, a situation exacerbated by the insertion of paramilitary forces.â€? If I understand him correctly, abstract, impersonal forces destroyed Vukovar, not the JNA, which, as he explains, had only 40,000 troops and conscripts, none of whom were trained for street fighting, making it difficult for them to overcome the 1,500 Croats in the city. Instead, they shelled it for three months, killing many of its inhabitants and destroying most of its buildings, even though, if Gow is correct, the JNA was aiming at the buildings, not the civilians. The First Law: Information in Circulation Tends to Stay in Circulation.Full CircleâAnte Pavelic started the war; Tudjman rekindled itAnd if the use of impersonal language begs the question of who started the wars, Gow provides what has become the classic, monocausal answerâonly Serbs were slaughtered during World War II and in 1991 only Serbs remembered that slaughter and feared its recurrence. So the election of the HDZ in 1990 was the real cause of Yugoslaviaâs collapse and the wars that followed.7 Put in simple terms, we could say this is the âFranjo-made-me-do-itâ€? defense.Do I think Gow is ill-intentioned? No. A Serbian propagandist? No. He has worked with the sources he has, and like all of us, he tends to echo them. The alternative would be to construct history out of our imaginations. My guess is that, like most of us, he has tended to discuss Yugoslavia with those who hold similar points of view. If so, then his views have been reinforced, not criticized. But the real problem is neither Gow nor those who share his point of view; the real problem is that those who support Serbia and Yugoslavia have done a much better job of getting their story out. And once something is in circulation, it stays in circulation. This âlawâ€? of permanent circulation is how atrocity propaganda tends to behave and why, like bad scholarship, it is so difficult to correct.8 It is repeated so often, it becomes ubiquitous; it is conventional wisdom.The tendency of information to stay in circulation in some form also explains the cliche that âany publicity is good publicity.â€? For example, if you key in Amazon.com, you will still find Nova ustaska drzava? Od Ante Starcevica do Pavelica i Tudjmana, by Petar Dzadzic, published by Politika in 1991. If you search JSTOR and Amazon.com you will also find writers who lament the death of Yugoslavia at the hands of Croatian nationalists, among them Bogdan Denitch, Robert Hayden, Alex Dragnich, and Bette Denich.9 This is also the case in both public and academic libraries, whose shelves hold volumes by Misha Glenny, Gale Stokes, Robert Hayden, Bogdan Denitch, and a host of others who reinforce Serbian interpretations of Yugoslav history directly or indirectly through their support of Yugoslavia and their suspicion of Croatia. But let me return to the question of what is available to English readers later.Why Cry for Yugoslavia and Not Argentina?First, I should answer the question of why so many people wax so nostalgic over a former multinational communist state. People do not get teary-eyed over the demise of the USSR or Czechoslovakia or Austria-Hungary or the Ottoman, British, French, Spanish, Dutch, and Portuguese empires. Why Yugoslavia? The answer is complex and deserves a more extensive discussion than I can manage here, but let me suggest a few reasons that Yugoslavia is lamented.1. Yugoslavia appeared to be a viable alternative to the polar extremes of the Cold War; it was neither a hard-line, command-economy communist state nor a laissez-faire, to hell-with-the-poor capitalist state. Self-management, like the Yugoslav League of Communists, seemed to put a human face on communism, and Tito, hand-in-hand with Nehru, offered hope to a despairing world that expected nuclear holocaust on a daily basis. At the same time, as Ivo Banac notes, American academics echoed the party line regarding both the virtues of self-management and the positive aspects of Titoâs regime, especially after Rankovic was removed in 1966 and the SFRJ adopted a truly âfederalistâ€? constitution in 1974.102. Yugoslavia also seemed to be a viable model for debalkanizing the Balkans. Unlike Bulgaria, which persecuted its Turkish citizens under Zhivkov, or Romania, where Hungarians formed a disaffected minority prior to 1989, or Greece, with its hard-line colonels and its rather rigid Orthodox outlook on nationality, or Albania, with its pillboxes and poverty, Yugoslavia offered bratstvo i jedinstvo, and if Donia and Fine are to be believed, Titoâs regime turned even Bosnia-Herzegovina into a multi-cultural paradise where tolerance and brotherhood flourished.3. Finally, Yugoslavia was around for a long time and it was associated with the liberation of oppressed peoples after both world wars. During its existence, it served a variety of functions, from strategic and ideological buffer between East and West to damper on the potentially troublesome national identities of its diverse peoples, to scholarly model for a successful socialist state.In short, to paraphrase Voltaire, Yugoslavia was a necessary fiction. Had it not existed, we would have had to create it.Croatians Destroyed the Great Hope of the WorldSo the first, partial answer to the question of why Croats have such a bad press in this country is that they destroyed Yugoslavia, the great hope of the world, the shining example to other backward, Balkan peoples, the socialist alternative to capitalism, and only truly successful supranational state. And that was a capital offense, punishable by war and ethnic cleansing.Of course, you may argue that Slobodan Milosevic really destroyed Yugoslavia, or that Milan Kucan pushed Franjo Tudjman to embrace independence when all he really wanted was sovereignty within a loose South Slav confederation (at least that is what he said he wanted from sometime in the late 1960s through August 1991). But that is not how people in the United States, and the West in general, see things. For them, Tudjman was the great destroyer, and as Croatiaâs president, he was also a symbol for Croatia, and Croatians are guilty of Yugoslaviaâs demise by association, and by the fact that they elected him. Fair or not, that is how people here see things.Or Was It Just a Contrived Country?If you read the American media or test its scholarly waters, you will find few to agree with Ivo Banac who wrote in 1991 that, âOnly an untrained or complacent observer could see something permanent in such a contrived country.â€?11 But you would find many people like Dennison Rusinow (a much more influential figure than Banac in DCâs policy circle and among American academics), who in 1991 wrote an article for Foreign Affairs in which he urged the United States to give Yugoslav unity âunconditional supportâ€? because not to do so risked war and would have been unfair to Yugoslaviaâs Serbs, 24 percent of whom lived outside of Serbia and to its Croats, 22 percent of whom lived outside Croatia (not counting the emigrants abroad, whom only Tudjman tended to count).12Rusinowâs argument is interesting and helped to establish the equation of moral equivalency that can be seen in most of the writing on Yugoslaviaâs breakup, with Tudjman, Croatia, and Croatians defined as equivalents to Milosevic, Serbia, and Serbians. As Warren Zimmermann put it, Tudjman and Milosevic were the âTweedledum and Tweedledee of destructive nationalism.â€?13 To some extent, this equation has deep historical roots, but to some extent it is recent. For example, Nikola Pasic, was depicted as the wily Serbian politician, Stjepan Radic as the erratic Croatian demagogue; Serbs were portrayed as state-building and the core people of the Yugoslav state, but Croats as obstructionist and separatist, seeking to destroy Yugoslavia.14 However, the image varied, depending on the extent of the crisis in Yugoslavia. So in 1982, as events in Kosovo began to threaten a full-blown crisis, Gale Stokes, a very influential scholar from Rice University, essentially agreed with all the points that Tudjman raised in his work on nationalism. However, he cautioned against resolving Yugoslaviaâs ânational problemâ€? by breaking up the federation because the cost of creating and maintaining it had been so great.15 Dissolution was simply unthinkable. Yugoslavia existed and, by God, we were going to make it work. As Stephen Larrabee cautioned in an essay published in International Security in 1990, the âonly viable solution in the long runâ€? was âa loose confederation.â€?16The Second Law: Monocausal Explanations Tend to Trump Complex Analysis(Croatian) Nationalism Invites Chaos, Suffering, and Income GapsAnd all of these analysts were right, of course. Breaking up Yugoslavia caused great suffering. Worse, nationalism, and Croatian nationalism in particular, first broke up Yugoslavia, then failed to benefit the âmassesâ€? who fought and died (and killed) to create the successor states. According to Bruno Dallago and Milica Uvalic, Tudjmanâs government not only deprived Croatiaâs Serbs of their national status and their ârights,â€? it used ânationalistâ€? privatization to expropriate state property and redistribute it to a nationalist elite, or rather Tudjmanâs cronies. As a result the wage gap in Croatia rose from 1 to 10 during the 1980s to 1 to 67 by 1993. Of course, as they note in passing, pretty much the same thing happened in Serbia.17Indeed, pretty much the same thing happened everywhere that capitalism replaced socialism in Eastern Europe and the former USSR. What is surprising is that people were surprised that it did so, although it is less surprising that they blamed the new inequities on nationalism, not capitalism. As Nancy Birdsall noted in a Foreign Policy essay, âlife is unfairâ€? pretty much everywhere now, with globalization pushing the pace at which the income gap widens between rich and poor within countries throughout the world.18 The gap is no longer between East and West or between North and South, so much as it is between the top 20 percent and all the rest.19 Once you leave the workerâs paradise and enter the marketplace, itâs a hard, cold world out there.In fact, Croatia actually did a bit better than Romania or Poland in giving its poorest citizens a larger slice of the economic pie, even under Tudjman. But if the bottom 20 percent were getting 8.8 percent of the national income in 2002, the top 20 percent got a whopping 38 percentâand that did seem unfair.20 As it turned out, civil society without social justice was not exactly a boon for most citizens of the former Yugoslavia. Indeed, if Croatia continues to westernize and Caroline Persell is correct, Croatians have an even more inequitable future in store, given that in 1989, the top 1 percent of U.S. households controlled 39 percent of the household wealth and the top 20 percent kept 99 percent of the added wealth during the1980s, and that wage gaps here run on the order of one to a thousand.21 But those who commented on Croatia did not blame the shift to capitalism or the global economy; they blamed Tudjman and the corruption of the HDZ.That there was corruption is undeniable; the question is how much was corruption in a criminal sense, and how much the usual cronyism, networking, nepotism, and corner-cutting found in every society, capitalist or socialist. Much of what was labeled corruption appears to have been something else, more mundane if not more benign.22 The tendency to attribute all misfortune to a single source provides yet another partial answer to why Croatiaâs image is so bad. Tudjman and Croatian nationalism as embodied in the HDZ and the Republic of Croatia could be made to take the blame for absolutely anything, even privatization, which the United States and the free world pressed on hapless Eastern European peoples. So it was possible to blame Tudjman, the HDZ, and the Croatians who had voted for them, for increasingly inequitable income gaps, unemployment, nepotism, shady business deals, and other evils that are inherent in capitalist economic systems and that are part and parcel of the flawed nature of human beings. The human condition has always had its tragic side, but Tudman and Croatians are no more responsible for this than other individuals and nationalities.The Third Law: Models Tend to Trump RealityCroatia as an Imaginary ConstructBut then, Croatia did not really exist. It was a nationalist construct according to those scholars who unwittingly echoed Vuk Karadzic and a century of Serbian nationalists. For example, Nick Ceh and Jeff Harder deploy the fashionable jargon of anthropology and literary criticism to argue that Croatians first âconstructedâ€? a state, then justified it by âelevatingâ€? a âregional dialectâ€? to the status of a language and distancing themselves from their Serbian cousins by constructing the Serb as âthe Balkan other.â€?23 If their view was idiosyncratic, it could be easily dismissed, but it is shared by Robert Greenberg, whose book on warring dialects bears an Oxford imprint. The belief that Croatian is a recent, artificial construct ignores both history and the discipline of sociolinguistics, but it fits nicely with Serbian claims that Serbo-Croatian is a single language, and it reinforces the accusation by Bette Denich that Tudjman imposed Ante Pavelicâs vocabulary on contemporary Croatia.24Democratic Serbia, Fascist CroatiaThis indentification of leader and people did not happen, please note, in Serbia. The U.S. media has covered Serbia in a very different manner than it has Croatia. While it took a while to switch from admiring Milosevic and Mladic as forceful leaders, it consistently depicted the Serbian people as basically democratic.25 Croats, on the other hand, were tainted by âtheir Nazi-stained past.â€?26This is a crucial distinctionâdemocratic Serbia and fascist Croatia. While many scholars, pundits, journalists, and politicians claim to oppose Tudjman and Croatia because they oppose nationalism, in reality they did not oppose âYugoslavâ€? nationalism; nor do they condemn Serbian nationalism, merely its excesses. Serbian nationalism is seen as a defensive reaction to the threat posed by Croatian nationalism, which they oppose in all its variations.Why the difference? In large part, because people simply do not know much about Croatia and Croatians, and what they do know is generally negative. Let me just hit the low points.â Josip Jelacic and Croatian troops were to blame for the suppression of the revolutions of 1848 in Budapest, Prague, Italy, and Vienna.27â Croats were loyal subjects of Austria-Hungary and fought the Entente in the Great War and persecuted Serbs in the occupied territories, especially in Bosnia-Herzegovina.â Croats did their best to obstruct the smooth functioning of the first Yugoslavia between 1918 and 1939, forcing King Alexander to impose a dictatorship in order to preserve Yugoslavia.â Croats insisted on annexing large areas of Bosnia-Herzegovina in 1939 so they could create a Banovina, the same Banovina Tudjman wanted to resurrect in 1991, with no regard for the sensibilities of Bosniaâs Muslims.â Ante Pavelic and the Ustasa led a quisling Independent State of Croatia between 1941 and 1945 that sought to eradicate its Serbian population by converting a third, expelling a third, and killing a third. The Ustasa also sought to kill off all Jews and Gypsies in Croatia.â Tito and the Partisans, most of whom were Serbian, overthrew Pavelicâs state and saved many Serbs, but only after up to a million had been brutally murdered at Jasenovac. Hundreds of thousands were murdered elsewhere by Croatian forces who fought the Partisans and took refuge in Austria, Argentina, and Los Angeles after 1945.âUnlike the Prague Spring, which was led by democratic reformers, the Croatian Spring was the work, in Joseph Rothschildâs words, of âemphatically centrifugal, ethnonationalistic, explicitly anti-Serb, and implicitly anti-Yugoslav crypto-separatist nonparty forces.â€?28â Franjo Tudjman was a leader of the Croatian Spring and a dangerous Croatian nationalist who hoped to create a Great Croatia, denied Croatiaâs Serbs their basic human rights and persecuted them mercilessly, and created an authoritarian state in which ethnic cleansing was common. Tudjman was also guilty of leading, in Carlo del Ponteâs words, âa criminal conspiracyâ€? against Bosniaâs Muslim citizens.29This is pretty heady stuff. Where does it all come from? I only ask because most of it is either patently false or grossly exaggerated. At most, there is a kernel of truth in each of these characterizations.The Media Marketplace: Amazon.comOne place is the media marketplace.If you punch up âCroatiaâ€? on Amazon.com, you will get 719 hits. But this is somewhat misleading, because these are not books about history or politics or society or culture. No, 23 of the first 30 are guidebooks, and 2 are business manuals. In the first 100 titles, there are only four surveys of Croatian historyâby Ivo Goldstein, Marcus Tanner, Zoran Pavlovic, and Ivo Omrcanin. You will also find the collection of essays dealing with the war in Croatia edited by Branka Magas and Ivo Âanic, a excellent work, but an anomaly.At number 43, you will find Edmond Paris, Genocide in Satellite Croatia, a vicious attack on Croatia and the Catholic Church; at number 53, The People, Press, and Politics of Croatia (Westport, Conn.: Praeger, 2001) by Stjepan Malovic and Gary W. Selnow, who mount an unrelenting attack on Franjo Tudjman and his government; at number 60, Balkan Express by Slavenka Drakulic, whom Ivo Banac described as âa bourgeois lady writer with a computer looking for dog food,â€? all the while displaying âa studied ignorance of history.â€?30Aside from Omrcanin and Magas and Âanic, there is a distinct paucity of Croatians and Croatian Americans. Snezana Trfunovska writes on minorities (no. 41).There is also a paucity of information about Croatia, and if you are looking for something on World War II, you are stuck with Paris, hardly a happy outcome for Croatiaâs image! If you want the ten best and ten worst books, you will be referred to Ivo Goldstein, Alex Dragnich, and Michael Parenti, two of whom are viscerally anti-Croatian.31Nor is there more information about Franjo Tudjman (11 hits), although 3 of the 11 hits are works by the former president (Horrors of War, Nationalism, and Genocide and Yugoslavia), but they appear at numbers 9 through 11; number 2 is an article by Gordana Uzelak, who portrays Tudjman as an authoritarian personality. She believes that he sought to âjustifyâ€? the NDH and explain âhistorical events . . . in a way that justifies present events,â€? and that he âsees the Croatian nationâ€? as âEin Reich, Ein volk [sic], Ein Fuehrer,â€? her words, not his.32Nor do Ante Starcevic and Stjepan Radic, both critical figures in Croatian history, do better. Each gets 7 hits, but of these only one is in English, Mark Biondichâs not altogether flattering political biography of Radic.33Ante Pavelic gets 9 hits, not a good sign, because Milan Nedic, in many ways his Serbian counterpart, gets only 2! Of Pavelicâs hits, all but three are his own writings and, of course, in Croatian; of the three works about him, one is distinctly negative, and really about Tudjman, Dzadzicâs Nova ustaska drzava? There was one hit for Dimitrije Ljotic, Light of truth: Selected philosophical, moral, and political ideas of Dimitrije Ljotic (Lazarica Press, 1986).Milosevic, I should note in passing, results in 247 hits on Amazon.com, including biographies by Adam Lebor (Milosevic, A Biography, New Haven, Conn.: Yale, 2004), Dusko Doder and Louise Branson (Milosevic, Portrait of a Tyrant, New York, Free Press, 1999), Lenard Cohen (Serpent in the Bosom. The Rise and Fall of Slobodan Milosevic, Boulder, Westview, 2002), and Louis Sell (Slobodan Milosevic and the Destruction of Yugoslavia, Durhan, N.C.: Duke, 2002)âall major presses and works that are familiar to policy makers in D.C. But before you rejoice because Milosevic is so roundly condemned, consider that he is blamed for all the wrongs of the 1990sânow that he is gone, Serbia is again democratic, despite the fact that Âeseljâs party took roughly a third of the vote recently. But Croatia remains in the grips of the HDZ.The Scholarly and Foreign Policy Marketplace: JSTORAs you may have noticed, three of the four titles I noted on Milosevic were published by major university presses, and Amazon.com is indeed used by both serious scholars and the curious general reader. JSTOR, on the other hand, is primarily a scholarly resource, used to search for articles in âseriousâ€? journal, including Foreign Affairs and Foreign Policy. So it is a rough indicator of what scholars and policy makers had read prior to 2000, given that it has both journal articles and reviews of books and is a few years behind in its entries.A quick search for Jasenovac got 22 hits, with Better Denichâs âDismembering Yugoslavia: Nationalist Ideologies and the Symbolic Revival of Genocide,â€? American Ethnologist 21 (May 1994) 2: 367â90 topping the list. Now Denichâs work is subtle, but it is as pro-Serbian and anti-Croatian as you can get, and she reached a sizeable and influential audience through American Ethnologist.34Also on the list of 22 is a piece by Cvijeto Job, a retired Yugoslav diplomat and columnist for Vreme, âYugoslaviaâs Ethnic Furies,â€? Foreign Policy 92 (Autumn 1993), 52â74, in which he reports that Goren Ivanisevic, while trying out a machine gun in Australia, quipped that it was a pity no Serbs were on the shooting range. According to Job, âCroat intellectualsâ€? refused to âface upâ€? to the genocide committed by the NDH and like âanti-Semitic revisionistsâ€? everywhere, they are âreactionary.â€? Job is among those who think Croats should apologize for Jelacicâs suppression of the revolutionary movements of 1848. But then, as Job notes, Croats suffer from having âa chauvinistic culture.â€? Please not this was published in Foreign Policy, the poor cousin of Foreign Affairs, but a very influential policy journal. This is the only piece listed by Job on JSTOR; he is not a scholar nor a frequent contributor to scholarly or policy journals, so this piece was written appears to have been written for the express purpose of presenting a âYugoslavâ€? point of view that is exquisitely anti-Croatian.The sheer quantity of references to Serbia on JSTOR is impressiveâ5,946 hits, as opposed to 1,737 for Croatia. Again, Milosevic, with 248/533 hits, dominates Tudjman, with 4/11, and even the Chetnik/s with 95/174 do better than the Ustasa, with 36. If you scroll the talks sponsored by the SE Europe division at the Wood Wilson Center over the past six years, you will find few deal with Croatia, but a great many deal with Yugoslavia and Serbia and Kosova. This is not all bad, because many of the speakers are highly critical of Serbia. But, again, Serbia takes center stage, people discuss it, Serbs are the protagonists; Croatia is in the wings, and Croatians simply extras in the Balkan passion play. Even Gow lumped them together with the âadversariesâ€? of the Serbian project.You will also find Robert Hayden, a University of Pittsburgh professor, on JSTOR. Hayden has the distinction of having published three articles in Slavic Review in four years. To most of you, this may not seem like a big deal, but getting even one article in the organ of the AAASS is difficult, much less three, and all of them within a four-year period. If you know how long it takes to get an article accepted, this is quite impressive.35 Hayden also contributed, like Denich, to the American Ethnologist.36 Hayden and his wife are very sophisticated; they employ the latest theoretical weapons in the scholarly arsenal, especially the concept of âconstructingâ€? the âotherâ€? elaborated by Edward Said and Maria Todorova, and echoed by Ceh and Harder (above), but they do not seem to do so to explain; they appear to do so to condemn nationalism in general and Croatian nationalism in particular as retrograde and vicious. The Fourth Law: Quantity Tends to Count More Than Coherent Argument(Sites of PowerâArticles vs. Letters)Again, it is difficult to gauge the extent of the damage done by these articles, but it would be foolish to underestimate the influence they have on members of the academic community, both professors and students. And it is important to understand that quantity and repetition, not rational argument, count in academic and public policy publications, just as they do in the popular media. It is also important to realize that even when someone does manage to challenge an author, he is usually relegated to the âlettersâ€? section and then sliced and diced by the author who has been challenged. This, indeed, is exactly what Slavic Review allowed Hayden to do to Anto Knezevic in 1993.37 It would be an illusion to imagine that there is real debate within academe; there are only competing camps who do or do not control major journals and access to major presses. Journals tend to validate the paradigm of a particular, usually dominant, camp; the letters section is the site where authors and editors assert their power over readers who dissent.38The Balkan âOtherâ€? and SloveniaThe concept of âotherâ€? as formulated by Todorova and Said belong to the genre of literary theories; they are not political theories and certainly not historical methodologies. Indeed, the whole concept of a Balkanist discourse in which the West constructs the âotherâ€? is a profoundly ahistorical approach to analysis that assumes perception always trumps reality. As Patrick Patterson notes, Maria Todorova effectively views âmarking outâ€? as a âguiltyâ€? act and refuses to accept a peopleâs own image of itself if it involves seeing others as different. Although Todorova excluded the Slovenes, but not the Croats, from the Balkans, Patterson argues that the Slovenes used the Balkanist discourse to distance themselves from the former Yugoslavia and position themselves as Central Europeans, a ploy attempted by Tudjman with much less success. Yet the Slovene scholar, Dmitrij Rupel, not only dismisses the Balkans as âa corrupt and primitive society,â€? he believes that Croatia shares the intellectual, artistic, political, and social affinities of the Habsburg empire with Slovenes, Czechs, Slovaks, and Hungarians. But political realities are not linguistic conventions, and Patterson is correct to remind us that most Slovene criticism focused on the concept of Slovenstvo, the question of Slovene autonomy, and the inseparability of the political and the ethno-national.39 In short, political realitiesâhow a people and its leaders view themselves, the congruence of state and nation/politics and national identity, the ability to govern oneselfâexist and must be considered, not condemned.This is what Tudjman and the HDZ attempted, but they failed, in large part because their image was considerably worse than the reality of their government, particularly in the 1990â91 period. In this regard, it is worth noting Sarah Kentâs comment that as late as 1997, âspecialistsâ€? were still arguing over the facts, not just the interpretations.40 They still do so, but a concerted campaign by Serbian spokesmen, members of the former regime, and journalists and academics whose contacts tended to be among these two groups created and then reinforced an extremely negative image of both Tudjman and his party. At times the propaganda and distortion were blatant, e.g., Robert Kaplanâs articles for The New Republic; at others, cloaked in academic or legalist arguments, e.g., the effort to identify the contemporary Croatian state with the NDH or arguments that self-determination was a right of Croatiaâs Serbs denied by Tudjmanâs government and the premature recognition of Croatia in 1992.41You can divide scholars into schools, or perhaps camps, and Hayden belongs in the pro-Yugoslav, pro-Serbian, anti-Croatian camp. He praises Susan Woodwardâs book as of âsuperb qualityâ€? and praises Misha Glenny. However, he finds Robert Kaplan a bit lowbrowâtoo much the journalist. In their review of books on the wars in Yugoslavia,42 John Lampe, Gale Stokes, Julie Mostov, and the late Dennison Rusinow put only four books on their âshort list of required reading on the Yugoslav crisisâ€?âBennett,43 Cohen,44 Woodward,45 and Silber and Little.46 The ICTY also likes Silber and Little, as well as Donia and Fine. Personally, I consider two of these works useful (Bennett and Silber and Little) and three as misleading (Cohen, Woodward, and Donia and Fine). I would tend to recommend Sabrina Ramet, Branka Magas, and Lukic and Lynch on Yugoslaviaâs breakup; Magas and Âanic on the war in Croatia; and Norman Cigar on the Bosnian conflict.47 There are a number of good works in print; they are just outnumbered by those that are less good.Sources & Cribs for Amateurs, Insiders, and ProfessionalsWhy does any of this matter? Because when a journalist or a policy-maker or a D.C. staffer of a high-school student or an undergrad under pressure to write something on the Balkans or a professor who is not an expert on Southeastern Europe but needs a quick crib for a lectureâwhen any of these people goes looking for information, they will find a wealth of material on Milosevic, some critical, some sympathetic, but almost nothing usable on Tudjman except Uzelakâs very negative portrait of Croatiaâs first president.And be assured, most people do not bother with time-consuming research. They take what is handy and make do with it. Businessmen, academics, and others who are âinsidersâ€? do not much bother with research outside their special interests, and many government insiders and journalists do little to no research at all. As Ivo Banac noted in his review of Misha Glennyâs enormously popular work on the wars in Yugoslavia, the âwritten wordâ€? was missing. Glenny had not read anything. âAs a consummate insider,â€? Banac noted, âhe does not read; he converses.â€?48One could say the same of Robert Kaplan, who did incredible harm to Croatiaâs image with his book, Balkan Ghosts, and his articles in the New Republic. What is stunning about Kaplanâs articles, which blasted Tudjman as an anti-Semite, is that he had not read any of Tudjmanâs works; instead, he had read a selection of translated excerpts apparently prepared somewhere in Serbia. This is disturbing enough. Even more disturbing was his defenseâhe had, he noted, effectively met professional standards, since his colleagues had also read the same ten-page excerpt.This is the problem, then; these folks talk to one another and to a select group of academics and scholars (not always the same thing, given think tanks, government programs, consulting firms, et al.). But they do not read. Or if they do, like Reagan and Bush, they prefer film strips or bite-sized excerpts. I will not even pretend to offer a solution to this problem, which has to do with larger cultural issues, but it is, I think, clear that the more information about Croatia that is available, the better. Otherwise, ten-page summaries prepared in Serbia and Edmond Paris and Robert Kaplan will continue to determine what is now called the âdominant narrative.â€?The Fifth Law: The Dead Weight of Convention Tends to Stifle DiversityBelgrade SyndromeBut where are the Croatian historians and scholars who must write these works? Where are the translators? Where are the mass of Croats who are interested in buying these things?Why do Serbs dominate?There are a number of answers to these questions, none of them satisfactory.1. Because South Slav studies was a backwater and Belgrade was the Mecca for those who wanted to study Yugoslavia. It is sobering to recall that prior to 1989, nobody cared much about Yugoslav studies, even if they cared about Yugoslavia.49 More, the only jobs in Yugoslav studies tended to be in the social sciences or literature, and then for those who toed the party line, not for Croat nationalistsâalthough Serbian nationalists posing as Yugoslavs were always welcome. If you ran afoul of one of the Yugoslav gatekeepers, you simply did not get a decent job, if you got a job.2. Among the gatekeepers were Barbara and Charles Jelavich at Indiana; Michael Boro Petrovich at Wisconsin; and Alex Dragnich at Rutgers. The University of Washington had Peter Sugar and Sabrina Ramet; Stanford had Wayne Vucinich.50 Carole Rogel taught at Ohio State. Marijan and Eleanor Despalatovic were at Connecticut College and Ivo Banac at Yale, but neither created a core of Croatian-American scholars. Much more effective were Gale Stokes (Rice) and John Lampe (Maryland), who shepherded young scholars along at the Woodrow Wilson Center, as did the late Dennison Rusinow at Carnegie Mellon. Slavic Studies were dominated by Russian history and literature, and Yugoslav studies were a poor sister, focused on such topics as self-management and the creation and maintenance of the Yugoslav state.If I were to list âCroatianâ€? scholars in the U.S., I could almost do so on one hand. Most have taught at smaller, less prestigious institutions and they have published in smaller, less prestigious journals. What I am suggesting is not a conspiracy, just the dead weight of convention, which privileged Russian and Yugoslav studies, and to the extent Serbs were seen as the âcoreâ€? people of the Yugoslav state, Serbian interpretations of history, sociology, culture, linguistics, literature, and anthropology.3. Also critical is what I call the Belgrade syndrome. Because Belgrade was the federal capital, it was also the repository of most of Yugoslaviaâs archives and the place where journalists, diplomats, and businessmen congregated. Zagreb, like Skopje and Sarajevo, was a backwater. It had a smaller airport, less expensive restaurants, and fewer nightclubs than Belgrade. Where would you rather have beenâassuming you were not a covert Croat nationalist?The point is that where you do your research, where you work (e.g., the American embassy or the Yugoslav headquarters of a multinational), and where you hang out tend to determine who you meet, what you learn, and how you see the world. Spending time in Belgrade, learning cirilica, talking with Serbian scholars and journalists and ordinary, salt-of-the-earth Serbs was bound to have its effect. This is clear from Zimmermannâs memoirsâhe admired Serbs because he knew almost no Croats. Serbs drove his car, cooked his meals, and told him about how Croats had killed their relatives during World War II.4. Then there is Serbian solidarity and the almost total lack of Croatian solidarity. This is subtle, hard to pin down, but obvious. If you go on-line, you will find that Serbs hang together in chat rooms, they form packs, they come after you. If you live in Milwaukee or Chicago, I am sure you have noticed that Serbs tend to be better organized. Croats, generally, are not. Croats are also decidedly apolitical, if not apathetic. The CFU is deliberately apolitical, largely the result of its history, but its neutrality was an enormous drawback for Croats in this country. Catholic churches also tend to be apolitical, and as Catholics, Croats have tended to intermarry and leave their national neighborhoods. Serbians, like Armenian and Greeks, tend to stay closer to home, even when they move to the suburbs.I am tempted to ask, âWhere are the chairs in Croatian history?â€? But that is not the point; there are no chairs in Serbian history. It would be nice to have a few endowed chairs in Croatian history, because that would guarantee that scholarly attention is paid to the country. But perhaps for now we should be simply asking, âWhere are the scholars who have studied in Croatia and formed friendships there and learned at least to consider the Croatian point of view?â€?Where are the scholarships and grants for people to study in Croatia? I will not even bother to ask if there are any Croatian organizations in the U.S. with a full-time research staff. If there are, they are a well-kept secret. Is there too little money for these things or do Croats, as I suspect, integrate more quickly into American society, thanks in part to the fact that, unlike Serbs, they can intermarry easily with other Catholics and so do not hold their nationality as closely?By now, it should be clear why I think Croatiaâs image has suffered.âCroats have not managed to overcome almost 150 years of neglect in publishing their ânational narrativeâ€? in English. Worse, when they have published in English, they have tended to a bit shrill; I myself suffer from this complex. It is the inevitable syndrom of somebody whose point of view is politely, but firmly, ignored by those in power. Finally, much of what is published is policy driven, and the result is that it is inevitably flawed because the people who do these studies talk to or work for insiders who repeat the conventional wisdom, or they relay on public opinion polls, which are ephemeral snapshots of a fleeting popular mood. They are all ahistorical, when they are not downright anti-historical.But Croatian historians in Croatia are just getting around to undoing decades of Yugoslav historiography, so it is not surprising that American scholars have only begun to do so.51I offer no solutions other than a slow, patient, publication of solid works of history and politics and sociology on Croatia and its role in Yugoslavia and Austria-Hungary and the Balkans. In time, that is what will change Croatiaâs image by providing the basic materials in English that will shape the opinions of students, scholars, journalists, pundits, policy-makers, politicians, and that ubiquitous, if hard to find, general reader. Having said all this, I am not sure that Croatiaâs image is any longer that important. Freedom House now rates Croatia as fully democratic, if still not up to Sloveniaâs standards, and Croatia will undoubtedly find its way into the EU over the next decade, even with its Nazi-stained past. Once that happens, it will have the right to a Le Pen or a Haider, and no one will bat an eyelash, so long as the trams run on time and Siemens can go about its business with good corporate laws on the books.1 Flora Lewis, âReassembling Yugoslavia,â€? Foreign Policy 98 (September 1995): 132â44.2 Maria Todorova, âThe Balkans: From Discovery to Invention,â€? Slavic Review 53 (Summer 1994) 2: 453â82.3 Michael Walzer, Just and Unjust Wars: A Moral Argument with Historical Illustrations (New York:â€? Basic Books, 1977).4 Both State Department and Freedom House reports can be access on line at http://www.state.gov/www/global/human_rights/hrp_reports_mainhp.htmlan and http://www.freedomhouse.org/research. Also see Adrian Karatnycky, et al., eds., Nations in Transit. Civil Society, Democracy and Markets in East Central Europe and the Nearby Independent States (Freedom House, 1999) Freedom House evaluations of the countries from the Czech Republic and Slovakia through Albania, Macedonia, and Bulgaria suggest that the tendency has been toward polities with established systems of political liberties and increasingly healthy civil societies. Indeed, the pace of democratization seems to have accelerated over the past six years. In 1998, only one of ten states in this area had a combined rating under twoâthe Czech Republic. Macedonia, Romania, and Slovakia were over 3.0 and Bulgaria just under. Even that exemplar of South Slavic success, Slovenia, was only at a 2.0, still better than Croatiaâs rating of 4.25 or Albaniaâs 4.5. Serbia/Montenegro (Yugoslavia) and Bosnia-Herzegovina lagged even further behind with ratings of 5.0. But in 2003, Slovenia rated a 1 in both Political Rights and Civil Liberties. The Czech Republic, Bulgaria, and Slovakia were even with Hungary, earning a 1 for Political Rights and a 2 for Civil Liberties. Croatia and Romania earned a 2 in both categories, Albania and Macedonia a three, and Serbia/Montenegro a 3 in one and a 2 in the other. Only Bosnia-Herzegovina lagged, with two 4s. Slovenia ranked in the top 34 democracies, and Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Hungary in the next tier of 28, with Romania and Croatia (like Israel) in the third group of 11. Of 121 electoral democracies, six countries in the region were in the top half, and eight in the upper two thirds. If not perfect, the result was impressive, given that the region had been host to one-party states fifteen years earlier, that only four existed within their 1989 borders (Albania, Bulgaria, Hungary, and Romania), that two of the countries (Croatia and Bosnia) had suffered the worst conflicts in Europe since 1945. 5 âParadigmâ€? has become a buzz word, used often and inaccurately. I use it here in the sense of a belief system which accommodates only certain information and either rejects or edits all other information to fit within the parameters of the system. For paradigms and their uses, see Thomas S. Kuhn, The Structure of Scientific Revolutions (Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1996), passim.6 Richard Holbrooke, To End a War (New York: Modern Library, 1999), pp. 24, 73, 162. 7 James Gow, The Serbian Project and Its Adversaries: A Strategy of War Crimes (Montreal: McGill-Queens University Press, 2003), pp. 8â11, 43â6, 49, 55â8, 158, 163â5, 171, 192, 196â7, 226, 235â6, 239â41, 303â304, 308â309. "In retrospect, that which appeared to be spiteful and senseless had a clear purpose: to drive out an unwanted and potentially hostile population, that is, to cleanse the territory." By driving out the population, according to Gow, the JNA precluded "political disruption, terrorism, or guerrilla tactics." 8 James Morgan Read, Atrocity Propaganda, 1914-1919 (New Haven CT: Yale UP, 1941), discusses the circularity of propaganda.9 Bogdan Denitch, âLearning from the Death of Yugoslavia: Nationalism and Democracy,â€? Social Text, 34 (1993): 3â16; Robert M. Hayden, âImagined Communities and Real Victims: Self-Determination and Ethnic Cleansing in Yugoslavia,â€? American Ethnologist 23 (November 1996) 4: 783â801; Bette Denich, âDismembering Yugoslavia: Nationalist Ideologies and the Symbolic Revival of Genocide,â€? American Ethnologist 21 (May 1994) 2: 367â90.10 Ivo Banac, âMisreading the Balkans,â€? Foreign Policy, 93 (Winter 1993),; also see his âYugoslavia,â€? American Historical Review (97 (October 1992) 4: pp. 1085â1103, and âThe Weight of False History,â€? in Francis R. Jones and Ivan Lovrenovic, eds., Reconstruction and Deconstruction (Sarajevo: Forum Bosnae, 2002).11 Ivo Banac, âMisreading the Balkans,â€? Foreign Policy, 93 (Winter 1993), p. 173.12 Dennison Rusinow, âYugoslavia: Balkan Breakup?â€? Foreign Affairs 83 (Summer 1991): 145, 158. 13 Warren Zimmermann, Origins of a Catastrophe. Yugoslavia and its Destroyers. Americaâs Last Ambassador Tells What Happened and Why (New York: Random House, 1996), pp. 40, 153.14 For example, Lazar Markovic, âLa questione croate,â€? Le monde slave (1937), pp. 87â119, or the chapter on Yugoslavia in Joseph Rothschild, East Central Europe between the Two World Wars (Seattle: University of Washington Press, 1977). For the best discussion of the root causes of Yugoslaviaâs problems, see Ivo Banac, The National Question in Yugoslavia. Origins, History, Politics (Ithaca, NY: Cornell UP, 1984), as well as his discussion of the proximate causes of Yugoslaviaâs demise, Ivo Banac, Raspad Jugoslavije: Eseji o nacionalizmu i nacionalnim sukobima (Zagreb: Durieux, 2001), which should be read with Sabrina Rametâs excellent work, e.g., Balkan Babel. The Disintegration of Yugoslavia from the Death of Tito to the Fall of Milosevic (Boulder: Westview Press, 2002).15 Gale, Stokes, Review, American Historical Review, 87 (June 1982) 3: 773â4, writes, âThere is much that is salutary in this, particularly in Tudjmanâs insistence that nationalism is a great humanistic principle.â€? Tudjman, Stokes noted, was âcorrectâ€? to see the solution of the national problem as necessary for the stability of Yugoslavia, and he agree that Croats should not be made to feel guilty for World War II and that estimates of the victims at Jasenovac were inflated. Stokes did note that Tudjman was a ânationalistâ€? whose interpretation of historyâ€?favors Croatia,â€? and he later chided Tudjman for failing to âapologizeâ€? and âatoneâ€? for Ustasa actions. Like Rusinow and Woodward, Stokes made a distinction between a healthy, democratic Serb nationalism, and a fascist, chauvinistic, Croatian nationalism. See Gale Stokes, The Walls Came Tumbling Down. The Collapse of Communism in Eastern Europe (New York: Oxford UP, 1993), pp. 212-213, 218, 227.16 F. Stephen Larrabee, âLong Memories and Short Fuses: Change and Instability in the Balkans,â€? International Security, 15 (Winter 1990) 3: 58â91.17 Bruno Dallago and Milica Uvalic, âThe Distributive Consequences of Nationalism: The Case of the Former Yugoslavia,â€? Europe-Asia Studies, 50 (January 1998) 1: 71â90.18 Nancy Birdsall, âLife is Unfair: Inequality in the World,â€? Foreign Policy, pp. 76â93. 19 Colin Crouch, Post-Democracy (London: Polity, 2005).20 World Bank, World Development Index, 2002.21 Caroline Hodges Persell, âThe Interdependence of Social Justice and Civil Society,â€? Sociological Forum 12 (1997) 2: 149â72, for the need to link the two concepts.22 Vojimir Franicevic and Evan Kraft, âCroatiaâs Economy after Stabilisation,â€? Europe-Asia Studies 39 (1997) 4: 669â91, suggest a reality with more nuances.23 Nick Ceh and Jeff Harder, âImagining the Croatian Nation,â€? East European Quarterly (January 2005), pp. 409â416, base their analysis of Croatian âconstructionsâ€? on 25 hours of interviews. It is typical of this type of approach that the authors never examine the reality of the âconstructs.â€? Ceh and Harder seem to be unaware that by arguing for language as the primary marker of nationality, they are effectively repeatedly the arguments of Vuk Karadzic, the father of modern Serbian nationalism.24 Robert David Greenberg, Language and Identity in the Balkans: Serbo-Croatian and Its Disintegration (New York: Oxford, 2004). During his presentation at the Wilson Center and he and Woodward ridiculing such constructs as zracnaluka, as well as Denich claiming redarstvo was an Ustasa word.25 How pervasive the anti-hero-worship became can be seen in Timeâs decision to put Mladic on its cover in 1995. For this and the U.S. media, see James J. Sadkovich, The U.S. Media and Yugoslavia, 1991-1995 (Westport CT: Greenwood, 1998), passim.26 The phrase is from a recent e-mail exchange by two scholars.27 Nation, Progressive, New York Review of Books, were all influential and provided fora for Hitchens, Glenny, Drakulic, and others critical of both nationalism and Croatia. CITE28 Joseph Rothschild, Return to Diversity. A Political History of East Central Europe since World War II (New York: Oxford University Press, 1989), p. 186.29 ICTY, Indictment of Jadranko Prlic, et al., Paragraph 36.30 Banac, âMisreading.â€?31 Alex N. Dragnich, Serbs and Croats: The Struggle in Yugoslavia; Michael Parenti, To Kill a Nation: The Attack on Yugoslavia (2005).32 Gordana Uzelak, âFranjo Tudjmanâs Nationalist Ideology,â€? East European Quarterly (Winter 1997) 31(4).33 Mark Biondich, Stjepan Radic, the Croatian Peasant Party, and the Politics of Mass Mobilization (Toronto: University of Toronto Press, 2000)34 Denich, âDismembering Yugoslavia,â€? p. 380, 383, writes, âTrouble started when the new government in Zagreb acted to install the symbols of its domination throughout Croatia, starting with the new âchessboardâ emblem.â€? Denich is sympathetic to âSerbian nationalists,â€? who defend themselves against âextreme Croatian nationalistsâ€? and she laments the lack of a âdemocratic systemâ€? in Croatia. This is typical of the âTudjman-made-me-do-itâ€? genre of explanation.35 Robert Hayden, âConstitutional Nationalism in the Former Yugoslav Republics,â€? Slavic Review 51 (Winter 1992) 4: 6654â73; âSchindlerâs Fate: Genocide, Ethnic Cleansing, and Population Transfers,â€? Slavic Review 55 (Winter 1996) 7: 27â48; and with Milica Bakic-Hayden, âOrientalist Variations on the Theme âBalkanâ€?: Symbolic Geography in Recent Yugoslav Cultural Politics,â€? Slavic Review 51 (Spring 1992) 1: 1â15.36 Robert Hayden, âImagined Communities and Real Victims: Self-Determination and Ethnic Cleansing in Yugoslavia,â€? American Ethnologist 23 (November 1996) 4: 783â80.37 Letter, Anto Knezevic, and Reply, R. M. Hayden, Slavic Review, 52 (Summer 1993) 2: 415â417. Similarly, my efforts to challenge Alex Dragnichâs 1991 article, âThe Anatomy of a Myth: Serbian Hegemony,â€? that argued there was no such thing as âSerbian hegemonyâ€? were rejected by the editor of Slavic Review, and the article went unchallenged; so both professors and students still consider Dragnichâs piece âtrue.â€? This 1991 article is one of only four pieces by Dragnich listed on JSTOR. Dragnich had not published many articles, and like Jobâs piece, this one appears to have been written for a reason.38 Journals often reflect paradigms, e.g., The Mediterranean Quarterly reflects Serbian and Greek points of view, The Journal of Croatian Studies, a Croatian point of view. Mainstream scholarly journals like Slavic Review reflect the paradigms acceptable to their editors and boards.39 Patrick Hyder Patterson, âOn the Edge of Reason: The Boundaries of Balkanism in Slovenian, Austrian, and Italian Discourse,â€? Slavic Review 62 (Spring 2003) 1: 110â41. Taras Kermauner and Veljko Rus presented Slovenia as a âcultural Piedmontâ€? with a âmissionâ€? to end the charismatic, authoritarian style of politics practiced by Tito and Milosevic. Miso Jezernik, the editor of Nova Revija, went further, depicting Sloveniaâs South Slav workers as âalien,â€? thereby echoing Dinko Tomasic and others who have viewed the Balkans, and Serbians in particular, as primitive and antimodern. Slovenia thus becomes the carrier and defender of democratic ideals, a variation on the binary division of Europe into West and East. Stjepan Mestrovic, Slaven Letica, Miroslav Goreta, Habits of the Balkan Heart. Social Character and the Fall of Communism .College Station TX: Texas A & M UP, 1993) base much of their argument distinguishing Croatian from Serbian culture on Tomasic.40 Sarah Kent, âWriting the Yugoslav Wars: English-Language Books on Bosnia (1992â1996) and the Challenge of Analyzing Contemporary History,â€? American Historical Review (October 1997): 1085â1114, notes that critical perspective is still lacking and the literature is suffused with âmyth, propaganda, oversimplifications, and analogiesâ€? that are misleading. Kent also notes that journalists were concentrated in Sarajevo.41 See Robert D. Kaplan, âBloody Balkans,â€? The New Republic, April 8, 1991, âYugo First,â€? The New Republic, September 2, 1991, âCroatianism,â€? The New Republic, November 25, 1991, and Banac, Protiv straha, pp. 232â3, who singled out âCroatianismâ€? as an example of the mediaâs penchant for resurrecting hoary (prastare) legends and creating new ones, and Anto Knezevic, An Analysis of Serbian Propaganda (Zagreb: Domovina TT, 1992), pp. 27â75, for a detailed rebuttal of Kaplan, who apparently had not even read the works he criticized. Damir Mirkovic, âEthnic Conflict and Genocide: Reflections on Ethnic Cleansing in the Former Yugoslavia,â€? Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Science 548 (November 1996): 191â99, argues that Tudjmanâs government practiced âcultural genocideâ€? through such acts as requiring paramilitary groups to surrender their firearms and seeks to associate Croatiaâs government with Mile Budak and the 1941â45 Ustasa state. He also sees a historical conspiracy of Austria, Germany, Hungary, the USSR, and the Vatican to kindle conflict in Yugoslavia. Maritti Koskenniemi, âNational Self-Determination Today: Problems of Legal Theory and Practice,â€? The International and Comparative Law Quarterly 43 (April 1994) 2: 241â69, is a sophisticated argument that recognition was premature because the âinternal legitimacyâ€? of Croatia and Bosnia was questionable and transformed Serbian efforts to realize self-determination into aggression.42 Gale Stokes, John Lampe, and Dennison Rusinow with Julie Mostov, âInstant History: Understanding the Wars of Yugoslavia,â€? Slavic Review 55 (Spring 1996) 1: 136â60.43 Christopher Bennett, Yugoslaviaâs Bloody Collapse. Causes, Course and Consequences. London: Hurst & Cpy., 1995.44 Lenard J. Cohen, Broken Bonds: The Disintegration of Yugoslavia. Boulder: Westview, 1993, and his most recent, Serpent in the Bosom: The Rise and Fall of Slobodan Milosevic. Boulder, Col.: Westview Press, 2002.45 Susan L. Woodward, Balkan Tragedy. Chaos and the Dissolution of Yugoslav after the Cold War. Washington DC: Brookings Inst., 1995.46 Laura Silber and Allan Little, The Death of Yugoslavia. London: Penguin/BBC Books, 1996.47 Ramet, Balkan Babel; Reneo Lukic and Allen Lynch, Europe from the Balkans to the Urals. The Disintegration of Yugoslavia and the Soviet Union (Oxford University Press, 1996); Branka Magas, The Destruction of Yugoslavia. Tracking the Break-up 1980-92 (New York: Verso, 1993), and Branka Magas and Ivo Âanic, The War in Croatia and Bosnia-Herzegovina, 1991â1995 (London: Frank Cass, 2001); Norman Cigar, Genocide in Bosnia. The Policy of Ethnic Cleansing (College Station TX: Texas A&M UP, 1995), and Norman Cigar and Paul Williams, War Crimes and Individual Responsibility: A Prima Facie Case for the Indictment of Slobodan Milosevic (Washington DC: The Balkan Institute, 1996). 48 Banac, âMisreading,â€? and Ivo Banac, Raspad Jugoslavije, argues that whatever Tudjman did, he could not have accommodated the Serbs, although he could have improved Croatiaâs image abroad.49 Banac, âMisreading,â€? notes that scholarship on Yugoslavia was âneither profound nor influential,â€? and that social scientists aped Yugoslav ideology, echoing the Yugoslav literature.50 The University of Washington published a widely read series on Eastern Europe that included Joseph Rothschildâs work on interwar Yugoslavia. See above for Rothschild.51 Ivo Banac, âYugoslavia,â€? and âThe Weight of False History.â€? letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Mon, 09 May 2005 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/6253/1/E-Prof-Dr-Kulic-o-Gubitku-Hrvatskog-Monetarnog-Suvereniteta.html ÂMoramo imati na umu da traje svjetski rat koji se vodi za sve oskudne izvore energije, pa tako i vodu i hranu. PROFESOR SLAVKO KULIC S EKONOMSKOG INSTITUTA U ZAGREBU O GUBITKU HRVATSKOG MONETARNOG SUVERENITETANe pristupa Hrvatska Europi, vec nas Unija anektiraGlobalizacija je uÅavÅi u Hrvatsku najprije prisvojila domacu akumulaciju koja je postala vlasniÅtvo talijanske, austrijske i njemacke drzave koje na taj nacin drze pod kontrolom citav naÅ zivot jer raspolazu naÅom Åtednjom koju plasiraju vodeci se iskljucivo svojim potrebama i interesima. Neoliberalni Âtsunami najprije nam je omogucio da pomocu kredita troÅimo sve Åto je svijet proizveo, a onda se povukao s naÅom akumulacijom. Ta nas je neoliberalna oseka ostavila potpuno osiromaÅene u stanju da moramo pristati na bilo koju alternativu koja nam se ponudi. Dok god ne budemo u potpunosti pristali na podloznost i bespogovorno prihvacanje europskih direktiva nece biti ni clanstva u EU-uRazgovarao Drazen MAJICProfesor Slavko Kulic predstojnik je Odjela za interdisciplinarna istrazivanja Ekonomskog instituta u Zagrebu i autor viÅe od 250 znanstvenoistrazivackih radova te stotinjak sudskih ekspertiza vezanih za ekonomsku problematiku. Kulic je medijski vrlo zanimljiv sugovornik jer u svojim razmiÅljanjima beskompromisno analizira hrvatsku gospodarsku i politicku stvarnost koristeci angazirani pristup intelektualca humanisticke provenijencije i vjerodostojnost znanstvenika. Osim po nedavno objavljenoj knjizi ÂNeoliberalizam kao socijal-darvinizamÂ, Kulic je paznju medija izazvao i sudskim vjeÅtacenjem uzroka sloma Istarske banke i citavog hrvatskog bankarskog sustava. Razgovor smo zapoceli upravo tom temom pokuÅavajuci spoznati utjecaj rasprodaje hrvatskih banaka na pregovaracku poziciju naÅe zemlje prilikom pristupanja Europskoj uniji.Dugo smo bili u zabludi oko privatizacije hrvatskih banaka- Zbog cega tvrdite da se u drugoj polovici devedesetih nije dogodila privatizacija hrvatskog bankarskog sustava, vec su ga preuzele banke u vlasniÅtvu susjednih drzava?- NaÅa je javnost doista dugo bila u zabludi misleci da se dogodila privatizacija hrvatskih poslovnih banaka. Istina je da se dogodilo podrzavljenje banaka jer hrvatska drzava, odnosno njena politicka elita, nije bila sposobna upravljati svojim monetarnim sustavom. Stoga su odlucili cjelokupnu domacu Åtednju i raspolozivu akumulaciju predati meÃunarodnoj politickoj i financijskoj oligarhiji. Globalizacija je tako uÅla u Hrvatsku i jeftinom kupovinom najvecih banaka najprije prisvojila domacu akumulaciju koja je postala vlasniÅtvo talijanske, austrijske i njemacke drzave koje na taj nacin drze pod kontrolom ne samo banke nego i citav naÅ zivot jer raspolazu naÅom Åtednjom koju danas plasiraju vodeci se iskljucivo svojim potrebama i interesima. Kada su nedavno hrvatski graÃani podigli oko milijardu kuna svoje Åtednje jedan je celnik Hrvatske narodne banke (stranac) napravio pravu uzbunu pitajuci ih Åto misle takvim ponaÅanjem. Strane drzave ocito paze koliko koristimo svoju akumulaciju kontrolirajuci tako i naÅe ponaÅanje spram te akumulacije koja im je inace prodana uz 1,5 posto kamata. Danas nam tu istu akumulaciju prodaju uz kamatu od 6 do 28 posto. Taj je proces preÅutjela i znanost i politicka vlast, kao i vodeci mediji.- Smatrate da je taj proces bio dobro osmiÅljeni scenarij. Tko ga je osmislio?- Svjetska politicka i financijska oligarhija imala je za cilj doci do akumulacije tranzicijskih zemalja bilo kroz zivotna osiguranja, bilo kroz izvoz i prodaju svoje jeftine robe ili kroz kupnju banaka. Njihova je strategija osvajanje i preraspodjela onoga Åto je gotovo, a ne ulaganje u investicije i stvaranje novih vrijednosti. Namjera je bila da se do toga doÃe na Åto bezbolniji nacin.- Znaci cilj je bio primorati drzavu da sanira i proda najvece banke te ukloni one manje i stvori mjesta za dolazak stranih banaka?- Otprilike tako. Tvrdilo se da moraju doci strane banke jer se mora stvoriti konkurencija Åto je bilo zamagljivanje financijskog trziÅta u Hrvatskoj. Naime, te nove banke su naÅim graÃanima i privredi prodavale novac po daleko vecoj cijeni od one u njihovim maticnim zemljama. One su u stvari zlorabile prostor naÅih slabosti, naÅe neinformiranosti ili neobazrivosti. Naravno, do hrvatske akumulacije nije se moglo doci bez suglasnosti hrvatske politicke elite.Spisak za likvidaciju 35 banaka- Dakle, Franjo TuÃman je bio potpuno svjestan tog procesa?- Nije, mada sam ga joÅ 1993. godine upozoravao da je naÅ Ustav vrijednosno politicki, a ne vrijednosno socijalni akt te da se u Hrvatskom saboru moramo odluciti na koji tip kapitalizma pristajemo - na anglosaksonski ili proeuropski. Nazalost, do danas nismo donijeli politicki konsenzus o tome. Hrvatska nema politickog i ekonomskog konstitucionalizma, pa ce biti teÅko doci do pravnog konstitucionalizma koji od nas traze europske direktive, odnosno europski ustav. Dok god ne budemo u potpunosti pristali na podloznost i bespogovorno prihvacanje europskih direktiva nece biti ni clanstva u Europskoj uniji. ZaÅto? Upravo zato jer te direktive ne traze pregovarace vec izvoÃace.- Je li prilikom preuzimanja banaka uopce bilo nekakvog pregovaranja ili su naÅi politicki i monetarni celnici tek sproveli izvanjski diktat?- Sve se dogodilo u Hrvatskoj narodnoj banci unutar koje je oformljena komisija sa zadatkom da sprovede spomenutu koncepciju i koja je sacinila spisak za likvidaciju 35 banaka, meÃu kojima je bila i Istarska banka. Privremeni upravitelji i njihovi postupci nisu bili slucajni vec pomno osmiÅljeni, a svi oni koji su u tome sudjelovali potom su unapreÃeni i nagraÃeni. Pitanje je kako bi proÅli da to nisu prihvatili. Primjera radi, sanacija Dubrovacke banke vrijedna tri milijarde kuna pokrivena je izdavanjem drzavnih vrijednosnih papira, a banka je potom prodana za nekih 300 milijuna kuna. Samo na tom primjeru vidimo da se neko olako poigrao s poreznim obveznicima. Pravo je pitanje tko je sebi dozvolio toliku kolicinu ovlasti da neÅto sanira s tri milijarde kuna, a onda to isto proda za desetinu vrijednosti i tko je od toga imao koristi? Onaj tko je banku kupio znao je Åto stoji u njenom portfelju u smislu onih dvadeset hotela - dvadeset bisera koji su, osim preuzimanja akumulacije, i bili cilj kupaca.TadaÅnji guverner Marko Åkreb pritom je zloporabio izvrÅnu vlast Åto predstavnici HNB-a i danas priznaju u svojim priopcenjima tvrdeci da su sve radili skupa s Vladom. To je jedan od najtezih promaÅaja u sociologiji drzave zbog kojih studente ruÅimo na ispitima ako to ne znaju. Monetarna vlast je odgovorna Hrvatskom saboru kao zakonodavnoj vlasti jer je u jedinstvu vlasti monetarna vlast jednako vazna kao i izvrÅna, sudbena ili zakonodavna buduci da u stvarnosti obavlja vrijednosnu valorizaciju onog Åto se dogaÃa u spomenutim segmentima. Kod prodaje bankovnog sustava sve se dogodilo izvan Hrvatskog sabora, a posljedica tih dogaÃanja je gubitak monetarnog suvereniteta.Politika je zloporabila ogromno povjerenje naroda nakon osamostaljenja- Kako je moguce da nitko na to nije reagirao?- Sve je ucinjeno bez prisustva znanosti. Nama ti detalji nisu bili dostupni cime ne zelim umanjiti odgovornost jer jedan narod, izmeÃu ostalog, treba znanstvenike da sprijece socijalnu nesrecu ako narod u nju srlja ili ga netko drugi gura. Mi na zalost ni dan danas nemamo dovoljno uvida u sve materijalne cinjenice. Sve je bilo skriveno od znanstvenika i medija.- Zar nismo onda kao narod malo naivni ili cak i primitivni kad nas netko moze tako izraditi?- Ne radi se o primitivizmu vec o ogromnoj kolicini povjerenja koju je narod dao politickoj strukturi koja je to povjerenje zloupotrijebila protiv naroda i to je najtezi dio naÅe istine. Narod je izabrao svoje predstavnike u Saboru koji su prepustili izvrÅnoj i monetarnoj vlasti da donose odluke koje nisu u interesu samog naroda. Na temeljno pitanje kako je to bilo moguce joÅ nitko nije odgovorio. To je moguce samo u kancelarskom sustavu gdje premijer ima potpunu izvrÅnu vlast i kontrolu nad zakonodavnom vlaÅcu tako da je pitanje je li baÅ TuÃman bio naÅ najautoritativniji vladar.- Kako se gubitak monetarnog suvereniteta odrazio na hrvatsko gospodarstvo?- Destrukcija monetarnog sustava je dalekosezna jer predstavlja onesposobljavanje druÅtva za bilo kakav oblikosamostaljivanja u bilo kojem segmentu: politickom, pravnom, pa cak i vojnom. Hrvatskog gospodarstvo i stanovniÅtvo liÅeni su mogucnosti koriÅtenje vlastite akumulacije i valute za gospodarski rast. Izgubili smo sposobnost upravljanja vlastitom kreditno-financijskom politikom te danas djelujemo pod uvjetima koje nam drugi odreÃuju. Primjera radi, uzmimo karticno poslovanje i karticnu potroÅnju koja je suludo visoka jer narod nema druge mogucnosti da doÃe do novca. Taj karticni dug se popeo na preko deset i pol milijardi dolara, plus kamate od 13 do 28 posto. Kada tom dodamo i unutarnji dug od 7,6 milijardi dolara, te dug globalnim financijskim institucijama od preko 33 milijardi dolara bez kamata, 22 milijarde dolara umirovljenicima, kao i cinjenicu da su pristigle na naplatu drzavne obveznice te garancije i vatikanski ugovori - situacija je katastrofalna.MMF nam porucuje: Izvolite svoje zdravlje cuvati na jeftiniji nacin!- Od ove drzave zahtjeva se neÅto Åto proturjeci svakom razumu jer ta drzava viÅe ne moze podmiriti sve one koji su se postavili kao vjerovnici. Åtrajk lijecnika se dogaÃa jer MeÃunarodni monetarni fond kaze: U zdravstvu viÅe ne mozete troÅiti toliko koliko zelite - izvolite svoje zdravlje cuvati na jeftiniji nacin. Buduci da se pripremaju Åtrajkovi u obrazovanju i kod umirovljenika, mi tek dolazimo u probleme koje necemo moci zatrpati. Oni su zakonita posljedica liÅenosti hrvatske akumulacije jer da smo imali akumulaciju, mogli smo to sami rjeÅavati. Nadalje, od 16,5 milijardi kuna koliko potroÅimo na hranu iz uvoza dolazi dvije trecine Åto znaci da smo i bioloÅku osnovicu doveli u ovisnost, a slicno nam slijedi i s energentima.- Gdje nam je uopce ostala neovisnost? Koje joÅ atribute suverenosti uopce imamo?- Gotovo da viÅe i nemamo polja u kojem nismo ovisni. JoÅ jedino imamo suverenitet uma da se protivimo situaciji u koju smo se doveli jer za nju nam nitko drugi nije kriv. Moramo se osvijestiti o stanju u koje smo doÅli.- Tek smo izaÅli iz jedne drzavne zajednice, a spremamo se u drugu s prilicno loÅih polaznih polozaja. Nisu li onda rat i sve zrtve bile uzaludne?- Onaj tko nas je liÅio naÅih mogucnosti potpuno je obesmislio Domovinski rat. To se mora znati.- Znaci Âotac domovine Franjo TuÃman vec je za vrijeme svoje vlasti dozvolio da njegovo dijete izgubi svoju neovisnost?- Nije za vrijeme njegovog mandata sve bilo izgubljeno jer su i njega takozvane proeuropske snage osuÃivale jer se protivio pristupanju Europi prije sreÃivanja unutarnje situacije. Osim toga pitanje je i koliko je on uopce razumio Åto se dogaÃa i koliko je on kao povjesnicar bio svjestan onoga Åto se dogaÃa na polju ekonomije. Ne zna se Åto su mu njegovi savjetnici predocavali o dogaÃanjima u monetarnom sektoru. Znam tek da nije puno znao o monetarnoj politici i da je odgovoran Åto nije monetarnoj vlasti pridavao jednaku vaznost koju je imala zakonodavna ili izvrÅna vlast. Na to su ga trebali upozoriti pravni strucnjaci koji su kreirali ustav u kojem monetarna vlast nije u jedinstvu vlasti. Monetarna vlast je tuÃa i izvan je sustava odgovornosti prema hrvatskoj stvarnosti.Sve je u funkciji uvoznog lobija, a protiv proizvodno-tehnoloÅke i izvozne orijentacije- Åto bi se dogodilo da su banke ostale pod hrvatskom kontrolom?- Da smo ostali u posjedu 135 milijardi kuna akumulacije, ne bi nam uopce bio problem 30 ili 40 milijardi kuna uloziti u investicije i ne bi bilo potrebe za tolikim koriÅtenjem inozemnih kredita. MeÃutim, mi i ove preostale banke zelimo prodati strancima Åto znaci da nismo naucili lekciju. Oni nas zele liÅiti bilo kakve mogucnosti da iÅta mozemo uciniti u smislu unutarnjeg samoodreÃenja ili jasnog meÃunarodnog opredjeljenja. Slicno je i s ustrajanjem na fiksnom tecaju koji je iskljucivo u funkciji uvoznog lobija, a protiv bilo kakve proizvodno-tehnoloÅke i izvozne orijentacije. DanaÅnja rasprava o promjeni tecaja nema nikakvog smisla u postojecem beskoncepcijskom stanju. Razlika je izmeÃu fiksnog i stvarnog tecaja kune oko 20 posto. Imperativno je da drzava u Saboru ili na gospodarsko-socijalnom vijecu utvrdi proizvodno-tehnoloÅku-izvoznu razvojnu politiku umjesto trgovacke. Deficit proracuna raste. Rashodi se ostvaruju, ali ne i prihodi. Planirani deficit je 4,5 posto, a onaj stvarni je i preko 6,5 posto. Stanje se prikriva umjesto da se rjeÅava preraspodjelom. Tecajne razlike prenose se na domace potroÅace, a to ce nas tek koÅtati kad poraste cijena nafte i plina.- U svjetlu pristupanja Europi Åto nam je onda joÅ preostalo za pregovaranje? Jer, po vama, vec smo na koljenima.- Za to ne treba optuzivati Europu vec naÅ kancelarski sustav koji kontrolira sve razine vlasti. Dokaz tome je preko 90 tisuca pravnih normi koje su od 1991. do 2004. godine usvojene u Saboru od kojih je 75 tisuca na Âbrzi nacin nametnula izvrÅna vlast. U takvim okolnostima teÅko da se moze govoriti o parlamentarnoj demokraciji jer kod nas izvrÅna vlast dominira nad zakonodavnom Åto u svijetu baÅ nigdje ne postoji. Sabor se olako odrekao odgovornosti koju je preuzeo prema narodu.Primit ce nas tek 2017. u paketu sa Srbijom i Crnom Gorom- Kako gledate na problem generala Gotovine i koliko je on doista prepreka naÅem ulasku u EU?- Gotovina je samo jedno od pitanja za koja insistiraju da budu u skladu s njihovim zahtjevima. Ante Gotovina uopce nije problem za pocetak razgovora, vec oni zele da budemo u potpunosti podlozni svakom njihovom zahtjevu. Kada rijeÅimo taj problem pojavit ce se problem ljudskih prava i to ce biti razlog zbog kojeg ce nas pod schengenskim zidom drzati cak do 2017. godine. Tu je i umirovljenicki dug od 22 milijardi dolara koji je vec dospio do Strasbourga, pa povrat izbjeglica. To su naÅi stvarni problemi pa ako nas na Gotovini mogu ovako odgaÃati, koliko nas tek mogu pritiskati na spomenutim problemima? Mislim da ce se ti razgovori odgaÃati sve dok ne budemo u paketu primljeni 2017. godine, zajedno sa Srbijom i Crnom Gorom.Istaknuo bih, takoÃer, da se u stvari ne radi o pristupanju Europskoj uniji vec o obicnoj aneksiji. Dok ne pristanemo na bespogovorno izvrÅavanje naloga oni ce nas iscrpljivati jer mi s naÅe strane zida niÅta ne poduzimamo kako bi rijeÅili svoje probleme, vec se nadamo da ce se problemi rijeÅiti kad uÃemo u Uniju. Suludo je ocekivati da ce nam probleme rjeÅavati netko treci i to je naÅa najveca zabluda. Jer Unija ce uskoro imati toliko svojih problema da nece imati kad razmiÅljati o necijim problemima.- VaÅ termin aneksija podsjeca na neku zlu silu tipa Treceg Reicha?- Konstrukt Europe je utemeljen na filozofiji nasilja, a Europska unija je stvorila ustav poretka sile kao prava. Dok god ne prihvatimo poredak sile kao prava mi necemo uci u Europu Åto znaci da moramo prihvatiti ekonomsku, politicku, pravnu, socijalnu i vojnu podreÃenost te da cemo sluziti tuÃim interesima bez prava da sluzimo interesima hrvatskog naroda. Financijsko-politicka oligarhija koja je i stvorila Europsku uniju otpocetka je oblikuje spram svojih interesa, a ne zbog interesa naroda koji se uvode u taj nadnacionalni projekt. Nema nam egzistencije bez edukacije za takvu nasilnu Europu.- Stvar pomalo nalikuje nekoj zavjeri. Koji su eksponenti te financijsko-politicke oligarhije?- Nema tu nikakve zavjere jer se sve radi potpuno otvoreno. Tu prevladavaju americke i dijelom europske korporacije. Sve nadnacionalne tvorevine uvijek su u funkciji njihovog interesa. Radi se o americko-europskom interpersonalnom savezu koji sve zeli podciniti interesu svoga novca. Trenutno se najviÅe radi na problemu Ukrajine, Bjelorusije i Moldavije koje su zbog svoje vaznosti u transportu plina i nafte dobile prednost pred Balkanom. Aktualno putovanje Condoleeze Rice u Rusiju najava je skoraÅnjeg pritiska na Ruse da prihvate daljnju ekspanziju Unije.- Cijela prica je prilicno pesimisticna. Åto nam preostaje? - Moramo javno pricati o tome dok cekamo pred zidom. Moramo rjeÅavati probleme koji su pobjegli kontroli naÅe politicke elite. Nalazimo se u stanju autodigestije – samoprobave, odnosno potroÅnje svega raspolozivog. Neoliberalni Âtsunami koji nam je najprije omogucio da pomocu kredita troÅimo sve Åto je svijet proizveo, sada se povukao s naÅom akumulacijom. Ta nas je neoliberalna oseka ostavila potpuno osiromaÅene u stanju da moramo pristati na bilo koju alternativu koja nam se ponudi.Preostaje nam rasprodaja prostora, voda i Åuma- U Istri se najavljuje prodaja dijela vodovodnog i prometnog sustava Izraelcima. Kako na to trebamo gledati?- Moramo imati na umu da traje svjetski rat koji se vodi za sve oskudne izvore energije, pa tako i vodu i hranu. Kada se voda bude prodavala nece biti lako, a tuzno je i da ovisimo o uvozu hrane. Kada bi nocas ukinuli uvoz hrane sve bi se paraliziralo i trebalo bi nam duze vrijeme da doÃemo k sebi. Mi ne promiÅljamo svoju stvarnu situaciju, vec idealisticki ili cak patoloÅki ocekujemo da ce nam Europa rjeÅavati probleme. Na raskrinkavanju te zablude moraju poraditi i znanost, a posebno mediji. Mi smo ostali zadnji koji moramo biti odgovorni spram javnosti i stvarnosti. Sve nam je zadano kroz ekonomsku politiku (MMF, EBRD i EU), a nama ostaje da utjerujemo poreze i da se sukobljavamo oko preraspodjele onoga Åto je preostalo - rasprodaje prostora, voda i Åuma!Izvor: http://www.glasistre.hr/?403fd6282c1c042435ed0ff5b3abee4b,TS,507,,3276,,43590,  letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Mon, 09 May 2005 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/6252/1/E-Slavko-Morozin-Dobanovic-Dachau-victim.html ÂSlavko Morozin DobanovićI've just gone through the list of Croatians who disappeared in German Conc. Camps and would like you to add the name of an ancestor of mine: Slavko Morožin Dobanović was my grandmother's brother, born in Biograd, was a Partisan and taken to Dachau where he was killed. My mother visited Dachau back in 1980s and found his name on the wall among the names of all known victims of the Camp. Thank you and kindest regards.Sandra Steticcultural@croatiaemb.orghttp://www.croatia.org/crown/oldphotos/5126.htm  letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Mon, 09 May 2005 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/6258/1/E-City-of-Split-was-founded-1700-years-ago.html ÂSplit, Croatia 1700th year celebrationÂÂÂThousands of people gather for the traditional annual celebration of Saint Duje in Adriatic port of Split, Croatia, May 7, 2005. The city was founded 1,700 years ago by Roman Emperor Diocletian who ordered the killing of bishop Duje, later known as Saint Duje, the patron of Split city. REUTERS/Matko Biljak ÂA member of the Cambridge rowing team salutes the crowd while their boat sinks in Split city waterfront, Croatia, May 7, 2005. The team participated in a race with Oxford to mark the 1700 anniversary of Split. REUTERS/Matko Biljak  letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Sat, 07 May 2005 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/6260/1/E-Archbishop-Stepinacs-Reply-at-the-Trial.html ÂArchbishop Stepinac's Reply at the TrialTo all charges brought against me here, I answer that “my conscience is in every way clear (even though the public here present ridicule this statement), and I seek neither to defend myself nor appeal against the verdict.For my convictions I am able to bear not only ridicule, hatred, and humiliation, but - because my conscience is clear - I am ready at any moment to die.Hundreds of times during the trial I have been called "the defendant Stepinac." There is no one so naive as not to know that with the "defendant Stepinac" here on the bench sits the Archbishop of Zagreb, the Metropolitan, and the head of the Catholic Church in Yugoslavia.You yourselves have many times appealed to the accused priests present to acknowledge that only Stepinac is guilty for their, the people's, and the clergy's attitude. Stepinac, the man, cannot wield such influence, only Stepinac, the Archbishop.For seventeen months a campaign has been waged against me, publicly and in the press; and for twelve months I suffered actual house arrest in the Archbishop's palace.The guilt for the rebaptism of Serbs is ascribed to me. That is a misleading expression, for he who is once baptized, need not be re-baptized. The question concerns change of religions, and of this I shall not speak in detail, except to state that my conscience is clear and that history shall one day render its judgment in this matter.It is a fact that I was obliged to remove pastors, for they stood in danger of death from the Orthodox. The Serbs wanted to kill these priests because they refused them admission into the Church. It is a fact that during the war the Church had to find its way through countless difficulties. There was a desire to aid, as much as it was at all possible, the Serbian people.The honorable judge has produced evidence showing that I sought an abandoned Orthodox monastery (once belonging to our own Pauline Fathers) in Orehovica to lodge Trappists whom the Germans had driven away from Reichburg. It was my duty to aid my brother Slovenes, whom the Hitlerites had banished, to find temporary shelter.Because I was the Military Ordinary, grave criminality is imputed to me. The honorable judge asked me if I did not consider myself a traitor to Yugoslavia because in this matter I sought an understanding with the Independent State of Croatia.I was the Military Ordinary in the former Yugoslavia. I labored during those eight to nine years to bring about a definite solution of the religious problem. This question was finally solved through the Yugoslav Concordat, which was agreed upon after great difficulties, solemnly ratified in parliament, but then shelved.When the war between Yugoslavia and Germany neared its end, I extended spiritual aid to the Catholic soldiers of the former Yugoslav army and of the newly created Independent State of Croatia. If, therefore, the state had fallen, but the soldiers still remained, I felt obliged to concern myself with this situation.I was persona non grata to either the Germans or the Ustashe; I was not an Ustasha, nor did I take their oath as did some of the officials of this court whom I see here. The Croatian nation unanimously declared itself for the Croatian State and I would have been remiss had I not recognized and acknowledged this desire of the Croatian people enslaved by the former Yugoslavia.I have said that Croats were not allowed to advance in the army or to enter the diplomatic corps unless they changed their religion or married a nonbeliever. That is the factual basis and background of my pastorals and sermons.Whatever I have said of the right of the Croatian nation to its freedom and independence is in complete accord with the basic principles enunciated by the Allies at Yalta and in the Atlantic Charter.If, according to these principles, every nation has the right to independence, then why should it be denied to the Croats? The Holy See has declared that both small nations and national minorities have a right to freedom. Must, then, a Catholic Bishop and Metropolitan maintain total silence on this issue? If fall we must, then we fall because we have done our duty.Do not think that the Croatian nation is pleased with this trial, or that if given an opportunity to express themselves I would suffer as a result. I have honored and respected the will of my people, and I shall continue to do so.You accuse me as an enemy of the State and the people's authority. I acknowledge your authority. What was my authority? I repeat again: you have been my authority since May 8, I 945, but not before that. Where is it possible in the world to obey two authorities: you in the woods; they in Zagreb?Should I have given allegiance to the authority of the illegal Simovic, or - as you call it - the "exiled" government in London, to the one in Cairo, yours in the woods or theirs in Zagreb? Is it possible to serve two masters? This is impossible, according to Catholic morals, the law of nations, and common sense. We could not ignore the authority here, even if it were Ustasha. It was here. You have a right to call me to account for action since May 8, 1945.As to my so-called acts of terrorism, you have no proof, nor can anyone believe you. If Lisak, Lela Sofijanec, and others came to me under assumed names, if I received a letter which I never read, and if it be a crime for men to come to me, I shall accept the verdict with equanimity.It does not trouble my conscience to have issued a certificate of free movement to the Rev. Maric, for I did not do so with the purpose of creating difficulties, and if this be guilt I would leave this world with my soul at peace.Whether you believe me or not, does not matter. The accused Archbishop of Zagreb knows not only how to suffer but also to die for his convictions.President Bakaric (of Croatia) himself acknowledged to the Rev. Milanovic: "We are convinced that the Archbishop stands behind these acts, but we have no proof" That, for me, is sufficient acknowledgement.And now, what is the essence of our controversy and our vicissitudes, and why has not a peaceful solution been reached? The state prosecutor has many times affirmed that nowhere else is there such freedom of conscience as in this state. I am free to demonstrate the contrary.Before all, I repeat: 260 to 270 priests have been killed by the National Liberation Movement. In no civilized state in the world would so many priests be punished for such crimes as have been imputed to them. For example, the pastor of Slatina, the Rev. Burger, as a member of the Kultur bund, should have been sentenced to, say, eight years imprisonment; but no, you killed him because he, in fulfillment of his duty as dean, had saved the sacred vessels of a national shrine.The Rev. Povoljnjak was, without benefit of trial, murdered like a dog in the streets. And the same has been the fate of accused Sisters. In no other civilized state would death have been meted out: only, at the most, a prison sentence.You have made a fatal mistake in murdering priests. The people will not forgive you for that. Such is your "freedom."Our Catholic schools, built at the cost of great sacrifices, have been taken away from us. If I had not received seven carloads of foodstuff from America, we could not have done anything for the children of our poor peasant folk.With force you took away all the seminary property. You have done nothing less than what the Gestapo did in seizing the seminary at Mokrice. We are not against agrarian reforms - the Holy See has issued many encyclicals on the social question - but they should have been carried out in agreement with the Holy See.Our orphanages have been rendered useless. Our printing presses have been silenced, and I am not sure if one still exists. We have no publications today, although they have been violently attacked here.Is it not manifestly scandalous to insist that nowhere does the Church enjoy such "freedom" as here?The Dominicans were unable to publish a spiritual book, translated by me from French, to be printed at a cost of 75,000 dinars. Is this freedom of the press?The St. Jerome Society has ceased to exist. It is a grave offense against the people to treat their greatest and oldest cultural institution in this manner. You have reproached me for the work of my Caritas. But I say to you: Caritas has performed untold services for our people and your children.There is the question of religious instruction in the schools. You have laid down the rule: In the higher grades of the secondary schools religious instruction is forbidden, and in the lower grades it is discretionary.How can you give to children the right to determine for themselves when they have not grown up, while those in the higher grades who have the right to vote are not allowed freedom of choice in this regard?Our nursing Sisters in the Catholic hospitals must bear untold miseries and hardships.Against the overwhelming opposition of the people you have introduced civil marriage. Why did you not interpret this freedom in accordance with the spirit of society in America, for example, where one is free to choose either civil or religious marriage?We do not deny to you some degree of control over marriage. But it grievously pains our people when they must first enter a civil before a religious marriage. If you had turned to us, we would have given you suggestions on this matter.The buildings of some of the religious in Backa have been confiscated. Some churches in Split (I do not know whether it still holds true) have been converted into warehouses. Church lands have been seized without any agreement with the Holy See. You have witnessed how the people, in the face of your agrarian reform, refuse to take these lands.No, the material question is the least of our concerns. The tragic thing is this: not one priest or bishop is today certain of his life, day or night. Bishop Srebrnic was attacked in SuÅak by youths at the instigation of responsible persons. For three hours they tormented him and invaded his quarters while your police and militia looked on.I myself suffered a similar experience in ZapreÅic when I was attacked with rocks and revolvers. Bishop Lach, when he was on a Confirmation tour across the Drave, and even though his mission was known, was turned back and held the whole night in the prison at Koprivnica. In fact, your own men who were in the woods came to me and declared: "This is unbecoming conduct. We shall protest to the authorities."Rocks were hurled through the window of the house where Bishop Buric was staying while on a Confirmation tour. Bishop PuÅic, as I heard, was recently the target of rotten apples and eggs.Such "freedom" we hold to be an illusion. We do not wish to exist like outlawed bandits. We shall fight, by all just means, for our rights - and here in this state.I would add - so that you may understand why we fight - three or four more examples of your "freedom." In the classrooms it is officially taught - in defiance of all historical proofs - that Jesus Christ never existed. Know you then: Jesus Christ is God. For Him we are ready to die. And today, you teach that He never actually lived. If a teacher dared to teach the contrary, he would certainly be expelled.I tell you, Mr. Prosecutor, that under such conditions the Church is not free, but will be slowly annihilated.Christ is the foundation of Christianity. You express concern for the Orthodox Serbs. I ask you: how can you conceive of Orthodoxy without Christ? How can you conceive of the Catholic Church without Christ? It is an utter absurdity.In the school books it is stated that the Mother of God was an adulteress. Are you unaware that for both Catholics and Orthodox the Mother of God is holy?You have proclaimed, as official doctrine, that man descends from the apes. That perhaps may satisfy the ambition of some. But why decree that as an official theory when no scholar of reputation holds it to be valid?According to your reviews, materialism is the only acceptable system and that implies the elimination of God and Christianity. If there is nothing but matter - then thank you for your "freedom."One of your men of influence once boasted: There is no one in this State whom we could not bring to court and sentence.To these outrageous charges whereby you place us among murderers and associates of terrorists, I say to you that not all the evil committed in the former Independent State of Croatia was the work of the Domobrani or the Ustashe.Let no one think I want conflict. Let the present authorities come to an understanding with the Holy See. The Church does not recognize dictatorship, but she is not against honest understandings. If that could be achieved, then the Bishops will know what is their duty and there will be no need to seek out priests to point out their (the Bishops') guilt, as was done here.Finally, I want to say a few words to the Communist Party, which, in reality is my accuser. If you think I have taken the present stand because of material things, you are wrong, for we have remained firm, even after you have made us poor.We are not against workers obtaining greater rights in the factories, for this is in line with the Papal Encyclicals. Nor are we against reforms. But let us make it plain to the leaders of communism: if there shall be freedom to diffuse materialism, then let us have the right to confess and propagate our principles. Catholics have died and will die for that right.I conclude: With good will, an understanding can come about. The initiative lies with the present authorities. Neither I nor the hierarchy are the ones to enter into this basic agreement. That is a matter between the State and the Holy See. As to myself and as to the verdict, I seek no mercy. My conscience is clear! letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Sun, 17 Apr 2005 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/6259/1/E-Croatian-Archbishop-Stepinac-risked-his-life-to-aid-the-Jews.html ÂThe same NYT published on October 15, 1946 quite different story:" When the Nazis occupied Croatian Archbishop Stepinac risked his life to aid the Jews. ÂFrom:hmfgsf@juno.com To: letters@nytimes.com Date: Tue, 12 Apr 2005 Subject: Cardinal Stepinac, New York Times. 4.3.2005.Dear Editor:As Croatians, we are outraged that the New York Times would print a statement regarding Croatia's Cardinal Stepinac's beatification by Pope John Paul as incensing his critics - because Stepinac was the archbishop of Zagreb, Croatia, during WWII, - while you fail to mention that he saved many Jews at his own peril during the Nazi puppet state and opposed racism of any kind. Please compare your article with the article of the NYT of Oct 15, 1946 where you wrote the truth about Cardinal Stepinac with this statement: "When the Nazis occupied Croatia, Archbishop Stepinac risked his life to aid the Jews. With his aid, hundreds of Jews were smuggled out of the country. He denounced the race laws. He worked with the International Red Cross to rescue Jews in other countries, concealed these victims of racism under his own roof and many of his priests did likewise." You might be interested in the quote by Louis Breiner, President of the American Jewish Society after the show trial conviction of Cardinal Stepinac in Tito's Yugoslavia: "He was one of the few people in Europe who spoke out against Nazi tyranny, at all hours, when it was dangerous..."In addition, you are coming up with the utterly false number of 700,000 Serbs, Jews and others sent to death in camps in Croatia. Even one innocent victim is one too many, but the number long established as correct is between 60,000 to 80,000 in camps, while one million perished in WWII in Yugoslavia, most of them as combatants, Croats, Serbs and Bosnian Muslims. So let's not bandy about ad nauseam with numbers instilled by communist Yugoslavia ruled by the Serbs. It is obvious that Serb propaganda against Croatia still flourishes today, even in a respected newspaper as the NYT. Sincerely,Hilda M. FoleyNational Federation of Croatian AmericansSanta Ana, CA 92705714 832-0289All-Embracing Man of Action for a New Era of Papacy Published: April 3, 2005 (from page 9) NYTThe pope acknowledged as much, but failed to mollify critics, who were also incensed by his beatification of Cardinal Alojzije Stepinac, the archbishop of Zagreb during World War II, when a Nazi puppet regime ruled Croatia and 700,000 Serbs, Jews and others were sent to death camps.HOWEVER this was published in NYT on 10/15/1946.The same NYT published on October 15, 1946 quite different story:" When the Nazis occupied Croatian Archbishop Stepinac risked his life to aid the Jews. With his aid hundreds of Jews were smuggled out of the country and obtained the repeal of an order that all Jews must wear a yellow tag. He denounced the Nazi race laws. He worked with the International red Cross to rescue Jews in other countries, concealed these victims of racism under his own roof, and many of his priests did likewise.  letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Sun, 17 Apr 2005 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/6261/1/E-Croatian-Inmates-in-German-Concentration-Camps.html ÂCROATIAN INMATES IN GERMAN CONCENTRATION CAMPSBy John Peter KraljicINTRODUCTION. The 60th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz brings to mind the relatively unknown story of ethnic Croat inmates in German concentration camps.CROATS AS VICTIMS OF ITALIANS. A substantial portion of Croatia came under direct Italian control during World War II. Italy annexed outright large swathes of Croatian territory and, following the outbreak of uprisings in adjacent areas of the Independent State of Croatia in the summer of 1941, took over control of a belt of land stretching along the Adriatic Sea.In annexed areas, which included most Croatian islands, a large area of the northern Kvarner around Rijeka, and the cities of Sibenik and Split, the Italian fascists authorities instituted a policy of ethnic cleansing not unlike what they had put into place in Istria, Rijeka, Cres, Losinj and Zadar after they had annexed those lands following World War I. The Italians closed all Croatian language schools, transformed Croatian place and personal names into Italian ones and eliminated all indications showing any connection of these ethnic Croat areas to Croatia (e.g., the removal of Ivan Mestrovic's statue of Croatian Bishop Grgur Ninski in Split). These policies understandably gave rise to resistance among the Croat population who began to support Partisan activity in the area as well as in adjacent NDH territory.In order to break the back of resistance, Italian military and civilian officials instituted a policy of mass terror involving raids, executions and deportations. In Dalmatia, for example, local military authorities executed 40 hostages in May 1942 after 22 telegraph poles had been cut down near Sibenik. Worse was to come in July when Italian troops executed 91 inhabitants of Podhum near Rijeka and deported the remaining 889 people of the village. Another military campaign conducted by Italian troops in June led to 33 executions in the Biokovo region. In November 1942, Italian troops opened an artillery barrage on the town of Primosten after Partisans had killed 14 Italian sailors in a confrontation nearby. 80 people were killed as a result of this war crime, while another 166 were taken to camps.The Italians established a number of camps in Croatia to house these deportees. They included camps in Lovran, Bakar, Rab and Molat. At least 1,000 mostly Croats died in the Molat camp. At the camp in Rab, the largest Italian camp in Croatia, Slovenes and Croats (primarily from the Gorski kotar region) were housed for a 13 month period. Close to 1,500 people died in Rab, approximately 500 of whom were Croats.Many more Croats were placed in camps or otherwise interned in Italy. A recent estimate places the total number of Croats imprisoned in Italy during the War at 60,000. The largest of these camps, Gonars near Udine, held around 4,000 Croats in February 1943, 1,500 of them children.The people interned in these camps or prisons in Italy included many Croat leaders, such as Viktor Ruzic, the former governor of the Savska Province (later convicted by Yugoslav communist authorities as being a "collaborator!"). Italian aims in establishing these camps clearly extended beyond merely cutting support for the Partisans. It became part and parcel of Italy's goal to change the ethnic composition of their newly annexed territories.The camps formed only one means to reach this goal. Italy also expelled thousands of Croats into the NDH and employed Chetnik forces to do the dirty work for them. A Chetnik, unit, for example, working in conjunction with Italian forces in an action in Biokovo, killed 160 Croats, including three priests in September 1942, while in another joint operation in the Mostar area about 200 Croats and 100 Muslims had been killed by them. A report by a local commander to Chetnik leader Draza Mihailovic claimed that over 2,000 Croats and Muslims had been killed in the region by the Chetniks. Yet another Chetnik unit executed 200 Croats in the hinterland of Omis in the same month. That the Italians encouraged the Chetniks in their rampages was shown by the 10,000 Lira reward provided to Chetniks who executed 23 Croat Partisans in the Rujiste area in 1942.