The main commemorative event took place near Sisak.

The main event marking the Day of Anti-Fascist Struggle in Croatia took place today in the Brezovica Forest near Sisak, commemorating the founding of the first armed anti-fascist unit in Croatia and occupied Europe during the Second World War – the First Sisak Partisan Detachment on 22 June 1941, reports Večernji List.

The ceremony, organised by the Federation of Anti-Fascist Fighters and Anti-Fascists (SABA) of the Republic of Croatia, the Town of Sisak and Sisak-Moslavina County, began with laying of wreaths by numerous delegations, including the delegation of SABA, Sisak and Sisak-Moslavina County, as well as envoys of President Kolinda Grabar Kitarović, Speaker of Parliament Gordan Jandroković and Prime Minister Andrej Plenković. The ceremony was attended by numerous officials and party representatives, including Interior Minister Davor Božinović, SDP president Davor Bernardić, and Mayor of Zagreb Milan Bandić.

SABA president Franjo Habulin congratulated all the assembled today’s holiday and said that the establishment of the Sisak Partisan Detachment was an event which is celebrated as the Day of Anti-Fascist Struggle in Croatia, which shows respect to the members of the Detachment which they deserve. But, the historical truth is that it was an event of a local character and that it was just a hint of what would come later, and that was the rise against occupation and all those who served the occupiers.

It is important, he added, that it was an uprising against the occupiers and their local helpers, which made Croatia a winner in the Second World War. Habulin noted that these were well-known facts, but that “our young people have no idea about this since lies about anti-fascism are systematically spread through the education system and part of the media.”

He added that modern Europe is based on anti-fascism, while, according to Habulin, there is a renewal of fascism among the Croatian public, although, according to him, the majority of Croats and members of other nationalities who lived in Croatia were active in support of the uprising. Some of those who initially endorsed the foundation of the Independent State of Croatia on 10 April 1941 later accepted antifascism even though it was not forced upon them, apart by their own conscience, when they saw the persecution of Serbs, Jews and others.

He also remarked that a large number of priests also supported anti-fascism, because in the most difficult moments of Croatian history they knew where was the place of the Church in Croatia which, according to Habulin, is being persistently forgotten today.

The programme continued with addresses made by Mayor of Sisak Kristina Ikić Baniček, as well as Prefect of Istria County Valter Flego, who was the enjoy of President Kolinda Grabar Kitarović.