Croatia Commemorates 81st Anniversary of Bleiburg Tragedy and Post-War Death Marches

The 81st anniversary of the Bleiburg tragedy and the Way of the Cross of the Croatian people was commemorated on Saturday with a church service in Macelj, gathering state officials, veterans’ associations, clergy, and pilgrims from across the country.

The Mass was led by Military Ordinary Jure Bogdan, who reflected on the suffering endured by many Croatians in the aftermath of the Second World War. In his sermon, Bogdan said that for many people, the end of the war in 1945 did not bring peace, but instead marked the beginning of persecution, executions, and forced death marches.

Referring to the events surrounding Bleiburg and the post-war killings, Bogdan said thousands of people who sought refuge in Austria were handed over to partisan forces, while the crimes committed afterward remained concealed for decades. He called for greater transparency regarding the fate of victims and urged authorities to continue uncovering mass graves and historical records connected to post-war executions.

Among those attending the commemoration were Parliament Speaker Gordan Jandroković and a government delegation led by Veterans Minister Tomo Medved.

Jandroković said the gathering was intended to honor victims who were killed without trial by the communist authorities after the war. Speaking about the ban on commemorations at Bleiburg Field in Austria, he said Croatian diplomacy continues discussions with Austrian authorities to clarify the nature of the event.

“This commemoration is not an attempt to rehabilitate the Independent State of Croatia or the Ustasha regime, but rather to remember victims who were killed without trial. It is also an opportunity to condemn the communist regime and the crimes committed during that period,” Jandroković said.

Deputy Parliament Speaker Ivan Penava emphasized the importance of continued discussion about historical interpretations of the post-war era and the condemnation of all totalitarian systems.

Prime Minister Andrej Plenković marked the anniversary in a message posted on X, while Medved said the Croatian government would continue efforts to locate and identify victims of both the communist regime and the Homeland War.

“As you have seen, over the past several years the government has intensified efforts to uncover the fate of those killed during the death marches following the Bleiburg tragedy,” Medved said, adding that Croatia had also taken steps toward repatriating the remains of victims discovered in Slovenia and arranging dignified burials in Zagreb.

Interior Minister Davor Božinović concluded by stressing the importance of preserving a culture of remembrance while condemning all forms of totalitarianism without creating new divisions in society.