(All the above is based on the work of Ivan Kovacic, Kampor 1942-1943: Hrvati, Slovenci i Zidovi u koncentracijskom logoru na otoku Rabu, Rijeka, 1998, and Zlatko Dizdar, "Talijanksa politika prema hrvatskim prostorima i njezine posljedice tijekom Drugog svjestkog rata," in Talijanska uprava na Hrvatskom prostoru, Zagreb, 2001).One must keep these matters in mind when discussing issues related to concentration camp victims. The few examples of repression noted above shows that many, many more Croats had been killed "on the spot" rather than in camps. This continued to be the case when the Germans arrived along Croatia's eastern Adriatic Coast in late 1943.As an epilogue, it should be noted that many of the Italians individually responsible for these crimes never saw any justice. The Western Allies, in an effort to shore up Italy in the face of a threatened takeover by the Communist Party, ignored all requests to extradite these criminals.GERMANS IN CROATIA. The Germans had forces in the NDH prior to autumn 1943. However, their presence became pronounced after Italy's capitulation in September 1943. Italy's surrender led to a national uprising throughout Dalmatia and in Istria. While the Communists have taken sole credit for these uprisings, and though their role cannot be ignored, the events along Croatia's Adriatic coast represent a true national revolt against the Italian occupiers. The Communists could count on only 85 Party members in all of Istria at the time with several hundred sympathizers. No Partisan units of any significance had been in the Peninsula at the time. Nevertheless, literally using stones, sticks and bluffs, local Croats obtained control of all of Istria, other than the city of Pula. The city of Split saw a similar uprising. These actions represent a truly unique historical event and nothing on such a scale took place anywhere else in Axis Europe.The Germans feared that the Allies across the Adriatic in Italy would use the vacuum which had been created on the Croatian coast as an opportunity to send their troop there. In October 1943 the Germans launched the so-called Rommel Offensive in Istria during which they killed approximately 5,000 people, half of them Partisans and half civilians. The Germans subsequently established a separate administrative unit under their direct control consisting of Istria, Rijeka, the Kvarner Islands, Trieste and the Friuli known as the Adriatische Kustenland.During the next several months they slowly moved down the coast line. Still, their control quite often only extended over larger towns and their immediate surroundings. As the Allies moved toward Rome, the Germans again worried that the Allies would move across the Adriatic. They launched a number of offensive operations in order to establish tighter control over these areas. These actions included one in Istria in late April and early May 1944 when they burned down practically all of the villages of the Istrian Kras region (bounded roughly by Ucka Mountain, Pazin, the Slovenian border and the Rijeka-Trieste road). During this operation, on 30 April 1944 the Germans executed 269 Croats in the village of Lipa alone.The repressive policies of the Germans continued in Dalmatia. It led to a wave of refugees, mostly Croats from the Dalmatian islands and mainland, across the Adriatic to Allied-held Bari. The Allies eventually placed these tens of thousands of Croats in refugee camps in Italy and in El Shatt, Egypt where an estimated 2,000 to 3,000 died. (Vladimir Zerjavic, Population Losses in Yugoslavia 1941-1945, Zagreb, 1997, p. 148).The entry of the Germans into the coastal areas of Croatia and Italy led to a significant number of Croats being sent to German concentration camps. The Croats sent to the camps can generally be divided into two categories: (i) those who had been previously imprisoned in camps in Italy and who failed to reach the Allied lines (approximately 10,000 of those who escaped, consisting of Slovenes and Croats, later formed the so-called Overseas Partisan Brigades. The Allies later transported them to Dalmatia where they fought in 1944 and 1945); and (ii) those captured by the Germans in their military operations.HOW MANY CROATS WERE IN GERMAN CAMPS? The number of Croats who ended up in these camps remains an open question. Demographic historian Vladimir Zerjavic has written that 3,000 Croats died in Germany, Poland and Austria during the War, but gives no hint concerning how many survived. (Zerjavic, Population Losses, p. 149). Some information concerning certain areas has been made available. A 1945 report concerning war crimes in Kastav near the city of Rijeka showed that 196 people from the town had been taken to Germany (while 56 had been shot and 2,311 had been taken to "camps" (presumably Italian ones)). (Hrvoje Mezulic, Fasizam: Krstitelj i palikuca, Zagreb, 1946, reprint, Pazin, 1997, p. 45). A list reproduced by historian Mihael Sobolevski contains details of 68 individuals, Croats and Italians, from the eastern portion of Rijeka (which had been part of Italy until 1947) killed in German concentration camps. ("Stvarni ljudski gubici na podrucju grada Rijeke u Drugom svjetskom ratua," in Zbornik Sveti Vid, vol. VII, 2002, pp. 96-98).A further 250 Croat and Muslim soldiers are known to have been killed in the Sachsenhausen concentration camp. They had been recruited and drafted to serve in the 13th Pioneer Battalion of the 13th SS Division Croatia. After having been stationed in Villefranche-de-Rouerguea in France, the Battalion revolted with the plan to join the French resistance. The Germans crushed this revolt, the first known mutiny of German forces during World War II. (Zdravko Dizdar, "Prva pobuna u nacistickoj vojsci: Pobuna Trinaestoga pionirskog bataljuna 13 SS Divizije Croatia u -Villefranche-de-Rouergueu 17. Rujna 1943 godine," in Casopis za suvremenu povijest, 1993).CROATIAN ARTISTS AND THE HOLOCAUST. Mention should be made of Croatian sculptor Ivan Mestrovic, sculptor Dusan Dzamonja, and Croatian painter Krsto Hegedusic.Mestrovic's first wife had been Ruza Klein, a Croatian Jew, from whom he had been divorced before the War. Ruza and 30 members of her family later disappeared in the Holocaust. Mestrovic was an ardent anti-Nazi and refused Hitler's entreaties to exhibit his works in Germany. Mestrovic designed a Holocaust memorial for New York City's Riverside Park in 1951 which was never built.Dusan Dzamonja, born in Macedonia, has lived in Croatia since 1945. He was one of six first prize winners in a 1959 competition for a monument to the victims of Dachau.Krsto Hegedusic was imprisoned in a number of Italian camps during the War. His naÃve paintings and sketches concerning Holocaust themes have been included in several retrospective works.AN UNAPPRECIATED HISTORY. The topic of Croats in German concentration camps has not been studied in any great detail. The reasons for this partly arises from the fact that the Germans considered many of the Croat and Slovene prisoners in their camps to be Italians. Italian inmates had an inverted red triangle on their camp uniforms with the letter "I" or the letters "IT" emblazoned on them (some had the letter "J" on the red triangle meaning that they came from Yugoslavia; the red triangle represented political prisoners). Boris Pahor, a Slovene survivor of the camps, noted that this designation offended Slovene and Croat inmates: "Tomaz had a big capital I in the middle of his red triangle - he was captured as an Italian citizen - but insisted, as any Slovene would, that he was a Yugoslav. No Slovene wanted to be exterminated in this place as an Italian, for since the end of the First World War the Italian government had been trying to eradicate him on his native soil. And Istrian Croats too, like the Slovenes, resisted sharing the fate of a people whose country they had annexed against their will. The proximity to death removes all masks, . . . though it wouldn't matter when we went down to the terrace with the oven." (Boris Pahor, Pilgrim Among the Shadows, New York, 1995, p. 48).Pahor's memoirs point out another reason this history has remained overlooked - the failure by Croatians to honor those of their brethren who had been victimized in the past. Pahor writes of another Slovene prisoner in Mauthausen, Zora Perello. Pahor compares her to Anne Frank as she too had written of her experiences. "But we Slovenes are too negligent a people to have collected Zora's letters or her diaries from the period that preceded her imprisonment by the Germans. . . . We wouldn't know how to present her to the world. To this day our nation's meager soul has not managed to free itself from the cocoon of its pain. We embrace our warriors, the heroes that fell on the battlefield; after centuries of subjugation they are a miraculous flame rising from the ashes; but it does not occur to us to celebrate the fate of a young girl, a beautiful high school student. Like all small people we have a penchant for the gigantic." (Pahor, p. 140).A similar indictment can be made of Croatia's treatment of its victims. While Italian prisoners of concentration camps have their own active association, no such organization had ever been established in Croatia. Moreover, the memoirs of those who survived the camps are scanty - I have only come across two such memoirs, one of which appeared in 1946!It was in an attempt to bring this matter to attention of the public that I put the list below together.A DESCRIPTION OF THE LIST AND ITS SHORTCOMINGS. The list suffers from a number of shortcomings. First, the information is based only on published sources. Second, my access to sources has been limited to books which mostly concentrate on the northern Adriatic area and I had limited ability to review works concerning the War in Dalmatia which would no doubt have yielded more information.We are fortunate to have a number of lists of people killed during World War II in certain communities in Croatia which include information on where they had been killed (I especially recommend the work Gubici Liburnijskog kraja u Drugom svjetskom ratu which lists all those killed (including some killed by the Partisans and those killed while serving in the Italian Army) from the area of Opatija). However, such lists fail to list those who survived the camps.I also note that I limited the list to ethnic Croats - I attempted to exclude ethnic Italians from Istria as well as Jews.Further, a question arises as to how to treat Croatian forced laborers sent to Germany during the War. Ivica Racan, for example, the former Prime Minister of Croatia, was born in a camp for forced laborers during the War where his father was one of those who died.SOME PEOPLE TO NOTE ON THE LIST. Despite its incompleteness, the list presents a fascinating array of persons who suffered and some who died in these camps. I note that two persons who survived subsequently became Roman Catholic priests (Zivan Bezic and Albin Kordic) while a number were priests while in the camps, including a Croatian priest (Matthias Semeliker) from the Austrian region of Burgenland which has a large Croat minority.The father of Croatian politician Ivan Jakovcic was in Dachau.The family of Ante Mandic, an official with ZAVNOH and a member of the Royal Regency, are among those who survived German camps.Of extreme interest is the story of Rude Paskvan who with a number of other Croats were among the 255 survivors of a mistaken bombing raid by the Allies on a group of ships holding 12,000 concentration camp survivors in May 1945.At least two of the survivors of the camps ultimately were executed by Communist authorities after false accusations were made against them (Oskar Juranic and Mario Stremberger).One of the inmates was born and died in the United States (Ivan Bostijanic) while another had lived in New York for a time (Igancije Bulimbasic).Edo Calic was a survivor of the camps. He became a leading authority in Europe on the history of Nazism and was a member of the Croatian Academy of Arts and Sciences.Some members of the Sersic family on Rab were arrested after having helped American intelligence officers.SAN SABBA CAMP. A note on the little known San Sabba camp which was located in Trieste. This camp had been established by the German authorities in a former rice factory (hence it is also called Risseria) after they entered the area. It was used as a transit camp but also had been used to kill inmates for which purpose a crematoria had been established, the only one in Italy. It held many Croats and Slovenes and 2,000 people ultimately died there.SOURCES AND ABBREVIATIONS USED. The list is in alphabetical, English order. I have cited each work where the information appears. A list of the works cited follows at the end of the list.The descriptions use a number of abbreviations, most of which relate to Communist and Partisan organizations.AFZ is the Anti-Fascist Women's Front, a pro-Partisan, Communist-controlled organization.AVNOJ is the Anti-Fascist Council for the National Liberation of Yugoslavia, a Partisan, Communist-dominated parliament.CP stands for the Communist Party and CPC the Communist Party of Croatia, CPI is the Communist Party of Italy and CPY is the Communist Party of Yugoslavia.NOO stands for National Liberation Committees. These committees were pro-Partisan administrative units which worked both in Partisan controlled territory as well as underground.NOP is the National Liberation Movement. This is the name of the pro-Partisan movement which was historically used by Communist authors. It is still a term used in Croatian historiography today to describe pro-Partisans.USAOH was a Communist run front organization.SKOJ is the Communist Youth League of Yugoslavia.ZAVNOH is the Territorial Anti-Fascist Council of National Liberation for Croatia, which served as a Partisan, Communist-dominated parliament.LIST OF CROATIAN INMATES IN GERMAN CONCENTRATION CAMPS1. Ana Surname unknown. From Istria. Died in Ravensbruck. (Ravensbruck, p. 23).2. Andretic, Andrija. Born 1888 in Veprinac. Taken to Dachau in 1944 where he disappeared. (Liburnijskog, p. 95).3. Andretic, Josip (Franjo). Born 29 June 1907 in Poljane, Opatija. He was arrested in 1944 and disappeared in a German camp. (Liburnijskog, p. 92).4. Bahoric, Belizar. Born in 1920 in Draga, Susak (Rijeka). Bahoric supported the NOP. He was arrested by the Italians and imprisoned in Koper. After Italy's capitulation, he was sent to Mauthausen where he remained until May 1944. He became a sculptor in Rijeka. (Susacka revija, vol. 29).5. Balen, Ante. From Susak (Rijeka). A supporter of the Croatian Peasant Party, Balen had been the pre-War editor of the Susak based pro-Croatian paper Hrvatski misao. He was arrested by Yugoslav police prior to the War because of his political activities. During World War II, he was a supporter of the NOP and was arrested by the Italians and taken to Italy. After Italy's capitulation, he was sent to Mauthausen which he survived. He became a long-time editor of the Rijeka daily Novi list and died in 1994. (Susacka revija, no. 8).6. Balvan, Pero. A law student from Split, his entire family had been in the Partisans. He was imprisoned in Dachau. (Katolicko, p. 162).7. Baric, Ignac. From Donje Kraljevec, he died in Dachau. (www.donjikraljevec.hr).8. Baricevic, Mate (Antona). Born 14 September 1892 in Vela Ucka, Opatija. Taken to a German camp on 1 May 1944 where he disappeared. (Liburnijskog, p. 94).9. Barkovic, (Jure) Ivan. Born 14 July 1925 in Medveja. He was in the Partisans and captured. He died in Dachau on 24 November 1944. (Liburnijskog, p. 27).10. Barkovic, Nikola. Born 18 May 1905, Zagorje, Brsec, Istria. A member of the NOO in Zagorje, he was arrested by the Germans on 30 November 1944 and died in S. Sabba. (Liburnijskog, p. 19).11. Basan, (Mate) Nikola. Born 5 December 1912 in Tulisevica, Lovran. A Partisan and member of the Tuliseva NOO. He died in the Stetin concentration camp. (Liburnijskog, p. 28).12. Belacic, Dragutin Zahor. Born 27 December 1913 in Zagreb, he was held in various camps in Italy, Austria and Germany during the War and survived. He was a leading mountain climber in Croatia. (HBL).13. Bezic, Father Zivan. Born 18 May 1921 in Grohote, Solta, Dalmatia. He joined the Partisans in 1943 and served in the First Dalmatian Brigade. He was badly wounded in battle at Posusje on 10 October 1943 and captured by the Germans. He survived the Mauthausen, Redl-Zipf and Dachau concentration camps. He returned to Croatia after the war and was ordained as a Roman Catholic priest in Split on 29 June 1945. He completed his studies in theology and wrote numerous theological works as well as his memoirs of his time in the camps: U sjeni crematoria - Uspomene jednog logorasa (In the Shadow of the Crematoria - the Memoirs of a Camp Inmate), published in two editions in Split in 1975 and 1976. (HBL).14. Blazic, Anton (Jakova). Born in Lovran, he lived in nearby Medveja. Arrested on 25 November 1944, he was sent to a German camp from which he never returned. (Liburnijskog, p. 81).15. Blazic, Karlo (Nikola). Born 29 November 1914 in Lovranska Draga, Lovran. A collaborator with the NOP, he was arrested on 26 October 1944 and died from exhaustion on 31 May 1945 in Dachau. (Liburnijskog, p. 81).16. Blecic, Lucija. From Nedescina, Labin. Her daughter was a member of the CP and she was active in the AFZ and served in the regional committee for the CPC of Pazin-Porec. She was arrested in April 1944 and sent to Aushwitz from where she returned in 1945. (Dobrila, p. 544-45).17. Bonaci, Marija. From Dalmatia, she survived Auschwitz. (Article in Slobodna Dalmacija, 23 January 2005).18. Bosnjak, Josip (Josipa). Born 30 April 1928 in Opatija. A Partisan, he was captured and disappeared in a German concentration camp. (Liburnijskog, p. 41).19. Bostjanic, Ivan. Born in 1915 in Cleveland, his parents were from Istria. Between the Wars he lived in Zagreb and Belgrade. During World War II he was imprisoned in camps in France and Germany. A poet, he died in Chicago in 1973. (HBL).20. Bradicic, Ivan (Ivana). Born 11 November 1911 in Moscenice, Opatija. Arrested by the Germans on 8 October 1944, he was taken to the Manhau concentration camp where he disappeared. (Liburnijskog, p. 35).21. Bradicic, Conrad (Antona). Born 19 February 1900 in Kraj, Moscenicka Draga, Opatija. A sympathizer of the NOP, he was arrested by the Germans, taken to a camp and disappeared. (Liburnijskog, p. 84).22. Brajuka, Zorko-Albino (Ivana). Born 21 September 1909 in Paz, Pazin, he lived in Ika, Opatija. Arrested on 24 January 1944, he disappeared in Dachau. (Liburnijskog, p. 73).23. Bralic, Vlado. From Susak (Rijeka), he was imprisoned in Neuengamme. (Susacka revija, vol. 33).24. Brdar, Tomo (Josipa). Born in Valici, Jelenje, Rijeka. A member of the local NOO, he was arrested by the Italians in early 1943 and died in Dachau. (Grobinstina, p. 401).25. Brlek, Marija. From Trsat, Rijeka. Killed in a German concentration camp. (Trsat, p. 345).26. Brnja, Petar (Stjepana). Born in 1906 in Podhum, Rijeka. Arrested by the Italians on 12 July 1942. Later taken to Germany where he died. (Grobinstina, p. 419).27. Brubnjak, Josip (Petra). Born 1904 in Mala Ucka, lived in Medveja, Lovran. A sympathizer of the NOP, he was arrested by the Germans in 1944 and disappeared in the Stetin camp. (Liburnijskog, p. 82).28. Brubnjak, Milan (Josipa). Born 7 February 1925 in Medveja. A Partisan, he died in the Stetin concentration camp. (Liburnijskog, p. 28).29. Brubnjak, Josip (Antona). Born 19 March 1882 in Mala Ucka, he lived in Opric, Ika, Opatija. A collaborator of the NOP, he was arrested and later killed on 20 February 1945 in Dachau. (Liburnijskog, p. 73).30. Brumnic, Ljuba. From Lindar, Istria. She died in Aushwitz. (Jakovljevic, p. 128).31. Brumnjak, Antonia (Josipa). Born 11 September 1899 in Mala Ucka, Opatija. Disappeared in Auschwitz. (Liburnijskog, p. 94).32. Brumnjak, Ivan (Martina). Born 2 November 1889 in Mala Ucka, Opatija. An activist of NOP, he was captured by the Germans in 1944 and disappeared in Dachau. (Liburnijskog, p. 60).33. Brumnjak, Karlo (Kuzme). Born 11 November 1883 in Mala Ucka, Opatija. He disappeared in Dachau. (Liburnijskog, p. 94).34. Brumnjak, Marija (Jakova). Born 26 October 1893 in Mala Ucka, Opatija. Disappeared in Auschwitz. (Liburnijskog, p. 94).35. Brumnjak, Marija (Grge). Born 1892 in Mala Ucka, Opatija. Taken to a German camp in 1944 where she disappeared. (Liburnijskog, p. 94).36. Brumnjak, Marija (Josipa). Born 26 October 1893 in Mala Ucka, Opatija. Taken to a German camp where she disappeared. (Liburnijskog, p. 94).37. Brumnjak, Vera (Ivana). Born 1923 in Mala Ucka, Opatija. Disappeared in Auschwitz. (Liburnijskog, p. 94).38. Bujas, Zorka. From Dalmatia, she survived Auschwitz. (Article in Slobodna Dalmacija, 23 January 2005).39. Bulimbasic, Igacije (Vatroslav). Born 31 July 1886 in Split. He lived in New York for a time and was one of Croatia's earliest pilots. During World War II he was imprisoned in an Italian camp and handed over to the Germans after Germany's capitulation. He died in Split in 1976. (HBL).40. Buratovic, Father Andjelko. Born 21 December 1895 in Vrbanj, Hvar. He became a Roman Catholic priest in 1919 and for most of the period between the two World Wars he headed the Franciscan monastery in Zaglava on Dugi Otok off the coast of Dalmatia. He was arrested in 1944 by the Germans on Krk for providing assistance to the Partisans. He survived Dachau. (Katolicko, p, 158).41. Buric, Anka. From Dalmatia, she survived Auschwitz. (Article in Slobodna Dalmacija, 23 January 2005).42. Butkovic, Vid. Lived in Veli Vrh, Pula. A supporter of the NOP, he was arrested in 1944 by the Germans and died in Dachau. (Nepokorena, p. 217).43. Buzleta, Ankica. From Lizanj, Istria. She was in Auschwitz. (www.zelena-istria.hr).44. Calic, Dr. Eduard. Born 14 October 1910 in Marcani, Pula. His family was forced to leave Pula in 1921 after it had been annexed by Italy and they moved to Zagreb where he completed law school. He was in the Oranienburg-Sachshausen concentration camp from 1942 to 1945. He went on to become a leading expert on Nazism and anti-Semitism with his books published in numerous languages. He was a corresponding member of the Croatian Academy of Arts and Sciences. He died on 29 August 2003.45. Capota, Jolanda. From Dalmatia, she survived Auschwitz. (Article in Slobodna Dalmacija, 23 January 2005).46. Car, Josip (Ivana). Born 12 November 1895 in Sv. Antun, Moscenicka Draga, Opatija. Arrested 29 November 1944 and taken to a German camp where he disappeared. (Liburnijskog, p. 84).47. Cargonja, Joakim. From Susak (Rijeka), he survived Neuengamme and the British attack on the internees in Lubeck (see entry on Rude Paskvan) (Susacka revija, vol. 33).48. Cargonja (Stanka) Marijan. Born in 1922 in Svilno, Rijeka. A supporter of the National Liberation Movement, he was arrested in 1943 and died in a German concentration camp. (Grobinstina, p. 429).49. Cebulj, Franc. From Trsat, Rijeka. Killed in a German concentration camp. (Trsat, p. 345).50. Cervar, Ivan. Born 3 August 1897 in Cervar, Tinjan, Istria. A member of the CPI, he fled to Yugoslavia in 1931 and settled in Zagreb. He was a Partisan leader in Istria. He was arrested on March 1943 and survived the Dachau, Neuengamme and Aurich concentration camps. (Prikljucenje, pp. 342-44).51. Condric, Dr. Gloria. From Rabac, Labin. Survived an unnamed German concentration camp. (Pazinski memorijal, vol. 14, pp. 190-91).52. Dabic, Zora. From Zagreb. Survived Aushwitz. (Jakovljevic, p. 129).53. Danica. Surname unknown. From Pazin, Istria. In the Finow concentration camp. (Ravensbruck, p. 35).54. Daus, Andrija. From Borut, Istria. He worked with the NOP and was killed in a German concentration camp. (Prikljucenje, p. 351).55. Debeuc, Vladimir. From Trsat, Rijeka. He was in a camp in Italy and taken to Germany after Italy's capitulation. He was killed in Neuengamme concentration camp near Hamburg. (Trsat, pp. 337 & 345).56. Deskovic, Milena. Lived in Icici, Opatija. Died in S. Sabba on 22 December 1944. (Liburnijskog, p. 73).57. Detan, Romano (Ivana). Born 27 August 1925 in Moscenicka Draga. A Partisan he was captured on 15 July 1944 and taken to the Sangerhausen concentration camp where he was killed on 15 December 1944. (Liburnijskog, p. 35).58. Diklic, Zorka. From Susak (Rijeka). She was in Ravensbruck. (Ravensbruck, p. 28).59. DiLenardo, Karlo (Ivana). Born 15 July 1907 in Matulje. Served in the Italian Army and was captured in 1943. Died in a concentration camp in Nis, Serbia. (Liburnijskog, p. 120).60. Domijani, Ricardo (Antona). Born in 1886 in Cernik, Rijeka. He worked with the NOP and was arrested by the Germans in October 1943 and taken to a concentration camp where he disappeared. (Grobinstina, p. 411).61. Dorcic, Franjo. Born 15 May 1912 in Pazin, Istria, he lived in Zagreb and in Susak (Rijeka). He worked with the NOP and became a Partisan leader in Istria. He was caught by the Germans and survived Auschwitz. (Prikljucenje, pp. 359-60).62. Dubrovic, Ivan (Josipa). Born 22 February 1922 in Rukavac, Opatija. A member of the NOO for Kuceli, Opatija, he was captured by the Germans and taken to a camp in 1944 where he disappeared. (Liburnijskog, p. 52).63. Dubrovic, Klementa (present surname is Morozin). Born 23 December 1925 in Draga, Susak (Rijeka). She was arrested on 2 August 1944 by Ustashe as she and a friend were delivering materials to a Partisan courier. She survived Auschwitz. (Article in Novi list, 30 January 2005).64. Dugopoljac, Nikola (Franina). Born in 1905 in Rupe, Bribir, Sibenik. Arrested by the Italians, he ended up in Dacahu where he died in 1944. (www.visovac.hr).65. Dujmic, Zivko. Born 1904 in Kostrena. A candidate member of the CPC, he was captured by the Germans on 29 June 29 1944 and taken to Dachau where he was killed in 1945. (Kostrena, p. 72).66. Dukic, Anton (Franje). Born 16 January 1907 in Jusici, Matulje. Arrested on 12 October 1944, he disappeared in a German camp. (Liburnijskog, p.74).67. Erceg, Petar. From Dalmatia, he survived Auschwitz. (Article in Slobodna Dalmacija, 23 January 2005).68. Ferencic, Eufemija. From Pazin, was 65 years old when taken to Ravensbruck. Her three sons were in the Partisans (Ravensbruck, p. 6).69. Ferencic. Name unknown. Husband of Eufemija. Killed in Dachau. (Ravensbruck, p. 6).70. Ferlan, Ugo (Angela). Born 1 September 1901 in Opatija. An activist in the NOP, he was arrested on 16 December 1944 and disappeared in a German concentration camp. (Liburnijskog, p. 42).71. Frlan, Vinko (Vicko). Born 12 May 1921 in Matulje. A Partisan, he was arrested and taken to a German concentration camp in 1944 where he disappeared. (Liburnijskog, p. 32).72. Fucak, Vilim (Viktora). Born in 1923 in Svilno, Rijeka. He joined the Partisans in 1943, was captured and taken to Germany where he was imprisoned and disappeared. (Grobinstina, p. 409).73. Fucak (Viktora) Slavko. Born in 1924 in Svilno, Rijeka. A supporter of the NOP, he was arrested by the Italians and later taken to a German concentration camp where he disappeared. (Grobinstina, p. 429).74. Furlanic, Danica (Franje). Born 20 May 1924 in Vela Ucka, Opatija. Disappeared in 1945 in Auschwitz. (Liburnijskog, p. 94).75. Gaus, Ivan (Josipa). Born 1891 in Klana. Arrested 2 June 1944 and killed in the Hamburg concentration camp on 4 January 1945. (Liburnijskog, p. 95).76. Gaus, Juraj (Anton). Born 1888 in Klana. Arrested 15 February 1944 and killed in August 1944 in Dachau. (Liburnijskog, p. 95).77. Grizinic, Anka. From Cerovlje, near Pazin. She died in Auschwitz. (Jakovljevic, p. 128).78. Grizinic, Franco (Matije). Born 22 October 1913 in Klana. Killed in S. Sabba. (Liburnijskog, p. 95).79. Grubisa, Ana (Antona). Born 11 September 1919 in Mali Mune, Istria. Arrested on 10 August 1944, she disappeared in a German camp. (Liburnijskog, p. 85).80. Grubisa. Personal name unknown. From Rijeka. Was in Auschwitz. (Article in Novi list, 6 July 2002).81. Grudicek, Nevenka. Born 1908 in Cernik, Rijeka. She worked for the NOP and had been arrested by Chetniks in 1944. She was imprisoned in a concentration camp in Austria from where she did not return. (Grobinstina, p. 411).82. Grzanic, Lovro (Franje). Born 23 October 1923 in Lovran. A Partisan, he was captured by the Germans on 29 June 1944 and taken to a concentration camp where he disappeared. (Liburnijskog, p. 28).83. Gudac, Stanko. From Susak (Rijeka), he was imprisoned in Neuengamme. (Susacka revija, vol. 33).84. Haramija, Franco (Franje). Born in 1922 in Cavle, Rijeka. He served in the Partisans, was captured by the Germans and died in the Blankechan Camp. (Grobinstina, p. 375).85. Hatezic, Josip (Franje). Born 1914 in Podhum, Rijeka. A Partisan since 1942, he had been captured by the Germans in October 1943. He died in a German concentration camp. (Grobinstina, p. 396).86. Herak, Bogumil. An Istrian living in Zagreb, he died in Auschwitz. (Nepokorena, p. 42).87. Hero, Prima. From Susak (Rijeka), she was in Ravensbruck and died in a camp. (Ravensbruck, pp. 7 & 25).88. Hlaca, Josip (Josipa). Born in 1912 in Soboli, Cavle, Rijeka. He joined the Partisans in 1942 and was captured. He died in a German camp in 1944. (Grobinstina, p. 378).89. Hlaca, Romano (Pija). Born 1911 in Drazice, Gornje Jelenje. He joined the Partisans in 1943. He was captured and died in a Dachau on 23 December 1944. (Grobinstina, p. 386) (Trsat, p. 345).90. Hrelja, Ivan (Josipa). Born 29 August 1909 in Brsec, Istria. Disappeared in Dachau. (Liburnijskog, p. 73).91. Hrelja, Vjekoslav (Josipa). Born 4 August 1909 in Brsec, Istria. Disappeared in Dachau. (Liburnijskog, p. 73).92. Ilic - Gilli, Antonio (Toni Harmonika). Born 24 January 1896 in Fazana, Pula. He had been a member of the CPI and fought in the Spanish Civil War. He fought with the Partisans and was captured by the Germans in March 1944. He died in Dachau. His two brothers also were taken to German concentration camps. (Nasi Spanjolski, pp. 142-44).93. Ivancic, Drago (Tomasa). Born in 1914 in Brgudac, Istria. He was a Partisan leader in Istria and joined the CPC. He was caught by the Germans in December 1944 and is believed to have died in a German concentration camp. (Prikljucenje, pp. 347-48).94. Ivancic, Jakov. Brother of Drago, he was killed in Dachau. (Prikljucenje, p. 348).95. Ivic, Kosovka. From Dalmatia, she survived Auschwitz. (Article in Slobodna Dalmacija, 23 January 2005).96. Jakovasic, Ivan (Ivana). Born 1921 in Liganj, Lovran. A Partisan, he voluntarily surrendered to the Germans and was taken to a camp from which he did not return. (Liburnijskog, p.82).97. Jakovasic, Josip (Andrije). Born 1925 in Liganj, Lovran. A sympathizer with the NOP, he was taken to a German camp from which he did not return. (Liburnijskog, p. 82).98. Jakovcic. Personal name unknown. From Istria. He survived Dachau and under the Communist Yugoslav regime was imprisoned in the Goli Otok prison for political prisoners. He is the father of Ivan Jakovcic, the president of the Istrian Democratic Party (IDS). (Article in Slobodna Dalmacija, 28 December 1999).99. Jezic, Krunoslav. Born in 1926 in Kukljanovo. A teacher, he worked with the NOP and was arrested in 1943. He died in Dachau. (Grobinstina, p. 403).100. Jurdana, Stanka (Josipa). Born 11 December 1913 in Gornji Rukavac, Opatija. A member of the AFZ committee in Gornji Rukavac, she was captured by Chetniks and handed over to the Germans in April 1945. She disappeared in Dachau. (Liburnijskog, p. 53).101. Juradina, Rudolf - Dola. From Podstrane near Split. A Partisan, he had been imprisoned in Mauthausen. (Katolicko, p. 163).102. Juretic (Josipa) Ludvik. Born 1898 in Martinovo Selo, Jelenje, Rijeka. A supporter of theNOP, he was arrested by the Italians on 12 July 1942. He died in a German concentration camp. (Grobinstina, p. 415).103. Juretic (Franje) Vlado. Born 1 December 1906 in Trnovici, Jelenje, Rijeka. Arrested by the Germans in August 1944, he died in a German concentration camp. (Grobinstina, p. 426).104. Juranic, Oskar. Born 11 October 1909 in Rijeka. A member of the CPY since 1933, he fought in the Spanish Civil War. After the War he was kept in a French camp and after Germany's occupation of France was sent to Dachau on 8 December 1943 where he remained until 29 April 1945. He worked for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for Yugoslavia until 1948 when he was sentenced with a group of former inmates of Dachau (mostly Slovenes) who were wrongfully charged with having worked for the Gestapo. He was executed in 1948. He was rehabilitated in 1976. (NasiSpanjolski, p. 154-58).105. Kalcic, Ferdinanda (Antona). Born 22 July 1895 in Kraj, Moscenicka Draga, Opatija. Arrested by pro-Mussolini Italians in November 1944, he disappeared in the Herckbruk concentration camp. (Liburnijskog, p. 84).106. Kalcic, Ivan (Ferdinanda). Born 10 May 1925 in Kraj, Moscenicka Draga, Opatija. An activist in the NOP, he was captured on 2 December 1944 and taken to a German concentration camp where he disappeared. (Liburnijskog, p. 36).107. Kate. Surname unknown. From Rakalj, Pula, Istria. Was in Ravensbruck. (Ravensbruck, p. 19).108. Kinkela, Angelo (Josipa). Born 30 June 1905 in Jusici, Matulje. Imprisoned in a German concentration camp in October 1943 where he disappeared. (Liburnijskog, p. 24).109. Kinkela, Franco (Ivana). Born 1909 or 1905 in Zvonece, Opatija. Taken to a German camp on 15 March 1944 where he disappeared. (Liburnijskog, p. 96).110. Kirsic, Ludovika. Born in the area of Labin, she lived in Mala Ucka, Opatija. She was arrested in 1944 and disappeared in Auschwitz. (Liburnijskog, p. 95).111. Klisanic, Rude (Stjepana). Born 16 August 1903 in Karlovac, he lived in Kukuljanovo. He joined the Partisans in 1943. He was captured and taken to Ravensbruck where he died. (Grobinstina, p. 405).112. Knezevic, Juraj. Born 1905 in Vinjerica and moved to Kostrena as a child. A Partisan, he was captured by the Germans on 20 October 1943 and taken to Dachau where he died on 27 April 1944. (Kostrena, p. 87).113. Kolmanic, (Ivana) Nikola. Born 28 May 1892 in Brdo, Icici. An activist of the NOP, he was arrested by the Germans on 10 October 1944 and died in Buchenwald. (Liburnijskog, p. 21).114. Kopitar, Marija (born Kurelic). Born 6 May 1889 in Pazin. She supported the NOP and had been elected as a member of the NOO for Istria in 1943 and was elected to serve in ZAVNOH. She had been captured by the Germans on 27 October 1943 and was taken to the Auschwitz (from 3 December 1943 to 18 January 1945) and Bergen-Belsen concentration camps. A prominent teacher, Kopitar died on 1 January 1978 and is buried in Rijeka. (Jakovljevic).115. Kordic, Albin. Born in 1911 in Rab, he joined the Partisans, was captured on Losinj and was sent to Dachau. The Yugoslav government awarded him the Medal for Services to the People (Orden zasluga za naroda) in 1950. He thereafter attended the seminary in Rijeka, was ordained as a priest and served in parishes in Lika, Gorski kotar and Senj. (Katolicko, p. 163)116. Kordic, Petar. Brother of Albin and a Partisan. He was imprisoned and taken to Dachau. (Katolicko, p. 163).117. Kordic. Name unknown. A half-brother of Albin Kordic. He was imprisoned in Dachau (Katolicko, p. 162).118. Koritnik, Boris. From Trsat, Rijeka. He had been initially interned in Italy and then take to Germany after Italy's capitulation. He was killed in the Neuengamme concentration camp in Hamburg. (Trsat, pp. 337 & 345).119. Kosic, Marija. From Polijica, Krk. She survived Auschwitz. (Article in Novi list, 28 January 2005).120. Kovacic, Vinko. From Trsat, Rijeka. A member of SKOJ, he was arrested and sent to a concentration camp. (Trsat, p. 305).121. Krajcar, Franica. From Semic, Lupoglav, Istria. Died in Aushwitz. (Jakovljevic, p. 128).122. Krbavac, Ivan Djino. Born 1920 in Kostrena. A Partisan he was captured by the Germans in Lika. After being transported first to Zagreb, he ended up in Dachau where he died in 1944. (Kostrena, p. 91).123. Kucic, Vilim. From Lokve, Delnice, he was imprisoned in Neuengamme. (Susacka revija, vol. 33).124. Kukuljan, Bozo (Blaza). Born 1908 in Kukuljani, Jelenje, Rijeka. He was captured by the Germans in summer 1944 and taken to Dachau where he disappeared. (Grobinstina, p. 414).125. Kukuljan, Konstantin (Blaza). Born 1912 in Kukuljani, Jelenje, Rijeka. He had been a member of the NOO in Kukuljanovo and joined the Partisans in 1943. He was captured by the Germans in September 1943. He died in a concentration camp in Germany. (Grobinstina, p. 391).126. Kurtovic, Tonci (Prpic). From Dalmatia, he was in Auschwitz. (Article in Slobodna Dalmacija, 23 January 2005).127. Laginja, Anton (Ivana). Born 1922 in Klana. Arrested May 5, 1944 and taken to Mauthausen where he was killed on 16 October 1944. (Liburnijskog, p. 95).128. Laginja, Ruza (Ivana). Born 1916 in Klana. Taken to Dachau in 1943 where she was killed in 1944. (Liburnijskog, p. 95).129. Lalin, Prof. Milivoj. From Split, he survived Buchenwald. (Article in Novi list, 11 April 2002).130. Lazaric, Josip (Josipa). Born 28 July 1901 in Moscenicka Draga. President of the local NOO, he was arrested in November 1944 and died in Dachau on 17 April 1945 in Dachau. (Liburnijskog, p. 35).131. Ljubica. A medical student in the Finow concentration camp. (Ravensbruck, p. 36).132. Lopac, Milan. From Trsat, Rijeka. Initially interned in Italy, he was taken to Germany after Italy's capitulation. He was killed in Neuengamme concentration camp near Hamburg. (Trsat, pp. 337 & 345).133. Lucija. Surname unknown. From Rakalj, Pula, Istria. Was the local president of the AFZ and a member of the local NOO. Was in Ravensbruck. (Ravensbruck, p. 8).134. Lukezic, Stanko (Ivana). Born 1911 in Lukezici, Jelenje, Rijeka. Arrested by the Italians in 1941, he was later taken to Germany where he disappeared (Grobinstina, p. 415).135. Lunacek, Adi. From Opatija, born in 1921. Died in 1945 in Flossenberg concentration camp. (information found on her tombstone in Opatija).136. Maljkovic, Jela. From Trogir, she survived Auschwitz (Article in Slobodna Dalmacija, 23 January 2005).137. Mance, Zlatko. Born in Fuzine, Gorski Kotar. Arrived in Dachau in September 1943. He survived the camp. (Article in Novi list, 28 January 2004).138. Mandic, Danijel (Danijela). Born 14 November 1928 in Kuceli, Opatija. A Partisan, he was captured by the Germans in August 1944 and disappeared in a camp. (Liburnijskog, p. 54).139. Mandic, Nevenka. Mother of Oleg Mandic (see below), she lived in Volosko, Opatija. Her husband had escaped to the Partisans after Italy's capitulation. She survived Auschwitz. (article in Novi list, 22 January 2005).140. Mandic, Oleg. Born in Susak (Rijeka) on 5 April 1934, he lived in Volosko, Opatija. The grandson of Ante Mandic (a Vice-President of ZAVNOH, a member of the AVNOJ council and one of the three members of the Royal Regency), he was arrested on 15 May 1944 and taken to Auschwitz with his mother and grandmother. All three survived. (article in Novi list, 22 January 2005).141. Mandic, Olga Nikolajeva Stepenko. A non-Croat, married to Ante Mandic and grandmother of Oleg (see above). She lived in Volosko, Opatija and survived Auschwitz. (article in Novi list, 22 January 2005).142. Marcan, Dragica. From Zarecje, Istria. She was in Aushwitz. (Jakovljevic, p. 128).143. Marcan, Marija. From Zarecje, Istria, she survived the Aushwitz concentration camp. Her husband was executed by the Germans (Jakovljevic, p. 127).144. Marcan. Son of Marija Marcan, he died in Dachau (Jakovljevic, p. 127).145. Marcan. Son of Marija Marcan. Was taken to a German concentration camp. (Jakovljevic, p. 128).146. Margan, Djuro. Was in the Neuengamme concentration camp and seen there by Gino Sirola. (Susacka revija, vol. 33 and Article in Novi list, 18 December 2004).147. Maricic, Branka. From Rijeka, she survived S. Sabba concentration camp. (www.istrianet.org).148. Marija. Personal name unknown. From Rakalj, Pula, Istria. She was active in the AFZ. She was in Ravensbruck. (Ravensbruck, p. 8).149. Marija. Personal name unknown. From Prodol, Pula, Istria. A 15 year old when she was sent to Ravensbruck. (Ravensbruck, p. 12).150. Marija. Surname unknown. From Pazin, Istria. In the Finow concentration camp. (Ravensbruck, p. 35).151. Markovic, Ivan (Antona). Born 28 April 1910 in Potoki, Moscenicka Draga. President of the local NOO, he was arrested in June 1944 and taken to a German concentration camp where he disappeared. (Liburnijskog, p. 35).152. Marsanic, Dragutin (Dragutina). Born in 1904 in Ratulje, Jelenje, Rijeka. A member of the CPC, he had been captured by the Italians on 20 May 1942 and sentenced to a 10 year prison term. After Italy's capitulation, he was transferred to Germany where he died in May 1944 in Bergen-Belsen.153. Martincic, Leon (Antona). Born 9 April 1906 in Moscenicka Draga. A member of the local NOO, he was arrested in April 1944 and taken to the Flossenberg concentration camp where he was killed on 13 May 1944. (Liburnijskog, p. 35).154. Matejcic, Dragutin. Born 28 December 1907 in Marcelja, Rijeka. A volunteer in the Spanish Civil War, he was interned in a French camp after the War where the Germans shot him on 25 March 1942. (Nasi Spanjolski, p. 222).155. Matetic, Ivan (Vinka). Born 1923 in Breza, Klana. A Partisan, he was captured on 23 September 1943 and died on 15 February 1945 in the Fullen concentration camp. (Liburnijskog, p. 68).156. Matetic, Josip (Antona). Born 3 April 1890 in Brezi, lived in Rukavac, Opatija. A NOP activist he had been in an Italian camp and handed over to the Germans after Italy's capitulation. He disappeared in a German camp. (Liburnijskog, p. 55).157. Matetic, Josip (Antona). Born 16 October 1899 in Zaluki, Permani, Opatija. A member of the NOO of Jurdani. He was captured and taken to a German concentration camp where he was killed on 4 November 1944. (Liburnijskog, p. 45).158. Matic, Ivan Lovre. Born 16 October 1919 in Tribalj, Crikvenica. A Partisan, he disappeared while imprisoned in Germany in 1944. (Tribalj, p. 129).159. Matijevic, Zora. From Trsat, Rijeka. She was active in various Communist organizations.She survived the Ravensbruck concentration camp and described her experiences in her booklet Ravensbruck: Zenski logor smrti (Ravensbruck: The Woman's Death Camp), Zagreb: AFZ, 1946. (Ravensbruck, and Trsat, p. 338).160. Matosic, Ratomir. A designer in the shipyards of Split, he appears to have been a Partisan and was imprisoned in Dachau. (Katolicko, p. 162).161. Matkovic, Tomislav. From Trsat, Rijeka. He was imprisoned in a German concentration camp and survived the War. (Trsat, p. 338).162. Mavrinac, Barbara. From Jelenje, Grobnik, Rijeka. Her husband was in the Partisans and she was sent to Ravensbruck concentration camp. (Ravensbruck, p. 7).163. Mavrinac, Marija (Ivana). Born 31 July 1907 in Lovran. A sympathizer of the NOP, she disappeared in a German camp. (Liburnijskog, p. 82).164. Medvedic, Milka (Alojza). Born 1893 in Klana. Taken to Auschwitz in September 1944 where she was killed on 28 March 1945. (Liburnijskog, p. 97).165. Mender, Danijela. From Matulje. Killed in S. Sabba. (Liburnijskog, p. 84).166. Micetic, Josip. Born 1915 in Ponikve, Kukuljanovo, Rijeka. Arrested by the Germans in October 1943, he disappeared in Dachau. (Grobinstina, p. 428).167. Miculinic, Josip. Born in 1907 in Cernik, Kukuljanovo, Rijeka. Arrested by the Italians in June 1941, he later was taken to Dachau where he died in late 1943. (Grobinstina, p. 428).168. Mihocic, Ivan (Ivana). Born 15 March 1924 in Matulje. A member of the Partisans, he was captured in August 1944 and killed in S. Sabba on 1 September 1944. (Liburnijskog, p. 33).169. Mihocic, Ivan (Ivana). Born 1915 in Mune, Istria. Arrested in Rijeka in April 1944, he disappeared in a German camp. (Liburnijskog, p. 85).170. Mihocic, Milka (Antona). Born 17 November 1921 in Male Mune, Istria. An activist of the NOP, she was taken to a German concentration camp in Villach where she died during a bombing raid in February 1945. (Liburnijskog, p. 85).171. Mikulic, Celesta (Ivana). Born 1921 in Vele Drazica, Jelenje, Rijeka. A member of the local NOO and a member of SKOJ. He was captured by the Germans on 10 January 1945 and taken to Aushwitz where he was killed. (Grobinstina, p. 414).172. Milos, Ljubinko. Born in 1922 in Kostrena. A Partisan, he was captured by the Germans and taken to one of their concentration camps. His ultimate fate remains unknown. (Kostrena, p. 102).173. Milotic, Vanda. From Istria, she survived the Aushwitz concentration camp. (Jakovljevic, p. 127).174. Miscenic, Franco (Andrija). Born 11 February 1909 in Dobrec, Lovran. He disappeared in a German camp. (Liburnijskog, p. 82).175. Mohovic, Vjekoslav (Ivana). Born 28 March 1909 in Moscenicka Draga, Opatija. Arrested by the Germans in August 1944, he disappeared in Dachau. (Liburnijskog, p. 84).176. Mrak, Ana (Mate). Born 1896 in Liganj, Lovran. A sympathizer of the NOP, she disappeared in a German camp. (Liburnijskog, p. 82).177. Mrak, Petar (Ivana). Born 1890 in Liganj, Lovran. A sympathizer of the NOP, he was arrested on 29 March 1944 and disappeared in a German camp. (Liburnijskog, p. 82).178. Mrakovcic, Antica. Born circa 1921 in Kornic, Krk. A participant in the NOP, she was arrested on 20 May 1944 and survived Auschwitz and Ravensbruck. (Article in Novi list, 28 January 2005).179. Mrakovcic, Franjo. Born 26 March 1906 in Kornic, Krk. A volunteer in the Spanish Civil War, he was initially interned in a French camp after the War but escaped to Germany where he was imprisoned in a camp in Stuttgart. He subsequently was in several other camps until liberated by the Americans in 1945. He returned to Croatia, lived in Zagreb and died in Pula on 15 April 1983. (Nasi Spanjolski, pp. 236-38).180. Music, Nikola (Nikola). Born 10 September 1909 in Opric, Ika, Opatija. A collaborator with the NOP, he was arrested and disappeared in Dachau. (Liburnijskog, p. 74).181. Negric, Ivan (Ivana). Born 15 April 1923 in Moscenice, Opatija. A Partisan, he voluntarily surrendered to the Germans in June 1944 who took them to a camp where he disappeared. (Liburnijskog, p. 84).182. Nela. Surname unknown. From Pazin, Istria. In the Finow concentration camp. (Ravensbruck, p. 35).183. Niksic, Ivan (Mate). Born in 1888 in Lukezi, Jelenje, Rijeka. Arrested by the Ustasha in 1944, he was imprisoned in Germany where he disappeared. (Grobinstina, p. 415).184. Novak, Father Nevesinj. A Roman Catholic priest from Medjimurje, he completed his studies and had been ordained in Rome during the War. He was arrested for "being a friend" of the Partisans and survived Dachau. After the War, he appears to have left the priesthood. (Katolicko, p. 158)185. Opasic, Bojana. From Pazin. She died in Aushwitz. (Ravensbruck, p. 43, and Jakovljevic, p. 128).186. Orlic, Zivko. From Punat, Krk, he survived Neuengamme and the British attack on the internees in Lubeck (see entry on Rude Paskvan) (Susacka revija, vol. 33).187. Palmic, Anton (Nikole). Born 15 August 1909 in Opric, Ika, Opatija. A collaborator with the NOP, he was taken to a German concentration camp where he was killed on 6 September 1944. (Liburnijskog, p. 74).188. Palmic, Robert (Antuna). Born 11 June 1910 in Lovran. He died in Buchenwald on 17 December 1944. (Liburnijskog, p. 30).189. Palmic, Santo (Andrije). Born 1922 in Lovran. He was killed in a German camp on 24 April 1945. (Liburnijskog, p. 83).190. Paskvan, Rude. Born in Kraljevica in 1923, he completed high school in Susak (Rijeka) and was a member of SKOJ. He survived the Bremen-Fargo and Neuengamme concentration camps. On 3 May 1945 the Germans placed Paskvan with 12,000 other inmates on four ships in Lubeck which came under attack by the RAF. Paskvan with only 255 other internees survived this erroneous Allied raid. This was the greatest loss of life in maritime history. Paskvan later became a journalist for Novi list in Rijeka and died in 2001. (Susacka revija, vo. 33).191. Peloza, Ante. From Vele Mune, Istria. He survived the S. Sabba concentration camp. (www.istrianet.org).192. Peloza, Ivan (Stjepana). Born 9 July 1903 in Vele Mune, Istria. A member of the NOO for Mune, he was arrested and died in Dachau. (Liburnijskog, p. 40).193. Perisic, Anton (Antona). Born 23 March 1921 in Visoce, Lovran. A secretary of the Visoce NOO, he was arrested in May 1944 and disappeared in the Stetin concentration camp. (Liburnijskog, p. 30).194. Peruc, Katica (Franje). Born 1909 in Vela Ucka, Opatija. She disappeared in a German camp. (Liburnijskog, p. 95).195. Perusic, Josip (Andrije). Born 1901 in Buzdohonj, Cernik, Rijeka. He worked with the NOP and was arrested by the Germans and taken to a camp in Trieste where he disappeared on 23 May 1944. (Grobinstina, p. 411).196. Petricevic, Tonka (Vanja) (born Siriscevic). Born in Spilt circa 1927. A Partisan, she was captured by German troops on Korcula in December 1943. After serving in a number of camps, she ended up in Auschwitz which she survived. (Article in Slobodna Dalmacija, 23 January 2005).197. Pilat, Bojana. An Istrian living in Zagreb, she died in Auschwitz. (Nepokorena, p. 44).198. Pilat, Father Joakim. Born in 1880 in Pazin. A Roman Catholic priest, he survived Dachau. (Katolicko, pp. 157-58).199. Pintaric, Ivan-Cinkovac (Andre). Born 26 July 1907, he lived in Kuceli, Opatija. Killed in S. Sabba. (Liburnijskog, p. 93).200. Piskuric, Mirko. From Trsat, Rijeka. He served as the secretary of the Susak (Rijeka) town committee of the CPC. He was arrested on 28 April 1943 and interned Italy. He was killed in Neuengamme concentration camp near Hamburg. (Trsat, pp. 282, 337 & 345).201. Poje, Aleksandar Bato. Born in 1921 in Petrinja of parents from Rijeka and Kostrena. He was involved in illegal work for support of the Partisans in Sarajevo where he was arrested in April 1942. After being in Jasenovac, he was handed over to the Germans and was taken to their camps in Sajmiste near Belgrade, Alend near Vienna and Bersflord in Norway where he was executed on 19 July 1942. (Kostrena, p. 193).202. Priskic, Anton (Antun). Born 10 November 1915 in Lovran. Served in the Italian financial police. He died in the Sand-Bastel-Witsendorf camp in December 1944. (Liburnijskog, p. 119).203. Prodan, Mario (Petra). Born 15 March 1921 in Volosko, Opatija. Arrested by the Germans in Opatija on 12 February 1944, he disappeared in a German camp. (Liburnijskog, p. 92).204. Puhar, Josip (Ivana). Born 19 October 1924 in Poljane, Opatija. A Partisan. He was killed in S. Sabba on 22. January 1944. (Liburnijskog, p. 50).205. Pulic, Ivan (Marina). Born 18 May 1880 in Kozuli, Dobrec, Lovran. A sympathizer of the NOP. He was killed in Dachau in May 1945. (Liburnijskog, p. 83).206. Puz, Ivan (Josipa). Born 27 November 1925 in Permani, Opatija. A Partisan, he was captured in November 1944 and later killed in S. Sabba. (Liburnijskog, p. 46).207. Radetic, Darinka-Donata (Tome) (married name Koverlica). Born 12 December 1921 in Volosko. Survived S. Sabba. (Liburnijskog, p. 102).208. Radosevic, Ivan. An Istrian living in Zagreb, he died in Dachau in 1945. (Nepokorena, p. 44).209. Radun, Elda. From Dalmatia, she survived Auschwitz. (Article in Slobodna Dalmacija, 23 January 2005).210. Rak, Cvetko (Marka). Born in 1923 in Buzdohanj, Cernik, Rijeka. Worked in the NOP. He was captured in Gorski kotar and died in a camp in 1944. (Grobinstina, p. 372).211. Raspor, Drago (Jerolima). Born in 1920 in Klana. Killed in a German camp. (Liburnijskog, p. 98).212. Raspor, Dusan (Drage). Born in 1920 in Klana. Killed in a German camp. (Liburnijskog, p. 98).213. Raspor, Franco (Ivana). Born 1914 in Klana. Taken to a German camp on 14 June 1944 and killed on 8 April 1945. (Liburnijskog, p. 98).214. Rauch, Zdenko. Born in 1908 in Kostrena. A Partisan, he was captured by the Germans in 1943 and first was in a number of camps in Croatia and Serbia before being taken to a camp in Munster. He was later moved to Lager Vic where he died in March or April 1945. (Kostrena, p. 123).215. Ritt, Katarina. From Trsat, Rijeka. Killed in a German concentration camp. (Trsat, p. 346).216. Rubinic, Ivan (Ivana). Born 27 August 1892 in Kalac, Moscenicka Draga. A member of the NOO for Moscenicka Draga, he was arrested on 20 April 1944 and he disappeared in the Binderhausen concentration camp. (Liburnijskog, p. 37).217. Rubinic, Spiro (Antona). Born 24 April 1894 in Moscenice, Opatija. Arrested by the Germans on 11 November 1944, he disappeared in 1945 in the Flossenberg concentration camp. (Liburnijskog, p. 85).218. Rudan, Marija (Antona). Born 16 February 1922 in Grabovo, Moscenicka Draga. President of the USAOH for Grabovo, she was arrested on 22 November 1944 and taken to a German concentration camp where she disappeared. (Liburnijskog, p. 37).219. Ruzic, Rudolf (Ivana). Born 27 January 1913 in Pobri, Opatija. Killed in 1944 in S. Sabba. (Liburnijskog, p. 92).220. Salvi - Slavic, Anton (Antona). An Italian of Croatian descent born 12 May 1905 in Puzi, Permani, Opatija. Killed in S. Sabba. (Liburnijskog, p. 92).221. Samsa, Franco (Antona). Born in Klana, he lived in Rijeka. Taken to Dachau on 15 February 1944 and killed there in March 1945. (Liburnijskog, p. 98).222. Sandalj, Fani (Ferdinanda) (born Kalcic). Born 26 September 1909 in Kraj, Moscenicka Draga, Opatija. Arrested by pro-Mussolini Italians in 1944 and disappeared in the Herzbruck concentration camp. (Liburnijskog, p. 85).223. Sankovic, Andrija (Andrije). Born 1900 in Zejane, Istria. President of the local NOO, he was captured on 8 February 1944 and taken to Dachau where he was killed on 24 December 1944. (Liburnijskog, p. 67).224. Sankovic, Anton (Andrije). Born 17 May 1904 in Zejane, Istria. A collaborator with the NOP, he was arrested in Rijeka in April 1944 and taken to a camp where he disappeared. (Liburnijskog, p. 86).225. Semeliker, Father Matthias. A Roman Catholic priest and an ethnic Croat from the Burgenland region of Austria where he was born in 1910. He defended the use of the Croatian language in the region in the face of Nazi persecution. He was arrested on 9 March 1943 and survived Dachau. (Katolicko, p. 161).226. Sepic, Dusan (Rudolfa). Born in Kuceli, Opatija. A Partisan, he was captured on 18 December 1944 and disappeared in Dachau. (Liburnijskog, p. 56).227. Sepic, Ivan (Mate). Born 11 September 1911 in Moscenicka Draga. An activist in the NOP, he was arrested by the Germans in February 1945 and taken to a German concentration camp where he disappeared. (Liburnijskog, p. 38).228. Sersic, Franka. From Rab. She and her husband hid three American intelligence officers in their home for several weeks. The officers had been sent to Rab to establish a radio relay station to connection the leadership of the Croatian Partisans with the Allies in Italy. Shortly after the officers had been moved out, the Germans arrested Franka and her husband in March 1944 and took her to a concentration camp. (Ticac, pp. 62-63).229. Sersic, Jakov. From Rab. Husband of Franka, he was taken to a German concentration camp. (Ticac, pp. 62-63).230. Simcevic, Bozidar (Pave). Born 1892 in Maslenica, Zadar, lived in Opatija. Initially he had been in an Italian camp. He was released upon Italy's capitulation and became a member of the NOO of Opatija. He was arrested again in Spring 1944 and was killed in S. Sabba in the same year. (Liburnijskog, p. 44).231. Sintic, Albert (Josipa). Born 10 January 1914 in Sucici, Moscenicka Draga, Opatija. Collaborated with the NOP. Arrested by the Germans in July 1944, he disappeared in Dachau. (Liburnijskog, p. 85).232. Sirola, Gino. From Zamet, Rijeka. A member of the CPC, he was arrested in Rijeka on 7 July 1944. He did forced labor in a number of camps including Dacahu and survived. (Article in Novi list, 18 December 2004).233. Sirotnjak, Marijan (Lina). Born 1925 in Lovranska Draga, Lovran. A member of the local NOO, he was arrested on 21 January 1944 and disappeared in Dachau. (Liburnijskog, p. 30).234. Sirotnjak, Mario (Ivana). Born in Lovran, he died from tuberculosis in Dachau on 16 May 1945. (Liburnijskog, p. 83).235. Sizgoreo, Jozica. Lives in Split, she survived Auschwitz. (Article in Slobodna Dalmacija, 23 January 2005).236. Skalamera, Anica. Born 1920 in Moscenicka Draga, Opatija. Killed in a German camp in July 1944. (Liburnijskog, p. 92).237. Skalamera, Franco (Antona). Born 25 May 1909 in Kalac, Moscenicka Draga, Opatija. Arrested by the Germans on 8 October 1944, he died in Dachau on 25 November 1944. (Liburnijskog, p. 85).238. Skalamera, Ivan (Antona). Born 26 May 1912 in Kalac, Moscenicka Draga, Opatija. President of the NOO for Kalac, he was arrested and later killed on 19 December 1944 in S. Sabba. (Liburnijskog, p. 38).239. Skerijanc, (Franje) Ivan. Born 26 December 1908 in Matulje. A member of the NOO for Jusici, he was arrested and taken to Buchenwald where he died on 13 December 1944. (Liburnijskog, p. 25).240. Skocanic, Radames (Miroslava). Born 3 October 1923 in Liganj, Lovran. A sympathizer of the NOP, he was arrested by the Germans on 1 May 1944 and disappeared in a German camp. (Liburnijskog, p. 83).241. Skvaza, Milojka Messoranja. From Susak (Rijeka), born circa 1927. A member of SKOJ, she was arrested and sent to Auschwitz. She survived the camp. (Article in Novi list, 11 December 2003).242. Slavica. Surname unknown. From Karbuna, Istria. (Jakovljevic, p. 128).243. Slosar, Stefanija. Born 1914 in Lipa, Rupa. Killed in S. Sabba in 1944.244. Smaric, Petar (Antona). Born 9 April 1907 in Liganj. A sympathizer of the NOP, he was taken to a German camp and executed in October 1944. (Liburnijskog, p. 83).245. Snjader, Franco (Ivana). Born in 1908 in Klana. Killed in Dachau on 15 February 1944. (Liburnijskog, p. 98).246. Snajder, Ivan (Ivana). Born in 1898 in Klana. Taken to Dachau on 15 February 1944 where he was killed on 2 March 1945. (Liburnijskog, p. 98).247. Snajder, Slava (Andrije). Born in 1920 in Klana. Taken to Mauthausen on 5 May 1944 where she was killed on 16 October 1944. (Liburnijskog, p. 98).248. Snajder, Vladimir (Ivana). Born in 1921 in Klana. Taken to Dachau on 15 February 1944 where he was killed in July 1944. (Liburnijskog, p. 98).249. Spincic, Lucija. From Kastav, her husband was in the Partisans. Wa letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Thu, 31 Mar 2005 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/6263/1/E-International-community-shares-blame-for-the-brutal-war.html KOMARICA: INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY SHARES BLAME FOR THE BRUTAL WAR IN THE FORMER YUGOSLAVIA22.03.2005 BANJA LUKA, Mar 22 (FENA) â The international community is accomplice in the brutal war in the former Yugoslavia, and after the war it often continues punishing the victims, especially refugees and displaced persons, and rewarding those who had exiled them â said the bishop of Banja Luka, Franjo Komarica, during a meeting with the Irish ambassador for Slovenia, Croatia and BiH, Gerald Ansbro. Bishop Komarica argumented that with concrete dates, places of meeting and names of his collocutors during the war and after, who clearly gave him to understand that the war had been planned long before and waged in an organized manner and that the so called big powers were squaring accounts with each other at the expense of innocent people whom they misused for their selfish interests. As the KTA reports, Komarica stressed the devastating fact that practically the Croats as the domicile people and the Catholic Church are no more in the Republika Srpska, and all this with the knowledge and acquiescence of the "humane" Europe and America. "I cannot accept", bishop Komarica is quoted as saying, "the allegation of a larger number of my collocutors from the international community that I and my people are to blame because we are Catholic, because we are Croats and because we want to stay in BiH.""I am well aware that the international community has failed in BiH, and Ireland as its member admits its failure" â said Ansbro and expressed the readiness of his country to help reconciliation and healing of wounds. (Fena) jkhttp://www.fena.ba/uk/vijest.html?fena_id=FMO82577&rubrika=ES  letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Thu, 24 Mar 2005 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/6262/1/E-Croatia---Great-Britain.html ÂCroatia - Great BritainÂOverview of historical relations - a sketchDarko Zubrinic, 2004.GENERALIt is interesting that King Richard the Lion-Hearted (1157-1199) sojourned in Zadar (and not in Dubrovnik as it has been believed). Also Henry of Lancaster, the future King Henry IV, visited Zadar and Dubrovnik during his pilgrimage to the Holy Land in 1392 and 1393. See [Mardesic], p. 134-135.Interesting impressions about the Croats can be seen in ``The Journey'' written by Thomas Watkins, published in London in 1792 (second edition in 1794). He praises Croatian soldiers (Esclavonian soldiers) and sailors. He was enthralled by the beauty of Dubrovnik, its hospitality, competent administration, high level of education and scholarship found among many of its inhabitants. He also cited some of the verses that the Durbovnik poets addressed to him as a guest. Talking about inhabitants of Dalmatia, he stated that they are ``in their attire and manners not unlike highland Scots - bold, honest, simple and so incured to inclement weather that even now, when the snow is 4 inches high, some of them (as I can see from my window) spend the night round a small fire in the open'' (see [Mardesic], p. 186).It is interesting that Thomas Fink from the University of Cambridge defended his doctaral thesis in physics dealing with - ties! Also a recent monograph has been issued devoted to various applications of ties in science: The 85 Ways to Tie a Tie: The Science and Aesthetics of Tie Knots, by Thomas Fink Yong Mao Fourth Estate: 1999. Croatian soldiers served in many European armies since the seventeenth century. So in the French army in the 17th century, during the reign of Louis XIII, there was a cavalry composed exclusively of the Croats, called Royal - Cravate, which existed in the period of 1664-1789. These soldiers gave the world something that is today inavoidable in fashion: the tie, called la cravate by the French and by the Germans die Krawatte - the expression was coined from the Croatian name, and mentioned for the first time in 1651. The name entered alsohttp://croatianhistory.net/etf/brit.html  letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Thu, 24 Mar 2005 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/6266/1/E-Holocaust-Remembrance-Events-in-Opatija-and-Rijeka.html Holocaust Remembrance Events in Opatija and RijekaToday at 6:00 p.m. at the Juraj Sporer Art Pavilion in Opatija, an exhibit entitled "The Black Night Whispered (Victims of Fascism and Nazism in Liburnia)," will open, while only 2 hours later the Museum of the City of Rijeka will open two exhibits entitled "Italian Concentration Camps in the Croatian Littoral from 1941 to 1943" and "The Warsaw Ghetto." Both events are taking place within the scope of the "Days of Remembrance - Days of Warning" project and the 60th anniversary of the liberation of the inmates of Auschwitz. The projects are being co-sponsored by the Association of Anti-Fascist Veterans (UABA) of Rijeka and Opatija and the Eugen Kumicic Opatija Gymnasium as well as Primorje-Goranski County and the cities of Rijeka and Opatija.In connection with the exhibits, a press conference was held yesterday in the Museum of the City of Rijeka where representatives of the sponsors discussed the project which began seven months ago with the goal to remember the Holocaust and to prevent crimes against humanity."Along with the exhibits, a number of related events will take place on this important anniversary, among them a round table on the theme of violence, presentations of the books "The Holocaust in Zagreb" and "The Jews of Rijeka and Opatija," the presentation of a thematic cycle of books published by the Adamic Publishing House in Rijeka, lectures on Nazi "medical" experiments and the camps in Kraljevica and Auschwitz, a thematic evening of films, student debates, and other events," said the head of the project, Oleg Mandic [himself a survivor of Aushwitz - JPK].The President of the UABA for the city of Rijeka, Dinko Tamurat, added that preparations are under way for a number of events connected with the upcoming anniversary of the liberation of Rijeka from fascism [May 3 - JPK]. Tamurat noted that this project is the only one of its kind in Croatia. He emphasized both elementary and high schools as well as colleges will participate as the goal is to introduce young people to an issue which has until now been somewhat ignored.The custos of the Museum of the City of Rijeka and the editor of the book "Italian Concentration Camps in the Croatian Littoral," Mladen Grguric, stated that the exhibit opening in the Museum will include original documents, photographs and items which evidence the repression and terror carried out by Italian occupational authorities in the area of the Croatian Littoral and Gorski kotar which had been annexed by Italy. The exhibit concerning the Warsaw Ghetto will feature 16 photographs, secretly taken by a German soldier, Joe Heydecker, which show all of the suffering and anguish which Jews went through in a portion of Warsaw surrounded by a 3 meter high wall. Grguric added that four camps were located in the area of the Croatian Littoral and Gorski kotar: Lovran, Bakar, Kraljevica and Kampor on Rab Island. The latter was the worst of the four. The greatest crime against civilians in the area committed by the Italians took place in the village of Podhum where on 12 July 1942 Italian troops executed 91 men and boys ranging in age from 15 to 55, while the remaining 889 inhabitants of the village were imprisoned and the village was looted and burned.Speaking of the Opatija exhibit, professor Tatjana Matetic stated that visitors will be able to learn of these terrible historical events through four authentic individual stories of survivors of the camps as well as films and photographs. letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Thu, 27 Jan 2005 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/6265/1/E-Rudimir-Rudolf-Roter---A-Righteous-Among-Nations.html Rudimir Rudolf Roter - A Righteous Among NationsThe following is a translation of an article which appeared in the January 27, 2005 edition of Slobodna Dalmacija, a Split daily. John Peter Kraljic, Esq.One of the latest decisions taken by Yad Vashem, an Israeli state institution which preserves the memory of the Holocaust and the tragic deaths of millions of Jews, was to posthumously name Rudimir Rudolf Roter as a "Righteous Among Nations."This is a special recognition granted to non-Jews who during the time of terrible Nazi persecutions provided help to Jews without any kind of material gain. The recognition is granted on the basis of documents and statements of witnesses given before a commission at Yad Vashem. This also means that this person from the Peljesac Peninsula and a later inhabitant of Dubrovnik will have his name carved on a wall at the memorial center in Israel as a testament to the bravery and morals of a this special man and humanist, which Roter (1897-1959) undoubtedly was.This important recognition will be presented to his younger daughter, Jasneka Roter-Petrovic, otherwise a well known pianist who performed in venues throughout the world. Today she is a retiree living in Dubrovnik, while her older sister, Zrinka, lives in Canada.It is interesting to note that the people of Potumje on Peljesac even today remember how "our Rudi" was a well known carpenter who always had been hungry for knowledge. It was fate that led him to wrap some nails in an old newspaper in the village store where he happened to read about the possibility of getting an education through correspondence classes. He jumped at the opportunity and finished high school in Split in only two years and later graduated from the Philosophical College in Zagreb.His life as a journalist brought him to Sarajevo where he found himself at the beginning of World War II. He and his family along with his colleague, Abraham Koen, and Koen's family left for Peljesac. Putting his life and that of his family in danger, Roter as well as the other inhabitants of Potumje hid Koen and his family for a long time, until Koen and his family were forced to leave Peljesac in 1942 as a result of increasing danger. Koen later became a reporter for Vjesnik [today a Zagreb daily - JPK] and was killed in 1944 during an enemy offensive near Korenica.The decision to give Roter this recognition was based on statements made by Nevenka Poljanic (87) and Kate Fabijanovic of Potumje and on material which was collected by Stipe Anticevic. Koen's daughter, Mira Solic (66), who today lives in Belgrade, confirmed the story in an account given to Yad Vashem.Roter was an important supporter of the Croatian Peasant Party prior to the War. After the War, he was one of the founders of Radio Dubrovnik, the Dubrovnik Summer Festival and the weekly Dubravacki vjesnik. For a time, he was also a correspondent for Slobodna Dalmacija. It is important to emphasize that he is the first Croatian journalist to be named a Righteous Among Nations and indeed is one of the few journalists in all of Europe to be so honored. letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Thu, 27 Jan 2005 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/6264/1/E-The-oldest-blind-theater-in-Europe-is-from-Zagreb-Croatia.html ÂTheatrical Company of the Blind and Visually ImpairedNEW LIFE (NOVI ZIVOT)Hrvatska - Zagreb - CroatiaFounded in 1948, and until 1986 the only blind theatre company in Europe! All translations from Croatian into English by prof. Anadea Cupic Theatrical troupe of a happy disposition Chronology of the plays 1st International Blind and Visually Impaired Thetare Festival, Zagreb, 7 to 10 October 1999 Address: Dramski studio slijepih i slabovidnih "NOVI ZIVOT",10000 Zagreb, Senoina 32, Croatiatel.: ++ 385 1 48 12 502, +385 1 48 12 066fax.: ++ 3851 1 48 40 091e-mail: teatar-slijepih@zg.tel.hrTHEATRICAL COMPANY OF THE BLIND AND VISUALLY IMPAIRED NEW LIFEThe theatrical company of the blind and visually impaired New life performed its first theatricals precisely on 21 March 1948. Since the audience of the town of Zagreb, truly amused, showed great enthusiasm for the acting of the blind performers, such reaction stimulated the Group to continue its activity, thus becoming the first blind theatrical company in Europe. New Life staged the plays by most famous national and foreign playwrights. In the last five years, the Group has focused on the Theatre of the Absurd and surrealism. By giving about 60 performances a year, plus one or two opening nights, New Life was placed on top of the Croatian amateurism. However, rather a long time ago, New Life's quality of presenting spectacle indicated beforehand that another professional Zagreb theatrical company was forthcoming. Touring all over Europe became a habit of the Group; for quite a long time, the invitations to come and visit the United States of America and Australia have been an option for the future which New Life is seriously taking into consideration. The company has contacts with: National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped, The Library of Congress, Frank Kurt Cylke (Director), 1291 Taylor Street NW, Washington, DC 20542, USA Deutsche Blindenstdienanstalt e.v. - Bidungs - und Hilfsmittelzentrum fÃr Elektronik und Hilfsmittel nbH der Deutschen Blindenstudienanstalt, Arbeitsgemenischaft der BlindenhÃrb;Ãcherein e V. JÃrgen Hertlein (Direktor), Am Schalg 8, D-3550 Marburg Related web sites: Udruga slijepih zupanije Istarske Udruga slijepih (Association of the blind people), Sisak CARITAS Hrvatska udruga paraplegicara i tetraplegicara (HUPT) Studentski projekt za gluhonijeme, Filozofski fakultet Druzbe Isusove, Zagreb (a student project for deaf-mute persons, Faculty of Philosophy of the Society of Jesus, Zagreb) Children's village, Croatia The Lipik Orphanage and Colonel Mark Cook  Theatre Companies with Performers with Disabilities, National Arts and Disability Center, UCLA, USA MACULA LUTEA, Harry's visible links, Sweden MACULA LUTEA, INTERNATIONAL LINKS IN COUNTRY ORDER, by Harry Svenosson, Sweden On this web since July 1996Maintained by Darko ZubrinicSource: http://www.croatianhistory.net/etf/blind.html letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Tue, 25 Jan 2005 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/6267/1/E-History-of-Croatian-Science.html ÂHistory ofCroatian ScienceÂhttp://www.hr/darko/etf/et22.html - the whole story by Darko Zubrinic, Zagreb (1995) In this section we should again mention the names ofMark Antun Dominis andRugjer Boskovic (1711-1787), whose work was veritably encyclopaedistic. The first known manual about book-keeping was "Della mercatura e del mercante perfetto," written by Benko Kotruljic (born inDubrovnik, 15th century). Its French translation appeared under the title "Parfait nÃgociant" in Lyon in 1613.On the islet of Kosljun near largest Croatian island of Krk there is a beautiful Franciscan monastery, which had one of the oldest "banks" in Europe. It was operational from the 17th to 19th century, providing loans for the poor at low interest rates, to protect them from exploiters. See "What's on Kvarner," p. 81, available at Appleby. Frederik Grisogono (born inZadar, 1472-1538), a mathematician, physicist, astronomer and physician, was educated in Padova, where later he became a university professor. His commentaries on Euclid's `Elements' were published in his book Speculum astronomicum terminans intellectum humanum in omni scientia, Venice in 1507. His most important contribution was the theory of tides, based on the attraction of the Moon, which influenced Mark Antun Dominis. He discovered the antipodal tidal wave. His theory of tides is described in De modo collegiandi, pronosticandi et curandi febres, nec non de humana felicitate ac denique de fluxu et refluxu maris, Venice 1528. Juraj Dragisic (Georgius Benignus), Franciscan born in the famousBosnian town Srebrenica, suggested a reform of the Julian calendar to Pope Leon X in 1514 in his study Correctio erroris, which was accepted by the Pope Gregory XIII. The new, Gregorian calender is in use since 1582. Vinko Paletin (1508-1575), born in the noble family on the island of Korcula, arrived to Mexico as a young missionary. Later, after his studies in Italy, he became professor of mathematics in Vicenza. For several years Paletin was employed on diplomatic missions for the Spanish King Philip II.He translated from Spanish into Italian the work about navigation written by the Spanish cosmograph Pedro Medina (L'arte del naviger, Venice, 1554). Paletin's most important work is De jura et justitia belli contra Indias, preserved as manuscript in Latin, and a more extensive version in Spanish (Croatian translations exist since 1978 and 1979). He mentioned that builders of Maya pyramids in Chichen-Itza, Mayapan and Uxumal, as well as builders of huge basalt heads, were in fact old Cartagians which according to antic authors sailed off long ago across Gibraltar, and discovered the New World (Hesperids). Maya Indians recounted to Paletin an old legend about "the arrival of bearded people from far away". For more details see [Zoric].The first technical discoveries are related to the name ofFaust Vrancic (lat. Faustus Verantius, italianized name Fausto Veranzio, hungarized nameFaustus Verancsics, 1551-1617). It is known that he collaborated with Tycho Brache and Johannes Keppler. Vrancic was fluent in at least seven languages. At the court of King Rudolph II in Hradcani in Prague (Rudloph II was Roman-German Emperor and Croatian-Hungarian King) he worked as his secretary, and in that period completed his importantdictionary of five most noble European languages (Dictionarium quinque nobilissimarum Europeae linguarum: Latinae, Italicae, Germanicae, Dalmaticae et Hungaricae) and published in Venice in 1595. He is best known for his book of inventions inMachinae Novae, published also in Venice in 1595. The book was finantially supported by the French King Louis XIII, and the Toscan Duke Cosimo II de Medici. Among his numerous inventions the most famous is the parachute, which he tested in Venice. It is true that Leonardo da Vinci had a similar idea earlier, but he made only a rough sketch of it, of pyramidal shape, while Vranic's parachute had rectangular shape, as today. http://www.hr/darko/etf/et22.html - the whole story letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Sun, 02 Jan 2005 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/6268/1/E-CROATIAN-INVENTIONS.html CROATIAN INVENTIONSAdam S. EterovichCroatians invented double entry booking, the parachute, blimp, duralaluminum, crab chioppino and forensic medicine. Their inventivenessusually went to benefit other nations. These type of accomplishments should be publicizedin the American and world press. The Republic of Dubrovnik-Ragusa was one ofthe great mercantile centers of Europe which practiced market capitalism longbefore many other nations. Ideas of invention and freedom flowed thru her portsand ships to many places in the world.Invention of Double Entry BookkeepingBenedikt Kotruljevic (Benedetto Cotrugli Raguseo) of the Republic ofDubrovnik wrote in 1458, "The Book on the Art of Trading" in which, amongother things, he presented the the principles and methods of double entrybookkeeping as a necessary attribute of trade activity. Benedikt Kotruljevic, born inDubrovnik, Croatia 1416; Died Aquila 1469. was a merchant by profession,a humanist by education, a scientist by vocation and a diplomat by invitation (in theservice of Aragon kings). He traveled all over the Mediterranean, of keenobserving and lucid conclusions, who polished his conclusions in thediscussions with humanists of the Court of Naples in which he lived for some fifteenyears. In his book, Kotruljevic was writing "On Orderly Keeping the BusinessRecords. The authors analyze that chapter on the basis of newly found manuscriptsof his "Book on the Art of Trade" finding there considerably more extensivelyand in detail an elaborated system of double entry bookkeeping, than presentedin the contents of the book printed in 1573. Kotruljevic set forththeoretical postulations and rules for keeping business records according to thedouble entry principle to be valid also nowadays. He applied then the procedures givingsuggestions for the organization of business records keeping by amerchant.Invented the ParachuteFaust Vrancic, born in Sibenik in 1551, died in Venice 1617, was a typicalRenaissance "homo universalis". A notable scholar whose interest comprisedmathematics, physics, philosophy and technology, he spent some time at thecourt of the German emperor Rudolf II who was also the sovereign to theCroatians, Hungarians, and Czechs. His major work was "Machine Novae" (New Machines),printed in Venice at the beginning of the 18 century, with the pictorial(49 etchings) and textual descriptions of 56 different technicalconstructions. He had anticipated the numerous technical inventions which were to be appliedlater to water or wind powered machines, to mills, ships, boats and excavators.His most interesting invention was, certainly, a parachute or "Homo volans"(The Flying Man) as called by Vrancic himself. Faust Vrancic performed a jumpwith his parachute somewhere in Venice in order to test it. This fact isexplicitly stated in a book written by English bishop John Willkins (1614-1672),secretary of the Royal Society in London, only 30 years after the jump.The title of his book which contains this important testimony about Faust Vrancic isMathematical Magic of the Wonders that may be Performed by MechanicalGeometry, part I: Concerning Mechanical Powers Motion, part II, Deadloss or MechanicalMotions, published in London in 1648.Invented Forensic Medicine and Criminal PathologyEduard Miloslavic(1884-1952) was a descendant of Dubrovnik emigrants tothe USA, born in Oakland, California. His family returned to Dubrovnik in1889. Eduard studied medicine in Vienna, where he became a professor ofpathology. In 1920 an invitation came from Marquette University in Wisconsin, USA, totake the chair of the full professor of pathology, bacteriology and forensicmedicine. In subsequent years "Doc Milo", as colleagues called him,inaugurated criminal pathology in the USA. As an outstanding specialist he was alsoinvolved in investigations of crimes perpetrated by al Capone gang. He was one of thefounders of the International Academy for Forensic Medicine, member ofmany American and European scientific societies and academies. He was active inthe Croatian Fraternal Union and also vice president of the CFU in the USA. In1932 he moved to Zagreb, where he was a full professor at the Faculty of medicine.He was lecturing also pastoral medicine at the Faculty of Theology inZagreb, and was known as ardent adversary of abortion and euthanasia. In 1940 hewas elected member of the prestigious "Medico-Legal Society" in London in 1941and promoted the full member of the Tzarist Leopoldine Carolingue Academy ofNatural Sciences in Germany, and doctor "honoris causa" at the Universityof Vienna, where he started his scientific career. He again moved to the USA (St.Louis, Missouri), where he was working until his death.Invented Crab ChioppinoIn February 1929, Sunset Magazine adopted the editorial policy that stillguides it: a magazine of Western living for people who live in the West.Over the years, the recipes that have appeared in its pages have become a historyof Western tastes. Such factors as climate, geography, and ethnic mixtureshave shaped its regional life style. Informality and a willingness toexperiment are a large part of everyday experiences in the West. They first presented SanFrancisco's famous Cioppino in 1941, crediting its invention to SanFrancisco fishermen from the Dalmatian Coast (Croatia) Dungeness crab is the star ofthis robust shellfish stew; clams and shrimp add their flavors, too. It'straditional to sop up the thick tomato and garlic sauce with lots ofextra-sour sourdough bread.San Francisco Style Cioppino1/4 cup olive oil or salad oil1 large onion, chopped2 cloves garlic minced or pressed1 large green bell pepper, stemmed, seeded, and chopped2/3 cup chopped parsley1 can 15oz tomato sauce1 can 28oz tomatoes1 cup dry red or white wine1 bay leaf1 teaspoon dry basil1/2 teaspoon dry oregano leaves12 clams in shell, suitable for steaming, scrubbed1 pound large shrimp (about 30 per lb), shelled and deveined2 ive or cooked large Dungeness crab (about2lb each),cleaned and crackedIn a 6-8 quart pan over medium heat, combine oil, onion, garlic, bellpepper, and parsley; cook, stirring often, until onion is soft. Stir in tomatosauce, tomatoes (break up with a spoon) and their liquid, wine, bay leaf, basil,and oregano. Cover and simmer until slightly thickened, about 20 minutes. Tobroth, add clams, shrimp, and crab. Cover and simmer gently until clamspop open and shrimp turn pink, about 20 minutes longer. Ladle hot broth and some ofeach shellfish into large soup bowls or soup plates.Makes 6 servings.Dalmatian FishermenDalmatian fishermen from the Dalmatian coast and islands of Croatia werefishermen and oystermen in the bayous of Louisiana, at Biloxi,Mississippi, Mobile Bay, Alabama and on the Texas Gulf Coast for up to two hundred years.During the Gold Rush of 1848 they came to San Francisco. Tadich Grill isthe oldest restaurant and fish house in San Francisco being organized byDalmatians from Croatia in 1849. Other famous fish restaurants were MayesOyster House (1860's), Sam's (1860's) Chris's, Harpoon Louies, and many others, allowned by Dalmatians. By 1880 there were over 250 Dalmatian fishermen in San Francisco. TheFishermen's Association had Dalmatian-Croatians as presidents and officersin the 1860's-1870's.Many of the Dalmatian fishermen left San Francisco for the state ofWashington, Canada and Alaska, others went to San Pedro in SouthernCalifornia. The largest concentration of Croatian fishermen can be found in San Pedro withan approximate number of 10,000 in the San Pedro Harbor area.In the 1830's Captain John Dominis-Gospodnetich operating out of Hawaiibarreled and shipped the first salmon out of the state of Washington tothe Eastern United States and established the Salmon Trade. His son JohnDominis-Gospodnetich married an Hawaiian princes who became the last queenof Hawaii-Queen Lilioukalani and Dominis-Gospodnetich became the King-Consort.The first European settler and fisherman on Santa Catalina Island wasMaricich. Another Dalmatian fisherman with his boat settled on an islandoff the Canadian Coast and married an Indian woman and later was obligated to alsomarry her two widowed sisters. He had 28 children and three wives. He becamewealthy and his picture with his wife appeared as a lable on canned salmon.The Dalmatian-Croatian made a considerable contribution to the fishingindustry and style of fish preparation in the West.Invention of the Blimp and Dural AluminumDavid Schwarz, a Croatian Jew (1852-1897), invented the airship that istoday unjustly bearing the name of the German count Zeppelin. Indeed, Zeppelinbought the complete project from Schwartz's wife, shortly after hispremature death. It is true that the `Zeppelin' constructed by Schwartz went downdue to a small technical error in the propeller. He was not able to finance a newexperiment. While preparing the project of his flying ship, which for thefirst time was predicted to be made of metal, he had to resolve many technical andtechnological problems. This led to the discovery of the special aluminiumalloy now known under the name dural, also called Schwartz aluminium.Buzadzic, Miroslav. "Benedikt Kotruljevic of Dubrovnik Invented DoubleEntry Bookkeeping in 1458." 21st EAA Congress in Antwerp, April 1998. Also knownin the West as Benedetto Cotrugli Raguseo.Muljevic, Vladimir. "Hrvatski Znanstvenici Antun i Faust Vrancic."Encyclopedia Moderna, 1993. Invented the parachute.Sunset Magazine, "Crab Chioppino a Dalmatian-Croatian Contribution."Sunset Magazine, 1941.Zubrinic, Darko. "Eduard Miloslavic and David Schwarz." www.hr/darko . letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Tue, 07 Dec 2004 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/6270/1/E-Protest-raised-against-Croatian-gulag-tourism-idea.html ÂProtest raised against Croatian gulag tourism ideaFri Nov 19,12:41 PM ET Offbeat - AFP ZAGREB (AFP) - A proposal to turn a former communist gulag island off the Croatian coast into a tourist camp drew protests from an independent group which is investigating crimes committed by the communist Yugoslav regime. "It is unacceptable that a tragic place of execution like Goli Otok, where Tito's Yugoslav communist regime killed over 30,000 political prisoners, will be used in future as a tourist destination," the Center for Investigation of Communist Crimes said in a statement. A study recently ordered by the government envisaged "hard-labour holidays" on Goli Otok, a rocky and inhospitable island that was virtually abandoned following the dismantlement of a detention camp there as the Yugoslav federation crumbled in the late 1980s. The aim would be for guests to survive long enough to receive a certificate at the end of the 'holiday' proving they had done their time. Former detainees of Goli Otok have welcomed the idea, some even offering their services as guides, according to the study's author, Josip Modric. But the Center for Investigation of Communist Crimes likened the idea to using a Nazi concentration camp as a tourist theme park. "We urge the Croatian authorities to reject the study which suggests making profit from the killing and torture of innocent people," it said. The island should instead be turned into a memorial center as a warning to future generations of the evils of totalitarianism, it said. Croatia, a former Yugoslav republic, welcomed more than eight million tourists in the first nine months of 2004, the best result since it gained independence in 1991. Tourism revenues are projected to amount to about 8.5 billion dollars in 2004, seven percent higher than last year. http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=1517&ncid=732&e=4&u=/afp/20041119/od_afp/croatia_travel_offbeat letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Mon, 22 Nov 2004 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/6269/1/E-Today-in-History---Nov-21.html ÂToday in History - Nov. 21By the Associated PressToday is Sunday, Nov. 21, the 326th day of 2004. There are 40 days left in the year.Today's Highlight in History:Forty years ago, on Nov. 21, 1964, New York's Verrazano Narrows Bridge, connecting Brooklyn and Staten Island, opened.On this date:In 1789, North Carolina became the 12th state to ratify the U.S. Constitution.In 1877, inventor Thomas A. Edison announced the invention of his phonograph.In 1934, the Cole Porter musical "Anything Goes," starring Ethel Merman as Reno Sweeney, opened in New York.In 1942, the Alaska highway across Canada was formally opened.In 1969, the Senate voted down the Supreme Court nomination of Clement F. Haynsworth, the first such rejection since 1930.In 1973, President Nixon's attorney, J. Fred Buzhardt, revealed the existence of an 18 1/2-minute gap in one of the White House tape recordings related to Watergate.In 1979, a mob attacked the U.S. Embassy in Islamabad, Pakistan, killing two Americans.In 1980, 87 people died in a fire at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.In 1980, an estimated 83 million TV viewers tuned in to the CBS prime-time soap opera "Dallas" to find out "who shot J.R." (It turned out to be Kristin Shephard, played by Mary Crosby.)In 1989, the proceedings of Britain's House of Commons were televised live for the first time.Ten years ago: North Carolina Sen. Jesse Helms, a Republican, remarked in a newspaper interview that President Clinton "better have a bodyguard" if he were to visit North Carolina; Helms later called his comment "a mistake." NATO warplanes bombed an air base in Serb-held Croatia that was being used by Serb planes to raid the Bosnian "safe area" of Bihac.Five years ago: President Clinton, speaking at a conference in Florence, Italy, called on prosperous nations to spread global wealth by helping poor countries with Internet hookups, cell phones, debt relief and small loans. China completed its first unmanned test of a spacecraft meant to carry astronauts. Quentin Crisp, the eccentric writer, performer and raconteur best-known for his autobiography "The Naked Civil Servant," died in Manchester, England, at age 90.One year ago: More than a dozen rockets fired from donkey carts slammed into Iraq's Oil Ministry and two downtown Baghdad hotels used by foreign journalists and civilian defense contractors. Health officials said a deadly outbreak of hepatitis A at a Chi-Chi's Mexican restaurant in suburban Pittsburgh was probably caused by green onions from Mexico.Today's Birthdays: Baseball Hall-of-Famer Stan Musial is 84. Country singer Jean Shepard is 71. Actor Laurence Luckinbill is 70. Actress Marlo Thomas is 67. Actor Rick Lenz is 65. Singer Dr. John is 64. Actress Juliet Mills is 63. Comedian-director Harold Ramis is 60. Television producer Marcy Carsey is 60. Actress Goldie Hawn is 59. Rock musician Lonnie Jordan (War) is 56. Singer Livingston Taylor is 54. Actress-singer Lorna Luft is 52. Journalist Tina Brown is 51. Actress Cherry Jones is 48. Rock musician Brian Ritchie (The Violent Femmes) is 44. Gospel singer Steven Curtis Chapman is 42. Actress Nicollette Sheridan is 41. Singer-actress Bjork is 39. Football player Troy Aikman is 38. R&B singer Chauncey Hannibal (BLACKstreet) is 36. Rock musician Alex James (Blur) is 36. Baseball player Ken Griffey Jr. is 35. Rapper Pretty Lou (Lost Boyz) is 33. Country singer Kelsi Osborn (SHeDAISY) is 30. Actress Jena Malone is 20.Thought for Today: "A concept is stronger than a fact." - Charlotte P. Gilman, American lecturer and author (1860-1935).http://www.theledger.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20041120/APA/411200946  letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Sat, 20 Nov 2004 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/6271/1/E-PRINCE-OF-HAWAII-was-CROATIAN.html ÂPRINCE OF HAWAII was CROATIANÂThe Honourable Mr. John 'Aimoku Dominis with HM Queen Lili'uokalaniÂBy Adam S. EterovichJohn Dominis-GospodnetichJohn Dominis was a sea captain sailing out of Boston in the 1820's-40âs, who later settled in the Hawaiian Kingdom. He was the captain of the ship Bolivar and the John Peabody. His son, John O. Dominis, married a young Hawaiian princess of good family. She became the Queen Liliuokalani, last queen of Hawaii. He was also the governor of Oahu. This Dominis-Gospodnetich clan originated in Pucisce, Island of Brac, Dalmatia, Croatia and at the collapse of the Venetian Republic moved to Venice. Since the death of Prince John Dominis there has been speculation as to his ethnic origin. The following facts and documentation will prove him to be of Croatian origin from the island of Brac, Dalmatia, Croatia. Gospodnetich-Dominis HeraldryThe Gospodnetich-Dominis Coat of Arms comes from the old nobility on the island of Brac, Dalmatia, Croatia. The Arms are related to the house of Simrakovich and Krstich-Krstulovich from Bosnia. The Arms are carved into the doorway of the palace of Gospodnetich-Dominis in the town of Dol, island of Brac, Dalmatia. Arms were formally registered since 1657 until the fall of Venice in 1797. Gospodnetich and Dominis mean the same thing in Croatian and Latin, a person of high rank. Dominis could also be taken as a Clan name of Gospodnetich. The name is found in a number of towns on the island of Brac. (Duisin 1938)Gospodnetich-Dominis on the Island of BracDominis is remembered in the town of Pucisce, island of Brac since 1647. The priest Ciccarelli notes that this noble family resettled in Venice in the year 1795. In the town of Dol on the island of Brac, many references are made to Gospodnetich-Dominis. One was a judge; another a ship captain. Most came from this town. (Jutronic 1950)Gospodnetich-Dominis Church RecordsChurch records of Saint Jeronim from Pucisce, island of Brac were searched by priests Don Tonci Kusanovic and Don Ivan Eterovic and reveal that four brothers went to Venice in the 1790âs: Simon, a priest; Jeronim, Ivan (John), and Ante, mariners. Records further indicate this was a noble family with a long tradition as sea captains.Croatia and CroatiansIn order to understand the history, culture and people of Croatia, one must first be aware that Croatia was ruled, administered, conquered, and federated with Yugoslavia, the Kingdom of Yugoslavia, Austria, Hungary and the Protectorate of Hungary, Italy, Turkey, the Republic of Venice and the Republic of Ragusa (Dubrovnik) for up to 900 years. Croatia was partitioned at the same time for up to 400 years between Austria, Hungary, Venice and Turkey. An individual with a desire to study the history, culture and people of Croatia would out of necessity have to read portions of Austrian, Hungarian, Turkish and Italian history.About Croatian ImmigrationCroatian immigration would have the same considerations as above. Croatians have migrated for over 300 years. Prior to the discovery of America, Croatians migrated to (and were taken into slavery) Turkey, Austria, Italy, Venice, Spain and to other parts of Western Europe. Croatian Galleons were in regular trade with Spain, Portugal, France, England, Italy and the Ottoman Turks prior to the discovery of America. Croatian immigration to the New World started with their participation in Spanish, Portuguese, and Venetian fleet and mercantile operations. When Croatians migrated they left as nationals or citizens of Austria, Venice, Hungary or Turkey. Ethnically they were always Croatians, but in immigration Croatians were identified by America, Canada, South America, South Africa, New Zealand and Australia as above or in recent times as Yugoslavs and were recorded as such.Misidentified CroatiansBecause of a lack of a Nation-State, Croatians were in most cases identified by the country that ruled them and were not accorded a place in history. Almost all Croatians that made a contribution to any endeavor were misidentified. A few examples:John Dominis-Gospodnetich--Italian, Venetian--Prince Consort to last Queen of Hawaii, Queen Lilioukalani. Origins were from Island of Brac, Croatia. Joseph Haydn-Hajdin--famous Austrian composer. Origins were Croatian. Marco Polo-Pilich--Venetian explorer to China. Origins were Sibenik, Croatia, born on Island of Korcula, Croatia. Peter Tomich--Austrian. Medal of Honor winner, Pearl Harbor. Born Croatian in Hercegovina. Ferdinand Konscak-Gonzaga--Austrian. A Priest, proved California was not an island. Origin was Varazdin, Croatia. Bozo de Raguza..Hungarian. Voyage of exploration in South America, 1520âs. Origin Croatia.Croatian Names in DalmatiaThe merchant and the noble class in Dalmatia did use two names, one Latin-Italian as citizens of Venice and their own Croatian name in their own circles. Bogdanich became Bogdaneo, Mladinich-Mladineo, Arnerich-Arneri and Glavinich-Capogrosso. Some simply used the Latin-Italian meaning of their name, such as Cvietkovich-Florio, Lupis-Vukasinovich, Dominis-Gospodnetich or Polo-Pilich.Captain John Dominis-GospodnetichOne of the most interesting Croatian sailors in America was John Dominis, who became master of an American ship plying between Boston and the Pacific and who brought to Massachusetts the first cargo of salmon from the Columbia River in the Oregon Territory. According to Professor Samuel Eliot Morison, Dominis worked his way up from the forecastle of Josiah Marshall's ships to a master's commission. Captain Dominis' adventurous life had really begun after his settlement in Boston, Massachusetts. It is there that he started his maritime career on the brig "Owyhyee" (this is the old spelling of the word Hawaii), owned by the firm of Josiah Marshall. He married Mary Jones, a "'pretty girl" from Boston, on October 9, 1824, with the blessing of Josiah Marshall. According to the information supplied by an article published in Schenectady Gazette on August 27, 1932, the couple first moved to Schenectady, New York, Where John Owen Dominis was born on March 10, 1831 at 26 Front Street. His middle name Owen was for his maternal granddfather, Owen Jones, a distinguished Boston citizen. The fact that the bark on which the captain and his family arrived in Honolulu on April 23, 1837 was named "Jones" could further indicate his close ties with his father-in-law, who probably financed the long, costly journey to Hawaii from the Eastern United States. John Dominis decided to move his trade operations to Honolulu, already well-known to him from numerous previous visits. As a definite sign of his intentions to stay in the dynamic mid-Pacific kingdom, he came with his wife, Mary Jones, and their six-year old son, John Owen - the future husband of the tragic and colorful Queen Liliuokalani. During the period of 1842 to 1846 the captain built in the heart of Honolulu a beautiful, stately-looking mansion, later called Washington Place in honor of George Washington, which subsequently became the residence of Hawaii's governors. His wife resided in Honolulu with his son, John 0. Dominis, who later became governor of one of the islands and married Princess Lydia, who in 1891 became Queen Liliuokalani. One of the early records we have of Dominis is that he was second mate and sail mate on the "Paragon" which sailed from Boston to Honolulu in 1823. On January 21, 1827, Dominis was again at Honolulu, as captain of the brig "Owhyhee" and ready to sail for the Northwest Coast by way of Alaska where he was to collect all the skins he could find. Those skins Dominis later sold in China where he bought goods for the Boston market. On February 10, 1827, Dominis was at Hanegas Harbor, not very far from the present Juneau, Alaska and on June 4, 1827, he entered the mouth of the Columbia River. Sixteen days later he was at San Francisco in Mexican California and in November at the port of Canton, China. On May 12, 1828, he was back at Martha's Vineyard in Massachusetts. In July, 1828, Dominis was off again for the Northwest Coast where he arrived seven months later and where he spent about a year, with the exception of a brief visit to the Straits of Juan de Fuca for the purpose of obtaining 300 beavers. It was in the spring of 1830 that Dominis hit upon an idea which was to bring fortunes to Massachusetts merchants. Why not cure fresh Columbia salmon, after the Boston style, and sell it in the New England market? Dominis asked himself. The fish cost practically nothing, transportation was no additional expense, and the experiment was worth trying. And try he did. After a side trip to Honolulu to visit his wife and chiland after trading in other Pacific islands, Captain Dominis returned to Boston with a cargo of sixty-three barrels of Columbia River salmon on April 15,1831. The experiment at first did not seem successful, for the United States Government taxed it as a foreign importation, the fish was not of the best quality and the sale at retail was not easy to work out. Yet, as Prof. Morison points out, "that very autumn the brig Sultana left Boston for the Columbia with 1000 empty salmon barrels and in 1834 Nathaniel J. Wyeth made salmon fishing one of the principal objects of his Oregon expedition. "We may then conclude," adds Prof. Morison, "that the Owhyhee's cargo was not an isolated and insignificant venture, but the beginning of a trade in salted salmon between the Columbia River and the Eastern United States; and we may safely name Captain John Dominis the pioneer in a business that under changing methods and means of transportation has grown steady in volume and in value." Dominis we learn from Bancroft, was the first man to plant peach trees in the Oregon Territory which he brought from the Island of Juan Fernandez. From California he brought to the Northwest a fine lot of sheep for breeding purposes. Dominis in later years was master of other ships, like the "Joseph Peabody" which traded in Alaska in 1836 and the "Bolivar Liberator" which in 1834 was engaged in hunting sea-otters along the coast of southern Oregon and Northern California. In 1835, Bancroft tells us, Dominis "placing at defiance both English and Russians opened up the trade along the coast, exchanging rum for furs." Captain Dominis thus was one of the pioneers who by drawing other American traders and settlers to the Northwest coast helped to create the "Oregon Question." Captain Dominis had left Honolulu on August 15, 1846, aboard the brig "William Neilson" for China to assist the new United States Commissioner in Honolulu, George Brown, to establish closer relations between the United States and China; both men perished in the sea withour any trace. Captain Dominis unexpected death provoked some speculation about his allegedly violent death; and Queen Liliuokalani, many decades after his death, maintained that he had been strangled in his bed and thrown overboard." (Morrison 1927)Prince of HawaiiOn September 16, 1862, John 0. Dominis married Lydia K Paki who became a princess and later Queen Liliuokalani. Following the death of John 0. Dominis on August 27, 1891, the Daily Bulletin published a long obituary which ended with these remarks, dictated by Queen Liliuokalani about her husband:The Prince was a contemporary of five reigning sovereigns, every one of whom he exercised a strong influence. His counsels were born of an excellent judgement and he had rare tact in impressing others with his views. Few people were aware of the beneficial services that Governor Dominis had time and again rendered to the country. His retiring disposition and manner prevented him from receiving a title of the praise that was due to him as a public man.. Queen who evidently took the loss of her husband very hard, made this comment, officially recorded in 1895:` ... in the month of July my husband was taken sick on the 27th of August, 1891, he breathed his last. I felt his loss very much, as his experience with Kamehameha IV and V, and also under Lunalilo and Kalakaua's reign, proved valuable to me. He was a kind and affectionate husband, a man of honor, and is esteemed by all who knew him. To those he gave in charity it was never spoken of. His death was a severe loss, for I needed him most at that time to advise with the affairs of state. On September 3, 1891, the United States Minister Resident to Hawaii informed the Department of State of the death, on August 27, of John Owen Dominis, Prince Consort, husband of the Queen, and gave the following brief biographical sketch:He was born in Schenectady, New York, in 1832. His father was of âItalianâ€? birth, and his mother a native of Boston, Massachusetts. He came to these Islands as a chiId with his parents, his father being a master mariner. He was educated at a Honolulu School, and for a while served as a mercantile clerk in San Francisco during the Gold Rush, and afterwards in one of the principal American commercial houses of Honolulu, until he was appointed private Secretary to Kamehameha Fourth, the reigning Sovereign. Subsequently he was appointed Governor of Oahu, which position he held for twenty years. In 1862 he was married to the lady who is now Queen, by whom on her accession to the throne, a few months since, he was proclaimed His Royal Highness Prince Consort. By his associates he has been regarded amiable in character and of strong American sympathies. His remains are now lying in state at the Royal Palace, and Sunday, September 6, will be buried with royal honors.Search for Ancestors Queen Liliuokalani's search for husbandâs ancestors began on June 20, 1892, when she had instructed her Chamberlain, James W. Robertson, to send a letter to Mr. Victor von Schonenberger, Hawaii's Consul at the Austrian Habsburg Court in Vienna. Her search was related to the tragic loss of her husband and increasing worries about the possibility of losing her crown. Letter from the Archives of Hawaii in Honolulu: This letter was sent to Mr. V. von Schonberger, Her Hawaiian Majesty Consul, at Vienna on June 20, 1892. Dear Sir, I take the liberty of writing to you, to ask if you could obtain any information regarding a gentleman who resided on these Islands many years ago and who was known here as Captain John Dominis. The gentleman referred to was born at Trieste in the year of 1803 of parents of high standing and birth. His mother was born in 1776 or 1778 and was a lady of rank. She was of middle height, and rather fat, and wore a star on her breast which showed she was of rank. She had a very stern expression. She may have been an Austrian lady. Her name, I think, was Leopolda or Leopoldina Dominisi del Galo, or nearly like it, perhaps it was the family. His father was an âItalianâ€?, of higher rank than his mother, and was born in 1771. The father of Captain Dominis wore a crown - in 1771 was above the crown. He was killed with a sword while fighting a duel. Three son's and daughter was born to them. One of the sons was also killed in a duel; this one had very light hair and a fair complexion. The two remaining sons quarreled, and one of them left home for foreign ports and landed in America. There he assumed the name Captain John Dominis. In the year 1830 or 1831 or thereabouts be married in Boston, Massachusetts a lady by the name of Miss Mary Jones, of that city who had a large circle of well-to-do relations. In 1832 a son was born, their first child. Two more children were born, both girls, who attained the ages of 12 and 13, when, they died. In 1836 Captain Dominis, brought his wife and family to the Islands. He made Honolulu their home, while he himself traded between these Islands and China, for some time, in several vessels as commander. He built a handsome house for his wife and son, but left the Islands just before it was completed. During his lifetime he only once made a reference to who he was, or mentioned his family connections. It was to his wife and son (when the latter was very young) [that) he said that he was born in Trieste and that he came from a family of high standing and respectability. He also spoke causally of a Marquis, did not mention any names. I enclose a copy of his picture, taken perhaps 60 years ago, also one of his son John taken at the age of 14 years, and another taken later. They may be the means of giving a clue by which we might be able to trace Captain Dominis" relatives, for it is supposed that his sister still lives and if the search meets with satisfactory results it will place us under great obligation to you. His son John married in 1862 a Hawaiian lady who survives him. I also enclose a picture of him taken five years ago, hoping to hear soon from you. I remain, Yours very truly, J.W. Robertson KC. of the Royal Order of Kapiolani. (Robertson 1892)Austrian Warship FasanaIt came about, that one year after the death of Dominis, the Austrian Warship "Fasanaâ€? arrived at the Sandwich Islands (Hawaii) and the widowed Queen Lydia Liluiokalani requested the commander to ascertain on his return to Austria whether there existed any relatives of her deceased husband for the distribution, it appears, of a presumed inheritance. The commander, immediately on his arrival at Pula, Croatia made a detailed report to the Ministry of War. The report of the Commander of the corvette Fasana to the War Ministry in Vienna: The Kriegsarchiv answered that they did not have the inquiry by Queen Lilluokalani nor the report of the commander of the Fasana. However, there was a 1ist of several enlisted men named Dominis, among them Girolamo Dominis, born in Jelsa, island of Hvar, Dalmatia. He was enrolled in 1860 for eight years, but deserted on November 1, 1861; was arrested on December 8, 1861 and on December 10. 