The Ustaše massacre nearly 200 Serbs in the village of Gudovac, the first massacre of their genocidal campaign against Serbs of the Independent State of Croatia.

The Ustaše: A Croatian Ultranationalist Movement and Its Legacy

The Ustaše (pronounced [ûstaʃe]), also known in English as Ustasha or Ustashe, was a deeply influential yet profoundly destructive Croatian fascist and ultranationalist organization. Active as a unified entity between 1929 and 1945, it was formally known as the Ustaša – Croatian Revolutionary Movement (Croatian: Ustaša – Hrvatski revolucionarni pokret). This movement left an indelible, tragic mark on the history of Yugoslavia, particularly during World War II, when its members orchestrated the systematic murder of hundreds of thousands of Serbs, Jews, and Roma, alongside numerous political dissidents within the region.

Ideology and Aims

At its core, the Ustaše ideology was a virulent blend of fascism, a specific interpretation of Roman Catholicism, and extreme Croatian nationalism. Their primary political objective was the creation of a "Greater Croatia," an expansive state that they envisioned stretching across the Drina River and reaching as far as the borders of Belgrade. A central, terrifying tenet of their vision was the urgent need for a racially "pure" Croatia. This belief fueled a genocidal campaign directed primarily against Serbs, stemming from deep-seated anti-Serb sentiment. Additionally, they targeted Jews and Roma, aligning their persecution with Nazi racial theories. The movement also ruthlessly suppressed anti-fascist Croats and Bosniaks who opposed their agenda.

Interestingly, the Ustaše held a particular view of Bosniaks, often referring to them as "Muslim Croats." Consequently, Bosniaks were generally not subjected to racial persecution by the Ustaše regime, though political dissidents among them faced the same brutal fate as other opponents. The Ustaše exhibited fierce adherence to Roman Catholicism, which they explicitly identified with Croatian nationalism. They also embraced Islam, which had a significant following among Bosniaks, praising it as the religion that "keeps true the blood of Croats." In stark contrast, they vehemently condemned Orthodox Christianity, the predominant faith among Serbs, thereby intertwining religious identity with their ethnically charged political agenda.

Rise to Power and Lack of Popular Support

Initially, the Ustaše emerged as a nationalist organization dedicated to establishing an independent Croatian state. Their moment came during World War II. Following the German-led Axis invasion of Yugoslavia, the Ustaše were appointed to govern a segment of the occupied territory, forming the Independent State of Croatia (NDH). This entity was essentially a quasi-protectorate or puppet state, primarily established and overseen by Fascist Italy and Nazi Germany. Upon assuming power, their military arms evolved into the Croatian Home Guard and the Ustaše Militia (Croatian: Ustaška vojnica), which became instrumental in enforcing their brutal policies.

Despite establishing what they proclaimed as a Croat national state, the Ustaše notably lacked widespread support among ordinary Croats. They never managed to accrue significant popular backing, largely due to their incredibly brutal and repressive practices. While they initially gained some traction among segments of the Croat population who felt marginalized or oppressed within the pre-war Serb-led Yugoslavia, this limited support quickly eroded as the full extent of their atrocities became evident. Before World War II, the movement largely operated as a terrorist organization; however, in April 1941, they were thrust into a position of governance over an Axis-occupied part of Yugoslavia.

The Gudovac Massacre: A Precursor to Genocide

The Gudovac massacre represents one of the earliest and most horrific acts of mass murder committed by the Ustaše upon their ascent to power. On April 28, 1941, during the initial chaotic phase of World War II in the Balkans, the Croatian nationalist Ustaše movement carried out the mass killing of approximately 190 Serbs from Bjelovar and its surrounding area. This atrocity took place shortly after the swift German-led Axis invasion of Yugoslavia and the subsequent establishment of the Ustaše-led Axis puppet state, the Independent State of Croatia (NDH). The Gudovac massacre was not an isolated incident but rather a chilling harbinger of a broader, Ustaše-perpetrated campaign of genocide against Serbs throughout the NDH, a campaign that persisted until the war's conclusion.

