At a rock concert in Zagreb, Croatia, this weekend, a young generation of concert-goers displayed a disturbing nostalgia for fascism. Thousands of fans responded to rock star Marko Perkovic by giving the Nazi salute and shouting slogans from WWII.
Perkovic, who fought in the Croatian army, consistently incorporates this fascist exchange during his acts. His public affairs manager, Albino Ursic, dismissed the Nazi salute as merely “teenage rebellion.” The crowd also showed off fascist regalia: Some fans were wearing black caps from Croatia’s Nazi-affiliated Ustache government, which was responsible for sending thousands to the concentration camps.
The concert was attended by an estimated 40,000 people and was shown during prime time on state-owned television.
New York Times:
On a hot Sunday evening in June, thousands of fans in a packed stadium here in the Croatian capital gave a Nazi salute as the rock star Marko Perkovic shouted a well-known slogan from World War II.
Some of the fans were wearing the black caps of Croatia’s infamous Nazi puppet Ustashe government, which was responsible for sending tens of thousands of Serbs, Gypsies and Jews to their deaths in concentration camps.
The exchange with the audience is a routine part of Mr. Perkovic’s act, and the gesture seemed to lack any conscious political overtones. The audience—most of whom appeared to be in their teens and early 20s—just seemed to be having a good time. But Mr. Perkovic’s recent success among a new generation—many of them apparently oblivious to the history of the Holocaust—has prompted concern and condemnation from Jewish groups abroad and minority groups in Croatia.
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By nelson, July 30, 2007 at 12:34 pm Link to this comment
(Unregistered commenter)
those people are acting no different than a terrorist! I think that that singer is Marko Perkovic is taking advantage of the young generation and brainwashing them with evil propaganda. Much like Western Hip Hop but to a greater degree of hatred!
Thompson is the best. He sings about peace and love.
“ZA DOM SPREMNI”-It’s normal,because it is croatian’s simbol on war and famous opera Nikola Subic Zrinski.
Thompson is good man,we are not “Ustasha “, “Nazism”...
We are CROATIAN PATRIOT,LOVER OF ONE’S COUNTRY.
We love peace,not war,nazism,fascism…..
By Katarina, July 9, 2007 at 2:23 am Link to this comment
(Unregistered commenter)
I am deeply disturbed by any display of ustasa iconography. It came into the open at the beginning of 1990’s, with F. Tudjman and his imported immigrants like Susak. All of a sudden there were kiosks selling ustasa symbols in the center of Zagreb. Since that day, I live in exile in the country which, until then, I had considered my home land. My close relatives, Croats as well as Serbs, lost their lives in ustasa concentrations camps, so you can imagine how I feel. By most comments here you can see how any ustasa displays are made out as something not very important and how our top politicians participate in glorifying ustasa movement. Others see Croatians as Nazi loving people, and they are not wrong. I know that I am judged the same way by my passport, but what can I do? Teach my children historical facts and that is about all. But powerful countries like USA, Russia etc. can make a difference. In this case, not grant visas to ministers and other prominent participants of this shameful event.
By Mel Wolfe, July 5, 2007 at 2:38 pm Link to this comment
(Unregistered commenter)
JFK—whose initials are as phony as your fake “julia gorin” website—Julia’s real website is http://www.juliagorin.com and refutes everything you’ve said!
Here is the actual testimony of Jasa Almuli, past President of the Jewish Community of Belgrade and past Vice-President of Jewish Communities in Yugoslavia re WWII Serbs and Jews:
“The allegation that the regime of Milan Nedic, installed by the Germans in Serbia in August 1941., enthusiastically participated in the Holocaust, is the second incorrect statement in Mr. Hoares letter. No anti - Jewish legislation was passed by this regime, no death camp for Jews was established or run by it and virtually no killing perpetrated. All that was done by the German Army, police and SS which had almost entirely destroyed the Serbian Jewish population by May 1942., although several hundred Jews were still hiding with Serbian friends. The German police were hunting them and many were caught with the help of police loyal to Nedics regime, attracted by the financial reward the Germans were paying. This is all that can be found about Nedic in the published research of the Federation of Jewish Communities in Yugoslavia. The Germans themselves dealt with the Jews in Serbia; the duty of Nedics regime was to carry out internal administration.”
In the fascist Independent State of Croatia, which was Hitlers ally during the Second World War, not 24,000 but over 33,000 Jews lost their lives, about 21,000 from Croatia proper and 12,000 from Bosnia - Herzegovina, which was annexed to Croatia with Germanys blessing. The great majority of the 33,000 Jewish victims were killed or starved and tortured to death in concentration camps in Croatia proper run by Croatia Ustashe guards. About five thousand were handed to the Germans to be deported to Auschwitz.”
Quit trying to throw mud on the Serbs to deflect from the righteous criticism of today’s budding fascists in Croatia. The red herring won’t work on anything other than stupid people!
The Serbian historian Sretenije Zrokić says that of the 11,870 Belgrade Jews only 1,115 or 9% survived the war. It was not only the Germans who captured and killed the Jews in Serbia, rather it was the Serbian Police, Nedić‘s volunteers and Chetniks . Most were killed in the Sajmite and Banjica concentration camps. Not a single Jew managed to escape from the camps.
