Kruščica concentration camp
| Kruščica concentration camp | |
|---|---|
| Concentration camp | |
The monument built in Kruščica
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| Location | Kruščica, Travnik, Independent State of Croatia (modern-day Bosnia and Herzegovina) |
| Built by | Mijo Babić, the first commander of all concentration camps in the Independent State of Croatia |
| Operated by | Independent State of Croatia |
| Commandant |
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| Original use | concentration camp |
| Operational | April 1941 - September 1941 |
| Number of inmates | Jews, Serbs and antifascists - mostly women and children |
| Killed | 3,000 |
The Kruščica concentration camp (Croatian: Koncentracijski logor u Kruščici) was a concentration camp set up in the Independent State of Croatia (Croatian: Nezavisna Država Hrvatska, NDH) during the World War II. This short-lived camp was founded in April 1941 for women and children. It was founded by Mijo Babić, a deputy of the Croatian fascist dictator Ante Pavelić, and the first commander of all concentration camps in the Independent State of Croatia.
In 1939 Kruščica was used by Banovina Croatia whose governor (Ban of Croatia) Dr Ivan Šubašić established the labor-penitentiary camp in it. Pre-WWII actions of Ustaše, which included terrorist attacks, forced Ban of Croatia to order their arrest and imprisonment, first in Lepoglava and then in Kruščica. Notable Croatian nationalists imprisoned in Kruščica included Mladen Lorković, Šime Vitanović and Marko Došen. When they were brought to Travnik, the angry crowd shouted "long live Ustaša movement" demanding their release. On 5 April 1941, the members of Ustaše movement organized the escape of all imprisoned Croatian nationalists.
As concentration camp, Kruščica was founded immediately after the establishment of the Independent State of Croatia in April 1941 by Mijo Babić, a deputy of the Croatian fascist dictator Ante Pavelić, and the first commander of all concentration camps in the Independent State of Croatia. It was established on the deserted hounting house of Guttman, 17 kilometers from Travnik. Guttman was German landowner from Slavonia. The first commander of the camp was Ustaše emigrant Josip Tehler. After his death on 5 August1941 he was succeeded by Mate Mandušić.
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