1863 he again deserted from Venice (which was now under Austrian sovereignty). The Staatsarchiv did have information of several documents in a special fascicle labeled "Researches regarding the alleged relatives of John Dominis, Queen Liliuokalani's husband." There was also the report of the commander of the Fasana to the War Ministry in Vienna, dated August 5, 1892, from Yokohama. The report looks quite different from that described by the newspapers. The commander wrote that on the occasion of the dinner offered on June 22, 1892 in honor of the officers of the Fasana, the Queen requested him to ask the authorities of the imperial navy to help her in her search for the relatives of her late Prince Consort who might still live in Austria. The commander also repeated the information contained in Robertson's letter and added that the Queen purposely omitted to mention the high position of her husband in order to avoid sensational comments in the daily press. The War Ministry passed the entire question on to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. This office learned that there were some people named Dominis in Dalmatia and wrote to the Governor of Dalmatia in Zadar. It wasn't until February 8, 1893 that the office of the Governor answered that there was a Dominis family in Rab and another in Zadar. The letter continued: A member of this family by name Jerolim (Girolamo) Dominis many years ago emigrated to San Francisco and on his voyage allegedly often touched the Sandwich Islands (Hawaii), as emerges from the enclosed note of the imperial-royal office of the District of Zadar, dated January 27, 1893. The letter further stated that according to the known data it was impossible to conclude whether Girolamo was identical with Sir John Owen Dominis or with his father Captain John Dominis, but it recommended further research in Galveston, Texas where peopled lived who might give further information about him. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, on February 2, 1893 advised the consul in Honolulu, Mr. Glade, about the results of the investigation and added that it was quite possible that Girolamo changed his first name to John or Hermann. It ordered the consul to notify the Queen about the results of the inquiry and to return her husband's photo which she had handed over to the commander of the Fasana. Emilia de Dominis, married name Soavi, now widow, born at Venice of Dalmatian origin from Castel Puciochie, 1sle of Brazza (this is Pucisce, island of Brac) claimed to be a relative of the defunct sovereign. It goes on that the Italian and Austrian government's were not interested in Queen Liluiokalani's case about her husband's relatives. (Badovinac, R 1976) (War Ministry, Vienna, 1892)BibliographyAnon. âJohn Dominis.â€? Journal Adriatico, Venice, September 26, 1891. States Dominis came from Castel Puciochie, Isle Brazza. This is Pucisce, Island of Brac, Dalmatia, Croatia.Anon. âJohn Dominis.â€? II Secolo of Milan, February 12, 1893. States Dominis came from Castel Puciochie, Isle Brazza. This is Pucisce, Island of Brac, Dalmatia, Croatia.Anon. âDeath of H.R.H. JohnO. Dominis, Prince Consort.â€? Friend, September 1891.Badovinac, John. âHawaiian Islands Once Ruled Over by Prince Consort of Croatian Descent.â€? Zajednicar, Sept 8, 1971.Badovinac, Robert J. âJohn Dominis and the Queen of Hawaii.â€? Zajednicar, Oct 27, 1976. Dominis was from Croatia.Bancroft, H.H. History of Oregon. San Francisco, 1886. Dominis in Oregon.Duisin, V.A. Zbornik Plemstva u Hrvatskoj, Slavoniji, Dalmaciji. Zagreb, 1938. Croatian Arms in Croatia, Slavonia and Dalmatia. Gospodnetich-Dominis Arms carved on doorway of his palace in the town of Dol on the island of Brac, Croatia.Eterovich, Adam S. Dominis-Gospodnetich, Prince consort of Last Hawaiian Queen-Liliuokalani., Scrap Book. San Carlos, Calif.: Ragusan Press, 1981.Gasinski, Thaddeus Z. âCaptain John Dominis and His Son Governor John Owen Dominis-Hawaii's Croatian Connection.â€? Croatian Studies (1976): 32pp.Howay, F.W. âBrig Owhyhee in the Columbia 1830.â€? Oregon Historical Quarterly (1923). Captain John Dominis a Croatian.Jutronic, Andre. Naselja i Porijeklo Stanovnistva na Otoku Bracu # 34. Zagreb: Jugoslavenska Akademija, 1950. Settlement and genealogy of people on the island of Brac, Croatia. Dominis moves to Venice.#Knaus, Vincent. âHis Royal Highness- The Prince Consort John Owen Dominis.â€? American Croatian Historical Review Vol I (1946).Dominis is Croatian.Kusanovic, Tonci Don. âBirth Certificate and Genealogy of Ivan Dominis from Pucisce, Island of Brac , Croatia.â€? In Library of Adam S. Eterovich, 1985. Adam S. Eterovich requested a search of church records on the island of Brac, Croatia. Captain Dominis of Hawaii is a Croatian from the Island of Brac.Mercantile Trust Co. âBeginnings and Developement of Trade on the Pacific Coast of North America.â€? Monthly Review, March-April 1923. About John Dominis.Morrison, Samuel E. âNew England and the Opening of the Columbia River Salmon Trade, 1830.â€? Oregon Historical Quarterly, June 1927. Dominis shipped the first salmon to the Atlantic CoastRosenfeld, Heyer von, Carl. Der Adel des Konigreichs Dalmatien. Nurnberg: Bauer and Raspe, 1873. Coats of Arms of the Kingdom of Dalmatia. Part of Siebmacher's Wappenbuch. Dominis is registered as Dominis-Gospodnetich.Schiavo, Giovanni. The Italians in America Before the Civil War. New York: Arno Press, 1975. Captain John Dominis planted first peach trees in Oregon.Taylor, Albert. âDalmatian Lady heir to Hawaiian Prince.â€? Paradise of the Pacific, 1927 Vol 40, No 6. letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Thu, 28 Oct 2004 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/6272/1/E-Middle-Ages-cemetery-discovered-in-Croatia.html ÂÂMiddle Ages cemetery discovered in CroatiaÂZagreb - A 14th century cemetery was discovered in downtown Zagreb, Croatia, near the city's cathedral during roadworks, the daily Jutarnji list reported on Friday.Workers were surprised to found human bones only 50 centimetres below ground. Archaeologist Zeljko Zemo confirmed the date of the find saying it was due to erosion of soil down through the centuries.Zemo said the site was the location of an old church in the 14th century and a small cemetery. Roadworks have been suspended temporarily allowing archaeologists to examine the site, he said. - Sapa-dpahttp://iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=31&art_id=qw109844766111B263 letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Sat, 23 Oct 2004 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/6273/1/E-100th-anniversary-of-St-Joseph-Croatian-Church-St-Louis.html Â100th anniversary of St. Joseph Croatian Church in the Soulard neighborhood of St. Louis40,000 Croatian-Americans in the region will celebrate centennialÂCroatian parish will celebrate centennialOf the Post-Dispatch 09/09/2004 Anna Deranja Lusicic, 92, hopes to see many old friends on Sunday at thekickoff for a year of events marking the 100th anniversary of St. JosephCroatian Church in the Soulard neighborhood of St. Louis. "St. Joseph's is the hub for all of us Croatians; if it weren't for theparish, we wouldn't have any contact with our Croatian friends," saidLusicic, who was baptized at the church in 1911 and now lives in the HollyHills neighborhood. About 40,000 Croatian-Americans live in the region, says the Rev. JosipAbramovic, the parish's 16th pastor. About 1,500 of them are members of theparish. Many more come for special occasions. On Sunday, the parish's centennial Mass at 11 a.m. will be followed by abanquet at 1:30 p.m. at the Cedars, 939 Lebanon Drive, nearby in the LaSalleneighborhood. Over the next year, there will be many special Croatianconcerts and other celebrations. A chess tournament and a soccer tournamentbegan the festivities Labor Day weekend. "Today, a few of the older people have moved back to Soulard - not our youngpeople," said Abramovic, a Franciscan priest who was born in Croatia. "Mostof our parishioners live in South County now, just a 20-minute drive onSundays, so they come for Mass. They love the music." Croatians have lived in the region since 1860, but it was not until 1902that a core group began praying together and exploring ways to obtain aCroatian-speaking priest for a parish and cultural center. Today, the parish continues to be energized by immigrants. One hundredCroatian families who immigrated to St. Louis from the former Yugoslavia asthat nation was breaking up now are parishioners. Last weekend, three of therecent immigrants were repainting the church's interior in time for thecentennial. Other Croatian-Americans have moved here from other cities and are pleasedwith the parish. "My wife, Theresa Brekalo, is from here, and I am from Chicago, and we loveSt. Joseph's," said parishioner Marko Puljic, 32, of High Ridge. For about 150 years, Croatians have come to America for the same reasonsother immigrants did - because of economic problems, inexpensive farm landhere, and to avoid serving in their homeland overlords' armies. "Croatians avoided conscription, avoided giving their lives for theAustro-Hungarian Empire," Abramovic said. Many of those first Croatians had European anti-clerical ideas and nointerest in the church, he said. Then, in 1902, Croatian immigrant PeterHartman called a meeting at the old Chouteau Hall to start aCroatian-language church. With the approval of St. Louis Archbishop John J. Glennon, Hartman's groupgot the Archbishop of Zagreb in Croatia's capital to dispatch a priest, theRev. Oscar Suster, to lead a new St. Louis parish. About 100 families began gathering every Sunday morning to celebrate Masswith Suster at the Czech Catholic community's church, St. Wenceslaus, nearthe Anheuser-Busch brewery. The new parish raised money and bought a vacant Jewish synagogue at 11th Street and Chouteau Avenue. It opened in1904. "My father was one of the men who dug out a basement under the synagogue sowe could have a parish hall," Lusicic said. Suster left after five years because of language differences. The churchcontinued with prayer services. Sometimes, a priest from nearby St. VincentParish, a traditionally French-speaking church, said the Latin Mass at St.Joseph. When Lusicic's immigrant father and immigrant mother married, the parishthey had helped found had no priest, so they were married at the old HolyTrinity, the Slovak-language Catholic Church nearby. "We all stuck together, those of us who didn't speak German or English," shesaid. Croatians, Bohemians, Poles, Russians, Slovaks talked to one another, eventhough sometimes they understood only a handful of one another's words, shesaid. "Well, if you understand Latin, you can figure it out, and we all gotalong," she said. The parish's second pastor, the Rev. Josip Kompare, had been installed intime for Lusicic's baptism. In the 1920s, toward the end of his 16-yeartenure, the parishioners' numbers grew with the arrival of Croatians who hadfled their homeland in the aftermath of World War I. Other Croatian-American soldiers from St. Louis visited their families afterthat war and returned home with Croatian brides. With passenger shipssailing again, St. Louis Croatian men mailed their photos to strangers intheir motherland for what they called "picture brides" - mail-order brides. "One man sent another man's photo, but when the bride got to St. Louis, shewas surprised that it looked nothing like him," Lusicic recalled. The manwas not as handsome as the one in his faked photo. When her family moved farther west, they attended a different church butstill went to St. Joseph for special occasions such as Mary's Crowning inMay, Holy Week, Pentecost, Christmas plays, the feast day of St. NicholasTavelic, the touring tamburitza orchestra concerts, Croatian Vila SingingSociety concerts, church picnics and American-Croatian Relief benefits. Church archives have photos of Masses of thanksgiving and celebration at theend of World Wars I and II and celebrations for the end of communism inYugoslavia and Croatia's independence. In the mid-1920s, the parish outgrew the old converted synagogue and movedsouth to its current site. Today, St. Joseph Croatian Parish has a complexof five buildings built between 1848 and 1985, a garden and a large parkinglot that fills an entire city block between 11th and 12th streets at AnnAvenue and Russell Boulevard. "Some of our older parishioners can remember when there were cows kept backhere," said Abramovic, as he walked through a garden abloom with crepemyrtle, mums and roses. A pre-Civil War white stone wall surrounds part of the property and dates towhen the red brick school and rectory were Ursuline Academy, a girls'boarding elementary and high school, founded in 1848 by four Ursuline nunsfrom Bavaria and Hungary. Ursuline Academy moved to its current campus in1926 and sold its property to St. Joseph Parish. In 1928, parishioner Ivan Loncaric directed Croatian-American craftsmen inthe building of the church, which seats 400, with handsome stained-glasswindows and Italian stations of the cross. Its baroque-style altarpiece wasremoved, and a spare altarpiece and sanctuary artwork representing the HolySpirit were installed in the 1970s. Many Croatian-Americans eventually moved farther west and south on bothsides of the River Des Peres. Many married at St. George Parish and foundhomes nearby. "If you had to take a streetcar, it could take an hour just to get tochurch," Lusicic recalled. When parishioners owned cars, many returned to their roots each Sunday. Thenumber of Croatian activities at the parish increased. Members boughtCroatian Field, a soccer field near the River Des Peres and Lemay FerryRoad. Since having a heart attack, Lusicic no longer drives and must rely on herchildren and grandchildren to chauffeur her. She will definitely be there onSunday. "Five generations of my family have gone to St. Joseph," she said. "It'sgoing to be a wonderful celebration." Reporter Patricia Rice E-mail: price@post-dispatch.comÂPhone: 636-500-4111 A Short History of St. Joseph Croatian Parish in St. LouisPictures courtesy of the Croatian Ethnic Institute and St. Joseph Croatian Parish. It is not known when Croatians first arrived in St. Louis, but there is evidence that some were present prior to 1861. These earliest Croatians were for the most part mariners and guest workers who were intent on returning to Croatia after earning funds to support their families. It was shortly after 1900 that entire Croatian ffamilies began to settle permanently in St. Louis. These people worked hard, saved, built homes and businesses and formed various benevolent societies where they socialized, kept their culture and values alive, and banded together to help one another succeed. On September 14, 1902 at a community-wide meeting held at Chouteau Hall, Peter Hartman suggested that a Croatian parish be established to meet the spiritual needs of the people. This parish could also function as the focal point for society and social functions as well. A committee was formed to work towards this end and organizational meetings were held, but little real progress was made until the following year. At the urging of Msgr. Davorin Krmpotic, pastor of the Croatian church in Kansas City, Kansas, the committee met with Archbishop John J. Glennon. Archbishop Glennon gave them permission to establish a parish and search for a Croatian priest. The Archbishop of Zagreb, Dr. Juraj Posilovic sent Rev. Oscar Suster to St. Louis to conduct a census and to begin organizing the parish. Fr. Suster took up guest residency at the Czech church of St. Wenceslaus. The first Croatian Mass was held there and the Czech pastor, Fr. John Nekula accompanied Fr. Suster on his visit with Archbishop Glennon. The Archbishop counselled the priest to canvass the Croatian community for the faithful. Fr. Suster found over 100 families who were not only willing to join a Croatian parish, but who donated enough funds for a substantial down payment on a synagogue at 11th and Chouteau. The balance of the funds were a loan from Marcus Epstein at 5% interest. The church was blessed on September 25, 1904. The school was opened in 1906 and two years later, the Sisters from the Congregation of the Most Precious Blood came to teach the children. The Sacrament of Holy Confirmation was administered for the first time on September 23, 1906 and the Altar Society was organized at about the same time. While there was great cooperation in the Croatian community about equipping and embellishing the new church building, Fr. Suster encountered some difficulties in thoe first formative years of the parish. There were conflicts about the liturgy. Was the Latin language to be used or "Old Slavonic"? What was the role of the various social, cultural and benevolent organizations? These difficulties led to the resignation of Fr. Suster early in 1909. The church was without a pastor for a year and during that time Masses were said by priests from St. Vincent Church. Funerals, weddings and baptisms were performed at St. Vincent, and this along with the conflicts led to a decline in membership. In Januray of 1910, Rev. Josip Kompare became the second pastor. Under his leadership, membership increased and the parish debt was eliminated by 1919. The parish buildings which consisted of the church, and the parish school next door were old and costly to maintain. The parish community began a search for a new site and in 1925 purchased the school and monastery of the Ursuline Sisters on 12, and Russell. During this this time, Rev. Kompare became ill and died in February, 1925. During Rev. Kompare's illness, his duties were taken over by Fr. Nicholas Pasini. Following his departure, two Croatian Jesuits served the parish: Rev. I.M. Fabris and Rev. Miroslav Vanino. In April of 1926, Archbishop Glennon turned the operation of the Croatian parish in St. Louis to the Croatian Franciscans from Chicago. The new pastor Fr. Ambrose Misetic oversaw the remodeling of the buildings for parish needs and the construction of a large, new church. The blessing of the new church took place on April 26, 1927 amid great rejoicing. During this period, John Loncaric, a noted St. Louis building contractor, led a three year campaign to pay off the new debt. In 1928, Fr. Misetic resigned in favor of his assistant, Rev. Philip Separovic, O.F.M. Fr. Separovic served during the difficult years following the great depression. His was a constant fight to keep the parish from financial disaster. He was able to save the parish and reduce the debt. Fr. Philip was succeeded by Fr. Ladislav Luburic, and Fr. Bono Andacic from July of 1938 to March of 1939. Upon the illness of Fr. Bono, the pastorate was assumed by his assistant Fr. Theophil Pehar. He served the parish from 1939 to March of 1947. He organized a successful campaign to liquidate the $40,000 debt, but the parish buildings suffered some deterioration. The school was temporarily closed during 1946, but was repaired and reopened in 1947. Rev. Spiro Andrijanic, O.F.M. took over the parish on the Feast of St. Joseph, March 19, 1947. In the years following the Second World War, the economic conditions in this country improved, and it was now possible for Fr. Spiro and the faithful to make repairs and modernize the school, the church, the hall, the rectory, and the Sisters' home. With the addition of new water systems, central heating and a new playground, the Croatian dream of an adequate and ample parish structure was in place. The period of 1950-67 saw general deterioration of the area surrounding the parish site. Young families relocated in new housing further south in the city, or in the newly expanding county neighborhoods. New highway construction took many homes, and many parishoners were forced to find new housing. The faithful continued to attend Mass at St. Joseph, but enrolled their children in schools near their homes. On Sptember 7, 1954 the St. Jospeh Croatian church jubilantly celebrated its 50th anniversary. Large crowds attended the various functions. There was a parade at 10:00 a.m. followed by a Mass of Thanksgiving, offered by Archbishop Ritter and assisted by a large number of clergy. A banquet was held in the parish hall and programs were presented by the school children and the Croatian benevolent, cultural and patriotic societies. Fr. Spiro went into a well-earned retirement in September of 1968. From that time until 1970, St. Joseph Church was served by Rev. Serafin Vistica, who led the parish in the Renewal Directives of Vatical II. In order to assure sufficient space behind the church sanctuary, he oversaw the addition of a modern sacristy. Reverend Paul Maslach's pastorate ran from July, 1970 until Augist 1976. Fr. Paul directed the renovation of the church to conform to the new litergy and continued the spiritual and material progress of the parish. He was also active in efforts to improve social conditions in the deteriorating surrounding neighborhoods. When Fr. Paul was reassigned as pastor of the Croatian church of St. Jerome in Chicago, he was succeeded by Fr. Vitomir Naletilic. letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Sun, 12 Sep 2004 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/6275/1/E-Istocna-Hercegovina.html ÂIstocna HercegovinaDanašnja Hercegovina istocno od Neretve nekada se zvala Zahumlje. Zahumlje je prozvano Hercegovinom po Herceg Stjepanu u XV stoljecu. U IX stoljecu centar Zahumske biskupije bio je Ston. Ulaskom Stona u sastav Dubrovacke Republike (1333.) biskupija je prešla u Trebinje. U nevoljama, trebinjski biskupi su bježali u Dubrovnik (i otok Mrkanj-otud naziv ÂTrebinjsko-Mrkanjska biskupija) i vracali se natrag u Trebinje. Tako je bilo za Nemanjica, a kasnije i Turaka. Sve ovo, navelo je Papu na odluku da od 1819. brigu za katolicki puk ovih prostora preuzmu dubrovacki, a od 1890. do danas mostarsko-duvanjski biskupi.Pocetkom Drugog svjetskog rata u Trebinjskoj biskupiji živjelo je oko 30000 vjernika, a 1990. (50 godina kasnije) broj im se prepolovio. U Drugom svjetskom ratu i u prvim godinama poraca stradalo ih je oko 5000, od cega je tek nešto više od polovine ubijeno tijekom rata(!). Preostali desetak tisuca stanovnika su raseljeni na razlicite nacine. ÂNarodna vlast 1976. ukida željeznicku prugu Capljina-Dubrovnik te gasi i preostali život ovog kraja. Tako je mržnja i nebriga ucinila ovu zemlju nesretnom zemljom i prostorom najveceg hrvatskog stradanja. I Domovinski rat je poceo uništavanjem upravo ovih prostora. Srbi i ÂJNA su porušili i spalili hrvatsko selo Ravno. Nastavili su sa rušenjem drugih sela i gradova diljem BiH. Potekle su rijeke prognanika. Neki od njih iz Središnje Bosne se odluciše zapoceti novi život na Dubravama. Nisu Âzauzimali tude kuce nego se odluciše graditi vlastite. To je prava rijetkost, ali njih oko 700 obitelji tako zapoce novi život u izbjeglištvu. Osim nedostatka vode, ljudi ovog kraja žedaju i za brigom vlastite države. Ocekivana pomoc medunarodnih organizacija ali i pomoc državnih vlasti u uspostavi života na ovom prostoru je u cijelosti izostala. Od milijardi utrošenih u projekt obnove i suživota niti jedna kuca nije sagradena u Bobanovom i Šuškovom selu. Takoder, nitko od onih koji drže pecat BiH nije iskazao poštivanje simbola stradanja BiH-sela Ravno. Tamo nisu obnovili ni jednu kucu! Vjerujem iz neznanja, nadležni za sudbinu BiH su se odlucili negirati žrtvu cime su izravno doveli u neizvjesnost zemlju koju vode. Ili je u pitanju potpuna nekompetentnost vodenja i upravljanja zemljom?! Bilo kako bilo, ucinjen je grijeh propusta i ne cinjenja kojeg treba ispraviti. Ljudi ovog dijela BiH zaslužuju više pozornosti i poštovanja. S ovog prostora Europa baštini i ÂHercegovacki ustanak protiv Turaka kao iskaz borbe za slobodu opcenito. Kakao prošlost treba biti uciteljica života onda je za sve nas vrijedna još jedna lekcija iz ovog kraja. Naime, Trebinja je iseljena jer su stanovnici ovog sela izgubili bitku sa sušom. U istom selu su pronadeni ostaci rimskog vodovoda. Eto, mocno rimsko carstvo se raspalo i pored cinjenice što mu voda nije bila tajna- kao nama danas. Dr Ivan Bagaric letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Fri, 03 Sep 2004 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/6274/1/E-Omarska-We-cant-forget-Ed-Vulliamy-in-the-Guardian.html Â'We can't forget'Twelve years ago, Ed Vulliamy first revealed the horrors of Omarska, a Serbian concentration camp in Bosnia, to a stunned world. This summer the survivors returned to the place where they were tortured and raped, their friends and families murdered. He joined themWednesday September 1, 2004The GuardianThey walk in slow procession across a field of summer flowers, through the scent of mint into the nightmare of their memories. They arrive this time as survivors, not prisoners. Or else they come to pay homage to dead relatives at this accursed place: the now disused iron ore mine at Omarska, in northwest Bosnia. In 1992 it was a concentration camp, the location of an orgy of killing, mutilation, beating and rape, prior to enforced deportation for those lucky enough to survive. The victims were Bosnian Muslims and some Croats; the perpetrators their Serbian neighbours.They move, tentatively, on this day of commemoration among desolate, rust-coloured industrial buildings, haunted by what happened within them. Nusreta Sivac places a flower on each space of floor where her dead friends once slept in the quarters for women who "served food and cleaned the walls of the torture rooms, covered with blood" - quarters just across a hallway from the now empty office where she was, like them, serially raped, night after night. And she passes the window from which she watched the slaughter of men on the tarmac below, day in, day out.Satko Mujagic knows that tarmac well: his two-year-old daughter now plays with a ball on the very spot where he had been too weak to line up for bread because of dysentery, and had to be supported by his father. Later, the child picks a daisy. "You do this where your father lay bleeding," says one of the party. "Being here gives me the feeling of understanding nothing," says Satko. "The violence here was nothing to do with anything, not even war. It is unfathomable."Young Sehiba Jakupovic, her face contorted with grief, stares around the rooms in a building called the White House from which hardly anyone emerged alive; her husband Alem was among those who perished. "I have a 12-year-old now," she says quietly, "just a baby at the time."Nusreta tells the story of a family typical of Omarska and its legacy; one family among the thousands. "It was the night of one of their saints, St Peter," she recalls. "The guards were drunk and set tyres on fire, singing their songs and screaming as they took prisoners out to jump on them and beat them to death. One man, Becir Medunjanin, was being jumped upon, while his wife Sadeta watched from our quarters. She cried out, 'What are they doing to him?' and I tried to calm her lest she lost control and was taken out too. Sadeta was later killed as well. They had two sons; one had already been killed when they shelled the village - Sadeta always said that if she survived Omarska she would find his body to give it a proper burial. The other, Anes, survived Omarska, the only member of the family to live. He came with me just recently to identify Sadeta's body and gave his DNA. 'That is my mother,' he said."The date of this commemoration of the camp's closure - August 6 - is branded into these people's minds. And I have a stake in all this: for the closure of Omarska followed the day after the putrid afternoon of August 5 1992, on which it had been my accursed honour to find a way into this place, along with a crew from ITN.We saw little that day, but enough: terrified men emerging from a hangar, in various states of decay - some skeletal, heads shaven - and drilled across a tarmac yard, under the watchful eye of a machine-gun post, into a canteen where they wolfed down watery bean stew like famished dogs, skin folded like parchment over their bones. "I do not want to tell any lies," said one prisoner, "but I cannot tell the truth." And it is strange - traumatic, indeed - to stand again in that now empty canteen; strange to walk that tarmac killing ground.It is disturbing to wander these dread buildings - where inmates were held and beaten, and whence they were called to their death; buildings forbidden to us that day in 1992, our paths blocked by armed guards and the camp commander, Zjelko Meakic, now awaiting trial in the Hague. Disturbing also to see the so-called Red House, where prisoners' throats were cut.The feeling is all the more strange when I recognise a man I had met that day, in that same canteen: Sefer Haskic, who is now a joiner in Bolton, revisits the room into which he was crammed. "I was trying to remember the people they killed," he says. "All my friends. They would call out the names, and men would get up, leave us, and never come back. You could hear the screaming, the killing, you could smell burning tyres and dead bodies. Next morning, there would usually be about 30 of them: the yellow truck would arrive so that other prisoners could load them up and go to dig graves. The truck would always come back, but the men who loaded it usually not. I was forever waiting my turn, but it never came - I still can't believe I'm alive." Sefer remembers in particular a night of frenzied ferocity, during which some 150 men were killed, "and the walls were covered with blood".However, these people have not returned to Omarska only for remembrance; it is also a gesture of defiance. It was intended by the Bosnian Serbs - as has been affirmed at The Hague - that no Muslims (or rather Bosniaks - the secular ethnic term by which they are properly known) should remain on this territory alive; that they should all be deported or killed. But all around us now are the sights and sounds of a once unthinkable return by thousands of Bosniaks to the homes from which they were brutally expelled. They come back under the shadow and insignia of their persecutors, with whom they live cheek by jowl - for this is the so-called "Republika Srpska" granted to the Bosnian Serbs at Dayton in 1995. But they do so all the same.They return also to the village of Kozarac, the site of a savage attack on May 24 1992. It was emptied of all 25,000 Bosniak inhabitants. Every Muslim house was marked in paint for incineration; the surviving Muslims herded in droves over the mountains at gunpoint. But the place is now home to more than 6,000 Bosniak "returnees", who outnumber the Serbs as they did before, with an additional 15,000 visiting from the scattered diaspora for summer. Once again, minarets - blown apart by the Serbs - nestle, rebuilt, against the hillside.With much greater difficulty, people return also to the local seat of authority, Prijedor, where the persecutions were planned and whence orders for establishment of the camps, for the killing and mass deportation were given. In Prijedor returnees live under the cold stare of their erstwhile persecutors; but Kozarac is an effervescent, if peculiar, place. As families sit out to enjoy pizza and beer in the warm evening, so they recognise one another: a survivor of Omarska here, of another camp there, a bereaved father here, a widowed mother there. The entire community is a concentration camp survivors' reunion. Everyone here is damaged, but resilient. No life is unaffected by the maelstrom of violence.If there is a driving force behind the return to Kozarac, it is the quietly composed figure of Sabaduhin Garibovic, who runs the Concentration Camp Survivors' Association. "We are doing this," he says, "to show the Serbs who evicted us that they did not entirely succeed. That we can come back. They never thought they would see it. They cannot fathom what we are doing."Sabahudin's father survived Omarska, but his brother Armin was among the first to die there, his name called from among 156 men packed into the "garage", a space just five metres by six. There was no water: the men had to drink urine to live. It was so hot that the prisoners smashed an upper window to let in air, for which Armin and another man were murdered. Sabahudin himself is a survivor of Trnopolje, another camp we entered that day in 1992: "I remember them taking out the girls to do what they would with them - six or so each night, including my niece." Trnopolje was the location for the enduring image of the war: the skeletal Fikret Alic and other prisoners behind barbed wire."Almost every day I see the people who did this to us," says Sabahudin. "We live separate lives - there is nothing that unifies us with the Serbs. We rely on ourselves and each other to survive." Just before our meeting, a jubilant wedding motorcade passed through town, hooting and waving the old Bosnian wartime flag. In overwhelmingly Serbian Prijedor, it was pelted with bottles and rocks. Two weeks before, a bomb had been thrown at a Bosniak-owned bar in Kozarac; a Serbian former camp guard living near Omarska was beaten up by Bosniaks. There are countless such incidents. "International foundations organise round tables to discuss living together," says Sabahudin, "but it is empty talk, and the reasons are simple: we cannot forgive or forget what happened, and they either deny it happened or say they had to do it - they were obeying orders."Kozarac's economy depends almost entirely on the diaspora - on Omarska survivors such as Edin Kararic, who now works as a tanker driver based in Watford. Edin has managed to put some money into buying a cafe called Mustang on Kozarac's main drag, managed for him by a fellow survivor. "They drove us out," says Edin, "and we are buying it back. This cafe is my finger stuck up to the Serbs who did not want us here. In fact, that is what those minarets are, on the mosques that no one goes to: fingers stuck up at the Serbs. That is why we must come back to this place - why else would any of us want to, given what happened here?"Mind you," he adds, pensively, "it's difficult to enjoy yourself in a place where 7,000 people are missing from a population of 25,000."Emsuda Mujagic was among the first to come back to Kozarac, having been a refugee in Croatia. "I wanted to see in the new millennium at home," she says, "and so I came back on December 31 1999. Our house was one of the first to be destroyed in the shelling, but we rebuilt it slowly. There was literally nothing here. No birds, just snakes and a few Chetniks [slang for Serbs]. I have to stand up to their plan, which was to destroy not just a community but a whole people. That is the wish that has kept me going."Emsuda is a survivor of Trnopolje, and on the 12th anniversary of our discovery of the camp, she takes me back to what is now a school again, closed for summer. There, sitting on the steps, Esmuda recalls how each night "the guards would just walk by and shoot or beat people while we slept in the open. Or else they would come into the women's and children's quarters with torches and read the names of young girls from a list, some as young as 10, 12 or 13. They would take them to a house where Serbian soldiers from the front would have their way with them. Some of the girls would come back, scarred and tortured - others would not, and we understood they had been tortured to death. One woman was breastfeeding her baby when they took her - she gave the child for safekeeping and came back horribly scarred."Nusreta, who struggled to come to terms with her ordeal in Omarska, steeled herself to return to Prijedor in July 2002. By way of welcome, she found the word "Omarska" scrawled across her doorway by her new neighbours. "At first I thought I wouldn't be able to bear it," she says. "I used to stay indoors, peeping through the curtains."There was always a macabre intimacy to Bosnia's war - people knew their torturers and murderers - and the intimacy remains. "A lot of the Omarska guards live in my neighbourhood," says Nusreta. "I see them almost every day. One of them, called Vokic, has his entrance in the next block of flats and we share a bedroom wall. I see the interrogators and even the man who ordered that I be put in Omarska - he's a bank manager and drives a Mercedes. I try to catch his eye, but he turns away. Another has been let out from prison in The Hague - called Kvocka. Last time I looked him in the eye was when he was in the dock and I was a witness. But I often see him on the street, even on the day we went to buy flowers for the burials of five women from Omarska whose bodies had been exhumed. There he was, in the florist buying flowers for his wife. I said to my friend: 'Look, Kvocka is standing behind you. On the day the dead are buried, and thousands more are dead, he walks free.'"Nusreta, a former judge, returned not to her own apartment but to her brother's. Why? When she emerged alive from Omarska, she explains, she found a former typist from the bench called Ankica living in her flat, and was invited in for coffee. "There I was, like someone gone mad," recalls Nusreta, "straight from Omarska and a guest in my own flat. I sat down on my sofa. Ankica, wearing my clothes, made me coffee in my pot, served in the china my mother left me, and asked me: 'Why are you acting so strange?' She said the apartment suited her, she had always wanted one like this."Years later, Nusreta returned - as was her right under the Dayton peace plan - to be promised by Ankica that everything would be left in order. "But when I finally evicted her," says Nusreta, "it had all gone. Even the built-in wardrobe. Everything I had inherited from my mother. Even my photographs. It was pure spite, to wipe out my past." Thankfully, Nusreta has a few good friends in Prijedor, notably the only Bosniak doctor in town, Azra, whose elderly father and stepmother had their throats cut when they returned home after surviving Omarska in 1992."Sometimes I get a crisis in the night," says Nusreta, "that someone may knock at the door or throw a brick through my window. But I will become happier in accordance with how many of our people come back. My only wish is that by us coming home, the Serbs do not get what they wanted." However, she says by way of conclusion, "I can never again be happy."One hallmark of the aftermath of Bosnia's war is an almost complete lack of reckoning on the part of the Bosnian Serbs. Only one defendant - the former Bosnian Serb joint-president herself, Biljana Plavsic - has pleaded guilty at The Hague towhat happened, and appealed for reconciliation. But around Omarska, the returnees' narrative falls down a black hole in the perpetrators' memory. "There was no camp here," security guards at the entrance to Omarska mine told us. "It was all lies, Muslim lies, and forgery by the journalists.""There is no remorse," says Nusreta. "No one has apologised or even admitted what happened. They say they know nothing about the camps. There are 145 mass graves and hundreds of individual graves in this region, and we invite the local authorities to our commemorations, but they never come." "Even now," says the Bosniak political leader in Prijedor, Muharem Murselovic, "the Serbs will not accept that anything happened. I am always in a dilemma - are they crazy, or are they pretending to be crazy? I think it is because they were all so deeply involved in what was happening that they cannot come forward and admit it.""Every time I see a Serb who is extremist," says Sabahudin, "I remind him of what happened in front of their eyes. In such a way as I hope might change his viewpoint. He has to understand that if this country is to survive, they have to change their mind. Any future together is conditional upon them admitting what they did, and apologising for it."The security guards from the all-Serbian village of Omarska signal that it is time for the commemorative procession to leave the camp. But as we leave, there remains one urgent question, one burning uncertainty.Crucial to the reckoning of which Sabahudin speaks is the matter of the future of the site of camp Omarska. There is nothing to mark what happened here - the horrors are officially buried, hidden, denied. The Serbian local authorities are enthusiastically pursuing a plan to sell off the mine to overseas investors, which could result in the concealment of a mass grave, a monument to barbarity and suffering. The killing ground could become a car park. The physical memory of this evil but sacred ground could be obliterated.Bosniak expectations are modest, and quite possibly doomed. "We would be pleased," says Sabahudin, "if there could just be some kind of memorial, maybe that the White House might be fenced off. We just want something to ensure that the memory is preserved, and in the smallest way to awaken the conscience of the Serbs. That is the really important thing. Because if we don't awaken that conscience, we might as well forget everything. And that would be the saddest thing of all - to forget what happened and what could happen again tomorrow. Yes, tomorrow."Caption of accompanying illustration (not attached):[Men, including one not wearing a shirt who looks quite skeletal, standing at fence] 1992 footage of the concentration camp at Omarska in north-west Bosnia. Photograph: ITNhttp://www.guardian.co.uk/yugo/article/0,2763,1294937,00.html Danny Schechter, News DissectorEditor, Mediachannel.orgGLOBALVISION575 8th AvenueNew York, New York l0018212 246-0202x3006FOR WMD INFO, seehttp://www.wmdthefilm.com VISIT "DISSECTORVILLE"Danny Schechter's work and timeshttp://www.newsdissector.org/dissectorville  letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Wed, 01 Sep 2004 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/6276/1/E-Spider-Sabich---US-Croatian-Olympian.html ÂVladimir "Spider" Sabich, a top member of the US Olympic Ski teamThanks to Adam Eterovich for his terrific synopsis of Croatian Olympians. I wanted to add another Croatian-American to the list, Vladimir "Spider" Sabich, who was a top member of the US Olympic Ski team. He did not win a medal, but placed in 5th in the Giant Slalom competition in the 1968 Olympics. He became a top contender in the pro-tour.Unfortunately, Spider became more famous as a result of his murder in 1976 which resulted in what has been dubbed the "OJ Trial of the 1970s" when he was "mistakingly" shot by his girlfriend, actress Claudine Longet.There have been a number of documentaries about the killing which have appeared on US television. The following is from the Biography Channel web page. I note that Sabich is credited as being one of the people for making Aspen into what it is today. While the excerpt from the Biography Channel implies that Sabich is forgotten in Aspen, there is a "Spider Sabich Race Arena" in Aspen named after him.John Kraljic*********************************Once a prosperous silver mining camp, Aspen evolved into a year-round mountain retreat for the rich and famous. It was a place where the powerful could forget the hustle and bustle of their hectic lives. But in 1976, one of the town's most glamorous residents found herself behind a smoking gun. The accidental shooting death of ski champion Vladimir Sabich shocked the community and outraged the nation as many felt his rich girlfriend was using her wealth and connections to get away with murder.Aspen lies at an altitude of 8,000 feet on Colorado's Roaring Fork River. It is one of the most popular ski centers in the western United States. It is a magnet for celebrities including Jack Nicholson, Kevin Costner, and Goldie Hawn. But these stars are relative newcomers to Aspen. One of the first celebrities to make Aspen her home was French actress Claudine Longet.Longet moved to Aspen in 1974 to be with her lover, downhill ski champion Vladimir "Spider" Sabich. Due to injuries, Sabich's career was heading south on a downhill slope, and by 1976, he had retired from competition. Tensions soon developed in the relationship. The ex-champion told friends their relationship would either end, or they'd be married within a year. Sabich could not have guessed how tragic the end would be.On March 21, 1976, Longet finished a hard day of hitting the slopes. Late in the afternoon, Longet returned home. At 6:30, she called police and reported that she had accidentally shot Sabich in the stomach. Sabich was taken to Aspen Valley Hospital. Longet was taken into custody.Longet was put on trial for murder. In Aspen and around the world, people watched and waited to find out if the famous actress would end up in jail. Her ex-husband, pop star Andy Williams, flew to Aspen and stood by Longet during the trial.Throughout the high profile trial, the jury listened to testimony for and against Longet. The prosecutor claimed she had purposely murdered her boyfriend during an argument. Longet claimed that Sabich had been instructing her on the proper use of the gun when it accidentally discharged. The decision belonged to the jury, and all of Aspen waited to learn whether or not one of their own would spend the next ski season in prison.After deliberation, the jury refused to believe Longet's story and found her guilty of reckless endangerment. Although she could have received 2 years in jail, she was ordered to serve only 30 days after convincing the judge the "stigma" of prison would harm her children. In Aspen, at the lodges and local ski boutiques, locals were stunned with the verdict. After returning from a Latin American vacation and then serving her month in jail, Longet married her defense attorney Ron Austin. Vladimir Sabich's legacy is confined to a framed display of his skis in Aspen's Hard Rock Cafe. The Longet/Sabich case did not end the allure of Aspen for those able to afford its charms; in fact, Longet's short sentence only confirmed how different the world of the Aspen elite is from the lives of mere mortals.ÂCROATIA AT THE OLYMPICS, 1890’s-1980’sBy Adam S. EterovichGreat honor has come to Croatia in Utah. The Battleship USS Utah was sunk at the Japanese attack of Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. Chief Petty Officer Peter Tomich, Croatian American, gave his life saving his fellow sailors and was awarded America’s highest honor and awarded the Medal of Honor for bravery beyond the call of duty. No next of kin could not be found and this Medal of Honor lays unclaimed; it is on display in Salt Lake City, Utah as he has been adopted by the State of Utah.Now, a young Croatian girl, Janica Kostelic, was honored with a Medal of Gold at the Olympic Games in Utah.Croatian Olympic Champions Credited to Italy, Austria and EnglandCroatians participated in all Olympic Games since the start of the modern games in the 1890’s. Credit was always given those that ruled her. Milan Neralic was awarded a Bronze medal in Fencing for Austria in 1900. He was a Croatian. Croatia was a part of Austria. Petar Ivanov, Ante, Frano, Simun Katalinic, Viktor Ljubic and Bruno Soric were awarded Bronze medals in Rowing for Italy in 1924. They were from Zadar; Zadar was then part of Italy. Paolo Radmilovich from Dubrovnik was awarded a Gold medal in swimming for England in 1908, and a Gold medal for waterpolo in 1908, 1912, 1924 and 1928.Many Croatians won Olympic medals while controlled by Yugoslavia. Croatia and Croatians should not allow Austria, Italy or Yugoslavia to any longer take credit for something that is not theirs. These are spoils of war and national heritage theft.From the beginning of the Olympic Games to the 1980’s, Croatia won approximately 170 Olympic medals including 51 Gold medals. Croatian Olympic Gold winners included:Name Year SportCOSIC, KRESIMIR 1980 BASKETBALLJERKOV, ZELJKO 1980 BASKETBALLKNEGO, ANDRO 1980 BASKETBALLKRSTULOVIC, DUJE 1980 BASKETBALLNAKIC, MIHOVIL 1980 BASKETBALLSKROCE, BRANKO 1980 BASKETBALLPARLOV, MATE 1972 BOXINGBASIC, MIRKO 1984 HANDBALLHORVAT, HRVOJE 1972 HANDBALLJURINA, PAVAO 1984 HANDBALLMILJAK, ZDRAVKO 1972 HANDBALLOGNJENOVIC, MIRJAN 1984 HANDBALLPRIBANIC, MIROSLAV 1972 HANDBALLPTUJEC, JASNA 1984 HANDBALLVIDOVIC, ALBIN 1972 HANDBALLVISNJIC, BISERKA 1984 HANDBALLZORKO, ZDENKO 1972 HANDBALLZOVKO, ZDRAVKO 1984 HANDBALLLJUBEK, MATIJA 1976 KAYAKLJUBEK, MATIJA 1984 KAYAKBONACIC, DUJE 1952 ROWINGSEGOVIC, PETAR 1952 ROWINGTROJANOVIC, MATE 1952 ROWINGVALENTA, VELIMIR 1952 ROWINGANKOVICH, ANTE 1960 SOCCERBEGO, ZVONKO 1960 SOCCERMATUS, ZELJKO 1960 SOCCERPERUSIC, ZALJKO 1960 SOCCERZANETIC, ANTE 1960 SOCCERBJEDOV, DURDICA 1968 SWIMMINGBEBIC, MILIVOJ 1984 WATERPOLOBEZMALINOVIC, MISLA 1988 WATERPOLOBONACICH, OZREN 1964 WATERPOLOBUKIC, PERICA 1984 WATERPOLODUHO, VESELIN 1988 WATERPOLOHEBEL, ZDRAVKO 1968 WATERPOLOLOPATNY, RONALD 1968 WATERPOLOLUSIC, DENI 1984 WATERPOLOLUSIC, DENI 1988 WATERPOLOPASKVALIN, TOMISLAV 1984 WATERPOLOPASKVALIN, TOMISLAV 1988 WATERPOLOPOLJAK, MIROSLAV 1968 WATERPOLOPOSINKOVIC, RENCO 1988 WATERPOLOROJE, ZORAN 1984 WATERPOLOSIMENC, DUBRAVKO 1988 WATERPOLOSTIPANIC, KARLO 1968 WATERPOLOSUKNO, GORAN 1984 WATERPOLOTRUMBIC, IVO 1968 WATERPOLOVULETIC, BOZO 1984 WATERPOLOLISJAK, VLADO 1984 WRESTLINGAmerican Croatian Olympic ContributionsFormer National Amateur Athletic Union and World's Diving Champion, Helen Crlenkovich is about to make a perfect entry into the water after a dive from the highboard. Known popularly as "Clenkie", Crlenkovich was National Outdoor Springboard Champion in 1939, 1941, and 1945; National Platform Champion in 1941 and 1945, and the National Indoor Three Meter titleholder from 1939 to 1942. She won the Olympic Gold Medal in Diving in 1932. The former University of California student and native of San Francisco, California died of cancer in 1955 only one week after learning that she had been named to the Helms Foundation Diving Hall of Fame. Helen Crlenkovich is a Croatian American.Sacramento’s George Stanich was John Wooden’s first All-American at University of California at Los Angeles. Stanich played guard for the Bruins and earned his honors in 1950. An all-around athlete, he captured a Bronze Medal in the high jump at the 14th Olympic Games in London and later pitched for Oakland of the Pacific Coast Baseball League. Stanich coached basketball at El Camino College in Los Angeles for 15 years and in 1971 coached Yugoplastika of Split to the national basketball championship. He was Professor of Physical Education at El Camino College in Los Angeles. George Stanich is a Croatian American.The "Miracle on Ice" still ranks among the nation's greatest sporting moments and, in many ways, Mark Pavelich was symbolic of the American team. The conversation quickly moves to that night in Lake Placid, N.Y., against the Soviet Union, more than 20 years ago, when he collected the puck along the boards and slid it in front of the net. That puck ended up on the stick of teammate Mike Eruzione, who scored to give the U.S. squad an upset over the USSR on the way to a Gold Medal at the 1980 Winter Olympics. Pavelich was small for the game, never growing taller than 5 feet 8, but all those childhood days on outdoor rinks molded him into a clever skater and stickhandler. "A throwback player who could control the puck like he had it on a string," says Baker, who grew up nearby in Grand Rapids. He was born in nearby Eveleth, in rugged country known as the Iron Range, where boys learn to hunt and fish from an early age. The town claims to have the world's largest hockey stick at 107 feet long, so they also learn to play. In the late 1970s, those skills made Pavelich one of the greatest players in the history of the University of Minnesota Duluth. They subsequently earned him a spot on the Olympic team. He earned respect with his work ethic and a knack for passing the puck. Former goaltender Jim Craig recalls him as "an honest man, just a wonderful guy to be around." Little was expected of the Americans that winter, their coach reportedly telling them before the Olympics it would take some luck to win a bronze. But after an opening tie against Sweden, they rolled to four consecutive victories against the likes of Norway and Romania to reach the medal round against the powerhouse Soviets. Pavelich played an essential, supporting role that night, assisting on two of the four goals. Two days later, the U.S. defeated Finland to win the gold medal, and Pavelich wound up with six assists in the seven Lake Placid games. The players became overnight heroes, appearing on television, visiting the White House, attending promotional events across the nation.Robert Minerich was asked by the United States Olympic Committee, to become Director of Olympic Village and Public Facilities for the VIII Winter Olympics to be held at Squaw Valley, California in 1960. Bob, Minerich was in charge of designing and directing the housing and feeding arrangements for the athletes, National and International Olympic Committee Members and heads of the many corporations involved in the Olympics. After the Olympics, as a management consultant, he helped plan, organize and staff a new ski facility, Alpine Meadows in the Squaw Valley, California area. In 1979-80, when the United States Olympic Committee again called upon his expertise. He took a three month leave of absence to become the liaison of the USA Olympic Committee and International Olympic Committee to help solve the problems confronting the Winter Olympics in Lake Placid, New York. Bob Minerich received a football scholarship from Northwestern University of Evanston, Illinois. Bob Minerich is a Croatian American. Sandra Bezic, a 1972 Olympian and former Canadian pairs champion, joined NBC Sports in 1990 as an analyst for its figure skating coverage. Sandra skated competitively with her brother, Val, from 1967 through the mid-1970s. She and her brother won the Canadian pairs novice title in 1967 and the Canadian senior competition four straight times from 1970-1973. Sandra has served as the analyst on numerous NBC Sports' figure skating events, including four World Figure Skating Championships 1991-1993 and 1995 and the World Professional Figure Skating Championships from 1990-1995. She has designed programs for many top skaters, including Brian Boitano, Katarina Witt, Kristi Yamaguchi and Kurt Browning. Sandra Bezic has choreographed and/or produced more than 25 television specials in Canada and the United States, including the Emmy Award-wining "Carmen on Ice." She won Gemini awards for producing Browning's "You Must Remember This" and Brian Orser's "Night Moves." Bezic also produced the North American Tour of "Stars on Ice" and is the author of "Passion to Skate: An Intimate View of Figure Skating." Sandra and her brother Val are Canadian Croatians.Croatian Contributions Goran Ivanisevic was born on September 13, 1971 in Split, Croatia. He played tennis for the Croatian National Davis Cup teams; he was awarded an Olympic Bronze Medal in 1992, individually and in pair with G. Prpic. He is Wimbledon Champion in 2001 and was Wimbledon finalist 1992); Wimbledon semi-finalist (1990); best placing on ATP list: fourth place, 1992. He was awarded Best Sportsman of Croatia in 1992. Drazen Petrovic led the Croatian team to the Olympic Final against the American Dream Team and won the Silver Medal in Barcelona. In 1988 Drazen joined “Real”, a club from Madrid and after three years of successful playing he accomplished the dream of the dreams of all basketball players, when he scored his first goal for the colors of the best World League-the American NBA. At first he played for Portland Trail Blazers and from 1991 to his death he was wearing the colors of New Jersey Nets. During the nine years of his brilliant carrier he was the number one player on all basketball levels, in Spain, even in the USA where he was scorer number one of the NETS and the scorer number eleven of the NBA League. Toni Kukoc is a professional basketball player. Born September 18, 1969 in Split, Dalmatia, Croatia. married with one child. Olympic Silver Medal 1988, Olympic Silver Medal 1992. Played professional basketball in Chicago for the Chicago Bulls. letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Tue, 03 Aug 2004 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/6277/1/E-On-this-day-August-2nd.html ÂOn this day02aug041993 – Serb gunners sink part of a vital bridge severing the only land link between the southern Dalmatian coast and the rest ofCroatia. 1100 – King William II of England, son of William the Conqueror, is killed by an arrow while hunting in the New Forest. 1552 – The Treaty of Passau gives religious freedom to Lutherans in Germany. 1589 – France's King Henry III is assassinated at St Cloud by Jacques Clement, a Jacobin monk. 1718 – Quadruple Alliance is formed by Britain, the Netherlands, France and the Holy Roman Empire against an aggressive policy pursued by Spain. 1788 – Death of Thomas Gainsborough, English portrait and landscape artist. 1802 – Napoleon Bonaparte of France is declared Consul for Life, giving him power to name his successor. 1830 – France's King Charles X abdicates after three days of an uprising in Paris. 1858 – British Parliament passes the India Bill, transferring the government of India to the Crown from the East India Company. 1865 – Alice's Adventures in Wonderland is published in England. 1876 – Wild Bill Hickok, US marshal and one of the most colourful figures of the Wild West, is killed in a saloon. 1903 – Macedonians take arms to free themselves from Turkish rule. The rebellion is crushed in 11 days. 1914 – Germany occupies Luxembourg and sends an ultimatum to Belgium to allow passage of its troops across its territory. 1921 – Death of Enrico Caruso, Italian operatic tenor. 1922 – Death of Alexander Graham Bell, Scottish inventor of the telephone in 1876. 1923 – Death of Warren G Harding, 29th US president on his return to San Francisco from a trip to Alaska. 1928 – Italy signs 20-year treaty of friendship with Ethiopia. 1934 – Germany's President Paul von Hindenburg dies aged 87, opening way for Adolf Hitler to become dictator. 1935 – Britain passes Government of India Act, which reforms governmental system, separates Burma and Aden from India, grants provincial governments, greater self-government and creates central legislature in New Delhi. 1936 – Death of Louis Bleriot, French aviator and the first to fly the English Channel. 1939 – Albert Einstein, concerned that Nazis are working on powerful bombs using uranium, writes to US President Roosevelt urging him to start an atomic project.1940 – Hermann Goering, chief of the Luftwaffe, gives the Eagle Day directive to destroy British air power to pave the way for an invasion of Britain. 1943 – US Navy patrol torpedo boat, PT-109, commanded by Lieutenant John F Kennedy, sinks after being sheared in two by a Japanese destroyer off the Solomon Islands; Kennedy was credited with saving members of the crew. 1944 – Joseph P Kennedy, US navy pilot and elder brother of John F Kennedy, is killed when his plane explodes over the Belgian coast. 1945 – Potsdam conference ends with Truman, Stalin and Attlee in agreement on the demilitarisation and division of Germany. 1956 – Britain rejects request of Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland for status as separate state within British Commonwealth. 1963 – United States tells United Nations it will halt all sales of military equipment to South Africa because of apartheid. 1964 – US reports the first of two attacks on its destroyers by North Vietnamese torpedo boats in the Gulf of Tonkin. 1970 – British army uses rubber bullets for the first time to quell a riot in Northern Ireland. 1971 – United States says it will support seating China in United Nations but will oppose expulsion of Chinese Nationalists. 1980 – Terrorist bomb attack on railway station at Bologna, Italy, kills 85 people. 1982 – Daily Sun first published in Brisbane. 1985 – A Delta Airlines Tristar airliner crashes on its final approach to Dallas-Fort Worth airport, killing 133 people. 1988 – Soviet military unveils its new top-secret Blackjack bomber to US Defence Secretary Frank Carlucci. 1989 – Trade restrictions between Britain and Argentina are lifted for the first time since the 1982 Falklands war. 1990 – Iraqi tanks and infantry overrun Kuwait in predawn strike after dispute over oil and frontier. 1992 – Security forces arrest 50 armed Islamic extremists and seize an arms cache containing 130 bombs in Algiers. 1993 – Serb gunners sink part of a vital bridge severing the only land link between the southern Dalmation coast and the rest of Croatia. 1994 – Eleven people die in explosion at Porgera mine in Papua New Guinea. 1995 – Death of Labor politician Fred Daly, 83, last surviving member of Australia's Curtin government; King Fahd replaces his oil and finance ministers in Saudi Arabia's most significant leadership shake-up since he came to power in 1982. 1996 – In Atlanta, American Michael Johnson becomes the first athlete to win both the 200 and 400 metre races at the same Olympic games. 1997 – Former warlord Charles Taylor is sworn in as Liberia's president, marking the completion of a transition from seven years of civil war; Death aged 83 of US beat generation writer William S Burroughs; Typhoon Victor injures 32 people in Hong Kong. 1998 – Afghanistan's Taliban fighters capture the stronghold of warlord Rashid Dostum, putting the religious militia on the doorstep of the opposition's headquarters. 1999 – In India 285 people die when two trains crash head-on in the predawn darkness near Gaisal, about 500 km north of Calcutta. Some 300 are injured. 2000 – Israel's Foreign Minister David Levy carries out his threat to resign, accusing Prime Minister Ehud Barak of making too many concessions to the Palestinians. 2001 – Muslim extremists seize 36 Filipinos on the southern island of Basilan and behead at least four; Bosnian Serb general Radislav Krstic is jailed for 46 years for the murder of thousands of Bosnian Muslims in the Srebrenica massacre, Europe's worst atrocity since World War Two. 2001 – Ron Townson, the centrepiece singer for the pop group the 5th Dimension, dies of renal failure in Las Vegas. He was 68. 2002 – Kazakh authorities sentenced Galymzhan Zhakiyanov, founding member of the reform movement Democratic Choice of Kazakhstan (DCK), to seven years in prison for corruption and abuse of power. 2003 – The US State Department suspends two programs that allowed foreign air travellers on certain routes to enter the country without a visa. http://www.theadvertiser.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5936,10281215%255E10949,00.html letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Mon, 02 Aug 2004 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/6279/1/E-Cheney-Milosevic-and-Premier-Oil-Do-Business-with-Junta.html ÂBurma: Cheney, Milosevic and Premier Oil Do Business with JuntaThe Guardian (London)July 28th, 2000What do Dick Cheney, Slobodan Milosevic and the British company Premier Oil have in common? Answer: they all firmly believe in doing business with Burma, home to perhaps the world's most oppressive regime. For Mr Cheney, who was picked this week as George W Bush's Republican running-mate and is thus quite possibly the next US vice-president, the appalling human rights record of the Rangoon military junta presents no bar to trade. As chief executive of Dallas-based Halliburton Co, the world's largest oilfield services company, he backed a lobbying group, USA Engage, opposed to the current US investment sanctions on Burma. As a board member of another pressure group, the pro-business National Foreign Trade Council, Mr Cheney's company also recently helped persuade the supreme court to overturn a Massachusetts state law which imposed penalties on companies trading with Burma. Gulf war veteran Cheney fervently believes in making the world a safer place for America's oil industry. Mr Milosevic's top priority is a safer world for Slobodan Milosevic. The solated Yugoslav president and indicted war criminal will talk to almost anybody these days; hence, in recent months, closer ties with Libya and Iraq, like Serbia the target of sanctions, and China. Earlier this month, he entertained Win Aung, Burma's foreign minister, in Belgrade. Mr Milosevic said they agreed that sanctions imposed on sovereign states were "a criminal form of behaviour (and) a massive violation of human rights". Unsurprisingly, Mr Milosevic is not troubled by the well-documented misery of child slave workers in Burma, nor by the International Labour Organisation's formal accusation that the junta has com mitted "an international crime", possibly amounting to "a crime against humanity" in exploiting forced labour.Nor, apparently, are Burma's hundreds of political prisoners, its thousands of arbitrary arrests and torture cases, and the tens of thousands of ethnic Karen and other tribespeople abused, killed or driven from their land by the Burmese army over-troubling to Premier Oil. Despite pleas to quit from the government, concern from shareholders, and the withdrawal of its erstwhile partner, Texaco, Premier persists with its multi-million pound Yetagun gas pipeline. The company conceded at its AGM last May that human rights and environmental abuses had been linked to the project and that the junta's record was "inexcusable". But it steadfastly refuses to get out. Never mind the Foreign Office view that such ventures underpin the systematic repression in Burma since 1962 and undermine international efforts to effect peaceful change. Never mind that the Nobel prizewinner Aung San Suu Kyi, leader of the National League for Democracy, and her supporters still face brutal, daily intimidation 10 years after elections in which they won 82% of the vote. Forget about the junta's looting of the country, its criminal involvement in heroin production and trafficking (second only to Afghanistan), and the dire humanitarian and refugee problems resulting from its tyranny. And ignore the fact that bigger, better companies than Premier, like Pepsi-Co, Eastman Kodak, and Best Western, have pulled out. All that, Premier and other companies with big Burmese operations like Unocal and Total/Fina/Elf seem to say, is not our business. It may sound sick to you. But it makes Dick and Slobodan proud. http://www.corpwatch.org/article.php?id=702  letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Wed, 07 Jul 2004 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/6278/1/E-Nielson-ignored-David-Trezeguets-handball-before-scoring.html ÂFor the record:Nielson ignored David Trezeguet's handball incident before scoring France's second goal against Croatia. It ended 2-2. Op-ed:All sports should use replay feature, so the outcome of the game could be more accurate and more honest. One mistake by one person changed the outcome of the whole tournament, for example, and this is not just one example.Nenad BachThe good, bad and ugly; all were there A spate of surprises made this edition of the European Championship different from earlier editions. Greece! Whoever thought? A game of uncertainties, no less. The big question is, did the standard of refereeing match all such superlative action? Before the championship Volker Roth, chairman of the Uefa referees' committee, sounded over-confident about the standard of European referees. He had proudly said Europe have 12 of the best in the world. On the field, though, especially in crucial ties, it appeared that all that talk by the Uefa referees' supremo was a bit exaggerated.In the inaugural Portugal-Greece match, the famous Pierluigi Collina - this tourney being his retiring assignment - exhibited his normal high standard of officiating and repeated the same in his concluding international match between Greece and the Czech Republic in semi-final. But other celebrated European referees, like Kim Milton Nielson (Denmark), Urs Meier (Switzerland), Terze Hauge (Norway), Markus Merk (Germany) and Enrique Mejuto (Spain) fell short of their reputation.Nielson ignored David Trezeguet's handball incident before scoring France's second goal against Croatia. It ended 2-2. Nielson also allowed Dutch star Ruud van Nistelrooy to score his first goal from a palpable off-side position against Latvia. And Urs Meier's cancellation of English defender Sol Campbell's perfect header into the Portugal net in the 89th minute of the quarter final tie will remain a matter of big question for a long time. It remains unclear who committed the foul. It certainly wasn't Campbell. John Terry has been mentioned later, but that wasn't very clear, though, from what we saw. This decision will be debated for long.Meier's decision to uphold Swedish striker Ibrahimovic's late equaliser against Italy was also questionable. It appeared that the lanky striker had deliberately pushed Zambrotta before putting the ball into the goal. And the expulsion of Russia's number one goalkeeper Ovchinnikov by Norwegian Referee Terj Hauge in the dying minute of the first half was really a gross mistake, too harsh, because Ovchinnikov came out of his penalty area to save the ball from Portuguese striker Pauleta and stopped the ball with his stomach. In the follow through a hand came on the ball, accidentally. The referee said otherwise. It reminds me of an incident from the 1994 World Cup where Italian custodian Pagliuca was hauled up by German Referee Helmut Krag for depriving Norway an obvious scoring opportunity. But in that case Pagliuca had deliberately stopped the ball with his hand outside the penalty box. Merk, who ultimately handled the final without any controversy, should have shown the red card to English goalkeeper David James, who denied an obvious scoring opportunity by tripping France's Thierry Henry. There was no other defender behind James. The awarding of a penalty, from which Zidane scored the winner was not enough. In the Czech Republic-Holland match Nistelrooy a goal from off-side position. This time the official was Majuto of Spain. Off course, before the goal he had deprived a penalty to the Dutch team when Czech defender Tomas Ujfalusi was holding Nistelrooy in the penalty area and did not allow him to move.But it is also to be admitted that apart from Collina, we have seen other high standard of refereeing and no big controversy hit the championship. Sweden's referee Anders Frisk should be mentioned first. The Uefa utilised him in most matches (four), which includes important group matches like Spain-Portugal, Germany-Holland, the quarter final between Greece and France and semi-final of Portugal and the Netherlands. When Nistelrooy called Frisk a "home blower" later, he was hauled up and penalised by the Uefa.It is unfortunate that a Fifa referee gets such flak from a player despite such faultless refereeing.In the 1974 World Cup final between West Germany and The Netherlands at Munich stadium, Johan Cruyff was booked by the then famous English referee Jack Taylor for misbehaving in the tunnel after first half. Totti's spitting incident became a legend. Video help to determine faults (as also in the Swiss striker Alexander Frei case) resulted in banning of the player which made his team suffer immeasurably. Such TV help had been taken in the 1994 World Cup also, where Italian defender Mauro Tassotti was suspended for eight matches and fined for hitting Spain's Luis Enrique. Ronaldo got his booking for taking off his shirt, as per new rules. Referees, on the whole did their job well. Big questions marks, though, remain.http://www.telegraphindia.com/1040706/asp/sports/story_3459170.asp  letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Wed, 07 Jul 2004 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/6280/1/E-When-in-the-Course-of-human-events-it-becomes-necessary.html ÂIn Congress, July 4, 1776The unanimous Declaration of the thirteenUnited States of AmericaWhen in the Course of human events it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.-That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed.-That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security.-Such has been the patient sufferance of these Colonies; and such is now the necessity which constrains them to alter their former Systems of Government. The history of the present King of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these States. To prove this, let Facts be submitted to a candid world.He has refused his Assent to Laws, the most wholesome and necessary for the public good.He has forbidden his Governors to pass Laws of immediate and pressing importance, unless suspended in their operation till his Assent should be obtained; and when so suspended, he has utterly neglected to attend to them. He has refused to pass other Laws for the accommodation of large districts of people, unless those people would relinquish the right of Representation in the Legislature, a right inestimable to them and formidable to tyrants only.He has called together legislative bodies at places unusual, uncomfortable, and distant from the depository of their Public Records, for the sole purpose of fatiguing them into compliance with his measures. He has dissolved Representative Houses repeatedly, for opposing with manly firmness his invasions on the rights of the people.He has refused for a long time, after such dissolutions, to cause others to be elected; whereby the Legislative Powers, incapable of Annihilation, have returned to the People at large for their exercise; the State remaining in the mean time exposed to all the dangers of invasion from without, and convulsions within.He has endeavoured to prevent the population of these States; for that purpose obstructing the Laws for Naturalization of Foreigners; refusing to pass others to encourage their migrations hither, and raising the conditions of new Appropriations of Lands. He has obstructed the Administration of Justice, by refusing his Assent to Laws for establishing Judiciary Powers. He has made Judges dependent on his Will alone, for the tenure of their offices, and the amount and payment of their salaries. He has erected a multitude of New Offices, and sent hither swarms of Officers to harass our people, and eat out their substance. He has kept among us, in times of peace, Standing Armies without the Consent of our legislatures. He has affected to render the Military independent of and superior to the Civil Power.He has combined with others to subject us to a jurisdiction foreign to our constitution, and unacknowledged by our laws; giving his Assent to their Acts of pretended Legislation:For quartering large bodies of armed troops among us:For protecting them, by a mock Trial, from punishment for any Murders which they should commit on the Inhabitants of these States:For cutting off our Trade with all parts of the world:For imposing Taxes on us without our Consent:For depriving us in many cases, of the benefits of Trial by Jury:For transporting us beyond Seas to be tried for pretended offences:For abolishing the free System of English Laws in a neighboring Province, establishing therein an Arbitrary government, and enlarging its Boundaries so as to render it at once an example and fit instrument for introducing the same absolute rule into these Colonies:For taking away our Charters, abolishing our most valuable Laws and altering fundamentally the Forms of our Governments:For suspending our own Legislatures, and declaring themselves invested with power to legislate for us in all cases whatsoever.He has abdicated Government here, by declaring us out of his Protection and waging War against us.He has plundered our seas, ravaged our Coasts, burnt our towns, and destroyed the lives of our people. He is at this time transporting large Armies of foreign Mercenaries to compleat the works of death, desolation, and tyranny, already begun with circumstances of Cruelty & Perfidy scarcely paralleled in the most barbarous ages, and totally unworthy the Head of a civilized nation.He has constrained our fellow Citizens taken Captive on the high Seas to bear Arms against their Country, to become the executioners of their friends and Brethren, or to fall themselves by their Hands. He has excited domestic insurrections amongst us, and has endeavored to bring on the inhabitants of our frontiers, the merciless Indian Savages, whose known rule of warfare, is an undistinguished destruction of all ages, sexes and conditions.In every stage of these Oppressions We have Petitioned for Redress in the most humble terms: Our repeated Petitions have been answered only by repeated injury. A Prince, whose character is thus marked by every act which may define a Tyrant, is unfit to be the ruler of a free people.Nor have We been wanting in attentions to our British brethren. We have warned them from time to time of attempts by their legislature to extend an unwarrantable jurisdiction over us. We have reminded them of the circumstances of our emigration and settlement here. We have appealed to their native justice and magnanimity, and we have conjured them by the ties of our common kindred to disavow these usurpations, which would inevitably interrupt our connections and correspondence. They too have been deaf to the voice of justice and of consanguinity. We must, therefore, acquiesce in the necessity, which denounces our Separation, and hold them, as we hold the rest of mankind, Enemies in War, in Peace Friends.We, therefore, the Representatives of the United States of America, in General Congress, Assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the Name, and by Authority of the good People of these Colonies, solemnly publish and declare, That these United Colonies are, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent States; that they are Absolved from all Allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain, is and ought to be totally dissolved; and that as Free and Independent States, they have full Power to levy War, conclude Peace, contract Alliances, establish Commerce, and to do all other Acts and Things which Independent States may of right do.-And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of Divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor.-John Hancock New Hampshire Josiah Bartlett Wm. Whipple Matthew Thornton Rhode Island Step. Hopkins William Ellery Connecticut Roger Sherman Sam'el Huntington Wm. Williams Oliver Wolcott New York Wm. Floyd Phil. Livingston Frans. Lewis Lewis Morris New Jersey Richd. Stockton Jno. Witherspoon Fras. Hopkinson John Hart Abra. Clark Pennsylvania Robt. Morris Benjamin Rush Benj. Franklin John Morton Geo. Clymer Jas. Smith Geo. Taylor James Wilson Geo. Ross Massachusetts-Bay Saml. Adams John Adams Robt. Treat Paine Elbridge Gerry Delaware Caesar Rodney Geo. Read Tho. M'Kean Maryland Samuel Chase Wm. Paca Thos. Stone Charles Carroll of Carrollton Virginia George Wythe Richard Henry Lee Th. Jefferson Benj. Harrison Ths. Nelson, Jr. Francis Lightfoot Lee Carter Braxton North Carolina Wm. Hooper Joseph Hewes John Penn South Carolina Edward Rutledge Thos. Heyward, Junr. Thomas Lynch, Junr. Arthur Middleton Georgia Button Gwinnett Lyman Hall Geo. Walton  letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Sun, 04 Jul 2004 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/6281/1/E-Serb-women-jailed-in-Croatia-for-war-crimes-in-Skabrnje.html Serb women jailed in Croatia for war crime Big News Network.com Friday 2nd July, 2004 A Croatian court has sentenced a Serbian woman to 10 years in jail for killing civilians in the wars of the 1990s, the Jutarnji List newspaper said Friday.Zorana Banic was convicted of helping to kill four civilians including an elderly woman in late 1991. She had been charged with the murder of 34 civilians but there was insufficient evidence to link her to the deaths of all of them.Banic, 52, is a former nurse. Her conviction was partly based on evidence from a group of children who had witnessed the killings which took place in the village of Skabrnje in November 1991.She has said she will appeal the verdict.Banic had fled Croatia to escape the charges against her but was apprehended in Switzerland and extradited.http://feeds.bignewsnetwork.com/?sid=d0105889a2fbff16  letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Sat, 03 Jul 2004 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/6283/1/E-War-Crimes-Tribunal-Sentences-Serb-Leader.html War Crimes Tribunal Sentences Serb Leader11:33 AM EST - June 29, 2004The Associated PressTHE HAGUE, NetherlandsA U.N. war crimes tribunal on Tuesday sentenced Milan Babic, the leader of Croatia's rebellious Serbs, to 13 years in prison for inflaming an ethnic cleansing campaign filled with "ruthlessness and savagery."Babic, 48, once one of Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic's closest allies, was convicted in January of one count of persecution for the seven-month campaign against non-Serbs in the self-proclaimed Croatian Republic of Krajina. Hundreds of civilians were executed or murdered and about 80,000 non-Serbs, mostly Croats and a few Muslims, were expelled.Babic pleaded guilty to the single count in a deal in which prosecutors dropped four other charges of murder, cruelty and the wanton destruction of villages during the war in Croatia, which began when the Serbs revolted after Croatia broke away from Yugoslavia in 1991.The crimes fit into a wider scheme by the Serb political leadership to clear out roughly one-third of Croatia's civilian population and create an ethnically pure Serbian state, the ruling said.Babic was among the most influential figures of that policy, at the start of the 1991-1992 Croatian war, said the judgment, read out at the U.N. tribunal for the former Yugoslavia.The tribunal has rendered 50 judgments since it was created in 1993 by the U.N. Security Council. Most of those convicted have been soldiers, guards, midlevel military officers and a few commanders. Babic is among the highest-ranking political figures to be convicted, along with former Bosnian Serb politician Biljana Plavsic, who is serving an 11-year sentence in Denmark."Babic does not deny the seriousness of the crimes," said Judge Alphons Orie in issuing the sentence. "The crimes were characterized by ruthlessness and savagery and had a severe impact on victims and their relatives. Their suffering is still significant."The sentence was harsher than the 11-year recommendation by the prosecution, which Orie said "does not achieve the purpose of punishment, nor does it do justice."The court gave credit to Babic, a former dentist and head of a prewar health clinic, for voluntarily surrendering to the tribunal and testifying against Milosevic in what is considered the most important war crimes trial since World War II. The Milosevic case moves into its second half next week with the opening of the defense.Detailing some of the worst offenses, Orie criticized the plea agreement between the prosecution and the defense for understating Babic's influence in Krajina as the president and the military's commander in chief."The trial chamber does not accept that Babic's role in the joint criminal enterprise was as limited as the parties suggest it was," the judgment said. Although "Babic was not the prime mover, ... Babic chose to remain in power and provided significant support for the persecutions."Babic remained quiet after sentencing, but during his plea hearing in January, he begged forgiveness of the Croatian people, saying that he felt "a deep sense of shame and remorse.""The persecutions caused the murder or extermination of hundreds of Croat or other non-Serb civilians ... They also caused the routine and prolonged imprisonment of hundreds of Croat and other non-Serb civilians," said the judgment read by Orie.By giving "ethnically inflammatory" speeches and funding the armed Serb rebellion, Babic laid the foundation for the conflict in Croatia, which Orie said is still suffering the consequences.By ANTHONY DEUTSCH Associated Press Writer http://www.xposed.com/headline_news/52_ds_632924.aspx letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Wed, 30 Jun 2004 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/6282/1/E-13-years-for-ethnic-cleansing-of-ruthlessness-and-savagery-.html Â13 years imprisonment for ethnic cleansing of "ruthlessness and savagery." Op-edIs this a joke? 13 years of prison for commiting genocide?Nenad BachU.N. Tribunal Sentences Serb Leader Tue Jun 29, 6:27 AM ET By ANTHONY DEUTSCH, Associated Press Writer THE HAGUE, Netherlands - A U.N. war crimes tribunal onTuesday sentenced Milan Babic, the wartime leader of Croatia's rebellious Serbs, to 13 years imprisonment for his role in ethnic cleansing of "ruthlessness and savagery." Babic, 48, once one of Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic (news - web sites)'s closest allies, was convicted in January of one count of persecution for the seven-month campaign against non-Serbs in the self-proclaimed Croatian Republic of Krajina, when hundreds of civilians were executed or murdered about 80,000 non-Serbs, mostly Croats and a few Muslims, were expelled. Babic pleaded guilty to the single count in a deal in which prosecutors dropped four other charges of murder, cruelty and the wanton destruction of villages during the war in Croatia, which began when the Serbs revolted after Croatia broke away from Yugoslavia in 1991. "Babic does not deny the seriousness of the crimes," said Judge Alphons Orie in pronouncing sentence. "The crimes were characterized by ruthlessness and savagery and had a severe impact on victims and their relatives. Their suffering is still significant." The sentence was harsher than the 11-year recommendation by the prosecution, which Orie said "does not achieve the purpose of punishment, nor does it do justice." The court gave credit to Babic, a former dentist and head of a prewar health clinic, for voluntarily surrendering to the tribunal and testifying against Milosevic, considered the most important war crimes trial since World War II. The Milosevic case moves into its second half next week with the opening of the defense. Babic remained quiet after sentencing, but during his plea hearing in January, he begged forgiveness of the Croatian people, saying that he felt "a deep sense of shame and remorse." "The persecutions caused the murder or extermination of hundreds of Croat or other non-Serb civilians ... They also caused the routine and prolonged imprisonment of hundreds of Croat and other non-Serb civilians," said the judgment read by Orie. By giving "ethnically inflammatory" speeches and funding the armed Serb rebellion, Babic laid the foundation for the Croatian conflict, which Orie said is still suffering the consequences. http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20040629/ap_on_re_eu/war_crimes_babic_1 letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Wed, 30 Jun 2004 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/6287/1/E-Cro-Am-Robert-Tonsetics-Book-on-Vietnam.html ÂWarriors: An Infantryman's Memoir of VietnamÂAs Memorial Day approaches, I wanted to call attention to a new book of memoirs by Robert Tonsetic, "Warriors: An Infantryman's Memoir of Vietnam." The paperback is published by Ballantine Press (a Random House company) under its Presidio Press label and appeared this year.Robert grew up in the Pittsburgh area. After completing the University of Pittsburgh in 1964, he was commissioned as an infantry lieutenant. He served as a company commander for 6 months during the Tet and May Offensives in 1968. He later served as an advisor to the Vietnamese Ranger and Airborne units. He retired from the Army in 1991 with the rank of colonel. He subsequently received a doctorate in education and taught for four years at the University of Central Florida. He currently lives in Maryland.While in Vietnam, Robert received the Distnguished Service Cross for his service.The backside of the book gives the following description of the book: "It was the tumultuous year 1968 and Robert Tonsetic was a company commander of the 4th Battalion, 12th Infantry in Vietnam. He took over a group of grunts demoralized by defeat but determined to get even. Through the legendary Tet and May Offensives, he led, trained and risked his life with these brave men, and this is the thrilling brutal and honest story of his tour of duty. Tonsetic tells of leading a seriously undermanned ready-reaction force into a fierce three-day battle with a ruthless enemy battalion; conducting surreal night airmobile assaults and treks through fetid, pitch-black jungles; and relieving combat stress by fishing with hand grenades and taking secret joyrides in Hueys. During that fateful year, as unrest erupted at home and politicians groped for a way out of the war, Tonsetic and his men did their job as soldiers and earned the title "Warriors."'The book is available in all book stores for $7.50 ($10.99 in Canada). letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Fri, 11 Jun 2004 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/6286/1/E-Croatian-Americans-and-D-Day.html ÂCroatian Americans and D-DayA short essay by John Peter KraljicIn 1997, in honor of the 25th anniversary of the Omisalj Society of New York and the 100th anniversary of the first organization of people from Omisalj in New York, a commemorative booklet was issued to honor those from this town on Krk Island whose fathers, mothers, sons and daughters number into the thousands in the New York City area alone.The booklet included a number of advertisements to honor some of our forefathers. One of the ones which has always stood out in my mind was entitled "In Memory of Pfc. Nikola Feretic, 1/16/07-6/12/44." A portrait style photo accompanies the advertisement showing Feretic with a photo of a Purple Heart. The advertisement was signed: "Always in our hearts and minds, Our Spouse, Father, Grandfather and Great Grandfather, who we lost forever on June 12, 1944, during the invasion on Normandy Beach. His Wife Dinka, Daughters Anica and Lucija, with Their Families, Sons Anton and Stjepan, with Their Families."It is difficult for me to imagine what a loss this represented to Feretic's family. He was in his late thirties and left behind four children as well as his wife. Ever since then, I have often thought about Feretic and wondered about other Croatian Americans who participated in what has come to be known as the Longest Day.Croatian Americans participated in the tens of thousands in America's armed forces during World War II from the very first day that the United States entered the War. Thanks to the work of a number of intrepid researchers, we now know that a Croatian American named Tomich was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor after his death for his heroism during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. Croatian historian Ivan Cizmic in his seminal work on the Croatian Fraternal Union (CFU) noted that at least 15,000 members of the CFU alone had served in America's armed forces during the War, 308 of whom laid down their lives for their adopted country.D-Day was only one of many battles in which Croatian Americans played a role. This short essay does not pretend to be a definitive account of that role by any means. It is simply intended as a short summary of at some of those who fought in this greatest amphibious action in military history. Hopefully, some more intrepid researchers will succeed in compiling a comprehensive list.