As for cooperation of serbian (mostly chetniks) with axis force you can read it here:
Chetniks ( ) our natural allies. Only they are fighting! Kroatische Kampfgemeinschaft exists only on paper.
ibidem,p.378; BA/MA, RH 19 XI/29 OKW/WfSt, Gruppe Ic/Ao Vortragsnotiz fuer Aussenchefbeschprechung am 25.7.1944 (23.7.1944)
The units that could really be used against the partisans were the Serbian and partly the Russian volunteers and-Draza Mihailovics people.My liason officer with them was a certain major,Ritterkreuztraeger.
written on situation in Serbia during his visit to Belgrade in June 1944.
ibidem,p.187; BA/MA, RH 26-118/32 Befehl and die Cetnikfuehrer Cvijetin Todic,Golub Mitrovic,Savo Derikonja,Radivoj Kosoric,Bozo Plemic und Dusan Kovacevic (12.1.43).
Partly,the Serbs have futhermore showed themselves as the most reliable allies in fighting against the red bands,that is against communism.They are always ready to fight against the bandits with the German Wehrmacht and even to place themselves under its command
ibidem,p.307;BA/MA, RH 24-15/10 SS-Freiw.-Div. Prinz Eugen an Gen.Kdo. XV.Geb.AK. (5.9.1943).
And this people (chetniks) today in serbia:
Serbian parliament has passed a law granting pensions to members of the Serbian Chetnik movement, the followers of the Serbian king who fled to London just before World War II.
By Marcvs Agrippa, July 4, 2007 at 10:38 pm Link to this comment
(Unregistered commenter)
1. Where concentration camp in Serbia Banjica, Nedic and Sajmiste?
2. Was Serbia Belgrade declared Judenfrei?
3. Did Serbs support the Axis governments Nazi during WW2?
1. No. “Sajmite” means “fairground” in Serbian. The fairground is in the borough of Banjica, and Nedic is the surname of a Serbian gendarme (Milan Nedich). And you were insinuating that there were THREE conc-camps in Belgrade. Tsk, tsk, tsk. Sajmiste was run by the Nazis. Jasenovac, in Croatia, where 750.000 Serbs and Jews were murdered, was run by the Croatian (Nazi-allied) government.
2. Yes - by the German/ccupying authorities. In reality, Serbia was never Judenfrei. It was as much Judenfrei as it was Banditenfrei (die Banditen = Serbs) Your point is…?
3. No, they did not. That’s why Belgrade got leveled by the Luftwaffe on April 6, 1941 and Zagreb/Croatia welcomed the Wehrmacht with bouquets of flowers. The Serbs OVERTHREW their government on March 27, 1941 PRECISELY because it had allied with Germany.
First of all that concert isn’t nazi concert at all and Marko Perkovic knowing what he will be accused said this words:
English translation of his words:
I’m often attacked and accused, that we are fascists, nazis, and by this you also who listen my music and follow. And we here by say to them that we are not fascists, nazis, but Croatian patriots. We tell them that there are values that we live for. There were people that we will never forget. And there are dreams that we will never give up. Because this country was made, our Croatia, on the blood and suffering of this generation, victorious generation.
True story what happened on Thompson concert can be read here in audio , video and text:
But as noted always when speaking of Balkan, serbian-croatian sides start accusing each other for various reasons. When can we expect Serbian crime lords in jail? When we can expect to see stories about Serbian Naciz? If you dont belive they exist read about it:
As for American readers it is time to open your eyes and on mentioned article find some Serbian friend who can translate this videos to understand hate towards Croatians:
Mel Wolfe I see your still sucking up to the Serbs enemies. Mel Wolfe thinks it is better to lie, deceive and avoid calling things as they are. Mel Wolfe you denie:
1. Where concentration camp in Serbia Banjica, Nedic and Sajmiste?
2. Was Serbia Belgrade declared Judenfrei?
3. Did Serbs support the Axis governments Nazi during WW2?
1. Serbia was the only European capital that had concentration camps exclusively for Jews (Sajmiste, Nedic and Banjica) There are no holocaust memorial tablets in Belgrade.
2. From the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum Serbian Orthodox Church openly supported Nazi and Belgrade is the first city judenfrei
3. Under Josip Tito. Although a Communist, Tito was able to win out over a Milhailovic an Nazi because Tito, being a Croat, was able to appeal far more strongly to all the non-Serb groups in Yugoslavia. None of them would any longer trust a Serb.
Both Serbia and Croatia, like Finland, Hungary, France and virtually every other nation in Europe, were occupied by the Axis and had governments which collaborated with the Axis. You offended Croatian people in general by connecting whole nation as Nazi nation. I can believe my eyes… how about read some more articles and see who started war at Balkans? Who attacked Slovenia in 3 days war? Albanians, Croatians or Bosnians ? Serbian Army. I am not worried because truth cannot be obliterated. I am worried about something else. It is a snake in out bosom! Julia Gorin deflect attention away from Serbian evil deeds. Julia Gorin is Serb propaganda apparatus.
Thompson’s words in English: I’m often attacked and accused, that we are fascists, nazis, and by this you also who listen my music and follow. And we here by say to them that we are not fascists, nazis, but Croatian patriots. We tell them that there are values that we live for. There were people that we will never forget. And there are dreams that we will never give up. Because this country was made, our Croatia, on the blood and suffering of this generation, victorious generation.
Thompson’s songs: During his last tour Bilo jednom u Hrvatskoj, his concert in Frankfurt,Germany(country with the strictest laws against fascism)was also protested against by Jewish Organizations.They determinedly requested that the German government to ban the concert on alleged fascist lyrics. When German government received transcriptof Thompson’s songs,request for banning the concert was immediately rejected.
