Wednesday, February 01, 2012
Croatian Knowledge of the Holocaust
On December 16, 1941, Pavelic admitted to Ciano that the Croatian Jewish population had shrunk from 35,000 to 12,000. Ciano recorded, "Young Kvaternik explains this decrease with the word 'emigration', accompanied by a smile that does not leave any room for doubt." Thus we have proof that 'emigration' was known to be a euphemism for killing even among satellite states [Hilberg, Destruction, 2003, Vol 2, p.760]. On 17 July, 1942, Marcone wrote to Maglione, "The
German government has demanded the extradition of all Jews residing in
Croatia to Germany within six months, where, according to Kvaternik, two
million Jews have been killed in recent times. It seems that the same
fate awaits the Croatian Jews, especially the old and those unable to
work." The original Italian document is copied in Actes, Vol 8, pp. 601-602 which is on-line here. English translation is here; also cited in Hilberg, as above, p.762, and Morley, p.153.
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Kvaternik was Jewish so probably not a reliable informant - shortly afterwards he was to flee Croatia.
ReplyDeleteThis is what he was saying on the 7 July 1942
"I learned the following from the Chief of Police, Dr Eugene Kvaternik, to whom I had complained about the cruelty used against Jews of all ages and conditions.
The German government has demanded the extradition of all Jews residing in Croatia to Germany within six months, where, according to Kvaternik, two million Jews have been killed in recent times. It seems that the same fate awaits the Croatian Jews, especially the old and those unable to work.
Having received this news about the Jews, I am continually seeking to find ways of securing their salvation. The Chief Rabbi of Zagreb visits me often and tells me news of new misfortunes.
I commend the Chief of Police, who, at my suggestion, has delayed as much as possible, the execution of this order. Indeed, he would be pleased if the Holy See could intervene for the withdrawal of the order, (1) or at least to suggest that all Croatian Jews be concentrated on an island or in a zone of Croatia where they could live in peace. "
By July 1942 2 million Jews had most certainly not been killed in Poland - even by orthodox accounts.
There is nothing surprising that a Jewish person would try to do everything he could to disrupt the deportation process, but he is not a good guide in terms use of language - particularly as he was openly claiming millions of Jews were being killed - before he was outed.