***********************One of the more interesting of Croatian-American veterans of D-Day was August "Augie" Mardesich. Mardesich later served for decades as one of Washington State's greatest legislators. Mardesich was born in San Pedro, California in 1920, his father coming from Komiza and his mother also coming from the Dalmatian coast. In 1928, the family moved to Everett in Washington State where his father worked in the fishing industry. Both August and his brother Tony enlisted soon after Pearl Harbor, Tony entering the Navy and Augie the Army. Augie ended up heading a company of African-American soldiers (the US Army was segregated at the time) in the quartermaster division. They landed in Normandy on D-Day +1 and delivered supplies to American troops as they pressed on their advance against Germany. After the War, both he and his brother finished law school and Tony went into politics. Tony became a State legislator. Tragically, Tony and his father both perished at sea during a fishing expedition with their boat, along with three other men. Augie barely survived the trip along with four other survivors. Washington's Governor later appointed him to complete his brother's term and Augie spent the next few decades in the State legislature, becoming the only man in the State's history to serve as majority leader of both houses.************************************Walt Mainerich was born in 1922 in Chisholm in Minnesota's "Iron Range." One of nine children of Croatian immigrants, Walt began working in the local area iron mines soon after graduating high school. He enlisted in the Army in December 1942 and volunteered for the paratroopers.Walt was assigned to the famed 101st Airborne, serving in Company I of the 501st Parachute Regiment. Walt and his comrades are counted as among the first Americans to have landed in France on D-Day, being dropped behind Utah Beach in the early morning. Along with the rest of the 101st Airborne, Walt saw action in some of the most important battles in Europe, including Bastogne during the Battle of the Bulge.Walt returned to the US after being discharged from the Army in December 1945. He returned to mining for several more years before becoming a rural mail carrier. He retired from the US Postal Service in 1986.***************************************** While I have not been able to confirm his Croatian ethnicity, Frank Bilich of Chicago likely is a Croatian-American and has at least given us further indications of the participation of Croatians in the D-Day invasion. Frank served as a paratrooper in D Company of the 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment. Bilich later said that what most impressed him with his company was the variety of people. "We had people from just about every state in the Union with those who could speak just about any language: Polish, Croatian, German, Italian, French, you name it." Like Mainerich, Frank also jumped into Normandy, Holland and participated in the Battle of the Bulge and ended the War on the Elbe River in Germany. Bilich re-enlisted after the end of the War for another three year stint and was discharged in late 1948 with the rank of Staff Sergeant.**************************************Yet another D-Day paratrooper was Private First Class Edward Cavlovic, a relative of the Nazy (Nizaj) family from Chicago. Ed also participated in the D-Day invasion. Several months later, his unit along with British and Polish commandos were dropped seventy miles behind German lines in Holland in Operation Market Garden. Tragically, Ed was killed during the operation on September 17, 1944.***********************************************Michael Paulson of Gary, Indiana also participated in the D-Day invasion. A child of Croatian immigrants, Michael later became a pilgrim to Medjugorje. A Wall Street Journal article from November 9, 1992, described Michael's pilgrimage to the Marian Shrine during the height of the war in Bosnia and Herzegovina:"For the Indiana retiree, Mr. Paulson, it's a small miracle just to be here. The only other place in Europe the 71 years old has visited is Normandy - aboard a landing craft on D-Day in 1944. This time, he has spend two days in planes, buses, cars and taxis - only to land in the middle of a war once again. "Seems like folks in Europe are always fighting", says the white-bearded pilgrim, gazing at the hills and popping pills for a heart condition. Mr. Paulson, a former juvenile probation officer, has come here with a vision of his own. He wants to transport small stones from Medjugorje to Indiana, where he hopes churchgoers will obtain a stone by making a donation - half of which goes to their church, and half to a non profit foundation. Mr. Paulson wants to use this money to build a Girls Town for troubled youths, near Boys Town in Omaha, Neb. Ultimately, he hopes to build a similar center in the former Yugoslavia. "It might be a small way for people here to start living together again", he says.This passion for reconciliation comes from personal experience. The child of Croatian immigrants, Mr. Paulson says the closest friend from his youth was Serbian. "My parents never talked about Serb and Croat", he says. "We were all just Yugoslavs". Now, staying at a farmhouse where pilgrims stop, Mr. Paulson gives his rusty Croatian a workout. Seated around a table groaning with soup, chicken, potatoes and coleslaw, he begins the dinner by declaring, "This war is insane". Mr. Paulson's host smiles politely and offers a glass of the plum brandy popular in this region. "I don't drink", Mr. Paulson says apologetically. "I'm on pills". This sparks a laugh, as does his photo album. It is filled with snapshots of Mr. Paulson as a volunteer of Santa Claus, at a roller rink in Gary. He does a few "Ho ho hos", chats about the Chicago Bulls (popular in basketball - crazed Croatia) and about his great-grandchildren. By the end of the dinner, on of the boys in the family has agreed to help him gather stone from nearby fields. Mr. Paulson isn't sure he will ever see his dream realized. He can't stay long because he has no credit cards and only $1,000 in cash. Even if his health holds, returning here won't be easy: His only income is a Social Security check and a small government pension. But Mr. Paulson says his mission is no more daunting than that of other pilgrims, praying for peace in the midst of war. "If you want to move s mountain", he says, taking another pill, "you have to do it stone by stone". ******************************************As a final note to this short essay, mention should be made of the three Croatian merchant ships that also participated in the D-Day invasion and were purposely sunk by the Allies. When Yugoslavia was invaded in April 1941, approximately 77 merchant vessels from Yugoslavia found themselves abroad. Most of these were Croatian owned and manned for the most part by Croats. Approximately 40 of these ships were sunk during the War by German and Japanese submarines while carrying vital goods for the Allies. At least 150 Croatian merchantmen died during these attacks.Two ships, the "Njegos" and the "Istok," owned by Jugoslavenski Lloyd from Split were sunk off the coast of Normandy on June 6, 1944, while a third, the "Vicko Feric" owned by Brodarstvo Feric also in Split, was sunk at Cherbourg a little later. These ships, along with others, were used by the Allies as water breakers. They were generally older ships, stripped of their valuables and loaded with sand before going down into the waters off of France. letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Fri, 11 Jun 2004 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/6285/1/E-Julianna-Relich-Houtz-Served-as-General-MacArthurs-Secretary.html ÂJulianna Relich Houtz Served as General MacArthur's SecretaryThe following story appeared in the Fort Wayne News-Sentinel (in Indiana). It concerns a Croatian-American, Julianna Relich Houtz, who served as secretary to legendary General Douglas MacArthur. As noted, she still speaks Croatian. John Peter Kraljic, Esq.Posted on Fri, May. 28, 2004Time with the generalShe now lives in Fort Wayne, but during WWII she was MacArthur's secretary.By Jennifer L. Boenof The News-Sentinel"Old soldiers never die; they just fade away." Those words, credited to Gen. Douglas MacArthur, describe well Juliana Relich Houtz, who served as secretary to MacArthur while he was commander of Allied forces in the Pacific during World War II. At 84, Houtz's short-term memory is fleeting at times. She might not recall what she ate for breakfast, but she frequently holds rapt an audience at Village Oaks assisted living center in Fort Wayne, regaling caregivers, residents and visitors with stories of her 20 years as a U.S. Army WAC sergeant. "General Mac was my chief. I thought he was a great guy. He was a very handsome man," said Houtz, who was one of fewer than 50 U.S. Army women serving in active duty overseas in World War II. Most women in the military at the time remained stateside. She served as MacArthur's secretary, but because she was fluent in Japanese and four other languages, MacArthur sought her out for other duties. "He asked me to go into homes of the Japanese. I met a cleaning woman who invited me to her home. She had a son in the Japanese Army. One time I was eating with the family, sitting on the floor like they did, and her son - he was in uniform - came in and saw this American soldier, this WAC sergeant, sitting there. He was shocked."But the people, they trusted me. They told me things. They (the commoners) liked Americans. It was their leaders, the higher (government officials) who hated the Americans." So Houtz socialized with the Japanese. "I found out where the Japanese (military) were. Then I reported all the things that were going on. I guess you could say I was a spy. I'd hand (MacArthur) the reports and salute him. He'd say, 'Thank you,' and wink at me." Because of her sometimes short-term memory loss, one might wonder if her military stories are accurate. "Oh, they are. It's amazing," said Lee Marki, nursing services director of Parkview Hospital's New Life Center and Houtz's long-time friend and now the person with power of attorney. Marki's mother, 84-year-old Laura Steffen, and Houtz were best friends in high school in Milwaukee. Because Houtz has no other family, Marki and Steffen encouraged her to move to Fort Wayne several years ago. "She was a spy. After she came back from Europe, she worked at the Pentagon, doing high security information processing," said Marki, who has many of Houtz's military keepsakes. "They asked her to spy in Europe, but she wanted to stay stateside." In great detail, Houtz describes the Diichi Building, once the Japanese military headquarters in the center of Tokyo, where American forces eventually set up command. "There were the most beautiful ballrooms there. I danced with Jimmy Martin, a civilian. He bought me beautiful, long gowns. Then he went off and married someone else. "I don't think I ever danced with General Mac, but I danced with all the other guys," Houtz said, a gleam in her eyes and a smile radiating memories of good times gone by. "I think I had my picture taken on the steps of the Diichi Building once with General MacArthur, but I don't have the picture." In her 50s, she married Kenneth Houtz, a military retiree who also worked at the Pentagon. He is now deceased. Houtz's penchant for languages started when she was young in Milwaukee. Her mother, an immigrant from Yugoslavia, worked at a Chinese restaurant, where Houtz spent a lot of time. "I learned Chinese there. I picked up Japanese easily when I was first stationed there," said Houtz, who also speaks Polish and Croatian. "I enjoyed serving in the military. It was my life. I was good at what I did," she said. Marki agreed: "Whenever I saw her, when she was home on leave, she was always in uniform, impeccably dressed. She was always proud of being in the military and of being a woman in the military." For Houtz, the advantage these days of knowing so many languages has a different twist. "If I get mad at someone here, I tell them off in Japanese or Polish or Croatian. They have no idea what I'm saying." © 2004 News Sentinel and wire service sources. All Rights Reserved.http://www.fortwayne.com letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Fri, 11 Jun 2004 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/6284/1/EHS-Croatian-Surnames-in-Argentina-and-Chile-14000.html ÂHrvatska prezimena u Argentini i Chile: 14000Stavili smo na www.studiacroatica.com/ape4/ape.htm cetvrtu verziju hrvatskih prezimena u Argentini i Chile. Ima 14000 hrvatskih prezimena ili kojih ima u Hrvatskoj sa svojim odnosnim frekvencijama. Uz Argentinu i Chile ima isto informacije -ali ne potpune- od Bolivia, Peru, Uruguay i Venezuela.Sto se tice Argentine ima 123000 argentinskih drzavljana rodjeni do 1981. Ako projektiramo ovaj borj do 2004. ima oko 180000 osoba sa hrvatskim prezimenima u Argentini. U tom broju nisu ukljuceni hrvatski potomci koji nemaju hrvatsko (prvo) prezime. Croatian Surnames in Argentina and Chile: 14000We have posted at www.studiacroatica.com/ape4/ape.htm fourth version of our work on Croatian last names in Argentina and Chile. There are 14000 Croatian surnames or surnames found in Croacia with their frequencies. Besides Argentina and Chile, we have partial information on Bolivia, Perú, Uruguay and Venezuela. In the case of Argentina there are 123000 Argentinian citizens born until 1981. Projecting it to 2004, there are some 180000 persons bearing a Croatian surname in Argentina. This number does not include people of Croatian descent not having a Croatian last name. Apellidos croatas en Argentina y Chile: 14000Hemos puesto en www.studiacroatica.com/ape4/ape.htm la cuarta versión de los apellidos croatas en Argentina y Chile. Son 14000 apellidos croatas o con presencia en Croacia con sus respectivas frecuencias. Además de Argentina y Chile hay información parcial de Bolivia, Perú, Uruguay y Venezuela. Para Argentina se trata de 123000 ciudadanos argentidos nacidos hasta 1981. Proyectando esta cifra hasta 2004 son unas 180000 personas con apellidos croatas en Argentina. No incluye a los descendientes de croatas que llevan un primer apellido no croata. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Aviso - Advertisement Legal matters in Croatia - Asuntos jurídicos en Croacia - Dra. Adriana Ivana Smajic - adriana@ebondex.com - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - This Bulletin is published by the journal Studia Croatica - Institute for Croatian Culture. The journal is published in Buenos Aires since 1960 - The Bulletin is distributed in two versions, Spanish and English, to some 2700 email adresses in 30 countries. New subscription are welcome. Please tell us if you do not want to receive more this kind of material. Studia Croatica is on the Web since 1996, -where it has some 18000 pages in Spanish, French, English and Croatian. It receives some 140000 hits per month.www.studiacroatica.com -joza@velocom.com.ar .Este Boletín es publicado por la revista Studia Croatica - Instituto de Cultura Croata, editada en Buenos Aires desde 1960 - El Boletín se distribuye en castellano e inglés a unas 2700 direcciones electrónicas en 30 países y retrasmitidos a varios miles de personas. Rogamos nos provean direcciones electrónicas de personas que podrían estar interesadas en recibir este boletín, y nos comuniquen si no desean recibir este tipo de información. Studia Croatica se encuentra en la Web desde 1996, -donde tiene unas 18000 páginas en castellano, francés, inglés y croata- y recibe unas 140000 visitas por mes.www.studiacroatica.com -joza@velocom.com.ar  letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Fri, 11 Jun 2004 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/6288/1/E-King-Willows-Adriatic-conquest.html   King Willow's Adriatic conquest   "Historic UK-Croatia links.. quick, tell the UK Foreign Office!" - BrianBy Alex Kirby BBC News Online environment correspondent The Adriatic tourist trade is picking up again You might not suppose a small island in the central Adriatic would have had much to do with Britain. I didn't, and I kept finding out how wrong I was. Vis, nearly thirty miles south of Split off the coast of Dalmatia, has had an interesting half century. It was where Tito made his headquarters in World War II: soon afterwards, he seized control of Yugoslavia, which he ruled autocratically until his death in 1980. From his assumption of power almost until Croatia became independent in 1991, Vis was out of bounds to most Yugoslavs, a military reserve with an isolated civilian population. Today, apart from a litter of deserted barracks and abandoned tunnels, Vis is doing quite well out of its long quarantine. Those people who stayed are fairly cheerful, though there are few jobs, most of them in fishing. But many have decamped to the mainland or headed abroad. Lotus eaters Birds and marine life survive in greater numbers than on many more accessible islands, and there is no sign yet of pell-mell tourist development, though everyone recognises the potential for it. Every prospect pleases on Vis - for now At the moment, Vis is still laid-back and heedless of time. Zoran, a former journalist, invited me on a half-hour walk to an abandoned village. We reached it after 90 minutes, sat by someone's fireside for several hours, and stumbled home down a rocky path by moonlight, too late for dinner, though Zoran didn't mind. People press you to try the pilchard pie which is one of the local staples, or the island's wine, too good to reach the mainland. A walk along a scrub-covered hillside betrays no sound or scent of traffic, but leaves you heady with the aromas of rosemary and sage. Before long, all that may change. And if the steady trickle of tourists turns into a deluge heading for sun and fun, those from Britain need not feel homesick. My first surprise was the Fortress of King George, guarding a headland above the harbour of the island's main town. It was built in 1812, during the four years when Vis was a British possession. Still remembered If you doubt its origin, look at the stone slab above the main gateway: a carved Union flag, and a tribute to George III. Vis can prove it once was British There is an echo of that across the other side of the harbour, in the British military cemetery behind St George's Church. The oldest memorial there commemorates 11 sailors from the British battleship Victorious, who died of their wounds in 1812 after engaging with a French man-of-war near the coast of Venice. The most recent tablet on the cemetery's walls, placed there in 1999, reads simply: "In memory of the British forces who from this island of Vis gave their lives in comradeship, supporting Tito's army of liberation..." A couple of miles above the town, on a broad and gently sloping plateau, there are two parallel lines of concrete posts, marking out the limits of a runway.Olives grow now on the land between the posts, but a nearby stone still carries a dedication to the men of the RAF who died over Croatia in the second world war. More recent conflicts may have blurred memories of the old bitterness. But in one respect, Vis has decided to hark back to the brief spell when it was a truly British island - it has formed a cricket club. More accurately, it has revived the club which played here nearly two centuries ago, in Britain's Adriatic heyday. French victors The club's rebirth is the work of a Croat, Oliver Roki: he learnt to love the game from his father, who lived in Australia. It has been going two years, and has 20 adults and 50 younger members. Oliver's claims to distinction on the pitch are varied. He was the only person on the island who knew the rules of the game when he first suggested the club - and in its inaugural match, he boasts of having scored the first duck on Vis in 200 years. He is convinced that cricket is catching on in Croatia, though local opponents remain scarce - a club in Zagreb, and another just begun in a small town near the capital. But there have been visits by teams from France and a pub in Cambridge. Vis lost to both of them, but still pulled in 200 spectators, Oliver says, none of whom understood the first thing they were watching. This summer, the islanders are looking forward to a visit by a Royal Navy side, and hoping for a game with their Ionian neighbours on Corfu, where cricket is a much older tradition. Suckers for sustenance There is already a thriving trade in selling properties on Vis to foreign buyers. One British couple were so entranced with the house the agent showed them that they bought it on the spot, unfazed that the sale was taking place late at night and they had yet to see the property in daylight. The cricket club may soon have an infusion of new blood, and the hillsides and beaches which few outsiders have seen for more than 60 years will begin to fill up. Some signs of a new and more popular phase in the island's life are there already. One Vis restaurant has a Dalmatian novelty on offer - an octopus-burger. There are even chips to go with it. I'm not sure I can see it catching on, though. From Our Own Correspondent was broadcast on Saturday, 22 May, 2004 at 1130 BST on BBC Radio 4. Please check the programme schedules for World Service transmission times. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/programmes/from_our_own_correspondent/3737101.stm   letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Thu, 20 May 2004 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/6290/1/E-Archaeologists-in-Croatia-trade-shovels-for-georadar.html ÂArchaeologists in Croatia trade shovels for georadarSun May 16, 2004SINJ, Croatia (AFP) - In search of clues they believe could cast light on 10,000 years of Balkans history, archaeologists working in a key wetland along the Cetina river in southern Croatia have modernized their approach, switching shovels for a georadar. Children ran in awe around the cart with the georadar as it circled around a village playground pulled by a small four-wheeler. Several meters (feet) beneath the concrete the radar found remains of a medieval church. "This is the first time that we have access to such sophisticated peace of equipment. It will revolutionize how we can do this sort of work, as we can now do in days what used to take us months before," Vincent Gaffney, director of the University of Birmingham Institute of Archaeology and Antiquity, told AFP. The institute is taking part in the archaeological study of the Cetina river valley.Three-dimensional maps showing seven meters of depth of the surveyed area, produced by radar technology, are used in planning future excavations set to begin next year. While having other applications, such as in geotechnical surveys prior to construction, the georadar is being used in Cetina river valley for the first time by archaeologists in a large-scale research. As part of preparations that started three years ago it was used to make a transect of the complete length of the valley of some six kilometers (3.5 miles). "Archaeologists have conducted excavations here in the past 200 years but this is the first time that the valley is being researched systematically," said Ante Milosevic, head of the Museum of Croatian archaeological monuments. Due to its strategic position, the Cetina river valley was for centuries a major crossroads linking western Europe with Asia, as well as a border area between the Romans and Slavic Croatian tribes, and later Ottoman and Venetian empires."This area has the greatest density of findings covering all periods from neolithic onward in the whole of Dalmatia," he said in a reference to Croatia's southern Adriatic region. "It is undoubtably archaeologically the most important area of the western Balkans and all our findings here will provide a good basis for the future surveys." All the artefacts found so far, including dozens of bronze age swords and some 30 Greco-Illyrian helmets, were exceptionally well preserved in the waterlogged area. Archaeologists also found timbers from the series of river-dwelling communities which, unlike in the rest of Europe, continued in Croatia until the 18th century. "This small river in Dalmatia appears almost as important as big European rivers like the Rhine or the Thames with the remarkable set of metalwork comparable to that from those rivers," Gaffney said. The river appears to have had a spiritual meaning for people of bronze age Cetina culture, one of the first metal using groups spreading from Croatia to Albania. "In this environment water was very important. There are burrows around associated with Cetina culture indicating that the river was probably a source of ritual and spiritual experience," Gaffney said. A large number of swords found appear to have been deliberately thrown into river as part of a ritual. But archaeologists complain that the state should do more to protect the area from looters. So far, according to Milosevic, one third of the findings have been stolen from archaeological sites, ending up in private collections. The valley could also provide archaeologists with the story of life here since neolithic times as the organic material preserved in the wetland also holds a complete environmental record for the region for up to 10,000 years. "This valley can tell us about the whole environment of the Baklans because it is a time capsule with pollen cores, snails and beatles," Gaffney said. "Organic material can tell us not just what people did, but which conditions they lived in, what sort of food they ate, diseases they had ..." http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/afp/20040516/sc_afp/croatia_archaeology_040516221022 letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Mon, 17 May 2004 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/6289/1/H-SPOMENDAN-NA-BLEIBURSKE-ZRTVE-I-ZRTVE-KRIZNOGA-PUTA.html   OBILJEZEN SPOMENDAN NA BLEIBURSKE ZRTVE I ZRTVE KRIZNOGA PUTA Nedjelja, 16. svibnja 2004. http://www.hrt.hr/Na Bleiburskome polju u Austriji, na kojem se okupilo oko 10.000 ljudi iz Hrvatske, Bosne i Hercegovine i iseljenistva, obiljezen je spomendan na bleiburske zrtve i zrtve Kriznog puta. Predsjednik Hrvatskoga sabora Vladimir Seks istaknuo je u svom govoru da bleiburska tragedija pokazuje kako ne postoje okolnosti koje mogu opravdati zlocine i one koji su ih pocinili i dodao kako samo slobodan narod u svojoj slobodnoj drzavi moze ocuvati istinu o svojoj proslosti i osigurati vlastitu buducnost. Podsjetio je na to da su u Bleiburgu i na Kriznome putu pobijene tisuce hrvatskih vojnika i civila bez sudjenja i mogucnosti priziva.Bivsa komunisticka vlast to je desetljecima prikrivala, no nije u tome potpuno uspjela jer se padom bivsih rezima o tome moglo otvoreno govoriti, istaknuo je Seks. Prema njegovim rijecima, Europa je danas, kao i 1945. godine, ponovno na razmedji epoha. Hrvatska na putu prema Europskoj uniji svakim danom sve vise potvrdjuje svoju opredijeljenost za demokraciju i postovanje ljudskih prava i sloboda. Hrvatska odbacuje svaki ekstremizam i radikalizam, istaknuo je Seks. Govoreci o novijoj hrvatskoj povijesti, takodjer je rekao da je Domovinski rat bio pravedan i oslobodilacki.Svetu misu predvodio je licko-senjski biskup msgr. Mile Bogovic, koji je u propovijedi rekao da okupljeni na Bleiburskom polju zele izraziti postovanje nevino osudjenima i patnji koja je potekla raznim kriznim putovima. Nazocnima je u ime pocasnoga Bleiburskog voda govorio Josip Jurcevic, a u ime Doma naroda BiH njegov predsjedatelj Velimir Jukic. Molitveni nagovor odrzao je u ime Islamske zajednice u Hrvatskoj glavni imam Idriz efendija Besic.Vijence na Spomenik bleiburskim zrtvama polozilo je izaslanstvo Hrvatskoga sabora na celu s predsjednikom Seksom, zatim u ime predsjednika Republike njegov izaslanik Neven Ivak, u ime hrvatske Vlade ministar znanosti, obrazovanja i sporta Dragan Primorac, hrvatski veleposlanik u Austriji Drazen Vukov Colic, izaslanstva pocasnoga Bleiburskoga voda i Doma naroda BiH, mnoge nevladine i braniteljske udruge te udruge ratnih veterana. Izaslanstvo Hrvatskoga sabora polozilo je i vijenac kod spomen-obiljezja zrtvama Kriznoga puta na mariborskome groblju Dobravi. Croatian World Congress H.S.K. NGO Member of the United Nationshttp://www.crowc.org/ letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Sun, 16 May 2004 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/6291/1/E-ANATOMY-OF-DECEIT-by-Jerry-Blaskovich.html ÂANATOMY OF DECEITby Jerry Blaskovic, M.D.Have you ever heard of Dr. Jerry Blaskovich? Well, he is an outstanding Croatian Doctor that went to Croatia during the war, to help and give everything he could. He wrote an account of what happened in a book called Anatomy of Deceit. I hope that you have had the opportunity to read these true accounts of the misery that Croatians had to endure, and the murders by the Serbs. I was wondering if you could post his website on your website or have a link? I firmly believe that all Croatians need to read this documentary account of the truths that happened. I can only hope that Ms. Carla Del Ponte can put her bias aside and read this book also, and realize that this war is not on equal standing, and to stop accusing Croatians of genocide, when still Karadzic and Maldic are free.http://www.jblaskovich.com/ ANATOMY OF DECEIT:An American Physician's First Hand EncounterWith The Realities of The War In Croatiaby Jerry Blaskovich, M.D.Thank you again for taking your time to take care of this website, I truly love it!Thank you,Michelle DunajÂThe author welcomes your email comments: jblaskovich@hotmail.comReviewsCroatian Medical Journal - December 1998 (Volume 38, Number 4)Book ReviewA Beacon for Croatian Intellectuals:Blaskovich J. Anatomy of Deceit. An American Physician’s First-hand Encounter with the Realities of the Warin Croatia.New York: Dunhill Publishing, Co., 1997. 247 pages, hard cover. ISBN 0-935016-24-4. Price: US$24.ÂJerry Blaskovich is a US physician of Croatian origin, Zagreb University School of Medicine graduate, KoreanWar veteran, Diplomat of the American Board of Dermatology, devoted member of the World Association of Croatian Physicians, and, as he has recently convinced us, a great author. During the 1991-1995 war in Croatia, nobody had to tell Dr Blaskovich where to go, what to do, whom to help, and what to write. Althoughliving in California, Jerry knew what his homeland needed, what tasks suited his abilities, what pressure hisfamily was able to go through, and what his health and strength allowed him to do. Being a doctor and anintellectual, he did not opt for playing shallow politics, futile heroism, or hypocritical humanism. Croatianeeded intellectuals-soldiers, and Jerry, among the few of them, became one of the most successful. I wasacquainted with his assistance to war-ravaged Croatia, with his love, care, concerns and efforts. Many otherhave offered all this too but Jerry is special for writing about it. When the aggression against Croatiacommenced, accompanied by a powerful Serbian propaganda, hypocrisy, and deceit of internationalcommunity, Jerry Blaskovich, a dermatology professor in his early fifties, took a university course increative writing to be able to respond to innumerable anti-Croatian articles published in the US newspapersand journals. Despite the animosity towards anything Croatian in the western media (really familiar only tothose who attempted to talk/write to them), Jerry published over 100 rebuttals to lies and vicious accusationsof Croatia during the war. This alone calls for admiration and recognition as an unsurpassed achievement inthe Croatian recent history. However, this did not satisfy Jerry Blaskovich: after the war, he embarked onwriting a book on the war in Croatia, a first-hand encounter with the realities of suffering, injustice, hypocrisy,deceit.This book is completely in line with Jerry’s other works, his erudition, and experience. It is written for anAmerican reader, and thus has a typical personal touch, fluency, and comprehensive approach which makesit easily readable, interesting, and even exciting. It begins with Dr Blaskovich’s involvement in forensicinvestigation of the VoÃin massacre (80 executed Croatian civilians), but soon turns into a description andanalysis of the unwillingness of the western media to report the event. This develops into a description andanalysis of the reasons for a refusal of the media to report on any Croatian sufferings in the war, and theninto the analysis of the entire Serbian aggression against Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina. Jerrywas thus involved with the analysis of international politics, and, being an American, he knew more than thosemost informed living in Croatia. It was fascinating to read about the disgraceful background of actions andstatements of many important political figures who were deciding people’s destinies in the area. It was alsodiscouraging that the old sayings proved to be true: great nations find their interests more important than ourlives, many people consider money and position more important than justice and fairness. The lecture DrBlaskovich teaches us should not be only remembered, but also given a serious consideration and scientificanalysis, especially by the Croatian intellectuals and experts.I particularly enjoyed Dr Blaskovich’s description and explanation of the fact that a large number of Croatianphysicians took the leading roles in the state and society after the free elections and especially in the war(chapter Physicians, Leaders by Default). A touch of humor, but not at the expense of the depth of analysisand soundness of facts, can be found in the author’s description of the first steps of the infant Croatiandemocracy and changing of political views of Croatian emigrants in San Pedro. Dr Blaskovich nicelydemonstrates his ability of succinctly describing and thoroughly analyzing reactions of the presidents ofstates, ministers, generals, but also of the refugee women, and even a basketball player. Each of thesestories has the same goal: revealing the truth about the wars in Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina. Thisbook is, more than anything else, a book about the truth (there are a few incorrect numbers, but they areobviously typing errors). The truth is written for a foreigner – simple, interesting, and general but also for anexpert, because the book provides relevant arguments revealing the appropriate background, and touchingthe right points.The revelation of truth is not the only, and even not the key point of Âthe book: it is a Croatian testimony, andevery one of those who have experienced the events will be able to explain and support its every detail,every standpoint. Blaskovich’s book should be considered our starting point, in at least two extremelyimportant aspects: a) this is a Croatian story, b) this is an example of what Croatian intellectuals should bedoing. Those who were late for joining the war should not be sorry (but happy) that the war ended and will notrepeat: there is a lot more to be done, in every aspect of the Croatian history, values, achievements, wardefeats and victories, culture, science, education, future. An intellectual – a writer, scientist, physician, orother – does not have to defend his country with a gun in trenches, and does not have to sell his/her soul fora position, political or other; one should do what he/she does best. I believe that with Jerry Blaskovich theCroatian story only started marching through the jungle of the western public information system, and hopethat other experts will follow his example.Matko MarušicInternational Journal of Dermatology: "The genocide, the pathos,and the grim details of war arerecounted with objectivity and compassion. The author is an excellent war correspondent and Âmedicaljournalist."Anthony M. Mlikotin: Professor Emeritus, former Chairman of Slavic and Comparative Literature;University of Southern California: ÂÂIn spite of the apocalyptic tone, the book is written in the style of anodyessy, lyrical tone of narration prevails from the beginning to the end. Through as the evidence in everyinstance is, the style lifts the book from the dullness of discursive prose tothe inspiring regions of the genre offiction...This book will be read even after the events of the war years in Croatia and Bosnia have sunk intooblivion."PENINSULA PEOPLE:The antagonism between Serbs, Croats, and Bosnian Muslims runs deep, and to makeheads or tails out of the true causes of the bloody fueds is a formidable task Anatomy of Deceit is an attemptto set some records straight.Muhamed Sacirbey: Ambassador, Permanent Mission of Bosnia-Herzegovina to the United Nations:"Anatomy of Deceit undertakes a serious and most necessary review of how media and official factorsmanipulate raw information...My continuing official responsibilities curtail me from pronouncing a finaljudgment on Dr. Blaskovich's conclusions. Nonetheless, Dr ÂBlaskovich's presentation of the facts aresupported by many of my first hand observations and one can reach their own judgment on that basis."Los Angeles Times:Â"Clearly written to inform, not sensationalize, the atrocities detailed sends the reader tothe tissue box asking, "How can one human being do this to another?"Irene B. Bierman, Ph.D., Director Gustave von Grunebaum Center for Near Eastern Studies: UCLA:"His book has three parts: the physical events of the Serbian military action; broken, mutilated bodies,hospitals under siege, Croatian and Bosnian victims of programmed torture and rape. These hate killed actsare documented by medical investigations, including autopsies.Second, the realization that the international media who witnessed the same unspeakable horrors would notspeak of them or write of them: persuaded themselves and the world that the Serbs were guiltless and that theCroats, even women and children and the elderly, were not victims of hate-filled violence, but simply warcasualties."American Croatian Review: "We believe Dr. Blaskovich's book is destined to become the seminal piece thetruth puzzle about the former Yugoslavia."jnmir@aol.com from San Diego, California. "A very candid and refreshing view on a complex issue.I foundthis book to be very clear and concise in dealing with the recent issues in the Balkan regions. Too often, thepress gives a one-sided or watered down view of current events. Dr. Blaskovich has provided his readers withan eyewitness account which brings the atrocities of war into the reality of the reader.mcadams@usfca.edu from San Francisco CA, is not the work of an armchair "expert" or that of a journalist-turned-historian who paid a brief visit to the region. Anatomy of Deceit is the product of a lifetime of education,a knowledge of the language and cultures of Croatia and Bosnia, and the product of one who has been onthe front lines, in refugee camps, in the hospitals, and in the morgues and makeshift burial grounds. His storyis at once infomative, sickening, and riveting. It is a true personal chronicle of one man's transformation andthe world's transformation into the grim realities of the "New World Order."drenner@apc.net from Laguna Beach, CA, Finally a clear description of the "whys" of the Balkan War.Somehow Slobodan Milosevic, iron handed ruler of Serbia, also known as the Butcher of the Balkans,convinced the governments of the civilized world not to interfere while 250,000 Croat and Bosnian civilianmen, women and children were slaughtered, and in the case of the women, raped as recreation by Serbparamilitary soldiers (thugs) in order to bear Serbian children or be killed and cast away if they had becomeuseless. It was a gruesome but fitting fate the world was made to believe. It took five years for the west tomount a tepid response that resulted in the Dayton Accords awarding Serbian violence with half of Bosnia. Dr.Jerry Blaskovich rips away the fictions and myths so adroitly put in place by a canny Serb PR machine (theyhired Saatchi and Saatchi in London among others), fictions maintained and reinforced with the dedicatedhelp of Kissinger Associates who had a vested interest in Serbian victory. As a medical doctor who haddevoted his life to medicine, scholarship and teaching at USC, Dr. Blaskovich saw first hand the atrocitiesvisited on these unprotected populations targeted for extinction. He could not remain silent, and began anintensive examination of this shameful chapter in modern western history. Why did the world allow thisatrocity? Read "Anatomy of Deceit" for the truths our press ignored or failed to grasp. (The State Departmentknew. Five career diplomats quit in disgust - a historical first.) Milosevic continues his wars of aggressiontoday as his thugs kill Albanian civilians, including children, in Kosovo - a program he set in motion in 1989,two years before his attacks against Slovenia, Croatia and Bosnia. Although a war criminal by any standard ofcivilization, Milosovic remains unindicted and hailed by some as a "peacemaker."ÂThose who wish to purchase an autographed hard cover copy of the book please click here. letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Mon, 10 May 2004 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/6293/1/E-MARIJANA-GRISNIK-included-among-Notable-Kansas-Women.html ÂMarijana Grisnik included among Notable Kansas WomenÂMarijana Grisnik has strong ties to Strawberry Hill, a Croatian American community in Kansas City, Kansas. As a child, Marijana loved to sketch the sights of her neighborhood; as an adult she began painting her memories of growing up on Strawberry Hill. Through her canvases this self-taught artist became the storyteller of this ethnic community.Notable Kansas Women get set in the history bookshttp://www.kshs.org/people/women.htm tepeshk@aol.com letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Tue, 04 May 2004 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/6292/1/E-WWII-Pilot-Recalls-Bailout-Over-Croatia.html ÂWWII Pilot Recalls Bailout Over CroatiaOne more thrill for WWII's flyboysThe following appeared in today's Los Angeles Daily News. Scores of Allied pilots bailed out over Croatia during WWII. Many had been on bombing runs to the important oil fields of Polesti in Romania. As the article notes about one of these men, those who landed in Partisan controlled territory were transported behind enemy lines to the various islands held by the Partisans following Italy's capitulation, especially Vis. I recently came across a similar story concerning some American pilots who were bailed out over Krk Island. The local Partisan underground group arranged transport by boat all the way to Vis - in the 1990s, the son of one of the survivors visited Krk to thank his rescuers.Other stories involve damaged planes which were able to limp their way back to Vis - some didn't quite make it and the remains of some planes can be visited offshore in the Adriatic as was noted in a story in the Croatian magazine Nacional last summer.Some pilots off course did not get to the Partisans. The forces of the Independent State of Croatia treated these POWs very well (Serbian propaganda during and following the War claimed that such captured pilots were killed). Author Michael McAdams in his work, "Croatia: Myth and Reality," includes a very interesting chapter concerning these POWs and how they were kindly looked after by a number of people in war-time Zagreb.One must also recall the bad side of Allied bombing runs - unfortunately many Croatian cities and civilians fell victim to bombings; anecdotally, it appears that some of these raids may have happened when the planes did not reach their targets - they would just drop their bombs over some city. A particularly fierce airraid in Zagreb drew the criticism of Archbishop Stepinac. A recent article in the Croatian magazine Golbus or Nacional drew attention to such raids in Bjelovar. Other Croatian cities which were hit by Allied bombs included Rijeka and Zadar (which were part of Italian territory since after World War I) and Senj.John Kraljic*************************************************Los Angeles Daily NewsOne more thrill for WWII's flyboysBy Dennis McCarthyMonday, May 03, 2004 - The last time Steve Politis went up in a B-17 bomber, he came down in a parachute. That was 60 years ago this month when his plane was shot down during World War II over Croatia."John Wayne bails out and lands in the arms of a beautiful woman," says the 87-year-old ex-radar man who lives in Tarzana. "I bail out and land in a tree, bleeding."The local underground hid us for four days, then took us in a fishing boat to a little island offshore where we were reunited with our troops at a landing strip we had there."Thursday, Politis gets a chance to rewrite the ending of his last B-17 flight when he and a handful of other Army Air Forces servicemen who flew missions in the historic bomber during wartime will be going up one more time.A vintage B-17 bomber traveling the country on a Salute to Veterans national tour will be stopping at Van Nuys Airport this weekend for the public to tour. Flights will also be available.Before it's opened to the public, though, some of the men who were members of B-17 crews during wartime will get a chance to fly in it Thursday."It's going to bring back a lot of memories," says 80-year-old Dan Holland of Woodland Hills, who was a navigator on more than 35 missions over Germany during World War II."There was nothing more thrilling than rolling down the runway in one of those babies fully loaded down with bombs and fuel, wondering if it was ever going to get off the ground."Both men had laid their B-17 memories to rest in scrapbooks for the past five decades until Ruth Mutti walked into Wendy's restaurant in West Hills a few weeks ago.Mutti's a member of the Experimental Aircraft Association's Van Nuys chapter, which is hosting the local B-17 visit. She was looking for a group of ex-military pilots and flight crews who call themselves "Wings Over Wendy's." Every week, about 40 members meet at the restaurant for lunch and comradeship."I wanted to let them know the B-17 was coming into town for one of its rare visits, and they were welcome to come and see it," Mutti said."After the meeting, I met Dan and Steve, and they told me about their experiences flying in the B-17's during World War II. They were both so humble and sweet."How about giving it one more try, Ruth asked them? Without the bombs, this time.Both men looked at each other and said "why not?" How many guys in their 80s get to relive some of the most exciting times of their 20s? Not many, they figured.This is one of the great things about these traveling military history tours. They're unique opportunities for the families of World War II vets -- who are dying off at an average 1,200 a day -- a chance to provide a loved one with some priceless memories of when they were young, and went off to war to serve and help save this country 60 years ago.But it's a tough financial fight for EAA to keep these vintage aircraft flying because of high maintenance and fuel costs. So it's important for communities all over the country to support them when they visit now, or lose them in the future.Flights take place every 45 minutes beginning at 10:15 a.m. Friday with the event running through Sunday. For more information on purchasing a flight, visit www.b17.org or call toll-free (800) 359-6217.Ground tours are available each day when the plane is not flying, and in midafternoon after the final flight of the day. Tours are $10 for a family, $6 for adults and $5 for students, with no charge for accompanied children under 8. World War II vets are free.Dennis McCarthy's column appears Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Sunday.Dennis McCarthy, (818) 713-3749 dennis.mccarthy@dailynews.com letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Tue, 04 May 2004 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/6294/1/H-Tri-stoljeca-Fra-ANDRIJE-KACICA-MIOSICA.html ÂTRI STOLJECA OD RODJENJA FRA ANDRIJE KACICA-MIOSICA ÂI. Rendic: A. Kacic, bista, crkva u ZaostroguFRA ANDRIJA KACIC MIOŠIC(Brist, 1704. - Zaostrog, 1760.)Fra Karlo Jurišic»Kacic kao covjek pripada medunajidealnije - a kao pisac medunajznamenitije likove, što ih našaknjiževna povijest poznaje«(Vienac, 22/1890, 543).Â(Hina)Subota, 17. travnja 2004. U crkvi franjevackog samostana u Zaostrogu, na Makarskom primorju, danas je svecanom misom i prigodnim programom obiljezena 300. obljetnica rodjenja i krstenja fra Andrije Kacica Miosica, koji se rodio u Bristu pokraj Makarske. Euharistiju je predvodio splitsko-makarski nadbiskup Marin Barisic, uz sibenskog i dubrovackog biskupa Antu Ivasa i Zelimira Puljica te clanove franjevacke provincije Presvetog Otkupitelja. Slavlje je pocelo budnicom narodne glazbe i procesijom Obalom hrvatskih domoljuba i Ulicom fra Andrije Kacica Miosica.Obljetnica se obiljezava pod pokroviteljstvom Hrvatskoga sabora, a na njoj su bili nazocni izaslanik predsjednika Sabora Vladimira Seksa - potpredsjednik Luka Bebic, splitsko-dalmatinski zupan Kruno Peronja te gradonacelnici i nacelnici gradova i opcina s Makarskog primorja. Splitsko-makarski nadbiskup istaknuo je u propovijedi vaznost fra Andrijina djela, koji je ostavio bastinu - cetiri knjige, od kojih su tri na hrvatskome jeziku. "Fra Andrija je nakon skolovanja u rodnome kraju - da bi postigao nesto vise - morao otici u Budim, jer smo uvijek bili u nekim asocijacijama, ali je nakon prve knjige na latinskom odlucio reci 'dosta je, imamo mi svoj jezik, svoju kulturu'", rekao je nadbiskup."'Korabljica pisma svetoga' djelo je koje govori o vaznosti, bogatstvu i velikom dostojanstvu hrvatskog jezika, u kojemu fra Andrija puku porucuje da ne prihvaca naziv 'sciavi' koji su nam nametnuli da bismo se osjecali manje vrijednima, suznjima, nego reci da si Dalmatin, Hrvat, Bosnjak, Slavinac", istaknuo je msgr. Barisic. U drugome djelu, nastavio je, "Razgovoru ugodnom naroda slovinskog" fra Andrija je zapisivao sve sto covjek govori, sto je satkao u svojoj mudrosti, obradio i ponovno darovao svojemu narodu. "To je bila i citanka i pocetnica koja je odgajala i promicala vrednote obitelji, ljubavi, postenja, junastva, nacionalnu svijest. 'Razgovor' je u narodu postao najcitanijim djelom nakon Biblije, svojevrsna pucka Biblija", rekao je nadbiskup."Zato Bogu hvala za ovog covjeka koji nam je sacuvao svijest, jezik, dostojanstvo, sto nas je ocuvalo kroz tolika stoljeca i opasnosti. Njegovo djelo nosilo nas je i kroz Domovinski rat u obrani od agresije onoga sto je fra Andrija, kao i mnogi kroz stoljeca, sanjao, slobodne, demokratske hrvatske drzave. I danas bi fra Andrija pjevao, pisao, mozda i filmove snimao, o onim brojnim likovima hrabrih ljudi, junaka, velikana koji izlozise svoj zivot za Domovinu", rekao je nadbiskup. "Pjevao bi i o onima koji su zavrsili u zatvoru, sigurno ne bi velicao zlodjela, ali ne bi dopustio ni da se oblati narod kao agresor, da se izjednace zrtve i napadaci. Bogatstvo naroda ne mjeri se u zlatu, nego u memoriji i svijesti. Zato ne smijemo dopustiti da nam se to unistava, kako nije dopustao ni fra Andrija Kacic Miosic", istaknuo je u propovijedi splitsko-makarski nadbiskup.Provincijal franjevacke provincije fra Zeljko Tolic istaknuo je ulogu fra Andrije u vjerskom i kulturnom zivotu Makarskog primorja, gdje je ugledao svijet, primio prva znanja i docekao kraj zivota godine 1670. kao gvardijan zaostroskog samostana, u cijoj je crkvi i pokopan. Bio je uzorni redovnik i svecenik, vrsni propovjednik, gvardijan, crkveni graditelj, sveucilisni profesor filozofije i teologije, pjesnik i prozaik koji je stvarao hrvatski jezicni standard stokavskom ikavicom i pripremao hrvatski narodni preporod, rekao je provincijal.Izaslaniku predsjednika Sabora Luki Bebicu te nadbiskupu Barisicu i biskupima Ivasu i Puljicu predao je u znak zahvalnosti medaljone s likom fra Andrije Kacica Miosica. Svecanu euharistiju uvelicao je Zbor bogoslova iz Splita, koji je izveo pjesmu "Starcu Milovanu", uglazbljeni recital nastalo prije 115 godina u povodu otkrivanja spomenika fra Andriji u Makarskoj. Svecanost je nastavljena prigodnim folklornim programom KUD-a "Metkovic" i puckih pjevackih skupina Donje Neretve te pohodom Bristu - fra Andrijinu rodnome mjestu i njegovoj nedavno obnovljenoj kuci. www.sss-makarska.hr/.../ zivot/zivot-djelo.htm  letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Sun, 18 Apr 2004 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/6296/1/E-Croatian-Personalities---spans-200-years.html ÂCROATIAN AMERICAN PERSONALITIES - spans 200 yearsI have collected over 1700 Croatian American biographies and biographies of Croatians that contributed to other lands (300) outside of Croatia. All are in English. The CROATIAN AMERICAN PERSONALITIES spans 200 years. The material was gathered over a 30 year period from American and Croatian newspapers, personal interviews, obituaries, society records, old American county and state histories, military records and any other source available. A bibliographic record has been made on all of them. They will be made available to all interested. The contribution of Croatians to America has been substantial.The subject and occupational areas include Academia, Architect, Artist, Arts, Boarding Houses, Business, Capitalist, Clans, Coffee Saloon, Contractor, Cultural, Discovery, Engineer, Farm, Fishing, Gambling, Government, Hollywood, Hotel, Invention, Law, Mariner, Media, Medical, Military, Military Heroes, Gold-Silver Mining, Music, Photographer, Pilot, Place, Politics, President, Religion, Restaurant, Saloon, Science, Society, Sports, Trades, Wild West, Wine, Writer.Please send in your biography or that of others; I will rewrite them, if necessary, and add to the Data Base. Obituaries or any other form is welcome. When E-Mail is sent, do not send Document, send as open E-Mail please. Adam S. Eterovich, E-Mail croatians@aol.com . See also www.croatians.com for those biographies on the web. Address 2527 San Carlos Ave., San Carlos, CA 94070. USA.Thank You,Adam S. EterovichEditor letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Tue, 30 Mar 2004 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/6295/1/E-First-Croatian-multi-millionaire.html ÂFirst 100 millionaire...BEZMALINOVICH, NICKÂAdam S. EterovichBEZMALINOVICH, NICK Fisherman-Cannery-Airline-GoldmineThe biography of Nick Bez (Nikola Bezmalinovich), wealthy Dalmatian, Croatian fisherman of Seattle, Washington, reads like a narrative from the pen of Horatio Alger, but is a true-to-life rags-to-riches story. Until 1945 he remained relatively unknown east of the Rockies. In that year, however, he was photographed rowing a boat as the then President Harry S. Truman was fishing for salmon in Puget Sound, and suddenly he was shoved into the national limelight. He became the subject of much speculation and inquiry. He became a personal friend of President of the United States, Harry S. Truman. Who was Nick Bez? Though this fabulous fisherman is a man of national repute and one of the most eminent Croatian immigrants in America today, only the barest details of his life are available. He was born on August 25, 1895 in Selca, on the Dalmatian Island of Brac, one of the larger Adriatic isles situated southwest of the town of Split on the mainland. As a mere boy he became acquainted with fishing, sailing, the hardships, and the adventures on the Adriatic. Like many other Dalmatians brought up on the sea, Nick learned about greater opportunities across the Atlantic, and so he early left his home and emigrated to the United States. Though he was fortunate enough to have his passage paid for him by his father, he arrived virtually penniless and friendless in New York in 1910. He was a mere boy in a strange new land. As be explained to this writer, " I had no relatives, friends or acquaintances in the United States so I was on my own." He made his way to the West Coast, where he knew there were other Dalmatians, many of them engaged in the fisheries. Not knowing any other life or trade but that of the sea, Nick Bez started his career in the new land by borrowing a rowboat and fishing for smelts on the Pacific. For an ordinary lad of fifteen to break into the fishing business would have been virtually impossible. But Nick seemed to have something that most of those around him lacked. He was strong, courageous, resourceful, and above everything else, determined to succeed. After six years of hard work, dogged persistence, and extraordinary thrift, he became the owner of a big salmon boat, a purse seiner. Possession of his own equipment, however, did not mean the end of the struggle for survival but, instead, the beginning of a new phase of that fight, an exciting though a somewhat unpleasant experience. As a boat owner he became involved in a contest, with no holds barred, for control of the lucrative Alaskan salmon industry. Big Nick (who is 6 feet 2 inches -in height and weighs 225 pounds) led the purse seiners against the beach seiners (who use horses to drag flat nets up on the shore). The conflict was long, drawn-out, and bloody, but ultimately he succeeded in completely crushing the opposition. Thenceforth Bez had comparatively smooth sailing. He expanded his holdings by buying one boat after another. In 1931 he branched out into the airlines business with the purchase of Alaska Southern Airways, which he later sold to Pan American at a large profit. He bounced back into competition, however, with the West Coast Airlines in 1946. Also in this same year he began canning fish on board a large converted freighter belonging to the United States (something he had been doing on his own ships on a limited scale for a number of years), supported by the government in Washington and financed by the Reconstruction Finance Corporation. The avowed purpose of this undertaking was to prove that American fishermen could replace the Japanese, who, in the years preceding World War II, caught and processed 66 per cent of the world's tuna in their floating canneries and virtually monopolized the multimillion-a-year catch of the Bering Sea's huge king crabs. The experiment ended in 1948, deemed a complete success, and Bez returned to the use of his own floating canneries. Nick Bez is one of the wealthiest and most influential of the Croatian Americans. He owns or controls a string of fishing boats, four of the biggest salmon canneries in the Pacific Northwest, two gold mines, and an airline. His airline, Air West, was later sold to Howard Hughes for 100 million dollars.He is married (to the former Magdalene Doratich, an American-born Croatian) and has two grown boys. He is a member of the Transportation Council of the United States Department of Commerce, the National Democratic Club, and many other organizations. Because of his generous contributions to the Democratic party and his friendship with high government officials, Bez has been accused of using his political connections to the detriment of small fishermen. This hurts the big fellow. He confesses that processors, including himself, "cotch too damn many feesh" to maintain an adequate supply. He favors a stabilization of the industry by developing new grounds and methods. Seattle Times. "Nick Bez." Seattle Times, 1969.  letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Tue, 30 Mar 2004 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/6297/1/E-60th-Annuiversary-of-Nazi-Massacre-Near-Split.html Â60th Annuiversary of Nazi Massacre Near SplitÂThe following is a translation of an article which appeared in the March 27, 2004 edition of Slobodna Dalmacija, a daily published in Split. It concerns the massacre of 272 inhabitants of Donji Doca, a village located on the landward side of Mosor Mountain, between Split and Omis. As the article notes, the actual perpetrators of the attrocity remain subject to dispute. Nevertheless, it is one of the biggest wanton acts of violence against Croats during World War II. It is one that, typically for Croatia, is forgotten and ignored - despite the magnitude of the killing (as noted - greater than the total deaths in the recent terror attack in Madrid), I am not aware of one tourist guide which tells guests in Croatia about this attrocity.John Kraljic*****************************************************Slobodna Dalmacija, March 27, 2004"Death Came from the Banat: A Commemorative Gathering in Honor of the 60th Anniversary of the Nazi Massacre in Donja Doca." By Damir Pilic."It happened on this night. Those two came in with their rifles ordering all of us to gather in the village so that they can issue passes to us to be able to move around. We all gathered in two large houses and they began shooting. I was saved because the man in front of me, Ciro Dagelic, son of Jure, was killed and fell on top of me, and I stayed laying down under him. When they killed all of us, they set the house on fire and I went out through the window. Two other women jumped out with me, one of whom was killed immediately at the window. They then ran after me with their bayonets since they saw me jump out but I hid under a fig tree and they didn't find me. I then ran to Mosor Mountain. Only on the sixth day did I come home to see: not one of my relatives, they killed my sister . . . Half were killed in those two houses, and the other half in their houses . . . Who killed them? Serbs! They spoke our language. I don't know why no one has researched who was responsible for that . . . ."So said 77 year old Ivan Silovic at a commemorative meeting in Donja Doca. Silovic is one of the rare inhabitants of that village at the base of the Mosor who succeeded in surviving a terrible Nazi massacre on March 26, 1944, when German soldiers in a matter of a few hours killed 272 inhabitants of Donja Doca, 103 of whom were children.Other than memories of that traumatic night in which almost every person in the village lost some close relative, the people of Donja Doca even today, 60 years after, remain puzzled by who cursed their village. The surviving inhabitants have specifically claimed for decades that they were soldiers in German uniforms who spoke Serbian (ekavica)."They were both Germans and Serbs," says Stjepan Daglic, born after the massacre, a member of the Village Committee (mjesni odbor). "They were looking for Partisans from the Mosor Unit, but they weren't able to catch them because the Partisans only came to the village whenever they needed to slaughter sheep or a cow, or to take some bread. Then these guys killed the entire village in anger. They killed my mother's father, sister . . . .""They killed my great grandmother," added a young man in his twenties. "Before it couldn't be spoken about, but the Partisans cooked it all up. They shot at an SS Division which was passing through the village and then the Partisans withdrew. But you know what an SS Division is, you know that they will come back. And then when they couldn't catch the Partisans, they then killed women and children."Several hundred people attended the commemorative meeting: practically all the inhabitants of Donja Doca, the children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren of the victims. Among the other invitees (representatives of the County of Split-Dalmatia, the Croatian Army, the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the cities of Omis and Trilj, the townships of Ernestinovo and Sestanovac, the Alliance of Anti-Fascist Fighters and Anti-Fascists of the City of Split, etc.), there were surviving members of the Mosor Partisan Unit."I was here when it happened and it hurts me most today when they say that we incited the Germans and that we abandoned the people to be killed," says Miroslav Velic (81 years old) the head of the Split Section of the Mosor Partisan Unit. "The basic goal of the enemy was to destroy the Mosor Partisan Unit. After the Sixth Offensive, at the end of 1943, we retreated from Mosor to the Biokovo Mountains [about 50-60 kilometers south of Split] and then the Germans and the Ustashe got together and established 30 garrisons in this area in order to liquidate us.""The people here say that they were Germans and Chetniks," we interrupt Velic."No, no, there were no Chetniks in this area at the time," he says. "Donji Doca was destroyed by members of the 7th SS Division, and that is that Banat Division which the folksdeutshers joined [Banat is in Vojvodina in Serbia which had a significant German minority (commonly known as folksdeutshers) prior to 1945. The Communists expelled the Germans en masse following the war]. There were 30,000 of them in four battalions, and they worked with the 264th Division, the Legionnaire Division and the 313th Hunter's Division. In January 1944 we returned to Mosor and began to carry out actions against them. In the battles around Donja Doca there were a good number of losses on both sides. They surrounded us and our commanders ordered our retreat on March 25. Only a small group of our fighters remained in the village and they were discovered by the Germans and killed with the others, in revenge for failing to liquidate us."The commemoration began at 10 a.m. near the parish church of St. Martin where in honor of the commemoration public lights for the village were presented and a sanitary station (realized with the help of the County and City of Omis) was opened. Afterwards a concelebrated Mass was held in the Church in which the names of all the victims were read. At noon, the gathering moved to the monument to the victims of the massacre, where the hosts and the guests placed wreaths after a cultural program shown by the children of the Gornja Poljica elementary school.During this time, the hosts did not hide their disappointment that no one from the Croatian Parliament or Government came to the gathering, even though, as was heard during the event, it concerned a "large number of victims even for Croatia as a whole, to say nothing of this small place." As was also said, it concerned "a larger number of victims than the recent massacre in Madrid."Speeches were given by Marin Matovac, the President of the Local Committee of Donja Doca, Ivan Skaricic, mayor of Omis, Petar Kacunko, a representative of the County of Split-Dalmatia and representatives of the township of Ernestivo.The commemorative gathering ended in front of the "26.3.1944" School, where wreaths were placed in honor of the 103 children who became angels that terrible night.  letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Sun, 28 Mar 2004 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/6298/1/E-Martinolich-Shipyards-in-America.html ÂMartinolich Shipyards in America Just saw on your Web that a young lady just discovered her Martinolich Roots. Here are a few of her cousins from Mississippi, Washington and British Columbia, Canada. The first Martinolich's came in the 1860's; they were successful shipbuilders and sea captains..Adam S. EterovichMartinolich ShipyardsMARTINOLICH, JOHN A. Shipbuilder: The history of the Puget Sound would be incomplete without the story of the Croatians who purchased land and made Dockton, Washington a town on Maury Island, their home. Among them was John A. Martinolich, who was born in Mali Losinj, Dalmatia, Croatia and came to this country in 1893. Martinolich came from a line of shipbuilders who had practiced their trade along the Dalmatian Coast of the Adriatic. He had emigrated first to Canada, where he was employed at the Vancouver Shipyards Ltd. under Watts. He was not only a skilled craftsman but also had considerable knowledge and ability as a ship designer." In June, 1909, the drydock of the Puget Sound Drydock Company, for which the town of Dockton was named, was gone. But Dockton was by no means ready to become a ghost town. Her greatest days were yet to come. Many of the former drydock workers stayed on and embarked on enterprises of their own. Among them were Martinolich and John Bussanich, who was a blacksmith. This hardy citizenry of fishermen and drydock workers liked their community too much to leave. They soon established a thriving economy, even surpassing the drydock era. Martinolich operated his shipbuilding business at several locations in Dockton in the early years. In 1904, he signed a contract to build the Vashon, which was the first of many well-known "mosquito fleet" steamers to be built in Dockton. Next he built the 142-ton, 113-foot steamer, the Verona. After building these, Martinolich had kept busy building purse seiners and other fishing boats for Dockton's growing fleet of fishermen. John Martinolich had often been credited with the development of the West Coast purse seiner. His long, deep draft hulls became the classic pattern for the engine-driven fishing fleet that was to dominate the fishing grounds of the Northwest and Southeastern Alaska for the next fifty years. Many of those early purse seiners are still in use. As the larger shipyards in Seattle and elsewhere became mobilized for the war effort in 1916, opportunities arose for small, independent operators, and Martinolich obtained a contract from the Norwegian government for three large wooden sailing schooners. All three were 235-foot, fore and aft rigged, topmast schooners. To accommodate these large vessels, the yard was completely rebuilt to provide fully planked ways capable of handling all three ships simultaneously. When America entered World War I in 1917, work was in progress on all three hulls. However, by the time one of the ships was completed in 1918, the shipping crisis had abated and, with worsening financial conditions, the Norwegian government failed to make payments on the contract. Because of Martinolich's fine reputation, a major lumber supplier decided to take over the contract. During the reorganization of the shipyard operations following the panic, Martinolich took in his relative, John Catalinich, to be a partner, Several relatives, including Tonce Cosulich, also worked in the same shipyard. The combination of relatives and fiery Dalmatian tempers resulted in some memorable verbal battles and smouldering rivalries. Cosulich and Catalinich formed a partnership and bid for the construction of a new passenger steamer by undercutting Martinolich. They obtained the contract to build the Vashona. Martinolich was enraged, and he, in turn, fiercely undercut them on every job that came along, so that the partners were driven out of business. The rivalry finished, Martinolich hired them back. Martinolich continued to build purse seiners and packers for the salmon trade. Many of his boats were operated by local Dockton fishermen. They were divided into two groups: the big seine boats which were operated by Slavonians (Croatians) such as Plancich, Beretich, Lubich, Catalinich, and Berry; and the Scandinavians, who operated one and two-man trollers. In 1929, when business became slack at the shipyard, Martinolich sent most of his crew to Gig Harbor to help the Skansie yard during the construction of the ferry Skansonia. In 1930, he retired and the shipyard closed except for occasional repair work. In 1937, he left Dockton to go to Italy, where he had acquired a villa. The Second World War forced his return to this country. He died in Tacoma in 1960. (Petrich, M. 1984)Martinolich ShipyardMARTINOLICH, FRANK and MATTEO Shipyard: When Croatian born Matteo Martinolich came to the Mississippi Coast in the mid-1880s, he was already skilled in shipbuilding and design. First working for Handsboro shipbuilder Henry Lienhard, Martinolich then established his own shipyard on the banks of Bayou Bemard at Handsboro, now part of Gulfport, Mississippi. An ad in the 1893 publication Mexican Gulf Illustrated advertises "Martinolich Shipyard. Vessels Built Hauled out and Repaired on Short Notice, and Satisfaction Guaranteed. Also, Steamboats, Iron or Wood, Yachts and Pleasure Boats." Matteo was the first to use Mississippi pine in the building of seagoing vessels and built the first sliding-way on the Coast to handle vessels larger than 60 feet. Pictures of visitors to the shipyard stand in the ribs of the schooner John Francis Stuard, then under construction. The rigged halfmodel of this 205.8-foot 1,200-ton, four-masted schooner, built in 1919 to carry freight and lumber, is on exhibit in the Hancock Bank in Gulfport The ship itself burned at the dock in Gulfport in 1928. Another photograph is of Martinolich and the large family he reared in the banks of Bayou Bernard. Seated in the center of the photograph is Frank Martinolich Sr., who came in 1883, along with his wife and sons Matteo and Frank Jr., from the island of Losinj near the western coast of Croatia. Other family members are front row, from left; children Joseph, 12, Andrew, 10; Leo, 3; Joanna Pavalini Martinolich holding 1-year-old. Jessie, standing next to Frank Sr. are Katie, 8 and Anna, 5. Through hard work and diligence, Martinolich launched a shipyard and raised a large family a true American immigrant success story. But as with many success stories, his was also touched by tragedy. From 1911 to 1914, three Martinolich's sons, his brother and his father died. On June 19, 1914 his two youngest boys drowned while swimming together in Bayou Bernard. Through World War I and until his semiretirement and closing of the business in about 1922, Matteo Martinolich built and designed hundreds of ships and boats; some still ply the seas today. (Pejovic, I 1935)Martinolich ShipyardMARTINOLICH, VENANZIO Fisherman-Shipyard-Mariner: In June of 1905, Venanzio Martinolich of Ladner, Canada signed a contract with Yammamoto of Steveston to fish with Martinolich's 50 ft. steam tug "Eva". The tug was accompanied by two scows, two seine boats, all necessary purse seine nets and approximately nine sailors and fishermen to fish for dog salmon between Deep Bay and the town of Comox. Purse Seiners were introduced in the U.S.A. during the mid-1880's to the Puget Sound area. The problem was mobility; the early purse seiners were operated using both a scow and a skiff. As Duncan Stacey states in 'A History of Gear Technology in the West Coast Fishing Industry', "Seine fishing at this point of time was a slow, ponderous procedure: The early purse seiners were fished from a boat and scow. The boat was 25 ft. long and 7 ft. wide". The scow upon which most of the work was done, and which was considered indispensable in setting the seine, was 20 ft. long by 8 ft. wide. At each end there was an iron winch. These winches were used for the "pursing up", the seine being pursed from the scow. There was a wooden purse davit, which stepped into the side of the scow and to which were attached two (3 inch) wooden blocks, the purse line leading from them to the winches at either end. Eleven to fourteen men were required to set the seine, six at the oars, two at the seine and two on the scow. During the slow process of pursing, a man stood at the davit with a long pole, which had a block of wood called a "plunger" fastened to it. This was kept working up and down between the purse lines to frighten the fish away from the centre of the net. No doubt it was very effective in saving the school, as the bottom of the seine was left open from twenty-five to forty minutes which was ample time for the salmon to find its way out. From an hour and a half to two hours were required for setting, pursing up and stowing the seine ready for another trial.The use of steam tugs partially solved the mobility problem, as Venanzio Martinolich proved, but the real innovation at this point in the purse seine industry was the introduction of the internal combustion engine. As Duncan Stacey explains: "It provided mobility and changed the method of setting the net".The scows were discarded and the net moved from the skiff on the powered seiner. The end of the seine was now made fast to the skiff which acted like a sea anchor and the seiner made a circle back to the skiff. Both ends of the net were then brought aboard, the net pursed and finally hauled up, allowing the fish to be removed. Soon after these powered seiners were introduced, their purse winches were driven by the main engine, which eliminated much of the labour of pursing up. The powered purse seiners could set and haul up their nets in approximately half the time required by their predecessors. Venanzio Martinolich was bom on January 10, 1848, on the island of Mali Losinj on the north Adriatic coast of Croatia. He was married in Mali Losinj; however his first wife passed away, leaving Venanzio with two children; a son Mariano and a daughter Maria. A master mariner and boat builder, Venanzio decided that North America would present better opportunities for him and his family, so they left his island, never to return. They landed in New Orleans and Venanzio Martinolich soon met and married Antoinetta Nikolich. Venanzio then took his family to Colorado where their daughter Carolina was bom on July 27, 1889. Apparently he attempted coal mining in the north-west. The family moved on to Tacoma, Washmgton where a son, Venanzio was born on May 14, 1891. Venanzio and Mariano started fishing in Tacoma, where it was decided that the Fraser River had no more to offer to catch. How he finished in Tacoma and with what type of gear is not known. Venanzio then moved to Port Guichon 1892. Port Guichon, about a mile south of moderm day Ladner near Vancouver, accommodated steamer and also sailing vessels. Venanzio saw that there was a demand for scows and tugs. So he started his own shipyard. The first Martinolich boats were steam-powered tugs. One was called the "B.C. Boy"; the other was the "Eva". The entrepreneurial Venanzio began to work the gear that he built. In a recentinterview, grandson Richard Martinolich related to me that "Venanzio built a tug and used it himself to tow scows and what not because they needed them on the river to collect the fish and bring the fish to canneries and what not".By the early 1900's a market was developing for the lesser grades of salmon such as dogs (for salting) and pinks (for canning) where previously only sockeye, or in a bad sockeye year, red springs and cohoe were in demand. Venanzio saw the opportunity to go fishing for the lucrative salmon market that was establishing and in 1905, he acquired one the first Purse seine licences in B.C. He proceeded to fish areas on the coast, working an area until the run had finished and then travelled to another area. Two scows were used: one for living quarters, the other for the working platform and the base for the two boats that were used to set the nets from the scow. Venanzio continued this type of operation for approximately three years. However, as Duncan Stacey describes, the purse seining would be revolutionized by the internal combustion engine. "The forerunner of the modern seiner was introduced around 1902 when the 'Pioneer', a gas-powered seine boat, was launched in Puget Sound. This vessel was only 38 ft. long, powered by a 5 H.P. combustion engine, and had a hand-operated purse winch. The typical early seine was a small open boat decked forward with a small cabin over the engine. The width was twenty-five percent of the vessel's length to take the heavy cargoes and the strain of pulling in the nets. The seine net was stored on a platform or table on the stem, hence the term table seiner". In about 1909 Venanzio brought over the table seiner "Yankee Boy", probably imported from the Puget Sound area. It was one of the earliest powered seine boats used in B.C. These early seiners were built to fish a localized fisheries; however the fishing industry was changing and a need for most robust, deeper hull types would necessitate changes in vessel design. As Duncan Stacey asserts, "British Columbia's seine fleet began to develop rapidly after 1911 to exploit the Swift Sure Bank fishery of the Straits of Juan de Fuca. Between 1911 and 1912 the number of seiners in this fishery rose from 22 to 100. Also seiners that fished theses waters were known as deep sea seiner boats and differed from the earlier types, had more power, had crew quarters, and were fully decked." Venanzio used the "Yankee Boy" very successfully locally and he decided in 1912 to build a more robust hulled seiner based on boat design. The boat he built "The B.C. Kid", was approximately eighteen feet long and a deeper displacement hull, which was more geared for rough weather. The first home-built table seiner in the Ladner Area was the "B.C. Kid", and would be Venanzio's last vessel. In 1913 at age sixty-five, Venanzio Martinolich died of a heart attack, but he left behind him a legacy: The pioneering Martinolich family would continue to be innovative in it's approach to fishing. Matt Martinolich carried on in the fishing industry and built the "Green Sea" in 1918, a sixty-'five footer, the "Daisy B" in 1927 and the. "Splendor", another sixty-five footer in 1940. Matt Martinolich married Emilla Giuricich on February 17, 1917 in Port Guichon. They had three sons, Richard, Aldwin and Glenn. Little major technological change occurred in the seine fisheries until the late 40's when a few seine fishermen were using rudimentary drums, but with little success. Drum type seiners in contrast to table seiners could set and purse more quickly. A drum is a mechanically or hydraulically powered horizontal drum made of wood or aluminum which sets and hauls the seine. It was commonly accepted however, that drum seiners could not catch the high-paying sockeye salmon, a favourite target species by table seiners. This train of thought was commonplace mainly because this new technology had not evolved to where the drum seine could became the dominant seine system. Table seining was still the accepted means to catch salmon. In the early 50's the table seine net was brought up by fleeting the net. This was by strapping the net and hauling it using the winch. The power block replaced the strapping process. (Herman 1995) letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Wed, 24 Mar 2004 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/6299/1/E-BBC-Healing-Vukovars-wounds.html ÂHealing Vukovar's woundsBy Marko Kovac Zagreb, Croatia Croats Josip Jugec and Ivan Psenica both lost their sons in Vukovar. These war veterans, in their early 60s, fought in the east Croatian town from the first day of the conflict to its fall, coming alive out of a gruelling three-month siege by Serb forces. Serb paramilitary soldiers rejoice after capturing Vukovar in 1991.Their sons did not make it. Nor did hundreds of other Croat men, women and children who were executed after the town fell. Thirteen years on, Serb soldiers are in court for the first major war crimes trial in Serbia. They are accused of one of the worst atrocities of the conflict that took place at Vukovar's pig farm, Ovcara. Vukovar, known as the "city of heroes", was one of the most comprehensively destroyed towns during the wars of the former Yugoslavia. Situated in eastern Slavonia, it was the first Croatian region to come under the control of Serb forces after Croatia declared independence in 1991. What followed was Croatia's bloody war to regain the territory. To many people, Vukovar became a symbol of struggle against the rebel Serbs. Different world Life in this picturesque town used to be different. "We lived door to door with our Serb neighbours and never had problems until 1991," says Josip Jugec. Mr Jugec says no-one will bring him back his son This was before many Serbs left Vukovar - some to join the Yugoslav army.ÂThe Belgrade trial gives no satisfaction to Mr Jugec."Nobody's going to bring me back my son," he says, hailing the trial only as "a small bit of justice being done". Both Mr Jugec and Mr Psenica know people on trial in Belgrade. They also knew Mirko Vojnovic, who died on the eve of the trial from injuries sustained in a suicide attempt in January. Mr Jugec is convinced some of his former Serb neighbours know who killed his son and where. "But they don't want to tell me any names. Maybe that's better, because I don't know what I would do to the person who killed my 19-year old boy," he says. 'Too late' Croatian human rights campaigner Zarko Puhovski calls the current Belgrade process a possible precedent in war crimes proceedings in the Balkans. Mr Psenica wants the perpetrators of the massacre to be found "The problem is that the trial has come much too late for the crimes that happened 13 years ago. Many people from Vukovar have waited for years for this to happen and have become desperate meanwhile," says Mr Puhovski. His words are echoed by Ivan Psenica. "The perpetrators have to be found. There will be no peace, until criminals are brought to justice", he says, pausing to catch his breath. Mr Jugec and Mr Psenica remember the past while watching a British documentary on Vukovar, shot after it fell to Serb forces. The tape shows Serb paramilitaries parading in the streets, waving bottles and singing: "We will have meat, we will have meat, we will slaughter the Croats." Croats are still haunted by these chilling pictures. Many still vividly remember British television pictures of the local hospital where 300 Croatian men were taken hostage. Their faces told the story of an exhausted and hopeless people, who had sought refuge from the brutal day-in, day-out Serb shelling. These pictures were their last, before they were transferred to Ovcara farm and brutally massacred by Serb forces. Forensic analysis showed that most of the victims were killed by a shot in the head. Others were hit in the head with a blunt object. Dead bodies were thrown in a mass grave. New mass grave Unfortunately, Ovcara is not the only mass grave Serb forces left behind. Just a day after the trial in Belgrade began, the Croatian government opened up another mass grave in Slavonia. They believe this one could turn out to be even bigger then Ovcara. The horror of Vukovar remains in the minds of many Croats and not just war veterans. Some will hope to recognize their children in one of the mass graves. Some will hope to forget everything. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/3516842.stm letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Tue, 16 Mar 2004 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/6300/1/HE-McAdams-Croatia-Myth--Reality-Mit-i-Realnost.html ÂHrvatska: Mit i RealnostCroatia: Myth & Reality, by Michael McAdamsÂObjavljen je nelektoriran, nesluzben prijevod 5 prvih poglavlja knjige prof. McAdamsa (ukljucujuci uvod) za sve posjetitelje stranica http://voiceofcroatia.net koji se sluze samo hrvatskim - iskljucivo za svrhe istrazivanja:http://voiceofcroatia.net/Croatia-Myth-and-Reality_hr.htm (Hrvatski)http://voiceofcroatia.net/Croatia-Myth-and-Reality.htm (English)Hrvatska: Mit i realnostMichael McAdams(Znanstvenik specijaliziran za Hrvatske studije i ravnatelj podrucnog centra sveucilista University of San Francisco - glavni grad Sacramento - drzava California)Prijevod dijelova knjige uglednog povjesnicara je pisan dragovoljno u sijecnju 2003 i nije pregledan ili lektoritan, no nadam se da ce ipak pomoci 'hrvatofonima' (smiley!) koji su zainteresirani za ovu temu. Sad je i na webu.S postovanjem,Ivana Arapovicwebmaster@voiceofcroatia.net ÂCROATIAAND THE CROATIANSCroatia emerged as a unified nation state in 925 A.D., and, through a personal union under a single king, joined what would become the Austro-Hungarian Empire in the twelfth century. Throughout the history of the Empire, Croatia maintained varying degrees of autonomy with its Ban or Viceroy and Sabor or Parliament which first met in 679 A.D. Following World War I, Croatia was absorbed into the new artificial state that would become Yugoslavia. The first Yugoslavia, from 1918-1941 was little more than an extension of Serbia with a Serbian king, ruling from the Serbian capital of Belgrade with Serbian laws. This marked the first time in history that the Serbs, Croats, Slovenes, Montenegrins and Macedonians had lived together in a single state. The history of royalist Yugoslavia was marked by the brutal suppression of Croatian political, human and civil rights. The Croatian nation rallied around the Croatian Peasant Party and Stjepan Radic, its elderly, nearly blind, pacifist leader. Radic, along with four other Croatian leaders, was gunned down by a Serbian Deputy on the floor of Parliament in 1928. King Alexander Karageorgevic followed this blow by declaring himself dictator and banning all political parties. Croatian Parliamentary Deputy Ante Pavelic then formed the Ustase or "Insurgent" Croatian Liberation Movement to gain Croatian independence by force. Alexander was assassinated in 1934 and was succeeded by his cousin Prince Regent Paul, an Oxford educated half-Russian who cared little about politics or Yugoslavia. World War II Between 1934 and 1941 Yugoslavia moved closer and closer to Hitler under the leadership of Milan Stojadinovic who formed his own storm troops and adopted the title Vodja or Fuhrer. Later Premier Dragisa Cvetkovic would lead Yugoslavia into the Axis fold with Mussolini and Hitler on March 24, 1941. Almost immediately a military coup was staged by two Serbian air force generals assisted by the British Special Operations Executive. Finding instability on his southern flank unacceptable on the eve of the invasion of the Soviet Union, Hitler ordered the immediate conquest of Yugoslavia. The Serbian-dominated army surrendered without a fight. The Government and Serbian royal family fled to Britain with millions in gold and established the Yugoslav Government-in-Exile which laid the entire blame for the war and defeat on the Croatians. Pavelic's Ustase immediately took control of Croatia including Bosnia and Hercegovina. The new Croatian state was divided into German and Italian occupation zones while Italy annexed large parts of Dalmatian Croatia outright. Croatia joined the Axis, sent troops to the Eastern front and enacted anti- Semitic and anti-Serbian legislation. Serbia became a Nazi puppet state under General Milan Nedic who intensified the persecution of Jews, Gypsies and Croatians that had begun under the royalist regime before the War. Tens of thousands perished in the multi-faceted war among Communist Partisans, German, Italian, Croatian, Serbian and even Russian Cossack forces. In the end, it would be the Communist-backed Partisan army led by a Croatian, Marshal Josip Broz Tito, with the backing of the Red Army which would emerge victorious. The Second YugoslaviaAfter World War II, Yugoslavia was reconstituted as a Communist federal republic with the promise of equality for all its nations and peoples. As in most Communist states, promises were not fulfilled. A ruthless secret police compounded by the economic and political exploitation of Croatia led hundreds of thousands of young Croatians to seek freedom and prosperity abroad. After the purge of secret police chief Aleksandar Rankovic in 1966, a new air of freedom developed in Croatia known as "The Croatian Spring". Less known in the West than the "Prague Spring", this great liberalization was crushed by the Communists in late 1971. One target of the new round of repression was a dissident former Partisan hero and Yugoslav Army general, Franjo Tudjman. The events of 1971 put into motion events twenty years later that would result in Croatian independence. The death of Tito in 1980 led to increased demands for democracy and a market-based economy as well as for greater autonomy by Croatia and Slovenia from the Serbian-controlled central government. As Western-oriented Slovenia and Croatia moved quickly toward democratic reform, Eastern-oriented Serbia struggled to maintain Communist authoritarianism and a centralized government. In 1990, Dr. Franjo Tudjman became the first freely elected President of Croatia in over half a century. Free and democratic elections in Croatia and Slovenia demonstrated a commitment to the democratic process, the protection of human rights, and the development of a free market economy in those Republics. Croatia immediately began negotiations in mid-1990 toward the formation of a loose confederation of nations that would have granted national autonomy while preserving Yugoslavia in some form. The Republic of Serbia refused all attempts at negotiation and engaged in massive human rights violations against the Albanian majority in the province of Kosovo, dismantling its Parliament and purging its government, media, and educational system of Muslims and non-Communists. The Serbian leader, Slobodan Milosevic, remained committed to a single party, totalitarian regime in Serbia and throughout Yugoslavia. Spurred on by Milosevic, Serbs in Croatia launched a well- planned armed insurrection on August 17, 1990, attacking police stations and blockading the main highway south of the Croatian capital of Zagreb. When Croatian police attempted to stop the violence, the central government dispatched the Serbian-controlled air force and army to "restore order". In 1991, after months of fruitless negotiations and increased violence by the Serbian minority in Croatia, fueled by the Serbian government and military, the Croatians voted for independence. On June 25, 1991, Croatia and Slovenia declared themselves to be free and independent of Serbia and Yugoslavia. Independence and AggressionUnder the pretense of protecting the Serbian minority in Croatia, a full-scale war was launched against Croatia by the Serbian-Yugoslav armed forces and Serbian militias. Croatia abided by over a dozen cease fires only to see the army regroup and attack again. By the end of 1991, over one-third of Croatia's territory had been seized, the city of Vukovar and others totally destroyed and thousands of Croatians had been killed. In December 1991, the Serbian government openly admitted that it aimed to annex territory in Croatia and Bosnia-Hercegovina in order to form a new "Greater Serbia". On January 14, 1992 the European Community recognized the independence of Croatia and most of the world's major powers followed suit. Notably, the United States government headed by George Bush held back on recognition of Croatia and Slovenia until after the United Nations peace-keeping forces had been moved into Croatia. Bush's Deputy Secretary of State and chief advisor on what was Yugoslavia was Lawrence Eagleburger whom the press dubbed "Lawrence of Serbia". Eagleburger had close personal and financial ties with the Communist leadership of Serbia as well as Yugoslav banks and arms industries. Despite Eagleburger's friendship with Communist Serbia, even the United States was eventually forced to condemn Serbia's expansionist aggression and recognize Croatia in April of 1992. On April 26, 1992, Serbia declared the birth of a new Federal Yugoslavia and became the last nation in Europe to remove the red star from its flag. The history of the three Yugoslavias has been filled with mythology, but no myth was greater than the myth that Yugoslavia ever really existed. letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Sun, 14 Mar 2004 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/6301/1/E-More-than-200-found-in-mass-grave.html ÂMore than 200 Croatians killed by Serbs found in mass graveFrom correspondents in Zagreb, Croatia12mar04AUTHORITIES suspect they have found one of Croatia's largest mass graves, containing the remains of more than 200 Croats killed by Serb rebels in the country's 1991 independence war."We have known for years that a mass grave exists in this area," said Ivan Grujic, head of the government office for missing persons, referring to a meadow in the village of Tordinci near the country's eastern border with Serbia-Montenegro."Radar investigations show that the surface structure of the earth in the area has been transfigured and that the soil underneath has been dishevelled, indicating that something lies about a metre below," Grujic said.Croatia has been carrying out extensive searches for thousands of persons missing since Croatia broke away from the former Yugoslavia in 1991.The Tordinci site has been of particular interest to authorities after they found an empty mass grave in front of the town church. That grave allegedly held 208 bodies before the remains were removed and reburied at an unknown location.Minority Serbs opposed Croatia's secession and took up arms, killing more than 10,000 people and seizing a third of the country's territory. Government troops recaptured the lands in a blitz offensive in 1995.About 4000 victims have been unearthed from mass graves around the country. More than 1200 remain unaccounted for, Grujic said.Some of the fiercest fighting between Croats and ethnic Serbs took place in eastern Croatia, where more than 50 mass graves have been discovered.Grujic said full-scale digging should begin in the coming days, after geological and forensic experts determine the zone within which they expected bodies to be unearthedhttp://www.theadvertiser.