Vincenzo Serrentino - posljednji talijanski prefekt Zadarske provincije
VINCENZO SERRENTINO – THE LAST ITALIAN PREFECT OF ZADAR PROVINCE

Summary/Abstract: The military and civilian activities carried out by Vincenzo Serrentino during the time from his arrival in Zadar and the Dalmatian area until the moment of his arrest were primarily characterized by many contradictory events. His voluntary enlistment in the fascist party can be viewed in this context, as well as his professional duty as secretary of the labour union in Zadar which lasted until the outbreak of the war; subsequent to that, his participation in the notorious “Extraordinary court for Dalmatia”, and lastly his overzealous execution of the duties of prefect of Zadar province. These types of “lively” activities called forth a variety of opinions concerning his life’s work among his contemporaries. In all of these the main issue was his tie to the fascist party, whose political support enabled his advancement in society. All his duties and functions for the most part arose from his political views and world outlook. Nevertheless, right and justice did not play an important part in the criminal trial that he faced in the postwar period, which should even in those circumstances have been adequately represented regardless of Serrentino’s earlier actions. Namely, if the evidence had been properly presented, the reality of the circumstances put forward at the trial would have been undermined. For this reason, the death penalty that was finally carried out has been belaboured by this fact. In light of all the information put forward, it is indeed important to see Vincenzo Serrentino as a figure whose fate was closely tied to the political moment, both in his rise to power, and in his final fall.

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