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[SITUATION] · [ACTIVE]

3 clusters · 10 sources · 25 days · First seen 26 days ago · Last updated 1 day ago

Categories: POLITICS

Croatia WWII memory controversy

Entities: Iva Rinčić · Ustaše regime · Kerestinec Castle · Rijeka · Dragana Jeckov

Overview

In early July 2026 local authorities in a Croatian city, together with Montenegrin officials, publicly confronted symbols deemed hateful or extremist. Within the same month the dispute broadened as two Croatian mayors became embroiled in heated debates over the portrayal of World‑War‑II heritage. Mayor Dario Zurovec of Sveta Nedelja insisted that Kerestinec Castle had never served as an Ustaše detention site, rejecting historical accounts of communist killings and calling them myths. Meanwhile, Rijeka’s mayor Iva Rinčić was criticised for permitting the repeated “Za dom spremni” graffiti—a slogan associated with the Ustaše—to remain after a performance, prompting accusations that she was equating fascist imagery with anti‑fascist values.

On 29 July 2026, parliamentary deputy Dragana Jeckov condemned the resurgence of Ustaše symbols at the Glina memorial. Speaking at the Orthodox Church of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, she recalled three waves of Ustaše violence in 1941, highlighted the role of Catholic priest Franc Žužek in opposing the regime, and warned that the reappearance of such symbols in public spaces is dangerous. Human‑rights activist Vesna Teršelič criticised Croatian officials for denying the Ustaše genocide and for allowing the memorial’s name to be changed without acknowledging the crimes. These episodes illustrate a deepening political and societal clash in Croatia over how wartime symbols, sites and memories are represented and remembered.

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how well corroborated each claim is across sources.

[● 3 SOURCES] Dragana Jeckov said that today fewer people consider the Ustaše salute a shame. (Dragana Jeckov)
[● 3 SOURCES] She warned that the return of Ustaše symbols to public spaces is dangerous. (Dragana Jeckov)
[● 3 SOURCES] In May 1941, almost all Serbian men from Glina were arrested and killed by the Ustaše. (Dragana Jeckov)
[● 3 SOURCES] Around 400 Serbs were killed inside the Orthodox church in Glina on orders of Ustaše colonel Tomislav Rolf. (Dragana Jeckov)
[● 3 SOURCES] In early August 1941, Serbs from the Vrginmost area were killed after being led to believe they were returning home. (Dragana Jeckov)
[● 3 SOURCES] The same builder, Bartol Felbinger, constructed both the Catholic and Orthodox churches in Glina. (Dragana Jeckov)
[● 3 SOURCES] Catholic priest Franc Žužek publicly opposed the Ustaše and defended Serbian residents of Glina. (Dragana Jeckov)
[● 3 SOURCES] After the Orthodox church was destroyed, a Memorial Home was built on the site, leaving only a sculpture as a reminder. (Dragana Jeckov)

Timeline

1 day ago

[POLITICS] 8 sources
Dragana Jeckov condemns revival of Ustaše symbols at Glina memorial
Dragana Jeckov warned that fewer people now see the Ustaše salute as shameful and decried the return of Ustaše symbols at a Glina memorial, recalling 1941 massacres of Serbs and criticizing Croatian officials'
5 days ago

[POLITICS] 2 sources
Croatian local officials clash over WWII memory controversies
Croatian mayors dispute WWII legacy: Zurovec denies Kerestinec Castle was an Ustaše site, while Rinčić is criticised for tolerating “Za dom spremni” graffiti, sparking a national memory debate.
26 days ago

[POLITICS] 4 sources
Croatian city and Montenegrin officials confront hate‑speech symbols
Croatian SDP officials denounce hate‑speech graffiti targeting Serbs, while Montenegrin civic group STEGA urges leaders to decide on removing an anti‑fascist poet's name from a library, highlighting regional re

Sources

24sata.hr · autograf.hr · autonomija.info · index.hr · n1info.hr · prigorski.hr · snv.hr · telegram.hr · vijesti.hrt.hr · zivim.gloria.hr

This summary has been updated 1 time: see revision history