Croatia marks Anti-Fascist Struggle Day amid debate over historical legacy

Croatia marked Anti-Fascist Struggle Day on Monday, commemorating June 22, 1941, when the First Sisak Partisan Detachment was formed in the Brezovica Forest near Sisak.

It is regarded as the first anti-fascist military unit established in Croatia and one of the first organized resistance units in occupied Europe.

The central state ceremony marking the 85th anniversary was held at the Brezovica Memorial Park and attended by President Zoran Milanović, members of parliament and representatives of anti-fascist organizations.

Speaking at the event, President Zoran Milanović stressed the historical significance of the Sisak detachment, saying that the group of around 70 communists who formed the unit initiated an uprising that was unique in Europe at the time.

He said the anti-fascist struggle played a crucial role for both Croats and Serbs and warned against reducing its significance in contemporary political debates.

Several speakers at the commemoration warned about growing social divisions and what they described as attempts to undermine Croatia's anti-fascist legacy.

Franjo Habulin, president of the Alliance of Anti-Fascist Fighters and Anti-Fascists of Croatia, said historical revisionism had been present in Croatia for years. He argued that anti-fascism was increasingly being questioned despite its inclusion in the Croatian Constitution as one of the foundations of the modern state.

Habulin criticized attempts to reinterpret the role of the wartime Independent State of Croatia, describing it as a puppet regime established with the support of Nazi Germany and Fascist Italy.

Prime Minister Andrej Plenković, who is on an official visit to Canada, and Parliament Speaker Gordan Jandroković did not attend the ceremony but sent representatives.

Labour Minister Alen Ružić, speaking on behalf of the government, said the government's actions demonstrate its commitment to opposing all forms of totalitarianism.

SDP leader Siniša Hajdaš Dončić said celebrating Anti-Fascist Struggle Day was especially important in the current political climate, citing developments in Croatia, Europe and the United States. He said preserving Croatia's anti-fascist identity remains essential.

Zagreb Mayor Tomislav Tomašević also noted the absence of the prime minister and parliament speaker, saying that he considers attendance at national holiday commemorations an important responsibility.

Meanwhile, Domino party MP Igor Peternel attended the event in protest. He criticized the commemoration and argued that the historical interpretation of the events of 1941 was misleading, describing the legacy being celebrated as one associated with Yugoslav communism and political repression.

The differing messages at the ceremony reflected broader debates in Croatian society over the legacy of anti-fascism and its place in the country's modern political and historical identity.