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Illusions of the 'Final Victory' and the 'Fate of Small European Nations' – Media and Propaganda of the Independent State of Croatia in 1945

The article deals with media and propaganda of the Independent State of Croatia (Nezavisna Država Hrvatska – NDH) in 1945. The NDH media and propaganda system was created in 1941. It followed the basic organizational patterns set by the propaganda system of the Third Reich. Generally, the propaganda elements were quite similar to those in other Axis states. The NDH propagandists were “ fighting” for the “ New European Order” , victory of the Axis and against “ Bolshevism” . Anti-Semitic elements were also very important, as well as the rejection of the Western Allies. There were also some specific elements. In 1941 and 1942 hostility towards the former Yugoslavia, the Yugoslav idea and Serbs was dominant. It is also important that from the very beginning the concern for the fate of small European nations was one of the most important issues. German armies began a constant retreat on all fronts in 1943. Already by early 1944 it was clear that the Allies would win the war. Axis propaganda expressed concern over the outcome of the war. NDH propaganda feared that “ barbaric Bolshevism” would prevail in Europe, which would bring the small European nations to the edge of extermination. The Katyn Forrest massacre was used to illustrate the horrors that could become a reality for the small nations of Europe. The prescribed solution was very simple – a victory of the Third Reich would “ save” Europe and European culture. In contradiction to the poor situation on the battlefields, NDH propaganda continued to preach the victory of the “ New Europe” and became even more enthusiastic in promoting its ideas. By the very end of May 1945 it was still trying to hide the inevitable defeat of the Axis. Fantastic stories about “ new German secret weapons” and the “ bravery of European fighters against Bolshevism” were intended to convince those who were still loyal to the NDH to keep on fighting. Tito’ s partisans were treated both as a menace for the existence of the entire Croatian nation and as Stalin’ s puppets. Consequently, the victory of the Allies was equated with the extinction of Croats and their simultaneous subjugation to “ barbaric Bolshevism” . The United States and Great Britain were therefore accused of the “ betrayal of Europe” . Allegedly, they agreed to hand over the entire Eastern Europe to the Soviet Union and the “ Bolsheviks” . Still, in 1945 these accusations were not so resolute, and certain hopes that Western countries could act to stop the “ spreading of Bolshevism” appeared. However, the NDH propaganda was focused on the alleged “ way of the cross” of those small nations that were already “ betrayed and handed over to Bolsheviks” . Stories about the alleged bestiality of Soviet soldiers in Romania, Bulgaria, Hungary and other Eastern European countries were numerous. They were equated with some crimes committed by Tito’ s partisans. Both Soviets and partisans were charged with attempting to annihilate all patriotic elements in these nations and in Croatia.

Independent State of Croatia; Media and Propaganda; 1945

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