By Dr. Alexander von Paleske, July 4, 2007 at 4:04 am Link to this comment
(Unregistered commenter)
Perkovic is not alone. To mention is also the Croatian ski athlete Ivica Kostelic.
They were all sponsored by the Hypo-Alpe-Adria Bank in Austria.
The representative for the majority shareholder until recently, the Austrian county of Carinthia, was Joerg Haider, Governor of Carinthia, ultra right winger and admirer of Adolf Hitler’s labour market policies.
See a complete documentary at
Dr. Alexander von Paleske
Head, Department of Oncology
Princess Marina Hospital
Gaborone/Botswana
Ex Barrister-at-Law, High Court Frankfurt (M)/Germany
By BWildered, July 4, 2007 at 3:21 am Link to this comment
(Unregistered commenter)
Well, now you know how I feel when I attend a Bruce Cockburn concert here in the USA.
They call for “IF I HAD A ROCKET LAUNCHER” and revel in the chorus, like it’s Johnny Cash shooting a man “just to see him die”.
Cockburn, a non-violent Christian of conscience, is singing about how tested his values were when observing helicopter Gunships above a Central American river-border firing on refugees. The song is anti-war, and some Yanks seem to get all revved up about the thrill of firing a RPG.
These Croatian kids are more likely “post-modern”, ironic, and subtly sarcastic if they “get it” at all.
By Mel Wolfe, July 3, 2007 at 8:49 pm Link to this comment
(Unregistered commenter)
Listening to the Croat fascist apologetics here is such a joke!
All you have to do is go to http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FK6Hvtifkrw to find one of about 30 videos on You Tube featuring Thompson and the “heroic Ustashi of WWII”—especially “the fun” they had at Jasenovac & Stari Gradska killing Serbs & Jews.
Julia Gorin has a done a fine job of dealing with these Croat fascist apologists on her blog—http://www.juliagorin.com
What a joke. I am a Croatian-american and have been to Croatia many times. I am insulted by the insinuations presented by this article. Croatia is a democratic country aspiring to join the EU. Marko Perkovic’s views for anybody familiar with the area are definitely to the right when it comes to politics. He became popular because his songs inspired the Croats to fight to defend their country during the wars in the 90’s. I don’t agree with many of his political views but his popularity due to his patriotic themes are very popular . Just because a small percentage of his audience wears symbols that date back to the ustashe of the second world war does not mean that the country is predominantly fascist. I think that the Simon Wiesenthal Center which is the one who had a problem with his concert being aired on tv should first look at the fascist nature of Israel and their treatment of the Palestinians before they start throwing stones and calling names. The term “za dom spremni,” which they accuse him of using as an example of his pro-ustashe sentiments means “for the homeland prepared” which dates back prior to ww2 and just happened to be used by the ustashe for their politics.
Why are Jews Listening to Russian and Serbs Propaganda? Why are you calling United States pariah and Nazi? Europe is not satisfied with a lunacy of advocated diplomacy with Islamic terrorists as a way to ensure security! The Europe unjustice is acting again Serbs killers walk freely, Croatia and USA is now the target of war crimes charges the defenders are imprisoned or accused and killers walk freely. The lies have become the truth.
“Ohhhh Serbs love Jews” Serbia collaborated to such an extent that Nazi civil administrator to proclaim Serbia the only country where the Jewish question was solved, and Belgrade the first city judenfrei. Why are Jews Listening to Russian and Serbs Propaganda?
#83484 Hank van den Berg—I regret that I wasn’t clearer in my expression. I am not attempting to excuse anyone’s ignorance of history and in fact, believe that our country is probably one of the worst when it comes to putting things in their proper historical context. That is why I don’t buy the attempts to compare the catastrophe that is Iraq to World War II. They are completely different circumstances and situations—yet many of our own politicians have repeatedly tried to make that comparison. I also believe that in order to contribute to the resolution of the problems in the Middle East, we need to look at our own history of involvement there to get to the root of the resentment and hatred.
Let’s be honest: If any country had invaded us using the same rationale the Bushies used to invade Iraq, we would be having a holy snitfit and we would likely be resisting and fighting for our survival. How can we “blame” the Iraqis and other Middle Easterners for doing the same?
For reasons I simply can’t fathom despite repeated attempts to understand it over the years, I don’t get WHY some people/ideologies feel they have a supreme “right” to impose their beliefs and values on others simply they believe differently.
I will never understand that implied superiority and arrogance. Thanks much for your comments, and I appreciate the opportunity to clarify my position.
By Hank Van den Berg, July 3, 2007 at 9:46 am Link to this comment
(Unregistered commenter)
How convenient, we can blame a foreign country for being fascist! Let’s just worry about our own fascist government before we get all excited about Croatia (which does have a long history of fascism). We are not going to make much headway to improve tolerance, freedom, and human progress when our own government and its supporters are increasinlgy fascist. The commutation of Libby’s jail sentence should serve as warning enough!
By Helen Rainier, July 3, 2007 at 9:14 am Link to this comment
(Unregistered commenter)
Well, this attitude or ignorance of history is not peculiar to Croatia. Remember just a few years ago, Prince Harry wearing a Nazi Swastika armband to a costume party? This, in spite of the fact that his grandmother (Queen Elizabeth) served during World War II, and his country of origin was devastated during WW II.
