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Danilo Kovač, PhD
University of Banja Luka, Faculty of Philosophy 
Banja Luka, Republika Srpska, Bosnia and Herzegovina

 

USTASHA VIOLENCE AGAINST SERBS AND JEWS IN THE SUMMER OF 1941: INSIGHTS FROM VICHY DIPLOMATIC DOCUMENTS

Vol. XLII, 2/2024, pp. 299-312
https://doi.org/10.29362/ist20veka.2024.2.kov.299-312

 

ABSTRACT/RESUME:

While numerous historians have extensively documented the persecution of Serbs and Jews within the Independent State of Croatia, some aspects remain unexplored. This paper identifies research gaps in this respect, with a particular focus on the Vichy collection of documents and letters from Georges Gueyraud, the Vichy representative in Zagreb. Given that the primary focus of this paper is the violence against the Serbs, it concentrates on the period when it reached its peak, which was in the summer of 1941. The sources analysed in this paper reveal the evolving perspective of the Vichy diplomat. Initially, in May and June, he harboured doubts about the testimonies he encountered. However, by August and September, his stance had shifted significantly. The content of his letters revealed that this transformation was likely influenced by the increased number of confident testimonies he received and the pervasive atmosphere of violence he witnessed. In addition to removing his doubts about the veracity of the testimonies, this body of evidence led him to a firm conclusion that the highest Croatian officials bore responsibility for the brutal violence. Gueyraud also reported on the responses of the Croatian press to these horrific acts. In addition to scrutinising the content of Gueyraud’s letters, this article attempts to evaluate his handling of specific information he received, examining whether a critical approach was employed. Furthermore, it assesses the accuracy of his information by cross-referencing it with other sources and existing literature. While touching upon the persecution of the Jews, Gueyraud offers more comprehensive accounts of the violence against Serbs, rendering him an invaluable source to historians studying the violence against the Serbs in the Independent State of Croatia.

 

KEYWORDS: Georges Gueyraud, French, violence, Serbs, Ustasha, genocide, Independent State of Croatia, ISC, Holocaust

 

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