Croatian national symbols between negative stereotypes and the truth  Cover Image

Hrvatski nacionalni simboli između negativnih stereotipa i istine
Croatian national symbols between negative stereotypes and the truth

Author(s): Mario Jareb, Dunja Bonacci Skenderović
Subject(s): History
Published by: Hrvatski institut za povijest
Keywords: National Symbols; Croatia; Stereotypes; Identity

Summary/Abstract: In July 2003 Maja Brkljačić and Holm Sundhaussen published an article about so-called «Culture of Remembrance» («Erinnerungskultur») in post-communist Croatia.68 Major part of their article is dedicated to the history of Croatian national symbols and their usage in modern Croatia. Unfortunately, the authors accepted some negative stereotypes that exist in literature and public. Therefore, an uninformed reader could come to a conclusion, after reading the article, that Croatian national symbols are at least «suspicious» for their alleged «Ustasha» or fascist past. Fortunately, the truth is completely different. It is not hard to prove that all of these symbols have been used as Croatian national symbols long before the Ustasha movement founded the Independent State of Croatia in April 1941. That is why Dunja Bonacci Skenderović and Mario Jareb attempted to provide readers with accurate and correct information about the history of Croatian national symbols. In their answer to Brkljačić-Sundhaussen’s article they discussed the problem of the initial color of the chequered shield, usage of Croatian national symbols at the beginning of 1990’s, as well as some other problems. They also attempted to do additional research of sources and literature in order to find new and previously unknown facts. This is why their answer is not merely a reaction to some other article, but an original study as well.

  • Issue Year: 36/2004
  • Issue No: 2
  • Page Range: 731-760
  • Page Count: 29
  • Language: Croatian