Let’s face it—history seems to not matter anymore. When I was attending public schools (way long ago), we never even got close to studying recent history—such as WW II which would have been of enormous interest to me as I’m a “boomer.”
Does Croatia have oil? If not and there is no money to be made our fascists will not attack other fascists, unless they need to control something. The Fascist’s in the White House have their plan on track and it affects all of us.
Serb propaganda: Every time any newspaper account speaks of Croat nationalism or Croat-Serb rivalry nowadays, the writer invariably raises the spectre of Croatia`s “pro-Nazi” regime. But it should be clear that the Croats were not pro-Nazi; they were, simply, anti-Serb. A Serb guerrilla force, the Chetniks, arose under Draza Milhailovic, paying more attention to the killing of Croats than of Germans. The feelings were all too mutual. I reject the article and Serbian historical revisionism:
By Skruff, July 3, 2007 at 6:41 am Link to this comment
(Unregistered commenter)
Never understood this dynamic. Here in Maine where cemetries are filled with Yankee Civil war dead, their great grandchildren sport the Stars and Bars on their pick-up trucks…
Teenage rebelion?
Maybe,
but some of these “teenagers” have grey hair and collect Social Security
Hi cyrena.
I’m not blaming anyone in particular. I just see it as a systemic failure to put things in proper historical context. And sadly, we are partially to blame. When genocide WAS in full effect during the Nineties, Western Powers eventually jumped into the fray and tried to remedy the matter. Unfortunately, in order to achieve a quick military and political success, they had no issue with drawing in ALL opposition factions. This did include arming and validating neo-fascist elements within the Croatian and Bosnian resistance.
I am in no way justifying the genocide in Bosnia, Croatia and Kosovo. I’m just saying, if we look before we leap, we can still achieve the same goals w/o the inevitable, shortsighted blow back. If folks want to take the reins of National Interest, I would hope they have a sense of history. The Balkans and this article serve as a perfect example.
As for guys like Cheney, he’s is so beyond redemption there’s no point even discussing him . But since you brought him up, he is an entirely different animal. He’s the kind of monster who sees this lack of hindsight as a E-ticket to profit. If I’m not mistaken, Halliburton will make a killing in ANY prolonged conflict, win OR lose. If you do the math, it makes for a frightening sum.
...“Americans, in general, are woefully ignorant of the true history of the Balkans. We lack a real understanding of the origins of the Balkan conflicts back in the Nineties. This region has been exploited by the Strategy of Tension since the dawn of the Ottoman Empire. This is not our fault. An informed public is not in the interest of our policy makers.”....
Ya know, it really is NOT our fault, and I’ve been saying that for so long now, but it just keeps getting worse, because of all the destractions, and the outright propaganda, and brainwashing.
That’s what’s frustrating about trying to get the American public informed and up-to-speed on what really should be basic information. (I mean, at least the foundation of the details). Instead, that information is rarely “easily” available, because the main-stream media certainly isn’t going to make it available, at least not when there’s Oprah, Paris Hilton, and others to remark upon.
It’s getting better though, with the digitalization of so much now available on the Internet. Still, we have to know how to access it.
And yet the Times continues to celebrate the open glorification of ultra-violent hate of women and girls in music. Oops, I meant the “disrespect” of women and girls, or better yet, just “sexually charged” lyrics.
Don’t get me wrong, Eastern European music has alarmed me, but the Times’ double standard here is grotesque. Overt incitement of gender hatred must be combated. Bigotry is inexcusable.
This shouldn’t come as a surprise. Anyone familiar with Ante Pavelić and his Ustaa during the Second World War would understand this. Croatians collaborated with Nazi Germany during WWII and committed their Serbian and Jewish minorities to local concentration camps. Americans, in general, are woefully ignorant of the true history of the Balkans. We lack a real understanding of the origins of the Balkan conflicts back in the Nineties. This region has been exploited by the “Strategy of Tension” since the dawn of the Ottoman Empire. This is not our fault. An informed public is not in the interest of our policy makers.
By nelson, July 30, 2007 at 12:34 pm Link to this comment
(Unregistered commenter)
those people are acting no different than a terrorist! I think that that singer is Marko Perkovic is taking advantage of the young generation and brainwashing them with evil propaganda. Much like Western Hip Hop but to a greater degree of hatred!
Report thisBy Mali, July 9, 2007 at 6:27 am Link to this comment
(Unregistered commenter)
Thompson is the best. He sings about peace and love.
“ZA DOM SPREMNI”-It’s normal,because it is croatian’s simbol on war and famous opera Nikola Subic Zrinski.
Thompson is good man,we are not “Ustasha “, “Nazism”...
We are CROATIAN PATRIOT,LOVER OF ONE’S COUNTRY.
We love peace,not war,nazism,fascism…..
he sings about home,peace,love,country,belief….
Report thisBy Katarina, July 9, 2007 at 2:23 am Link to this comment
(Unregistered commenter)
I am deeply disturbed by any display of ustasa iconography. It came into the open at the beginning of 1990’s, with F. Tudjman and his imported immigrants like Susak. All of a sudden there were kiosks selling ustasa symbols in the center of Zagreb. Since that day, I live in exile in the country which, until then, I had considered my home land. My close relatives, Croats as well as Serbs, lost their lives in ustasa concentrations camps, so you can imagine how I feel. By most comments here you can see how any ustasa displays are made out as something not very important and how our top politicians participate in glorifying ustasa movement. Others see Croatians as Nazi loving people, and they are not wrong. I know that I am judged the same way by my passport, but what can I do? Teach my children historical facts and that is about all. But powerful countries like USA, Russia etc. can make a difference. In this case, not grant visas to ministers and other prominent participants of this shameful event.
