During World War II, Europe was scarred by the horrors of concentration camps, and among the most notorious was Jasenovac. Unlike Nazi-run camps, Jasenovac was operated by the Ustaše, the Croatian fascist movement, making it one of the most brutal extermination camps in history. Between 1941 and 1945, over 100,000 people were brutally killed here. The majority were Serbs (52,000), followed by Roma (20,000), Jews (20,000), and Muslims (12,000).
The Ustaše’s Reign of Terror
The Ustaše, founded in 1929 in Sofia, Bulgaria, were Croatian nationalists who sought independence from Yugoslavia. Their ideology was rooted in racism, extreme nationalism, and fascism. Unlike the Nazis, who relied on industrialized killing methods like gas chambers, the Ustaše preferred personal, hands-on executions with knives, hammers, and axes.
Jasenovac was a complex of five camps located approximately 100 kilometers from Zagreb. It housed men, women, and children, with separate sub-camps for different ethnic groups. The guards, about 1,500 strong, were infamous for their sadism, often engaging in gruesome “competitions” to see who could kill the most prisoners in a single night. One guard, Petar Brzica, reportedly slit the throats of 1,360 prisoners in one night, winning a gold watch and roasted pig as a reward.
Horrific Conditions and Methods of Execution
Prisoners in Jasenovac faced appalling conditions. They were forced to work 11-hour days on starvation rations—thin cabbage soup and occasional bread. They slept in overcrowded, poorly insulated barracks, often exposed to the elements. Disease ran rampant, with typhus, dysentery, and tuberculosis claiming thousands of lives.
One of the most horrific aspects of Jasenovac was the toilet pits. These wooden-covered holes served as both latrines and execution sites, where guards would drown prisoners. Water sources, including the Sava River, were contaminated with corpses, leading to further disease and suffering.
The Monsters Behind the Murders
Jasenovac’s commandants were some of history’s most sadistic figures:
- Vjekoslav Luburić (1914-1969): The mastermind behind Jasenovac, Luburić personally killed prisoners during inspections and once transferred typhus-infected inmates between camps to spread disease.
- Miroslav Filipović (1915-1946): A Franciscan friar-turned-mass murderer, he earned the nickname “Satan’s Brother” for leading mass executions. He was known to personally execute prisoners in his friar’s robe.
- Ljubo Miloš (1919-1948): A doctor-turned-executioner, Miloš pretended to offer medical aid before slitting prisoners’ throats. He also trained his dog to attack inmates.
Modern Impact and Denial
Jasenovac remains one of the most politically charged topics in the Balkans. The estimated death toll varies widely, from 30,000 (Croatian sources) to 1.2 million (Serbian sources), with historians generally settling on around 100,000. After the war, the Ustaše attempted to destroy evidence by burning bodies and razing the camp. Today, some nationalist groups downplay or deny the atrocities, leading to ongoing historical disputes.
Why Jasenovac Matters Today
Jasenovac serves as a grim reminder of how ethnic hatred, religious division, and extremist ideology can lead to genocide. In a world still grappling with religious and racial conflicts, it is crucial to remember such events to prevent history from repeating itself.
Although not as well-known as Auschwitz or Dachau, Jasenovac was one of the most gruesome extermination sites of World War II. By shedding light on this dark chapter of history, we honor the victims and reinforce the message: Never again.