Nazi Croatia: Concentration Camps for Children during WWII
During the World War II, the Independent State of Croatia (NDH) under the leadership of the Ustase movement saw the establishment of concentration camps, predominantly designed to exterminate and care for children. This article explores the horrific conditions and practices that took place in these camps during this dark period in history.
Debunking Myths and Setting the Record Straight
One misconception is that every Croat supported the Ustase regime. In fact, not every Croat subscribed to the Ustase beliefs, and many were part of partisan movements or assisted Jews, Roma people, and Serbs. It is crucial to understand that those concentration camps were organized, guarded, and managed by the Ustase regime, not universally by all Croats.
Stara Gradika: The Most Notorious Camp for Children
Stara Gradika, the first and most notorious of such camps, was designed specifically for children and women. It functioned as part of the larger Jasenovac complex of death camps. Here, inmates, primarily Serbian, Jewish, and Roma children, were subjected to horrific methods of execution, including poisoning and Zyklon B gas. The camp was overseen by notorious individuals like Maks Luburi?, Dinko ?tuli?, and Nada ?ati?. Not only were children killed directly, but some were forced to compete in the number of dead inmates they could put to death in one night. By April 1945, the Ustase began clearing the site, burning those still alive and transporting the rest.
Key Data: Approximately 12,000 victims were recorded at Jasenovac Memorial.
Sisak: The Concentration Camp for Children
Sisak, also a concentration camp for children, was operated by the infamous "Croatian Mengele," Antun Najer. This camp was unique in that it repurposed existing buildings, providing neither doors, beds, nor basic hygiene facilities. More than 6,500 children were housed here, with over 1,600 dying from malnutrition, typhus, and torture. Sisak is considered the only concentration camp in Europe specifically for children. The camp functioned for about five months, after which it was destroyed in the 1990s.
Jastrebarsko: A Camp with Surprising Management
Jastrebarsko was a camp where the Ustase guards were overseen by nuns of the Daughters of Charity of Saint Vincent de Paul. Although the camp was established with the intention of "re-educating" the children to resemble Hitler’s Youth, it turned into a place of brutality and punishment. Between 450 and 1,500 children are estimated to have died there. The camp was operational for only a few months before a liberation attempt closed it in August 1942.
Other Death Camps for Children
Besides the camps in Croatia, there are records of other concentration camps for children during World War II. For example, during the Boer War, the British military established concentration camps in Bloemfontein. Although not explicitly set up as death camps, the lack of food, hygiene, and medical care resulted in the death of over 22,000 Boer children. In Poland, the Kinder KZ in Lodz was managed by the SS and was designed to take care of children who were caught in petty crimes or were orphaned. Over 13,000 children are estimated to have passed through this camp.
Conclusion and Reflection
While the Ustase regime committed unspeakable atrocities, it is essential to recognize that some Croatians did not support these actions. Ordinary people, like Tatjana Marini?, Diana Budisavljevi?, and Branko Davila, risked their lives to save Serbian and Jewish children. Their stories must be remembered and honored.
It is clear that other totalitarian regimes have organized death camps for children, such as Japan during WWII, Rouge Khmer gulags during the Cultural Revolution, and other oppressive regimes. The history of these camps serves as a potent reminder of human cruelty and the importance of vigilance against such oppressive practices.