Report thisBy Mel Wolfe, July 5, 2007 at 2:38 pm Link to this comment
(Unregistered commenter)
JFK—whose initials are as phony as your fake “julia gorin” website—Julia’s real website is http://www.juliagorin.com and refutes everything you’ve said!
Here is the actual testimony of Jasa Almuli, past President of the Jewish Community of Belgrade and past Vice-President of Jewish Communities in Yugoslavia re WWII Serbs and Jews:
http://www.srpska-mreza.com/History/ww2/Jews/Almuli.html
“The allegation that the regime of Milan Nedic, installed by the Germans in Serbia in August 1941., enthusiastically participated in the Holocaust, is the second incorrect statement in Mr. Hoares letter. No anti - Jewish legislation was passed by this regime, no death camp for Jews was established or run by it and virtually no killing perpetrated. All that was done by the German Army, police and SS which had almost entirely destroyed the Serbian Jewish population by May 1942., although several hundred Jews were still hiding with Serbian friends. The German police were hunting them and many were caught with the help of police loyal to Nedics regime, attracted by the financial reward the Germans were paying. This is all that can be found about Nedic in the published research of the Federation of Jewish Communities in Yugoslavia. The Germans themselves dealt with the Jews in Serbia; the duty of Nedics regime was to carry out internal administration.”
In the fascist Independent State of Croatia, which was Hitlers ally during the Second World War, not 24,000 but over 33,000 Jews lost their lives, about 21,000 from Croatia proper and 12,000 from Bosnia - Herzegovina, which was annexed to Croatia with Germanys blessing. The great majority of the 33,000 Jewish victims were killed or starved and tortured to death in concentration camps in Croatia proper run by Croatia Ustashe guards. About five thousand were handed to the Germans to be deported to Auschwitz.”
Quit trying to throw mud on the Serbs to deflect from the righteous criticism of today’s budding fascists in Croatia. The red herring won’t work on anything other than stupid people!
Report thisBy jfk, July 5, 2007 at 11:24 am Link to this comment
(Unregistered commenter)
well Marcvs Agrippa that is topical lie placed by serbs so let me put arguments :
The Serbian government under General Milan Nedic worked closely with local Nazi officials in making Belgrade the first “Judenfrei” city of Europe. As late as 19 September 1943, Nedic made an official visit to Adolf Hitler (see picture on first link), Serbs in Berlin advanced the idea that the Serbs were the “Ubermenchen” (master race) of the Slavs.
http://juliagorin.blogspot.com/2007/06/facts-about-serbian-jewish-friendship.html
http://www.hic.hr/books/seeurope/014e-stefan.htm
The Serbian historian Sretenije Zrokić says that of the 11,870 Belgrade Jews only 1,115 or 9% survived the war. It was not only the Germans who captured and killed the Jews in Serbia, rather it was the Serbian Police, Nedić‘s volunteers and Chetniks . Most were killed in the Sajmite and Banjica concentration camps. Not a single Jew managed to escape from the camps.
As for cooperation of serbian (mostly chetniks) with axis force you can read it here:
http://juliagorin.blogspot.com/2007/06/on-what-side-was-serbian-chetniks-in.html
But here is shor preview:
Chetniks ( ) our natural allies. Only they are fighting! Kroatische Kampfgemeinschaft exists only on paper.
ibidem,p.378; BA/MA, RH 19 XI/29 OKW/WfSt, Gruppe Ic/Ao Vortragsnotiz fuer Aussenchefbeschprechung am 25.7.1944 (23.7.1944)
The units that could really be used against the partisans were the Serbian and partly the Russian volunteers and-Draza Mihailovics people.My liason officer with them was a certain major,Ritterkreuztraeger.
written on situation in Serbia during his visit to Belgrade in June 1944.
ibidem,p.187; BA/MA, RH 26-118/32 Befehl and die Cetnikfuehrer Cvijetin Todic,Golub Mitrovic,Savo Derikonja,Radivoj Kosoric,Bozo Plemic und Dusan Kovacevic (12.1.43).
Partly,the Serbs have futhermore showed themselves as the most reliable allies in fighting against the red bands,that is against communism.They are always ready to fight against the bandits with the German Wehrmacht and even to place themselves under its command
ibidem,p.307;BA/MA, RH 24-15/10 SS-Freiw.-Div. Prinz Eugen an Gen.Kdo. XV.Geb.AK. (5.9.1943).
And this people (chetniks) today in serbia:
Serbian parliament has passed a law granting pensions to members of the Serbian Chetnik movement, the followers of the Serbian king who fled to London just before World War II.
Report thisBy Marcvs Agrippa, July 4, 2007 at 10:38 pm Link to this comment
(Unregistered commenter)
1. Where concentration camp in Serbia Banjica, Nedic and Sajmiste?
2. Was Serbia Belgrade declared Judenfrei?
3. Did Serbs support the Axis governments Nazi during WW2?
1. No. “Sajmite” means “fairground” in Serbian. The fairground is in the borough of Banjica, and Nedic is the surname of a Serbian gendarme (Milan Nedich). And you were insinuating that there were THREE conc-camps in Belgrade. Tsk, tsk, tsk. Sajmiste was run by the Nazis. Jasenovac, in Croatia, where 750.000 Serbs and Jews were murdered, was run by the Croatian (Nazi-allied) government.
