New Mass Graves of Communist-Era Victims Discovered in Zagreb; Mayor Cautions Against Historical Revisionism

The discovery of two new mass graves in Zagreb, containing the remains of at least 23 individuals believed to be victims of post-World War II communist-era crimes, is a somber reminder of the atrocities committed in Croatia. The victims, found bound and without clothing in the Lešće forest, are thought to have been killed in 1945 and 1946, a period marked by intense political purges following the collapse of the Independent State of Croatia (NDH).

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Every crime should be condemned. I think it is clear what the NDH and the Ustasha regime were.

Zagreb Mayor Tomislav Tomašević addressed the grim findings, stating, "Every crime must be condemned." However, he also issued a crucial caution: "but that must not be used to rehabilitate the Ustasha regime." This statement reflects the delicate historical narrative in Croatia, where the legacy of both the communist Partisans and the fascist Ustasha regime remains a sensitive and often contentious issue. Tomašević emphasized the "fundamental values on which modern Croatia is built," identifying the anti-fascist struggle and ZAVNOH (the State Anti-Fascist Council for the National Liberation of Croatia) as foundational, in direct opposition to the NDH.

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I absolutely condemn all crimes, but that must not be used to rehabilitate the Ustasha regime.

These discoveries are part of ongoing investigations by the Ministry of Croatian Veterans into 44 locations around Zagreb, which have so far exhumed the remains of 437 victims from the World War II era and its aftermath. The brutal manner in which these victims were treated—bound and unclothed—underscores the barbarity of the crimes. For Croatia, as reported by Večernji List, confronting these hidden histories is an essential part of national reconciliation and remembrance. It is vital to acknowledge all victims, regardless of the regime under which they suffered, while firmly upholding the anti-fascist principles upon which the modern Croatian state was founded. This balanced approach ensures that justice is served and that history is remembered accurately, without allowing past conflicts to be manipulated for present-day political agendas.

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One of the foundations is the anti-fascist struggle and ZAVNOH in opposition to the NDH.