Events of the Massacre

The Ustaše manufactured a pretext for the killings, citing the mysterious deaths of two of their local followers. On April 28, victims were rounded up from Gudovac and nearby villages. Many were arrested under the false pretense that they were rebels loyal to the recently ousted Yugoslav government. They were then marched to a nearby field, where a firing squad consisting of up to 70 Ustaše guards summarily executed them. Miraculously, five prisoners managed to survive the initial volley, crawling away under the cover of chaos to find safety. Following the murders, the Ustaše compelled the surviving inhabitants of Gudovac to dig a mass grave for the victims and to pour quicklime over the bodies, an attempt to hasten decomposition and obscure the evidence.

Aftermath and Lack of Justice

The following day, relatives of one of the victims bravely informed the German authorities about the horrific events. In response, the Germans ordered a partial exhumation of the mass grave and arrested approximately 40 suspected perpetrators. However, justice remained elusive. Mladen Lorković, a high-ranking Ustaše official, leveraged his significant political influence to secure the release of the detained men. He promised Siegfried Kasche, the German ambassador, that Croatian authorities would conduct a thorough investigation into the massacre. Despite this assurance, no such investigation ever took place, effectively whitewashing the crime and emboldening the Ustaše to continue their genocidal policies.

Commemoration, Destruction, and Restoration

In the post-war period, efforts were made to memorialize the victims and the site of the Gudovac massacre. By 1955, an ossuary and a mausoleum had been erected there, along with a powerful monument created by the acclaimed sculptor Vojin Bakić. These memorials stood as solemn reminders of the atrocity for decades. However, the tragedy of history revisited the site in 1991, amidst the intense inter-ethnic violence that characterized the Croatian War of Independence. During this period, Croatian nationalists tragically destroyed both the monument and the mausoleum, along with another of Bakić's significant works, "Bjelovarac" (The Man From Bjelovar), located elsewhere. The ruins of the ossuary were subsequently removed by local authorities in 2002. That same year, a groundswell of local residents signed a petition advocating for the re-erection of the "Bjelovarac" monument. Their efforts bore fruit, and the restored monument was finally unveiled in December 2010, symbolizing a renewed commitment to memory and reconciliation.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What was the Ustaše?
The Ustaše (pronounced [ûstaʃe]) was a Croatian fascist and ultranationalist organization active between 1929 and 1945, formally known as the Ustaša – Croatian Revolutionary Movement. They were responsible for widespread atrocities and genocide during World War II in Yugoslavia.
What was the Ustaše's primary ideology and goal?
Their ideology was a blend of fascism, Roman Catholicism, and extreme Croatian nationalism. Their main goal was to create a "Greater Croatia" and establish a racially "pure" state, which involved the systematic persecution and murder of Serbs, Jews, Roma, and political dissidents.
Who were the main targets of Ustaše violence?
The primary targets of Ustaše violence and genocide were Serbs, followed by Jews and Roma, based on their racial and ethnic beliefs. They also persecuted anti-fascist Croats and Bosniaks, though Bosniaks were generally not targeted on racial grounds as they were considered "Muslim Croats."
What was the Independent State of Croatia (NDH)?
The Independent State of Croatia (NDH) was a quasi-protectorate or puppet state established by Fascist Italy and Nazi Germany in April 1941, during World War II. It was ruled by the Ustaše regime, which was granted authority over part of Axis-occupied Yugoslavia.
What was the Gudovac Massacre?
The Gudovac Massacre was the mass killing of approximately 190 Serbs from Bjelovar and its surroundings by the Ustaše on April 28, 1941. It occurred shortly after the Ustaše came to power in the NDH and is recognized as their first act of mass murder, setting a grim precedent for their later genocidal campaigns.
Why were the monuments at the Gudovac massacre site destroyed?
The monuments and mausoleum at the Gudovac massacre site were destroyed in 1991 by Croatian nationalists during the Croatian War of Independence, amid a period of intense inter-ethnic violence. This act was part of a broader destruction of anti-fascist and Yugoslav-era memorials.