2. Yes - by the German/ccupying authorities. In reality, Serbia was never Judenfrei. It was as much Judenfrei as it was Banditenfrei (die Banditen = Serbs) Your point is…?
3. No, they did not. That’s why Belgrade got leveled by the Luftwaffe on April 6, 1941 and Zagreb/Croatia welcomed the Wehrmacht with bouquets of flowers. The Serbs OVERTHREW their government on March 27, 1941 PRECISELY because it had allied with Germany.
Report thisBy jFk, July 4, 2007 at 10:25 am Link to this comment
(Unregistered commenter)
First of all that concert isn’t nazi concert at all and Marko Perkovic knowing what he will be accused said this words:
English translation of his words:
I’m often attacked and accused, that we are fascists, nazis, and by this you also who listen my music and follow. And we here by say to them that we are not fascists, nazis, but Croatian patriots. We tell them that there are values that we live for. There were people that we will never forget. And there are dreams that we will never give up. Because this country was made, our Croatia, on the blood and suffering of this generation, victorious generation.
True story what happened on Thompson concert can be read here in audio , video and text:
http://juliagorin.blogspot.com/2007/06/marko-perkovic-thompson-true-story.html
But as noted always when speaking of Balkan, serbian-croatian sides start accusing each other for various reasons. When can we expect Serbian crime lords in jail? When we can expect to see stories about Serbian Naciz? If you dont belive they exist read about it:
http://juliagorin.blogspot.com/2007/06/only-in-serbi-julia-only-in-serbia.html
As for American readers it is time to open your eyes and on mentioned article find some Serbian friend who can translate this videos to understand hate towards Croatians:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B9N2jaftIAY
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IfxsVlOLBrw
Or some kind Serb would be so kind to writetranslation of this 2 songs ?
Report thisBy mc, July 4, 2007 at 9:30 am Link to this comment
(Unregistered commenter)
Mel Wolfe I see your still sucking up to the Serbs enemies. Mel Wolfe thinks it is better to lie, deceive and avoid calling things as they are. Mel Wolfe you denie:
1. Where concentration camp in Serbia Banjica, Nedic and Sajmiste?
2. Was Serbia Belgrade declared Judenfrei?
3. Did Serbs support the Axis governments Nazi during WW2?
1. Serbia was the only European capital that had concentration camps exclusively for Jews (Sajmiste, Nedic and Banjica) There are no holocaust memorial tablets in Belgrade.
2. From the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum Serbian Orthodox Church openly supported Nazi and Belgrade is the first city judenfrei
3. Under Josip Tito. Although a Communist, Tito was able to win out over a Milhailovic an Nazi because Tito, being a Croat, was able to appeal far more strongly to all the non-Serb groups in Yugoslavia. None of them would any longer trust a Serb.
Report thisBy mario, July 4, 2007 at 8:13 am Link to this comment
(Unregistered commenter)
Both Serbia and Croatia, like Finland, Hungary, France and virtually every other nation in Europe, were occupied by the Axis and had governments which collaborated with the Axis. You offended Croatian people in general by connecting whole nation as Nazi nation. I can believe my eyes… how about read some more articles and see who started war at Balkans? Who attacked Slovenia in 3 days war? Albanians, Croatians or Bosnians ? Serbian Army. I am not worried because truth cannot be obliterated. I am worried about something else. It is a snake in out bosom! Julia Gorin deflect attention away from Serbian evil deeds. Julia Gorin is Serb propaganda apparatus.
http://juliagorin.blogspot.com/search?updated-min=2007-01-01T00:00:00+01:00&updated-max=2008-01-01T00:00:00+01:00&max-results=28
Thompson’s words in English: I’m often attacked and accused, that we are fascists, nazis, and by this you also who listen my music and follow. And we here by say to them that we are not fascists, nazis, but Croatian patriots. We tell them that there are values that we live for. There were people that we will never forget. And there are dreams that we will never give up. Because this country was made, our Croatia, on the blood and suffering of this generation, victorious generation.
Thompson’s songs: During his last tour Bilo jednom u Hrvatskoj, his concert in Frankfurt,Germany(country with the strictest laws against fascism)was also protested against by Jewish Organizations.They determinedly requested that the German government to ban the concert on alleged fascist lyrics. When German government received transcriptof Thompson’s songs,request for banning the concert was immediately rejected.
Mel Wolfe your propaganda is a joke!
Report thisBy Dr. Alexander von Paleske, July 4, 2007 at 4:04 am Link to this comment
(Unregistered commenter)
Perkovic is not alone. To mention is also the Croatian ski athlete Ivica Kostelic.
They were all sponsored by the Hypo-Alpe-Adria Bank in Austria.
The representative for the majority shareholder until recently, the Austrian county of Carinthia, was Joerg Haider, Governor of Carinthia, ultra right winger and admirer of Adolf Hitler’s labour market policies.
