Croatia recently marked 80 years since a breakout attempt at the World War II concentration camp known as the Balkan Auschwitz, where tens of thousands perished. Victims included Serbs, Jews, Roma, and antifascists, with only 92 survivors out of 600 attempting to escape in 1945. The most notorious camp in a system in the area, Jasenovac saw over 83,000 deaths, although some believe the numbers were much higher.
Participants in the commemoration ceremonies included officials and representatives from various groups, with flowers, wreaths, candles, and a commemorative program honoring the victims. Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic emphasized the importance of remembering such crimes and ensuring they are not repeated.
Croatia, now an EU member, was part of Communist-run Yugoslavia after WWII. However, the country has faced accusations of not doing enough to combat resurging pro-Nazi sentiments. This led to a years-long boycott of state-run Jasenovac commemoration ceremonies by Serb and Jewish groups.
The recent commemoration was hailed as a success, with Ognjen Kraus, who represents Jewish municipalities in Croatia, noting that it was as it should be after a long while. The ceremonies highlighted the importance of remembrance and honoring the victims of such atrocities, with a focus on ensuring that history is not forgotten and that similar crimes are never repeated.
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