WWII – Croatia NDH year 1941/44 Collection of MNH stamps

WWII – Croatia NDH year 1941/44 ☀ Collection of MNH stamps

During World War II, Croatia was part of the Axis-aligned Independent State of Croatia (Nezavisna Država Hrvatska or NDH). The Independent State of Croatia was established on April 10, 1941, following the invasion and dismemberment of Yugoslavia by Axis powers, including Nazi Germany and Italy. The NDH was a puppet state controlled by the fascist Ustaše movement, led by Ante Pavelić. The NDH collaborated closely with Nazi Germany and Fascist Italy during WWII. It supported Axis military efforts and participated in the persecution and deportation of Jews, Serbs, Roma, and other minorities. The Ustaše regime in the NDH implemented brutal policies of ethnic cleansing and genocide against minority groups, particularly Serbs, Jews, and Roma. Tens of thousands of people were killed in concentration camps such as Jasenovac, which became notorious for its brutality. Despite the oppressive rule of the NDH, resistance movements emerged to oppose Axis occupation and the Ustaše regime. Partisan forces led by Josip Broz Tito waged guerrilla warfare against Axis forces and collaborators, eventually liberating Croatia and Yugoslavia by the end of WWII.

Croatia and the NDH were liberated by Allied forces and Yugoslav Partisans in 1945. Following the defeat of Nazi Germany and its allies, Yugoslavia was reconstituted as a socialist federation under the leadership of Josip Broz Tito.

The period of WWII in Croatia and the NDH remains a deeply contentious and painful chapter in Croatian history, marked by widespread suffering, atrocities, and the loss of life. The legacy of this era continues to shape perceptions and debates about Croatia’s role in WWII and its broader historical narrative.