See a complete documentary at
http://www.oraclesyndicate.twoday.net/stories/3950042
Dr. Alexander von Paleske
Report thisHead, Department of Oncology
Princess Marina Hospital
Gaborone/Botswana
Ex Barrister-at-Law, High Court Frankfurt (M)/Germany
By BWildered, July 4, 2007 at 3:21 am Link to this comment
(Unregistered commenter)
Well, now you know how I feel when I attend a Bruce Cockburn concert here in the USA.
Report thisThey call for “IF I HAD A ROCKET LAUNCHER” and revel in the chorus, like it’s Johnny Cash shooting a man “just to see him die”.
Cockburn, a non-violent Christian of conscience, is singing about how tested his values were when observing helicopter Gunships above a Central American river-border firing on refugees. The song is anti-war, and some Yanks seem to get all revved up about the thrill of firing a RPG.
These Croatian kids are more likely “post-modern”, ironic, and subtly sarcastic if they “get it” at all.
By Mel Wolfe, July 3, 2007 at 8:49 pm Link to this comment
(Unregistered commenter)
Listening to the Croat fascist apologetics here is such a joke!
All you have to do is go to http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FK6Hvtifkrw to find one of about 30 videos on You Tube featuring Thompson and the “heroic Ustashi of WWII”—especially “the fun” they had at Jasenovac & Stari Gradska killing Serbs & Jews.
Julia Gorin has a done a fine job of dealing with these Croat fascist apologists on her blog—http://www.juliagorin.com
There is no relativizing this—all Thompson’s music recalls “the good old days” of Adolph and Ante (Pavelic)—that included this: http://www.srpska-mreza.com/History/ww2/children-41.html
Report thisBy anony, July 3, 2007 at 2:27 pm Link to this comment
(Unregistered commenter)
What a joke. I am a Croatian-american and have been to Croatia many times. I am insulted by the insinuations presented by this article. Croatia is a democratic country aspiring to join the EU. Marko Perkovic’s views for anybody familiar with the area are definitely to the right when it comes to politics. He became popular because his songs inspired the Croats to fight to defend their country during the wars in the 90’s. I don’t agree with many of his political views but his popularity due to his patriotic themes are very popular . Just because a small percentage of his audience wears symbols that date back to the ustashe of the second world war does not mean that the country is predominantly fascist. I think that the Simon Wiesenthal Center which is the one who had a problem with his concert being aired on tv should first look at the fascist nature of Israel and their treatment of the Palestinians before they start throwing stones and calling names. The term “za dom spremni,” which they accuse him of using as an example of his pro-ustashe sentiments means “for the homeland prepared” which dates back prior to ww2 and just happened to be used by the ustashe for their politics.
Report thisBy mario, July 3, 2007 at 2:25 pm Link to this comment
(Unregistered commenter)
Why are Jews Listening to Russian and Serbs Propaganda? Why are you calling United States pariah and Nazi? Europe is not satisfied with a lunacy of advocated diplomacy with Islamic terrorists as a way to ensure security! The Europe unjustice is acting again Serbs killers walk freely, Croatia and USA is now the target of war crimes charges the defenders are imprisoned or accused and killers walk freely. The lies have become the truth.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sajmiste_concentration_camp
“Ohhhh Serbs love Jews” Serbia collaborated to such an extent that Nazi civil administrator to proclaim Serbia the only country where the Jewish question was solved, and Belgrade the first city judenfrei. Why are Jews Listening to Russian and Serbs Propaganda?
Report thisBy Helen Rainier, July 3, 2007 at 11:45 am Link to this comment
#83484 Hank van den Berg—I regret that I wasn’t clearer in my expression. I am not attempting to excuse anyone’s ignorance of history and in fact, believe that our country is probably one of the worst when it comes to putting things in their proper historical context. That is why I don’t buy the attempts to compare the catastrophe that is Iraq to World War II. They are completely different circumstances and situations—yet many of our own politicians have repeatedly tried to make that comparison. I also believe that in order to contribute to the resolution of the problems in the Middle East, we need to look at our own history of involvement there to get to the root of the resentment and hatred.
Let’s be honest: If any country had invaded us using the same rationale the Bushies used to invade Iraq, we would be having a holy snitfit and we would likely be resisting and fighting for our survival. How can we “blame” the Iraqis and other Middle Easterners for doing the same?
For reasons I simply can’t fathom despite repeated attempts to understand it over the years, I don’t get WHY some people/ideologies feel they have a supreme “right” to impose their beliefs and values on others simply they believe differently.
I will never understand that implied superiority and arrogance. Thanks much for your comments, and I appreciate the opportunity to clarify my position.
Report thisBy Hank Van den Berg, July 3, 2007 at 9:46 am Link to this comment
(Unregistered commenter)
How convenient, we can blame a foreign country for being fascist! Let’s just worry about our own fascist government before we get all excited about Croatia (which does have a long history of fascism). We are not going to make much headway to improve tolerance, freedom, and human progress when our own government and its supporters are increasinlgy fascist. The commutation of Libby’s jail sentence should serve as warning enough!
Report thisBy Helen Rainier, July 3, 2007 at 9:14 am Link to this comment
(Unregistered commenter)
Well, this attitude or ignorance of history is not peculiar to Croatia. Remember just a few years ago, Prince Harry wearing a Nazi Swastika armband to a costume party? This, in spite of the fact that his grandmother (Queen Elizabeth) served during World War II, and his country of origin was devastated during WW II.
Let’s face it—history seems to not matter anymore. When I was attending public schools (way long ago), we never even got close to studying recent history—such as WW II which would have been of enormous interest to me as I’m a “boomer.”
