ARHIVSKI VJESNIK 39. (ZAGREB, 1996.)

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J. Kolanović, Holocaust in Croatia - Documentation and research perspectives, Arh. vjesn., god. 39(1996) str. 157-174 main aim was to research all the victims of fascist terror and anti-Fascists who were connected to Zagreb in any way (who were born, worked or lived in Zagreb for a certain period) and who were killed or injured during World War II in concentration camps or prisons or in fighting the anti-Fascists between April 10, 1941 and May 15, 1945. Special attention is paid in this research to the Jews from Zagreb. The aim of the research was to identify the victims by their names and surnames. All relevant archival material from the HDA was analysed, as well as material stored in other institutions in Zagreb and Belgrade. Namely, all important files of the former Archive of the Institute for the History of the Labour Movement in Zagreb (today stored in the HDA), Museum of the Revolution (today in the Croatian Historical Museum), Zagreb Town Museum, History Archive in Zagreb, Institute of the Forensic Medicine in Zagreb, Archive of the Military Historical Institute in Belgrade, Archive of Yugoslavia in Belgrade and the Institute for the military medicine documentation in Belgrade. In addition to research of the original archival material, all other references were used, as well as the documents between 1941-1945. To illustrate what is involved, consider the following: 7,027 boxes of archival material were analysed, together with 67 boxes of files, 1,200 leaflets, posters and advertisements and all press material from the Independent State of Croatia period, as well as 97 books. Based on the data collected, a file was made for each person containing basic data on the person's life, work, place and manner in which he lost his life. A list of all archival material and other documents and literature used is provided at the end of the research. This research has become a very valuable source of information about the "Zagreb" victims and it contains victims names and surnames. Biographies of 40,000 victims were made in 105 typewritten books. 6,537 Jews, of whom 86 died in Partisan units, are registered among the 40,000. This is one aspect of the Holocaust research concentrated on individuals. We consider this approach necessary to do everything in order to name the victims of the Holocaust. This is our best debt to history and the only way to show our respect to the innocent victims, to those who lost their lives because of religion, political opinion, nationality or race. However, the future research should go beyond what has already been done. The research on the Holocaust in Croatia has not expanded further than establishing the number of victims. In our opinion it is necessary to analyse the historical context of the Holocaust in each country, using source material, in order to get to the truth, to the "genesis of the crime", the crime itself and the consequences of the crime. Sources provide brand possibilities researching the Holocaust in all its complexity, and 173