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5936,8944292%255E1702,00.html letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Sat, 13 Mar 2004 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/6302/1/E-Pavelich---Hockey-Movie-Miracles.html ÂPavelich - Hockey Movie Miracles The movie is based on the Olympic hockey win over the Soviets. What is not known is that Pavelich set up the puck that won the game.Adam S. EterovichPAVELICH, MARK Hockey Olympic Gold MedalThe "Miracle on Ice" still ranks among the nation's greatest sporting moments and, in many ways, Pavelich was symbolic of the American team. The conversation quickly moves to that night in Lake Placid, N.Y., against the Soviet Union, more than 20 years ago, when he collected the puck along the boards and slid it in front of the net. That puck ended up on the stick of teammate Mike Eruzione, who scored to give the U.S. squad an upset over the USSR on the way to a gold medal at the 1980 Winter Olympics. Pavelich was small for the game, never growing taller than 5 feet 8, but all those childhood days on outdoor rinks molded him into a clever skater and stickhandler. "A throwback player who could control the puck like he had it on a string," says Baker, who grew up nearby in Grand Rapids. He was born in nearby Eveleth, in rugged country known as the Iron Range, where boys learn to hunt and fish from an early age. The town claims to have the world's largest hockey stick at 107 feet long, so they also learn to play. In the late 1970s, those skills made Pavelich one of the greatest players in the history of the University of Minnesota Duluth. They subsequently earned him a spot on the Olympic team. He earned respect with his work ethic and a knack for passing the puck. Former goaltender Jim Craig recalls him as "an honest man, just a wonderful guy to be around." Little was expected of the Americans that winter, their coach reportedly telling them before the Olympics it would take some luck to win a bronze. But after an opening tie against Sweden, they rolled to four consecutive victories against the likes of Norway and Romania to reach the medal round against the powerhouse Soviets. Pavelich played an essential, supporting role that night, assisting on two of the four goals. Two days later, the U.S. defeated Finland to win the gold medal, and Pavelich wound up with six assists in the seven Lake Placid games. The players became overnight heroes, appearing on television, visiting the White House, attending promotional events across the nation. "A lot of commotion," Pavelich says. "I tried to avoid it as much as possible." Then he signed with the New York Rangers and moved to Manhattan. The team photo shows a young man with shaggy hair and heavy features, his lips pressed together in only the faintest semblance of a smile. He claims to have enjoyed his time in New York, taking in the sights of the city, but teammates recall he wasn't much for the nightlife. On the ice, Pavelich scored 76 points as a rookie-still a team record-and led the Rangers the following season with 37 goals, five of them in a memorable game against the Hartford Whalers. Though such numbers surely established him in the league, he retired after only five seasons because of differences with a new coach. There would be flickers of comebacks, a dozen or so games with the North Stars and San Jose Sharks, but his career was basically over. Wharton, David. "Mark Pavelich Hockey Olympic Star." Los Angeles Times, January 30, 2002. letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Mon, 16 Feb 2004 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/6303/1/E-Croatians-in-Italian-Concentration-Camps.html ÂCroatians in Italian Concentration CampsThe following story discusses a recent book published in Italy whichdiscusses Italian concentration camps whose victims primarily consistedof Croats and Slovenes. It appeared in the February 6, 2004 edition ofVjesnik. John KraljicCorriere della Sera: Fascists Camps in Croatia - a Stain of ItalyRome, February 5. Camps which Italian occupation forces raised inCroatia during the Second World War have been called a stain on Italy byCorriere della Sera.In its Thursday edition, the newspaper dedicated an entire page to thebook "The Duce's Camps" which describes fascist camps in Croatia andItaly in which Croats and Slovenes were imprisoned. The book went onsale on Thursday.Author Carlo Spartaco Capogreco collected information concerning thecamps of Italian fascists in Italy and abroad for over 20 years and hasnow published a book which shows, as Corriere della Sera writes, that"the Italians were not really as good in history as they have attemptedto portray."On the Dalmatian coast, Italian fascists had camps on Rab where Croatsand Slovenes from Rijeka, Slovenia and the northern Adriatic wereimprisoned. They also had a camp in Molat for central Dalmatia and inMamula and Prevlaka for the southern Adriatic. Another 5 camps forCroats and Slovenes were built in Italy, in Ginar and Visco in theVenezia-Giulia region, Monigo and Chiesanuova in Veneto, and Renicci inTuscany. "For Slovenes and Croats, who made up the bulk of theinternees in the camps, it was a true hell on earth [and] which meant[for them] their complete liquidation," wrote the newspaper. Inresearching through European and Italian archives, Capogreco created "apicture of the horrors of fascist Italy. [His work is [characterized]by the quality and depth of his research." He spent years looking forthe locations or remains of the camps.Among other things, Correire della Sera writes that "thanks to his work,one can reconstruct the history of the Duce's concentration camps,concerning which he made a complete catalogue in the second half of thebook, and thus end the amnesia of the 'good Italian.'" (AR/Hina). letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Thu, 05 Feb 2004 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/6304/1/E-Newest-Croats-Honored-as-Righteous-Among-Nations.html ÂMore Righteous Among NationsThe following is a translation of an article which appeared in theJanuary 29, 2004 edition of Slobodna Dalmacija and provides informationconcerning those Croats who were recently honored as Righteous AmongNations. John KraljicHEROISM AMONG OUR NEIGHBORSZagreb. Courage is doing something that one is afraid of doing most.Vera Oberiter was not even conscious of her courage when in thebeginning of 1944 she took in a Jewish little girl, Sylvia Suzana Knoll,daughter of the friend of her husband Ludvik Valentincic. Both hadpreviously come under suspicion by the Ustashe rulers. While a student,Vera had already declared herself to be opposed to Nazism, while Ludvikcooperated in the secret collection of weapons for the Partisans. Theyenrolled Sylvia in the nuns' school in Gundulic Street [in Zagreb],while they told their neighbors that she was the child of anacquaintance from Ozalj.This continued until toward the end of the War when Ludvik was arrestedand hanged, while Vera Oberiter was taken to the women's prison onPetrinjska Street. The Jewish girl hid with Vera's parents, where sheawaited the end of the war. At the end of 1945, Sylvia returned toVienna with her parents and lost contact with her saviors, until 2001when the story about this case was published in a Jewish Austrianpublication. Since then they are in regular touch."I did not think that hiding a small Jewish girl from Ustasheauthorities was courageous, but something that had to be done," saidVera Oberiter, a retired professor of English, while accepting the medalof a Righteous Among Nations, which the Israeli state awards tonon-Jewish individuals who saved Jews from the Holocaust.Vera Oberiter is one of a total of 98 Croats who have been proclaimed asRighteous Among Nations, and she received a special honor on Tuesdaywhen she, with four other Croats, received the award at a specialceremony honoring Holocaust Remembrance Day in the presence of PresidentStipe Mesic. The stories concerning the saving of Jews during World WarII are shocking and show humane greatness and courage in gambling withone's own life to save others. It is in accordance with a saying fromthe Talmud that he who saves one life has saved the world.Doctor Dane Vukovic was the director of the Hospital in Gospic., whereas part of the Maksimovic estate, a camp for Jews was organized. Whenthe camp was disbanded, many of the inmates were taken to the Hospitalwhich became a small island of safety. Dr. Dane Vukovic hated theracial laws, and protected and hid the inmates, among them many Serbchildren. In the shadow of the Hospital's courtyard he placed thefamily of a rabbi from Krizevac, he transferred the husband of 18 yearold Eva Akerman-Krajanski into the Italian Zone and also saved thepharmacist Elza Polak and her two-year old daughter. All safely saw theend of the War, thanks to the now late Dane Vukovic, a Righteous AmongNations.Doctors also played an important role in Bjelovar. Joza Jagodic, thehead of the surgery department at the Hospital, helped persecuted Jews,while hiding a group of Jewish women in the hospital's basement. InAugust 1942 he received a young Jewish man, Bozidar Erenfajda, one of 19Jews from Pitomaca who had been imprisoned in Jasenovac. Erenfajda wastaken to the Hospital by a camp guard who was doing a favor to a younggirl, and the physicians' team, led by Dr. Jagodic, undertook a numberof operations on Erenfajda so that they could with more credibility holdhim in the Hospital and thus saving him from the camp. "My life was anact," Erenfajda later wrote about his stay at the Hospital, where healso saved himself by his knowledge of Christian prayers.He remained in the Hospital for five and one-half months as he could notleave without personal documents. At the end of January 1943 with theassistance of a Serb he was transferred to liberated territory where heremained until the end of the war. He now lives in Belgrade, and whilehe was unable to attend the ceremony of awarding the title of RighteousAmong Nations to the late Dr. Joza Jagodic, he thanked his savoir aswell as the physicians' team at Bjelovar Hospital by a letter.The family of attorney Dragutin Jakic lived in Prizren [in Kosovo], nearthe Albanian border, and became friends with the Jewish family of Dr.Jozef Tajtelbaum. In the summer of 1941 the Tajtelbaums were drivenfrom Prizren, the father ending up in a camp, while the mother and sonRaul were forced to live with the Jakic family for two years. In theend, they went to Albania were Dr. Jozef worked as a camp physicianwhere they were arrested and deported to the concentration camp ofBergen-Belsen. The father was killed, while the mother and sonsurvived. Upon their return to Prizren, they came into contact with theJakic family who during the entire time had held onto a suitcase withtheir documents as well as a safe with gold which they kept hidden in awell. Three years after the war Raul Tajtelbaum with his mother leftfor Belgrade and later for Jerusalem. He continues to maintain contactwith Ana Jakic, the wife of attorney Dragutin, who today lives inZagreb.Olga Neumann-Rajsek saved 12-year old Dana Stochhamer from Nova Gradiskawhose entire family was killed or taken to Jasenovac. Dana's uncle,Zlatko Neumann, at the time a prisoner of war in Germany, succeeded inhaving his fiancée in Zagreb, Olga Rasjsek, take in Dana. NumerousJewish families passed through her apartment in Derencinova Street,while young Dana was introduced to the neighbors as a relative. Heremained there for months with Olga, until one of the neighbors notifiedthe police that a Jewish boy was being hidden in the building. Dana wastaken to prison, while Olga Neumann took all steps to get him set free.She succeeded only after intervening with Archbishop Aloysius Stepinac.The boy was placed in a home for unwanted children where he remaineduntil the end of the war. Afterwards he moved to the United States,completed his medical studies and today lives with his family inChicago. He is in constant contact with Olga Neumann who admits that itnever crossed her mind that her care for Dana could be deemed to be aheroic act.Of the 98 Croats among the Righteous Among Nations, only 21 remainalive. Their names are carved in stone in the memorial area of YadVashem in Jerusalem, the largest archive in the world concerning theHolocaust, were for the past 40 years they have been collecting thenames of Jewish victims.Tomislav KlauskiOp-edFather and grandfather of the CROWN readers Deletis (Vedran and Katarina) is one of them.Nenad letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Tue, 03 Feb 2004 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/6307/1/E-Titos-Terrorism-Response-to-Opinion-Poll.html ÂTITO'S TERRORISMBy Jean W. Lunt-Marinovic,Melbourne, 25 January 2004.Opinion PollA recent newspaper opinion poll in Croatia named Tito as the greatestCroat. Below is my response to that propaganda trick which is highlyunrepresentative of public opinion in Croatia. As I reflect on the idea that anyone in their right mind in Croatiacould vote for Tito as the 'Greatest Croat' in a recent opinion poll,first it needs to be said that there is no proof that all of those whovoted for Tito were of Croatian origin. A great propaganda trick it is,and media coverage of it seems to use a similar language. There arestill a few who attempt to rehabilitate Tito. According to the well-known American author Michael Moore, in his book'Stupid White Men', Tito should be reincarnated in a multi-billiondollar Lazarus Project. Moore mistakenly argues that under Tito therewas "peace" but when he died all hell broke loose. Moore needs toresearch a little bit more! "Reincarnating Tito" is the heading of anarticle on the internet about Kumrovec (Transitions Online). Also, thelast scene of a Croatian-produced movie about the ghost of Tito wascensored on Australian television because of words that Tito will not beheard from again. A Personal ReflectionAn opinion poll, a rumour or story, or knowledge from the classroom isone thing; but it is another thing altogether to believe it, much lessbegin to deeply understand it. I have sat and reflected amongst theruins of Zadar, bombed by the western Allies in 1944 to defeat Italianoccupation. I have also sat and reflected at the Camp X memorial nearToronto where Anglo/American and pro-Yugoslav resistance forces weretrained, some ultimately ending up in the Slovenian mountains in 1944. part of Camp X mural at Whitby Ontario Canada at Garden of theUnforgottenIn 1989, I reflected on makeshift barbed-wire handcuffs as I held themin my hand, removed by journalists from the skeletons of Tito's victimsfound in mass graves at Jazovka. I have come to understand the need to defeat Nazism and Fascism, asGerman submarines sank ships in Canadian waters. When you are underattack you organize your defence, the defence of your civilians and yourproperty and your nation. After a war you commit to reconstruction. Tito did the opposite, atleast in Croatia, and evidence is there if you search for it. In contrast to the western society I grew up in, I could not begin tounderstand Tito's brutal tactics, even though I have come to know aboutthem. The concept of genocide was outside the realm of my personalunderstanding. I knew it happened but it didn't fully register in mymind because it was foreign to me, as if from Mars. My sheltered andprivileged upbringing had not prepared me for such horrendous concepts.For me, oppression equated with poverty, and discrimination equated withracism. These are things I witnessed in contrast to my own personalexperience. There was nothing I could equate genocide with in my mind.I had heard about Tito, read about Tito, learned about Tito and Titoismat university, and witnessed the legacy of trauma survivors experiencedfrom living under Tito's rule, yet it still wasn't registering! Evenamongst the old surviving Croatian communist elite it does not seem tohave registered, as to what it was like to be an ordinary Croatiancitizen. The current Croatian President Mesic's comment about the Titowin in the opinion poll illustrates just how out of touch he is with hispeople when he alleged that Tito fulfilled the destiny of the Croatiannation! Genocide of Croatian PeopleOne of the ministers of the first Kingdom of Croats Serbs and Slovenes,Pribitchevic, remarked in the 1920s that the Sava River would flowbackwards before the Croats would ever accept Serbian hegemony. Inbetween the collapse of the first Royalist Yugoslavia and the impositionof Communist Yugoslavia, there was Croatian resistance to Serbianhegemony. However, most of that generation were massacred during Tito's"peace" as Tito uttered the words that the Sava River would flowbackwards before Croats ever got their freedom. Immediately following WWII Tito organized a genocide of the Croatianpopulation. The genocide of Croatian people is known as the "BleiburgGenocide". It began after massive columns of Croatian people, in May1945, were turned back from various crossings at the British Sector ofthe Austrian border. But the Austrian border region itself was amatter of contention between Tito and the Western Allies in May 1945.Some Croats, including civilians and women and children, who had alreadysurrendered, were immediately killed by Tito's Partisans in this noman's land. Tito's terrorism took the form of mass executions, death marches, gulagimprisonment, purges (32,000 Croatian intellectuals lost theirlivelihood in the 1971 Croatian Spring), the highest number of politicalprisoners per capita in the world, assassinations of dissidents, loss ofCroatian population due to illegal border escapes, underdevelopment ofCroatian regions and later-on, deals with western nations to get rid ofhis rural unemployed Croatian population overseas. Statistics in allhost nations where people from former Yugoslavia settled, show thatCroats were in the majority. How many hundreds of thousands of deaths might have been avoided with a50-50 presence in 1944-45? No Churchill-Stalin 50-50 SplitWe have been brainwashed with catchphrases such as the "50-50 Split" ofthe former Yugoslav territory between Churchill and Stalin at Yalta, andthe "Tito-Stalin Split" in 1948, when Stalin renounced CommunistYugoslav membership of the Cominform. Mythology and intrigue surroundboth splits. In mythology the "Tito-Stalin Split" has been the centre pin of the Titopersonality cult both in domestic and foreign policy. But, in reality,the "Tito-Stalin Split" was only a temporary break in a long-termrelationship between Tito and the Soviet Union. As soon as Kruschevsucceeded Stalin the split was over. It is no coincidence that boththe former Yugoslavia and the Soviet Union fell together near the closeof the 20th century. The only type of split that did eventuate in post-WWII Yugoslavia wasnot territorial, but political and economic in form. The industrializingWest and the Eastern bloc gave to Yugoslavia the worst of both theirworlds, according to an analysis of IMF debtor nations. Communist Yugoslavia, a military and police state complete withideological indoctrination, brutally enforced a command type economy,and was funded by the IMF which was dependant upon five differentconstitutional reforms to keep face in the democratic world. This wasTito's totalitarian legacy: a fifty-fifty hybrid split. And, as for the Churchill-Stalin 50-50 Split, it didn't happen. Tito's Iron CurtainBecause the Churchill-Stalin "50-50 Split" failed to take place afterWWII, Tito, emboldened by a strong Soviet presence, was able toconsolidate his totalitarian control and exterminate an entiregeneration of Croatian citizens. Indeed, what happened in reality was aTito-Churchill Split, but nobody has invented a phrase for that era!Tito was, for the West, a Benedict Arnold. Tito accepted Westernsupplies and money to fight fascism but then used it to consolidate hisown pro-soviet power base, and betrayed western interests, andterrorized his own citizens. By the time there was a temporary breakin Soviet-Yugoslav relations, it was already too late for half a millionCroatian citizens. Indeed Tito's immediate post-WWII terrorism was partof the reason why Churchill commented that an iron curtain had descendedupon Europe. Instead of cooperation from Tito or Stalin, or any 50-50 division, theWest had to deal with Tito's threats, emboldened by his pro-SovietCentral Committee. It is highly unlikely that these Croatian civilianswould have been turned back from the British Sector in May 1945, enmasse, had the command realized the enormity of the massacres tofollow. There were no satellite cameras then. How could the elitecommand in the West who had led privileged lives begin to imagine orunderstand what lay in store for Croatian people. They had heard aboutStalin's genocide in the Ukraine but didn't yet equate Stalin with Tito.After the release of documents thirty years later we learned that it wasTito who had been responsible for the absence of any timely territorial50-50 division at the end of 1944, and not the fault of Western Allies.Instead the Western Allies had to deal with Tito's defiance regardingAnglo/American landings on the Dalmatian coast (as revealed in archivalaccounts re Tito & his Prime Minister, Subasic); and with Tito'sterritorial ambitions in Slovenia or Trieste. More than once Tito madeit clear to the western Allies that if they landed in Croatia they wouldhave to deal with a powerful resistance by his Yugoslav Partisandivisions along the Dalmatian coastline. Lessons UnlearnedWhat happened after WWII in Tito's Yugoslavia was worse than whathappened in Milosevic's Yugoslavia in the 1990s, but this time thesatellite camera enabled the world to witness everything, and ultimatelyput an end to it. And eventually, you guessed it, a 50-50 split ofBosnia-Herzegovina is now monitored by four nations, but this was neverto happen in post-WWII Yugoslavia. Thus, massacres of hospital patients from Vukovar occurred in 1991 justas they had occurred in Jazovka in 1945. For example, a karst sinkholein Sosice near Zagreb contains the remains of 40,000 skeletons andevidence from the Croatian hospital. Similarly during recentconstruction of a highway in Slovenia tens of thousands of skeletonswere uncovered with evidence that they were men, women and children,mostly of Croatian origin. Time for an Accountable LeadershipA recent critic of an article in Zadarski List, Ivo Matanovic fromZadar, commented that under Tito it was the bloodiest era which Croatiaever experienced in its history. (HV, 23.1.04) The Yugoslav/Montenegrandissident, Milovan Djilas was quoted as saying that Croats had to diethat Yugoslavia could live. American President Truman also remarked onthe genocidal policies of Tito. Indeed more Croats died under Titoduring 40 years than in the previous 400 years of occupied Croatia.Tito's infamous reign of terror is similar to Pol Pot's, and hecertainly did not "fulfil the destiny of the Croatian nation".For the sake of regional stability in the 21st century, it's time forold Croatian cadres to get in touch with their fellow man. If theCroatian media and the Croatian leadership cannot get it right today,how can Croatian people expect the rest of the world to reallyunderstand their plight? In the British House of Commons in 1874,Disraeli remarked that "Upon the education of the people, the fate ofthis country depends". In the same theme, according to H.G. Wells,"Human history becomes more and more a race between education andcatastrophe". In the Croatian nation there is a need for deeperunderstanding about the cruel decades of terror under Tito! Written byJean W. Lunt-MarinovicMelbourne, 25 January 2004antem@tenex.com.au letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Thu, 29 Jan 2004 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/6306/1/E-Croatian-Dachau-Surviver-Relates-Experiences.html ÂCroatian Dachau Surviver Relates ExperiencesThe following story is a translation of an article which appeared in theJanuary 28, 2004 edition of Novi list. As noted, 7 Croats from Fuzinespent time in Dacahu, of whom only 2 survived.The number of Croatssent to German concentration camps is substantial and generallyoverlooked. Many of these persons were sent after Germany reoccupiedlarge areas of the coastal and near-coastal areas of Croatia afterItaly's capitulation in September 1943.I am in the process of translating a small booklet written by onesurvivor, Zora Matijevic, which appeared in 1946 in Zagreb. I am alsopreparing an informal list of those Croats sent to German concentrationcamps based on published sources. I will happily share it with all ofyou once it is completed. John KraljicIN THE FUZINE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL: ZLATKO MANCE ABOUT THE HORROR OF THE HOLOCAUSTFuzine. Holocaust Remembrance Day in the "Ivanka Trohar" ElementarySchool in Fuzine was marked by an extremely interesting and educationalmeeting with Zlatko Mance, one of those from Fuzine who survived theterrors of the Dachau concentration camp. In that infamous camp therewere actually seven people from Fuzine. Along with Mance only IvanSkocilic survived. Although remembering those dark days were not at allcomfortable, Zlatko Mance recalled many details which as inmate number56650 he went through at Dachau. He arrived at Dachau as an 18 year oldin September 1943 from an Italian camp. Well-known as a popular andgood-natured person in Fuzine, "Uncle Zlatic" survived all the horrorsof one of the worst fascist camps and awaited liberation in spring 1945.He traveled over 24 days, mostly by foot, to his native Fuzine afterbeing freed from the camp. All of his stories provoked great interestso that it is more than obvious that such meetings and surely necessaryand beneficial. M.K. letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Thu, 29 Jan 2004 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/6305/1/E-Israel-honors-6-Croats-for-saving-Jews-during-WW2.html ÂIsrael honors 6 Croats for saving Jews during WW2Jan. 27, 2004Israel honors 6 Croats for saving Jews during WW2By ASSOCIATED PRESSZAGREB, CroatiaSix Croats were honored Tuesday for their courage in saving Jews from the Holocaust and defying the pro-Nazi and anti-Semitic policies of their homeland during World War II. Some 40,000 Jews perished in concentration camps run by Croatia's Nazi quisling state during World War II, along with tens of thousands of Serbs, Gypsies and anti-fascist Croats. The Medal of the Righteous awards were presented by Israeli Ambassador Yael Rubinstein, who expressed "profound gratitude" to those honored. Three of the six are still alive, and relatives of the other three received the medals in their name. About 90 Croats so far have received the medal, created in 1953 by Yad Vashem, Israel's Holocaust museum, to honor non-Jews who risked their lives to save Jews from persecution by the Nazis. Rubinstein urged the young generation in Croatia, where many have yet to confront the country's checkered past, to learn more about the Holocaust. "May those who were ready to risk their lives be an inspiration," she said. President Stipe Mesic, who attended the ceremony, said that education was the key to preventing what he called revisionists from trying to falsify history.The Ministry of Science, Education and Sport organized seminars throughout the country to mark the Holocaust Remembrance Day. It marks the day when the Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp complex - where more than 1.5 million people perished, 90 percent of them Jews - was liberated by advancing Soviet troops on Jan. 27, 1949. In Germany and many other countries throughout the world, it is the day when people remember the Holocaust victims. Croatia, whose World War II regime was a Nazi ally, held the remembrance day for the first time this year. As a member of the Council of Europe, Croatia accepted to mark it with speeches, school events and exhibitions. Israel's relations with Croatia were frozen under Franjo Tudjman, the late president, whose policies often evoked nationalism harking back to World War II. In one of his books, Tudjman also questioned the number of Jews killed in the Holocaust. The two countries established diplomatic relations in 1996, five years after Croatia broke away from Yugoslavia. But relations only warmed after Tudjman's death in 1999. http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=JPost/JPArticle/ShowFull&cid=1075185789422&p=1008596981749 letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Thu, 29 Jan 2004 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/6308/1/E-Irish--Croatian-History-of-support--Gotovina.html ÂIrish News of the World ÂDear All, I received this letter from Mr. Mulcahy of the Irish News, who has beenworking to present to the Irish readership Croatia and especially Gen. Gotovinain a fair and just light. If you have any ideas how we can help him tobring his proposals to fruition, please let me (or him directly) know. Isuggested to him to allow his letter to be printed on the CROWN if Nenadalso agrees. The Homeland war should be honored instead of being draggedin the mud as it has been in recent times. Please let me know what youthink. Thanks!HildaFrom: < irishnews@hushmail.com >To: hmfgsf@juno.comDate: Tue, 20 Jan 2004 Subject: Re: Irish News of the World>Dear Hilda, I have good news. With the recent media reports concerningGeneral Gotovina & Ireland, the Irish media have (at long last!) begunto pick up on the story, but more to the point - they are gettingfriendlier and friendlier to Gen.'s case.The Irish News of the world (Sun 18/1/04) printed a large double spreadcalling Cascarino a hero, made clear that Gen Ante contested theallegations, and was generally sympathetic for our cause.Hilda, I've been inundated with mails particularly in the past few monthsby people asking if, due to its popularity, 'A Millennium Memory' willbe translated into Croatian.The manuscript is a non-profit dedication to the sanctity of the HomelandWar and highlights Gen Ante's case. Although we here have the 'time'to campaign/publicize; we unfortunately do not have the finances forsuch an appropriate task.We are planning to intensify the campaign with art/music/poetry etc.,but are convinced that A Millennium Memory must be in Croatian. I'd appreciate your thoughts on this and whether you have anysuggestions/contacts for volunteers/sponsors to assist in its translation.Many thanks Hilda,Brian Mulcahy. letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Tue, 20 Jan 2004 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/6309/1/E-Croatian-Archeological-Historic-find-is-pure-gold.html ÂMay be one of the most important archeological sites of the last 50years, in a riverbed in CroatiaÂThe following article appears in the January 14, 2004 edition ofhttp://icbirmingham.icnetwork.co.uk/ which is a web site run by aconsortium of newspapers based in Birmingham, UK. John KraljicAncient Archeological Finds in the Cetina River ValleyHistoric find is pure gold! Jan 14 2004By Tony CollinsCity archaeologists have struck gold - with a major Bronze Age discoveryin eastern Europe.A team of experts from the University of Birmingham has discovered whatmay be one of the most important archaeological sites of the last 50years, in a riverbed in Croatia.Items recovered from the river include more than 90 swords, a Romanlegionnaire's dagger complete with sheath, more than 30 Greco-Illyrianhelmets, plus numerous items of jewellery, axes and spearheads.It is believed a large number of objects were thrown into River Cetinadeliberately, possibly as offerings to gods.Initial surveys of the site indicate that the remarkable finds span aperiod of history from 6,000 BC onwards.These include 33m long timbers, clearly visible from the riverbank,which show evidence of late Neolithic or early Bronze Age woodensettlements.Project leader Dr Vincent Gaffney, director of the university'sInstitute for Archaeology and Antiquity, described the find as a "oncein a lifetime discovery" for any archaeologist.He said: "The Cetina Valley is certainly the most remarkable site that Ihave, and will ever, have the privilege of being involved in."As the majority of the Cetina Valley site is waterlogged, the level ofpreservation is quite exceptional. I believe this to be one of the mostimportant archaeological wetlands in Europe."Sediments in the river valley also provide an environmental recordcovering around 10,000 years, offering an insight into the everyday lifeof the people who would have lived there.The Birmingham University team is to return to the site in May to carryout an extensive survey. letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Fri, 16 Jan 2004 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/6310/1/H-Revansizam-ili-pitanje-pravednosti.html ÂRevansizam ili pitanje pravednosti ?GLAS KONCILA, 11.1.2004.ZAPAZANJAÂDjurdjica Lieb Revansizam ili pitanje pravednosti Ovih je dana svecano proslavljena 30. obljetnica koncertne dvorane >Lisinskijavne< povijesti, ali povijest se pise i u tisinama i u zatvorima. Nitko to nije spomenuo pri prijenosu koncerta: novinari kontinuiteta zbog svojeg kontinuiteta, a mladji novinari i ne znaju; negativna selekcija odgojila je negativnu selekciju u novinarstvu. Brisanje povijesti u svim se narodima tesko osvecivalo. Pa koliko god mnogi i od profesora s Fakulteta politickih nauka bili ljudi jugoslavenskog kontinuiteta i na svoj nacin obrazovali studente ucijepivsi im zaborav za neka razdoblja pa i za nedavno vrijeme rata, mozda ipak treba pogledati i zagledati se u vrijeme koje prethodi i u umjetnosti, ponovno glazbi, jer indikativno je da upravo 1945. kada maestro Gotovac bjezi s pozornice HNK u Zagrebu, na pomocni izlaz oko zgrade plesu Kozaracko kolo. Sve je to samo dio totalitaristickog, komunistickog sustava koji je trajao punih 50 godina, a po onome sto se dogadja jos dugo cemo placati cijenu.Zasto sutnja o ponizenim i izbacenim novinarima?U vremenima nove vlasti i nove Vlade, ali vec i prije, znamo tocno koliko je diplomata 2000. godine pri smjeni vlasti moralo prepustiti mjesto drugima. Znamo zahvaljujuci ministru zdravstva koliko je lijecnika premjesteno ili smijenjeno s polozaja. Rijec je o ljudima koji nisu izgubili radna mjesta, smijenjeni su s odredjenih funkcija. Mnogi od njih su u doba HDZ-a, a i poslije, imali privatne ordinacije. A znate li mozda broj otpustenih radnika? Oni su bili ono sto nazivamo samo >obicni< radnici? Nestala su im poduzeca, pa zasto ne bi nestali i oni, a oduzeta poduzeca nisu se preobrazila u neke modernije tvrtke, s boljom mogucnoscu zaposljavanja i prisutnoscu na medjunarodnom trzistu nego su najcesce nestala u bogataskim rukama, cesto s nestalim novcem u inozemnim bankama. Postala su privatni kapital pojedinaca. Gubitak slobode u Jugoslaviji nadoknadjivan je mizernim radnim mjestima i mizernom socijalnom sigurnoscu, a sad je radnicima dokinuta i takva mogucnost. Ostaje otvoreno pitanje tko ce zastiti radnike i pisati o mnogima na rubu gladi kad su posjekli i novinare koji su posrednici i stvaratelji istine, barem bi to trebali biti. Kao sto se ne smije sutjeti o izbjeglima, prognanima, onima koji traze svoje mrtve, ne smije se sutjeti niti se miriti, s ponizenim, izbacenim i novinarima koji moraju sutjeti. A brojni su. Pa ako se vratimo na radnike, sva televizijska snimanja puckih kuhinja o blagdanima s dekorom politicara ne mogu nadoknaditi radna mjesta, kao ni udruga Bokci sve to nije utociste za zivot niti rjesenje.Kao sto ni otpremnina za novinare ili placanje sutnje nije rjesenje osim pravog i istinskog rada koji zasluzuje i pravednu placu. Mozda je u tome kljuc zasto toliko izvjesca o smijenjenim diplomatima i lijecnicima, a ni rijeci o novinarima jer oni su, valjda, opasni za svaku vlast. Urednici koji su gospodari tekstova cesto su izbacivanjem s posla i usutkavanjem novinara i gospodari njihova siromastva. Oni koji su ustoliceni 2000. godine najcesce su bili ljudi kontinuiteta (iako uvijek postoje iznimke) bili su pravovjerni i u titoizmu i u HDZ-izmu dok nisu predobro osjetili propast stranke prebacivsi se u novo vrijeme i dodvoravanju nove vlasti. Svjesni svojeg kontinuiteta nastavljaju svoj rad na istim mjestima ponovo u HDZ-izmu. Bilo bi dobro da nas vrijeme demantira. Istina jest novinari koji nisu bili komunisti, a htjeli su biti u tom zvanju, tim vise ako su sebe >osudili< na fakultete koji nisu bili politicke nauke, morali su pristati na svoju drugorazrednost, a tesko je na to pristati i danas.Jugoslavenski orijentirani novinari - dobro zbrinutiMnogi ce spocitavati godinu 1990. kada je takodjer doslo do odredjene smjene novinara, iskljucivo onih koji su pristajali jedino na jugoslavensku opciju. Medjutim, oni su imali niz otvorenih mogucnosti i u Hrvatskoj i u inozemstvu. Buduci da se dugo vremena inozemne snage nisu mirile s rusenjem Jugoslavije primili su ih otvorenih ruku na rad poput Radija Brod, Yutela, Radija Europa (koji je svojedobno stvorila CIA-e), agencija koje su cesto bile samo obavjestajne sluzbe pod maskom novinarstva, poput britanske obavjestajne sluzbe ICWPR, Stine... i ostalih. Stvara se Feral, Novi list je rasirenih ruku docekivao >disidenteneposlusne< novinare otpravio otkazima, Vecernji list je s otpremninama osigurao nekoliko godina zivota svojim najkreativnijim novinarima, s tim da vise nisu prisutni u javnosti, dok je Slobodna Dalmacija usutkala na desetke novinara koji rade pomocne poslove, prevode ili su u pokrajinskim izdanjima koja cesto i ne stizu do citatelja: brojni su i otkazi, a neki su zbog ponizenja otisli i sami. Hrvatski radio smjenjivao je cesto linearno, od urednika do nepocudnih novinara, a jedan od tezih primjera je Treci program HR koji je intelektualna okosnica programa. Televizija mijenja kadar iz dana u dan tipicno komunisticki u kojem su samo partijske smjene trajne. S obzirom na javnost rada, novinari televizije ponekad imaju i mogucnost na javnu pobunu. Zanimljivo je da je u nekim novinskim i radijskim kucama prije smjene vlasti povecana placa upravo SDP-ovim kadrovima da bi se poslije eventualne nove vlasti, ako se place smanje, moglo govoriti o revansizmu, kao sto ce se mozda govoriti i o revansizmu ako se smijene SDP-ovi novinari-diplomati poput spomenute bivse predsjednice HND-a, diplomata u Austriji koji je, dok su njegove kolege nestajali u zatvoru 1971, pisao o umilnom hrvatskom blejanju ili nekolicine novinara u diplomatskim sluzbama od Francuske do Skandinavije. Ponovno je veoma glasan komentator koji je tih godina pisao kako hrvatska knjizevnost nije u zatvoru ako je nekoliko pisaca zatvoreno. Sada pozdravlja novu vlast hvaleci je, jer u njoj nema ni jednog bivseg robijasa. Mozda je Hrvatska jedinstven primjer medju zemljama takozvane tranzicije koje su to rijesile puno bezbolnije zahvaljujuci i lustraciji. Time se nikome ne zabranjuje rad osim onima koji su pripadali tajnim sluzbama, a cesto su na svojim dopisnickim mjestima sluzili kao putokaz za zatvor onima koji su prema njihovu misljenju pokusavali urusiti totalitaristicki sustav. Podzemne sluzbe, nazovimo ih blazim imenom, raspale su se, pa cak je i STASI otvorio novinarske dosjee. A Hrvatska ponovno tone u hrvatsku sutnju. Svatko ima pravo na rad, ali itekako bi pravo na rad trebali imati novinari koji nisu bili komunisti i koji su bili hrvatski orijentirani, a i danas su tretirani kao drugorazredni. Mozda je previse traziti vec na pocetku nove vlasti posredovanje, ali je zato iznad svega potrebna iznimna solidarnost novinara i stvaranje paralelnog novinarskog drustva u kojem bi se konacno progovorilo o svim ponizenjima kroz koje prolaze. A ono cega se trebaju cuvati sadasnji politicari jest zelja da budu slijepi pred novim dodvoravanjem, naslovnicama i razgovorima kojima ih se kupuje na kratko vrijeme. Jer, od tudjmanizacije, zahvaljujuci medijima, do detudjmanizacije bio je samo korak. Novinari trebaju dignuti svoj glas, jer nisu nista manje vrijedni ni od diplomata, ni od lijecnika. Glas u ime pravednosti, a ne revansizma, jer revansizam onecovjecuje, a teznja pravednosti je teznja prema istini. U tome je sadrzana i proslost i buducnost kojoj moramo teziti. ÂDBorovcakclan forumaPosts: 139(1/11/04 2:00 pm) letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Sun, 11 Jan 2004 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/6312/1/E-Dubrovnik-A-History---Reviews--availability.html ÂÂReviews/USA availability of Dubrovnik: A History by Robin HarrisExcellent news! Robin Harris's superlative Dubrovnik:A History is now available in the US from Amazon.comat: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0863563325/qid=1073084731//ref=sr_8_xs_ap_i0_xgl14/102-4801659-5492122?v=glance&s=books&n=507846#product-detailsFor the UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/0863563325/ref=sr_aps_books_1_1/026-1833816-4631632Further, here 2 zarjaz reviews of the book by NormanStone and Brendan Simms of the book - I am sure theirsentiments will please all:The Daily Telegraph (UK)The city that went to sleep (Filed: 16/06/2003) Norman Stone reviews Dubrovnik: a History by Robin HarrisMost Slavs have something of a cultural inferioritycomplex: where are their Gothic cathedrals? A Croatintellectual put it pertinently: why does the Louvrecontain paintings by Croats, and no other Slavs? Theanswer is that the Croats, on the Dalmatian coast,were very heavily influenced by the Italians and, asRobin Harris shows, produced their own versions ofRenaissance architecture and poetry. Up and down the eastern Adriatic coast, there arejewel-like towns, with Venetian architecture and oftenextensive, sophisticated fortifications - Zadar,Split, Budva (to give them their modern rather thantheir Italian names). They were constructed in thismanner because they needed to defend themselvesagainst pirates.The greatest of them is Dubrovnik, the subject ofHarris's learned and well-written labour of love. Itsofficial language was Italian, but it was in effectpart of an eastern Mediterranean commercial world. Itshistory is difficult to write, because the sourcesexist in so many languages including, for the laterperiod, German. Harris can manage all the languagesand - this does not happen very often in academe - canstill write his own.Like almost the entire Mediterranean, including Veniceand Naples, Dubrovnik started going to sleep in thelater 17th century - you can more or less put a dateto it, with the great earthquake in 1667 (of whichthere is a splendid set-piece description in Harris'sbook), from which the town never recovered. But before then it had a place second only to that ofVenice in the commerce of the Levant. It had anexceedingly important position, even in classicaltimes, because its harbour was the best place forcommercial penetration of the Balkans. Its historicname, Ragusa, was an Italianised version of an oldGreek word (and gives us the English word "argosy", alarge merchant ship, from the Elizabethan descriptionof the city's formidable fleet). The Balkans were once the centre of civilization, asthey connected western Europe with Constantinople, andDubrovnik rivalled Venice, at times to the point ofopen warfare. But the great days of the city cameafter the Ottoman Turkish conquest. The Turks ineffect revived the Roman empire of the East; Dubrovnikoffered an alternative to Venice, and the citysurvived under Ottoman protection. This could onoccasion be capricious, and Dubrovnik's ruling classdeveloped formidable diplomatic skills. Like the Venetian patricians, the Turks were very goodat holding on to power, decade-in, decade-out. Inother rich city states - as in Florence or Naples -patrician rulers would grow rich and lazy, and woulddivide; the rabble would take over, and barbarianswould then conquer. Venice and Dubrovnik had clevererruling classes that were able to contain the potentialrabble through elaborate arrangements for education,charity and medical care. They were also tolerant whenit came to the religious differences that were allowedto ruin other once-great commercial centres such asAntwerp or the imperial cities of southern Germany. InDubrovnik, there was no problem at all with Muslims orJews (who had a very important role in the Ottomanlands, having been expelled from Spain). Curiouslyenough, the one religion that was forbidden wasProtestantism - probably because, even in the later16th century, the Dutch and the English meant seriouscompetition. By 1700, Dubrovnik, like Venice, had declined, as theOttoman empire itself declined. Large areas of theBalkans became ungovernable. Trade was taken over,more and more, by the Greeks and British, andDubrovnik languished. In 1806, Napoleon added it,along with Dalmatia, to his empire; the Austrians tookit over after his fall. Harris sensibly avoids thisperiod: the Dalmatian coast became very poor andremote, and was rediscovered only by tourists in the20th century.Fortunately, it has been spared a great deal of themass destruction that such tourism has so oftenbrought. Dubrovnik has remained a jewel, with superbchurches and cathedrals constructed round the mainstreet; it fully deserves its Unesco-protected status.Much good that did it during the Yugoslav wars of theearly 1990s, though. Dubrovnik is a Croat city, but ithad become important for the Serbs, partly forhistoric reasons, and partly for straightforwardcommercial ones (tourism, of course).In August-September 1991, the place stood siege, asMontenegrin levies bombarded the harbour, destroyingthe yachts and damaging some of the historic houses.At the time, the western world was Vance-Owening away,trying to preserve the unity of Yugoslavia, even ifthat meant sanctioning atrocities. The bombardment ofDubrovnik, a city that so many people knew from theirtravels, showed the world what was really happening.There was a revolt of public opinion, especially inGermany, that led to the recognition of independentCroatia. It was that event which led Robin Harris towrite his wonderful book, which opens up aninteresting corner of Mediterranean history for theEnglish reader.The Daily Telegraph (UK)The pearl and its wisdom (Filed: 07/07/2003) Brendan Simms reviews Dubrovnik by Robin HarrisIn October 1991, after conquering about one-third ofCroatia, destroying many villages and towns andmurdering thousands of Croats with relative impunity,the protagonists of "Greater Serbia" made a terriblemistake. They turned their attention to the historicport city of Dubrovnik, the famous "pearl of theAdriatic", known to generations of architecturalhistorians and hordes of European tourists alike.The damage caused by the besieging Yugoslav army wasserious enough, yet trivial compared to thedestruction wrought upon the Baroque jewels of easternSlavonia. But it had the effect of electrifying worldopinion: one British journalist for a serious Londondaily newspaper recalls how his hitherto insoucianteditor now demanded daily updates on the condition ofthe city's numerous monuments. It was almost certainlythis public resonance which spared Dubrovnik the fateof less glamorous cities further north.We are reminded just how remarkable Dubrovnik was andis by Robin Harris's formidably learned, fluentlywritten and lavishly illustrated Dubrovnik: A History.It is not merely the concentration of such strikingbuildings as the Rector's palace, the Franciscanfriary, the Cathedral, the fortifications, and manyother structures which makes Dubrovnik so special, buttheir location within an almost entirely unspoilthistoric town centre.Much of this heritage is medieval and Renaissance, butmost of it is Baroque, built after the greatearthquake of 1667. Dubrovnik, it could be said,shared with Lisbon and London the good fortune ofbeing destroyed in the 17th and 18th centuries. Theexample of the nearby Macedonian capital of Skopje,horribly mangled by reconstruction after an earthquakein the 1960s, shows that the same does not hold truefor the 20th century.But this book is not just about buildings orartefacts. It is also the story of the people andpolitics of Ragusa, the Latin name by which Dubrovnikwas known for most of its history. Ragusa breathed, touse Harris's phrase, "with two lungs". Most of thetime this self-governing city of merchants lookedwest, towards a commercial destiny as a Mediterraneanport, reflected in the size of its merchant fleet,which periodically rivalled that of Venice; but it wasalso committed to overland trade with its Balkanneighbours.Politically, too, Ragusa faced two ways, or indeedseveral ways. For hundreds of years, it drifted in andout of the Norman, Hungarian, Venetian and OttomanTurkish spheres of influence. The Ragusans lent moneyto, paid bribes to and shared intelligence with allsides; so much so that they became known as the settebandiere (seven flags) because they paid tribute toseven foreign rulers.Harris is clear about the historical origins andaffiliations of Ragusa, which have been bitterlycontested between partisans of the Croat, Serb andItalian national viewpoints. Most Ragusans spoke aSlav tongue in everyday life, while the language oflaw and government was Latin or Italian. Ragusans werealso stridently Catholic which marked them out fromtheir Orthodox Serb neighbours. Harris, in fact, isvery firm that "the broad preference [of Dubrovnikwas] for orderly relations with the European westrather than disorderly dangers from the Orthodox Slavsof the hinterland". He is thus implicitly closer tothe Croatian interpretation than any other, andrightly so.At the same time Harris stresses that questions ofnational identity are largely meaningless for thepre-modern period. And he does not disguise the factthat Ragusa was a cold house for non-Catholics, northat some citizens in more recent times, the "SerbCatholics", genuinely saw their future with Belgraderather than Croatia; he also takes due account of themany positive interconnections between the city andthe often alien Orthodox world around it.In short, there was nothing inevitable about thecalculated assault which the Serbian leader SlobodanMilosevic and his proxies unleashed on Dubrovnik in1991. But with Milosevic safely in the Hague, and theproject of "Greater Serbia" largely buried, thepeaceful aspirations of St Blaise, Dubrovnik's patronsaint, cited by Harris in his conclusion, seem closerto realisation than ever before.* Brendan Simms's 'Unfinest Hour: Britain and theDestruction of Bosnia', is published by Penguin. letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Sat, 03 Jan 2004 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/6315/1/E-General-on-trial-over-Dubrovnik.html ÂGeneral on trial over DubrovnikStrugar denies war crimes chargesA former general in the Yugoslav army has gone on trial over the shelling of the Croatian city of Dubrovnik. Pavle Strugar is accused of murder and other war crimes. He denies the offences, during attacks on the historic port, on Croatia's Adriatic coast, in 1991. "The people of the world witnessed the sustained and senseless shelling of the old city of Dubrovnik by forces under the control and command of the Yugoslav army," said prosecutor Philip Weiner. The shelling, which lasted for three months, killed at least 50 civilians and injured hundreds of others. Dementia plea It also inflicted serious damage on most of the city, which is a Unesco world heritage site. The indictment against Mr Strugar says 68% of the buildings in Dubrovnik's old town were hit. Mr Strugar was in charge of a military campaign in the Dubrovnik region. Dozens died in Dubrovnik shelling He is accused of violating the Geneva conventions on the protection of civilians in wartime, and of violating the laws and customs of war. "The accused gave a green light to forces under his control to once again shell with unprecedented ferocity the old city from early in the morning until the evening," say prosecutors, describing a date in December 1991. Mr Strugar faces nine charges including murder, cruel treatment, attacks on civilians and devastation not justified by military necessity. His lawyers tried unsuccessfully to postpone start of the trial, until Mr Strugar, said to be suffering from dementia, can undergo a psychiatric evaluation. Navy admiral Miodrag Jokic pleaded guilty to similar charges in August and is awaiting sentence. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/3325057.stm letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Thu, 18 Dec 2003 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/6314/1/E-Milosevic-Knew-of-Srebrenica-Plans-Gen-Clark-Says.html ÂMilosevic Knew of Srebrenica Plans, Gen. Clark Says Thu December 18, 2003 01:46 PM ET (Page 1 of 2)By Paul Gallagher and Melanie Cheary AMSTERDAM (Reuters) - Slobodan Milosevic knew Bosnian Serbs planned to massacre Muslims in Srebrenica in 1995, ex-NATO commander Wesley Clark told The Hague tribunal in evidence prosecutors said on Thursday was central to their case. Clark, a U.S. Democratic presidential hopeful who helped negotiate the Dayton accord that ended the Bosnian war, told Milosevic's war crimes trial he discussed the July 1995 massacre of 7,000 Muslim men and boys with Milosevic a month after it happened. The ex-Yugoslav president, charged with genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes in Croatia, Bosnia and Kosovo in the 1990s, denied he had spoken to Clark about the atrocity, Europe's worst since World War II. The 62-year-old former Serb strongman dismissed the testimony as a "blatant lie," saying he had been a peacemaker in the Balkans. More than 200 pages of transcripts of Clark's testimony were posted on the U.N. war crimes tribunal's Web site after the retired four-star general gave evidence behind closed doors on Monday and Tuesday at the request of the United States.U.S. peace negotiators trying to establish if they should deal with the Bosnian Serbs or Serbian leadership to hammer out a peace deal to end the 1992-95 Bosnian war were told by Milosevic in 1995 to deal directly with him, Clark said. FACE TO FACE TALKS "I said, 'Mr President, you say you have so much influence over the Bosnian Serbs, but how is it then, if you have such influence, that you allowed General (Ratko) Mladic to kill all those people in Srebrenica?" Clark said. "And Milosevic looked at me and paused for a moment. He then said, 'Well, General Clark,' he said, 'I warned Mladic not to do this, but he didn't listen to me,"' Clark said. "It was very clear what I was asking was about the massacre at Srebrenica. When I said 'kill all these people,' it wasn't a military operation, it was a massacre...It was also, to me, very clear what Milosevic was answering," Clark said. "He was answering that he did know this in advance, and he was walking the fine line between saying he was powerful enough, influential enough to have known it but trying to excuse himself the responsibility of having done it." Milosevic and wartime Bosnian Serb army commander Ratko Mladic are both charged with the Srebrenica massacre. Mladic remains at large and is the U.N. war crimes tribunal's most wanted man alongside Bosnian Serb leader Radovan Karadzic. "General Clark, I, for example, believe firmly until the present day that General Mladic did not order any execution of people in Srebrenica. I believe this was done by a group of mercenaries," Milosevic said. Prosecutors said Clark's evidence was crucial to their case against Milosevic. Prosecutors said they want to prove he had "command responsibility" for ethnic cleansing. "It's extremely important for us because it gave us direct evidence that Milosevic had advanced knowledge of the mass killings at Srebrenica," prosecution spokeswoman Florence Hartmann said. Clark, who directed NATO's 11-week bombing campaign to drive Serb forces from Kosovo in 1999 during a crackdown on Kosovo Albanian separatists, also said it appeared that Milosevic controlled Yugoslav army generals during the Kosovo conflict. Milosevic ordered a partial pullout of troops from Kosovo in 1998 under threat of NATO air strikes. Clark, NATO's Supreme Allied Commander at the time, had gone to Serbia to tell Milosevic's government to reduce its forces in Kosovo or face air strikes. NATO launched the strikes in 1999 after the failure of peace talks. "He certainly indicated the ability to control his generals, absolutely. No question about it," Clark told the court. http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=politicsNews&storyID=4017150 letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Thu, 18 Dec 2003 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/6313/1/E-The-Bacich-Saga-An-American-Story.html ÂThe Bacich Saga (An American Story)In the California of the 1980s, the experience of a large family guided by the tenacity of a mother certain of finding a more human Christianity. An exchange of letters, some books in Italian, and finally an encounter…BY ANNA LEONARDINorth of San Francisco is Napa Valley, the most famous wine country in America. This is the point on the globe where our story starts, in the mid-1980s, in the small town of St Helena, where a family with a Dalmatian-Croatian surname was living: the Bacichs-mother, father, and six children. But the parents' relationship was troubled and they decided to separate. Life became even more challenging for the mother, Christine, alone with six children. Her loneliness grew even deeper when their closest friends, scandalized at the subsequent annulment proceedings, turned their backs on her. "In the Church in the United States at the time," the eldest son, Damian, recounts, "there was fierce opposition between conservatives and liberals. My mother was the victim of an intransigent Catholicism lacking in charity." And yet, Christine did not give up. "She was sure," Chris, the second son, goes on, "that there was a human way to live Christianity." It was this certainty that wove together the threads of an experience that would go far. In 1984, she read an article in the National Catholic Register on the Communion & Liberation Movement. It was like being struck by lightning. She took pen and paper in hand and wrote a letter to Italy, where the Movement had its headquarters. The reply was not long in coming. Damian still remembers the package in the mailbox: "It contained what was then Litterae Communionis, some books by Fr Giussani (in Italian!) and a letter in English that said, in so many words, 'Dear Madam, we are sorry to tell you that at the moment there is no one from the Movement in the United States, but please be patient and you will see that something will happen soon.'" At that point, all Christine could do was tackle the books. She set Damian, who knew Spanish, to reading and deciphering "CL Italian." Then, dissatisfied with her son's results, she took all that printed matter to an Opus Dei center, where they translated some passages for her.Time to moveA year later, it was time for Damian to go to college, cutting the umbilical cord with his family. In Damian's case, maybe because San Francisco is so close-by, and maybe because Christine did not slacken the reins, this did not happen-indeed, quite the contrary. Their separation set off a chain of events that would make them inseparable. But let's take things in order.Going to San Francisco to study history, Damian had taken with him a piece of paper on which he had written an address: the parish of the Dominican House of Studies in Berkeley. The priest in his town had advised him to go to Mass there. Thus, Sunday morning, Damian went there, and "obviously" his mother joined him, bringing her daughter, Annemarie. After Mass, the priest invited everybody out for a pizza. Imagine if Christine hadn't joined them! The only thing that bothered her was a man who had stared at her and Annemarie all during Mass. He looked like a foreigner to her. She was right: he was Italian, a researcher in astrophysics, whose friends called him "Binocolo" ("Binoculars") but whose real name is Marco Bersanelli. He had watched them in church because he was amazed that a 13-year-old girl was following the liturgy so devoutly. During lunch, he got up and handed out some flyers. "He is here, like on the first day," was written on them, with the date, time, and place for a meeting called "School of Community." Christine's eyes scanned down the page to stop only when at the bottom she read "Communion and Liberation." Touché!From that moment, Christine threw herself into this adventure. Meetings, parties, trips… It didn't matter that she had to drive two hours to get to Berkeley and the tiny group of Binocolo's friends, it didn't matter that they were all young and she had children in college. Ah, yes, her children: how could she get them involved? Damian confesses, "I wasn't really interested in this. Finally my mother managed to drag me to a dinner, where I came upon Binocolo-the freest man I had ever met."HealingsWhat about Chris? "At the time I was in my next-to-last year of high school," he recounts. "I was very wild, and my whole life revolved around school, girls, and friends. I viewed the Church as a place of moralism, even though I had never doubted the truth of Christianity." Indeed, Chris had grown up with the inner certainty that Christ exists. Born with cancer, he was close to death. His mother prayed and had all the relatives pray to Our Lady, and brought the baby a rosary given to her by a healing priest. Against all medical expectations, Chris got well within a month. "Ever since then, as long as I can remember," Christ recounts, "every evening at our house we recited a Rosary on our knees. This is why my mother maintains that our family encountered the Movement through Our Lady's intercession."The encounter with Binocolo forced Chris to rethink his position regarding the Church. "I saw a Catholic who not only was not a moralist, but was really cool." He too began attending School of Community. But when Christine was forced to look for a new house for her family and decided to move to Sacramento to be closer to the community, Chris was against it. He wanted to stay in St Helena. He rented the family garage of a friend of his and found a job. His brother Martin, just 16 years old, decided to stay with him. Christine swallowed it, but as soon as she had the chance, she set out to get her children back. "It was time for the community vacation," Chris explains, and this time my mother gave me no choice. 'I am your mother, and you are coming.' I returned happy, and certain that my life, the United States, and the whole world had to be like those three days. I left my garage apartment and my job and went to live in Sacramento." Martin too, despite his reticence, gave in when he saw his brothers "transfigured."A rare pearl1987 is a year that Damian and Chris remember well: Fr Giussani came to California. "We had read his books, we had heard our Italian friends talk about him," Chris said excitedly, "but finding yourself in front of him was completely different. He had blown away all our expectations. The first was his name: we were convinced that Don, the title Italians use for priests ["Father"], stood for Donald!" Chris pulled out the question he was waiting to ask: "I want to come study in Italy; I want to get to know the Movement better." "No," Fr Giussani replied sharply, "you have to make the Movement here." And this is what happened. Chris enrolled at the University of San Francisco as a history major and went to live with Damian at 3030 Turk Boulevard #8-the first "CLU" apartment. Together they had dinner at least once a week, housecleaned, prayed, and decided on not too much TV. These four golden rules seem to go against the typical American lifestyle, but they transformed the Bacich brothers' apartment (in the meantime, Martin too had joined them) into a rare pearl on campus, and thus a magnet to many.If you are waiting for the end of this story, relax-you won't read it here. Here is a bare-bones report of life since then: Chris, a member of Memores Domini, teaches history at a Catholic high school in Brooklyn; Damian lives in Los Angeles, finishing his PhD studies in literature; Martin is married with two children, working as an architect in San Francisco, Greg is studying Computer Sciences at Fordham and is involved in CLU in New York; Annemarie has also joined a Memores Domini house (in Maryland) and is a high school teacher; and Marguerite is about to get her degree in Public Relations in California. What has happened to Christine? Paying no attention to her age, in her 50's she earned a university degree and now works with learning impaired children ("special ed"). She is not afraid to talk about Christ even with them. And many of them, thanks to her, have found faith. She continues to live in the San Francisco area. And in the little free time that remains to her, to safeguard the fruit of her relentless entreaty that something real happen, she stays in touch with her California brood, and makes frequent bicoastal phone calls, very much involved in the adventure of life.http://www.traces-cl.com/nov02/thebacich.htm letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Thu, 18 Dec 2003 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/6316/1/E-Croatian-Nobility.html ÂA Guide and Index to Croatian Coats of ArmsNEW BOOK 2003A Guide and IndextoCroatian Coats of ArmsByAdam S. EterovichThe Index covers over 7000 Croatian family names and variations of names. Each name is referenced with the source of grant. Some names were never formally listed and were found on grave stones, house doors or on church floors. Names were recorded in the Hungarian, Austro-German, Venetian-Italian and Croatian languages. The Croatian language was formalized in 1848; most Croatian nobility were granted prior to 1848 and names appear corrupted with many variations. Dalmatian and Istrian nobility used two forms of their names in some cases, such as Mladinic-Mladineo or Capogrosso-Glavinic. The Italian alphabet does not have a K, Kovacevic became Covacevich; Basanic-Bassanich. Croatian nobility grants and records were found from Vienna in Austria to Budapest, Hungary and Venice in Italy. Croatian nobility records can be found in all archival centers in Croatia and in personal family archives. Many more names will be found with further research. No Guide or Index exists to Croatian coat of arms or heraldry. Bibliography included.Croatia Proper, Slavonia, Dalmatia, Bosnia-Hercegovina, Dubrovnik, Kotor and Vojvodina all had the same source or influence of grants of nobility. Croatia was ruled and influenced by Austria, Hungary, Turkey and Venice and her nobility can be best illustrated as follows: 0ld Croatian hereditary nobility; Austrian-Hungarian grants; Venetian grants to Dalmatian nobility. A further detailed breakdown of the various parts of Croatia and the years involved would be as follows: Croatia Proper Hereditary nobility; Feudal nobility; List of nobility or grant of Coat of Arms-1438; Habsburg nobility grants - 1527-1740; Austrian or Hungarian - 1740-1806; Start of military orders or grants to Croatians on the Military Frontier; Austro-Hungarian-Croatian - 1806-1918.DalmatiaOld Dalmatian nobility and those escaping from Bosnia recognized by Venice 1409-1520; Venice granted titles to those who fought the Turks and gave others the title of Count - 1520-1718; Majority of Dalmatian arms were granted in this period - 1718-1797; Austria occupation recognized all Venetian-Dalmatian nobility - 1797-1806; French occupation took away some privileges-1806-1813; Austrian occupation recognizes only 20% of Dalmatian nobility - 1814-1918. Bosnia Old Croatian hereditary titles; Feudal nobility - 1377-1463; Hercegovinian nobility to 1482. All grants of arms and heraldry stopped with the conquest of Bosnia and Hercegovina by the Ottoman Turk.The original grants were lands given to the nobility under a strict feudal system. Later Coats of Arms were granted, then finally lists were published as Nobility Lists or Rolls of Nobility. Titles of NobilityTitles of the nobility varied somewhat due to the influence of foreign rulers and the time period involved. The titles were somewhat different in various parts of Croatia: Old Croatian Hereditary Nobility Knezova--Princes; Velikasa--High Nobility. Bosnian Nobility Knez -- Prince; Vojvoda--Duke; Plemic--Nobleman. Habsburg - Austria Period Knez--Prince; Grof--Count; Barun--Baron; Vitez--Knight; Plemic--Nobleman. Dalmatian Cities Vlastela--High Nobility; Vlastelicici--Nobility. Venice Conte--Count; Nobile--Nobleman.Study of ArmsThe study of Croatian coats of arms and other historic sciences on the professional level started in Croatia in the seventeenth century, particularly with the works by Pavao Ritter Vitezovic from Senj. The contributions have been especially notable since the nineteenth century. Ivan Bojnicic published "Der Adel von Kroatien und Slavonien" (The Noblemen of Croatia and Slavonia). Beside Bojnicic the most prominent expert in this field in the 20th century was Bartol Zmajic. He was a baron, a descendant of a reputable noble family. He spent his whole working life of forty years in the Croatian State Archives in Zagreb as an archivist and a senior archivist, mostly of earlier historic records and published the first detailed insight into the development of Croatian heraldry.Union of Hungary with the Twelve Croatian ClansThe twelve chief Croatian clans, presumably descendants of the original tribes that had taken possession of the country in the sixth or seventh centuries, were the Kacic, Svacic, Subic, Kukara, Gusic, Cudomiric, Mogoric, or Muric, Karinjani-Lapcani, Polecic, Lacnicic, Jamometic or Jamonstic, and Tugomiric or Tudomiric. Croatia had no male heir. It was with the head families of these clans that the Hungarian king entered into discussions as to the terms on which he was to ascend the throne of the Trpimirovici. In 1102 they recognized Koloman as their sovereign. The basic condition that the clans appear to have laid down to the Hungarian ruler was that the Croatian nation in general should retain full possession of Croatian territory and national property; more particularly the twelve noble families or clans named, who ruled were confirmed in their possession of this territory. Turopolje NobilityIn mid winter of 1249 the Mongols rode across the frozen Danube river, and, in pursuance of their usual tactic of following to the death the king of any force which dared to oppose them in the field, part of their army set out to run Bela to earth. The Hungarian king at this time ennobled the entire community of Turopolje near Zagreb for its services in his defense and in supplying him and his entourage with food and other necessities. But Zagreb could not be held against the Mongol storm and the king made for the coast with the Mongol ponies almost on his heels. Zagreb itself was largely destroyed. Free CommunitiesA certain number of plemina (clans) and bratsva remained free. They came to constitute free communities which operated under the general aegis of the lords of the surrounding territories. Sometimes these communities acquired titles of group nobility, Plemenite opcine. Often, too, they had serfs of their own. Communities of this kind such as those of Turopolje, Pokupje, Draganic, Domagovic, Cvetkovic, and of the Korana region, occupied entire villages and succeeded in conserving their privileges until 1848.Books AvailableEterovich, Adam S. A Guide and Index to Croatian Coats of Arms. San Carlos: Ragusan Press, 2003. 70 pages. Soft Cover. Spiral Bound. $15.00. An index and guide to the Nobility of Croatia. Over 7000 names and variations. Eterovich, Adam S. A Guide to Croatian Genealogy. San Carlos, Calif.: Ragusan Press, 1995. 50 pages. Booklet. $14.00. Includes Maps, Translations, Archives.Adam S. Eterovich2527 San Carlos Ave.San Carlos, California 94070USAcroatians@aol.comwww.croatians.com650-592-1190 letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Mon, 15 Dec 2003 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/6317/1/E-How-Zinfandel-Came-to-California.html ÂHow Zinfandel Came to CaliforniaCALIFORNIA ZINFANDEL GRAPESAdam S. Eterovichwww.Croatians.comCroatians have had wineries and vineyards in California since the 1850’s. The first winery in Nevada was organized by the Milatovich Clan prior to 1900. The contribution of Croatians was from the 6000 acre Divisich table grape empire in the San Joaquin Valley to the prize winning Mike Grgich wines of the Napa Valley in California. Croatians brought their wine growing expertise from Dalmatia on the shores of the Adriatic Sea to shores of the Pacific Ocean in California. Zinfandel grapes have been discussed in California by Croatian Americans long before the American experts entered the picture. Mike Grgich should be given the scientific credit for its discovery and origin in Dalmatia thru his expertise as a professional vineyardist. How Zinfandel Came to CaliforniaIn California, the arrival of Zinfandel vines in the mid-19th century was attributed for many years to Count Agoston Haraszthy of Hungary. In the time of Haraszthy, Dalmatia, Croatia was a part of the Kingdom of Hungary. It is entirely possible that Haraszthy brought Zinfandel vines to California in 1861, although he was not the first to bring them to America, since the grape had already been identified on the East Coast decades earlier as coming via Vienna in Austria. Others attribute Italian Monks bringing it to Italy, then to America. The probability is that Haraszthy or Dalmatian, Croatians brought it in their ships that came to California during the Gold Rush.Agoston Haraszthy-Father of California WineIn the 1850s Agoston Haraszthy, a Hungarian nobleman, arrived in Sonoma with cuttings of the Muscat Alexandria grape, which he planted at Buena Vista, outside Sonoma, the first large vineyard in California. The wine industry, which had been centered in Southern California, soon was thriving in the north, thanks to the innovation of Haraszthy and the hundreds of cuttings he introduced from Europe. Croatian Mother of California WineIn 1861 Haraszthy traveled to his homeland, Hungary, and other parts of Europe and collected vines and trees for planting in California. His collection was published by the State of California as a Catalogue of Vines and Trees.Croatia was a part of Austria and Hungary at that time. All cuttings were listed as Hungary with a few from Illyria; others were listed by country. He was proclaimed The Father of California Wine. Agoston Haraszthy was born on August 30, 1812 at Futok, Backa, Vojvodina to a noble family. Vojvodina is not in Hungary, it was a part of Austria and was ancient Croatian territory. In 1834 he married a noblewoman, Eleonora Dedinsky, from Dedina. The Dedinsky coat of arms is registered as Croatian arms and her grandparents, Cupor, are also Croatian nobility. The Cupor arms have the Croatian checker in its shield. The Haraszthy and Dedinsky arms are similar in design indicating relationship. A genealogy of Haraszathy shows related families of Horvat, Balasovich, Kubovich, Burian, Halas; all found today in Croatia.California Gold Croatian WineAt the same time Haraszathy was in Europe, August Senoa, a famous Croatian writer, published “California Gold Croatian Wine” in the Zagreb Times Newspaper in Zagreb, Croatia in 1862. CALIFORNIA GOLD CROATIAN WINE    August SenoaGod has blessed California with gold;Gold has exalted the land far and wide;Its rivers and brooks roll treasures untold,Its rocks conceal gold veins in their inside.But from whatever you have had you fillYou no more derive any joyous thrill.When it is far, however, what a change!The gold that leaves its native land, and sailsThe ocean to Europe- is it not strange?May a fine day roll on Austrian rails.Well, Austrian? Gold? But where is it? Where?My brothers, in museums. Look it up there.And we, the gentle souls, think it meet To be content with a sheer paper sheet.The country of Croatia overflows with wine,Its drops more precious than gold, crystally clear:God Himself has consecrated our vine, Its fame expanding world-wide, far and near,One cannot be a prophet in his land,Sometimes we may not drink as manners demand.When far and away, however- what a change!Whenever leaving your home for some time,You prize Croatian wine- is it not strange?You miss it under a foreign clime.And while I drink that wishy-washy beer,I often brush away a painful tear.Then I remember you, my charming home,Your fiery wine, opulent, flavorsome,With life in it and real love beside,With heaven in it and thunderous song.With olden glory and national pride,With courage and concept lucid and strong;Sure cure for old age, bright sunshine for youth,Proof our hospitality tells the truth.And you, my brothers in Croatian parts,Keep on dancing, sing from you fullest hearts;Our wince is foaming, see it sparkle, my dear,Let jokes be cut- let everybody cheer,Propose a toast to too many a sonWho lacks our wine beneath a foreign sun:Drink moderately to keep yourselves alertLet enemies should plan an assault;Drink boldly to be able to avertFrom new-glory-bearing vines any fault;Drink modestly this divine, fierce gift;Drink wisely, Mirza teaches, foster thrift.Zagreb Times Newspaper 1862 CroatiaMysterious Origin of Zinfandel GrapeBy Mike Grgic of Grgic Hills WineryMy family owned a small vineyard and winery in Croatia where I was born. It was my duty as part of the family to take care of the vineyard and winery every year. Our vineyard was a mixture of many varietals of grapes and I could remember and recognize each varietal by heart. One of those grape varietals was Plavac Mali. In August, 1959, 1 arrived in Napa Valley to work at Souverain Cellars & Vineyard. They had Zinfandel grapes around the winery and I remember looking at those vines and feeling like I had come home to the same grapevines I had left behind in Croatia. The canes, leaves, clusters, berries, color and size of the berries were all familiar to me ... they looked like Plavac Mali in Croatia. As time passed, several articles mentioned the similarity of Zinfandel and Plavac Mali. Dr. Jerry Seps of Storybook Mountain Winery in Napa Valley visited Croatia and he wrote a very promising article about finding the origin of Zinfandel. Dr. Olmo, of the University of California, Davis, got samples of Plavac Mali from Croatia but did not agree that they were the same as Zinfandel.It was at a Zinfandel symposium at Sutter Home Winery in St. Helena where I heard a discussion on how Zinfandel got to America. There were many versions and guesses. One lady claimed that Zinfandel was taken from the nurseries in Austria (Croatia was part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire at that time) and brought to Long Island about 1830 by Gibbs and then taken to California where it was introduced to Napa and Sonoma counties by Osborn & Boggs Nursery. Another person was guessing that Count Agoston Haraszthy brought Zinfandel from Europe. In 1990 I visited Croatia for the first time since 1954 and noticed again the similarity of Plavac Mali and Zinfandel. I was convinced at that time that they were the same grape. On my next trip to Croatia in August, 1993, 1 brought with me clusters, leaves, and canes from Napa Valley Zinfandel and again compared them to Plavac Mali. I could see only similarities! On that trip I obtained the book written by Dr. Peter Males describing different clones of Plavac Mali entitled "Zinfandel, Primitivo, and Plavac Mali." In his opinion, they were the same variety.One day in 1998 1 called Dr. Carol Meredith of the University of California, Davis and asked her to come to my home in Yountville where I showed her the book by Dr. Males and I translated it for her into English. She was very interested and decided to go to Croatia and see for herself if she could solve the puzzle of the origin of Zinfandel. In 1998 she went to Croatia and upon seeing a vineyard of Plavac Mali said, "My goodness, lots of Zinfandel here!" For one week she took samples of about 150 vines, mostly from the section Peninsula Pe1jesac and the island Hvar. When she came back to Davis and analyzed the samples none of them proved to be the real Zinfandel but rather relatives of Zinfandel. The territory that Dr. Meredith did not cover was left to Professor Peich and Professor Edi Maletich from the University of Zagreb to search for the origin of Zinfandel. The miracle happened on September 7, 2000 near Split in Kastel Novi when they discovered a very old vine that proved to be identical to our Zinfandel in California. Of course, further studies are continuing to find more vines and trace their history. Dr. Carol Meredith was kind and analyzed the leaves of the Croatian Zinfandel by eight different tests and all proved that it was the same as that found in California. Mr. Terry Robards wrote an article in the August, 1996 edition of Wine Enthusiast magazine recalling his visit to Croatia explaining and elaborating on Plavic Mali and wines produced from Plavac Mali. The conclusion of the debate is that the origin of California Zinfandel has beenfound in Croatia. Note:Zinfandel is the Croatian grape, the crljenak kastelanski, a relative of Plavac Mali. This is in the Kastela District near Split, Dalmatia, Croatia. This grape is also found on the Islands of Solta and Brac just off the mainland of Split. Many people from this area were in California during the Gold Rush. The oldest Croatian Society in America was organized in San Francisco, California in 1857. Croatians had vineyards in California in the 1850’s.www.Croatians.com letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Fri, 12 Dec 2003 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/6318/1/HE-100-Years-of-Zagrebs-Observatory.html Â100 Years of Zagreb's Observatory - Planetarium100 Godina Zagrebacke ZvjezdarniceDragi moji prirodoznanci,Saljem vam pozivnicu u povodu obiljezavanja 100-te obljetnice Zagrebackezvjezdarnice, kojim povodom ce danas 05.XII.2003. u 12 h biti odrzan jedan jubilarni isvecani program.Radovalo bi me kad biste kao stari stovatelji prirodnih znanosti svojomnazocnoscu uvelicali ovaj posebni dogaðaj (barem u drugom poluvremenu!).uz srdacan pozdravVasKruno PoljakOp-edFew more data:Astronomy in CroatiaInternational dialing code: +385 Museums and PlanetariumsTehnicki muzej-Zagreb, PlanetarijAnte Radonic, Savska cesta 18, HR-41000 Zagreb; tel:1-435-446, fax: 1-428-431. Seats 74. ObservatoriesZvjezdarnica HPDDrago Rosa, Opaticka 22, P.P. 943, HR-10001 Zagreb; tel: 1-271-418. E-mail:zvjezdarnica@srce.hr. Zvjezdarnica VilaLuka Hrvatic, Trg Kralja Tomislava 9, HR-33405 Pitomaca; tel: 33-782-222, fax: 33-782-245. E-mail: bnovosel@public.srce.hr.Zvjezdarnica VisnjanKorado Korlevic, Istarska 5, HR-52463 Visnjan; tel: 52-449-212, fax: 52-449-171. E-mail: kkorlevic@x400.srce.hr.Astronomical Societies & ClubsSavez amaterskih astronomskih drustava HrvatskeHrvoje Bozic, Opaticka 22, p.p. 343, HR-41001 Zagreb; tel: 41-271-418.Astronomsko Drustvo "Leo Brenner"Dorian Bozicevic, Zagrebacka 2/II, 51550 Mali Losinj, Hrvatska/Croatia; tel & fax 51-233-871. E-mail: bozicevic.dorian@excite.com or dorian.bozicevic@aad.hr. Akademsko Astronomsko Drustvo RijekaElio Janko, Blaza Polica 2/II, HR-51000 RijekaAstronomosko Drustvo Istra PulaEdi Puh, Monte Zaro bb, HR-52000 Pula; tel: 52-22641.Astronomsko drustvo PitomacaBranislav Novosel, Trg Kralja Tomislava 9, HR-33405 Pitomaca; tel: 33-782-222, fax: 33-782-245. E-mail: bnovosel@public.srce.hr. Astronomsko Drustvo Ivan Stefek KutinaMiroslav Varat, Crkvena 59, HR-44320 Kutina; tel: 44-621-304. Astronomsko Drustvo Faust VrancicJosip Friganovic, Gimnazija, Ul. 29 listopada 1918, broj 64, HR-59000 Sibenik; tel: 59-26420. Astronomska Sekcija O.S. V. Nazor ViroviticaZlatko Kovacevic, Tome Masaryka 21, HR-33000 Virovitica; tel: 33-721-410, fax: 33-721-070. Astronomsko Astronauticko Drustvo ZadarIvo Dijan, Brne Karnautica 2, HR-23000 Zadar; tel: 23-431-338. Astronomsko-astronauticko Drustvo ZagrebSanjin Kovacic, Opaticka 22, HR-10000 Zagreb; tel & fax: 1-271-418. E-mail:sanjin.kovacic@public.srce.hr. Astronomsko Drustvo Slavonski BrodMarina Gojkovic, Maruliceva 5, HR-35000 Slavonski Brod; tel: 35-441-743.Prirodoslovno Astronomsko Drustvo SisakZvonko Prihoda, Osnovna Skola Mladost Lekenik, Zagrebacka 25b, HR-44272 Lekenik; tel: 44-772-130.ÂOther Sites News and Press ReleasesAstronomical HeadlinesThe NASA NewsroomESO Press ReleasesWorldwide Amateur Astronomical SocietiesAstronomical Society of New South WalesAstronomical Society of VictoriaAstronomical Society of TasmaniaSoutheast Queensland Astronomical SocietyWoodlands Observatory Home PageBrisbane Astronomical SocietyAstronomical Society of South AustraliaAmes Area Amateur Astronomers (Ames, Iowa, USA)Amherst Area Amateur Astronomers Association, Amherst, MassachusettsAssociation of Amateur Astronomers: Texas A&M University (College Station, Texas, USA) Association of Lunar and Planetary ObserversAstronomical Association Sirius (Jyvaskylan, Central-Finland) Astronomical Society of the Atlantic (Atlanta, Georgia, USA)Astronomical Society of the Pacific (San Francisco, California, USA)Astronomy Club of Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Blacksburg, Virginia, USA) Bradley Amateur Astronomy Club (Bradley University, Peoria, Illinois, USA)Brigham Young Astronomical Society (Provo, Utah, USA)Burgenl& aumlandischen Amateur Astronomen (Austria)Central Arkansas Astronomical Society (Roland, Arkansas, USA) Central Maryland Area Amateur Astronomy (Maryland, USA)Finnish Amateur Astronomy (Finland)Front Range Astronomical Super-Cluster (Denver, Colorado, USA) Hamilton Amateur Astronomy (Hamilton, Ontario, Canada)Las Vegas Astronomical Society (Las Vegas, Nevada, USA)Longmont Astronomical Society (Longmont, Colorado, USA)Maryland Students for the Exploration and Development of Space (University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland, USA) Penn State Astronomy Club (College Park, Pennsylvania, USA) Peoria Astronomical Society (Peoria, Illinois, USA)Prairie Astronomy Club (Lincoln, Nebraska, USA)Ryerson Astronomical Society (University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA) Seven-0-Five Astronomers (University of California, Berkeley, California, USA)Society of Amateur Radio Astronomers (USA) Starfax Astronomy Club (Ashville, North Carolina, USA)Southern Cross Astronomical Society (Florida, USA)Tallahassee Astronomical Society (Tallahassee, Florida, USA) University of Arizona SEDS (Tucson, Arizona, USA)Mt Wilson Observatory Services WWW Amateur Astronomy ResourcesThe Solar SystemComet Observation Home PageSkyMap: Comet Orbital ElementsMeteor ShowersIMO Meteor Shower Calendar '96Paths of the planets - 1996Planet Data CalculatorWelcome to the PlanetsSolar Data Analysis CenterSaturn Ring Plane Crossings of 1995-1996 (JPL)The EarthThe Aurora PageRed Sprites and Blue JetsAustralian Weather InformationPhotographs and Image DatabasesList of NGC ImagesSEDS Messier DatabasePlanetary Nebulae GalleryNebula ListA.A.O. 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Bach) Tue, 09 Dec 2003 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/6319/1/E-Croatian-Americans--The-Medal-of-Honor-December-7-1941.html ÂCroatian Americans Medal of Honor Winners Japanese Attack at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii on December 7, 1941Medal of Honor WinnersCroatian AmericansbyAdam S. EterovichCroatian Fraternal Union 900The Medal of Honor is the highest award and honor America gives for heroism to individuals in military service. The awards have been given since the Civil War. The award is given to the next-of-kin or to the individual. It is always awarded by the President of the United States.The award is also credited to the state of origin or to the country of birth. Croatia has never been indicated as the country of origin. Croatia, unfortunately, had not been independent for approximately eight hundred years and for this reason it is not mentioned in official biographies or in any books or articles written about the Medal of Honor.Some of our foreign born came to America as Austrians, Hungarians, Italians or Venetians and Turks. We have been left out of American history whether it be accomplishments in sports, military, academics, industry or any other endeavor.Croatian Americans can be credited with at least ten Medals of Honor and perhaps thirteen more which will require further research.THE PETER TOMICH UNCLAIMED MEDAL OF HONORorPeter Tonic-Tomic-HercegThere are only two Medals of Honor in American history that are not claimed because a next-of-kin could not be found, one in the Indian Wars and Peter Tomich at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii on December 7, 1941. He died a hero on the battleship Utah.His next-of-kin, John Tomich in Los Angeles, could not be found and the Navy dropped the matter as his records simply stated born in Prolog, Austria. So, for 57 years the Navy, Medal of Honor Society and the Croatian community did nothing thru no fault of their own.Approximately 12 years ago I asked a journalist, Vjekoslav Krsnik, from Split, Croatia to visit Mali and Veli Prolog in Dalmatia and Prolog in Hercegovina and ask for the names Tonic and Tomic and since these were small places , we should turn up something. To our surprise no Tonic-Tomic originated in Mali or Veli Prolog, but at Prolog in Hercegovina Vjekoslav found that Tonic was the Clan Name for Herceg. We had found our hero, his birthplace and his Croatian nationality. We obtained birth and other records from Prolog which were extremely useful.Admiral J. Robert Lunney of New York has probably contributed more than anyone in his help, cooperation and labor to present to the proper Naval authorities adequate proof that we do have a next-of-kin. Last year he traveled to Prolog to view the original Church and Civil records. His first submission to the Navy was rejected and since then a second Legal Brief has been filed. We also wish to thank my good friend Don Chvarak, a Croatian American War Veteran, of Texas, Admiral Robert A. Rosen, Senators Robert G. Torricelli and Max Cleland. Also special thanks to Mato Herceg here in California and a Vietnam Veteran, a native of Prolog, who updated and uncovered new documentation and president Bernard Luketich of the Croatian Fraternal Union for graciously publishing material on Peter Tomich in the Zajednicar. The Navy is confused because of "Prolog, Austria"; Tonich changed to Tomich, then being advised that the name is really Herceg and that he is a Croatian from Hercegovina that had been Turkey in his father's lifetime. It does get confusing.We are pleased to report to have found a direct relative of the next-of-kin, now deceased, his grandson, Srecko Herceg a Lt. Col. in the Croatian Army living in Split, Dalmatia. He received five medals for valor in battle against Serbian forces in the late war in Croatia. We also have a relative, Mato Herceg, living in California. Now we have two heroes, it must in their blood...Hercegovci are known for their stubborness, loyalty, honor and as superior warriors against all odds. Peter Tomich-Herceg beat the Japanese in the Pacific and Srecko Herceg beat the Serbs in Croatia and Hercegovina. We do hope to have Srecko Herceg brought to America or Mato Herceg to receive the Medal from the President of the United States.I would like this Medal to be deposited at the Croatian Fraternal Union Museum in Pittsburgh.TOMICH, PETER Peter Tonich was born in Prolog, Austria, on June 3. 1893. He enlisted in U. S.Army at Fort Solcum, New York, on June 6, 1917, and served with the 12ti- Company, 3rd Training Battalion, 154th Depot Brigade, Camp Greene, North Carolina, and also with Company L, 47th Infantry, Camp Greene, North Carolina. He was honorably discharged January l3, 1919.Tonich was naturalized at Charlotte, Mecklenburg County, North Carolina, on October 10, 1918. He enlisted in the U. S. Navy at Newark, New Jersey, on January 23, 1919, at which time his name was recorded as Tonich. Later he used the name Tomich in signing official papers. Tonich (Tomich) served continuously in the Navy from the time of his enlistment and was advanced through the enlisted ratings to that of Chief Watertender on June 4, 1930.Tonich (Tomich) was serving aboard the USS UTAH at Pearl Harbor when the Japanese attacked the Fleet on December 7, 1941, and was killed in that action. For his heroism on this historic occasion he was awarded the Medal of Honor, posthumously, by the President of the United States, with the following citation:Medal of Honor"For distinguished conduct in line of his profession and extraordinary courace and disregard of his own safety during the attack on the Fleet in Pearl Harbor, Territory of Hawaii, by the Japanese forces on December 7, 1941. Although realizing that the ship was capsizing, as a result of enemy bombing and torpedoing, he remained at his post in the engineering plant of the USS UTAH, until he saw that all boilers were secured.and all fireroom personnel had left their stations, and by so doing he lost his own life."He was also awarded the Purple Heart Medal, posthumously.In addition to the Medal of Honor and the Purple Heart Medal, Tonich (Tomich) was entitled to the American Defense Service Medal, Fleet Clasp, the Asiatic-Pacific Area Campaign Medal, and the World War II Victory Medal.A Destroyer Escort vessel, the USS TOMICH, DE-242, was named in his honor.BUCHA, PAUL WILLIAMRank and organization: Captain, U.S. Army, Company D, 3d Battalion. 187th Infantry, 3d Brigade, 101st Airborne Division. Place and date: Near Phuoc Vinh, Binh Duong Province, Republic of Vietnam, 16-19 March 1968. Entered service at., U.S. Military Academy, West Point, N.Y. Born: I August 1943, Washington, D.C. Citation, For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. Capt. Bucha distinguished himself while serving as commanding officer, Company D, on a reconnaissance-in force mission against enemy forces near Phuoc Vinh, The company was inserted by helicopter into the suspected enemy stronghold to locate and destroy the enemy, During this period Capt. Bucha aggressively and courageously led his men in the destruction of enemy fortifications and base areas and eliminated scattered resistance impeding the advance of the company. On 18 March while advancing to contact, the lead elements of the company became engaged by the heavy automatic weapon, heavy machinegun, rocket propelled grenade, claymore mine and small-arms fire of an estimated battalion-size force. Capt. Bucha, with complete disregard for his safety, moved to the threatened area to direct the defense and ordered reinforcements to the aid of the lead element. Seeing that his men were pinned down by heavy machinegun fire from a concealed bunker located some 40 meters to the front of the positions, Capt. Bucha crawled through the hail of fire to singlehandedly destroy the bunker with grenades.During this heroic action Capt. Bucha received a painful shrapnel wound. Returning to the perimeter, he observed that his unit could not hold its positions and repel the human wave assaults launched by the determined enemy. Capt. Bucha ordered the withdrawal of the unit elements and covered the withdrawal to positions of a company perimeter from which he could direct fire upon the charging enemy. When friendly element retrieving casualties was ambushed and cut off from the perimeter, Capt. Bucha ordered them to feign death and he directed artillery fire around them. During the night Capt. Bucha moved throughout the position, distributing ammunition, providing encouragement and insuring the integrity of the defense. He directed artillery, gunship and Air Force gunship fire on the enemy strong points and attacking forces, marking the positions with smokegrenades. Using flashlights in complete view of enemy snipers, he directed the medical evacuation of 3 air-ambulance loads of seriously wounded personnel and the helicopter supply of his company. At daybreak Capt. Bucha led a rescue party to recover the dead and wounded members of the ambushed element. During the period of intensive combat, Capt. Bucha, by his extraordinary heroism, inspirational example, outstanding leadership and professional competence, led his company in the decimation of a superior enemy force which left 156 dead on the battlefield. His bravery and gallantry at the risk of his life are in the highest traditions of the military service, Capt. Bucha has reflected great credit on himself, his unit, and the U.S. Army.The original name of Capt. Bucha was Buha. His people came from Slavonia. He is now the President of the Medal of Honor Society in America.CUKELA, LOUIS (Army Medal)Rank and organization: Sergeant, U.S. Marine Corps, 66th Company 5th Regiment. Place and date: Near Villers-Cotterets, France, 18 July 1918. Entered service at: Minneapolis, Minn. Born: I May 1888, Sebenes, Austria. G,O. No.: 34, W.D., 1919. (Also received Navy Medal of Honor.) Citation: When his company, advancing through a wood, met with strong resistance from an enemy strong point, Sgt. Cukela crawled out from the flank and made his way toward the German lines in the face of heavy fire, disregarding the warnings of his comrades. He succeeded in getting behind the enemy position and rushed a machinegun emplacement, killing or driving off the crew with his bayonet. With German handgrenades he then bombed out the remaining portion of the strong point, capturing 4 men and 2 damaged machine guns. Sgt. Cukela was born in Sibenik, Dalmatia and the origins of Cukela come from the Island of Solta. My good friend, Ante Jakovcevic, from Solta proved that he is a Croatian Catholic with origins in Solta. He is one of the few that received two Medals of Honor.CUKELA, LOUIS (Navy Medal)Rank and organization: Sergeant, U.S. Marine Corps, 66th Company, 5th Regiment. Born: I May 1888, Sebenes, Austria. Accredited to: Minnesota. (Also received Army Medal of Honor.) Citation: For extraordi nary heroism while serving with the 66th Company, 5th Regiment, dur ing action in the Forest de Retz, near Viller-Cottertes, France, 18 July 1918. Sgt. Cukela advanced alone against an enemy strong point that was holding up his line. Disregarding the warnings of his comrades, he crawled out from the flank in the face of heavy fire and worked his way to the rear of the enemy position. Rushing a machinegun emplacement, he killed or drove off the crew with his bayonet, bombed out the remaining part of the strong point with German handgrenades and captured 2 machineguns and 4 men.NOVOSEL, MICHAEL J.Rank and organization: Chief Warrant Officer, U.S. Army, 82d Medical Detachment, 45th Medical Company, 68th Medical Group. Place and date: Kien Tuong Province, Republic of Vietnam, 2 October 1969. Entered service at: Kenner, La. Born: 3 September 1922, Etna, Pa. Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. CWO Novosel, 82d Medical Detachment, distinguished himself while serving as commander of a medical evacuation helicopter. He unhesitatingly maneuvered his helicopter into a heavily fortified and defended enemy training area where a group of wounded Vietnamese soldiers were pinned down by a large enemy force. Flying without gunship or other cover and exposed to intense machinegun fire, CWO Novosel was able to locate and rescue a wounded soldier. Since all communications with the beleaguered troops had been lost, he repeatedly circled the battle area, flying at low level under continuous heavy fire, to attract the attention of the scattered friendly troops. This display of courage visibly raised their morale, as they recognized this as a signal to assemble for evacuation. On 6 occasions he and his crew were forced out of the battle area by the intense enemy fire, only to circle and return from another direction to land and extract additional troops. Near the end of the mission, a wounded soldier was spotted close to an enemy bunker. Fully realizing that he would attract a hail of enemy fire, CWO Novosel nevertheless attempted the extraction by hovering the helicopter backward. As the man was pulled on aboard, enemy automatic weapons opened fire at close range, damaged the aircraft and wounded CWO Novosel. He momentarily lost control of the aircraft, but quickly recovered and departed under the withering enemy fire. In all, 15 extremely hazardous extractions were performed in order to remove wounded personnel. As a direct result of his selfless conduct, the lives of 29 soldiers were saved. The extraordinary heroism displayed by CWO Novosel was an inspiration to his comrades in arms and reflect great credit on him, his unit, and the U.S. Army.CWO Novosel's people came from Ribnik in Croatia.GRBITCH, RADERank and organization: Seaman, U.S, Navy. Born: 24 December 1870, Austria. Accredited to: Illinois. G.O. No.: 13, 5 January 1906. Citation: On board the U.S. Bennington, for extraordinary heroism displayed at the time of the explosion of a boiler of that vessel at San Diego, Calif., 21 July 1905.Grbitch is Grbic and his origins are in Dalmatia, Croatia.TOMINAC, JOHN J.Rank and organization: First Lieutenant, U.S. Army, Company 1, 15th infantry, 3d Infantry Division. Place and date: Saulx de Vesoul, France, 12 September 1944. Entered service at: Conemaugh, Pa. Birth: Conemaugh, Pa. G.O. No.: 20, 29 March 1945. Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at risk of life above and beyond the call of duty an 12 September 1944, in an attack on Saulx de Vesoul, France. lst Lt. Tominac charged alone over 50 yards of exposed terrain onto an enemy roadblock to dispatch a 3-man crew of German machine gunners with a single burst from his Thompson machinegun. After smashing the enemy outpost, he led one of his squads in the annihilation of a second hostile group defended by mortar, machinegun, automatic pistol, rifle and grenade fire, killing about 30 of the enemy. Reaching the suburbs of the town, he advanced 50 yards ahead of his men to reconnoiter a third enemy position which commanded the road with a 77-mm. SP gun supported by infantry elements. The SP gun opened fire on his supporting tank, setting it afire with a direct hit. A fragment from the same shell painfully wounded Ist Lt. Tominac in the shoulder, knocking him to the ground. As the crew abandoned the M-4 tank, which was rolling down hill toward the enemy, ist Lt. Tominac picked himself up and jumped onto the hull of the burning vehicle. Despite withering enemy machinegun, mortar, pistol, and sniper fire, which was ricocheting off the hull and turret of the M-4, Ist Lt. Tominac climbed to the turret and gripped the 50-caliber antiaircraft machinegun. Plainly silhouetted against the sky, painfully wounded, and with the tank burning beneath his feet, he directed bursts of machinegun fire on the roadblock, the SP gun, and the supporting German infantrymen, and forced the enemy to withdraw from his prepared position. Jumping off the tank before it exploded, Ist Lt. Tominac refused evacuation despite his painful wound. Calling upon a sergeant to extract the shell fragments from his shoulder with a pocketknife, he continued to direct the assault, led his squad in a handgrenade attack against a fortified position occupied by 32 of the enemy armed with machineguns, machine pistols, and rifles, and compelled them to surrender. His outstanding heroism and exemplary leadership resulted in the destruction of 4 successive enemy defensive positions, surrender of a vital sector of the city Saulx de Vesoul, and the death or capture of at least 60 of the enemy.His people are from Croatia.ANTOLAK, SYLVESTERRank and organization: Sergeant, U.S. Army, Company B, 15th Infantry, 3d Infantry Division. Place and date: Near Cisterna di Littoria, Italy, 24 May 1944. Entered service at: St. Clairsville, Ohio, Birth: St. Clairsville, Ohio. G.O. No.: 89, 19 October 1945. Citation: Near Cisterna di Littoria, Italy, he charged 200 yards over flat, coverless terrain to destroy an enemy machinegun nest during the second day of the offensive which broke through the German cordon of steel around the Anzio beachhead. Fully 30 yards in advance of his squad, he ran into withering enemy machinegun, machine-pistol and rifle fire. Three times he was struck by bullets and knocked to the ground, but each time he struggled to his feet to continue his relentless advance. With one shoulder deeply gashed and his right arm shattered, he continued to rush directly into the enemy fire concentration with his submachinegun wedged under his uninjured arm until within 15 yards of the enemy strongpoint, where he opened fire at deadly close range, killing 2 Germans and forcing the remaining 10 to surrender. He reorganized his men and, refusing to seek medical attention so badly needed, chose to lead the way toward another strongpoint 100 yards distant. Utterly disregarding the hail of bullets concentrated upon him, he had stormed ahead nearly three-fourths of the space between strongpoints when he was instantly killed by hostile enemy fire. Antolak is probably Antoljak and many are found in Croatia.VADAS, ALBERTRank and organization: Seaman, U.S. Navy. (Named changed to Wadas, Albert.) Born: 26 March 1876, Austria-Hungary. Accredited to: New York. G.O. No.: 521, 7 July 1899. Citation: On board the U.S.S. Marblehead during the operation of cutting the cable leading from Cienfuegos, Cuba, I I May 1898. Facing the heavy fire of the enemy, Vadas displayed extraordinary bravery and coolness throughout this period.More detailed records stated he was from Fuma (Fiume), Fiume is Italian for Rijeka, Croatia. The name Vadas-Wadas was Vidas from the Rijeka district.MESTROVITCH, JAMES Rank and organization: Sergeant, U.S. Army, Company C, I I I th Infantry, 28th ' Division. Place and date: At Fismette, France, 10 August 1918. Entered service at: Pittsburgh, Pa. Birth: Montenegro. G.O. No.: 20, W.D., 1919. Citation: Seeing his company commander lying wounded 30 yards in front of the line after his company had withdrawn to a sheltered position behind a stone wall, Sgt. Mestrovitch voluntarily left cover and crawled through heavy machinegun and shell fire to where the officer lay. He took the officer upon his back and crawled to a place of safety, where he administered first-aid treatment, his exceptional heroism saving the officer's life.Mestrovitch is Mestrovic. Detailed military records state he was born in Tivat in the Bay of Kotor. This area was a part of traditional Dalmatia and Tivat was predominantly Croatian Catholic. It was given to Montenegro after WWII.QUESTIONABLE CROATIAN ORIGINSIJAN, LANCE P.Rank and organization: Captain, U.S. Air Force, 4th Allied POW Wing, Pilot of an F-4C aircraft. Place and date: North Vietnam, 9 November 1967. Entered service at: Milwaukee, Wis. Born: 13 April 1942, Milwaukee, Wis. Citation: While on a flight over North Vietnam, Capt. Sijan ejected from his disabled aircraft and successfully evaded capture for more than 6 weeks. During this time, he was seriously injured and suffered from shock and extreme weight loss due to lack of food. After being captured by North Vietnamese soldiers, Capt. Sijan was taken to a holding point for subsequent transfer to a prisoner of war camp. In his emaciated and crippled condition, he overpowered his guards and crawled into the jungle, only to be recaptured after several hours. He was then transferred to another prison camp where he was kept in solitary confinement and interrogated at length. During interrogation, he was severely tortured; however, he did not divulge any information to his captors. Capt. Sijan lapsed into delirium and was placed in the care of another prisoner. During his intermittent periods of consciousness until his death, he never complained of his physical condition and, on several occasions, spoke of future escape attempts. Capt. Sijan's extraordinary heroism and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty at the cost of his life are in keeping with the highest traditions of the U.S. Air Force and reflect great credit upon himself and the U.S. Armed Forces.The name Sijan is found in great numbers in Croatia.PAIGE, MITCHELLRank and organization: Platoon Sergeant, U.S. Marine Corps. place and date: Solomon Islands, 26 October 1942. Entered service at: Pennsylvania. Born: 31 August 1918, Charleroi, Pa. Citation: For extraordinary heroism and conspicuous gallantry in action above and beyond the call of duty while serving with a company of marines in combat against enemy Japanese forces in the Solomon Islands on 26 October 1942. I believe his name was Pajic or Pejic. This name is found in Croatia.STAHEL, JULIUSRank and organization: Major General, U.S. Volunteers. Place and date: At Piedmont, Va., 5 June 1864. Entered service at: New York, N.Y. Born: 5 November 1825, Hungary. Date of issue: 4 November 1893. Citation: Led his division into action until he was severely wounded.This name is found in Croatia and specifically in Zagreb.FITZ, JOSEPHRank and organization: Ordinary Seaman, U.S. Navy. Born: 24 May 1886, Austria. accredited to: Iowa. G.O. No.: 19, 1 May 1906. Citation: On board the U.S.S. Pampanga, Mount Dajo Jolo, Philippine Islands, 8 March 1906. Serving in the presence of the enemy on this date, Fitz displayed bravery and extraordinary heroism.This name is found in Croatia.LUKES, WILLIAM F.Rank and organization: Landsman, U.S. Navy. Born: 1846, Bohemia Enlisted at:,Tientsin, China. G.O. No.: 180, 10 October 1872. Citation, Served with Company D during the capture of the Korean forts, 9 and 10 June 1871. Fighting the enemy inside the fort, Lukes received a severe cut over the head.This name is found in Croatia. Bohemia was used many times for Croatians in US Census reports, in fact, Bohemia is not an authorized country of origin for the Census.BURGER, JOSEPHRank and organization: Private, Company H, 2d Minnesota Infantry. Place and date: At Nolensville, Tenn., 15 February 1863. Entered service at: Crystal Lake, Minn. Birth: Austria. Date of issue: I I September 1897. Citation: Was one of a detachment of 16 men who heroically defended a wagon train against the attack of 125 cavalry, repulsed the attack and saved the train.Burger is also found in Croatia.KARPELES, LEOPOLDRank and organization: Sergeant, Company E, 57th Massachusetts Infantry. Place and date: At Wilderness, Va., 6 May 1864. Entered service at: Springfield, Mass. Birth: Hungary. Date of issue: 30 April 1870. Citation: While color bearer, rallied the retreating troops and induced them to check the enemy's advance.Karpeles is found in Zagreb and is of Jewish heritage.DUTKO,JOHN W.Rank and organization: Private First Class, U.S. Army, 3d Infantry Division. Place and date: Near Ponte Rotto, Italy, 23 May 1944. Entered service at: Riverside, N.J. Birth: Dilltown, Pa. G.O. No.: 80, 5October 1944. Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at risk of life above and beyond the call of duty, on 23 May 1944, near Ponte Rotto, Italy. Dutkovic is found in Croatia.WITEK, FRANK PETERRank and organization: Private First Class, U.S. Marine Corps Reserve. Born: December 1921, Derby, Conn. Accredited to: Illinois. Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while serving with the Ist Battalion, 9th Marines, 3d Marine Division, during the Battle of Finegayen at Guam, Marianas, on 3 August 1944. Vitek is found in Croatia.VARGAS, M. SANDO, JR,Rank and organization: Major (then Capt.), U.S, Marine Corps, Company G, 2d Battalion, 4th Marines, 9th Marine Amphibious Brigade. Place and date: Dai Do, Republic of Vietnam, 30 April to 2 May 1968. Entered service at: Winslow, Ariz. Born: 29 July 1940, Winslow, Ariz. Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while serving as commanding officer, Company G, in action against enemy forces from 30 April to 2 May 1968. Vargas is found in Croatia.M0LNAR, FRANKIE ZOLYRank and organization: Staff Sergeant, U.S. Army, Company B, ist Battalion, 8th Infantry, 4th Infantry Division. Place and date: Kontum Province, Republic of Vietnam, 20 May 1967. Entered service at.Fresno, Calif. Born: 14 February 1943, Logan, W. Va. Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. Molnar is found in great numbers in Croatia.CROATIANS IN MILITARY AND MARINE ACTIVITIESCroatians can be found in the Indian Wars, American Revolution, the Alamo, Texas, Civil War, Spanish American War, WW 1, WW 11, Korea and Vietnam.They served in Turkish War Fleets, The Great Spanish Armada, Venetian Fleet operations, and in Spanish Gold Fleets to and from the New World.Adam S. EterovichKorean War Veteran Volunteer-4 yearsAmerikonac-Bracanin letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Sun, 07 Dec 2003 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/6322/1/E-Owen-praised-Milosevic-in-The-Hague.html ÂOwen praised Milosevicfor avoiding a "bloodbath" ???????????During the cross-examination Owen praised Milosevic for avoiding a "bloodbath" from happening in the Muslim enclave of Srebrenica in 1993. "I believe you were very helpful in 1993 when you kept (Bosnian Serb military leader Ratko) Mladic from capturing Srebrenica," Owen said. Op-edWhat is so painful is that the world just reported this statement, no comments or outrage from intellectuals, politicians, ... anybody significant ..in the world. Premier and the president of our country should be calling press conferences the minute this news came out. No, this is not just a legal matter. This is a public opinion matter. This is our stolen history matter, these are our sons and daughters that were brutally killed by the Milosevic-Owen alliance. Owen is a present member of the House of the Lords. And no comments from England? Are these statements discussed on a diplomatic level? I bet the Queen wouldn't be too happy to hear this publicly. Nenad Bachp.s. Almost four weeks passed since this statement came out.Milosevic was ready to cut a deal to end Balkans wars in 1993: ex-EU envoyTue Nov 4,12:32 PM ETTHE HAGUE (AFP) - Former Balkans peace broker David Owen told the war crimes trial of Slobodan Milosevic that the former Yugoslav president was ready to cut a deal to halt the wars in Croatia and Bosnia in 1993 -- two years before the conflict ended. Under cross-examination by Milosevic himself, Owen said the Serb strongman had given up on the idea of carving up a "Greater Serbia" encompassing parts of Bosnia and Croatia in 1993 when he signed a peace plan that he co-authored. But he added Milosevic did not actively promote a peace deal. "I believe you wanted peace from April 1993 onwards," said Owen, adding: "I wish you had made your verbal support for peace into military and economic pressures which could have brought about peace earlier." The so-called Vance-Owen plan signed on April 23, 1993 was the first proposed settlement that ruled out linking the Bosnian Serb entity in Bosnia with Serbia. The plan failed because the Bosnian Serb leadership voted against it. Owen, a former British foreign minister, was the European Unions peace envoy to the former Yugoslavia during the wars from 1992 to 1995. During the cross-examination Owen praised Milosevic for avoiding a "bloodbath" from happening in the Muslim enclave of Srebrenica in 1993. "I believe you were very helpful in 1993 when you kept (Bosnian Serb military leader Ratko) Mladic from capturing Srebrenica," Owen said. The EU envoy said an attack of the densely populated enclave and ensuing street combat would have resulted in "carnage". When Mladic finally did capture the then UN-protected safe area of Srebrenica two years later his troops slaughtered over 7,000 Muslims. The 1995 Srebrenica massacre is an important part of the genocide charge Milosevic faces over the bloody war in Bosnia. The prosecution argues that the former president had the power to stop the carnage or punish those responsible namely Mladic and Bosnian Serb political leader Radovan Karadzic. The fact that he did neither is a key element in the genocide indictment. Milosevic has been on trial at the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia here since February last year. He faces more than 60 charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity for his role in the 1990s wars in Croatia, Bosnia and Kosovo that tore apart the Balkans. For the war in Bosnia that left over 200,000 dead he faces a separate genocide charge. Prosecutors argue that Milosevic condoned the atrocities committed by rebel Serbs under his control as part of his plan to create a "Greater Serbia" carved out of parts of Bosnia and Croatia. During the trial Milosevic has tried to cast himself as a peacemaker. "Without Serbia there would not have been any Dayton accord" Milosevic boasted, referring to the peace agreement signed in December 1995 that ended the war in Bosnia and Croatia. "I think that is undoubtedly true," Owen replied. The testimony of the top British diplomat is a boost for Milosevic's claim that he was striving for peace, but cannot be called an outright victory for him. Owen's view that the former president could have stopped the war but was unwilling to do so supports the prosecution's assertions that Milosevic controlled the Bosnian and Croatian Serbs. The prosecution has until the end of this year to wrap up its case against Milosevic. After a three-month break to prepare his defence, the former president, who is defending himself in court, will present his case. The trial is expected to last until at least 2005. Source:http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/afp/20031104/wl_afp/warcrimes_yugo_milosevic_031104173233  letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Sun, 30 Nov 2003 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/6321/1/EH-Croatia-Myth-and-Reality-by-Michael-McAdams.html ÂÂDear Mr. Bach,Here's the link to quite interesting work by American scholar Michael McAdams "Croatia: Myth and reality": http://mirror.veus.hr/myth/ .Thanks in advance and kindest regards,Tomislav PetricevicPostovani gosp. Bach,Prilazem link na vrlo zanimljiv rad americkog znanstvenika Michaela McAdamsa "Hrvatska: Mit i stvarnost": http://mirror.veus.hr/myth/ .Unaprijed zahvalan i najljepsi pozdravi,Dear Tomislav, Mr. McAdams has a home here at Crown from the first day. Yes, it is important to be repetitive even when you speak the truth. Thank you for paying attention. I recommend this work tremendously and this book should be in every library of the world. With digital library option, it is very possible. Ministry of information should produce these results, years ago. Get the book and place it in your local library.best,Nenad letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Sun, 30 Nov 2003 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/6320/1/H-SLAVA-DUBROVNIKA-ISPISANA-NA-19-PRAMACA.html ÂSLAVA DUBROVNIKA ISPISANA NA 19 PRAMACA Kada za mjesec dana pomorski Dubrovnik uz pjenusac i zelje za dobro more u svoje okrilje prigrli najnoviju prinovu Atlantske plovidbe, bit c'e to i prigoda da se podsjeti na tisuc'godisnje pomorske tradicije i cvrstu povezanost Grada i mora.Preuzimanje suvremenog panamaxa za prijevoz sipkih tereta, nekadasnje svicarske Silvrette, koji c'e pod hrvatskom zastavom zaploviti kao City of Dubrovnik, pravi je povod da se u prilogu MORE pozabavimo brodovima s imenom grada pod Srem.Prinova Atlantske plovidbe bit c'e 13. trgovacki brod nasih brodara koji u posljednjih 150 godina nosi ime Dubrovnika, po cemu je Grad nedostizni rekorder. Primat je jos naglaseniji znali se da su isto ime nosila i tri strana broda, te jos tri u mornarickoj sluzbi. Uistinu impresivna flota od 19 razlicitih Dubrovnika! Dakako govorimo o brodovima s hrvatskim imenom Grada, jer valja podsjetiti na znamenitu jedrilicu The City of Ragusa kojim je Nikola Primorac usao u legendu preplovivsi Atlantik, ili na jedrenjak Citta di Ragusa koji se u kronikama spominje jos 1787. godine.SLAVA PRVOG PAROBRODAKao prvi Dubrovnik obicno se istice parobrod izgraen 1880. godine u skotskome gradic'u Dumbartonu po narudzbi skupine Dubrovcana predvoenih Aleksandrom Opuic'em. Bio je to prvi dubrovacki parobrod, najmoderniji putnicko-teretni brod svoga doba, od 310 tona nosivosti, dug 39,4 i sirok 6,1 metar, brzine 9,5 cvorova. Za svaku sigurnost je imao i - jedra, a bio je iznimno cvrste gradnje i s lakoc'om se nosio s kusnjama nevremena, pokazujuc'i svoje kvalitete na zahtjevnoj pruzi Trst-Zadar-Split-Dubrovnik-Bari.Gradnja Dubrovnika bila je golemi iskorak u brodarstvu Grada, pa nije cudno da se o njemu toliko pisalo jos od 19. veljace 1880., kad je prvi put pristao u Dubrovniku. U tamosnjoj floti ostat c'e do 1892., kada je prodan brac'i Rismondo iz Makarske koji mu daju ime Biokovo. Poslije je usao u sastav drustva Dalmatia, a zabiljezeno je da je potonuo u ozujku 1923. uz istarsku obalu, na putu iz Rijeke u Trst.Povijesni i slavni parobrod ipak je bio drugi brod s imenom Dubrovnika. Naime jos 1846. godine u Gruzu je izgradjen jedrenjak od 389 tona, prvi brod koji je ponio hrvatsko ime Grada. Vlasnici su mu bili S.G. Getaldi i V. Budmani, no vec' 1853. oni ga brodaju Antoniju Busettu iz Venecije, koji im daje ime Giuseppe II. Jedrenjak ni u Veneciji nije dugo ostao, 1861. je prodan Rusima i od tada mu se trag gubi negdje u Crnome moru.DVA POTONUC'A U 40 DANAVratimo se u doba parobroda, u 1892. godinu. Cim je prodan prvi Dubrovnik, Dubrovacka parobrodarska plovidba preuzela je, u Troonu, opet u Skotskoj, drugi brod istoga imena. Bio je to mnogo vec'i brod, od 481 brt, dug 50,9 i sirok 7,4 metra, s vrlo snaznim parnim strojem od 650 “konja” i brzinom od deset cvorova. No drugome Dubrovniku nije bilo sueno i dugo ploviti.Kako biljeze kronike Prvoga svjetskog rata, 9. svibnja 1916. brod je u Neretvanskome kanalu, negdje na pola puta izmeu Hvara i Peljesca, s dva torpeda potopila francuska podmornica Archimede. Poginulo je tada 18 putnika i clanova posade, a zbog potapanja nenaoruzanog broda punog zena i djece, Austro-Ugarska je ulozila notu Francuskoj optuzujuc'i zapovjednika podmornice za ubojstvo s umisljajem. Sok je bio to vec'i sto je to bio drugi parobrod s imenom Dubrovnika torpediran u samo 40 dana!Naime 1. travnja 1916. ruska je podmornica Tjulen kod turskoga mjesta Galata Burnu torpedirala jedan od najvec'ih dubrovackih brodova, suvremeni teretnjak nosivosti 7224 tone, dug 116 i sirok 14 metara. Taj cetvrti Dubrovnik bio je star nepune cetiri godine: po narudzbi brodarskog udruzenja “Napried” izgraen je 1912. u britanskom brodogradilistu Northumberland Shipbuilding Co. u mjesto Howden-on-Tyne.Trebale su proc'i godine dok se dubrovacko brodarstvo oporavilo od ratnih stradanja i nakon cetiri novogradnje, godine 1923., javlja se peti Dubrovnik, mali, stari i neugledni parobrod koji c'e brzo biti zaboravljen. Brodovlasnici brac'a Matijevic' kupili su u Britaniji vec' 53 godine stari brod King’s Lynn od 575 brt, dug 56 i sirok 7,7 metara. Izgraen u Middlesbroughu iste 1880. kao i prvi dubrovacki parobrod, taj se Dubrovnik pokazao nepouzdanim, pa je vec' 1927. prodan u Italiju. Nekoliko je puta mijenjao imena, najprije Palmaria, pa Fratelli Testa i na kraju Fauna pod kojim je usao u Drugi svjetski rat, u cijim mu se vjetrovima zameo i svaki trag.SESTI, SEDMI, OSMI...Po vec' uhodanoj tradiciji, cim su brac'a Matijevic'i prodali svoga starca, njegovo ime dobiva sada vec' sesti Dubrovnik. Ni to nije bio novi brod nego stari Lovrijenac izgraen 1909. u Monfalconeu za Dubrovacku parobrodarsku plovidbu. No prethodno je temeljito preureen i ubrajao se meu najmodernije na Jadranu. Dubrovcani mu 1937. mijenjaju ime u Dedinje, pod kojim c'e ploviti sve do ratne 1943., kada je, u talijanskoj sluzbi, potopljen kod Venecije. Ni ta promjena imena nije bila slucajna. Jer Dubrovcani su u skotskom brodogradilistu Lithgows u Port Glasgowu upravo bili narucili svoj najmoderniji teretnjak, a ime mu je moglo biti samo - Dubrovnik. Primopredaja je obavljena u veljaci 1938., a bio je to brod kojim su se u Gradu, ali i na cijelom Jadranu, s pravom ponosili: nosivosti 9150 tona, dug 136,5 i sirok 17,1 metar...Taj je, sada vec' sedmi Dubrovnik, izdrzao sve kusnje rata, nacionalizaciju 1946., prelazak pod zastavu Jugolinije, a 1957. i pod stijeg slovenske Splosne plovbe. Prodan je tek u prosincu 1969. godine jednoj tvrtki iz Somalije, a plovidbu je okoncao u rujnu 1970. u rezalistu u Chittagongu pod imenom Sudix.No, dubrovacka prica ide dalje. I, pogaate, slijedi osmi Dubrovnik, a ime, opet pogaate, odabrano, cim je onaj stari izbrisan iz upisnika. Atlantska plovidba je 1971. u spanjolskoj Matagordi preuzela bulk carrier nosivosti 25.130 tona, dug 164,8 i sirok 22,7 metara. Dotad najvec'i Dubrovnik bio je porinut pod imenom Magdalena del Mar za jednu tvrtku iz Bilboa, ali je prije dovrsenja prodan Atlantskoj. Taj je brod ostao relativno kratko u njezinoj floti, samo 15 godina. U srpnju 1986. prodan je Kinezima za uistinu neobicnu zadac'u: posluzio je kao plutajuc'i lukobran prigodom gradnje nove luke u Shanghaiju, a nakon toga je otpremljen u staro zeljezo.Sljedec'i, deveti Dubrovnik, cekao se do sijecnja 1989., kada je u Falmouthu posada Atlantske plovidbe preuzela veliki bulk carrier nosivosti 61.318 tona i dug 224 metra. I to je bio “Spanjolac”, nekadasnja Ereaga, izgraen u Puerto Realu i isporucen u studenome 1983. U floti Atlantske ostaje punih 14 godina, do pocetka 2003., kada je prodan grckoj kompaniji s Malte i postao Mighty Michalis. No, dogodila se i jedna promjena: od 1997. plovio je kao City of Dubrovnik. Pomalo neobicno, no bio je to samo jos jedan dokaz popularnosti imena Dubrovnika.I CITY I “PRINCIPESA”U nasu pricu tada, naime, uplovljava veliki feribot Dubrovnik, deseti hrvatski brod s imenom Grada, ali kojemu maticna luka nije bila pod Srem nego u Rijeci. Kad ga je Jadrolinija kupila, htjela mu je svakako dati zvucno ime Dubrovnik, pa su s Atlantskom postigli dogovor: bijeli brod postat c'e Dubrovnik, a vec' pomalo stari bulker bjelosvjetski City of Dubrovnik. Iako je na Jadran stigao preko Francuske, taj deseti Dubrovnik je izvorno irski brod. Ne samo da je pripadao vodec'oj tvrtki British & Irish iz Dublina, nego je bio i najvec'i feribot izgraen u Irskoj prije nego im je brodogradnja zauvijek nestala.Feribot dug 122 i sirok 18,8 metara porinut je u lipnju 1978. u Verolme Cork Dockyardsu u Corku pod imenom Connacht, a namijenjen je bio linijama izmeu irskih i britanskih luka. Mogao je ukrcati 326 automobila i 960 putnika, a kada je u veljaci 1979. krenuo na prvu plovidbu izmeu Corka i Swansea, ucinio je to zbilja impresivno: brzinom od cak 20 cvorova. U ljeto 1986. brod kupuju Francuzi, te ga salju na ureenje u njemacki Meyer Werft, odakle stize u punom sjaju i s imenom Duchesse Anne te oznakama tvrtke Brittany Ferries, da bi 1996. stigao u Jadran kao jedan od najprestiznijih bijelih brodova.Iste godine zaplovio je i Dubrovnik Express, najsuvremeniji kontejnerski brod u floti Croatia Linea. No nije to bio posve novi brod, nego nekadasnji Koper Express, jedan od cetiri poznata “expressa”, nosivosti 25.904 tone, dug 177,6 i sirok 32 metra. Izgraen je u Uljaniku 1987., a ime Dubrovnika dobio je u ozujku 1996. godine. Na zalost, nije dugo pod njim plovio. Samo tri godine poslije, u vrijeme rasula Croatia Linea, zaplijenjen je u Durbanu i tamo u kolovozu 1999. prodan na drazbi. Danas plovi pod panamskom zastavom i imenom MSC Giovanna.Prici o brodovima s imenom Dubrovnika tu dakako nije kraj. Koncem srpnja 1998. u Messini, u slavnome brodogradilistu Rodriquez, dubrovackome je Atlasu isporucen najmoderniji putnicki brod na Jadranu, brzi jednotrupac nazvan Princess of Dubrovnik. “Principesi”, kako je Dubrovcani od milja zovu, doskora c'e se prikljuciti i City od Dubrovnik s pocetka nase price, a s kojim c'e dubrovacko brodovlje dosegnuti najvec'u tonazu u povijesti...Plovio je 82 godine!Ime Dubrovnika naslo se i na pramcima dvaju ratnih brodova i jednoga nadasve zivopisnog parobroda koji c'e na Jadranu ostati zapamc'en po 82 godine plovidbe! Zivot je zapoceo 1880. u Trstu kao jedan od tri jednaka broda carsko-kraljevske financijske kontrole s maticnom lukom u Zadru, s talijanskim imenima dalmatinskih gradova - Ragusa, Zara i Spalato. Godine 1899. trojka dobiva hrvatska imena - Dubrovnik, Zadar i Spljet. No vec' 1901. netko u Becu odlucuje se za neobicnu hrvatsko-talijansku kombinaciju, pa tri broda financijske straze postaju Dubrovnik-Ragusa, Zadar-Zara i Spljet-Spalato!Nakon Prvog svjetskog rata Dubrovnik-Ragusa nastavlja isti posao, ali u Kraljevini Jugoslaviji, najprije samo godinu dana kao Kosovo, a onda punih 20 kao Oplenac. U travnju 1941. Talijani su ga zarobili u Boki kotorskoj i uvrstili u flotu svoje Guardia di finanze pod imenom Galiano. Vec' 27.ozujka 1945. vrac'en je Jugoslaviji, da bi poslije dvije godine i temeljite rekonstrukcije ponovno zaplovio, ali kao putnicki brod u sastavu Jadrolinije. Dobio je ime Budva i ostao u bijeloj floti sve do prosinca 1962., kada je predan rezalistu u Svetome Kaji.Imenom Dubrovnika pocasc'en je i prvi moderni razarac jugoslavenske Kraljevske mornarice, izgraen 1931. godine u britanskom brodogradilistu Yarrow & Co. u Scotstounu pokraj Glasgowa. U travanjskome ratu 1941. Talijani su ga zarobili u Boki i pod imenom Premuda odmah poslali u borbene akcije. Nakon kapitulacije Italije razarac su u Genovi zarobili Nijemci i uvrstili u Kriegsmarine pod oznakom TA 32. Prigodom povlacenja iz Italije posada je sama potopila nekadasnji Dubrovnik. Pod imenom Dubrovnika i danas plovi jedan ratni brod. To je ophodni brod minopolagac Hrvatske ratne mornarice, sluzbene oznake OBM 41. Nekadasnji raketni camac JRM-a, sovjetskoga tipa “osa”, izgraen jos 1970. godine, zarobljen je u Domovinskome ratu i preinacen za novu ulogu, te dobio ime Dubrovnik.Iz Odese i HoustonaPrica o brodovima s imenom Dubrovnika svakako ne bi bila cjelovita bez tri stranca: jednoga Rusa i dva Amerikanca. Meu desetcima brodova svih vrsta koji su proslih desetljec'a na Jadranu graeni za sovjetske, a onda ruske brodare, u ljeto 1967. godine nasao se i Dubrovnik. Bio je to klasicni teretnjak s navoza rijeckoga “Trec'eg maja” nosivosti 14.339 tona koji c'e u floti Crnomorske paroplovidbe iz Odese ostati gotovo cetvrt stoljec'a. Pocetkom 1991. prodan je Grcima, zaplovio je pod malteskom zastavom i imenom Daphne, da bi vec' koncem iduc'e, 1992. godine, smiraj nasao u rezalistu, u indijskome Alangu.Dva Dubrovnika zaplovila su 1982. godine s navoza maloga brodogradilista Marine Mart Inc. u Port Isabelu u Teksasu. Bili su to blizanci, koc'arice Dubrovnik I i Dubrovnik II, duge samo 21,3 i siroke sest metara, a vlasnik im je tvrtka Campeche Seafood Products Inc. iz Houstona. No nedvojbeno se iza toga imena krije neko od hrvatskih iseljenika, vjerojatno upravo iz dubrovackog kraja, koji se i na taj nacin sjec'aju zavicaja.Slobodna Dalmacija & Marijan ZUVIC'http://www.dubrovnikportal.com/html/clanak_print.shtmlclanak=8868.2&pm=no letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Sun, 30 Nov 2003 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/6323/1/E-Croatia-seeks-extradition-of-war-criminal-from-Norway.html Croatia seeks extradition of war criminalA 57-year-old Serbian man convicted of war crimes in Croatia has been living as a refugee in Norway for several years. Croatian authorities now want their Norwegian counterparts to extradite him.The Serbian came to Norway in 1998 seeking asylum, and eventually managed to obtain both residence and work permission in the country. Norwegian Broadcasting (NRK) reported Tuesday that he admitted to Norwegian immigration authorities that he had been convicted of war crimes in Croatia.He reportedly was found guilty, among other things, of killing a prisoner of war. The Norwegian authorities, however, never received confirmation of his conviction, according to Geir Loendal of the immigration agency UDI (Utlendingsdirektoratet).The Serb, who claims he's innocent of the war charges against him, thus was allowed to stay in Norway. Now Croatia wants him back to serve prison time.A spokesman for the Norwegian police, who act on behalf of UDI, said they would review the Croatian request and investigate the casehttp://www.aftenposten.no/english/local/article.jhtml?articleID=671611 letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Tue, 18 Nov 2003 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/6324/1/E-Croatian-Partisans--Italian-ethnic-cleansing-of-Istria.html ÂItalian "ethnic cleansing" of Istria during WWII -- a historical note Excellent information from John Kraljic. There is only one problem - a big one - which is that these type of books and/or statistics are written only in Croatian instead of being translated into English, German, French, and sent to appropriate addresses, influential government persons and newspapers. Otherwise it remains just a "secret" among us Croatians. HildaOn Sat, 1 Nov 2003 09:07:16 EST RobNSanja@aol.com writes:Dear all,I received the following note from John Kraljic, which puts the recent IHT article I sent around -- about Croat and Slovene survivors of Italian war camps -- into an historical context and adds further details which the article did not discuss.best wishesSanja*******Sanja:I thought your list readers might be interested in some more informationabout the Rab Camp as reported in the International Herald Tribune.It has often been noted that the camp was for Slovenes and Jews. Infact, as the author points out in the IHT story, the camp was a prisonfor Croats as well. According to Ivan Kovacic's work, Kampor 1942-1943:Hrvati, Slovenci i Zidovi u koncentracijskom logoru Kampor na otoku Rabu(Rijeka: Adamic, 1998) [translation -- "Kampor 1942-1943: Croats, Slovenes, and Jews in the Kampor concentration camp on the island of Rab"] , a total of 1,447 victims have been accounted for thus far in the camp. Approximately 15,000 people were housed in thecamp.Of the 1447 victims, 564, or close to 40%, were Croats. Most of theCroatians killed were from the area of Gorski kotar. Kovacic calculatesthe following numbers for certain villages and towns: Trsca - 191; Cabar- 145; Gerovo - 58; Prezid - 48 and Plesca - 30. These are obviouslythe largest concentrations.The Italians basically "cleansed" this entire region of its populationin order to stop the support that the locals had been giving to thePartisans. This area was annexed by Italy after 1941. As in otherareas annexed by Italy, and as was done previously in Istria, theItalians introduced a campaign of Italianization, which included theslow but sure ending of Croatian language classes in schools. Theresults of this campaign in Istria were well known where an estimated100,000 Croats and Slovenes left as a result and countless others wereItalianized through brutal ethnic discrimination and oppression.During WWII, the Italians placed tens of thousands of Croats in camps inItaly as a means to both break the back of support for the Partisans andto engage in ethnic cleansing of territory.The means used by the Italians was not limited to internment ofcivilians, but also involved mass killings.On July 12, 1942, Italian army forces (and it should be emphasized thatmost of these crimes were committed by regular army forces, notblackshirts) killed between 91 and 128 people in the village of Podhum,about 10 kms from Rijeka on the Rijeka-Zagreb road. Those killed rangedin age from 14 to 60. The remaining 889 people who lived in the villagewere shipped off to camps and over 320 homes were destroyed.To put this in some context, it is interesting to see what the NDH'sconsul to Rijeka, Zvonimir Caleta, said about the attack on Podhum (ascited to in Kovacic's book): "Local Italian authorities justify theseacts on the grounds that Communists are in question. If this werereally the case, then the annexed continental (i.e., interior) portionsof the Kvarner region would be the only area in the world which is acompact Communist one, because the entire population has been subjectedto these countermeasures. That the arguments of the Italian authoritieshave no basis is shown by the recent and past political history of thepeople in the area which is in question. Of all the vilages in thisarea, Podhum has suffered the most, and that is a village which in thisarea was a strong center of the national struggle of the Croatian peoplein the past two decades. That village was politically speakingpro-Croatian so that not one pro-regime (i.e., Yugoslav) party in thislargest village of the Grobinstina could ever get even one vote foritself. Just as this village was not a Communist one, one cannot makeclaims that other villages in the area are Communist as Communism wasnever able to get a free ride here. This can be seen by the fact thatmany rebels (i.e., Partisans) confess and take communion before theyleave for the woods (i.e., the Partisans)."I had an opportunity to visit the Podhum memorial this summer which isclearly visible on the highway from Rijeka to Zagreb. There are plaqueswith the names of various individuals, some having fresh flowers on themwhich shows how this massacre still resonates among the locals.Even though the perpetrators of this crime were known, they were neverprosecuted.We should also not forget the crimes committed by the Germans. Irecently read that following the German takeover of Istria in 1943 afterItaly's capitulation anywhere from 2.500 to 5.000 Croats were killed inIstria alone. I travelled to a number of towns in the interior ofIstria during the summer and this is evident by the war memorials whichlist people killed, most dying in 1943.A substantial number of Croats from Istria were subsequently sent toGerman concentration camps, including Auschwitz and Dachau.A recent book by Vinko Sepic Ciskin, Gubici Liburnijskog kraja u DrugomSvjestskom ratu (Rijeka: Adamic, 2003) [translation -- "Casualties in the Liburnian region in WWII"], contains a list of names of those killed in the region of Opatija, Matulji and the Kras region of Istria. The author found a total of 1230 people were killed from thesecommunities alone, of whom 519 were Partisans and 576 were what isdecribed as "victims of fascist terror." A further 79 died serving inthe Italian military. The lion share of these victims were killed in1943 and 1944.Of the 519 Partisans, 490 were Croats. Of the 576 "victims of fascistterror," 498 were Croats, 58 were Jews (from Opatija) and 16 wereItalians. Of the victims of fascist terror, approximately 250 werekilled in one day in the village of Lipa, located about 5 kms from Rupaon the Slovene-Croatian border.In addition to the foregoing, the author lists the names of 48 people"liquidated" by the Partisans.I think it is important to note that when we talk about "Partisans" weneed to be careful not to make the mistake in assuming that they wereCommunists. They were controlled by the Communist Party because of theParty's control structure. Like the Domobrani, they were mostlydraftees (the Communists use the word "mobilizirani"). Practically allCroatian families who lived on the coast were affected by this as thePartisans took over the area for some period of time after Italy'scapitulation.John Kraljic letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Mon, 03 Nov 2003 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/6326/1/E-Review-by-V-M-Raguz-of-The-Muslim-Croat-War.html ÂReview of "The Muslim-Croat Civil War in CentralBosnia: A Military History, 1992-1994," Association for Croatian Studies Bulletin, Fall 2003, Issue 41Can the Shrader Book Help Blaskic and OthersReview of "The Muslim-Croat Civil War in CentralBosnia: A Military History, 1992-1994," Charles R.Shrader, Texas A&M University Press, College Station,2003.By V.M. RaguzAt a time when sexed-up reports and Paris advocacy forthe Islamic world are commonplace concepts, Charles R.Shrader's book about the Muslim-Croat conflict inBosnia may be extremely well timed. Even though thebook was written much before the recent Iraq crisis,his conclusions suggest that both notions, howeverrecent, are applicable in explaining this highlycontroversial war-within-a-war that took place adecade ago in Europe's own back yard.Formerly a US Army logistics officer, Shrader is now anoted military historian and instructor at the USmilitary academies. In this book he works mainly fromthe International Criminal Tribunal (ICTY) trialtranscripts in Blaskic, Kordic, and other centralBosnia cases, and concludes quite explicitly thatanyone who knows anything about military issues (andevidence) could never surmise that Croats initiatedthe conflict in central Bosnia. Moreover, there was nogrand scheme to ethnically cleanse the Muslims fromthe area, as the ICTY incorrectly found. Quite thecontrary, says Shrader.He makes a case that Sarajevo made an early strategicdecision, in Fall 1992, to fight the Croats becausethey were weaker than the Serbs; because it wanted toresettle the Muslim refugees from eastern Bosnia andPosavina into the Lasva Valley; and, because it wantedto seize the military production facilities underCroat control in Busovaca, Vitez and Novi Travnik.Gen. Sefer Halilovic, the first Army of Bosnia andHerzegovina (ABiH) chief operations officer wrotealong the same lines in his book the "CunningStrategy". ("Lukava Strategija," S. Halilovic,Marsal, Sarajevo, 1997.) The key element of thatstrategy was to seize military plants in Gorazde,Konjic, Bugojno, and Novi Travnik. The last threewere under the control of the Croatian Defense Council(HVO).To add, what is striking in the Halilovic book is theunderlining theme that the Croats were, from theoutset, as dangerous to the future of the BiH state aswere the Serbs, and thus, equally a target. Tellingly,as Belgrade-trained officer, he often referred to theCroats with derogatory term Ustashe. Halilovic alsowrote about close relations between Izetbegovicassociates and Milosevic envoys throughout 1992-93,including discussions about territorial swaps and thedivision of BiH between the two.Similarly, a senior Muslim official told this reviewerin Spring 1993 that the Muslims would not seeknegotiations with the Croats because the thinking inSarajevo was that they can be defeated. The goinglogic was, he said, that the Croats were much weakerthan the Serbs; that Croatia would not help them muchbecause it had its own problems; that BiH Croats aresettled in the most economically viable parts of thecountry, in the Lasva and Neretva valleys; that theycontrol the access to the sea; and, that eventually,there will be a big war between Serbia and Croatia,where the HVO would be forced to retreat south, and tothe flanks, to help the Croatian Army (HV) aroundDubrovnik in the east and Knin in the west, thusmaking it even easier for the Muslims to pushsouthward.Back in December 1992, at the Extraordinary Session ofthe Organization of Islamic Conference in Jeddah,Saudi Arabia, this reviewer participated in a meetingbetween the Croatian Foreign Minister Zdenko Skrabaloand Alija Izetbegovic, where Skrabalo appealed toIzetbegovic to accept Franjo Tudjman's offer to formjoint military headquarters, either in Zagreb orBugojno, and take on the Serb extremists together.Skrabalo brought with him the Zagreb Mufti SefkoOmerbasic, who argued that the Tudjman offer wasgenuine, and consistent with Zagreb's assistance inarming of the ABiH. But Izetbegovic refused, sayingthat such an alliance would further antagonize theSerbs. However, it is more likely that Izetbegovicsaid no because the Halilovic strategy was alreadywell in place.Shrader says that in January 1993, the ABiH carriedout what he calls in military jargon a probing attack,to gauge the HVO defenses, and in April 1993, thefirst major attack. The Croats were largely surprisedby the probing attack, but not by the main attack.After January 1993 they began gathering intelligenceon the ABiH, and rightly anticipated that the mainattack would come on April 15th. Central Bosnia HVOcommander Tihomir Blaskic prepared and practiced, whatShrader calls "active defense," a common NATOpre-emptive tactic. This first ABiH operation tofragment the Lasva Valley into isolated pocketsfailed, but was repeated two more times in the Fall.He adds that the Lasva Valley would have beenovertaken if it were not for the early 1994 WashingtonAccords, as the Croats were substantiallyunder-manned, under-gunned, and completely encircled.The situation of the Croat community in central Bosniais likened to the misfortune of the French Union campat Dien Bien Phu in 1954. Like the French troops thatwere in great tactical and numerical disadvantagesitting in the Nam Yum valley against Vietminhsoldiers on the surrounding hills, the Croat communitywas squeezed into an even smaller area in the lowlandsof Lasva valley against the Muslim forces on themountainside. Unlike the Union troops, the Croatsmanaged to survive until the Washington Accords due toBlaskic's active defense strategy.Shrader writes that there is not slightest of evidencethat HV troops or advisers operated in centralBosnia. He does add in a footnote that there isevidence of HV troops in the Gornji Vakuf area, to thesouth, in Dec 1993-Jan 1994, but that they were notactive in the fighting in central Bosnia. In February1994, the Security Council used the reports aboutthese troop movements as evidence of Croatia'sinterference in BiH.The massing of HV troops in Gornji Vakuf in December1993 is consistent with other reports that the troopswere moved in because Zagreb feared that Lasva Valleywould fall, and wanted to manage the resultant refugeeflows that would have destabilized Dalmatia, as wellas to prevent further ABiH advances south that couldhave isolated Dubrovnik once again.Shrader relies extensively on UNPROFOR and theEuropean Community Monitoring Mission (ECMM) reportson the events in Lasva Valley, and concludes thatUNPROFOR was largely balanced in its reporting. Itbecame better after being initially surprised by thedevelopments in central Bosnia. But he goes on andsays that ECMM monitors were consistentlymisinterpreting events to the detriment of Croats anddownplaying atrocities against the Croats (whichappear to have been more numerous and widespread).In the "Sources" section at the end of the book hegoes on and points a finger at the French head of theECMM, Jean-Pierre Thebault, as the reason for suchECMM reporting. Shrader speculates that Thebault wasacting under national instructions, consistent withthe Paris policy to advocate Arab interests in theWest. To add to this point of view, Shrader notesthat ECMM reporting improved once Sir Martin Garrodtook over the mission in October 1993.Another reason for Thebault's biased reporting mayhave been the EC plan for BiH at the time, whichlooked to assign 33% of BiH territory to theMuslim-majority republic. The EC lead negotiator LordOwen wanted to achieve this percentage by assigningthe largest part of the Lasva Valley to theMuslim-majority republic. As a Brussels civil servant,Thebault would have understood his role as needing tocraft his reports to advance the policy goals of thenegotiators, i.e., to support the ABiH offensive. Inturn, Sir Martin would have been motivated to changethe reporting direction when Brussels and Lord Owenbegan pressuring the Muslim side to accept thethree-republic Owen-Stoltenberg plan in Fall 1993,after the Croats accepted it in the Summer.Taking cue from the Iraq crisis, one simply cannotoverlook the concept of sexing up. But Thebaultclearly went to the extreme. In fact, he was notsexing up, but perverting down. As a result, themainstream view of this conflict is so convoluted andyet, as such, embedded in stone. Thus, it compelledthe Blaskic defense to, in effect, accept the mainpremise of the ICTY Prosecution about the Croat grandscheme to ethnically cleanse the Muslims, and arguenaively that Blaskic, despite being the chief militaryofficer in the area, was innocent because hepersonally did not partake in such a campaign.Thus, in some way, the book comes too late for thecentral Bosnia cases at the ICTY, but its outstandingresearch and current concepts in internationalrelations, might make it a powerful document in thefuture. It is the first work on this conflict in anylanguage. Blaskic and others just may be able tointroduce it eventually as new evidence in nationalcourts in the countries where they will be servingtheir unjust sentences.The author was Ambassador of Bosnia and Herzegovina tothe E.U. and NATO in 1998-2000. He occasionallycomments on Balkan affairs in the Wall Street JournalEurope and other media. letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Mon, 27 Oct 2003 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/6325/1/E-Serb-faces-jury-over-bombing-Dubrovnik.html ÂSerb faces jury over bombing DubrovnikDubrovnik suspect too unwell for courtThe first court appearance of a former Yugoslav army officer charged with the 1991 shelling of Dubrovnik in Croatia has been delayed because he is unwell. Vladimir Kovacevic had been due to appear before the war crimes tribunal at The Hague on Monday, after being handed over to the court by the authorities in Belgrade last Thursday. Some 40 people died in the shelling Tribunal spokesman Jim Landale said on Monday: "He's not well. The initial appearance has been postponed due to ill-health." Details of his illness have not been released. He is one of the so-called "Dubrovnik three" and the last person on the Dubrovnik indictment to be brought before the court. Vladimir Kovacevic, nicknamed "Rambo" - faces six counts of war crimes, including murder, cruel treatment and destruction of historic monuments. Dubrovnik, a medieval walled city, is listed as one of the world's heritage sites. More than 40 civilians were killed and parts of the city destroyed during a siege by the Yugoslav army. They attacked the city just after Croatia declared independence in 1991. Plea bargains Now all three suspects indicted for the shelling of Dubrovnik are awaiting trial in The Hague. General Pavle Strugar and navy Admiral Miodrag Jokic both surrendered to the court and pleaded not guilty. Mr Jokic changed his plea to guilty in August. A fourth man, Milan Zec, was under investigation, but charges against him have been dropped. There has been a series of guilty pleas as part of plea bargains during the past few months. Half a dozen suspects have pleaded guilty in return for some of the charges against them being dropped and demands for a lesser sentence by the prosecution. letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Mon, 27 Oct 2003 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/6327/1/E-Looking-for-Ellis-Island-Croatians.html ÂLooking for Croatians from Ellis Island time.Hi, my name is Michele Nevenka Larimer and I am a junior at Rutgers University and also a volunteer at Ellis Island in the oral history archives of the library. I am currently transcribing the interviews of Croatians who came through Ellis Island, however there are only a handful and I would like to change that. I have all the contact information which i could drop off and was wondering if maybe there was a way to put a little add in a church newsletter or to post things in the church hall or at events for people to either come to Ellis Island or the staff to come to them if they live not too far to interview them. I just thought it would be nice to include the stories of more Croatians in the oral history program, as well as potentially in the exhibits. I was given your email addresses through the church, so I thought I would email if there was anyway you think you might be able to help. Anyway, if you know how I can do this or you can help, I would really appreciate it. I can be contacted through this email or my cell phone is (201) 315-2750. Thank you, for your time. Sincerely, Michele Nevenka Larimer mlarimer@eden.rutgers.edu letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Mon, 20 Oct 2003 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/6329/1/E-Clinton-Helps-Mourn-7000.html letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Sun, 21 Sep 2003 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/6328/1/E-Watsonvilles-ties-run-deep-inside-Croatia.html  Watsonville's ties run deep inside CroatiaÂÂ"There was a large number of Croatians who emigrated to the Watsonville area in those days, and there's probably well over 2,000 people of Croatian descent who are still living in Santa Cruz County today," he added. According to Ninkovich, an archivist and historian based out of Fresno, between 1900 and the start of World War I, several hundred Croatians made the arduous journey from the Konavle region, which is just south of Dubrovnik, Croatia (then part of the Austro-Hungarian empire), to Watsonville. "Quite a few of the early immigrants in 1870 up until 1890 settled in Jackson where they worked in the mines," Ninkovich said. "But later, groups started moving to Watsonville where they bought up many of the apple orchards. The Croatians were always better farmers than they were anything else." Ninkovich said that, for the immigrants, farming was something that was in their blood - especially having come from a land that had revolved around agriculture for roughly 2,000 years - and Watsonville seemed an ideal place to settle. "Some of them started out packing apples and worked hard for a long time until they could save up enough money to buy their own land," he said. "The important thing is that, as a result of this migration, today there are more diaspora of Konavle in Watsonville than in any other place in the world. Every person in Konavle knows where Watsonville is - although they pronounce the name 'Vatsonville' - and many have family still living there." Ninkovich is calling on the people of Watsonville who are of Croatian descent to assist him in his quest to collect information and photos for the Croatian Immigration History Project, which he has been volunteering his time to work on for the last couple years. "You still see the common Croatian surnames in Watsonville like Scurich, Resetar, Lucich, Matiasevich, Secondo, Alaga, Kralj, Marinovich, Pista, Bachan, Fiorovich, Lettunich, Skocko, Bokarica and others," Ninkovich said. All the information gathered will be donated to the Croatian Academy of Arts and Sciences and the Croatian State Archives - both located in Dubrovnik - as well as to the Pajaro Valley Historical Association. "There are really several reasons that we are doing this," Ninkovich said. "For one, we want to provide a foundation for future genealogists' research. We also want to provide a safe repository for people's photos and family histories, which often get lost or destroyed over the years. However, we'll only take copies of photos and written materials. The families and owners will keep the originals." Other reasons for the project, according to Ninkovich, include the fact that the information will help the Croatian Academy with its ongoing historical and demographical work, and could possibly be made into some sort of book in the future. "To me, one of the most important reasons for doing this is really for the people back in Croatia, who lost most of the photos when their homes were burned and destroyed during the war in the early '90s," Ninkovich said. "Some of the most incredibly moving experiences I've had in my life have been when I've been given some of these old photos by people in the U.S. and taken them back to these families in Croatia. Many times the people cry when they are able to see a photo of their grandmother or great-grandfather or other relatives when they thought they'd lost the photos forever." For the next few months, Ninkovich will be living in Watsonville to work on his project and is hoping people will come forward to share their stories and photos. "Right now, we're only looking for photos and information on those who were first-generation immigrants - likely those who came here prior to 1920," Ninkovich said. "We're also focusing only on those who came from the southern-most part of Croatia - from the Peljesac Peninsula south to Montenegro - and are centering around the town of Dubrovnik." Ninkovich added that he is more than willing to chat with others who may have questions about the project or about Croatian history in the area, or who want information about a surname. "The connection that Watsonville has with this one region of Croatia in particular is really amazing," Ninkovich said. "I visit the region about once a year and the people all know about 'Vatsonville.' It's really unique and special." For more information or to set up an appointment, contact Tom Ninkovich by leaving a voicemail at (559) 855-2120 or calling his local cellular phone at 818-5082. Also, information is available on the project Web site at www.croatia-in-english.com. Source: http://www.zwire.com/news/newsstory.cfm?newsid=10187949&title=%3CP%3EWatsonville's%20ties%20run%20deep%20inside%20Croatia&BRD=1197&PAG=461&CATNAME=Top%20Stories&CATEGORYID=410 letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Sun, 21 Sep 2003 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/6331/1/E-Ex-Yugoslav-Army-Officer-Admits-Dubrovnik-Shelling.html ÂEx-Yugoslav Army Officer Admits Dubrovnik Shelling ÂWed August 27, 2003 09:38 AM ET THE HAGUE (Reuters) - An ex-Yugoslav naval officer pleaded guilty at The Hague war crimes tribunal Wednesday to killing civilians by shelling the Croatian city of Dubrovnik in 1991 during Croatia's war of independence against Serbia.Miodrag Jokic, who had pleaded not guilty to nine counts of violations of the laws and customs of war in 2001, changed his plea to guilty on six counts after the indictment against him was amended by prosecutors at the U.N. court.http://asia.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=worldNews&storyID=3344246Net letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Wed, 27 Aug 2003 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/6330/1/E-Jokic-pleads-guilty-to-bombing-Dubrovnik.html ÂJokic pleads guilty to bombing DubrovnikÂReuters THE HAGUE -- Wednesday -- A retired Yugoslav vice admiral pleaded guilty at The Hague tribunal on Wednesday to killing civilians by shelling the Croatian city of Dubrovnik in 1991 during Croatia's war of independence against Serbia. Miodrag Jokic, who in 2001 pleaded not guilty to nine counts of violating the laws and customs of war, changed his plea to guilty on six counts after the indictment against him was amended by prosecutors at the United Nations court.Jokic admitted murder, cruel treatment and attacks on civilians and destruction of civilian and historic buildings during shelling of the historic heart of Dubrovnik on December 6, 1991. Two civilians died and three were wounded. "Your honours, I am guilty," Jokic told judges. The original indictment included charges related to several other shelling incidents. Jokic was one of three former members of the Yugoslav military charged with responsibility for civilian deaths during the shelling of Dubrovnik, a UNESCO World Heritage site considered one of the world's most beautiful cities. The three senior Yugoslav Peoples' Army (JNA) commanders were charged with killing and wounding civilians in Dubrovnik when its land and naval units pounded the city with shells in 1991. letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Wed, 27 Aug 2003 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/6332/1/E-BBC-Profile-Ratko-Mladic---NATO-failed.html ÂBBC Profile Ratko MladicIMPORTANT FACT: Mr Mladic was appointed commander of the 9th Corps of the Yugoslav People's Army (JNA) in Knin in the Republic of Croatia in 1991. You are in: World: Europe Profile: Ratko MladicMladic fled Belgrade after the arrest of Slobodan MilosevicRatko Mladic was Bosnian Serb leader Radovan Karadzic's army chief throughout the Bosnian war. Along with Mr Karadzic he has come to symbolise the Serb campaign of ethnic cleansing of Croats and Muslims and is one of the most wanted suspects from the Bosnia conflict. Srebrenica was Europe's worst atrocity since World War IIHe has been indicted by the UN war crimes tribunal on charges of genocide and other crimes against humanity - including the massacre of thousands of Muslim men from the town of Srebrenica in 1995. Having lived freely in Belgrade for some time, Mr Mladic left when former Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic was arrested. Overall commander Mr Mladic was appointed commander of the 9th Corps of the Yugoslav People's Army (JNA) in Knin in the Republic of Croatia in 1991. He was promoted in May 1992 and assumed overall command of the Bosnian Serb army. Mr Mladic is considered to have been one of the prime movers in the siege of Sarajevo and led the Serb onslaught against the UN-protected enclave of Srebrenica, the worst atrocity in Europe since World War II. Bosnian Serb forces had laid siege to the Srebrenica enclave, where tens of thousands of civilians had taken refuge from earlier Serb offensives in north-eastern Bosnia. Men and boys separated The Serb forces bombarded Srebrenica with heavy shelling and rocket fire for five days before Mr Mladic entered the town accompanied by Serb camera crews.The next day, buses arrived to take the women and children sheltering in Srebrenica to Muslim territory, while the Serbs separated out all men from age 12 to 77 for "interrogation for suspected war crimes". The unarmed men were then murdered - in the five days after Bosnian Serb forces overran Srebrenica, at least 7,500 Muslim men and boys are thought to have been killed. After the end of the Bosnian war, Mr Mladic returned to Belgrade, enjoying the open support and protection of Mr Milosevic. In hiding He lived openly in the city - visiting public places, eating in expensive restaurants and even attending football matches but left following Mr Milosevic's arrest. He is believed to be in Republika Srpska - the autonomous Serb area of Bosnia - or to have taken refuge in the mountains of Montenegro. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/1423551.stm NATO troops fail in bid to arrest Bosnia's top war crimes suspect MladicWed Aug 13, 2:46 PM ET Add World - AFP to My Yahoo! SARAJEVO (AFP) - NATO (news - web sites) troops launched an operation to arrest Ratko Mladic, one of the most wanted war crimes suspects in Bosnia, but failed to find him during a raid on his mother's house, carried out just a few hours after she died. The operation, the first known attempt to arrest the wartime Bosnian Serb army commander, took place in Kasindol, near Sarajevo at the home of Mladic's mother who passed away Tuesday, a statement by the NATO-led Stabilisation Force (SFOR) in Bosnia said. "This afternoon SFOR conducted an operation intended to detain Ratko Mladic who is under indictment by the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia for war crimes," said the statement. "This operation did not result in the detention of Ratko Mladic," SFOR said offering condolences to the family members who "cooperated fully" during the search. The troops searched the home of the late Stana Mladic after receiving a tip-off, said SFOR spokesman Dale MacEachern. "While SFOR regrets the timing of the operation, it is in the best interest of all citizens of Bosnia-Hercegovina that SFOR fulfils its mandate," said the SFOR statement, stressing that war crimes suspects at large present "a major threat to sustained peace...and the country's development." Mladic, 60, and Bosnian Serb wartime leader Radovan Karadzic -- who also remains at large -- have been sought by the UN war crimes tribunal since 1995 to stand trial on charges of genocide and war crimes committed by his troops during the Bosnian war. According to the witnesses Italian SFOR troops backed by four helicopters entered Mladic's house at 1:00 pm (1100 GMT). Some 30 mourners, as well as the body of 84-year-old Stana Mladic, were in the house during the search. SFOR helicopters started monitoring the house during the night, shortly after she died, the witnesses said. "This is a shame! The enemy is not letting us bury her in peace," Mladic's brother-in-law, Radivoje Avram, said in front of the house as SFOR was conducting an hour-long search, according to witnesses. "Do they really think that such a man would be hiding in a refrigerator, or under the manhole cover where SFOR soldiers have been looking for him?" said Avram, visibly upset like the rest of the mourners. The Bosnian Serb general is considered the mastermind of the 1995 Srebrenica massacre, Europe's worst atrocity since World War II, and for the three-and-a-half year siege of Sarajevo which claimed another 10,000 lives. More than 7,000 Muslim men and boys are believed to have been summarily executed in July 1995 when Serb rebel forces overran the eastern enclave of Srebrenica even though it was under the protection of Dutch UN soldiers. For the past several years, Mladic is believed to be living in neighbouring Serbia where war crimes prosecutors claim he is under the protection of the army. But officials in Serbia have recently said that he left the republic a year ago after losing support from his protectors in the former Yugoslav army. SFOR troops, deployed here since the end of the 1992-1995 war, are policing a ceasefire between Bosnian Serbs, Muslims and Croats but are also tasked with the arrest of war crimes suspects. The force has so far arrested more than 20 Bosnian war crimes suspects although it has twice failed to arrest Karadzic in large-scale operations in February and March 2002. Former Yugoslav president Slobodan Milosevic (news - web sites) is on trial at The Hague (news - web sites) on more than 60 charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity for his role in the 1990s wars in Bosnia, Croatia and Kosovo.Meanwhile, Stana Mladic was laid to rest in Miljevici near Sarajevo in the presence of some 700 people. A wreath of flowers was laid on her grave with a message "From Ratko and family." "Stana had a hard life, but she had something to be proud of," a family member said in a speach at the funeral. "She was a great patriot and she had proved that by raising her son properly," he added. letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Sat, 16 Aug 2003 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/6333/1/E-Ex-Mayor-gets-life-for-war-crimes.html  Ex-Mayor gets life for war crimesÂMilomir Stakic was the top official of the Prijedor municipality in northwest Bosnia during the 1992-95 Bosnian war 15.24PM BST, 31 Jul 2003An ex-Bosnian Serb mayor has received the first life sentence imposed by the war crimes tribunal in The Hague over crimes against humanity for ethnic cleansing in Bosnia in 1992.Milomir Stakic was the top official of the Prijedor municipality in northwest Bosnia during the 1992-95 Bosnian war.He was cleared of the gravest crime of genocide but convicted of persecution, extermination and murder of Bosnian Muslims and Croats in Prijedor.Stakic was a member of the so-called Crisis Staff in the area, which masterminded the seizure of Prijedor in April 1992 and the expulsion and persecution of Muslims and Croats, judges said.Bosnian Serb commander Radislav Krstic was convicted of genocide in a landmark verdict in 2001 for his role in the slaughter of up to 8,000 Bosnian Muslim men and boys at Srebrenica in 1995. He was sentenced to 46 years in jail.Meanwhile, blood pressure problems were blamed for halting former Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic's trial again this week, UN judges have said.Milosevic has been unable to attend his trial since last week and proceedings have been adjourned until late August when the International Criminal Tribunal for former Yugoslavia returns from a three-week summer recess.Judge Richard May told a brief hearing yesterday, which Milosevic did not attend, that he had not yet received a formal medical report on Milosevic's condition.The former Serb leader has suffered from high blood pressure, flu and exhaustion since Europe's biggest international war crimes trial since World War Two opened in February 2002.In May, judges gave the prosecution 100 trial days to wrap up their case against Milosevic, who is defending himself against charges of genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity in Bosnia, Croatia and Kosovo.Yesterday, the judge said he had calculated that prosecutors had 62 trial days left to complete their case.Source: http://www.itv.com/news/249527.html letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Thu, 31 Jul 2003 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/6334/1/E-These-war-crimes-must-be-brought-to-the-public.html ÂThese war crimes must be brought to the publicPozdrav Nenade,I would appreciate if you could let me have addresses of any of the Croatian Societies or Clubs or Unions in US and Canada.I would like to write them a e-mail or letter (if they don't have a e-mail address) regarding my book "Outcast Without Guilt ..." to promote the truth and personal facts regarding the genocide of Croatian civilians and soldiers in the aftermath of WW2. These war crimes and the irrevocable loss of life of more than 100.000 Croatian potent males must be brought to the public and to be followed up by younger Croatian generations. I will pursue this tragic subject wholeheartedly as my time is inevitably going to run out sometime but before "my last two hours come" I must do what ever it is possible.Take care and I remain with cordial regards through the authorized e-scribe-on-duty alias ESODZvonko of Oak Hill alias Zvonimir as "Bell-ringer for Peace"P.S. Your are welcome to visit my web-site as there are few new web-pages at URL: http://www.cosy.sbg.ac.at/~zzspri/index.html Interested Please write to : zzspri@aon.at writes letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Wed, 23 Jul 2003 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/6335/1/E-Dien-Bien-Phu-and-the-Lasva-Valley---NEW-BOOK.html Deconstructing WarDear folks:I write to draw your attention to a book that just came out, and is available from www.amazon.com. Short intro follows below.The author is Reg Shrader, former US military officer in Vietnam, and noted military historian (see bio below). He writes about the war between Muslims and Croats. Probably the first serious work on this uneasy war-within-a-war subject. Schrader studied military formations, intelligence activity, and other issues and came to some very contrarian conclusions.Shrader compares the situation of the Croat community in central Bosnia to that of the French army units at Dien Bien Phu in 1954. The French camps in the valley of the Nam Yum River were surrounded by the Viet Minh who greatly outnumbered them, and who held the high ground all around the valley (50,000 Viet Minh to 15,000 French Union troops). Naturally, the Viet Minh successfully besieged and overran the French who were unable to clear the Viet Minh from the high ground in order to keep open their lines of communications in the Dien Bien Phu area.At the time when some popular myths about the Balkan war activities are beginning to unravel (Galbraith/Storm), the myth about the Muslim-Croat war could be the next to be deconstructed ..... Please give it a look.Sincerely, MilesJacket Copy for Charles R. Shrader, The Muslim-Croat Civil War in Central Bosnia, 1992–1994In The Muslim-Croat Civil War in Central Bosnia, Charles R. Shrader offers the first full-scale military history of a crucial conflict in Bosnia between two former allies. When the Bosnian Serbs and their Serbian allies attacked Bosnia-Herzegovina in March, 1992, the Bosnian Croats and Muslims collaborated to defend themselves. As Serbian pressure increased and it became clear that the West would not intervene, the two allies began to stake out their own claims.Drawing on testimony and exhibits from cases presented before the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia, Shrader describes the organization and tactical doctrine of the Croatian Defense Forces and the Muslim-led Army of Bosnia-Herzegovina. He analyzes the strengths and weaknesses of the two sides in such fields as communications, training, and logistics. He assesses not only the problems of command and control in the newly formed armies, but also the impact of criminal activity, the mujahedeen, and the intervention of peacekeeping forces.What looked to many like aggression by the Bosnian Croats, Shrader views as the adoption of an “active defense,” a doctrine embraced by U. S. forces, against a predatory Muslim force. He believes UN and European observes rushed to judgment regarding the aggressive intent of the Croatian command. Far from being the attackers, Shrader concludes, the Bosnian Croats in Central Bosnia were clearly outnumbered, outgunned, and on the defensive. Surrounded by superior Muslim forces, they barely held out in their enclaves in the Lasva Valley until a cease-fire was achieved in February 1994.Although Shrader’s work is a detailed, meticulous analysis by a neutral expert, not everyone will find his conclusions comfortable. But every serious student of the conflict in Bosnia will have to take his history into account. Enhanced by maps, useful appendices, and a glossary, this should become the standard work on military operations in Central Bosnia and a useful case study of internal warfare and ethnic conflict.Charles R. Shrader began research for this book while serving as a military consultant on a case before the war crimes tribunal at The Hague and continued his research with field studies of the battle sites. Dr. CHARLES REGINALD SHRADERDr. Charles R. Shrader retired from the United States Army in 1987 as a Lieutenant Colonel after 23 years service as an Infantry and Transportation Corps officer. He is now an independent historical writer and consultant. Named a Fellow of the Association of the United States Army Institute of Land Warfare in 1999, he has served as the Executive Director of the Society for Military History (1992–2000) and as the President of the National Coalition of Independent Scholars (2000–2002).Dr. Shrader earned the BA degree in History (cum laude with “High Honors in History”) from Vanderbilt University in 1964, and was elected to Phi Beta Kappa in 1965. He was awarded a doctorate in Medieval History from Columbia University in 1976. He is also a graduate of the US Army Command and General Staff College (1978), the US Army War College (1982), and the NATO Defense College (1984).Dr. Shrader was commissioned and entered the Army from ROTC in 1964. His assignments as an Infantry platoon leader and battalion operations officer at Fort Carson, Colorado, were followed by two tours with Transportation units in Viet Nam. He later served as a liaison officer between major logistical headquarters and as a truck battalion executive officer in Germany.For over 17 years Dr. Shrader was active in the study and teaching of history and the administration of historical programs within the Army. He served as an Assistant Professor of History at the United States Military Academy and as a history instructor at the US Army Command and General Staff College. He was the first acting Director of the Combat Studies Institute at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, and later served as Chief of the Oral History Branch of the US Army Military History Institute at Carlisle Barracks, Pennsylvania, where he also held the “General of the Army George C. Marshall Chair of Military Studies” at the US Army War College. He subsequently served as the curriculum director of the NATO Defense College in Rome, and at the time of his retirement from active duty he was Chief, Historical Services Division, US Army Center of Military History, in Washington.Dr. Shrader has published several articles on medieval history and manuscript studies as well as on topics in American military history. He is the author of Amicicide: The Problem of Friendly Fire in Modern War and of an essay on “Field Logistics in the Civil War” in The US Army War College Guide to the Battle of Antietam (ed. Jay Luvaas and Harold W. Nelson). He also contributed an essay on British-American logistical cooperation in World War I to The Great War, 1914–18: Essays on the Military, Political and Social History of the First World War (ed. R. J. Q. Adams) and several articles to the Dictionary of American Military Biography (ed. Roger J. Spiller and Joseph G. Dawson). He is also the author of U. S. Military Logistics, 1607–1991: A Research Guide (Greenwood Press, 1992), and Communist Logistics in the Korean War (Greenwood Press, 1995). He is the General Editor of a five-volume Reference Guide to United States Military History (Facts-on-File, 1991–1994) and the Editor of the three–volume anthology, United States Army Logistics, 1775–1992 (Center of Military History, United States Army, 1997). Dr. Shrader’s recent works include The First Helicopter War, a study of logistics in the Algerian War of 1954–1962 (Praeger, 1999); The Withered Vine, a study of the logistical support of the Communist insurgency in Greece, 1945–1949 (Praeger, 1999); and The Muslim-Croat Civil War in Central Bosnia, 1992–1994—A Military History (Texas A&M University Press, 2003). He has also written a two-volume study of French and Viet Minh logistics in the First Indochina War, 1945–1954, and a study of the sale of armaments by the Soviet Bloc and the West to Indonesia, 1950–1970. He is currently working on a study of operations research in the U. S. Army and a book on the Regular Army of the United States in the Civil War. letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Sun, 20 Jul 2003 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/6336/1/E-Sljivancanin-arrested.html ÂSljivancanin, wanted in connection with the massacre of about 260Croatiancivilians at Vukovar, was arrestedÂIt leaves former Bosnian Serb President Radovan Karadzic and army commander Ratko Mladic as the two remaining top fugitives for war crimes during the break-up of Yugoslavia.Serbia Hands Over Suspect in 1991 Vukovar Massacre, AFP SaysÂJuly 2 (Bloomberg) -- Veselin Sljivancanin, a former Yugoslav army colonel wanted over a 1991 massacre during Croatia's war of independence, was handed over to the United Nations War Crimes Tribunal, Agence France-Presse reported.ÂSljivancanin, wanted in connection with the massacre of about 260 civilians at Vukovar, was arrested last month after police fought with a crowd of his supporters during a 10-hour siege at his apartment building in Belgrade. He was transferred to The Hague late yesterday, AFP cited Jim Landale, a spokesman for the tribunal, as saying.ÂHis transfer came on the same day as the Serbian parliament approved establishing a special state prosecutor's office to investigate war crimes in Serbia during the wars for independence by states that formed Yugoslavia. The office will improve Serbia's cooperation with The Hague tribunal, AFP cited Justice Minister Vladan Batic as saying.ÂCarla Del Ponte, the chief United Nations war crimes prosecutor, has said Serbia isn't doing enough to try to find war crimes suspects, especially former Bosnian Serb leaders Ratko Mladic and Radovan Karadzic. The arrest of Sljivancanin was a condition for the U.S. approving aid to Serbia and Montenegro, which replaced the Yugoslav federation.Â(AFP 2-7)ÂFor AFP's Web site http://www.afp.comÂSource: http://quote.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=10000085&sid=aDMRWxtCfS.8&refer=europeÂSerbia: Authorities Transfer Colonel Wanted For AtrocitiesThe Hague, 2 July 2003 (RFE/RL) -- Serbian authorities have handed over to the UN war crimes tribunal in The Hague a colonel wanted for the massacre of 200 people in 1991.Late yesterday, UN tribunal spokesman Jim Landale said Veselin Sljivancanin has been flown to The Hague and is now in UN custody.Sljivancanin was arrested last month after a 10-hour siege on his hideout in Belgrade. His arrest sparked a night of clashes between dozens of riot police and hard-line Serbian nationalists, who threw rocks and set cars on fire.Sljivancanin was indicted in 1996 in connection with the killings near the Croatian town of Vukovar. The indictment says he engaged in "a joint criminal enterprise" with the aim of purging non-Serbs, principally Croats, from large areas of Croatia and Bosnia.Source: http://www.rferl.org/nca/features/2003/07/02072003073813.aspÂSerb war suspect reaches HagueMr Sljivancanin's arrest triggered violent clashes in BelgradeA former Yugoslav army colonel accused of massacre of more than 200 civilians in Croatia in 1991 has been handed over to the UN war crimes tribunal in The Hague.ÂTribunal spokesman Jim Landale said Veselin Sljivancanin - who was arrested in Serbia two weeks ago - arrived from Belgrade late on Tuesday.ÂMr Sljivancanin is one of the so-called Vukovar Three indicted for the mass killings of non-Serbs near the eastern town of Vukovar during the war in Croatia in 1991-1995.ÂThe other two suspects - General Mile Mrskic and Captain Miroslav Radic - have already surrendered to the court.ÂTHE VUKOVAR THREEÂMile MrksicÂMiroslav RadicÂVeselin SljivancaninÂIn another development, the Serbian parliament voted on Tuesday to set up a special court to try war crimes suspects.ÂThe BBC's Geraldine Coughlan says there is speculation that the first trial could deal with the Vukovar killings.ÂBelgrade standoffÂMr Sljivancanin - alongside the two other suspects - is charged with removing at least 200 patients and civilians from a hospital in Vukovar, after it fell to Yugoslav troops.ÂVukovar suffered a three-month siege by Serb forcesIt is alleged that they were then taken to a nearby pig farm, executed and buried in a mass grave.ÂThe three suspects allegedly supervised the execution and burial in a mass grave.ÂMr Sljivancanin was picked up by police after a 10-hour standoff outside his Belgrade house following violent clashes with hundreds of his supporters.ÂThe arrest came just days before the United States threatened to suspend its financial aid unless Serbia complied with the Hague tribunal.ÂIt leaves former Bosnian Serb President Radovan Karadzic and army commander Ratko Mladic as the two remaining top fugitives for war crimes during the break-up of Yugoslavia.ÂSource: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/3036962.stm letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Wed, 02 Jul 2003 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/6337/1/H-Dioklecijan---drzavnicki-genij-najviseg-reda.html ÂGaius Aurelius ValeriusDiocletianus (c 243-316)ÂA. Demandt U.K.DIOKLECIJANPredavanje za Kongres o Dioklecijanu u Splitu/Hrvatska 2. travnja 2003.Pedeset je godina Rimsko carstvo u svojim temeljima bivalo potresano vanjskim i unutarnjim silama. U ozujku 235. nezadovoljni su vojnici u logoru kod Mainza ubili posljednjeg cara iz dinastije Severa, mladoga Severa Aleksandra i njegovu svoje moci svjesnu majku Juliju Mameu. Time je otpocelo turbulentno razdoblje careva-vojnika u kojem se imperium sine fine zajedno sa Roma aeterna nalazio pred egzistencijalnim pitanjem. Dok su na Rajni napadali Franci i Alamani, na Dunavu su u provincije upadali Goti i Karpi, a od Eufrata u Carstvo su prodirali perzijski Sasanidi, kod kuce se sveudilj sedamdeset kandidata borilo za imperijalni grimiz. Mnogi su carevi podlegli neprijateljima na rimskom tlu. Dacija onkraj Dunava i Dekumati onkraj Rajne izgubljeni su; Galija i Britanija, Sirija i Egipat odcijepili su se od Rima. Za Stari svijet jedinstveni pad vrijednosti novca oslabio je gospodarstvo. Prvi znakovi uspjesne stabilizacije nakon Aurelija poslije 270. godine nisu se pokazivali jer je stalno gradjansko ratovanje odnosilo zivote jednoga cara za drugim.Situacija se promijenila tek u studenome 284. godine. Na ljeto 283. na svom je pohodu protiv Perzijanca od udara munje umro car Kar. Vojska je njegovim nasljednikom proglasila mladjeg sina Numerijana, ali je taj na svom povratku postao zrtvom umorstva koje se stavilo na teret njegovu ocuhu, slavohlepnom prefektu pretorijanaca Aperu. Medjutim, vijece casnika nije novim vladarom proglasilo njega vec Dioklecijana. Prigodom proklamacije Dioklecijan je prisegao da je nevin u svezi s Numerijanovom smrcu, nakon cega je pred ocima vojske probo Apera. Sada vise nije imao nijednog takmaca kojeg bi se trebao bojati. Dvadeset je godina cvrstom rukom upravljao krhkim Carstvom.Prve careve mjere odnosile su se na ucvrscivanje vlastitog autoriteta i ocuvanje jedinstvenog carstva. Izvori tvrde da je Dioklecijan uveo perzijski vladarski ceremonijal te se time uzdigao iznad smrtnika. Pritom se prije svega misli na pozdravni poljubac grimiznog carskog skuta, adoratio purpurae, grcki proskynesis. Navodno novo obracanje sa domine bilo je uobicajeno i ranije; ali vise nesluzbeno. Mommsen kasnoanticko carstvo oznacava kao dominat i vise ga udaljava od principata augusta nego li taj isti od republike. Dioklecijan je poput Cezara nosio lovorov vijenac, kojeg je Konstantin kasnije zamijenio dijademom od dvostruke niske bisera s medaljonom. Ceremonijalno uzdvisivanje cara nastavilo se u krscansko doba.Oblikovanje dvorskog ceremonijala u skladu je s bombasticnim stilom vremena. Ono dolazi do izrazaja i u tituliranju Dioklecijana i su-careva. Ono u preambuli uz Edikt o cijenama sadrzi 143 rijeci. U tome sadrzano pravo porasle moci tice se, medjutim, samo ugleda carstva a ne povlastica osobe. To proizlazi iz novine s najdalekoseznijim posljedicama koju je uveo Dioklecijan: iz legalnog vise-vladarskog sustava. Postavljanjem Maksimijana za drugog augusta Dioklecijan se, bez da to bude na racun njegovog autoriteta, odrekao polovine svoje moci. Uvidio je da samo jedan car vise ne moze zadovoljiti sve vojne i administrativne zahtjeve, te je imenovanjem svoga kolege osujetio prijetecu uzurpaciju na zapadu. Spremnost i sposobnost dijeljenja zaduzenja ukazuju na njegovu dalekovidnost. Dioklecijan je isao i korak dalje time sto je svakom od dvojice augusta podcinio caesara, cime je taj istovremeno bio predvidjen za nasljednika. Tako stvorenom tetrarhijom divlje carevanje vise nije imalo nikakvih izgleda.Spomena vrijedno je socijalno i regionalno porijeklo tetrarha. Ono se nalazi na kraju dugog razvoja koji vodi od Rima u provincije, od visokog plemstva do cjelokupnog gradjanstva. Carevi julijevsko-klaudijevske dinastije bili su starorimski patriciji. S Flavijevcima senatori iz Italije zaposjeli su tron, posvojeni carevi pripadali su senatorskom sloju iz Galije i spanjolske, Severi onome iz Afrike. S carevima-vojnicima do vladarske moci dosli su casnici viteskoga staleza iz Podunavlja, a odatle potjecu i tetrarsi. Novina kod njih je njihovo nisko podrijetlo. Dioklecijan je podrijetlom navodno bio oslobodjeni rob; on se sluzbovanjem probio do zapovjednika tjelesne straze. Galerije je navodno nekoc bio pastir. Nijednome od tetrarha ne znamo oca, pa ipak su usvojenjem i zenidbama bili u svojti. To se nastavlja u slijedecim genealosko povezanim carskim familijama i proteze se preko srednjeg vijeka sve do novog doba. Dioklecijan stoji na pocetku tog rodbinskog lanca, koji seze do Karla Velikog i europskih knezevskih kuca, cak do Elizabete II. od Engleske - kao bitan element kontinuiteta.Time sto je Dioklecijan povecao nazocnost careva moglo se rijesiti vojnicke probleme carstva. Na istoku osigurao je frontu u Perziji i Egiptu, na zapadu Maksimijan je cuvao granicu na Rajni. Ustanicki su Bagaudi pobijedjeni, Britanija i Afrika ponovno osvojene. S uvodjenjem vise-carstva povezana je personalna i regionalna decentralizacija. Rim je odavno izgubio svoj status upravnog sredista, ali je ipak kao sjediste senata i drzavnih bogova na Kapitolu ostao pocasnim glavnim gradom za drzavnicke posjete i drzavne akte careva. Dioklecijan je za rezidenciju odabrao Nikomediju u Maloj Aziji, koju je Konstantin kasnije radije zamijenio obliznjim Bizantom. Dioklecijanov caesar Galerius imao je sjediste u Solunu ili Sirmiumu. Maksimijan je rezidirao u Milanu ili Akvileji, njegov caesar Konstancije u Trieru ili Yorku. To je ovisilo uvijek o blizini ugrozenih granica.S postavljanjem novih rezidencija povezana je gradjevinska djelatnost. Kada crkveni otac Laktancije Dioklecijanu predbacuje cupiditas aedificandi, nedostatak koji dijeli s vecinom velikih careva, mi pritom mislimo na nove gradjevine Augusta ili Domicija, Hadrijana ili Trajana. Izvjesno je da je palace u Nikomediji i Splitu sagradio za se, ali velicanstvene Terme u Rimu bile su namijenjene narodu, Kurija senatu a pogranicne utvrde od Sjevernog do Crnog Mora zastiti provincija.O brojnim Dioklecijanovim reformama neki autor kasnije kaze: «Mnoge je odredbe donio dalekovidno, te su one i dan danasnji na snazi» (Eutrop IX 23). Vecina sacuvanih odluka spada u podrucje privatnog prava, samo iz prvih deset godina puno vise od tisucu. Dioklecijan je bio posljednji car koji je na nacin principata iskazivao pravo privatnim osobama, sto je potom putem objavljivanja postalo opcevazece. Medju moliteljima nalaze se brojne zene, i maloljetni, te studenti. Potonjima je dopustio da svoj studij prava u Beritosu nastave do 25. godine zivota bez da se pritom moraju bojati da ce biti vraceni u rodni grad kako bi odradili svoju komunalnu obvezu. Razjasnjavala su se i nacelna pitanja. Tako je trazio da obveza dokazivanja lezi na tuzitelju, da je osuda bez poziva na sud nedopustena, da se zajednicka imovina na zelju jednog suvlasnika ima podijeliti, da su iznudjene nagodbe nistavne, da ljudi s tjelesnim manama imaju pravnu sposobnost, da roditelje bez sredstava imaju uzdrzavati njihova djeca, da se djeca rodjena na slobodi ne smiju prodavati u roblje, da je duznicko ropstvo protuzakonito, te da pravne odluke cak ni na carevo odobrenje ne smiju biti odgodjene. Pravosudje je iznad cara. Zapanjujuce kakvim se sve pitanjima car bavio. Neki je covjek zvani Bithus zelio poslovati drazima svoje zene. Medjutim, uzivalac - neki vlasnik bordela ili neki ljubavnik - nije platio dogovoreni iznos. Zato ga je suprug tuzio caru. A taj ga je poducio: takvo je ponasanje necudoredno, turpis causa contra bonos mores (Codex Iustinianus IV 7,5). covjeku je rekao neka ga bude sramota.Broj carskih odredaba bio je nepregledan. Dva su ih jurista pod Dioklecijanom skupljala, Gregorius i Hermogenianus; s njima pocinje za povijest prava tako znacajna kodifikacija zakona. Teodozij II. Ju je nastavio, Justinijan zavrsio.Drzavnog su se prava ticale reforme vezane za kovanice i porez, za centralnu i vlast u provincijama. Na dvoru su stvoreni posebni odjeli (scrinia) za pojedina podrucja. Provincije su smanjene, a njihov je broj porastao na oko stotinu, upravljanje njima time je intenzivirano. Vise provincija zajedno tvorilo je dvanaest dijeceza koje su bile podredjene vicariusu (praefecti praetorio) - nova razina instance izmedju namjesnika provincije i cara, odn. njegova zamjenika, prefekta pretorijanaca. Ukinuta je politicka spijunska policija frumentarii, sacuvana je samouprava gradova. Italija i Egipat izgubili su svoj odavno zastarjeli posebni status.Civilna i vojna kompetencija bile su odvojene; u tijeku rastuce profesionalizacije to je bilo pozeljno, buduci da je uspon karijere u vojsci i u upravi bio odvojen po kvalifikacijama u pojedinim podrucjima. To je imalo za posljedicu da je sada casnicka karijera bila moguca i za Germane koji su time obilato koristili. Oko 300. godine je Batavac Ianuarius sluzio kao dux. Konstantin je nastavio s promicanjem Germana. Dioklecijan je zacetnik rasclanjivanja pokretnih jedinica iz pogranicne vojske, iz kojih je kasnije Konstantin stvorio regularnu vojsku. Dioklecijan je cijelo vrijeme zacetnik a Konstantin dovrsilac djela.I opskrba vojnika je u svezi s Ediktom o cijenama iz 301. godine. Kamo god bi trupe stigle, s povecanom potraznjom rasle su i cijene. Kako bi to osujetio, car je odredio maksimalne moguce tarife, pritom odmah obuhvacajuci svu mogucu robu i usluge. Sacuvani popis sadrzava oko 1400 podataka, sto je iznimno poucno za gospodarsku situaciju toga doba. Tako saznajemo da je rob u dobi izmedju 16 i 40 godina (Edictum Diocletiani 29) kostao koliko i polovica jedne deve (ED. 30, 7), da je profesor po gojencu zaradjivao pet puta vise od ucitelja u osnovnoj skoli. Buduci da je prekrsiteljima prijetila smrtna kazna, i tu su mjeru pripisivali svemocnoj masti koja u stvarnosti nije mogla uspjeti.Dobronamjerno tumacenje ovdje vise se bavi carevom brigom za dobrobit Carstva, a prepoznati ju se moze i u njegovoj zabrani krscanstva iz 303. godine. Dioklecijanova osobna poboznost je neupitna. O njoj govore kako poganski tako i krscanski autori, a dokazivao ju je i on sam. Na to ukazuje i izbor njegova nesluzbena imena Iovius, koji odrazava zastitnicki odnos prema vrhovnome bogu, a aludira i na rodno ime Diokles - «onaj kojega je Zeus ucinio slavnim», koje je kasnije latinizirano u Diocletianus. O njegovoj religioznosti jos bolje svjedoci Jupiterov hram nasuprot njegova mauzoleja u Splitu. To se osjeca vec zamalo krscanskim, od Konstantina naovamo carevi su svoje grobove stalno vezivali uz neko svetiste.Dioklecijan je dvadeset godina podnosio krscanstvo, u glavni je grad pozvao Laktancija kao krscanskog govornika i primio ga u crkvu nedaleko svoje palace. Nije sasvim jasno zbog cega je donio zabranu. Godinu dana ranije zabranio je manihejce kao religiozne novotare, a to isto kasnije je predbacio i krscanima. Kada je Dioklecijan nakon drugog pozara u palaci cak i od svoje zene i kcerke zahtijevao carsku zrtvu, koja bi ih oslobodila sumnje od krscanstva, to ne mora ukazivati na to da su one krscanstvu bile sklone, vec je to demonstriralo Dioklecijanovo poimanje jednakosti sviju pred zakonom.Konacno priznavanje krscanstva proveo je jos prije Konstantina Dioklecijanov poganski su-car i nasljednik Galerije 311. godine. On je, kao i Dioklecijan, bio uvjeren da je sluzba bozja neizbjezna za nebeski blagoslov a taj za blagostanje carstva. Svijest o metafizickoj odgovornosti cara bila je zajednicka Dioklecijanu, Konstantinu i Augustu koji je svoju vladarsku obvezu u pogledu religije izvrsavao programom gradnje hramova i drzavnickim ceremonijalom. Spomenik tetrarsima na Forum Romanum prikazuje careve pri drzavnickom zrtvovanju Suovetaurile, a da u Rimu to nikad nisu izveli zajedno. Dioklecijanovi zavjetni zapisi sacuvani su za Jupitera, Herkulesa, Viktoriju, Sola, Mitra i druge bogove.Nakon dvadesetog jubileja svoje vladavine, koju je zapoceo s Maksimijanom u Rimu, Dioklecijan je 1. svibnja 305. u Nikomediji odlozio svoje grimizno ruho kako bi se povukao u svoju velebnu palacu Spalato kod Salone i tamo proveo starost. Istovremeno je po svojoj volji odstupio i Maksimijan u Milanu. Oba dotadasnja caesara uzdigla su se u cast augusta i izabrala nove caesare. Dioklecijanovu ostavku vec je Edward Gibbon 1776. usporedio s ostavkom Karla V. godine 1556. Oba su cara bila neuspjesna u provodjenju politike religije, sto se opet moze usporediti sa Sulinim odlaskom iz politike godine 79. pr. Kr. Odricanje od moci uvijek ostavlja jak dojam. Za razliku od Maksimijana, Dioklecijan je cvrsto ustrajao pri svojoj odluci kad su ga 308. njegovi bespomocni nasljednici na carskoj konferenciji u Karnuntumu molili da ponovno preuzme vlast. Njegov poznati odgovor glasio je: «Dodjite me jednom posjetiti u Saloni i divite se mom vrtu s kupusom kojeg sam obradjujem, pa cete me ubuduce postedjeti takvih neumjesnih zahtjeva!»Kasnije su generacije podijeljeno sudile o Dioklecijanu - kao sto to biva kod vecine velikih vladara u povijesti. Obicno se Dioklecijana gleda kao kontrast Konstantinu. Na racun jednoga hvali se drugoga, slicno kao kod Cezara i Augusta. Jednostrana osuda cara u pogledu krscanstva prevladana je vec u 17. stoljecu. Henry Purcell je 1690. na londonsku pozornicu postavio svoju semi-operu «Dioclesian». Koristio je libreto koji u svom osnovnom obliku potjece iz godine 1622. Njegova suvremena kriticka tendencija s jedne se strane odnosila na vrijednost covjeka koji je svoj uspon od obicnog vojnika do cara stekao svojim zaslugama a ne svojim porijeklom, a s druge strane velica njegovo odricanje od moci koje, prema modernom baroknom ukusu, sasvim izvjesno nije bilo motivirano privrzenoscu povrcu vec se radilo o ljubavnoj prici.Dioklecijanovo je djelovanje prozeto odredjenom tragicnoscu. Neuspjehe reforme cijena, proganjanja krscana i tetrarhije osjetio je za zivota; pogresno je bilo vjerovati da se nacelo dinastija moze odbaciti slobodnim usvajanjem «najboljih», kako je to jednom trazio Plinije u svome hvalospjevu Trajanu. Kasnije su mnoge od tih mjera smatrane uzrocima za raspad Imperija - carstvo bozanstva, birokratizacija, germanizacija vojske i premjestanje rezidencije. Sve je to zbog trenutacne nuzde moguce shvatiti i katkad je to bila samo kratkotrajna mjera, ponekad pak u promijenjenom obliku dugorocno konstruktivno, primjerice vise-vladarski sustav, samo sto je sve obicno ostajalo u obitelji. Vec Konstantin nije mogao vladati bez svojih sinova. Najvisa je carska snaga i dalje uvijek samo povremeno na nekoliko mjeseci ostajala u rukama samo jedne osobe.7. ozujka 1808 pisao je Goethe Fritzu Jacobiju da se osjeca «kao Dioklecijan u Splitu». Time je Goethe oslikao vedru opustenost s kojom je promatrao muke svojih nasljednika. Nije mario za njih. «Od sada neka mi bude sasvim prijatno da zivim i umrem kao posljednji poganin». Time se Dioklecijan stavlja na kraj jedne epohe, ali istovremeno on stoji i na pocetku slijedece, na pocetku kasne antike. On je Imperiju poklonio svoju posljednju fazu, neprocjenjivi obol, jer je tada prikupljena grcko-rimska kulturne bastina i pretvorena u oblik u kakvom ju je kasnije preuzeo srednji vijek. To je dalo pecat Europi. Jacob Bruckkardt je 1853. Dioklecijana nazvao «najmarljivijim sluzbenikom svoga carstva» a Mommsen je 1886. za njega s razlogom rekao da je «drzavnicki genij najviseg reda». letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Tue, 17 Jun 2003 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/6338/1/E-Yankee-Barhanovich-Elvis-Presley--Alaska-Indians.html ÂYANKEEBARHANOVICH, ELVIS PRESLEY AND ALASKA INDIANSÂAdam S. EterovichElvis grew up in Tupelo, Mississippi. Author Peter Guralnik, Ballatine Books,wrote Elvis Day by Day in 1955. Elvis had just started and acquired an agent.Elvis' new managerial contract with Bob Neal went into effect on January 1,1955 with a smiling picture of Elvis, Neal, and Sam Phillips that commemoratesthe occasion appearing in various periodicals and fan magazines over the nextcouple of months.Yankee Barhanovich pays Elvis $600.00 for three nights in Biloxi,Mississippi. The Barhanovich Clan hails from the Island of Brac, Croatia; "business isbusiness, Elvis is worth all of six hundred dollars" states Barhanovich.Elvis and Slavonians (Croatians)On Friday February 1955 at Jesuit High School, New Orleans, Louisiana, Elvisappears with Ann Barhanovich-Raye, daughter of Biloxi promoter YankieBarhanovich. He is late for an appearance at radio station WWEZ to promote the show.Sunday 26th, Slavonian Lodge, Biloxi, Mississippi. Elvis, Scotty, and Billopen the new air-conditioned club to a sellout crowd.Monday 27th, Airman's Club, Keesler Air Force Base, outside Biloxi. Localgirl June Juanico attends with a friend who saw the Slavonian Lodge performanceand has told June that Elvis Presley is "the most gorgeous man I've ever seenin my life." Elvis picks June out of the crowd and spends the rest of theevening with her.Tuesday 28th, Airman's Club, Keesler Air Force Base. The group receives $600for its three nights in the Biloxi area. All shows are booked by YankieÂBarhanovich, whom Elvis met in February when he shared the bill with Barhanovich'sdaughter, Ann Raye, in New Orleans. Ann recalls Elvis' mother, Gladys, being atKeesler to see at least one of the shows.Other Mississippi BookingsLouisiana Hayride, Municipal Auditorium, Shreveport. Elvis is introduced asthe "Memphis Flash" and described to the radio audience by announcer Frank Pageas wearing crocodile--skin shoes with pink socks. He performs "That's AllRight,"' "Hearts of Stone," "Blue Moon of Kentucky," and "Fool, Fool, Fool." Thebill includes rising country star Johnny Horton, known as "The SingingFisherman," who will have a huge pop hit four years later with "The Battle of NewOrleans."Junior College Auditorium, Booneville, Mississippi (sponsored by the KiwanisClub). The Booneville Banner carries a front--page story declaring that "thefastest rising country music star in the nation will be performing in his owntop--notch manner." Elvis visits local radio station WBIP for an interview withDJ Lynn McDowell to support airplay of his records. Bob Neal writes to EdMcLemore of the Big "U" Jamboree to let him know that Colonel Parker will bedoing bookings for him and Elvis, "just like MCA or William Morris or any other agency." According to Neal, Parker is attempting to get a booking at "one of thebig resort hotels in Nevada and is "negotiating a deal that is terrific, tosay the least."City Auditorium. Clarksdale. Mississippi. Harry Kalcheim cables the Colonelthat he has set up the Godfrey audition for March 23, and should Elvis winfirst place, he will appear on Godfrey's morning TV show for the following threeweeks.American Legion Hall, Meridian, Mississippi. Elvis attends the third annualJimmie Rodgers Memorial Celebration honoring the universally acknowledged"Father of Country Music" in his hometown. An afternoon barbecue attracts 10,000people with Ernest Tubb, Hank Snow, and many other current country-and--westernstars in attendance, while the evenings shows are divided among five differentvenues in town. "Music will be provided by Elvis Pressley and his orchestra"at the American Legion hall, according to the Meridian Star. The Septemberissue of Country Song Roundup reports that Elvis was called back for encore afterencore, performing "Baby Let's Play House," "I'm Left, You're Right, She'sGone," "Milkcow Blues Boogie," and "You're a Heartbreaker," among others.Belden High School Gym, Belden, Mississippi. DJ Bobby Ritter recalls that inorder to get into the building without being mobbed, Elvis has to crawlthrough a back window, ripping the seat of his pants, which have to be held togetherwith a safety pin during his performance.Fairgrounds, Tupelo, Mississippi. Webb Pierce is the headliner on this newfour-day tour set up by Bob Neal in June and featuring Wanda Jackson, BudDeckelman, the Miller Sisters, and others. Also included is Charlie Feathers, atwenty- -three- -year- -old incipient rockabilly recording for Sun subsidiaryFlip. This is Elvis' first performance in Tupelo since his appearance at age tenin the singing competition at these same fairgrounds, and it is held before acrowd of about 3,000.Elvis also buys a pink 1955 Cadillac Fleetwood Sixty with a black top toreplace the Cadillac that has burned. A removable wooden roof rack is used for theband's instruments.Slavonian Croatian AssociationThe Slavonian Benevolent Association is adjusting to the changes in societyand around its Myrtle Street lodge on Point Cadet, Biloxi, Mississippi. In thelast five years, 91 new members have joined, pushing the club's rolls to 302strong. If people are drifting away from their roots in the modern world, thattrend doesn't seem to be affecting the Slavonians (Croatians), who settled inBiloxi over 150 years ago and were the driving force behind much of Biloxi'sseafood industry. The heritage that the members' relatives brought fromDalmatia in Croatia appears to be the drawing card. Casinos are just as eager tohost their nightly activities. This year, the Beau Rivage Casino hostedWednesday's press conference, and Thursday's Stag Night. The Slavonians have takenadvantage of the casinos in the Point Cadet area. The group rents the parking lotnorth of its building to the Isle of Capri for employee parking. The club'sboisterous meetings are as much a part of its heritage as anything. "I don'tknow if you've ever had to conduct a meeting with 60, 70 Slavonians in one hallat one time," President Kovacevich explained. "If a stranger walked in, he'dthink there's some kind of war going on." He said all members get their say inthe organization's business. Parliamentarians may not recognize the structure,but they've probably never seen a copy Robertovich's Rules of Order, either.Well, it doesn't exist, apparently. Don Hammack, The Sun Herald, August 30,2000Yankee BarhanovichF. "Yankie" Barhanovich is a highly respected and well thought of civic andbusiness leader in the Biloxi, Mississippi area. He's a successful insuranceexecutive and a valuable member of the community. "Yankie" didn't achieve hisposition by waiting for it. He proved that by hard work and determination, anindividual can end up at the top. F "Yankie" Barhanovich was born in Biloxi,Mississippi, sixty-one year's ago. In 1938, he started as a 23 year old agentwith the American National Insurance Company of Galveston, Texas. After fourteenshort months he advanced to Assistant Manager, and four years later waselevated to District Manager "Yankie" has held the position of District Manager for33 years. In addition, "Yankie" won the company's President Trophy in 1968.His agency is among the top fifteen in the Nation for the past 30 years and hisis the leading District office in the South Central Division, "Yankie"Barhanovich Is a self-made man. He made it to the top. During hisProfessional-career. "Yankie" found time to actively participate in civic affairs. He has servedas president or chairman of many organizations such as the East HarrisonCounty Lions Club and the Shrimp Bowl Classic. He also acted as State Commissionerof the Amateur Softball Association for 10 years. During his many years ofcommunity service, "Yankie" has received various awards. These awards include theBiloxi Outstanding Junior and Senior Citizen, 1970 Junior Chamber of CommerceBoss of the Year and the Distinguished Service Award for his contributions toAmateur Football. He was inducted into the National Football Foundation Hallof Fame in 1971. "Yankie" is currently chairman of the Mississippi CoastColiseum Commission and former President of the Mississippi Coast Chapter of theNational Football Foundation. Yankee was president of the Slavonian Society inBiloxi, Mississippi.Secretary of the Haida Indian TribeAlso written as Barhanovich, the Baranovich clan originates from Sibenik inDalmatia and the Barhanovich clan from the Island of Brac, Dalmatia, Croatia.Vincent Baranovich's activities were first discovered with a notice of mailat the Post Office at Victoria, British Columbia in 1870; in 1871 he was furtrading in Alaska. He also was associated with John Peratrovich who had marriedand Indian princess in Alaska and had 29 children and three wives; otherCroatian associates were Tony Valensolo and Tony Markovich in Alaska. Vincent W.Baranovich was Secretary of the Haida Indian Tribe in 1938.Anton Baranovich was a 36 year old fisherman in 1880 at Clatsop, Oregon; theUS Census listed him as Italian. Andrew Baranovich was a cook in 1900 in theSanta Clara Valley of California and Peter Baranovich was a waiter in SanFrancisco in 1903.John Barhanovich announced his resignation as Bruin basketball coach at theteam's end-of-the-season. In eight years as coach since 1992 at Everett,Washington, he compiled a 90-89 record, including 55-22 the past three seasons."There are things I'm going to miss big-time," Barhanovich said. "Like the gamesthemselves. I'm going to miss the strategy. But it's the right time to allowsomeone else to take over. We'll still go to games on Friday nights." letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Wed, 04 Jun 2003 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/6339/1/E-Research-on-Croatian-fishermen.html ÂRESEARCH ON CROATIANFISHERMEN ÂI am researching and writing a book on Croatian Fishermen and Oystermen inÂAmerica from 1750 to 2000. They could have been known as Dalmatians,Istrians,ÂAustrians, Slavs, Slavonians or Yugoslavs.