Report thisBy Leefeller, July 3, 2007 at 9:11 am Link to this comment
Does Croatia have oil? If not and there is no money to be made our fascists will not attack other fascists, unless they need to control something. The Fascist’s in the White House have their plan on track and it affects all of us.
Report thisBy Curtis Lowe, July 3, 2007 at 7:22 am Link to this comment
(Unregistered commenter)
There were no genocides in the 90s in Bosnia, Croatia, or Kosovo.
Report thisBy mario, July 3, 2007 at 6:50 am Link to this comment
(Unregistered commenter)
Serb propaganda: Every time any newspaper account speaks of Croat nationalism or Croat-Serb rivalry nowadays, the writer invariably raises the spectre of Croatia`s “pro-Nazi” regime. But it should be clear that the Croats were not pro-Nazi; they were, simply, anti-Serb. A Serb guerrilla force, the Chetniks, arose under Draza Milhailovic, paying more attention to the killing of Croats than of Germans. The feelings were all too mutual. I reject the article and Serbian historical revisionism:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sajmi?te_concentration_camp
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Banjica_concentration_camp
http://juliagorin.blogspot.com/search?updated-min=2007-01-01T00:00:00+01:00&updated-max=2008-01-01T00:00:00+01:00&max-results=28
http://www.croatianhistory.net/etf/et112.html
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JIIN1uONnsc&mode=related&search;=
Report thisBy Skruff, July 3, 2007 at 6:41 am Link to this comment
(Unregistered commenter)
Never understood this dynamic. Here in Maine where cemetries are filled with Yankee Civil war dead, their great grandchildren sport the Stars and Bars on their pick-up trucks…
Teenage rebelion?
Maybe,
but some of these “teenagers” have grey hair and collect Social Security
Report thisBy Tony B., July 3, 2007 at 1:34 am Link to this comment
Hi cyrena.
I’m not blaming anyone in particular. I just see it as a systemic failure to put things in proper historical context. And sadly, we are partially to blame. When genocide WAS in full effect during the Nineties, Western Powers eventually jumped into the fray and tried to remedy the matter. Unfortunately, in order to achieve a quick military and political success, they had no issue with drawing in ALL opposition factions. This did include arming and validating neo-fascist elements within the Croatian and Bosnian resistance.
I am in no way justifying the genocide in Bosnia, Croatia and Kosovo. I’m just saying, if we look before we leap, we can still achieve the same goals w/o the inevitable, shortsighted blow back. If folks want to take the reins of National Interest, I would hope they have a sense of history. The Balkans and this article serve as a perfect example.
As for guys like Cheney, he’s is so beyond redemption there’s no point even discussing him
. But since you brought him up, he is an entirely different animal. He’s the kind of monster who sees this lack of hindsight as a E-ticket to profit. If I’m not mistaken, Halliburton will make a killing in ANY prolonged conflict, win OR lose. If you do the math, it makes for a frightening sum.
Report thisBy cyrena, July 2, 2007 at 7:50 pm Link to this comment
I just recognized the irony of my own last comment:
Its getting better though, with the digitalization of so much now available on the Internet. Still, we have to know how to access it.
All of these documents and things that I’m claiming to be in the “digitalization” process are only the ones that haven’t been RECLASSIFIED.
Cheney’s got everything locked up, and refuses to give up the keys. (probably swallowed them).
Report thisBy cyrena, July 2, 2007 at 7:44 pm Link to this comment
#83273 by Tony B. on 7/02 at 5:00 pm
...“Americans, in general, are woefully ignorant of the true history of the Balkans. We lack a real understanding of the origins of the Balkan conflicts back in the Nineties. This region has been exploited by the Strategy of Tension since the dawn of the Ottoman Empire. This is not our fault. An informed public is not in the interest of our policy makers.”....
Ya know, it really is NOT our fault, and I’ve been saying that for so long now, but it just keeps getting worse, because of all the destractions, and the outright propaganda, and brainwashing.
That’s what’s frustrating about trying to get the American public informed and up-to-speed on what really should be basic information. (I mean, at least the foundation of the details). Instead, that information is rarely “easily” available, because the main-stream media certainly isn’t going to make it available, at least not when there’s Oprah, Paris Hilton, and others to remark upon.
It’s getting better though, with the digitalization of so much now available on the Internet. Still, we have to know how to access it.
Report thisBy Jacks, July 2, 2007 at 6:02 pm Link to this comment
And yet the Times continues to celebrate the open glorification of ultra-violent hate of women and girls in music. Oops, I meant the “disrespect” of women and girls, or better yet, just “sexually charged” lyrics.
Don’t get me wrong, Eastern European music has alarmed me, but the Times’ double standard here is grotesque. Overt incitement of gender hatred must be combated. Bigotry is inexcusable.
Report thisBy Tony B., July 2, 2007 at 6:00 pm Link to this comment
This shouldn’t come as a surprise. Anyone familiar with Ante Pavelić and his Ustaa during the Second World War would understand this. Croatians collaborated with Nazi Germany during WWII and committed their Serbian and Jewish minorities to local concentration camps. Americans, in general, are woefully ignorant of the true history of the Balkans. We lack a real understanding of the origins of the Balkan conflicts back in the Nineties. This region has been exploited by the “Strategy of Tension” since the dawn of the Ottoman Empire. This is not our fault. An informed public is not in the interest of our policy makers.
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