Katolicki List: The Foundation of the Independent State of Croatia
The following is a translation of a transcript made of the front page of the first issue of the Catholic paper Katolicki List published after the formation of the Independent State of Croatia. Katolicki List was published by the Archdiocese of Zagreb, led by Archbishop (later Cardinal) Stepinac, and Item 4 below speaks directly in the name of the church. Stepinac never denied his initial support for the NDH, but it is quite another matter to recount the neo-fascist spectacle described in Item 3 without passing judgment as to what this could possibly mean. The Ustase, as is clear, left little doubt that the NDH would be ruled by the fist, with Poglavnik Ante Pavelic's ministers swearing "You command, and we will obey; you order, and we will execute!" As the NDH had been created in the wake of Nazi bayonets, one is shocked by the naiveté and willful ignorance on the part of the church as to just what this meant. Prior to April 1941, the names "Ustase" and "Pavelic" had hitherto been connected in the public mind with bombings, assassination and other forms of terrorism, their image one of unapologetic fascism with "Sieg Heils," black tunics and a language of violence and militarism aimed at Serbs and Jews as well as members of the Croatian Peasant Party who had signed the "treacherous" autonomy agreement with Belgrade just two years before. Public opinion on Mussolini and especially Hitler were equally well-informed by April 1941; regardless, their telegrams bestowing their blessing on the NDH are prominently printed with all due consideration.

 

THE INDEPENDENT STATE OF CROATIA

1. With amazing speed, the events of Easter week turned the circle of history of the Croatian people. After a day of anxiety, alarm and concern, Easter Thursday came. Already at noon the first news had reached Zagreb that in Bjelovar, Croat soldiers had rebelled, and that German troops had crossed the Drava River in a broad line, advancing towards Zagreb very quickly. In the city itself, all around, a great excitement was felt. The public didn't yet know that at about half past two in the afternoon the Ustase Poglavnik's deputy Mr. Slavko Kvaternik took command of the police. The public found out about the change at about 4:00 pm on the radio when Mr. S. Kvaternik, in the name of the Poglavnik, Dr. Ante Pavelic, proclaimed the Independent State of Croatia in its entire historical area and took control. Not long after that Dr. V[ladko] Macek called all Croatian people to obey and sincerely cooperate with the new state government. On the streets of Zagreb, Croatian flags were unfurled when the first German motorized troops entered the city. German troops were greeted by loud cheering. The Croatian state authorities manifested themselves very quickly, because all police squads and civilian defense authorities behaved just like the Ustase squads, functioning perfectly in maintaining order and discipline. On Easter Saturday, General S. Kvaternik appointed members of the Croatian leadership which will temporarily run state affairs. On Easter Sunday the Poglavnik Dr. Ante Pavelic arrived with his escort on the territory of the State of Croatia, and he was ceremonially welcomed in Karlovac. On Easter Tuesday he finally arrived in Zagreb.

 

2. On Tuesday, the 15th [of April] Poglavnik dr. Ante Pavelic gave all Croatian radio stations the following statement:

"Croatian people! Today, as I assume control of the state authorities of the NDH in Zagreb, I am happy that I can announce the following to you: Yesterday I sent telegrams to Fuehrer of the German people and the Duce of Fascist Italy in which I requested their immediate recognition of the NDH. With great joy I announce to you, the Croatian people, that to those requests I received the following telegram replies:

       Dr. Ante Pavelic, Zagreb

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I am grateful for your telegram and also the telegram of General Kvaternik, in which you notified me of the proclamation of the NDH in conjunction with the will of the people, and in which you ask me to recognize the NDH in the name of the German Reich. It is a particular joy and pleasure for me to express to you that the German Reich recognizes the NDH at a moment when the Croatian people have found their long desired freedom by the victory of the troops of the Axis powers. The German government will be glad to discuss the borders of the new state with the Croatian government in a free exchange of thoughts. All my wishes I direct to you and to future of the Croatian people.

       Adolf Hitler

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To Dr. Ante Pavelic, Zagreb.

I received the telegram by which you notified me of the proclamation of the NDH in conjunction with the will of the people, and in which you ask me to recognize the NDH in the name of Fascist Italy. With the greatest pleasure I salute the new Croatia, which today obtained its long desired freedom when the Axis powers destroyed the artificially created Yugoslavia. I am happy to express to you that the Fascist government recognizes the Independent State of Croatia. Fascist Italy will be glad to discuss with the national Croatian government, in a free exchange of thoughts, the borders of the new state, to which Italian people give our fondest wishes.

       Benito Mussolini

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"Croatian people! Long live the NDH! Long live Fuehrer Adolf Hitler! Long live Duce Mussolini!"

The State of Croatia was also recognized by Slovakia and Hungary.

