ARHIVSKI VJESNIK 39. (ZAGREB, 1996.)

Strana - 161

J. Kolanović, Holocaust in Croatia - Documentation and research perspectives, Arh. vjesn., god. 39 (1996) str. 157-174 Pavelić's policy was primarily manifested in anti-Semite laws and provisions brought between April 30, 1941 and October 30, 1942.

3 The objective responsibility of the then ruling state officials cannot be justified, even by the later statement of minister Mile Budak saying that the government was not consulted on racial laws but that "all laws concerning non-Aryans were made by a special committee supervised by Pavelić himself, and that the government did not discuss those laws"

4

. Only the Catholic episcopate, through the mediation of bishop Janko Šimrak, attempted to prevent the passing of such laws

5

. According to the figures given by Croatian demograph V. Žerjavić, the consequences of those provisions and crimes committed by the Ustashas were as follows: during World War II on the territory of the Independent State of Croatia, which included today's territory of Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Sirmium, there were 19,800 Jewish victims; 9,900 in Croatia, 8,900 in Bosnia and Herzegovina and Croatia before April 10. Not even the newspaper Croatian People, founded by Mile Budak in 1939 published anti-Semitic articles; moreover, the newspaper was printed in a printing house owned by a Jew. Compare: Croatian State Archive (HDA), Dossier Budak 013.0.133. Ante Pavelić brought Judaism in line with economic power. In his book, The Croatian issue (1936) in chapter 4 entitled The Enemies of the Croatian Movement, Pavelić says that "all financial business and all trade" are in Jewish hands and that Communism and Judaism "work together against the national liberation of Croatia". 3 Provision of the law on racial identity, Narodne Novine no. 16, dated April 30,1941 ; Provision of the law on protection of the Aryan blood and the honour of the Croatian people, NN no. 16, dated April 30, 1941; Decree on the prohibition of employment of women in non-Aryan households, NN no. 20, dated May 6, 1941; Amendment to the decree on prohibition of employment of Aryans in non-Aryan households, NN no. 32, dated May 20, 1941; Provision of the law on protection of the national and Aryan culture of the Croatian people, NN no. 43, dated June 4, 1941 ; Decree on the establishment and operation of the committe for racial and political issues, NN no. 43, dated June 4,1941 ; Decree on the alteration of Jewish surnames and designating of Jews and Jewish companies, NN no. 43, dated June 4,1941 ; Provision of the law on prohibition of hiding Jewish properties, NN no. 44, dated June 5,1941 ; Provision of the law on an obligatory registration of Jewish properties and Jewish companies, NN no. 44, dated June 5, 1941 ; Executive decree of the provision of the law on the obligatory registration of Jewish properties and companies, No. CL-348-Z.p., NN no. 44, dated June 5, 1941; Decree on the determination of racial identity of state officials, self-managing companies and individuals involved in free academic proffesions, NN no. 44, June 5,1941 ; Provision on the administration of Jewish residental buildings and properties, NN no. 115,August30,

1941; Provision of the I aw on nationalization of Jewish properties and companies, NN no. 149, dated October 10, 1941; Provision of the law on directing undesirable and dangerous individuals to compulsory residence in assembly and labour camps, NN no. 188, November 26,1941 ; Provision of the law on jurisdiction over the Jewish issue, NN no. 15, January 15-19, 1942; Provision of the law on nationalization of Jewish properties, NN no. 264, October 30, 1942. 4 HDA, Ministry of the Internal Affairs of the Republic of Croatia (MUP) 013.0/52. Dossier Budak, 16. 5 HDA, MUP, Dossier Kvaternik, 320. Mario Maričić's testimony dated February 16,1947. Archbishop Alojzije Stepinac decisively stood up against racial laws in his sermons. 161