ÂIt will include an extensive biography, bibliography and index offishermenÂin Louisiana, Alabama, Mississippi, Texas, California, Oregon, Washington,ÂAlaska and Canada.ÂIt will also include pioneer:ÂFish-Oyster RestaurantsÂOyster SaloonsÂShip CaptainsÂMarinersÂShip YardsÂI would appreciate any information or help you could provide. DirectoriesofÂfishermen (I can pick out the Croatians) or human interest stories areÂwelcome. I would like lists of fishermen in the following manner, ifpossible:ÂMarinovich, Mate 1932 FishermanÂÂÂÂÂÂBoat Name Biloxi Ms BracÂAntich, George 1945 Fisherman Boat NameÂÂÂBiloxi Ms DalmatiaÂMatulich, John 1926 Oysterman Boat NameÂÂÂSan Pedro Ca IstriaÂZitkovich, Luka 1965 Oysterman Boat Name Plaquemines LaÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂSplitÂThanks,ÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂAdam S. EterovichÂ2527 San Carlos Ave.ÂSan Carlos, CA 94070Â650-592-1190Âcroatians@aol.comÂwww.croatians.comÂCRAB CIOPPINOÂIn February 1929, Sunset Magazine adopted the editorial policy that stillÂguides it: a magazine of Western living for people who live in the West.Over theÂyears, the recipes that have appeared in its pages have become a historyofÂWestern tastes. They first presented San Francisco's famous Cioppino in1941,Âcrediting its invention to San Francisco fishermen from the DalmatianCoastÂ(Croatia). Dungeness crab is the star of this robust shellfish stew; clamsandÂshrimp add their flavors, too. It's traditional to sop up the thicktomato andÂgarlic sauce with lots of extra-sour sourdough bread.ÂDALMATIAN-ISTRIAN FISHERMENÂDalmatian-Istrian fishermen from the Dalmatian coast and islands ofCroatiaÂwere fishermen and oystermen in the bayous of Louisiana, at Biloxi,ÂMississippi, Mobile Bay, Alabama and on the Texas Gulf Coast for up to twohundred years.ÂDuring the Gold Rush of 1848 they came to San Francisco. Tadich Grill istheÂoldest restaurant and fish house in San Francisco being organized byÂDalmatians from Croatia in 1849. Other famous fish restaurants were MayesOyster HouseÂ(1860's), Sam's (1880's) Chris's, Harpoon Louies, and many others,allÂowned by Dalmatians. By 1880 there were over 250 Dalmatian fishermen inSanÂFrancisco. The Fishermen's Association had Dalmatian-Croatians aspresidents andÂofficers in the 1860's-1870's.ÂMany of the Dalmatian fishermen left San Francisco for the state ofÂWashington, Oregon, Canada and Alaska, others went to San Pedro inSouthern California.ÂIn the 1830's Captain John Dominis-Gospodnetich operating out of HawaiiÂbarreled and shipped the first salmon out of the state of Washington tothe EasternÂUnited States and established the Salmon Trade. His son JohnÂDominis-Gospodnetich married an Hawaiian princes who became the last queenof Hawaii-QueenÂLilioukalani and Dominis-Gospodnetich became the King-Consort. AnotherDalmatianÂfisherman with his boat settled on an island off the Canadian Coast andÂmarried an Indian woman and later was obligated to also marry her twowidowedÂsisters. He had 28 children and three wives. He became wealthy and hispicture withÂhis wife appeared as a lable on canned salmon.ÂThe Dalmatian-Croatian made a considerable contribution to the fishingÂindustry and style of fish preparation in America.ÂTHE CUISINE OF DALMATIAÂThe cuisine of Dalmatia and the islands follows the trend of the modernÂnutritionist recommendations. The short preparation of foodstuffs (mainlycookingÂor grilling) and plenty of fish, olive oil, vegetable and self-grown herbsÂfound near the sea is why this cuisine is considered very healthy.ÂBOOKS BY ADAM S. ETEROVICHÂEterovich, Adam S. Gold Rush Pioneers From Croatia, Bosnia-Hercegovina andÂthe Boka Kotor. San Carlos: Ragusan Press, 2003. Soft Cover, 81/2x11.$25.00.ÂCovers the Gold Rush of 1848 in California and the Silver Boom of 1859 inÂNevada. Included are the saloons, coffee saloons, and restaurants. Allpioneers areÂlisted in an extensive Index.ÂEterovich, Adam S. Croatian Contributions to San Francisco from 1849-1949toÂRestaurants, Coffee Saloons, Oyster Saloons, Saloons, Liquor,ÂImporters-Exporters, Fruits-Produce, Fishermen-Oystermen and Mariners. SanCarlos: RagusanÂPress, 2003. Soft Cover. 215 pages. Illustrated. $25.00.ÂEterovich, Adam S. Croatians in California, 1849-1999. San Carlos, Ca:ÂRagusan Press, 2000. 650 pages. $30.00. Gold Rush pioneers, the wildwest-saloons,Ârestaurants, farms, orchards, vineyards, fishermen, music, celebrations,Âsocieties, churches and 1000's of individuals. 800 biographies. 115Illustrations.ÂEterovich, Adam S. and Simich, Jerry L. General Index to Croatian PioneersinÂCalifornia, 1849-1999. San Carlos, Ca.: Ragusan Press. 1999. 370 pages.Â$30.00. An Index by Name, Date, Occupation or Activity, Location, Town ofOriginÂand Reference Source. Abstracted from cemeteries, voting registers,census,Âsociety records church records and other source. 45,000Âindividuals plus family groups. letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Sun, 01 Jun 2003 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/6340/1/E-Book-Review-Balkan-Holocausts.html Book Review: MacDonald, Balkan Holocausts? reviewed by Florian BieberBalkan Academic News Book Review 11/2003David Bruce MacDonald, Balkan Holocausts?: Serbian and Croatian VictimCentered Propaganda and the War in Yugoslavia. Manchester: ManchesterUniversity Press, 2003. 308 pp. 24.95 USD, ISBN 0-71906467-8 (softcover).Reviewed by Florian Bieber (ECMI), Email: bieberf@gmx.netÂ----------This study is a comprehensive comparative analysis of nationalist myths inCroatia and Serbia before and during the disintegration of Yugoslavia. Thefocus on myths of victimization follows the research (e.g. VesnaPesic or Ivan Colovic) conducted on nationalist mobilization in formerYugoslavia, which has identified it as one of the most forceful mobilizers.The comparative dimension allows David Bruce MacDonald to highlight thesimilarities between the two cases.In the first theoretical chapter, the author develops what he calls ateleological model of nationalism, in which he identifies the functions ofdifferent myths (myths of covenant, renewal, gold age and decline). Whilelargely following Anthony Smiths typology of myths, he concludes his bookwith the correct observation that the myths of the golden age (which Smithemphasizes) played a subordinate role in comparison to the myths of decline. The choice of'victim-centered' propaganda and how it has drawn from different historical episodes, in particularWorld War Two, is very useful, as this self-victimization facilitates both denying theself-perception as a (possible) perpetrator and at the same time mobilizes fear, which has beencrucial in securing support for the nationalist projects of former Yugoslavia. Furthermore the mythof the fall and decline allowed the new nationalist regimes to portray themselves as the beginningof a new gold era and having a 'window of opportunity' to correct the past injustices (p. 259). Atthe same time, the myth of an utopian future, as some authors have described in recent literature onnationalist myths [1], did not figure prominently in the nationalistdiscourses in Croatia and Serbia.The reference to propaganda in the title is actually somewhat misleading,as the politization of myths stands in the foreground of the book. Most sourcesanalyzed extend beyond government-disseminated distortions and includewritings of historians and other intellectuals. In fact, the emphasis ofpropaganda prevents the author from exploring in greater detail the reasonswhy these myths achieved such political salience in the past two decades.It is the politization of the myths of decline and victimization, which isremarkable in the case of former Yugoslavia, not necessarily the existenceof these myths as such.One considerable draw-back of the book is its exclusively reliance onsources in English. The author has nevertheless managed to drawn together a large number oftranslated sources, which allowed him to conduct the study. It is, however, often at the expense ofmaterials which have not been translated . Furthermore, diacritic marks are somewhat randomly usedthroughout the book. Related, but perhaps more seriously, some mistakes throughout the book do notalways demonstrate the author's close knowledge of the subject matter, thus Vasilije Krestic isdescribed as a politician rather than a 'historian' (p. 87) or Nikolaj Velimirovic is described ashaving maintained anti-Semitic views until the 1990s (p. 146) despite his death in 1956. Thesemistakes, of which there are a number throughout the book, are by themselves less disturbing thanthe sense while reading the book that there is a certain lack of depth. When discussing historicalevents, the author relies heavily on journalistic sources. For example, when highlighting theconflictual number on the victims at the Jasenovac camp, he refers to Misha Glenny, Ed Vulliamy andBrian Hall, rather than to numbers suggested in historical studies on the period (p. 161). Otherimportant writings on the subject of victimization or the approporation of the Holocaust are notincluded, such as Marko Zivkovic's article of the appropriation of being a Jew in former Yugoslavia[2] or reference to Vuk Draskovic's letter to Israel in 1985 where he underlines the similaritiesbetween Serbs and Jews [3].Altogether the book is balanced and insightful and covers ground notdiscussed in this detail in the literature on the dissolution ofYugoslavia. The focus on victimization in nationalist mythologies is indeedimportant and can be found in nationalist mobilization across the world.The quality of the analysis is somewhat reduced by the uneven usage ofsources. Nevertheless the book is useful reading for understandingnationalist mobilization in former Yugoslavia.----------This an earlier book reviews are available at: www.seep.ceu.hu/balkansÂ(asthe website is awaiting a major revamping, this and recent reviews have notbe included yet)----------© 2003 Balkan Academic News. This review may be distributed and reproducedelectronically, if credit is given to Balkan Academic News and the author.For permission for re-printing, contact Balkan Academic News.Tomislav Z. KuzmanovicHinshaw & Culbertson100 E. Wisconsin Ave., Ste 2600Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53202 letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Tue, 20 May 2003 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/6341/1/E-BleiburgJasenovac-article-in-The-Independent.html ÂBleiburgBleiburg: "It is a story that ought also to be wellknown in Britain, because it was largely due toBritish policies that the terrible events occurred."The IndependentCroatians gather to mourn victims of 1945 atrocitiesBy Peter Popham12 May 2003Croatians stood in mourning at two separate placesyesterday. On the site of the most notoriousconcentration camp run during the Second World War byCroatia's Nazi regime, President Stipe Mesic expressedhis "deepest regret for the innocent victims of thosewho tarnished Croatia's name".It was the first time a Croatian head of state hadjoined former inmates of the camp at Jasenovac andothers who commemorate the day in 1945 when 600inmates tried to flee the camp where tens and perhapshundreds of thousands of Serbs, Jews, gypsies andanti-fascist Croats had been exterminated during thewar. Of the 600 who tried to break out, only about 70succeeded.Meanwhile, in the southern Austrian town of Bleiburg,thousands of Croats gathered as they do every year tomark one of the atrocities of the last months of thewar that is all but forgotten outside Croatia. Lastweek, the Croatian government announced that itplanned to buy land in Austria on which to build apermanent memorial to the horror. It is a story thatought also to be well known in Britain, because it waslargely due to British policies that the terribleevents occurred.In May 1945, hundreds of thousands of Croats, soldiersin the army and civilians, congregated in Bleiburgafter fleeing the Croatian capital, Zagreb, beforeTito's advancing partisans. The Croatians believed,without good reason, that they would be welcomed bythe British and Americans and allowed to surrender.But at the Yalta conference of 1945, Stalin had madeclear that he required the repatriation of citizens ofEastern Bloc countries. And since surrender was acriminal act in the Soviet Union, those returned wouldbe subject to the death penalty.Agreement was reached between the Soviets and theBritish on the repatriation of Soviet citizens"irrespective of whether the individuals desire toreturn ... or not" according to the words of theagreement.As Tito had yet to fall out with Stalin, the samepolicy applied in Yugoslavia. The Croatians gatheredat Bleiburg were duly sent back across the border byBritish forces, on foot or by train. The killing bythe partisans began on 16 May 1945, and continued fortwo years. No one knows how many died, but Croatiansources quote figures between 100,000 and 250,000.The atrocity was covered up as long as Tito's regimelasted, but with the end of Communist rule in 1990,Croats began abseiling into underground caves inSlovenia and northern Croatia, long sealed by theauthorities, and finding thousands of corpses in massgraves. letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Mon, 12 May 2003 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/6343/1/E-New-and-Old-Books---History-of-failed-Idea.html ÂYugoslavism: Histories of a Failed Idea, 1918-1992The Centre for South-East European Studies and Hurst & Co. cordiallyinvite you to a Round Table Discussion of the recently publishedYugoslavism: Histories of a Failed Idea, 1918-1992 (London: Hurst & Co.,2003)Tuesday 13th May, 5.30pm, Middle Common Room, 21 Russell SquareDiscussants will include Dejan Djokic (Editor, Birkbeck), Dr. Lucy Riall(Birkbeck), Dr. Sumantra Bose (LSE), Prof. Stevan Pavlowitch (Southampton).--You can access our catalogue on the world wide web:http://www.hurstpub.co.uk/ÂTomislav Z. KuzmanovicHinshaw & Culbertson100 E. Wisconsin Ave., Ste 2600Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53202 letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Fri, 09 May 2003 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/6344/1/E-Dubrovnik-A-History-by-Robin-Harris---Important-new-book.html  Dubrovnik: A Historyby Robin HarrisDear AllÂAn important new book is coming out in a few weekstime. It is entitled Dubrovnik: A History and is byRobin Harris, a top adviser to Margaret Thatcher.Prominent Croat linguist and historian Dr BrankoFranolic who helped Mr Harris on the book, praises itmost highly.ÂIt is important this book does well, and should bepurchased for yourselves, friends, family, librariesetc.Order now from your bookstores. I note it isavailable for pre-order already at amazon UK, at areduced price. (at the moment!). They take overseasorders.Details: Saqi Books, London. ISBN: 0863563325Â550 pagesAmazon UK link at:Âhttp://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/0863563325/ref=sr_aps_books_1_1/026-1324658-4408426ÂRegardsBrian Gallagher letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Sun, 04 May 2003 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/6345/1/E-Gold-Rush-Pioneers-from-ancient-Croatian-Kingdom.html ÂÂGold Rush Pioneers From Croatia, Bosnia-Hercegovina and the Boka KotorNEW BOOK 2003ByAdam S. Eterovich The majority of the pioneers came from Dalmatia, Istria, Hercegovina and the Bay of Kotor, all part of the ancient Croatian Kingdom. The geographic area of Dalmatia best describes the area where most of the pioneers originated; some were from Hercegovina. More detailed descriptions are lost in antiquity and lack of adequate and inaccurate American records. Most were Catholic. Borders later changed to suit the needs of politicians and foreign rulers. The Dalmatian, Croatian coast has over 1000 islands. This was the center of the spice trade controlled by Venice and Dubrovnik. This area produced wine, olive oil, garlic, fish, sea captains, mariners, and coffee kafanas. They were citizens and businessmen of the Republic of Ragusa-Dubrovnik or the Republic of Venice, and did not go thru feudalism or learn to bow to Princes or Kings; they were freemen, independent and enterprising. This book and study covers the California Gold Rush and the Nevada Silver Boom. It lists all gold and silver miners found in an extensive index. Goldmines and Silvermines were also discovered by the pioneers. The business community is well represented with their saloons, coffee saloons, restaurants and food-liquor houses in the mining areas. They were involved in gun fights, local wars, Indian uprisings, killings and hangings and fit quite well into the Western scene.Slavonians (Croatians) The Venetians called them Schiavoni or  Slavonians rather than Croati-Croatians so that they would not rebel and join their inland Croatian brothers. In many cases  Slavonian was used in the West and South....this became an Americanism and had no relationship to Slavonia in Croatia.California Gold Rush In 1848 gold was discovered at Sutter's Mill. As the news broke, whole towns emptied as everyone rushed to stake their claims. And the world responded. Prospectors flocked to California to get their share of the wealth. Between 1850 and 1860, the State's population grew from 92,597 to 379,994. The fast pace of settlement rapidly changed many parts of the state from a Mexican ranching society to enclaves of foreigners and Americans. New towns sprang up overnight as hundreds of merchants arrived to serve the needs of the prospectors. Roads and railways were constructed for access all across the state. California was changed forever. The original rush brought hundreds of thousands of people-but the idea of "California" as a land of wealth for all has lasted until now and continues to fuel immigration and prosperity. California's uniqueness in America is nowhere more apparent than in the Gold Country. Nevada Silver Discovery Silver was discovered in 1859. Nevada became a Territory in 1861 and a State in 1864. In 1864 Virginia City had a population of 5000. Upon hearing of new strikes or discoveries the miners and businessmen would create towns out of the desert. Overnight towns would grow to 10,000. Not only were the officials from California, but also most of the miners, merchants, editors, hightoned gamblers, hightoned gunfighters, stage-drivers and stage-robbers, lawyers, mining magnates, prizefighters, artisans and courtesans, hotel keepers, cooks, waiters, and bottle-washers. Alaska Klondike Gold Rush of 1896 On August 31, 1896, gold was discovered on Eldorado Creek, a tributary of Bonanza. Eldorado was no more than five miles long and produced over $30 million worth of gold which brought prospectors from all over Yukon and Alaska. But the world didn t know what was happening in the Yukon until July 14, 1897 when the steamship Excelsior landed in San Francisco. On board was more than half a million dollars worth of Klondike gold. The Klondike Gold Rush was on.Nevada Gold Rush at Goldfield In 1902, silver and gold were discovered near Goldfield, Nevada, about halfway between Reno and Las Vegas. Goldfield exploded with growth. During its first decade, Goldfield acquired more than 25,000 residents, dozens of saloons, a couple of banks, a railroad, magnificent courthouse and the classiest hotel between Kansas City and San Francisco. It created mining millionaires and power-brokers who would rule the state for years to come. The goldminers came in  49 The whores in  51 And when they got together They produced the native sonMathew Ivankovich at Discovery of Gold in California On that momentous day in 1848, when gold was discovered, John Sutter had in his employ at the mill a person whom he called the "Sailor Man." The "Sailor Man" later stated he was a "Slavonian"(Croatian) and that he was present at the mill that day when the first gold nuggets were observed in the tailrace. This, then, places a Croatian at the discovery of gold in California. Matt had an older brother by the name of John Ivancovich who was also a sailor. In the year 1842 John was on board a whaling vessel, and during a storm, he fell from the rigging, to the deck, breaking a leg. He was landed at San Francisco. John wrote to his brother Matt, and urged him to come to California. Matt soon met his brother John, and through him found employment repairing boats and ships for Captain Sutter. Toward the latter part of December Sutter wanted his  Sailor man , to go up to the sawmill to help him build the mill-dam. Matt arrived at the sawmill a few days before Christmas, and began work before the first of the year, getting things ready for building the dam, brush, rocks and foundation timbers. Matt intended to stay only until the dam was completed, but as things turned our he stayed there until the 13th of February, 1848, when he left for San Francisco to inform his brother of the gold discovery. Virginia Saloon-First in Town Martin Grosetta-Benkovich from Dubrovnik, Dalmatia was proprietor of the Virginia Saloon in Virginia City in 1860. This was one of the first of approximately fifty business in Virginia City at the time. The Virginia Saloon was included in a prominent panorama of Virginia City. Martin had been in Mobile, Alabama in 1849 and had voted in that city prior to coming to the Pacific Coast to seek his fortune. He was one of many who had been established in the South prior to coming West. In 1859 Martin had a coffee stand in San Francisco at the corner of Sacramento and East Streets. Martin was typical of the hardy Dalmatian pioneers who ventured into the gold and silver mining boom towns as saloonkeepers or merchants. Tadich Grill..1849 King of Restaurants Tadich Grill is the oldest restaurant in San Francisco and California. It has a genealogy of being in Dalmatian-Croatian ownership since 1849. It was located on Long Wharf as the New World Coffee Saloon and Market, the original proprietors were: Nikola Budrovich from the Island of Hvar; Antonio Gasparich from Dalmatia; and Frank Kosta from Dubrovnik. John Tadich is a native of Starigrad on the Island of Hvar, Dalmatia, Croatia. His restaurant was one of the landmarks of Gold Rush San Francisco. A talk with Mr. Tadich is like turning back the leaves of historical San Francisco; he can tell you of the little tent operating on the northwest corner of Leidesdorff and Commercial Streets, prior to 1849, where coffee was served to sailors and goldminers. Croatian Home in Gold Rush Country Nikola Barovich was born on December 31, 1830, at Janjina, Dalmatia, Croatia. He became a sailor and embarked upon the Croatian sailing vessel Fanica. The Fanica, commanded by Captain Ivan Kopatic, in 1849 entered the port of New York. In New York he and boarded a sailing vessel, and sailed via Cape Horn in the direction of California. On June 17, 1850, he entered the Golden Gate, and arrived at the port of San Francisco. He immediately left the ship and went to the gold mines to seek his fortune. He had a business at Sonora in Gold Rush country in 1852-53 and no doubt financed his saloons with his good fortunes in the mining camps. In 1856 he owned the famed Constitution Saloon in San Francisco and from 1857-1860 the Sebastopol Saloon on the corner of Davis and Jackson Streets. He was a member of the famed Knickerbocker Volunteer Fire Department of San Francisco and a member of the San Francisco Vigilante Committee. With the help of fellow countrymen he organized in 1857 the Slavjansko-Ilirsko Dobrotvorno Drustvo(Slavonian-Illyric Benevolent Society), the first Croatian fraternal organization in America. A Croatian Catholic cemetery was purchased in 1861 and in 1874 the Society built the first Croatian home at Sutter Creek, Amador County in the Gold Rush country. During the 1850 s he married Miss Dolores Castro, a member of one of the oldest Mexican-Spanish pioneer Land Grant families in California, and had seven children. He entered into the Nevada Territory in 1864 and was also a member of the Resse River Pioneers. He opened the San Francisco Coffee Stand at Austin, Nevada in 1864; the Alhambra Saloon in 1866; the Sazerac Saloon in 1867 and Barovich s Saloon and shooting gallery in 1873. After the silver boom in Nevada, he returned to California in 1882 and opened the Dalmatia Hotel in San Jose. Later he operated a winery.  They had Dancing, Hunting, Drinking, and other Socially Acceptable Activities. Gambling"Mention is made of gambling. I don't want to hold this against me; for in the days when the Empire of the West was in the making, conditions and the standards of morals were very different from those of the present day. Gambling was no more thought of against a man than going to the theatre, automobiling, dancing, or any of the other conventional modern forms of amusement. I have seen what rattlesnakes and gambling can do to men. My warning to our future generation included every form of gambling. Never attempt to get something for nothing. I beg you, dear friends, to let my advice sink in deep and think kindly of the Old Rounder who was not afraid to advise you." Antonio Mazzanovich, Troop F, 6th United States Calvary, Fort Grant, Arizona Territory, 1881.A Genuine SlavonianThe Slavonian Assassin, San Francusco Chronicle, June 1871: Â Austrian George Sharksovich (son of a shark) was not an Austrian by birth, as was supposed but a genuine Slavonian.  A very large element of the Slavonians are a rough, vagrant rabble given to drunkedness, gambling, robbery and murder. Apache Chief Geronimo  Three o'clock was the time that had been agreed upon as the time for surrender. The Lieutenant wired Colonel Carr for instructions. I happened to be standing alongside Geronimo's pony and when the old rascal was not looking, I tried to nip one of the silver trinkets which dangled from his buckskin saddlebag: but I failed, as he caught me in the act. Geronimo was a fine specimen of the Apache Indian, with high cheekbones, a very determined face, straight mouth, thin lips. On this occasion he was all 'dolled up' in his best, with a long war bonnet, the feathers of which trailed down on each side of his pony. Antonio Mazzanovich, Troop F, 6th U S Calvary, 1881.Gunfighter  Three Finger Petrovich Leaves Town  His partner, Petrovich, not to be left out of the gun play, drew his pocket I.X.L. pistol but unfortunately not having the practice of Tom Carrol, shot off two fingers of his own hand. When the fight ended Perasich was dying on the floor, more that a dozen shots were found in the woodwork, Petrovich, with two fingers missing, left town for more peaceful surroundings and Tom Carroll was never to be seen again. The Vigilantes formed a posse to find Tom Carroll.  French Restaurant and Saloon. Panamint News, November 26, 1874. Chinese, Italian, Mexican, Irish-Slavonian War and Gunfights Slavonians and Chinese in Carson City during the 1870 s cut and mauled each other so often that the court devised a rather perfunctory system of fines. But the clash between Italians and Slavonians employed on railroad gangs proved more serious. In one encounter, north of Reno, four Italians were killed in a single night and guards had to be posted to protect the Latins from their former European neighbors. Tonopah Bonanza Newpaper: Another lively event was the  Austrian-Mexican War out of Tonopah. ÂThe Slavonians felt it wasn t enough to fight Chinese and Italians. Sacramento Daily Union, July 7, 1863: Marko Milinovich was shot and killed by an Irishman at his SanÂFrancisco Saloon and Hotel at Virginia City on July 4, 1863. Matulich, Indians, Whiskey and PiracyA report was sent to the Governor by De Mezieres: "Likewise I am informed by courier that the persons named Jeronimo Matulich and Juan Hamilton continue to make journeys to the mouth of the Trinity, buying horses and mules off the Indians who live there. These traders go in by land as far as the Bidais Nation, and try to arouse the interior tribes." De Mezieres further reports: "That a man named Matulich had gone to the mouth of the Neches River and there he was selling liquor to the Indians and maligning the governor." On August 8, 1774 the Governor ordered the arrest of Jeronimo Matulich. Matulich was an inhabitant of Mobile and took the Oath of Allegiance and Fidelity to his Britannic Majesty King George III in 1764. Matulich appeared in many court cases in New Orleans in the 1760's and 1770's dealing with piracy, indebtedness and other sundry matters. In Herbert Eugene Bolton's book "Athanse De Mezieres and the Louisiana-Texas Frontier, 1768-1780. Slavonians in San FranciscoAlaska Herald, August 15, 1869:  The Slavonian race is well represented in the large percentage of foreigners who inhabit this city. All its members are more or less civilized; that is to say they are not savages. The mercantile portion is principally engaged in the fruit trade; others devote their attention mainly to keeping bar-rooms, coffee-houses, restaurants etc. All are prosperous. The secret of their prosperity is in their clannish habits. The Slavonians in San Francisco are classed into three distinct societies. Some are Austrians (Croatians), others are Turks (Hercegovinans), the remainder Russians (not many). They retain all their pristine instincts of jealousy, lust, vindictiveness and other animal passions. Books AvailableEterovich, Adam S. Gold Rush Pioneers From Croatia, Bosnia-Hercegovina and the Boka Kotor. San Carlos: Ragusan Press, 2003, 2527 San Carlos Ave., San Carlos, CA 94070. Soft Cover, 81/2x11. $25.00. Covers the Gold Rush of 1848 in California and the Silver Boom of 1859 in Nevada. Included are the saloons, coffee saloons, and restaurants. All pioneers are listed in an extensive Index.Eterovich, Adam S. Croatia and Croatians at the Lost Colony, 1585-1590. San Carlos: Ragusan Press. 2003. Soft Cover, 8 1/2 x 11, 156 pages. Illustrated. $25.00. The first English colony in America. Eterovich, Adam S. Croatian Contributions to San Francisco from 1849-1949 to Restaurants, Coffee Saloons, Oyster Saloons, Saloons, Liquor, Importers-Exporters, Fruits-Produce, Fishermen-Oystermen and Mariners. San Carlos: Ragusan Press, 2003. Soft Cover. 215 pages. Illustrated. $25.00. Make check to Adam S. Eterovich, 2527 San Carlos Ave., San Carlos, CA 94070. Phone 650-592-1190. E-Mail croatians@aol.com. www.croatians.comEterovich, Adam S. A Guide to Croatian Genealogy. San Carlos, Calif.: Ragusan Press, 1995. 50 pages. Booklet. $14.00. Includes Maps, Translations, Archives.Eterovich, Adam S. A Guide and Index to Croatian Coats of Arms. San Carlos: Ragusan Press, 2003. 70 pages. Soft Cover. Spiral Bound. $15.00. An index and guide to the Nobility of Croatia. Over 7000 names and variations. Eterovich, Adam S. Croatian Popes and Saints and the Croatian Checkered Arms. San Carlos: Ragusan Press, 1998. 60 pages. $15.00. A booklet containing all forms of family and state arms with the Croatian checkered arms. Thirteen Popes had similar Arms.Eterovich, Adam S. Croatians in California, 1849-1999. San Carlos, Ca: Ragusan Press, 2000. 650 pages. $30.00. Gold Rush pioneers, the wild west-saloons, restaurants, farms, orchards, vineyards, fishermen, music, celebrations, societies, churches and 1000's of individuals. 800 biographies. 115 Illustrations.Eterovich, Adam S. and Simich, Jerry L. General Index to Croatian Pioneers in California, 1849-1999. San Carlos, Ca.: Ragusan Press. 1999. 370 pages. $30.00. An Index by Name, Date, Occupation or Activity, Location, Town of Origin and Reference Source. Abstracted from cemeteries, voting registers, census, society records church records and other source. 45,000 individuals plus mariages.Eterovich, Adam S. Croatian Pioneers in America, 1685-1900. San Carlos, Ca.: Ragusan Press, 1979. 205 pages. $20.00. Covers those that came to the Southern United States and to the West for the Gold Rush.Eterovich, Adam S. Marco Polo Croatian Adventurer. San Carlos. Calif.: Ragusan Press, 1987. 12 page Booklet. $6.00. Marko Polo born on Island of Korcula, Dalmatia, Croatia.Eterovich, Adam S. Croatia in the New World: Columbus, The Republic of Ragusa (Dubrovnik) and Saint Vlaho (Saint Blaise) Patron Saint of Dubrovnik. San Carlos, Calif.: Ragusan Press, 1993. Booklet. $8.00. Four Croatians with Columbus.Eterovich, Adam S. Croatia in the New World: Sebastian Cabot's Voyage to the Rio De La Plata, 1526-1530. San Carlos, Calif.: Ragusan Press, 1990. Booklet $6.00. Croatian officers and mariners with Cabot. Cabot could be Croatian.Eterovich, Adam S. Croatia in the New World: The Verrazano Voyages to America and Canada, 1523-1524. San Carlos, Calif.: Ragusan Press, 1990. Booklet $6.00. New England was first named New Dalmatia. Verrazano could be Croatian.Send check to Adam S. Eterovich 2527 San Carlos Ave. San Carlos, Ca. 94070. Phone 650-592-1190. E-Mail croatians@aol.com www.croatians.comThank you,Adam S. Eterovich letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Tue, 29 Apr 2003 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/6346/1/E-Congressional-Medal-of-Honor-winner-Peter-Tomich.html ÂCongressional Medal of Honor winner Peter Tomich Petar TomichDear all,Below is an article from today's New York Times about Croatian-American Peter Tomich, who won the Congressional Medal of Honor -- the highest US award for bravery -- his actions during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbour. He was awarded the medal posthumously.Unfortunately, the NYT does not mention that he is Croatian.regardsSanja**********New York Times April 1, 2003 A Medal Both Coveted and Orphaned By CLYDE HABERMAN BEFORE this war is over there will be acts of heroism, perhaps some so remarkable that they will merit the Medal of Honor, the nation's highest decoration for valor.They are precious, these medals. There have been 3,459, starting with the Civil War, but they are increasingly rare. Only two have been given since the Vietnam War, both for actions during the debacle in Somalia a decade ago. Both were also posthumous. That's how it usually is. From World War II on, these medals, more often than not, have gone to the dead.So each deserves attention, especially when one of them stirs a dispute intense enough to land before a federal appeals court. That is what happened in New York recently, a case involving someone dead for more than 61 years.He was Chief Watertender Peter Tomich, a sailor who had been in charge of the engine room aboard the Utah, a battleship that was part of the United States fleet at Pearl Harbor. After the Japanese attacked on Dec. 7, 1941, the torpedoed Utah capsized in a matter of minutes.Sailors scrambled to abandon ship. Not Chief Tomich, 48. He raced below deck to keep the boilers from exploding and to get his crewmen out. Most made it. But 64 were killed, including the chief.In 1942 Chief Tomich was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for his courage. It would prove the start of a long journey for a military decoration in search of a home, a tale first told in this space four years ago.First, some background:Chief Tomich was born in 1893 in Prolog, a Balkan village that is now part of Bosnia. He came to America as a young man, lived in Queens and, in 1917, joined the Army at Fort Slocum. In 1919, he received his discharge papers. But 10 days later, he enlisted in the Navy from Newark. As next of kin, he designated a cousin in Los Angeles. There were no other known relatives in this country.For years, the issue has been who has proper custody of his medal.When that cousin could not be found, the decoration became something of a Flying Dutchman. It was displayed on a World War II destroyer named in Chief Tomich's honor. Then it made its way to the Utah State Capitol, and finally to the Navy Museum in Washington, where it has been on display for the last few years.According to the Congressional Medal of Honor Society, a group in South Carolina with a charter from Congress to "protect, uphold and preserve the dignity and honor of the medal," the Tomich decoration is the only one in the last century never to have been presented to someone. That, the Navy Museum says, is not quite accurate. The curator, Edward M. Furgol, says the 20th century produced at least one other unclaimed medal, from 1904.Why quibble? The point is that the Tomich medal is a rarity.And that troubled the New York Naval Militia. Because Chief Tomich had spent time in New York, the militia adopted his case, convinced that the government's intention all along — not to mention custom — was to hand the medal to a relative if one could be found. THE Navy, in the militia's view, never really bothered to look. So its judge advocate general, J. Robert Lunney, a lawyer in White Plains and a rear admiral in the Naval Reserve, started the hunt himself. In 1997, he went to Prolog, searched church records, interviewed villagers and found cousins who said they were willing — no, honored — to accept the medal.But the Navy insisted that the decoration stay put at the museum. "It just puts its feet in cement and refuses to do anything about it," Admiral Lunney, 75, said the other day. "Why not, as a patriotic gesture, recognize a true American hero by delivering the medal to the next of kin?"Three years ago, the Queens County surrogate made Admiral Lunney the administrator for Chief Tomich's estate. In that capacity, he sued the Navy in Federal District Court in Manhattan. But the judge ruled against him, saying the courts had no jurisdiction. In mid-February, that decision was upheld by a panel of the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit in New York.That, Admiral Lunney acknowledged, seems to be the end of the line, unless the Navy should change its mind. "It's a just cause," he said. "It's a fair thing for our government to do. This was a guy from Europe, but this American ship was his home. This was his life."Along with dozens of shipmates, Chief Tomich remains entombed in the Utah's rusty hulk. "Peter Tomich," Admiral Lunney said, "is still on watch."http://www.nytimes.com/2003/04/01/nyregion/01NYC.html >> letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Tue, 08 Apr 2003 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/6348/1/E-Dalmat-Yacht-Untold-Story.html ÂÂDalmat YachtOp-edIt's got to have SOMETHING to do with Croatia. It is in Croatia and it's named Dalmat and is in our possession. My question is who owns it and who was able to sell it? I did some research scroll down and you'll find it. NenadApril 04, 2003 Italy and Croatia at odds over Habsburg yachtFrom Richard Owen in RomeAN ITALIAN politician who restored the last royal yacht of the Habsburg Empire after finding her lying derelict in a Croatian shipyard says that he is being prevented from taking the vessel to Italy because the authorities have belatedly declared it a national treasure. Gianfranco Cozzi from Genoa, a Christian Democrat deputy in the Italian parliament, is a collector of naval curiosities. He said that he had come across the yacht, the Dalmat, at a shipyard in Split. “She had been dumped like a lump of old iron, he said. “I saved her from being scrapped, but now Zagreb is refusing to let the yacht leave out of a nationalistic whim.” Signor Cozzi, who runs a port services business, had planned to add the yacht to his collection of historic vessels at Santo Stefano al Mare, near San Remo on the Italian Riviera. He told The Times that he had restored about a hundred vessels, including Brigitte Bardot’s yacht Triton. “The Habsburg yacht has nothing to do with Croatia beyond that she happened to end up there,” he said. “There is no case for blocking her export. It was built in Trieste, which was then part of the Austro-Hungarian empire, but is now Italian.” The 270-tonne Dalmat, which is 45m (147ft) long, was built at the San Rocco shipyard in Trieste in 1896. Her most celebrated moment came in 1914 when she was used to carry the body of Archduke Franz Ferdinand back to Vienna via Trieste after he was assassinated in Sarajevo. Signor Cozzi said that he did not know how the Dalmat had ended up in Split. “I paid €500,000 (Â344,800) for her, and I have since spent €5 million restoring her.” Adolfo Urso, Italy’s Deputy Minister for Foreign Trade, said that his Government would take up the case in view of the vessel’s historical value.Source:http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,3-633577,00.htmlÂÂDalmat - Fata, becameCroatian Vial 1943, then Admrialty Yacht Orjen 1945, later floating restaurant Istranka, "at Split, still in existence and currently for sale (1998) - the only existing relic of the former AH Navy! (Austro Habsburg)http://www.gwpda.org/naval/ahfate.htm#yachtsÂPost War Distribution of Austro-Hungarian Warships by Erwin F. Sieche, Vienna, Austria.On 29 October 1918 A-H officials started ceasefire negotiations which ended in the ceasefire regulations of Villa Giusti signed on 3 November. The end of hostilities was scheduled for 4 November. The naval implementations asked that on 6 November 3 battleships, 3 light cruisers, 9 destroyers, 12 torpedo boats, 1 minelayer and 15 submarines - the most modern units of the A-H navy - had to surrender unconditionally off Venice to allied forces. All other units were to concentrate in Buccari (Bakar) and Spalato (Split). In the same time world politics had made a sharp turn, anyway, the 600 year old Habsburg empire had disintegrated over night. On 29 October the South Slav National Council of the Serbs,Croats and Slovenes had declared at Agram (Zagreb) the new SHS state (abbreviation for Srbska, Hrvatska, Slovenska). The very next day at the main A-H naval base Pola (Pula) sailors councils took over the power and mutinies spread. As Austria-Hungary had lost her coast to a new state, Emperor Karl I. (King KarlIV. of Hungary) ordered the whole A-H fleet including all coastal facilities to be handed over to representatives of the new South Slav National Council. The change of flags occurred on 31 October 9 am, most naval personnel left Pola to return to their newborn states. The new SHS state - not ratified by the allied powers - declared itself to be on the side of the allies.With the lack of personnel to man the ships and fulfil the implementations of Villa Giusti there was no chance of surrendering the nucleus of the fleet off Venice on 6 November. The Italians reacted immediately and did not stop a long planned operation against the A-H fleet in Pola. In the morning hours of 1 November the Italian frogmen Maggiore del genio navale (Major of the Naval Engineers) Raffaele Rossetti and tenente medico (Medical Lieutenent) Raffaele Paolucci sank the new flagship of the SHS navy Viribus Unitis - not yet renamed in these few hours - with a limpet mine dubbed 'Mignatta' (Leech). The turmoil in the coastal areas determinated the Italians to conquer as quickly as possible as much as possible. 3 November they landed at Trieste, 4 November at Abbazia (Opatija), Fiume (Rijeka), Parenzo (Porec), and Zara (Zadar); 5 November they conquered Pola (Pula). The Italians forced the Yugoslavs to lower their flags and raise the Italian tricolore on all ex-A-H warships. The Yugoslavs succeeded only in putting together nucleus crews and transfer the battleships Radetzky and Zrinyi to Sette Castelli Bay where they put themselves under custody of the US Navy.The Austro-Hungarian dreadnought PRINZ EUGEN during speed trials in 1913. On 16 November 1918 the conference of the allied admirals at Venice, Italy, defined the control zones on the Dalmatian coast as follows: Italy had the Istrian peninsula and Pola; USA the zone of Split (Spalato); England and France had the joint control of the Bocce di Cattaro (Boka Kotorska). Warships of the respective other nations were to join in to secure overall control.On 23 March 1919 the Italians transferred a group of ex-AH warships to Venice, where they took part in a bombastic V-Day naval parade held on 25 March. This where: the battleships Tegetthoff, Erzherzog Franz Ferdinand, the cruiser Admiral Spaun, the destroyers TSÇtra and Csepel, the torpedoboats Tb 80, Tb 81, Tb 86, Tb 92, Tb 98 and the submarines U 5, U 21, U 28, U 40. After the parade these ships where moored at Venice to corroborate the Italian rights of occupancy. So the ex-AH warships were not interned by the allies - as had been the German High Seas Fleet at Scapa Flow -, but were simply idle hulls under allied custody. The further fate had to be negotiated in Paris. Only the French received back the submarine U 14 and recommissioned it as Curie on 17.7.1919. In the mean time the hulked cruiser Kaiser Franz Joseph I. who served as a floating ammo deposit in the remotebay of Zanjica, outside of the Boka Kotorska, capsized and sunk in a heavy gale on 17 October 1919. On the same occasion the two torpedoboats Tb 12 and Tb 52 were beached and wrecked at Sette Castelli Bay near Spalato. The Austro-Hungarian pre-dreadnought RADETZKY fully dressed during the sport's week 1908 at Abbazia/Opatija.Regarding the further usage of ex-AH warships we have to keep in mind that the main interest lay in the modern German warships and submarines. Obsolete, worn out units in a remote area like the northern Adriatic were of no substantial interest for the main naval powers. At the end of January the allied naval council at Paris declared what was to happen with these units. Most of them were to be scrapped within 12 months, Italy and France should receive some units as compensation for war losses and some of the associated powers like Greece, Portugal and Romania should receive a batch of torpedoboats. Yugoslavia was the great loser and was reduced to a third rank coastal navy.------------------------------------------------------------------------The distribution was as follows:Battleships/predreadnoughts:* England: Habsburg, Arpad, Babenberg (sold for scrap to Roman Steelmill Vaccaro & Co, 1922/23 scrapped at Cantiere navale di scoglio olivi, the former AH naval arsenal, now an Italian firm) Erzherzog Friedrich, Erzhzerzog Ferdinand Max (sold to Italian scrappers; broken 1921 at La Spezia resp. Genoa)* Italy: Tegetthoff (after numerous interventions of the allied Ânaval council scrapped not before 1924/25 at Leghorn/La Spezia); Radetzky, Zrinyi (November 1920 handed over by the US Navy off the 3-mile-zone to Italy, scrapped 1926 resp. 1921); Erzherzog Franz Ferdinand (scrapped 1921 at Ancona)* France: Prinz Eugen (after demolition trials sunk in 1922 as gunnery target off Toulon); Erzherzog Karl (sank en route to scrapping in Bizerta Lagoon/Sidi Abdallah due to heavy weather; 1921 scrapped in situ)Coast defenders:* England: Monarch, Budapest (sold for scrap to Roman steelmill Vaccaro & Co; scrapped in 1921)Cruisers:* England: Kaiser Karl VI., Sankt Georg, Kaiserin und Koenigin Maria Theresia, Admiral Spaun, Aspern, Szigetvar (sold to Roman steelmill Vaccaro & Co, scrapped respectively 1921 to 1923 at Napoli, Taranto, Elba, Venezia, Elba)* Italy: Helgoland (End of 1919 towed by the French to Bizerta Lagoon; 19.9.1920 commissioned by Italy as Brindisi; 22.-26.10. transfer from Bizerta to La Spezia, enlisted to the scout squadron 'Gruppo Esploratori'; 3.7.1921 left Brindisi as stationery in the Levant, 16.7. in Istanbul; 3.7.1924 returned from the Levant; 6.2. - 7.3. Mission to Libya; 7.3. Brindisi in; 15.3. with the Italian King and the minister of the navy at Fiume/Rijeka for the celebration of the Italian annexation of Fiume; 21.3.-31.8.1925 Brindisi; 1.9.1925 - 31.3.1926 Taranto; 26.7.1926 decommissioned; from 1.7.1927 staff ship of the I. torpedo division; 20.11. reserve division; from 6.6.1928 staff ship of the special division; Â12.4.1929 for special mission to Albania understate secretary of foreign affairs on board, 12.16.4.1929 Durazzo/Durresi; Â17.-26.5.1929 port calls in the Levant; 25.11.1929 decommissioned; Âfrom 26.11. accommodation ship at various ports like Ancona, Pola, since 19.12.1934 Trieste; 11.3.1937 stricken, probably scrapped at Trieste)Saida (19.9.1920 commissioned by Italy as Venezia; repairs of the machinery; commissioned 5.7.1921 after refit; in October at Taranto final ending of machinery repairs; 31.12. stationery at the Levant; Â3.1.1922 took over naval command of the Dodecanese at Marmaris; Â16.30.4.1922 coverage of the retreat of Italian troops from Anatolia; Â14.5.-31.8.1922 Izmir; 1.-4.9.1922 Rhodes; 5.9.1922 - 18.3.1923 Izmir; 11.3. Messina in; 21.3.11923 to La Spezia for repairs; since 1.11.1924 enlisted to the scout squadron 'Gruppo Esploratori', but steady repairs; 1.12.1925 active service; 8.1.1926 transferred to Taranto, special colonial mission; 16.3. minister for the colonies , to Derna/Libya, minister unshipped; 1.4. Benghazi shipped in; 4.4. Naples in; 11.-16.4.1926 Tripolis; 20.-24.4.1926 La Valletta/Malta, than Naples; 25.3.1927 at Naples Count of the Âon board for special mission to Ethiopia; 5.5. Massaua, Â14.5.Assab, 15.5. at Djibuti Count of the Abruzzes unshipped for mission to Addis Abbaba; 2.5. shipped in, left Djibuti; 30.5. ÂMassaua; 10.6. Naples in; 26.11. left for port calls in the Levant; .12. Taranto in; from 5.3.1928 at La Spezia staff ship of the II. Âtorpedo division, left 5.3. for manoeuvres in the southern Adriatic; Â3.6. - 21.10 stationery at the Levant, then reserve division of the scouting forces in the southern Adriatic; 4.7.1930 to Genoa for decommissioning; since 16.3.1935 accomodation ship; stricken 11.3. Â1937, probably scrapped in Genoa.)* France: Novara (March 1920 towed by French tug from Gjenovic/Boka ÂKotorska to Bizerta; because of water inrush during the towage beached in Brindisi harbour, salvaged after 5 weeks; towed to Bizerta Lagoon for further repairs; 12.-17.10.1921 towed from Âto Toulon, renamed Thionville; rearmed and refitted; gunnery and torpedo training ship of the Mediterranean division; Âdisarmed 1.5.1932; stationary training ship at the artillery pier Âthe naval arsenal of Toulon; 1932 decomm., acommodation ship at Toulon, sold for scrap 1942)Old torpedoships, destroyers and torpedoboats:* England: Panther, Leopard (sold for scrap to Roman steelmill Vaccaro Co, broken 1921 at Messina)* ÂÂItaly: Zara, Spalato, Sebenico (scrapped 1921), Meteor, Blitz, Komet, ÂPlanet, Trabant, Magnet, Scharfschuetze, Uskoke, Turul, Csiku˚s, ÂVelebit, Dinara, HuszSÇr (II), Warasdiner (all of them probably scrapped 1921 at Pola) , Balaton (Tatra joined in the Italian V-Day parade of 24.3.1919; Â27.9.1920 renamed Fasana resp. Zenson, 16.10.1920 both towed to Pola, Ânot commissioned according to worn out condition but cannibalised; Âstricken 5.7.1923, scrapped),Csepel, Orjen (renamed 26.9.1920 in Muggia resp. Pola; Muggia ab 10.3.1927 stationery at Shanghai, attached to cruiser Libia, patrols along the entire Chinese coast, stranded 25.3.1929 due to dense fog ÂAmoy island on the Finger Rocks - total loss, crew saved by Japanese steamer Matsumoto (Maru?); ÂPola was modernised at Cantiere navale di scoglio olivi, Pola, using spares of TSÇtra and Balaton, 1924-1928 decommissioned respectively reserve at Taranto, from March 1931 colonial service in Libya, Â9.4.1931 renamed Zenson(II), 1931/32 port calls in the eastern Mediterranean, then Venezia, 1.5.1937 stricken, scrapped)Triglav (II), Lika (II), Uzsok (26.9.1920 renamed Grado, October 1920 towed by Italian tug Titano to Messina, towed July 1921 from Messina to Pola, refit at Cantiere navale di scoglio olivi and at Trieste, from October 1924 fleet service at Venezia, stricken 30.9.1937; the same with Cortellazzo, 1927 fleet service in Venezia as machinery training ship, 1928, 1931 and 1932 stationery in Libya, Âsince November 1933 machinery training ship in Venezia, 1933 port calls in Greece and in Cyrenaika, 1937 e, 5.1.1937 stricken; the same with Monfalcone, 1928-1931 fleet service at Pola, Â1931/32 training ship, port calls in the Dodecanese and Libya, ÂAugust/September 1937 patrols in the straits of Sicily to intercept ships carrying supplies from Russia to Spanish Republicans, after that fleet service at Venezia, stricken 5.1.1939).* France: Satellit, Pandur, Reka (1921 scrapped), Dukla (20.9.1920 renamed in Matelot Leblanc, August 1921 transferred to Toulon, ÂMediterranean Fleet service with the 1. Torpedo-Squadron, January to April 1923 refit at Toulon using spares of the Fasana and Zenson cannibalised by the Italians, fleet service, from 6.2.1924 to 30.5.1925 out of service because of bad condition, after repairs Mediterranean Fleet service with the 3. Torpedoboat-Squadron, 1928 with the 9. Torpedoboat-Squadron at Bizerta, stricken 1936, Âcondemmned 4 May 1936, 5 October 1936 in Bizerta sold for scrap to the SociettÇ Klaguine).* Greece: Ulan (renamed Smyrni; stricken 1932)Coastal and high seas torpedoboats:* England: Tb 8 - 10, Tb 14, Tb 18 (sold for scrap to Messina) Tb 50 E, 51 T, 53 T, 55 - 59 T, 62 T, 63 T, 64 - 68 F, 70 - 73 F (sold for scrap to Cantiere navale di scoglio olivi, Pola).* Italy: Tb 1 - 7 (scrapped 1921; Tb 3, 7 Guardia Finanza/Customs until 1925) Tb 20, Tb 22 - 25, Tb 27, Tb 29 - 32, Tb 37, Tb 39, Tb 40 (scrapped 1921; Tb 22, Tb 24, Tb 25, Tb 29, Tb 32 Guardia Finanza/Customs until 1925).* France: Tb 13, Tb 15 - 17 (scrapped 1921)* Kingdom SHS (since 1.6.1929 kingdom Yugoslavia): Tb 21, Tb 19, Tb 36, Tb 38 (commissioned as D 1 - 4 until 1924/25, D 2 until 1941, fate ?)Tb 60 T, Tb 61 T, Tb 69 F, Tb 54 T (commissioned as T 9 - 12; T 9, 10, 12 decommissioned 1924, T 11 decommissioned 1938 and scrapped)Tb 76 T - 79 T (commissioned as T 1 - 4; T 1 since April 1941 Italian T 1, 7.12.1943 Croatic T 1, 1945 Yugoslav Golesnica, service until 1959. T 2 decommissioned 1939, scrapped. T 3 since April 1941 Italian T 3, 16.9.1943 German, commissioned 15.8.1944 as TA 48, sunk 20.2.1945 at Trieste by allied bombs, salvaged 1946, 1947 sold for scrap. T 4 total loss in 1932 after stranding /where?/).Tb 87 F, 93 F, 96 F, 97 F (commissioned as T 5 - 8; T 5 since April 1941 Italian T 5; since 7.12.1943Croat T 5; since 1945 Yugoslav Cer, until 1963, scrapped. T 6 since 2.3.1941 Italian T 6, 11.9.1943 scuttled off Cesenatico. T 7 since April 1941 Italian T 7, since September 1943 Croat T 7, 25.6.1944 with mixed German-Croat in battle with British MTBs, ran aground on Murter - total . T 8, since April 1941 Italian T 8, 10.9.1943 off Dubrovnik /or Olip?/ sank by German bombs).* Romania: Tb 75 T, 76 T, 80 T, 81 T (commissioned as Viforul, , Vijelija, Zborul; all stricken, Zborul in service since i.D., scrapped 1959/60)Tb 82 F, 83 F, 84 F (commissioned as Naluca, sunk 1944 in Constanza harbour by Soviet aircraft; resp. Zmeul, in service until 1958, scrapped 1959/60; resp. Fulgerul, 8.2.1922 capsized during transfer ÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂoff European coast of Turkey in heavy gale, total loss).* Greece: Tb 92 F, 95 F (commissioned as Panormos, stranded in March 1928 off Aegina island - total loss; resp. Proussa, heavily damaged off Corfu by German air attack 4.4.1941, scuttled by crew)Tb 98 - 100 M (commissioned as Kyzikos, scuttled on 25.4.1941 at Salamis Naval Arsenal; resp. Kios, heavily damaged by German air off Vougliameni on 23.4.1941, scuttled by crew; resp. , escorting Zakynthos sunk on 26.4.1941 by German air attack).* Portugal: Tb 85 F, 86 F, 88 - 91 F (commissioned as Zezere, Ave, Cavado, Sado, Lis, Mondego; Zezere and Cavado ran aground in tow of the Portugese tug Patrao Lopez during transfer from Venice to Lisbon on 29.12.1921 near Bone, Algeria - both total loss; Ave left Venice 21.3.1921, in Lisbon on 5.5.1921, decommissioned 30.7.1940; Sado left Venice 21.5.1921, in Lisbon 5.8., decommissioned 30.7.1940; Lis left Venice 21.3.1921, in Lisbon on 5.5.1921, commissioned 31.12.1921, decommissioned 6.4.1934; Mondego left Venice 21.5.1921, in Lisbon 5.8.1921, decommissioned 14.1.1938).Submarines:* Italy: U 1, 2, 11, 15, 17 (scrapped in Pola), U 5, 21, 28, 32, 40 (scrapped in Venezia), U 27 (scrapped in Fiume/Rijeka), U 10 (scrapped in Trieste), U 29 (scrapped where?)* France: U 4, 22, 31, 41, 43, 47 (scrapped where?)Special service ships:* England: minelayer Chamaeleon, Salamander (sold for scrap to Messina)* France: minelayer Basilisk* Italy: Torped supply ship and submarine mother ship Gaea (ex-NDL Fuerst Bismarck, ex-Russ. Moskwa; 1919 Italian state railways; 1920 chartered by Mssrs. Cosulich S.T.N. as emigrants ship to the USA, renamed San Giusto; after first voyage in 1921 idle and scrapped in 1924), Torpedosupplyship Pelikan, accomodation hulk Kronprinzessin Erzherzogin Stefanie (ex-turretship, scrapped 1926 at Trieste), fleetcoalers Pola, Teodo (renamed Fianona, Barbarina), fleettanker Vesta (ex-Etelka, renamed Marte), admiralty yacht Lacroma (ex- torpedo cruiser Tiger, scrapped), paddlewheel yachts Miramar, Taurus (scrapped; resp. ex-Nirwana, renamed Marechiaro, since 1928 official statejacht Aurora, sunk after torpedo hit by German E-boats S 54 and S 61 off Taranto on 11.9.1943), Yacht Dalmat (renamed Fata, since 9.1943 Croat Vila, 1945 admiralty-yacht Orjen, renamed Istranka, Âlater floating restaurant Istranka at Split - the idle hull still exists and is for sale - apparently this is the only real existing relic of the former AH Navy), harbour yacht of Pola Lussin (ex- torpedocruiser, ex-stoker training ship, renamed Sorrento, Âpassengership in the Gulf of Naples, stricken 1928), salvage ship Herkules (renamed Teseo, sunk 13.12.1931 in heavy gale), pumpship Pluto (renamed Volosca), harbour guardship Mars (ex-case mate ship Tegetthoff, scrapped).* Kingdom SHS (since 6.1.1929 Kingdom Yugoslavia): Harbour guardship Kronrinz Rudolf (ex-turretship, renamed Kumbor; 1922 sold for scrap), accomodation hulk Kaiser Max (ex-casemate ship, renamed Tivat, later Neretva, scrapped 1927), repairship Cyclop (renamed Perun), salvage ship Gigant (renamed, decommissioned 1929 and scrapped).Sources:Franz F. Bilzer, Die Torpedoboote der k.u.k. Kriegsmarine von 1875-1918, Graz 1984, page 107 ff. Franz F. Bilzer, Die Torpedoschiffe und Zerstoerer der k.u.k. Kriegsmarine 1867-1918, Graz 1990, 116 ff. G. Fioravanzo/P.M. Pollina/G.N.G. Riccardi/ F. Gniffetti, I Cacciatorpediniere Italiani 1900 - 1971 (The Italian Destroyers 1900 - 1971), Rome 1971, page 171 ff Giorgio Giorgerini/Augusto Nani, Gli Incrociatori Italiani 1861 - 1970 (The Italian Cruisers 1861 - 1870), Rome 1971, page 399 ff Mihai Georgescu, ex-AH torpedoboats in Romanian service, in Modelism, Bucharest/Romania, # 3-4/1994 Paul G. Halpern, The Naval War in the Mediterranean, USNIP 1987 Paul Kemp, Grossbritannien und die Aufteilung der k.u.k. Flotte 1918-1923 (Great Britain and the distribution of the A-H fleet 1918-1923), in MARINE - Gestern, Heute, # 2/1985, p. 41ff., # 3/1985, p. 81 ff Arthur von Khuepach, Endschicksal der oesterreichisch-ungarischen Flotteneinheiten (fate of the A-H fleet), in Marine-Rundschau # 10/1938, page 750 ff, # 11/1938, page 830 ff, # 12/1938, page 920 ff Georg Pregel, Die SHS-Kriegsmarine in den Jahren 1919 - 1923 (The SHS-Navy in the years 1919-1923), in MARINE - Gestern, Heute, # 1/1987, page 1 ff. Erwin Sieche, Zeittafel der Aufloesung und Uebergabe der k.u.k. Kriegsmarine 1918-1923 (Timetable of the disintegration and surrender of the A-H Navy 1918-1923), in MARINE - Gestern, Heute, # 4/1985, p. 129 ff., # 1/1986, p. 12 ff Erwin Sieche, Verbleib der oesterreichisch-ungarischen Kriegsmarine nach 1918 (postwar fate of the A-H navy after 1918), in Schiff und Zeit,Germany, # 43 Milan Vego, The Yugoslav Navy 1918-1941, in Warship International # 4/1982, page 342 ff for further sources see Warship International # 2/1966, page 207 1997 Erwin F. Sieche, Vienna, Austria Note on crest.The official emblem of the Austro-Hungarian Navy shows the Habsburg crown decorated with two cap ribbons and a naval anchor.http://www.cronab.demon.co.uk/ah3.htm letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Mon, 07 Apr 2003 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/6347/1/E-Correction-to-Siege-of-Dubrovnik.html ÂÂCorrection to Siege of DubrovnikI would like to point an error in quote in bold typeface:"This was the first time in its history that Dubrovnik had had to depend on arms to defend its freedom," he said. "In the past, it had always relied on diplomacy, trade, or even payments of money to maintain its freedom." I would like to remind that during short existence of Serbian Kingdom, and their dynasty of rulers, Serbs stated no less than fifteen (15!) wars against Dubrovnik Republic; namely in 1172, 1196, 1215, 1228, 1252, 1253, 1254, 1265-1268, 1275, 1301, 1302, 1317, 1318, 1325, 1328. Needless to say, they lost all of them.This info is obtained from http://www.hr/darko/etf/et111.html . Best regards,Tomislav Petricevicwolf@email.atlasf1.com letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Mon, 07 Apr 2003 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/6349/1/E-Siege-of-Dubrovnik.html ÂÂSiege of Dubrovnik"This was the first time in its history that Dubrovnik had had to dependon arms to defend its freedom," he said. "In the past, it had alwaysrelied on diplomacy, trade, or even payments of money to maintain itsfreedom."COURTSIDE: MILOSEVIC TRIALBy Judith Armatta in the The HagueThe Croatian general who defended the city of Dubrovnik said last week hewas hampered because his former president, Franjo Tudjman, had made a dealWith Slobodan Milosevic to exempt the city from war, and no plans fordefence had been made.General Nojko Marinovic was made commander of the beautiful port city in1991, after resigning from the Yugoslav People's Army, JNA, in September1991."I was really shocked at how disorganised and unprepared they were foranything that might happen," he said in a statement read out in theMilosevic trial. "I quickly formed the opinion that there was no effectivedefense plan for Dubrovnik."While the general gathered what forces, equipment and weapons he could,and devised a strategy to defend southern Dalmatia, he was hampered in hisefforts to defend Dubrovnik by an earlier order by Tudjman.In a meeting between Tudjman, Milosevic and the then federal defenceminister Veljko Kadijevic, the latter assured the late Croatian presidentthat the JNA would not attack Dubrovnik, Marinovic said.The witness said Tudjman had clearly taken this to heart, as he onlypermitted him 670 troops to defend not just the city but the entireregion - with just 150 for Dubrovnik itself.Facing him, he said, were 5,000-7000 JNA troops with far better equipment.But he said Serb propaganda played a part in frightening the attackers,who believed their own TV reports that thousands of troops includingforeign mercenaries were waiting for them."Their own propaganda boomeranged on them," said Marinovic. "They becameextremely cautious as they moved closer and closer to the city."Even so, he was angry when shells rained down on the historic city, aUnited Nations heritage site."It is hard for me to say why they shelled the Old Town. They (the Serbforces) felt like no one in Dubrovnik would fight - that these were hotelworkers, waiters, tour guides etc who had no stomach for warfare."Despite the city's formidable walls, it had never had to battle for itsfreedom."This was the first time in its history that Dubrovnik had had to dependon arms to defend its freedom," he said. "In the past, it had alwaysrelied on diplomacy, trade, or even payments of money to maintain itsfreedom."Marinovic stated that Croatian forces were not stationed in and did notfire from the Old Town. "I can say with certainty that we never fired fromthe Old Town, never conducted any military operations there," he said.And he dismissed claims that the shelling of the Old Town was a fiction,created by the Croats by burning old tyres."For anyone who entertains such ideas, I would suggest that they watch thevideotapes of JNA missiles hitting the Old Town," he said.He said the Serb commander, General Pavle Strugar, must have known whatwas happening to the city."There is no way that they could have not known what was happening, northat they could have failed to report it up to the General Staff. Thesebattles were too important and the JNA just did not work like that."Marinovic said that by the time of the siege, the army was cooperatingwith civilian politicians in ways which "would have been unthinkable inthe old JNA".In support, he quoted an intercepted conversation between BozidarVucurevic, mayor of Trebinje, and Major Bogdan Kovac, Commander of the JNA472nd brigade, where Vucurevic appeared to reprimand the major:"What's wrong, I don't hear you killing those beasts down there?" Kovacanswered, "Don't worry, we will do it."Before the JNA pulled out of the region, Mayor Vucurevic was overheard inanother conversation, telling Admiral Miodrag Jokic, to make sure theairport at Cilipi was mined. Jokic assured him it had already been done.The general also referred to videotapes showing civilian politicians, aswell as most of the high ranking officers, visiting the front, includingMomir Bulatovic and Milo Djukanovic, then president and prime minister ofMontenegro respectively, who brought lambs for the Montenegrin troops inZvekovica.Marinovic's statement will be used by prosecutors to show that the siege,which was condemned around the world, could not have been done withoutbeing planned at the highest level.His testimony will also be used to convince judges there was no militaryjustification for the three-month siege.His statement could be added to those of other witnesses, who havetestified that Milosevic had effective control over the joint Yugoslavpresidency at the time of the Dubrovnik campaign ? the presidency whichwas the supreme authority in control of the army who's shells battered thecity.Cross-examination of Marinovic was delayed by Milosevic's second week ofillness.Judith Armatta reports for the Coalition for International Justice.www.cij.org letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Fri, 04 Apr 2003 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/6350/1/E-BH-Croats-out-numbered-and-on-the-defensive.html ÂThe Muslim-Croat Civil War in Bosnia: A MilitaryHistory, 1992-1994I know some of you know about this book, but itsalready available for pre-order on amazon, althoughthe blurb I could find only on the UK site. I daresayit will cause a stir!"In a conclusion which some may find uncomfortable,Shrader argues that far from being the attackers, theBosnian Croats in Central Bosnia were clearly outnumbered, outgunned and on the defensive. "The Muslim-Croat Civil War in Bosnia: A MilitaryHistory, 1992-1994 (Eastern European Studies)ÂCharles R. ShraderÂOur Price: £32.95ÂReviewsSynopsisIn this volume, Charles R. Shrader offers a militaryhistory of a crucial conflict in Bosnia between twoformer allies. When the Bosnian Serbs and theirSerbian allies attacked Bosnia-Herzegovina in March1992 the Bosnian Croats and Muslims collaborated todefend themselves. As Serbian pressure increased andit became clear that the West would not intervene, thetwo allies began to stake out their own claims.Drawing from cases presented before the InternationalCriminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia, Shraderdescribes the organization and tactical doctrine ofthe Croatian Defence Forces and the Muslim-led Army ofBosnia-Herzegovina. He analyses the strengths andweaknesses of the two sides in such fields ascommunications, training and logistics. In aconclusion which some may find uncomfortable, Shraderargues that far from being the attackers, the BosnianCroats in Central Bosnia were clearly out numbered,outgunned and on the defensive.ÂBrian Gallagherbrigall@yahoo.co.uk letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Thu, 03 Apr 2003 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/6351/1/E-Croatia-and-the-Lost-Colony-1585-1590.html CROATIA and CROATIANSand theLOST COLONY1585-1590By Adam S. EterovichNEW BOOK 2003America was being colonized by the English in 1585-1590 at Croatoan-Roanoke on the Atlantic coast in the Carolinas. This was called the Lost Colony. Sir Walter Raleigh was given a Royal Charter to colonize. When the English returned in 1590 they found carved on a tree "Croatoan" and no colonists. Western historians state that Croatoan-Croatan is an Indian word. This was the first English attempt to colonize in America.In 1588 the great Spanish Armada attacked England. It is estimated that at least fifteen percent of the war galleons and merchant fleet under Spanish flag were from Dalmatia, Croatia.ÂIn 1588 the Pope, Sixtus V, was a Croatian and the Great Vizier or Prime Minister of the Turkish Empire, Siavus Pasha Hrvat (Hrvat means Croatian) was a Croatian. At that point in time these two individuals were the most powerful and influential men in all of Europe. Both were immigrants; one an "Italian", the other a "Turk".A Croatian traveling west in Europe or to the New World from 1300-1700 could have been identified in documents as Hungarian, Venetian, Austrian, Turkish, Italian-Venetian, Schiavon, Slavonian, Illyrian, Dalmatian or from the Republic of Ragusa (Dubrovnik).ÂIn 2002 to state or assume that Croatians participated in discovery of new lands and were with Columbus would not be believed and probably questioned in many circles. The 1400's-1650's were in fact a golden age for Croatia disproportionate to her size in territory and population, considering the Ottoman Turk invasion and conquest of Croatia up to Croatian-Dalmatia and the Republic of Ragusa.ÂPrevious, during and after the discovery of America, Croatians participated in mercantile and diplomatic activities in Spain, Portugal, England, France, Florence, Venice, Genoa and in India, America, Canada, Central and South America. Their presence in England at the time of colonization was neither accidental nor luck.ÂVoyages on the American CoastIn 1498 John Cabot, discoverer of North America, started on his second voyage and then coasted along the East shore of the American mainland to Cape Hatteras. Explorations of later date found pieces of a broken sword of Italian workmanship, and that two silver earrings of Venetian make had been seen upon a boy who was a native of the North-West country in America which might indicate the destruction of part of Cabot's fleet. Cabot's lawyer was a Dalmatian from Dubrovnik-Ragusa.New DalmatiaThe New England Coast was first called New Dalmatia by explorer Verrazano in 1524. This had been written about by French, Italian and American historians. Verrazano mentions Sclavonia, Dalmatia and names four islands after Dalmatian islands. Isola Lunga is Dugi Otok or Long Island, New York. Verrazano discovered New York and may have lost ships off the Carolina coast.San Blas-Saint VlahoJean Alfonse in the Alfonse Voyages of the 1540's along the Atlantic coast comments on passing Cap S. Blas, not naming it, with a notation of northeast of Florida in beautiful country at the port of Chatelain which would be Charleston, South Carolina. S. Blas is Saint Vlaho or Sveti Vlaho in Croatian. Saint Vlaho is the Patron Saint of Dubrovnik in Croatia.ÂLevantine MarinersIn 1565 Menendez de Aviles, the new governor of Florida, wiped out a colony of French Huguenots trying to settle near present-day Jacksonville. The "Levantine" mariners aboard the Flagship rebelled and took the ship and disappeared. Navigation would dictate that the ship went north and could have crashed off of Hatteras. Levantine mariners were usually Dalmatian-Croatian Catholics. Spain would not allow on her ships Greek Orthodox or Moslems.ÂSir Walter Raleigh and Nikola Gozi-GucetichSir Walter Raleigh and Nikola Gozi-Gucetich held meetings in 1585 in London, prior to the voyage, with the admiral Lord Charles Howard of Effingham. Croatoan Island was first called My Lord Admirals Island in honor of Lord Howard of Effingham. Nikola Gozi-Gucetich of Dubrovnik was the second largest foreign banker in England. His nephew, Paolo Gondola-Gundulich, wrote letters to a friend in Florence from London of Drake and Raleigh in Virginia and other voyages. The Dalmatian-Croatian colony had a Fraternity in London. They probably were venture capitalists in a number of English voyages of exploration.Croatian Place Names in North CarolinaPlace names and names found in North Carolina associated with Croatia are: Croatamonge, Croatamung Island, Croatan Indians, Croatan Indian Park, Croatan National Forest, Croatan Sound, Croatan Township, Croatan Wildlife Area, Croatoan and Croatoan Island.Croato an--Croat anÂCroato-Croata-Croati is the Italian form of Croatia or Croatian. The Italian alphabet does not have a K. When a person is from a place such as Split, Dubrovnik, Ragusa, Zagreb, as examples ---- you can say he is a: Splitcan, Hvaran, Dubrovcan, Ragusan, Zagrebcan, Trogiran, Hercegovan. Croatia was not a country in the 1500s but a part of Venice, Austria, Hungary, Turkey or the Republic of Dubrovnik-Ragusa. One could say they were: Croatians, Croatans or Croatoans. All historians and experts state that Croatoan is an Algonquin Indian name. Other experts state there is no CR or KR sound in the Algonquin language in that area.Is Ottorasko-Hrvatsko (Croatia)?Cape Hatteras: Place name variations included Hatarask, Hotoras, Hatorask, Hatorasck, Hatrask, Otterasco, 0ttorasko. Ottorasko was the earliest name given to this island south of Port Ferdinando with Croatoan southward from it again.ÂMelingi-MelingoiThe Melungeon, Lumbee, and Croatan groups in America claim to be a mixture of Indian and European mariners, liberated slaves, Lost Colonists, and remnants of Spanish and Portuguese settlements. There is considerable speculation as to the origin of the name Melungeon. The Melingi-Melingoi were Slavic groups in the Balkans that would have willingly served in Turkish fleets.Turkish SlavesSir Frances Drake liberated hundreds of slaves in the Caribbean while plundering Spanish settlements. Drake brought material help to the Roanoke Colony and left the Turks and Moors and some European slaves at Roanoke. These liberated slaves far outnumbered the English Colonists; some left with Drake and were returned to Turkey. The Turkish slaves were captured in sea battles in the Mediterranean. Almost all Turkish admirals in the 1500's were Croatian-Dalmatians. Bosnia-Hercegovina, one half of Croatia and parts of the Dalmatian coast, all part of the Croatian kingdom, were conquered by Turkey. Many Dalmatian mariners served in Turkish fleets; the second language at the Turkish Court for the military and marine was Croatian. Twenty two Great Viziers (Prime Ministers) of the Turkish Empire were Croatians.FishAt the Lost Colony, Ribuckon meant in Algonquin Indian a fishing place or fish; Cipo was mullet fish; Cante-Cante meant to sing and dance and Sat was time.ÂThere were many other similarities. Gray eyes and blondish hair amongst the Indians was noted for centuries. Gray eyes and light hair is found in Croatia in great numbers and not found in any other Mediterranean people. Research should be done at Istanbul, Turkey to determine the names of those "Turks" returned by the English from the Lost Colony. DNA and blood testing is now being conducted, but is not considering Croatians or Croatia and Bosnia.Books AvailableEterovich, Adam S. Croatia and Croatians at the Lost Colony, 1585-1590. San Carlos: Ragusan Press. 2003. Soft Cover, 8 1/2 x 11, 156 pages. Illustrated. $25.00. The first English colony in America. Send check to Adam S. Eterovich, 2527 San Carlos Ave., San Carlos, Ca. 94070. Phone 650-592-1190. E-Mail croatians@aol.com - www.croatians.comEterovich, Adam S. Croatian Contributions to San Francisco from 1849-1949 to Restaurants, Coffee Saloons, Oyster Saloons, Saloons, Liquor, Importers-Exporters, Fruits-Produce, Fishermen-Oystermen and Mariners. San Carlos: Ragusan Press, 2003. Soft Cover. 215 pages. Illustrated. $25.00. Make check to Adam S. Eterovich, 2527 San Carlos Ave., San Carlos, CA 94070. Phone 650-592-1190. E-Mail croatians@aol.com. www.croatians.comEterovich, Adam S. Gold Rush Pioneers From Croatia, Bosnia-Hercegovina and the Boka Kotor. San Carlos: Ragusan Press, 2003, 2527 San Carlos Ave., San Carlos, CA 94070. Soft Cover, 81/2x11. $25.00. Covers the Gold Rush of 1848 in California and the Silver Boom of 1859 in Nevada. Included are the saloons, coffee saloons, and restaurants. All pioneers are listed in an extensive Index.Eterovich, Adam S. A Guide to Croatian Genealogy. San Carlos, Calif.: Ragusan Press, 1995. 50 pages. Booklet. $14.00. Includes Maps, Translations, Archives.Eterovich, Adam S. A Guide and Index to Croatian Coats of Arms. San Carlos: Ragusan Press, 2003. 70 pages. Soft Cover. Spiral Bound. $15.00. An index and guide to the Nobility of Croatia. Over 7000 names and variations.Eterovich, Adam S. Croatian Popes and Saints and the Croatian Checkered Arms. San Carlos: Ragusan Press, 1998. 60 pages. $15.00. A booklet containing all forms of family and state arms with the Croatian checkered arms. Thirteen Popes had similar Arms.Eterovich, Adam S. Croatians in California, 1849-1999. San Carlos, Ca: Ragusan Press, 2000. 650 pages. $30.00. Gold Rush pioneers, the wild west-saloons, restaurants, farms, orchards, vineyards, fishermen, music, celebrations, societies, churches and 1000's of individuals. 800 biographies. 115 Illustrations.Eterovich, Adam S. and Simich, Jerry L. General Index to Croatian Pioneers in California, 1849-1999. San Carlos, Ca.: Ragusan Press. 1999. 370 pages. $30.00. An Index by Name, Date, Occupation or Activity, Location, Town of Origin and Reference Source. Abstracted from cemeteries, voting registers, census, society records church records and other source. 45,000 individuals plus mariages.Eterovich, Adam S. Croatian Pioneers in America, 1685-1900. San Carlos, Ca.: Ragusan Press, 1979. 205 pages. $20.00. Covers those that came to the Southern United States and to the West for the Gold Rush.Eterovich, Adam S. Marco Polo Croatian Adventurer. San Carlos. Calif.: Ragusan Press, 1987. 12 page Booklet. $6.00. Marko Polo born on Island of Korcula, Dalmatia, Croatia.Eterovich, Adam S. Croatia in the New World: Columbus, The Republic of Ragusa (Dubrovnik) and Saint Vlaho (Saint Blaise) Patron Saint of Dubrovnik. San Carlos, Calif.: Ragusan Press, 1993. Booklet. $8.00. Four Croatians with Columbus.Eterovich, Adam S. Croatia in the New World: Sebastian Cabot's Voyage to the Rio De La Plata, 1526-1530. San Carlos, Calif.: Ragusan Press, 1990. Booklet $6.00. Croatian officers and mariners with Cabot. Cabot could be Croatian.Eterovich, Adam S. Croatia in the New World: The Verrazano Voyages to America and Canada, 1523-1524. San Carlos, Calif.: Ragusan Press, 1990. Booklet $6.00. New England was first named New Dalmatia. Verrazano could be Croatian. letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Sun, 16 Mar 2003 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/6352/1/E-Book-Review-Serving-My-Country---Croatia-Rediviva.html Distributed by CroatianWorld "Serving My Country - CroatiaRediviva"Highly recommended: - a new book "Serving My Country - Croatia Rediviva"by Hrvoje Kacic, written in English.ÂMr Kacic is a lawyer and professor of Shipping Law with a Ph.D. inMaritime Law who served as an internationally recognized Maritime lawexpert in many national and international Maritime Departments,Conferences and Conventions. He was elected President of the Committeefor Foreign Relations in the first Croatian Parliament (Sabor) in 1990.With his extensive experience in politics, national and international,and personal meetings with important persons and Institutions of theWestern European and American scene from the EU, the USA and NATO, beforeand during the war against Croatia, he has presented in this book facts,reports, information, and letters and addresses by individuals during thecourse of crucial developments in the area of former Yugoslavia. Some ofthese are known to many Croatians, there are others that are astonishingeye-openers.ÂSince Dr. Kacic is a native of Dubrovnik, much of his material concernsthe attacks on his city, but it is also this city's destruction thatfinally made the international community decide to recognize Croatia asan independent state, in the hope of stopping the war. While notoverlooking the suffering of all other areas in Croatia, he shows howVukovar and Dubrovnik "top right and bottom left" illustrate the humanand cultural catastrophes and the sheer courage of the citizenry.ÂThis book should be read by every English-speaking Croatian andindividual Croatian Societies should endeavor to send it to theirCongressmen, Senators and Washington politicians. It will serve to stopany future revision of history.ÂThe book is available at the cost of $20.00, including shipping, fromCNA (Croatian National Association c/o N. Hazdovac, 777 W. 9th St. SanPedro, CA 90731, e-mail Dubrovnik5@aol.com letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Mon, 20 Jan 2003 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/6311/1/E-Balkan-ghosts-By-Jeffrey-T-Kuhner.html Balkan ghostsBy Jeffrey T. KuhnerJanuary 05, 2004 The Washington Times, CommentaryThe recent victory by radical nationalists in Serbia's parliamentaryelections signals that Belgrade will likely once again seek to forge aGreater Serbia. Neighboring states and the West need to revise theirforeign policies in order to prevent another Balkan war. The neo-fascist Serbian Radical Party, led by Vojislav Seselj, wonnearly 30 percent of the vote. More moderate parties, such as theDemocratic Party of Serbia and the governing pro-Western DemocraticParty, finished a distant second and third place respectively. Althoughthe Radicals did not win enough support to form the next government,their strong showing indicates that Serbian politics will become morenationalistic and anti-Western. Mr. Seselj ran his party's campaign from a prison cell in The Hague,Netherlands. He is indicted by the International Criminal Tribunal forthe former Yugoslavia (ICTY) for war crimes in Croatia and Bosnia duringthe Balkan wars of the 1990s. His Radical Party is based directly on themethods and structure of Adolf Hitler's Nazi Party. Mr. Seselj is avirulent ultranationalist, who champions the creation of a GreaterSerbia and the expulsion of all non-Serbs from Serbian lands. The Radicals' strong showing is likely to trigger regionalinstability, reawakening fears among Serbia's neighbors of a possiblenew round of ethnic fighting. Moreover, even if Belgrade's bickeringpro-democracy parties can put aside their differences and form a rulingcoalition, the next government will be weak, unstable and most likelyshort-lived. The result: that Serbia will continue to slide towarddeeper political and economic chaos. This will only strengthen supportfor Mr. Seselj and his policies of national socialism. Outgoing Serbian Prime Minister Zoran Zivkovic has equated thewidespread anti-Western feeling among many Serbs with Germany's sense ofbetrayal after World War I. "Even Hitler came to power throughdemocratic elections," Mr. Zivkovic rightly points out. It is vital that Western governments and neighboring countries suchas Croatia and Bosnia take immediate action to prevent Mr. Seselj'sRadicals from coming to power in the near future. Washington andBrussels need to make it clear to Belgrade that the West will nottolerate any attempts to alter borders through the use of militaryforce. The Bush administration would be wise to announce to the Serbianelectorate that the consequences for resurrecting the project of aGreater Serbia will be very severe: diplomatic isolation, economicsanctions and a U.S.-led military response. The administration should also adopt a policy of containment towardBelgrade. Serbia is the sick man of the Balkans. As in the final days ofWeimar Germany, Serbia today is a political and economic basket case. Ithas also refused to give up its imperial dreams of national expansionand ethnic revanchism. Hence, Washington needs to restrain Belgrade'sgrowing assertiveness by establishing a strategic regional defensiveperimeter. The first step is to formally recognize Kosovo's de factoindependence from Serbia, while preserving Pristina's status as aninternational protectorate backed by NATO and the United Nations. Thiswill give a clear signal to Serbian nationalists that their desire tore-annex the predominantly Albanian province will be resisted by theWest. Furthermore, the United States should spearhead an initiative tofoster a security alliance between Zagreb and Sarajevo. The reformistgovernments of Croatia and Bosnia should increase their countries'military cooperation and publicly pledge to defend one another's bordersin the event of a future attack by Serbian forces. Most importantly, the Bush administration needs to reach out toCroatia's new neo-conservative government led by Prime Minister IvoSanader. Mr. Sanader, along with his pro-American Foreign MinisterMiomir Zuzul, have openly called for closer U.S.-Croatia relations. Mr.Sanader is the only major politician in the former Yugoslavia to havesupported the U.S.