 

3. On Wednesday, the 16th of April at 8 p.m. the Poglavnik of the State of Croatia appointed the first Croatian state ministers, and together with the new government he swore an oath.

On that occasion he made the following speech:

"Croatian people!

"The Croatian people founded their state 1400 years ago. In the year 1102, the Croatian State lost for the first time the important designation of its complete sovereignty. From 1102 until today - therefore a full 839 years - the Croatian people did not have an independent state. Now, a full 839 years after which for the first time a completely sovereign independent state of Croatia was constituted, the moment has come to constitute a competent government in the NDH. At this moment I appoint and nominate the first Croatian state government. The presidency over the government and the portfolio for foreign affairs I am taking over myself.

"I appoint as deputy head of state Osman Kulenovic of Bihac.

"As commander of the army and minister of the Croatian Home Army, consisting of land, air, and sea forces and all men under arms, and as Minister of Traffic I name Field Marshal Slavko Kvaternik of Zagreb. For active operations the Poglavnik will name deputies on his own based upon necessity.

"I appoint as Minister of Justice Mirko Puk of Glina.

"I appoint as Minister of Internal Affairs Andrija Artukovic of Ljubuski.

"I appoint as Minister of Health Ivan Petric of Solta.

"I appoint as Economic Minister Lovru Susic of Mrkoplje.

"I appoint as Minister of Religion and Education Mile Budak of Sveti Roka.

"I appoint as Minister of Forestry and Mines Ivica Frkovic of Lickog Novi.

"I appoint as Minister of Association [ministrom udruzba] Jozo Dumandzic of Klobuka.

"I appoint as head of the legislative committee Milovan Zanic of Senj."

 

Text of the oath by the Poglavnik:

"I, Dr. Ante Pavelic, Poglavnik of the NDH, swear to God Almighty and All-Knowing, that I will be faithful to the Croatian people and do everything for their benefit, and that I will preserve and defend the independence of the Croatian state, and that I will at all times live by the Ustase principles in my work. So help me God!"

Before the ministers took their oath, the Poglavnik directed the following words to them:

"Ministers, you are committing a solemn act by which you will swear an oath to take into your hands the people's affairs, state affairs, the NDH's affairs. I am bringing to light before your eyes the oath and the consequences before God and the Croatian people for the things you will do, your responsibility before God and the Croatian people for every act or mistake you would do to the harm of the Croatian people and the NDH." Afterwards, the ministers spoke in order, and swore an oath in this way: "I Slavko Kvaternik, I Dr. Mirko Puk and so on... swear to God Almighty and All-Knowing, that I will be faithful to the Croatian people, to the NDH and to the Poglavnik as the representative of its sovereignty, that I will respect and adhere to its constitutional articles and its laws, that I will work at all times for the benefit of the NDH and the Croatian people, and that I will do so with true devotion, and that I will invest all my power and knowledge in performing my duties. So help me God! Amen!"

Ministers swore this oath repeating the words of Poglavnik, who congratulated each and every one of them after the oath was taken.

After that the Poglavnik's deputy, warrior Slavko Kvaternik, saluted the Poglavnik and said:

"Poglavnik! In the name of the Croatian people, in the name of all present ministers, I assure you that we will knowingly perform these duties. You command, and we will obey; you order, and we will execute! All of us and the whole of the Croatian people are with you through both life and death!"

 

4. These events marked the foundation of NDH.

The state of Croatia is a fact. It was, as an ideal, carried over the centuries in souls of our ancestors, until Almighty Providence materialized it in the year of our great national jubilee. The Catholic Church, which for over 1300 years has spiritually guided the Croatian people through their hard, painful and delightful days, joins in the joy and delight of the Croatian people in these days marking their ascension and the restoration of state independence. The Church is convinced, that by preaching Christ's religious and well-bred science, it preserved the living essence and fortified the robust resistance of the Croatian people. That it gave the Croatian people the moral strength to endure difficult temptations, which finally brought about the restoration of state independence. Just as the church in those difficult days of temptation faithfully stood with its priests in spiritual service to the Croatian people, in this new period of state independence it will faithfully stand by their side, fortifying their strength and preserving their morals, so that it can achieve genuine, total prosperity and comprehensive progress. The church prays to God, that all Croats, united together, find in the state of Croatia the fulfillment of its justified aspirations. That all people with their responsible leadership can become the people of the Lord. The Church is convinced that there are objective and subjective terms by which our people have fulfilled the words of the Lord: "Blessed is the people whose God is the Lord!" With those wishes and prayers we enter the era of the NDH.

The Editors

 

:: filing information ::
Title: Katolicki List: The Foundation of the Independent State of Croatia
Source: Katolicki List, No 16, 1941. Quoted in Novak, Viktor. Magnum Crimen, pp. 546-549, Zagreb, 1948. Translated by Sinisa Djuric.
Date: April 1941 Added: April 5, 2003