-led war in Iraq. His government also backsWashington's position on the need to sign a treaty exempting U.S. troopsfrom prosecution by the International Criminal Court. A stable and secure Croatia is pivotal to long-term stability in theregion. It was the Croatian army - trained and supported by the UnitedStates - that in a 1995 lightening military offensive smashed SlobodanMilosevic's forces, effectively ending the conflict in Croatia andBosnia. Croatia's military is the strongest and most closely aligned toWestern standards in Southeastern Europe. Should a regional war breakout once again, it is most likely that Croatian troops will serve as theWest's ground forces in any campaign to stop Serbian aggression. Theadministration should insist that Zagreb's bid to join NATO be put onthe fast track. Moreover, Mr. Sanader needs to propose a strategic partnership withWashington, in which the United States and Croatia establish a formalmilitary alliance. The benefits for Zagreb would be that such a treatywould act as a significant deterrent against Serbian expansionism. Theadministration, on the other hand, would gain by having Croatia play therole of the region's policeman, assuming the brunt of the responsibilityfor military security and cooperation. Besides forming a network of strategic allies, Washington also needsto more actively support the pro-democracy reformers in the formerYugoslavia. In particular, Mr. Bush should end the United States'foolish policy of blindly supporting the ICTY. The tribunal's chiefprosecutor, Carla Del Ponte, has issued weak indictments against bothSerbian and Croatian generals. Serbia's pro-Western leaders haverepeatedly said that Mrs. Del Ponte has done more than any otherindividual to strengthen the popularity of radical nationalists. Her bogus indictment of Croatian patriot, Gen. Ante Gotovina, hasnot only been severely criticized by Hague tribunal experts and seniorBush administration officials, but more importantly it threatens todestabilize Croatia. Most Croatians rightly view Gen. Gotovina as a warhero who is the victim of a politicized witch hunt by Mrs. Del Ponte.She is openly reviled by reformist leaders in the region. Theadministration should insist that Mrs. Del Ponte be replaced, and theICTY only focus on a few high-profile cases, leaving the domestic courtsto handle the rest. Mr. Seslj's stunning rise to political prominence reveals that theBalkans is still a volatile area, susceptible to ideological fanaticism.The West needs to take a bold, pre-emptive approach if it wants toprevent a repeat of the ethnic extremism that plunged the region intobloodshed for much of the last decade. If Western leaders fail to nip inthe bud Mr. Seselj's evil appeals to blood and soil, they will come toregret it. Jeffrey T. Kuhner is a historian and a contributing writer for The Washington Times. letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Tue, 07 Jan 2003 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/6353/1/E-CROATIA---Magic-Kingdom---Smithsonian-Magazine-Says.html Distributed by CroatianWorld CROATIA - MAGIC KINGDOM Magic Kingdom Within the Adriatic fortress of Dubrovnik, cafés, churches and palaces reflect 1,000 years of turbulent history Â"Sometime out here I feel as if I'm living five centuries ago," says fisherman Nino Surjan, 60, as he begins hauling in nets, studded with tuna, from the waters of the Adriatic. "Kids today learn about Croatia, but when I was growing up we studied the Republic of Dubrovnik-a magical place that survived more than a thousand years without an army or a king." Writer David DeVoss traveled to the ancient city, a great walled redoubt-founded in the 7th century amid the chaos that followed the fall of the Roman Empire-rising from the rocky coast like an Adriatic Camelot. Today, the 4,000 residents within Dubrovnik's old city, a warren of limestone lanes, Renaissance palaces and Baroque churches, inhabit, as one resident puts it, a "functioning Renaissance city where people live in the houses and shop at the markets." It is almost miraculous that the city's extraordinary riches, intact for a millennium, survived its recent history. In 1992, as civil war broke out in the former Yugoslavia, the Yugoslav Army shelled Dubrovnik relentlessly. The attacks went on despite the fact that banners, proclaiming Dubrovnik a UNESCO World Heritage Site, were raised throughout the city. Ninety-two people were killed; hundreds of historic buildings were damaged. Today, extensive renovations have been completed and tourists are returning to stroll the battlements, linger in the outdoor cafés and sunbathe on the seaside quays radiating out from the city. As the famous Dubrovnik actor Mise Martinovic says: "On a silent night you can almost hear the ghosts. There is magic in this city."  Source: http://www.smithsonianmag.si.edu/smithsonian/issues03/jan03/magic_kingdom.html letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Mon, 30 Dec 2002 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/6354/1/E-Eastern-Slavonia-Western-Srijem-and-Baranja-through-history.html ÂEastern Slavonia, Western Srijem and Baranja through historyEastern Slavonia, Western Srijem and Baranja through historyEastern Croatia, also called Slavonija, is a Croatian historical region that includes the fertile valleyÂbetween rivers Sava, Drava and Danube. It got its name from Latin Sclavonia which meant the countryÂof Slavs. Croats inhabited the Danube region in 7th century on the territory of the former Roman provinceÂPannonia. At the beginning of the 9th century there was the kingdom of Pannonian Croats that roseÂagainst Frankish Empire in 818. By 1102. almost the whole Slavonia fell within Kingdom of Croatia andÂfrom then till 1527. in Hungarian-Croat state.ÂSlavonia spread between Sava and Drava rivers and eastern Slavonia had 4 counties: Virovitica, Pozega,ÂVukovar, Srijem.ÂIn 16th century the Turks with the help of non-Slavic Vlahs of orthodox religion and Croats thatÂconverted to Islam occupied big part of Croatia and eastern Slavonia all the way to the river Cazma, upÂto the line between Virovitica on Drava and Sisak on Kupa and Sava. The Turkish occupation lasted tillÂ1699. when the Christian army, together with Croatian troops liberated entire Slavonia except the mostÂeastern part , Srijem.ÂIn 1745. Slavonia was returned to Croatia and three out of four counties were reestablished: Virovitica,ÂPozega and Srijem. The Southern part of Slavonia near the Sava river was set as Vojna krajina with theÂcustody of Austria over it. The Turks as well as the Austrians were relocating nomads Vlahs of orthodoxÂreligion particularly in Vojna krajina. With the help of Serbian patriarchy they were turned into Serbs atÂthe end of 19th century, although ethnically they weren't similar to the Serbs from Serbia. When in 1881. Vojna krajina ceased to exist, its territory following the historical rights, was returned toÂCroatia from which had been forcefully taken away. It mainly contributed to the enlargement of SrijemÂcounty with the capital in Vukovar. It consisted of kotars Vukovar, Vinkovci, Zupanja, Ilok, Irig,ÂSrijemska Mitrovica, Ruma, Stara Pazova and Zemun. It means that the whole Srijem belonged to theÂKingdom of Croatia, which had the autonomy within Austrio-Hungarian Empire. The city of Zemun,Âwhich is today a part of Belgrade, formed a part of historical Croatian territory. It should be stated hereÂthat towns of Vukovar, Osijek, Ilok and even Knin in southern Croatia never belonged to Vojna krajina..ÂAlso Vojna krajina never was "Serbian ground" because it always had Croatian majority.ÂWhen in 1918. the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenians was formed the Kingdom of Croatia broughtÂin all its territories except Istria, which was occupied by Italy. Therefore Croatia, Slavonia, Dalmatia,ÂDubrovnik, Boka Kotorska, Rijeka, Medjimurje were parts of Kingdom of Croatia that were brought intoÂa new State. Included also should be the southern part of the Hungarian county known as Baranja, the triangle ofÂland between Drava, Danube and the Hungarian border, an area of 114 square km that after loosing theÂwar, following the ethnic principal, Hungary had to relinquish to the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats andÂSlovenians which from 1929 was called Yugoslavia. This territory was relinquished via a treaty signedÂin Trianon. Baranja has in spite of Serbian attempts to increase their population density at the expense ofÂits Croat and Hungarian ethnic groups retained its Croatian majority (22 740 Croats vs. 13 851 Serbs andÂ17 674 others). Since 1918 the Government of Belgrade attempted to enforce a centralised rule over Yugoslavia with noÂregard to historical boundaries. The aim was to Serbify and assimilate all the constituent nations ofÂYugoslavia, especially Croatia. However in 1939 the Serbs were forced to loosen their grip on the otherÂrepublics with the creation of the Croatian Banovina which comprised partly historical CroatianÂterritory but also regions from Bosnia and Herzegovina which were inhabited by Croats. All of EasternÂSlavonia and Western Srijem formed an integral part of this Banovina as well as all of the territory thatÂtoday forms part of Croatia. Sid, a village which currently pertains to Serbia also comprised a part of theÂCroatian Banovina. During the 2nd world war, Croatia acquired the status of independent state and comprised all ofÂSlavonia, Srijem, Bosnia and Herzegovina except Istria and part of Dalmatia which was occupied byÂItaly. Baranja was once more taken by Hungary. Thus Eastern Croatia retained its historical bordersÂinstituted in 1918 when it entered the first Yugoslavia.ÂAfter the 2nd world war in 1945, it was the Communist party which acceded to power who drew theÂborders which would separate the individual republics in the 2nd Yugoslavia. In Croatia both historicalÂand ethnic rules were applied, with Croatia emerging loser on all counts. Its one victory was its beingÂassigned Baranja. When ethnic considerations were applied to Croatia, Eastern Srijem located between Sid and SrijemskaÂMitrovica to Zemun was lost to the autonomous province of Vojvodina, which formed part of Serbia. AtÂthe same time, Croatia failed to acquire part of Backa especially the areas around Subotica and SomborÂwhich were inhabited predominantly by Croats.ÂThe Serbian Communist lobby also requested Baranja for itself, but failed to do so on the grounds thatÂless than a third of the inhabitants of this region were Serbs. Bosnia and Herzegovina in 1945 reacquiredÂtheir historical borders, again however at Croatia's expense owing to the fact that the republic retainedÂcompact ethnically Croatian territory including the town of Neum inhabited by 90% Croats, a fact whichÂserved to cut Croatia into two parts.ÂAnachronistically, against all historical and ethnic expectations Montenegro gained an importantÂmilitary harbour Boka, which was also predominantly inhabited by Croats as well as part ofÂHerzegovina known as Sutorina.ÂWhen during the Croatian Spring of 1971 the issues of the concept of true federalism, the economicalÂexploitation of Croatia and the Croatian right to use its own language etc. were raised, Josip Broz Tito, aÂCroat by nationality, ordered the adoption of a new constitution according to which all YugoslavÂrepublics gained the status of real states with their rights and borders. Under this constitution, fromÂ1974, all the republics regained the right of sovereignty over their borders which acquired internationalÂrecognition. Thus Serbia claims erroneously that within Yugoslavia, internal borders were solelyÂadministrative in function and temporary in nature. Under the provisions of this constitution SerbiaÂdoes not have the right to alter the borders of the individual republics to its own benefit in its pursuit ofÂa Great Serbia.ÂIn 1986 the Serbian Academy of Science created a memorandum outlining the creation of a Great Serbia.ÂThis was adopted as a plan of action in 1988 by the Serbian communist party under the leadership ofÂSlobodan Milosevic. Thus was promoted the break-up of Yugoslavia.ÂWhen in 1989, the 600th anniversary of the battle of Kosovo was celebrated in Serbia, Milosevic directlyÂannounced Serbia's policy of aggression towards other republics particularly Croatia and Bosnia andÂHerzegovina, together with his intention to create a greater Serbia. Since then Belgrade has continued toÂsupply Serbs out of Serbia with weapons clearing the JNA of other nations and disarming territorialÂdefences in Croatia and elsewhere.ÂWhen in Spring 1990, Croatia held its first democratic elections, and ousted the Communist system,ÂSerbia directly threatened Croatia with war. On the 30th May 1990, the Republic of Croatia wasÂproclaimed and in December of the same year its first constitution was accepted. The Serbs in CroatiaÂthus initiated a rebellion in response, which in summer 1991 turned into a real war lead by the ex andÂalready Serbified Yugoslav army. In July 1991 direct aggression on Croatia started, with emphasis on the town of Vukovar. The slaughterÂof Croats in Celije, Erdut, Dalj, Aljmas and the siege of Vukovar and the bombardment of Osijek and otherÂCroatian cities in Slavonija, as well as the occupation, robbery and devastation of everything CroatianÂbecame a reality. After 3 months of strong defence, Serbs captured the city of Vukovar, the symbol ofÂheroism, and killed thousands of Croats, not only soldiers, but also those wounded, civilians, childrenÂand forced tens of thousands to leave their homes. Thus the whole Eastern Slavonia was ethnicallyÂcleansed.ÂThe main aim of Serbian aggression was to occupy Croatia all the way to the lineÂVirovitica-Karlovac-Karlobag, to acquire the approach to the Adriatic Sea and to control the area aroundÂDanube. Thanking Croatian people and all minorities except Serbian, Serbian aggressors managed toÂoccupy only one third of the Croatia and formed so called Republic of Srpska krajina. They alsoÂconquered about 70% of Bosnia and Herzegovina in order to partly fulfil their dream o Great Serbia.ÂBetween May and August 1995. Croatia liberated Western Slavonia and after the action StormÂestablished its sovereignty in so called "krajina" and the city of Knin. The only occupied territoryÂremained Eastern Slavonia, Baranja and Western Srijem. It makes only 4.6% of Croatian territory, but itÂis the richest part. Serbia has never throughout history crossed the border on Danube and Sava rivers.Âhttp://pubwww.srce.hr/svjedoci/east/1str.htmlÂÂ(Source) letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Tue, 24 Dec 2002 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/6355/1/E-Not-To-Forget---THE-GHASTLY-SLAUGHTER-OF-VOCIN-REVISITED.html THE GHASTLY SLAUGHTER OF VOCIN REVISITEDÂLest We ForgetBy Jerry Blaskovich MDThe former police chief of the Croatian town of Slatina, Djuro Matovina, testified in early October 2002 at the Haag War Crimes Tribunal that the White Eagles, a Serb paramilitary force, massacred 45 civilians in the village of Vocin. While Matovina's statements about the December 1991 slaughter had little meaning for the average reader, it most likely caused a great deal of consternation for the present Croatian government who are trying to downplay and distance themselves from any event that occurred during Croatia's fight for independence and particularly anything that negatively depicts the Serbs. Matovina's testimony, however, brought the crime to the attention of the international community, who heretofore are reluctant to acknowledge that war crimes were committed on the Croats by the Serbs.Initially the report of the heinous atrocity received a tiny one-day squib in the press. Only after the Foreign Press Bureau raised a hullabaloo a week after the event did the international media get involved. Prior to the Vocin slaughter, all reports of atrocities on Croatians were ill-reported and viewed with skepticism by the international media. One must ask, who committed the greater crime--the perpetrators or those who ignored it.The White Eagles were under the direct command of Vojislav Seselj. Seselj now serves as a member of the loyal opposition in the Serbian parliament despite the fact that a little more than a year after the Vocin massacre, Seselj was named a war criminal by U.S. Secretary of State Lawrence Eagleburger. Interestingly, the Serbian government and its parliament is now the darling of the European Union and is getting the same sort of adulation that was heaped on the Tito government.What happened at Vocin was no worse than what the Serbs did elsewhere in Croatia. However, Vocin was unique. Serb soldiers who participated in the slaughter confessed to their deeds and directly implicated Seselj.After receiving orders to retreat, the Serb forces who had occupied Vocin for four months and inhumanly abused and harassed the non-Serb villagers, unleashed evil incarnate on a cold December day in 1991. Using tanks, mortars, and grenades they devastated the town. Not one Croatian structure was spared. A stump of masonry wall, standing among the rubble like a sentinel, was all that remained of the 750 year-old Roman Catholic Church. The church's destruction acted as a catalyst for the human mayhem that ensued. The Serbs than went on a orgiastic killing spree.Although Matovina testified that 45 Croats perished, fifty-five was the actual number. In situ examination revealed that most of the victims had been tortured and mutilated. Half the victims were over 62, the eldest was 84! Many were killed in ways that defied imagination. None of the victims had succumbed to wounds normally found in warfare.After the bodies were identified and photographed, extensive forensic studies were carried out.Probably the Serbs' most grotesque act was when they handcuffed a 23 year-old Croatian and hung him by his arms high on a tree limb across the road from the Catholic church. According to witnesses, the Serbs toyed with him by cutting his face with a chain-saw several times. They then proceeded to amputate his lower limbs. While still alive they chain-sawed him in half. His body parts were doused with gasoline and set afire.A husband and wife were killed by a solitary gun shot below their eyes at close range. Several victims were found chained to chairs and burned in increments to prolong their agony. Chemical analysis of the charred remains -- in reality, nothing but chunks of carbon -- verify that the victims were burned while still alive. The victims only crime was to be born Croatian.According to a number of credible eyewitnesses, which the Serbs left behind in their haste to retreat, the Serbian forces went on a drinking spree after the killing orgy. A few passed out and were inadvertedly left behind in the evacuation. When the Croatian forces arrived, there were captured.During interrogation they admitted their roles in the slaughter and being members of Seselj's infamous "White Eagles". But what was most damning is that they stated they were acting under direct orders from Belgrade. A U.S. Congressman, Frank McCloskey, was present at the interrogation and saw the bodies while still warm. He summed up to the affair as " ghastly and beyond words". The Texas Court of Appeals Judge Bill Bass also witnessed the aftermath and described Vocin as a "mindless orgy of violence". Their testimony lends objective credence to the incident.The Vocin slaughter was not a spontaneous event, rather it was an implementation of a calculated Serbian policy. In the global sense, Vocin may be insignificant, but the gallons of blood shed there became part of the ocean of blood the Serbs caused to be spilled in the former Yugoslavia.Perhaps Matovina's testimony about Vocin may cause the Tribunal to rescind its decision to limit its findings to Bosnia and Kosovo and ignore crimes committed on the Croats. But the policy, most likely, will continue to remain in lockstep with U.N. and American government who never condemned the Serbian war policy, the ethnic cleansing, and their concentration camps in Croatia.Dr. Blaskovich led the medical investigation at Vocin for the Foreign Press Bureau.THE NEW GENERATION Hrvatski Vjesnik--English supplement 1 November 2002 letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Thu, 12 Dec 2002 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/6356/1/E-VUKOVAR-Nov-18-1991-2002.html VUKOVARÂNovember 181991-2002ÂOVČARA 2002photo: D.Borovcak Pokoj vjecni daruj im Gospodine ! Svijetlost vjecna svijetlila im. Pocivali u miru Bozjem ! letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Mon, 18 Nov 2002 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/6357/1/E-Papal-Blessings-and-Croatian-connection-in-Rome.html How to seePopeCroatian History inItalyRecently, while visiting Rome, Italy, I saw a fascinating, life size sculpture by Ivan Mestrovic on permanent exhibit in the "Galleria Nazionale d'Arte Moderna". Also, the Italian television had a special on Brioni Islands and advertising the rest of Croatia.ÂIn preparation for my trip to Rome, I emailed a week in advance, a request for a ticket to the general audience with Pope John Paul II. It was granted, along with seven thousand other people with invitation which read, "Prefettura Della Casa Pontificia Udienza Generale di Sua Santita Giovanni Paolo II mercoledi 13 Novembre 2002".ÂThe Holy Father holds weekly audience where people can see and hear him, except when he is on vacation in the mountains of northern Italy, Castel Gandolfo. The audience lasts two hours. It includes prayers, songs, sermon by the Pope and his blessings.ÂI received the ticket gratis with a donation to the home of the American Catholic church in Rome, the Church of Santa Susanna. While in church, I was stricken by its beauty and read the history, the story of Santa Susanna.ÂThe church of Santa Susanna is one of the 25 oldest churches in the city of Rome. Beneath the present floor of the church are the ruins of a Roman house that was constructed about the year 280 AD. This was the home of relatives of the General Gaius Aurelius Diocletian, who would become Emperor in 284 AD. Like the Emperor, the family of four brothers migrated from Dalmatia or what is now modern Croatia. Caius and Gabinus and Gabinus's daughter, Susanna lived here on the site of the present church. There were two other brothers, Maximus and Claudius who were a part of the Roman government and lived elsewhere in the city. The family's religious beliefs were divided. Caius, Gabinus and Susanna were Christians, while Maximus and Claudius remained followers of the old religion of Rome. Caius and Gabinus were not only Christians, they were priests and in December 283, Caius was elected Bishop of Rome. This family residence served as a "domus ecclesia," or house church as the Christian Church could not own property and private homes and other buildings served as the first churches.ÂAfter becoming Emperor in 284 AD, Diocletian adopted a form of government called tetrarchy, or joint rule in order to insure peace and stability. There would be more than one Emperor and this would provide continuity. Diocletian who was called "Augustus" wanted to appoint the General Maxentius Galerius as a junior ruler or "Ceasar," with the right to succeed him. In the year 293 AD in order to further validate Maxentius's succession, Diocletian prepared to marry this young general into his immediate family. Diocletian's daughter, Valeria was married. The only unmarried young female in the family was Susanna, his cousin. So in the Spring of 293 AD, Diocletian announced the engagement of Maxentius Galerius to his cousin Susanna. This would lead to a family crisis and to martyrdom.ÂThe story of what occurred between members of the family comes from a 6th century account. Susanna refused the marriage proposal. Her father Gabinus and her uncle Caius supported this decision. Her non-Christian uncles, Claudius and Maximus tried to persuade Susanna to marry Maxentius. In a long debate between the four brothers that lasted through the night, Claudius and Maximus were converted to Christianity. Maxentius came to the house, believing he could persuade Susanna to marry him. Susanna's refusal led to the suspicion that she was a secret Christian. The Roman Consul Macedonius then called Susanna to the Roman Forum. Susanna was asked to prove her loyalty to the state by performing an act of worship, by placing incense before the God Jupiter. She refused. This confirmed what many Roman authorities had suspected, that Susanna and perhaps several other members of her family were Christians. There was no attempt to arrest Susanna, as she was also a member of the Emperor's family.ÂSusanna had refused the marriage proposal, not only because she was a Christian but because she had taken a vow of virginity. When Diocletian on the eastern frontier learned of his cousin's refusal and the reasons why, he was deeply angered, and ordered her execution. A cohort of soldiers arrived here at the house and beheaded her. Her father Gabinus was arrested and died in prison. Maximus and the family of Claudius which included his wife Prepedigna and his children Alexander and Cuzia, were all martyred in Ostia where the present Fumicino airport is located. Ironically the only survivor was Pope Caius, who had escaped and hid in the catacombs. These murders within Diocletian's own family would foreshadow the last great persecution against the Christian church which the Emperor began in 303 AD. Diocletian's daughter Valeria was divorced, and in June 293 AD married Maxentius who would succeed Diocletian in 305 AD.ÂThe General Constantine had hoped to be chosen instead of Maxentius Galerius. He left Diocletian's staff in the east, and traveled to the frontiers in Gaul where his father, Constantius, was not Caesar of the west. When Constantius died in 306, the army in Gaul immediately proclaimed Constantine as his successor. On October 28, 312 AD, Constantine defeated Maxentius at the Milvian Bridge on the western side of the city of Rome. Maxentius drowned in the Tiber when the bridge collapsed. Constantine became ruler of the west and eventually sole ruler of the world. He would establish Christianity as the religion of his Empire.ÂIn the year 330 AD, a church was built over the site of the house of Susanna. It was first called Saint Caius in honor of the pope whose home it had been. The bodies of Susanna and Gabinus were brought back from the catacombs and buried in the church. In the year 590 AD, Pope Saint Gregory the Great, in recognition of the growing cult that had grown up around the tomb of Santa Susanna, renamed the church in her honor.ÂThe Church of Santa Susanna, Via Venti Settembre 15, 00187 Roma, ItalyÂwww.santasusanna.org or http://www.santasusanna.org/popeVatican/tickets.html letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Sat, 16 Nov 2002 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/6358/1/E-Croatians-in-Toronto-by-Vinko-Grubisic.html ÂCroatians in TorontoBy: Vinko GrubisicÂFrom: Polyphony Vol.6, 1984 pp. 88-91© 1984 Multicultural History Society of OntarioToday some 40,000 Croatians live in Toronto. How much history do the Toronto Croatians have behind them? What have been their political, cultural and athletic achievements?Research on Croatians in Ontario, and in Canada generally, is difficult because of the fact that Canadian statistics did not have a separate entry for Croatians until 1921. We do not know what kind of administrative difficulties were faced by the very first Croatians in Canada, but those who arrived by the end of the last century have had to identify themselves as "Austrians," ''Hungarians,'' ''Yugoslavic group," ''Serbo-Croats," etc. It was difficult and humiliating for them to accept the nationality of their oppressors, who most often were the cause of their leaving their native soil. "The census for the city of Toronto, for example, yields many Germans, Poles, Italians, Jews, and even Swedes, Norwegians, and Portuguese in the 1860's and 1870's but few Croats are easily identified."In the nineteenth century a few Croatians were farming in southern Ontario. At the beginning of the current century, several hundred Croatians were working in various industries in Toronto. Before World War One, the economic crisis forced several thousand Croatians from their homeland towards the New World. The Austro-Hungarian Empire, in which all Croatian lands were incorporated at that time, did not discourage the young and productive people from emigrating. However, the monarchy changed its attitude once it was at war.With the creation of the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes in 1918, the Croatians hoped to achieve their long cherished dream of national liberty. Instead they were faced with far greater national and economic oppression than ever before. As a result, new waves of emigrants left Croatia and a large number of them came to southern Ontario, in particular to Toronto and Hamilton, many of them settling in Canada between 1923-29.During the depression, very few Croatian labourers entered Canada. The majority of Croatian immigrants at that time were women, either wives of earlier settlers or unmarried women. "This decade (1931-41) was indeed the only period in which the number of male Croatian immigrants was surpassed by the number of female immigrants.''After World War Two, the majority of Croatian immigrants to Canada settled in Toronto. They found jobs mainly in heavy industries and construction, so that after the Italians, the Croatians are probably the largest ethnic group in the construction industry in Toronto.Many educational and social activities of the Toronto Croatians were achieved within the framework of the Croatian parish-Our Lady Queen of Croatia. From 1939-41, Rev. R. Grskovic was the first Catholic priest to work with Croatians in Toronto. During World War Two the Croatians were left without their own priest, but by 1947 Rev. R. Hrascanec became their spiritual leader. He remained in Toronto until 1950. Then, for a brief time, the Croatian Catholic pastor was Rev. A. Rab, succeeded by Rev. Jure Vrdoljak, who had been in Sudbury from 1955-61. In the first year of his pastoral work in Toronto, the Croatian Catholic parish was officially established and a church was purchased and restored. Soon it became the gathering place for Croatians. The church burned down in 1962, and Vrdoljak's successor, Rev. Charles D. Kamber, built a new church in 1965 on the very same grounds. Rev. Kamber was assisted by Rev. Bozidar Vidov, Rev. M. Grgas and, from time to time the Slovene Roman Catholic priest Rev. France Skumavc."Reverend Kamber's active parish work among the Croatians in Toronto in the sixties resulted in further purchases of land for a park and a parish graveyard and he earned universal praise for his efforts after his death in 1969. Kamber's successor, Rev. Josip Gjuran, introduced many new activities to Metro Croatians. He was assisted in his parish work by Rev. Aleksandar Boras (1971-75), by Rev. Ivan Golec (1975-80) and by Rev. lvica Kecerin, who is now head of a new parish centre in Mississauga.ÂCurrently there are three priests in the Toronto parish: Rev. Josip Gjuran, Rev. Jurica Jezerinac and Rev. Valent Bogadi. They are assisted in their work by nuns belonging to the order of Servants to the Child Jesus: Sister Eduarda Maric, Sister Marinka Vrnoga and Sister Mariangela Majic. On Sundays about 2,000 parish bulletins are distributed in this parish. Rev. Gjuran also speaks on the radio each Sunday (1:30-3:00 p.m.) so that his pastoral words can reach all Croatians of southern Ontario.ÂThe Association of Croatian Women is very active in the life of the Toronto Croatian parish. The Caravan Croatian pavilion is held each year in the spacious parish hall. The Croatian Catholic Youth is involved in the many Croatian charitable actions.They often organise theatre presentations, visit the sick and the elderly. There is also a Croatian Charitable Youth group that organises diverse activities in the Croatian Hall (Hrvatski Dom) on Dupont Street, with all profits going to charitable needs within the community.Ten years ago, Croatians of Islamic faith built a Croatian mosque in Toronto, headed by Mr. Kerim Reis. Many Croatians of Christians faith helped their Islamic brothers in building the Croatian Islamic spiritual and cultural centre. It is open to all Islamic people for their spiritual needs. It is here that the children are taught the Croatian and Arabic languages, where you can find Croatian Islamic newspapers, books, brochures, etc.ÂThe Croatian Fraternal Union (CFU), an insurance company which is still very active among Croatians, already had, before World War Two, some 1,000 members. Today there are several lodges which are united to form the Federation of CFU for southern Ontario. It is also noteworthy to mention the existence of the Croatian Credit Union of Toronto (Hrvatska Kreditna Zadruga) in which thousands of Croatians deposit and save their money.Although Croatian language teaching took place in the interwar period, it was not until 1961 that the first Croatian school was organised in Metro Toronto by Rev. Bozidar Vidov, also its first teacher. Rev. Vidov published the school's first textbooks, including a Croatian grammar manual, in the English language. The Saturday school has been steadily growing so that today it has 650 students and is one of the largest Croatian schools in Ontario. It has been named Croatian School Cardinal Alojzije Stepinac. Croatian language and literature has also been taught at the high school level in Toronto as a credit or interest course.The Croatian Cultural and Educational Society of Canada (Hrvatsko Kulturno Prosvjetno Drustvo u Kanadi) was also formed here in 1969. Unfortunately, its newspaper "Napredak" (Progress) was only short-lived. In 1972 several intellectuals established a Toronto chapter of the Croatian Academy of America, "an American organization whose broad purpose was to educate the members and to publish information generally concerning Croatian literature, culture and history." Last year the Toronto chapter of CAA, together with the Pontifical Institute, organised a symposium on the five centuries of the first Croatian printed book. In 1978 the Croatian Students' Federation was founded and its branch at York University, in cooperation with the staff from the university and Croatian businessmen, prepared the largest symposium on Croatian culture ever held in Canada-Croatian Nationalism and Culture in the Nineteen and Twentieth Centuries. Some twenty scholars from Canada, the United States and Europe took part in it.Many tambouritza groups were formed before World War Two, but the real renaissance of folk music and dance developed in the 1960s. One of the best-known dance groups in Toronto is the Zrinski Frankopan Croatian Folk Ensemble, directed these past fourteen years by Nikola Vrdoljak. "The Ensemble has not only presented authentic Croatian folklore in song, dance and music, but also taken a very active role in presenting displays of Croatian arts and craft associated with various traditional, national and religious celebrations.'' Another excellent folklore ensemble is Croatia, which has existed since 1971, under the direction of Professor Eli Vranesic. Toronto has also twice been the host city for the Canadian-Croatian Folklore Festival, the largest annual folklore manifestation among the Croatians in Canada.Among the early Croatian immigrants to Canada and, consequently, to Toronto, there were relatively few people who could read and write. However, already in the first decade of the century, there were several subscribers to the Catholic weekly "Danica" (Morning Star), published in Chicago. The first Croatian paper published in Canada was the "Kanadski Glas" (Canadian Voice), which later became the "Hrvatski Glas" (Croatian Voice). Since 1929 it has had quite a large number of Toronto subscribers. Being the official organ of the Croatian Peasant Party in Canada, its first editor was Petar Stankovic. Adherents to the party, which was founded in Toronto in 1930, named their branch Stjepan Radic, thus honouring the founder and leader of the Croatian Peasant Party and, one can say, of the Croatian nation. Radic was killed in the Belgrade Parliament in 1928. His death provoked feelings of repugnance for the Belgrade government. The Croatian Peasant Party built its Toronto hall in 1930, where practically all their meetings and cultural activities were held. The hall was since purchased by an Irish group in 1981. Some Croatian workers in Toronto also began to publish their left-oriented paper "Borba" (Fight). Its editor, Tomo Cacic, was obliged to move from Toronto to Montreal. He changed the name of his paper to "Slobodna Misao" (Free Thought) in 1931.From the beginning the Yugoslav Monarchy has tried to control and direct political activities among Croatian immigrants. In 1927 the Yugoslav Club was founded in Toronto. "The Croatian immigrants were in no way attracted to such organisations because they were conscious of the events in their native country, and they were aware of the problems which faced their nation." The proclamation of the Croatian Educational Federation, at its meeting of April 10, 1939, deserves mention because it can be considered very typical of its time:Croatian Educational Federation of Canada:-organises and brings together working people regardless of their political opinion, with the objective of educating them about democracy through the newspapers, schools, libraries, and by presenting lectures; -brings the Croatian people closer to Canadians and familiarizes them with the Canadian democratic organisations and institutions;Â-develops Croatian culture by organising various cultural activities such as establishing choirs and tambouritza orchestras, and organising various sports;Â-helps newcomers from Croatia solve their problems and gives moral support and material help to those working towards the liberation of the Croatian people in the old country.After World War Two, thousands of Croatians escaped Yugoslav communism and found refuge in Toronto- Some of them became members of the Croatian Liberation Movement (Hrvatski Oslobodilacki Pokret), which has been publishing "Nezavisna DrZaVa Hrvatska" (Croatian Independent State) since 1960. Another political party in Toronto with his own publishing voice is the Hrvatska Republikanska Stranka (Croatian Republican Party). Its paper is "Hrvatski Put" (Croatian Way), formerly "Nas Put" (Our Way). The Croatian political party which owns a hall on Dupont Street is Hrvatski Narodni Otpor (Croatian National Resistance). The Croatian National Congress (Hrvatsko Narodno Vijece) was founded in Toronto in 1974. It is an umbrella organisation which counts several thousand members all over the world. Recently the first meeting of the Croatian Committee for Human Rights was held in Toronto. Some 550 people attended its first banquet. This committee has awakened significant enthusiasm among Croatians and their friends.In this short survey, we have not mentioned the most important Croatian contribution to Toronto. Thousands of people who came here, either looking for human and political freedom or for a better life, took part in the spiritual and material growth of Toronto. Many ordinary, anonymous people who were and still are working in the construction industry, in factories and hospitals, in public services, or in their own businesses have participated in the flourishing of one of the largest and most beautiful cities in North America. In 1981 Croatians gathered to celebrate the name change of Awde Avenue to Croatia Street. This remarkable event for the Croatian community was noted in many Croatian papers abroad.Croatians are proud of their tradition and culture, but at the same time they are very open-minded people. Their spiritual, political and cultural leaders often cite a line from the work of the poet Drago Ivanisevic: "Being a Croatian, I am a brother of mankind. "http://collections.ic.gc.ca/magic/mt48.htmlÂÂfedor.kabalin@nyu.edu letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Wed, 13 Nov 2002 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/6360/1/H-Hrvatska-njezina-emigracija-u-Argentini-i-50-godina-Hrvatskog-Doma.html ÂHrvatska, njezina emigracija u Argentinii pedeset godisnjica Hrvatskog DomaU zadnjih tisucu godina svjetske povijesti, Hrvatska je sacuvala svoje bitne atribute koji karakteriziraju jednu suverenu drzavu. I u najgorim momentima svoje opstojnosti uvijek je imala Sabor i Bana, koji su garantizirali autonomiju, zakonodavnu, sudsku i administrativnu vlast. Hrvatska je uvjek imala svoju vojsku pod zapovjednistvom hrvatskih casnika, kojoj je na celu bio Ban. U pocetku dvadesetog stoljeca, hrvatskizastupnici su se borili, da hrvatska dobije svoje teritorije, koji su bili najprije pod turskom, a poslije pod Austrijskom vlascu i da kao konfederativna drzava udje u reformiranu Podunavsku Kraljevinu. Prvi svjetski rat (1914) je unistio hrvatsku perspektivu, sa nestankom stoljetnog Podunavskog Imperija. Hrvatska gubi zadnje obiljezje svoje suverenosti kada godine 1918 bez volje naroda, bez glasovanja, bez referenduma, a na bazi "Versaljskog Mira" bude ukljucena u zajednicku drzavu: "Kraljevinu Srba-Hrvata i Slovenaca". Tim momentom ukidaju Hrvatskoj njezin Sabor, Ustav i vojsku. Vec u prvim momentima Srbija je tu drzavu smatrala "Velikom Srbijom" koja je htjela dominirati ostale narode. To je bio pocetak konfrontacije, koja je oznacila borbu hrvatskog naroda za svoju nezavisnost.Volja za nezavisnost se je pokazala kod seljaka i radnika. Ogromni seljacki i radnicki pokret, kojeg je vodio njihov lider Stjepan Radic, se je borio za hrvatska nacionalna prava, za demokratski rezim i socijalnu pravdu, protiveci se "Velikoj Srbiji" kojoj je bio na celu kralj Aleksandar Karadjordjevic, sa velikim brojem srpskih politickih stranaka. Ova politicka borba je bila prekinuta u momentu kad je jedan srpski zastupnik pucao na hrvatske zastupnike dok je parlamenat zasjedao, i smrtno ranio Stjepana Radica i jos dvojicu hrvatskih zastupnika. Sest mjeseci kasnije, kralj Aleksandar ukida "Ustav Kraljevine Srba, Hrvata i Slovenaca" proglasuje osobnu diktaturu i nakon toga stvara Jugoslaviju. (1929 godine).Unistivsi politicku strukturu i uvevsi rezim proganjanja protiv hrvatskog naroda, sam srpski kralj, je posijao sjeme revolucionarne borbe hrvata, za svoju nezavisnost. Mladi hrvatski zastupnik, stranke prava Dr.Ante Pavelic, videci da se politickom borbom ne moze sa Srbima nista postici, povlaci se u Madjarsku i osniva revolucionarnu organizaciju nazvanu "ustasa" (od ustati), koja ce se boriti za suverenu Drzavu Hrvatsku, da hrvatski narod dobije slobodu, ekonomski i kulturni razvitak. Ustaska organizacija skupa sa Makedonskom oslobodilackom organizacijom ubija kralja Aleksandra u Marselju (1934) i tim cinom je Jugoslavija nagrizena ; pocinje njezin pad. Kad je Jugoslavija 6 travnja 1941 napadnuta, u drugom svjetskom ratu , po Njemcima, Hrvatski narod nije posumnjao ni jedan momenat da treba rusiti Jugoslaviju, koju je smatrao svojim zatvorom. Silna jugoslavenska vojska, bez morala, predavala se je hrvatskim seljacima i urucivala oruzje, a njihovi su casnici, uglavnom Srbi, bjezali u sume sa namjerom da se domognu Srbije.Diljem Hrvatske , u svim selima dizale su se hrvatske zastave i narod je sam proglasio Nezavisnu Hrvatsku Drzavu., puno prije nego je njemacka vojska stigla u Zagreb. Tako da je 10 travnja 1941 godine pukovnik Slavko Kvaternik preko radio Zagreb, proglasio NEZAVISNU DRZAVU HRVATSKU, u ime Dr.Ante Pavelica, koji je jos bio u inozemstvu. Sudjelovanje sila Osovine (Njemacke, Italije i Japana )u priznanju Nezavisne Drzave Hrvatske, bio je motiv sa strane Saveznika i prijatelja "Velike Srbije", da uz veliku propagandu, nastoje dokazati, da proglasenje Nezavisne Drzave Hrvatske nije volja hrvatskog naroda, nego da je to umjetna tvorevina fasista i nacista. Medjutim ni Njemacka ni Italija nisu bile sklone NDH, niti je ona bila predvidjena u njihovim planovima, njihova zelja je bila sacuvati Jugoslaviju, a to se vidi iz njihova postupanja za vrijeme cetiri godine trajanja Hrvatske Drzave. Saveznici koji su osudjivali stvaranje NDH, zaboravljaju, da su hrvatski politicari jos 1919 god. urucili zahtjev "Kongresu Primirja" u Parizu, podpisan po 157 tisuca Hrvata za samoodredjenje hrvatskog naroda, a godine 1922, hrvatski narodni zastupnici su poslali memorandum Vijecu Naroda u Zenevi, tumaceci situaciju hrvatskog naroda u novoj drzavi i nikada nisu dobili odgovor, kao da ne postoji Hrvatska ni njezin narod. Isto tako 1923 godine je hrvatski lider Stjepan Radic u ime narodnih zastupnika trazio u Parizu, Londonu i Moskvi, pomoc za Hrvatsku, koja je svaki dan sve vise zivjela u ropstvu i tiraniji.ÂGodine 1929 i 1930, obzirom na dogadjaje u jugoslavenskom parlamentu, su se hr- vaski zastupnici bezuspjesno obracali "Drustvu Naroda." Osobno su posjetili narodni zastupnici: Dr.J .Krnjevic, Ing. A. Kosutic i Dr. A. Pavelic, "Drustvo Naroda" i trazili da Hrvatska dobije pravo na samoodredjenje. Tom prigodom, narodni zastupnik Dr. Ante Pavelic je najavio revolucionarni ustanak i odbio je svaku odgovornost hrvatskog naroda, za njegovu oruzanu i revolucionarnu borbu za slobodu, sto ce se bezuvjetno dogoditi, jer smatra, da hrvatski narod ima pravo na svoju drzavu. Padom artificijalne jugoslavenske drzave, godine 1941 za Hrvatsku je bio idealan momenat, da proglasi svoju nezavisnost. Od Hrvata se nije ni moglo drugo ocekivati, a najmanje da brane jednu drzavu, koja im je oduzela sve atribute drzavnosti, unistila ekonomiju, i kulturu, zatvarala, mucila i ubijala istaknute Hrvate i njihove politicke lidere. Jugoslavija je bila ugnjetavac hrvatskog naroda, a Hrvati su se osjecali robovi u toj umjetnoj drzavi. Podpuno je jasno, da je hrvatski narod iskoristio momenat za svoju nezavisnost, a da to nije bila identifikacija ni sa talijanskim fasizmon ni njemackim nacizmon.Naprotiv, Hrvati u ogromnoj vecini se ideoloski identificiraju sa pravnim demokracijama. To potvrdjuje i sam zagrebacki engleski konzul Thomas C. Rapp koji je rekao " Nema nikakve sumnje da je Hrvatska Drzava jedna cinjenica - narod to hoce". Na svom putovanju kroz Hrvatsku u tim ratnim vremenima, nastavlja on: "Zaustavljalo nas je bilo gdje i kad sam pokazao tko sam ja, nastavili smo put bez problema, naglasavajuci da nemaju nista protiv engleza i da su oni isto tako za engleze, ali obzirom na politicke prilike, koje vladaju, dogodilo se je sve obratno"(Memorije Ivana Mestrovica str. 308/309).ÂObratno od onoga sto su propagirali Saveznici, da je osnivanje NDH bilo povezano sa doktrinom fasizma i nacizma, cinjenica je, da 10 travnja je bas obratan i razlicit od tog politickog koncepta. Kod Hrvata je prevladavao interes za drzavu, a ne ideologija . Ovakvi koncepti su vladali citavim drugim svjeskim ratom. Razlicite ideologije nisu branile razlicita udruzenja. Tako se je Stalin udruzio sa Hitlerom, da podijele Poljsku, a taj ideoloski krimen nije branio ni Englezima ni Amerikancima, (borci za ljudska prava i demokraciju), da se ujedine sa Sovjetskim Savezom, Staljinom na celu, najvecim krvnikom i diktatorom, koji je kriv za 30 miljuna komunistickih zrtava. Pa tako i Jugoslavija, na celu sa princom Pavlom, poznatim anglofilom, je podpisala, sporazum sa Njemackom, Italijaom i Japanom, u Becu, 25 ozujka 1941. Saveznici (Englezi-Amerikanci) su svima tolerirali sva politicka udruzenja, samo ne Hrvatima, koji su podpisali ugovor sa jedinom namjerom, da dodju do slobode i nezavisnosti.Nema sumnje , da je NDH, za hrvatski narod, usprkos velikim ljudskim pogreskama i zla, kojeg donasa svaki rat, uzivala svoju suverenost, nista manje ogranicenu, nego sto su imale sve male drzave, koje su se morale prilagoditi autoritarnom rezimu, koji je vladao citavom EvropomÂte stvari, one su povezane medju sobom, ali nisu jednake. Ono sto se moze predbaciti jednoj vladi, to nema vrijednosti prema drzavi, kao najvecoj instituciji suverenosti jednog naroda. Kad bi vlada jedne drzave bila odgovorna da drzava postoji, sto saveznici su htjeli primjeniti za Hrvatsku, onda iza drugog svjetskog rata, ne bi trebale postojati ni Bugarska, ni Madjarska, Rumunjska, ni Finska, jer su se i one pridruzile Trojnom Paktu isto kao i Hrvatska.Jos trebamo napomenuti,da je Nezavisna Drzava Hrvatska bila priznata po vecini drzava Evrope, koje su imale svoje predstavnistvo u Zagrebu. Drzave koje su priznale Hrvatsku Drzavu bile su slijedece: Japan - Madjarska - Slovacka - Finska - Bugarska - Spanija - Njemacka- Italija - Danska - Francuska , a diplomatski i konzularni odnosi su bili sa : USA -Sv.Stolicom -Portugalom - Svicarskom - Svedskom - Turskom - Argentinom - Uruguay -Burma - Tailand - Kina.Mlada Hrvatska Drzava vec od privih dana je skopila uzajamne odnose sa drugim drzavama i narodima i tako eliminirala nazive kojima su prije prozivali Hrvate u inozemstvu "austrijanac", "austro-ungar", "jugoslaven". Uspostavljenjem svoje vlastite drzave hrvati su dobili svoj nacionalni i drzavni identitet i doprinasali svoj obol medunarodnoj zajednici.ÂU samim pocetcima NDH, pojavili su se srpski cetnici kao gerila, vodjeni srpskim generalom Drazom Mihaljevicem, bio im je cilj rusiti Hrvatsku Drzavu. Prva ubistva i pljacku prave u dalmatinskoj Zagori, mjeseca travnja 1941 godine,. u kotarima Knin, Sinj, Grahovo, a 5 svibnja 1941 upadose cetnici skupa sa domacim Srbima u Blagaj, kod Slunja, zapalise , opljackase i pobise seljake citavog mjesta. Osim toga stvaraju sa Talijanima sporazum, jer ih vezu zajednicki interesi, podjele Hrvatske, dobiju oruzje od talijanske vojske i napadaju civilno pucanstvo.U tom momentu Hrvatska vodi borbu protiv cetnika, potpomognutim po Englezima i Talijanima, ovi zadnji toboznji hrvatski prijatelji i saveznici, koji vjekovima teze za hrvatskim teritorijem. U mjesecu rujnu 1941 , raskida se sporazum Hitler - Staljin a hrvatska komunisticka partija dobiva nalog, od Sovjetskog Saveza, da zapocne oruzanu borbu protiv NDH. Za citavo vrijeme dok je trajao sporazum Hitler- Staljin komunisticka je partija hrvatske, mirovala. Odmah u pocetku se formira prva grupa komunista u Sisku, i u ime Staljina i Sovjetskog Saveza zapocinju borbu protiv hrvatske drzave, a ne protiv vladajuceg rezima i bore se za uspostavljanje nove Jugoslavije, u kojoj ce ponovno Hrvati biti gradjani drugog reda. Konacno se komunisti spajaju sa Cetnicima (Srbima), sa ciljem da sruse Hrvatsku Drzavu.ÂHrvatska se je, kroz cetiri godine rata borila protiv cetnika i komunista, da ocuva svoju nezavisnost, dok konacno nije dosao kraj rata. Kroz citav rat, hrvatski komunisti su odigrali izdajnicku ulogu kao Quisling-zi Sovjetskog Saveza i Srbije izdali su hrvatski narod, jer su poveli borbu protiv drzave, a ne protiv rezima, koji je momentalno vladao u Hrvatskoj. To im je neoprostiv grijeh, prema hrvatskom narodu, ciji su sinovi casno ginuli, da narod zivi u vlastitoj drzavi. Hrvatski komunisti, imajuci vlastitu drzavu, oni se bore za tudje interese, protiv svoje vlastite drzave i nju ruse. Nezamislivo je, da bi Madjari rusili svoju vlastitu drzavu da sruse rezim, koji je za vrijeme rata bio na vlasti. Tu komunisticku borbu je predvodio Tito, Hrvat po porijeklu, inace najveci krvnik i izdajica hrvatskog naroda.Mjeseca svibnja 1945 zavrsava drugi svjetski rat. Prema ugovoru u Jalti (Churchil- Staljin - Rooswelt ) se obnavlja Jugoslavija. Saveznici predaju Istocnu Evropu Staljinu kao ratni plijen. Vodili su rat protiv nacista i fasista a doveli na vlast u citavoj istocnoj Evropi komunisticki rezim, jednako totalitaran kao nacizam i fasizam , jos gori s time sto je unistio privatno vlasnistvo.. Komunisticka mrznja na Hrvate izkazana za vrijeme rata, prouzrocila je povlacenje Hrvata, prema zapadu, da izbjegnu komunisticka ubijanja i da dostignu saveznicku vojsku, oslanjajuci se na " Zenevske Ugovore" o zastiti izbjeglica. U pregovorima sa Englezima, su naisli na nerazumjevanje i braneci Englezi svoje trgovacke interese, unapried ugovorene sa Titom, predaju 200.000 hrvatskih vojnika, civila, zena i djece jugoslovenskim .komunistima, koji u svom krvavom plesu i pljacki ubijaju predane Hrvate. Tako nastaje Tragedija Bleiburg, sto ce ostati u vjecnoj uspomeni hrvatskog naroda. Mjesto na kojem su komunisti, nazolost ne samo srpski, nego i brojni hrvatski komunisti, ubijali i klali svoju bracu, samo zato sto su bili Hrvati i branili svoju drzavu.ÂTaj "magnum crimen" hrvatskih komunista, u kojem su sudjelovali, jos i danas je ostao neosudjen po bivsim saveznicima, a Hrvatska Drzava ce prije ili poslije morati povesti sud hrvatskim komunistima pa makar " post mortem", jer genocidni krimen ne zastaruje. Dolaze komunisti na vlast (1945) i u svim drzavnim uredima vise slike Staljina, a ustav nove drzave je skoro kopija ustava sovjetskog saveza. Da su hrvatski komunisti sacuvali drzavu u svojim granicama i uveli komunisticki rezim, bilo bi kud i kamo lakse i danas Hrvatska. Drzava bi bila u boljem geopolitickom i ekonomskom polozaju. Jugoslavija je nanovo proganjala Hrvate u domovini i inozemstvu. Hrvati koji su izbjegli Bleiburgu, smjestili su se u raznim sabirnim izbjeglickim logorima Austrije i Italije, cekajuci odlazak u prekooceanske zemlje. Argentina je bila medju prvim zemljama koja je dozvolila skupni ulaz. Nacionalni duh izbjeglica nije bio slomnjen, naprotiv su zbili svoje redove i nastavili borbu za suverenu Hrvatsku. Domovina je nanovo okupirana, nastao je progon hrvatskih gradjana. Zatvori su bili puni politickih zatvorenika. Dok su izbjeglice putovale prema juznoj Americi, nalicili su na onu davnu sliku Dubrovnika (1805) kad Knez ukrcaje gradjane na brodove i porucuje Napoleonu, "Dubrovnik slobodan plovi."ÂTako i Hrvati izbjeglice, izgubili su svoju drzavu, koja je ponovno okupirana po srbo-komunistima, ali nisu izgubili nadu, volju i borbu za slobodu, i iz slobodne Argentine, porucivali su svim Hrvatima diljem svijeta da "Hrvatska zivi dok ima nas."Poslije drugog svjeskog rata, dolazi nova emigracija Hrvata u Argentinu, sasvim razlicita od prijasnjih emigracija, koje su uglavnom bile ekonomske naravi. Dolazi u Argentinu godine 1947 pa dalje, nova hrvatska drzavotvorna emigracija, koja nije mogla racunati na svoje sunarodnjake, politicki dezorjentirani po jugoslavenskim-komunistima. Jedino se suradjivalo sa mali broj clanova organizacije "Hrvatski Domobran" koju je osnovao Dr. Branko Jelic 1931 godine.U prvo vrijeme, ta nova emigracija, se je snalazila i prihvatila sva moguca zaposlenja, a najvise fizicke naravi. Ova emigracija se je razlikovala od prijasnjih hrvatskih doseljenika, sto je bio veliki postotak skolovanih ljudi, koji su brzo svladali jezik, pa su od teskih poslova prelazili u svoje struke. Najgore su prolazili pravnici i profesori. Ova drzavotvorna emigracija je odmah pocela sa svojim radom, na obnovi hrvatskr drzave, tako da je ponovno podigla i osnazila organizaciju "Hrvatski Domobran", zatim se je obnovila " Hrvatska Katolicka Zajednica", a jedno od najstarijih drustava Uzajamne Pomoci "Stjepan Radic" osjetilo je budjenje i priblizuje se drzavotvornoj emigraciji. Vec 1947 god. pojavljuje se prvi broj polumjesecnika "Hrvatska" i time se udara temelj kulturnog i politickog rada ne samo u Argentini, vec taj polumjesecnik se siri po svim hrvatskim emigracijama, na svim kontinentima. Buenos Aires postaje srediste hrvatskih intelektualaca i ljudi pera. Siri se istina o Hrvatskoj, i njezinoj borbi za samostalnost. Pojavila se je potreba da se ima jedno srediste, gdje ce se odvijati sva aktivnost nove hrvatske emigracije. Tako je sredinom 1949.godine postignut jedan od najvecih uspjeha, a to je kupnja , u sredistu Buenos Airesa, hrvatske zgrade, u ulici Salta Br.1241.Nova emigracija je bila sastavljena od raznih profesionalaca, a medju njima se je nalazio i Dr. Zvonimir Buljevic, direktor narodne banke, za vrijeme NDH u Zagrebu, veoma sposoban ekonomista i dobar organizator, koji predlaze svojim sunarodnjacima da se osnuje drustvo, u okvirima argentiskih zakona, ekonomski jako, da moze u buducnosti financirati politicki rad u inozemstvu, za borbu do ostvarenja slobodne Hrvatske.Ideja Dra. Zvonimira Buljevica naisla je na odobrenje svih drzavnotvornih emigranata i zapoceo je rad na osnutku buduceg drustva. Konacno 11 ozujka 1952 godine, zakonski se osniva drustvo " EL HOGAR CROATA SOCIEDAD ANONIMA, INMOBILIARIA, COMERCIAL Y FINANCIERA"(HRVATSKI DOM DIONICKO DRUSTVO). Zgrada, koja se je ranije kupila i nalazila u ulici Salta Br.1241, pretvara se u sjediste "Hrvatskog Doma dd" sa njezinim prvim presjednikom Dr. Zvonimirom Buljevic i sa uzrecicom:"Sa domom za domovinu".Nazalost Dr.Zvonimir Buljevic u kratkom vremenu, poginuo je u prometnoj zeljeznikoj nesreci, i nastupa predsjednistvo Gospodin Simon Doljanin.Ta stara zgrada u ulici Salta u svojim prostranim prostorijama je omogucila rad raznim drustvima, ekonomske, kulturne, novinarske i politicke naravi. Jedna siroka lepeza intelektualaca svih profesija su se tu sastajali, tu je bilo mjesto i za mladje gdje su oni imali svoja sjedista sportskih klubova i organizacija. Dok se je Hrvatska nalazila na svom vlastitom teritoriju zarobjena i potlacena i gdje nije bilo slobode govora, gdje je vladao " verbalni delikt", svaka pomisao na slobodu je kaznjavana sa strogim zatvorima, dotle je jedna grupa izgradjenih intelektualaca slala i sirila putem novina, memoranduma, revija i raznih publikacija istinu o Hrvatskoj. Svi intelektualci sa svojim aktivnostima su imali mjesto u Hrvatskom Domu. Toliko jak je bio rad za slobodu Hrvatske i iznasanje istine o Hrvatskoj, da su komunisticki vodje u Beogradu, bili zabrinuti pa su putem svojih agenata u Argentini, postavili bombu u zgradu za vrijeme jedne cajanke hrvatske mladezi, ubili djevojcicu od 3 godine Dinku Domacinovic i prouzrokovali veliki broj ranjenika, to se je dogodilo 16 srpnja 1960 godine. Taj zlocin nikada nije razjasnjen .U toj zgradi se je vodila velika aktivnost sve do 1977 godine, dok nije opcina grada Buenos Aires, najavila otkup zgrade, da se sagradi autoput 25 de Mayo, plativsi procjenjenu vrijednost zemljista i zgrade. S tim novcem se kupuje nova zgrada i to kino i teatar "Nilo" u ulici Boedo 1061/1067. Bez obzira na zgradu i njezinu vaznost, politicka aktivnost pada i prelazi na Hrvatsko vijece.U Evropi nastaju politicke promjene. Iza Perestrojke , rusi se Sovjetski Savez i pada Berlinski Zid. .Hrvatska skuplja snage i nanovo se podize duh za osamostaljenjem. Jedna grupa bivsih hrvatskih komunista na celu sa Generalom Franjom Tudmanom, dolazi do zakljucka da je jedino rjesenje za Hrvatsku njezina samostalnost u vlastitoj drzavi. Traze slobodne izbore i odcjepjenje od Jugoslavije. Slobodni izbori i poslije referendumaÂ(94%) donasaju odluku da dana 25 lipnja 1991, Hrvatski Sabor proglasi Slobodnu Hrvatsku Republiku. Tom prigodom kaze Kardinal F.Kuharic "Samo slobodni ljudi i slobodni narodi mogu izgradjivati svoje medjusobne odnose u miru i pravednosti. Stoga sloboda nije protiv nikoga, ona je uvjet dostojnoga zivota za svakoga.Sloboda nije poraz drugoga nego je pobjeda sviju, da zive u miru.Stoga mi i proglasenje podpune samostalnosti i nezavisnosti Republike Hrvatske kao suverene drzave dozivljavamo kao radostan dogadjaj i ostvarenje povijesne i pravne logike. To je pobjeda etickog principa koji vrijedi svuda i za svakoga, zato odluka Sabora nije neprijateljki cin bilo protiv koga, bilo izvan hrvatske, bilo u Hrvatskoj" (Kardenal Kuharic-Glas Concila 1991). Hrvati Argentine su euforicni, kao sto su 1941, dizali barjak slobode, tako i danas 50 godina, kasnije razvijaju hrvatske zastave, slaveci isto odcjepjenje od Srbije i Jugoslavije. Svakim petkom su se okupljali hrvatski emigranti pred argentiskim parlamentom trazeci priznanje hrvatske drzave. Na koncu je bitka dobivena. Hrvatska je usla u Ujedinjene Narode kao Suverena Drzava. Srbi su i sada, kao i 1941, napali Hrvatsku Republiku i zapoceo je obrambeni domovinski rat, za ocuvanje nezavisnosti . Povijest se je ponovila. Cetnici i ostatak jugoslavenske armije koja se je poistovjetila sa Srbijom, napadali su Hrvatsku Republiku, a Ujedinjena Europa skupa sa Amerikom uvadjaju "embargo " na oruzje Hrvatskoj Republici ne bi li sto brze podlegla pred Srbskim napadacima Nanovo su bivsi saveznici, protiv osnutka hrvatske drzave, pa makar joj bio na celu bivsi komunisticki general. Ta tisucu godisnja nacija, ciji su sinovi slavno umirali da narod moze dostojanstveno zivjeti, herojski su se borili za njezinu slobodu i nezavisnost, sto su konacno i postigli. Emigracija je priskocila u pomoc i raznim sredstvima pomagala, bilo u novcu lijekovima ili odjeci, a trebamo zahvaliti Republici Argentini, da je Hrvatskoj prodala potrebno naoruzanje. Rat zavrsava 1995, kad su Srbi potpuno porazeni. Nesto prije svrsetka Domovinskog Rata, Hrvatski Dom dobije ponudu za prodaju zgrade u ulici Boedo (1993) i Uprava Doma prihvati ponudu od 1.500.000 americkih dolara i proda zgradu. Uprava, da sacuva dionicarski kapital, kupi zgradu u ulici Gorostiga 2104, koju prepusta na pet godina, Hrvatskom Veleposlanstvu na upotrebu. Kupuju se razne poslovne prostorije, da se ocuva vrijednost dionicarskog kapitala. Hrvatski Dom je ostao bez svog velikog sjedista par godina, osjeca se neka praznina medju emigrantima, koji su se uvjek sastajali u Hrvatskom Domu, i on im je znacio hrvatski kut u Argentini. Godine 1998, na sjednici dionicara, odlucilo se je prodati neke poslovne prostore. S tim novcem kupilo se je zemljiste i kuca u ulici Lugones 4936. Danasnja Uprava, sa predsjednikom Gospodinom Andelkom Jurun, podpresjednikom Gospodinom Domagoj Galinovic i direktorom Gospodinom Domagoj Vlahovic, na godisnjoj skupstini, odrzanoj 2 rujna 2000 god. predlaze novi smjer drustva. Nema vise politicke borbe za rusenje Jugoslavije, obnovljena je Hrvatska Drzava, i sva politicka aktivnost je prenesena u domovinu.. Danas je svrha naseg Doma, da povezuje Hrvatsku sa Argentinom, na ekonomskom, kulturnom, znastvenom, tehnickom, skolskom i turistickom polju na temelju protokola i ugovora izmedju Republike Argentine i Republike Hrvatske, potpisanom 13 travnja 1992 godine. Osim toga, trebamo raditi na tome da novo pokoljenje hrvatske zajednice, sa argentiskim prijateljima, upozna hrvatsku tisucnu bastinu. Na istoj sjednici, je predlozeno da u gospodarstvu pomognemo domovini, da izidje sa svojim proizvodima na Juzno-americko trziste, gdje bi Hrvatski Dom mogao zainteresirati pojedina argentiska poduzeca, za uvoz.. Odmah se je zapoceo rad na novom centru. Projekt i gradnju je izveo Arhitekt Tomas Daniel Kolakovic, a gradnja je zapocela u lipnju 2001, i zavrsena nakon 16 mjeseci.Danas se nalazimo u novoj zgradi i sa novim projektom. Trebamo zbliziti Hrvatsku i Argentinu, doci do jedne uzajamne gospodarske izmjene. S tom idejom je gradjena nasa nova zgrada, koja ima sve preduvjete za kulturne dogadjaje, knjiznicu na spanjolskom i hrvatskom jeziku, gospodarski dio sa stalnom izlozbom hrvatskih proizvoda. U zgradi se nalazi blagovaona, gdje ce se sluziti uglavnom hrvatski jelovnik, prostrani vrt i manja sala za razlicita predavanja. Ove godine slavimo 50 godisnjicu Hrvatskog Doma dd, pedeset godina borbe za nezavisnost Hrvatske, pedeset godina je Dom kao financijska ustanova, pomagao pojedine dionicare u zajmovina, pedeset godina je sluzio kao centar okupljanja hrvatskih izbjeglica, nasih djedova i oceva, koji su udarili temelje ovog Hrvatskog Doma.Uprava Hrvatskog Doma je ponosna sto je ispunila svoj zadatak i nada se da ce se i u buduce nastavil sa istim uspjesnim radom. UPRAVA HRVATSKOG DOMABuenos Aires, 26 listopada 2002jurun@sinectis.com.ar letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Sat, 09 Nov 2002 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/6359/1/E-My-father-Peter-Miscovich-came-to-the-US-from-Croatia-in-1903.html My father, PeterMiscovich, came to the U.S. from Croatia in1903A life on the claimsAlaskana interview: JOHN MISCOVICHÂInterviewed By Sharon BushellAlaskana(Published: November 3, 2002)ÂMy father, Peter Miscovich, came to the U.S. from Croatia in 1903. He was a hard worker, mining for copper in Montana, gold in California and coal in Washington. In 1910, he saw a newspaper article about the gold rush in Iditarod, Alaska. He got there as quickly as possible via steamship and riverboat. He began a correspondence with my mother and brought her over from Croatia. They were married in Iditarod in 1912. They set up on the Discovery claim and started raising a family: four boys and three girls. I was born on the Discovery claim near Flat in 1918.Between 1910 and 1914, about 6,000 people moved into the area. Iditarod was eight miles to the west, too far for the miners to get supplies, so Flat became the supply center, and the two towns were connected by a tramway. For a while, Flat became quite a large city of about 1,500. It had a telephone system, two stores, a hotel, restaurant, pool hall, laundry and jail.There was also an elementary school in Flat, run by teachers brought in from the Midwest. For several years the Miscovich family accounted for most of its students.ÂI was given my first job when I was 4, pulling the handle of the bellows for the blacksmith's forge. I also took care of dogs and sawed wood. There was always lots to do, and even the youngest kids were expected to do their share.The town started losing people when World War I began. By the end of World War II, Flat had dwindled to about 15 people, including children. Now it's a ghost town, and what was once the thriving city of Iditarod is a moose pasture.I was 13 when we moved 360 miles away to Fairbanks in order that we older children could go to high school. Dad stayed to work the mines. My mother arranged for a young bush pilot, Bob Ellis, to pick up my older brother George and me in late September. We flew out in a little two-seater, open-cockpit plane to Anchorage. From there we flew in a Fairchild 71 on floats, landing on the Chena Slough. It was my first trip out of Flat.It was quite a transformation for a young man; there was lots to see and do in Fairbanks: movies, lots of automobiles, a big school. In the summers we all went back to Flat and worked in the mines. There were some seasons when things went well, but other seasons were pretty lean. We had to settle for what we could dream of instead of what we could have.In 1935 my dad got the first diesel tractor and ripper in Alaska. He brought the first big excavator in 1937. He was then able to increase production, and at that point he became a successful miner.My father was truly a self-made man. He was an inventor and a self-taught student of law and finances. It means a lot to our family that he's to be inducted into the Alaska Mining Hall of Fame in Anchorage on Nov. 7.ÂI guess I leaned toward being self-taught, too. I dropped out of high school before graduation and returned to Flat. We were placer mining, using a hydraulic "giant," which controlled water under pressure. The early giants were manually operated. They had been in use since 1870, in the early days of mining in California. I used to stand at the handle of one for 10 hours a day, and I kept thinking there had to be a better way. I visualized one that could work on its own water power, nonstop.Starting in 1941, I spent a lot of time redesigning the giant. I had to quit for 31/2 years while I was in the military. As soon as I was discharged, I came back to Flat, and eventually I was able to make the giant operate automatically 24 hours a day. What it amounted to is really very simple. The old giant didn't have any ball bearings on its movements. I added ball bearings for both vertical and horizontal, and that made it possible to go to any number of drives: air, oil, water, electric. It opened up a whole new world.I have to credit the (Fairbanks newspaper) Jessen's Weekly; when I tested my "Intelligiant" out at Cripple Creek in 1953, Maurey Smith and Ernie Jessens gave me a full-page story. It got into a couple of worldwide mining magazines, and from there things began to happen on a large scale.I took my equipment to a phosphate operation at the request of the International Mineral Corp. of Chicago. From there I went to Orange, Calif., and began working with the John Stang Manufacturing Co. as a design application and consulting engineer. I developed the basic design and, with the help of other engineers, developed about 150 applications for firefighting, for the military, the oil refineries, major earthmoving operations and the missile program.Now, with the threat of chemical attack on our country, it could be very useful in dealing with decontamination. We have several thousand of them throughout the United States, on fireboats, firetrucks, on snorkels, on all kinds of land-based equipment. When the hijackers hit the World Trade Center, the Intelligiant played an important role, and I'm very proud of that.I met my wife, Mary, while I was working on some of the early equipment in California. She, too, was from Croatia. My father had been a friend of her uncle's back in the old country. After my father died, I went to visit the uncle, who didn't happen to be home. When Mary met me at the door, I was so stunned by her beauty, the only thing I could think of to say was, "How do you do?" She looked at me in such an odd way, and when I came to my senses, I realized she didn't speak English.Of course, after that, I wasn't too interested in going back to visit the uncle; Mary was my predominant interest. We courted for quite a while, but it took me two years to convince her to leave California and come to Alaska. And her uncle never did approve . . . until our first son was born.One of my greatest worries when I first brought her into this country was that, unlike when my dad brought my mother into Flat, Mary could fly out if she decided it wasn't the place for her. But we've had a great marriage. We raised our four children in Flat, and Mary was always very resourceful when it came to the problems of living in the Bush.We now live between two homes, one in California and one in Flat. Each April we return to Flat; we're the only ones who have lived there for the last 43 years. We actually live in our mining camp near the Discovery claim. As I said, Flat is now a ghost town, but it's still a very compelling place. There are dozens of wind-torn, busted-down structures surrounded by a new growth of birch, spruce, alders and cottonwoods.You have to be careful when you live as remote as we do. You have to watch your step and also your health. The weather dictates when you fly in and out. We now have a satellite phone, and that's a great help.All in all, things have turned out well for me. Sure, I was successful when it came to mining gold, and for that I'm grateful. But the Intelligiant was much more personally rewarding; that was a real accomplishment. But best of all, I have my family. That's where the real gold is.Sharon Bushell lives and writes in Homer. For information about "We Alaskans," a collection of her Daily News articles about Alaska pioneers, go towww.wealaskans.com. http://www.adn.com/life/story/2071493p-2169210c.html letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Sat, 09 Nov 2002 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/6361/1/EH-STORM-OLUJA-1995---2002.html ÂSTORM OLUJA1995 - 2002Â4. kolovoza 1995.ÂDigla se "Oluja"U zoru, u pet sati, digla se oluja koja je pomela "krajinu" u samo cetiri dana. Hrvatska vojska i redarstvo poceli su oslobadjati tzv. sektore Sjever i Jug na bojisnici dugoj 700 kilometara, dok su elektronski mediji prenosili poruku predsjednika Republike Hrvatske dr. Franje Tudjmana gradjanima srpske nacionalnosti kojom im se jamce sva prava, a pripadnike paravojnih postrojbi poziva na predaju, nudeci im amnestiju. Hrvatske gradjane srpske nacionalnosti poziva se da ostanu kod svojih kuca i docekaju hrvatsku vlast.Â5. kolovozaOslobodjen je KninOko podneva objavljena je vijest: hrvatske postrojbe usle su u Knin! Knin je oslobodjen! Na kninskoj se srednjovjekovnoj tvrdjavi konacno zavijorio dvadesetmetarski hrvatski stijeg, javio je Hrvatski radio u vijestima u 12 sati.Â6. kolovozaPredsjednik Republike Hrvatske dr. Franjo Tudjman u KninuKNIN, 6. kolovoza (Hina) - Predsjednik Republike Hrvatske dr. Franjo Tudman stigao je danas u 16 sati i 30 minuta u stari hrvatski grad Knin, nakon nesto vise od 24 sata koliko je proslo od velicanstvena ulaska hrvatskih vojnih i redarstvenih snaga u srediste Knina, izvijestila je Hrvatska televizija (HTV) u vijestima u 18 sati. Predsjednik Tudman pozdravio je i nakratko porazgovarao s pripadnicima svecano postrojenih postrojba 7. i 4. brigade Hrvatske vojske koje su prve usle u Knin.ÂPrije nego se zaputio u obilazak grada Knina, predsjednik Tudman je, komentirajuci velicanstvenu pobjedu Hrvatske vojske, izjavio: "Oslobadanje Knina znaci vise negoli samo osvajanje hrvatskoga podrucja i hrvatskoga grada. Znaci stvaranje uvjeta za stabilnost hrvatske drzave za stoljeca unaprijed."ÂU Predsjednikovoj pratnji su, javljeno je, njegova supruga Ankica Tudman, ministar obrane Gojko Susak, general pukovnik Ante Gotovina te zapovjednik kninskoga Zbornog mjesta general pukovnik Ivan Cermak, potpredsjednici hrvatske vlade, predsjednik hrvatskoga Sabora dr. Nedjeljko Mihanovic te brojni drugi hrvatski duznosnici.Â7. kolovozaÂZAGREB, 7. kolovoza (Hina) - Vojna operacija "Oluja '95" u bivsim sektorima 'sjever' i 'jug' je zavrsena, a ustavno-pravni poredak i nadzor nad tim hrvatskim podrucjima danas u 18 sati potpuno su uspostavljeni, izjavio je ministar obrane Republike Hrvatske Gojko Susak na vecerasnjoj konferenciji za novinstvo Informativnog stozera Politicke uprave hrvatskog Ministarstva obrane, sedmoj od pocetka operacije. Akcija je pocela 4. kolovoza u 5 sati i za 84 sata Hrvatska vojska i policija ostvarile su svoj zadatak i stale na medunarodno priznate granice Republike Hrvatske, izjavio je ministar Susak.ÂSource: NYCROATS.com letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Mon, 05 Aug 2002 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/6362/1/E-Adriatic.html Â"ADRIATIC"Built 1907Maiden Voyage 15.05.1907Tonnage 24541 GRTLength 709' 03"Breadth 75' 06"Average Speed 17.0 knots letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Tue, 11 Jun 2002 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/6363/1/H-E-Bleiburg-May-1945---May-2002.html ÂBLEIBURG MAY 1945 -2002Hrvatski holokaust, Bleiburg i Križni put hrvatskog naroda na kome se našlo oko pola milijuna Hrvata.Neka se ne zaboravi da je Bleiburg najveci poslijeratni zlocin na svijetu u kojemu je bez sudenja, zlocinacki pobijeno oko 200.000 Hrvata svih uzrasta, tj. žena, djece, starica i staraca s hrvatskom razoružanom i zarobljenom vojskom.ÂMoj, sad vec pokojni otac, Hrvoje, je cudom prezivio Križni put i sve mije svojedobno ispricao (koliko je mogao jer je to naprosto bilo prebolno) ...Nemam dvojbe kad kažem da je i danas nasa ljudska dužnost boriti se za vizijutih tisuca mladih, palih domoljuba ...ÂDavor PavunaMoj djed je isto tako prošao Križni put. Kao i veliki broj onih koji to nemaju prilike izreci.Mi se moramo baviti buducnošcu i kako izgraditi ovu dragu nam zemlju, a odgovorni u vladiÂneka rade na tome da se objavi istina.ÂNišta više, ništa manje.Nenad Bachhttp://www.croatia.net/bleiburg/index.html letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Sun, 12 May 2002 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/6364/1/H-Knjiga-Velika-Hrvatska-tragedija-u-ZAJEDNICARU.html Âhttp://www.croatianfraternalunion.org/Velika Hrvatska TragedijaZAJEDNICAR 3. TRAVNJA 2002CLEVELAND, OH - U povodu knjige John Ivan Prcela i Drazen Zivic,ÂHrvatski holokaustDr. George J. PrpicProfessor Emeritus of History,John Carroll UniversityDokument i svjedocanstva o poratnim pokoljima u Jugoslaviji. Izdavac:Hrvatsko Drustvo Politickih Zatvorenika u Zagrebu, koncem g. 2001: str. xxxl584: tvrdo vezano i ilustrirano.Po izgledu jedna doista lijepa i reprezentativna publikacija Prof. Prcelazivi u Cievelandu, a Dr. Zivic u Zagrebu. Clan je Instituta za drustvenapitanja "Ivo Pilar."Dobro je da su se na ovom poslu uredjivanja i objavljivanju te dokumentarneknjige nasli predstavnik starijeg pokoljenja Ivan Prcela, rodjen g. 1922., ipredstavnik mladog pokoljenja Drazen Zivic, rodjen g. 1968, dakle od svogsu-urednika mladji ceterdeset i sest godina. Prcela je iz Sinja, a Zivic jerodjen u hrvatskom gradu-heroju Vukovaru. Prcela vec preko pedesetgodina zivi u Americi gdje je radio, skolovao se, osnovao obitelj i bavio serodoljubnim radom i pisanjem. Pisao je clanke, memorandume, brosure i knjigeo hrvatskim stradanjima prije i poslije 1945. Vec se preko ceterdeset godinabavi proucavanjem velike hrvatske tragedije: "Bleiburg" i ostalo. Najvaznijatema - osobito nakon zgazenog "Hrvatskog proljeca" 1971 bila je bas tahrvatska tragedija - krizni put, Bleiburg, kolonesmrti, komunistickiholokaust nad pokorenom Hrvatskom i Bosnom i Hercegovinom.Prcela je preveo i izdao dvije knjige Josipa Hecimovica svjedoka iz kolonasmrti s hrvatskog na engleski jezik o kolonama smrti i koncentracionimIogorima. To je bilo objavljeno vec 1961. i 1962. a g. 1970. on i prof Dr.Stanko Guldescu objavljuju Operation Slaughterhouse (Operacija klaonica). Ulipnju 1973. Prcela i suradnici odrzavaju znacajan simpozij o Bleiburskojtragediji u Clevelandu Novo izdanje te knjige izaslo je 1995 na preko 550stranica. Ta je knjiga na temelju brojnih svjedocanstava na temelju brojnihsvjedocansta za prikazala komunisticke vlastodrzce kao koljace i ratnezlocince. Ta i sve slicne hrvatske publikacije na engleskom jeziku bile sustrogo zabranjene u SFRJ. (Ja sam o oba izdanja Operation Slaughterhousenapisao prikaze u americkim i hrvatskim emigrantskim novinama i casopisima.)Na hrvatskom jeziku je u tom vremenu raspravljanja o hrvatskoj tragedijiizisao spomen zbornik cetrdesete godisnjice Bleiburg.' Uzroci i posljedice uizdanju "Hrvatske ReviJe" g. 1988. kojega je uredio Vinko Nikolic(Barcelona, 1988, 483 str.) Bila je to jedna od mnogih novih knjiga iknjizica o Bleiburgu i posljedicama.Holocaust od kojega smo izveli "Holokaust" - prema boljim rjecnicimaengleskog jezika, znaci "A sacrificial offering that is consumed entirely byflames" -(Zrtveni doprinos potpuno spaljen). Takodjer "burnt offering. Greator total destruction" znaci potpuno unistenje. Sinonim je "disaster" -velikanesreca. Tu stranu rijec mnogi citatelji nece razumjeti... Holokaust jesastavni dio stare i nove povijesti a zrtve su se brojate u milijunima...A sto je onda genocid? Holokaust obicno svrsava u tome. Rjecnik definiragenocide kao: "The systematic, planned annihilation of a racial, politicalor cultural group." Znaci: "Sistematsko, planirano unistenje jedne etnicke,politicke ill kulturne skupine." Zapravo u jednostavnim rijecima ~ potpunorazaranje cijelog jednog naroda. Grcka rijec genos znaci "narod" a naengleskom rjecnici citiraju za to rijec "race."Holokaust obicno zavrsava u genocidu kako su to osobito u novijoj povijestiiskusili Irci, Armenci,Zidovi i americki Indijanci. Operation Slaughterhouseopisuje holokaust kojega su na Hrvatima izveli jugo-komunisti, Srbi injihovi kolaborateri u Hrvatskoj i Bosni i Hercegovini. Cinjenica je da jeglavni krivac za klanie Hrvata i njihove progone bio Josip Broz, ponarodnosti Hrvat. Predgovor prvom izdanju te knjige je napisao Charles AWilloughby, umirovljeni americ:ki general koji medju ostalim istice da"britanske vojne vlasti snose moralnu odgovornost" za tragediju hrvatskihvojnika i civila nakon predaje u juznoaustrijskom gradu Bleiburgu.Na preko 120 stranica se pise o pregledu hrvatske povijesti,srpsko-hrvatskom sukobu, povlacenju hrvatske vojske i civila prema Austriji,izrucivanju partizanima, pokoljima u okolici Bleiburga (u tisku i premasvjedocanstvima ocevidaca), velikosrpska agresija na republiku HrvatskuiBosnu i Hercegovinu. Tih skoro 150 stranica je prevedeno u novoj knjizi oHrvatskom Holokaustu, a slijedecih 380 stranica su svjedocanstva i dokumentis originalnim hrvatskim tekstom (koji je bio preveden na engleski u OS)Treba imati na umu data nova knjiga nije identicna s knjigom na engleskomOna je samo djelomicno nje prijevod.Da bi se razumio postanak knjige na engleskom treba procitati opis u uvodu oradu Odbora za istrazivanje bleiburske tragedije u kojima Prcela razjasnjavaneke krivo shvacene cinjenice.Ne slazem se s previse kriticnom ocjenom Dr, Zivica o "Pregledu hrvatskepovijesti" kojega je napisao Dr, Stanko Guldescu, Ja kao prevoditelj togapoglavlja svjestan sam cinjenice da je Guldescu bio preveliki "Austrofil",all bio je i solidan povjesnicar. Kao takav bio je prvi moderni americkiznanstvenik koji je s razumijevanjem i simpatijama gledao nahrvatske zemlje. Tome skromnom covjeku koji je umro g. 1990, u drzavi NorthCarolina Hrvati trebaju biti zahvalni za njegovo sirenje istine o Hrvatskoji Hrvatima,Razumljivo je da mi koji smo vec desetljecima u dijaspori ne mislimo Iprosudjujemo kao mladi narastaji u domovini. Zbog razlicitih utjecaja miidrugacije mislimo. Nase misli i zakljucci nisu na istom "valu". Tapodvojenost u prosudbama se odrazuje i u reakcijama u domovini na knjiguHrvatski holokaust.Dne 4. veljace je u zagrebackom hotelu Opera u Kristalnoj dvorani bilo vrlouspjesno pred.stavljanje teknjige Bill su tu mnogi uglednici, javni radnici, a takodjer idugogodisnji mucenici, veterani NDH, robijasi, branitelji Domovinskograta. Nisu na zalost dosli predstavnici vladajucih politickih stranaka..Tom prigodom i kasnije se isticalo da je knjiga ovjekovjecila "Krizni put"i stradanja mnogih tisuca Hrvata, a u svemu tome zasluzan je Ivan Prcela Taje knjiga doista kruna njegovog dugogodisnjeg rada, njegove zivotnemisije O krivnji i odgovornosti Engleza i zapadnih saveznika zaizrucenje preko pol milijuna Hrvata i njihovo stradanje pise se u tojknjizi, kao i u knjizi Ante Belje: Yugoslavia Genocide: A DocumentedAnalysis, koja je tiskana u Sudburyju u g. 1985. Povjesnik Nikolai Tolstoyje u Engleskoj objavio rasprave i knjige o engleskoj krivici za izrucenjaHrvata i ostalih. Grof Tolstoj, clan glasovite ruske obitelji, sudjelovaoje kao predavac u studenom 1985.na Slavistickom Kongresu u Washingtonu usimpoziju Drustva za Hrvatske Znanosti i godinama se - unatoc sluzbenihengleskih smicalica - bavio sirenjem istine o velikoj tragediji u 1945.Zanimivi su bill komentari hrvatskog tiska nakon predstavljanja knjige uZagrebu. Zvonimir Despot u Vecernjem listu od-18. veljace postavljapitanje zasto je presucena knjiga o Hrvatskom holokaustu. Tvrdi da seupotrebljavaju "dvostruka mjerila u pristupu ratnim i poratnim zrtvama uHrvatskoj". Za knjigu Ive i Slavka Goldsteina Holokaust u Zagrebu piseDespot da je imala "velikog odjeka, a pozornost su joj pridali ipoliticari na vlasti," dok je knjiga Hrvatski Holokaust gotovo presucena.0 knjizi Goldsteinovih napisao je opsirni kriticki prikaz Dr Jure Kristo uGlasu Koncila od 6. sijecnja 2002. Sadasnjim i buducim povjesnicarimamoderne Hrvatske knjiga Prcele i Zivica ce biti dragocjeni izvor. Trebanapomenuti da ce se cista dobit upotrijebiti (uz ostale doprinose) zaizgradnju muzeja i instituta "Hrvatski Holokaust" u Zagrebu ill u nekomdrugom mjestu: Gospic, Vukovar?Narucbe za knjigu treba slati naJohn Ivan Prcela,Â4037 Monticello Blvd.,Cleveland, OH 4,'.121.Prodajna cijena knjige je $30 i $10 za postarinu letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Mon, 08 Apr 2002 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/6365/1/E-A-Man-Called-Intrepid-by-William-Stevenson.html ÂÂA Man Called Intrepid. The Secret War. William Stevenson. 1976.ÂISBN 0-345-25558-5-225. NYT bestseller.ÂÂ"... the entire course of the war seen from a different slant: that of theÂundercover man."ÂÂÂÂÂ-- Boston Sunday GlobeÂÂ"The histories of World War II will have to be revised in light of theÂremarkable revelations made in this book..."ÂÂÂÂ-- Cincinnati PostÂÂ"A splendid book, rich in information... profound in its implications forÂtoday."ÂÂÂÂ-- San Francisco ChronicleÂÂ"Stephenson and Donovan carried out the single outstanding intelligence coupÂof the Second World War [March 27, 1941] when they delayed the Nazi invasionÂof Russia."ÂÂÂÂ-- Winston Churchill, in private message to Franklin D. RooseveltÂÂ(Stephenson and Donovan "invited" Hitler to occupy Yu and started the terrorÂcampaign against NDH, but this, as a matter of historical fact, did notÂdelay Hitler's invasion of Russia.)Â(ra)ÂÂDistributed by www.CroatianWorld.net. This message is intended for Croatian Associations/Institutions and their Friends in Croatia and in the World. The opinions/articles expressed on this list do not reflect personal opinions of the moderator. If the reader of this message is not the intended recipient, please delete or destroy all copies of this communication and please, let us know! letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Fri, 05 Apr 2002 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/6366/1/E-1700-years-of-Split-that-we-know.html ÂThe town of Split is a unique jewel of the Roman and Croatian heritage. It was developed out of the walls of Roman emperorDiocletian's palace 1700 years ago. After extending the emperor's palace walls the city became the administrative and cultural center of Split-Dalmatia County with more than 200,000 inhabitants.Numerous cultural and artistic events, such as drama, opera, ballet, and concerts are held in Split between July 15 and August 15 every year. This is known as the Split Summer. letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Wed, 20 Mar 2002 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/6367/1/E-Boka-Kotorska---forgotten-history.html ÂBoka Kotorska coastal region-What every Croatian must know !ÂDanny DaboÂÂTaken from Dubrovnik, Konavle, Boka kotorskaÂhttp://mirror.veus.hr/darko/etf/et111.html#bokaÂÂBoka kotorskaÂThe region of Boka kotorska is situated on the south-east of Dubrovnik and Konavle, along the Adriatic coast from Herceg Novi to very near the town of Bar. It was named after the town of Kotor, which is placed in a fascinating fjord.ÂÂBoka kotorska was annexed to Montenegro in 1945. At that time it was populated mostly by Croatian Catholics (Bokelji). Now the ethnic situation in this region is entirely different, especially after 1991.ÂÂThe Bokelj's had a very strong fleet, which counted as many as 300 ships in the 18th century. Boka was a rival to Dubrovnik and Venice. It is worth mentioning that one of the Bokeljs - Matej Zmajevic - was the admiral of Baltic navy and the ship-builder of the famous Russian tsar Peter I the Great, and for whom he built a fleet in Voronez.ÂÂBoka kotorska region is under protection of UNESCO, due to its very rich Croatian cultural heritage. The region around the town of Kotor is situated in probably the most beautiful fjord in Europe. In 1979 there was an earthquake that destroyed or seriously damaged numerous cultural monuments.ÂÂVery important historical source for early Croatian history is Libellus Gothorum, a chronicle from 12th century known in Croatia as Ljetopis popa Dukljanina. It was written by Archbishop Grgur of Bar, born in Zadar, and Bar is a coastal town in Boka kotorska. The chronicle represents the oldest historiographic work of Croatian Middle Ages.ÂÂIt is interesting that Tripun Kotoran, a Kotor goldsmith, worked on the court of Ivan Grozny in Moscow in 1476. One of the earliest Croatian typographers was Andrija Paltasic (~1450-1500), born in the town of Kotor. He was one of the best Venetian typographers around 1480, who printed more than 40 incunabula, among them the Bible in Italian language. We also mention by the way that a very old missal from 12th century - the Kotor missal, is held in St. Petersburg, Russia.ÂÂNikola Modruski, born in Boka kotorska, was bishop of Modrus in Lika, Pope's representative at the court of Stjepan Tomasevic in Bosnia, and on the court of the Hungarian king Matijas Corvin in Budim, his huge library is in the Vatican. He wrote a treatise in defense of the Glagolitic Script in Modrus bishopric. It is regarded to be the first polemic treatise in the history of Croatian literature.ÂÂCaptain Petar Zelalic (Zhelalich), 18th century, born in Boka kotorska, was a member of Order of Maltese Knights. He became famous after his ship defeated a huge Turkish ship called "The Ottoman Crown."ÂÂIn 1782 Krsto Mazarevic from the city of Kotor (in today's Montenegro) performed a flight in two balloons.ÂÂAnother outstanding Croat is captain Ivan Visin born in Prcanj in Boka. His travel around the world started in Antwerpen in 1852 (his ship "Splendido" was 30m long, 311 metric tons of cargo) and ended successfully in Trieste in 1859. He was only the sixth after Magellan to do a similar exploit. For his brave undertaking, which was of the historical importance, he had been decorated by a flag of honour Merito navali by the Austrian Emperor (in fact, Visin was the only one who ever obtained such a honour). The trophy is held in Prcanj. Visin also became the honorary citizen of Trieste.ÂÂAntun Lukovic, descendant of an old Croatian family from Boka kotorska, was the chief engineer in the project of building the Suez Canal (1859-1869).ÂÂThe Bokelj Marine 809 (Bokeljska mornarica 809) is a confraternity whose aim is to preserve more than a thousand year's Croatian maritime tradition. In 809 the remains of St Tripun were brought by Croatian mariners from Asia Minor to Kotor. The Cathedral of St Tripun in Kotor is the oldest Croatian cathedral, built in 1166.ÂÂIt is worth mentioning that New Yugoslavia participated at the international maritime exhibition EXPO'98 in Lisabon, Portugal, with Croatian cultural and maritime heritage of Boka kotorska. This very old and rich heritage was presented as Yugoslav without even mentioning that it belongs to the Croats in Boka kotorska. One can say that the Croats had in fact two pavilions in Lisabon: one belonging to Republic of Croatia (generally considered as one of the most original pavillions on the exhibition), and the other hidden under the name of Yugoslavia.ÂÂYugoslav press (and even some Croatian!) used to add an innocent number 1 to 809, to obtain 1809, thus reducing the rich history of Croatian mariners in Boka kotorska for no less than 1000 years!ÂÂA delegation of the Bokelj mariners from Boka kotorska participated with their traditional uniforms at the funeral of Stjepan Radic in Zagreb, after his assassination in the Yugoslav Parliament in Belgrade in 1929.ÂÂBoka kotorska is also known as the Bay of Croatian saints. Out of six Croatian saints and blessed, three of them are from Boka kotorska:ÂÂSt Leopold Bogdan Mandic,Âblessed Ozana Kotorka,Âblessed Gracija from Mul.ÂAlso the famous Pope Sixto V has Croatian roots from Boka kotorska on his father's side.ÂÂOut of 38 churches existing in the Kotor region (annexed to Montenegro in 1945) 36 are Catholic and only 2 are Orthodox (one of them was a gift of the Croats in Boka kotorska). On the photo you can see two beautiful churches on islets in the Boka bay, belonging to the Croatian Catholic community in Montenegro, built in the first half of the 17th century (Sveti Juraj and Gospa od Skrpjela). It is interesting that the Church of Gospa od Skrpjela (on the photo) is built on an artificial island! Each year a procession of Croatian Catholics encircles in numerous fishing boats the island of Gospa od Skrpjela and pilgrims throw pebbles around it. An important monument, showing uninterrupted presence of the Croats in Montenegro during many centuries, is the cathedral of St Tripun in the town of Kotor, built as early as 1166. As we have said, it represents the oldest known Croatian cathedral. Its ciborium is decorated with a beutiful wattle pattern which is even older than the church itself, and of the same type as numerous exotic wattle patterns found in many pre-Romanesque churches along the Croatian littoral. The town of Kotor has a surrounding wall which is about 5km long.ÂÂThe benedictine order is present in the region of Boka kotorska since the 9th century. Today this region has about a hundred of Catholic churches and chapels.ÂÂOne of Croatian churches, given as a gift to Serbian Pravoslav Church in Kotor already in 1657 (during Venetian rule), was the church of St Luka in Kotor. The church itself is much older, and dates from 1195. Above the main entrance to the Church we can now read the following inscription "Serbian Pravoslav Church - 1195." This falsification that appeared in 1990's aims to "prove" that the Serbs built this church already in 1195. In 1995 the Serbs in Montenegro even "celebrated" 800th anniversary of this church which was Catholic until 1657, when it was given as a gift to Serbian Pravoslavs.ÂÂOne of the greatest Croatian Baroque painters is Tripo Kokolja (1661-1713), born in the town of Perast in Boka kotorska, whose works of art are held in the Church of Gospa od Skrpjela, and also in the Dominican church in Bol on the island of Brac, in Hvar on the island of Hvar, in Korcula on the island of Korcula (where he died), and in Dubrovnik.ÂÂWhen a Russian travel-writer P.A. Tolstoy visited Boka in 1698, he noted that the local hills are also inhabited by the Croats.ÂÂIn the Boka kotorska churches there are important works of art of many outstanding Croatian artists, like Ivan Mestrovic, Antun Augustincic, Celestin Medovic, and other.ÂÂAccording to official Montenegrin sources, 40% of real monumental property and 66% of movable monumental property of this republic is in the Boka kotorska region. This means that at least 50% of the entire monumental cultural heritage of Montenegro belongs to the Catholic church in Boka, i.e. to the Croats. And now Montenegro has less than 1% of Catholics.ÂÂA result of the assimilation and systematic persecutions from the Serbs and Montenegrins in the Boka kotorska region was that the population of the Croats began to diminish rapidly since Yugoslavia was created in 1918, and especially after the aggression against Croatia in 1991. Let us illustrate only the "silent" ethnical cleansing in the ex-Yugoslav period (1918-1991). Namely, while in the period from 1910 (when the last Austro-Hungarian recension was held) to 1991 (the last ex-YU recension) the overall population in Boka kotorska doubled, on the other hand the number of Croats dropped in the same area three times.ÂÂThe towns of Kotor, Perast, Tivat, Dobrota, Prcanj, Herceg Novi and Budva had a Croatian majority in 1910. A large Catholic majority in 1910 had peninsula Vrmac and southern part of Spich (from Sutomore to the border between Boka kotorska and Montenegro near the town of Bar). For example,ÂÂÂThe number of Croats in Kotor dropped from 69% in 1910 to 7% in 1991;Âin Herceg Novi from 70% to 2%;Âin Tivat from 95% to 23%.ÂIn 1991 there were only 8% of Croats in Boka kotorska region, and today (after 1991-1995 Serbian and Montenegrin agression on Croatia and Bosnia-Herzegovina) even less. For example, 350 Croatian families had to leave their native Tivat in the period of 1991-1998.ÂÂIn June 1996 msgr. Ivo Gugic, bishop of Kotor, was cruelly killed (strangled by a wire).ÂÂThe name of the town of Dobrota in Kotor bay has interesting meaning: Goodness. In fact, the French bonté is even closer to the meaning of Croatian dobrota. And there is a family name - Dobrota, that can be found also among the Croats in Konvle region south of Dubrovnik.ÂÂVjenceslav Cizek (Gjenovici, Boka kotorska, 1928-2000) has passed away in Dortmund. He was born in a peasant-working class family, educated in Kumbor and Herceg-Novi, and studied philosophy in Sarajevo. For his political beliefs he was sentenced twice to a total of 17 years imprisonment, and due to savage prison tortures he became blind. After his release he lived in Germany. He became internationally known as the "captive of conscience." Vjenceslav Cizek was an exceptional lyricist and satirist of dictatorship. Unfortunately, his literary activity was interrupted by prison. Due to his blindness, he memorised poems while he was in prison using a special mnemonic technique. In his poems he writes about places of his youth - Boka and Konavle.ÂÂIn 1998 a new mosaic was exhibited in a Catholic chapel in the town of Budva in Boka kotorska, on the initiative of the Pravoslav Church in the city. This was done without knowledge of the Catholic Church. On the other hand, it is known that the Votive Icon of Our Lady existed on the same place from 1333 to 1949, when local yugoslav communists threw it out into the sea. Fortunately, the old Catholic icon was saved (though damaged), but it was not allowed to be placed where it had been for centuries.ÂÂIt is little known that until 1949 Bosnia - Herzegovina had another entrance to the Adriatic sea in the region of Sutorine (between Prevlaka peninsula nad Herceg Novi), which is today in Montenegro. Today quite unjustly the New Yugoslav state claims the right to Croatian Prevlaka. See [Macan]ÂÂAs confirmed by all partisan documents related to Boka kotorska and Montenegro during WW2, both regions are mentioned with clear distinction: Boka kotorska (which is defined as a coastal region from Herceg Novi to very near the town of Bar) and Montenegro. Since 1945 the name of Boka kotorska was simply erased. The name of Montenegrins (or Yugoslavs) was imposed to the Croats. Even today many Croats in Boka kotorska are hidden under the name of Yugoslavs (of Catholic faith).ÂÂAn outstanding Croatian intellectual born in 1919 in Boka kotorska was Luka Brajnovic, professor of Ethics of the University of Navarra, a former director of the Institute of Artes Liberales, a well known Spanish intellectual. Premio Brajnovic a la communication is a prestigeous Spanish award (500,000 pesets) established in his honor during his lifetime upon the initiative of newspapermen and lecturers from the University of Pamplon.ÂÂFor the reader who thinks that these claims are not sufficiently well grounded, I can offer a personal experience from the city of Zagreb, Croatia's capital. In 1971 a recension was held in the whole ex-Yugoslavia. At that time I was a 15 years old secondary school pupil. My math teacher "suggested" to everybody, in front of the whole class, to fill in the form as follows: "If I were on your place, I would fill in Yugoslav in the nationality section, and underline it three times." She was a daughter of a Serbian colonel in Zagreb. It was only many years later that I realized the meaning of this "suggestion."ÂÂÂTrpimir Macan: Rt Ostra u povijesti i politici, Matica hrvatska, Zagreb 1998, ISBN 953-150-168-8ÂDominik Mandic: Crvena Hrvatska, ZIRAL (Zajednica Izdanja Ranjeni Labud), Chicago-Rim, 1973 (see other Mandic's references related to history of Bosnia and Herzegovina)ÂThe history of Boka kotorska from Antiquity until 1918, Based on the text "Boka kotorska od najstarijih vremena do 1918" by Ankica and Josip Pecaric. Summarized and translated by Ivica Kresic, University of Chicago.ÂJosip Pecaric: Kako su komunisti prodali Boku kotorskuÂJosip Pecaric: Borba za Boku kotorsku (basic reference)ÂAgneza Szabo: Hrvati Boke kotorske u doba preporoda i bana JelacicaÂÂÂSAMO ISTINA !ÂDANNY DÂhttp://mirror.veus.hr/darko/etf/et111.html#bokaÂÂOp-edÂThank you Darko Zubrinic !ÂnbÂÂÂDistributed by www.CroatianWorld.net. This message is intended for Croatian Associations/Institutions and their Friends in Croatia and in the World. The opinions/articles expressed on this list do not reflect personal opinions of the moderator. If the reader of this message is not the intended recipient,Âplease delete or destroy all copies of this communication and please, let us know! letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Mon, 18 Mar 2002 07:00:00 +0000