The Vatican's Holocaust The sensational account of the most horrifying religious massacre of the 20th century: Chapter 6 "CHRIST AND THE USTASHI MARCH TOGETHER" By Avro Manhattan

Chapter 6 



"CHRIST AND THE USTASHI MARCH TOGETHER" 

If the first ingredient of Ustashi super-nationalism was race, the second was 
religion. The two could hardly exist independently, having been so closely 
intertwined as to have become almost synonymous. The word Croat, in fact, 
signified Catholic, as much as, in Croatia, Catholic came to signify Croat. If 
this was useful to Ustashi racialism, it was no less beneficial to Catholicism, in 
so far as, once the theory had been established that Catholic meant Croat, the 
idea that Croatia had to be totally Catholic not only became firmly rooted: it 
was turned into one of the basic tenets of the new State. 

The results of such an identification were portentous. For, while nationalism 
had embarked upon a policy of 100 per cent racialism, the Catholic Church had 
embarked upon an inevitable parallel policy of 100 per cent Catholicism. The 
two policies were in effect one single policy, the political authorities 
automatically furthering the religious interests of Catholicism, while the 
religious authorities furthered the political interests of Ustashi racialism. 



The actual process of integrating the two into an inseparable organic, religio- 
political unit, not only was conducted by individual Catholics or Catholic 
organizations, like the Crusaders, or Catholic political leaders like Macek: it 
was promoted by the Catholic clergy prior to the birth of the Ustashi State. 
Catholic priests, in fact, vigorously preached Fascism before the Second World 
War. The Catholic Press, controlled by them, became Fascism's mightiest 
propaganda organ. In it they advocated the Fascist Corporate State, praised the 
Fascist Catholic dictators, and preached racial theories — e.g. the theory that the 
Croats were not of Slav descent, but were Gothic German. One of the founders 
of this race theory was a well-known Catholic priest, Kerubin Segvic, who as 
far back as 1931 wrote a book entitled, The Gothic Descendance of the Croats, 
with a view to creating racial odium against the Slavs, which was synonymous 
with "Orthodox." Fascist nations were hailed as glorious examples for the 
future Croatia. In its issue of April 3, 1938, for instance the Catholic daily, 
Hrvatska Straza, praised Fascist Hungary for "solving the social problem by 
accepting the main principle of the Christian Corporate State." The same paper, 
on March 2, 1938, greeted the Anschluss with: "Young Croatia for Anschluss." 

The Catholic Press preached Catholic Nazism on the model of that planted in 
Slovakia by the Catholic Nazi dictator priest, Mgr. Tiso. The Zagreb Katolicki 
List, the organ of Archbishop Stepinac, in January, 1940, carried an article 
entitled "Catholicism and Slovakian National Socialism," which read in part: 

In a modern state, which placed the interests of the people above 
all other considerations, the Church and the State must cooperate 
in order to avoid all conflicts and misunderstandings. Thus, in 
accordance with the teachings of Christ, the Church in Slovakia 
had already exerted itself to arrange a new life for the Slovakian 
people. The views of Dr. Tuka are fulfilled by the formation of a 
'people's Slovakia, which has the approval of the President of the 
Republic, Mgr. Dr. Josip Tiso. In the National-Socialist system in 
Slovakia, the Church will not be persecuted. Persecutions will be 
used against the opponents of National-Socialism. 

The achievements of Catholic Fascism were continually glorified in Hungary, 
in France under Catholic Petain, in Spain under Catholic Franco. The chief 
Catholic daily, Hrvatska Straza, the editor of which, Dr. Janko Shimrak, 
became a bishop under Pavelic, openly and consistently praised Hitler's 
successes in domestic and foreign policy. In the issue of March 12, 1938, 
Hitler's occupation of Austria was defended and praised. Later this paper hailed 
Hitler's successes in Czechoslovakia, Poland, and France. The Katolicki 
Tjednik, organ of Catholic Action, published under the direction of the 



Archbishop of Sarajevo, Dr. Ivan Saric, printed articles entitled "A New Order 
Must Come" (e.g. in issue No. 4, 1941), before Hitler attacked Yugoslavia. 

The Catholic Press, by propagating Nazi-Ustashi ideas, played a tremendous 
role in conditioning the people to what eventually happened, reaching as it did 
people in all walks of life. Its influence was great, and helped to an enormous 
extent to represent Pavelic and the Ustashi as having been sent by God to the 
Croatian people. It became especially skillful in sowing the seeds of religious 
hatred towards the Serbs, racial hatred towards the Jews, and hatred for 
Yugoslavia. Immediately after the proclamation of the Independent State of 
Croatia it placed itself unreservedly at the disposal of the Ustashi, thus 
following the example of the Catholic clergy, who took an active part in 
helping the Ustashi, with weapons in their hands, in the disruption of the 
Yugoslav Kingdom. 

At many points Catholic priests, and even Catholic friars, helped to form 
treacherous Ustashi armed bands with the precise objective of attacking the 
Yugoslav Army from the rear. Many of these clerics boasted openly of their 
military activities. The exploits of others who fell in battle were recalled in 
their obituaries. 

The Catholic weekly, Nedelja, in its issue of June 22, 1941, describes in an 
article entitled, "The Last Convulsion of Yugoslavia on the Island of Pag," the 
manner in which the priest on that island took part in disarming the Yugoslav 
Army: 

Late at night younger Croatians would follow the development of 
events. The Reverend Stipanov in Vlasici on Pag would also listen 
to the news and ride to inform the officers and soldiers. Thus the 
news events found us prepared and enthusiastic. It was decided to 
disarm the officers from Serbia 

The Ustashi paper, Hrvatski Narod, on July 4, 1941, hailed the Franciscan 
priest Dr. Radoslav Glavas as a great organizer of the Ustashi. The article said 
in part: 

A young and energetic Franciscan, Dr. Radoslav Glavas, came to 
Siroki Greg and placed himself al the head of the struggle. A plan 
was even drawn to prevent the mobilization of the Yugoslav 
Army. Thus the historic day of April 10 was welcomed, and in the 
night between April 10 and 1 1 the Ustashi disarmed the local 
gendarmerie and captured the post office. 



The Ustashi periodical, Za Dom, No. 1, of April, 1941, adds: 

Another priest, joining forces with two customs guards, captured 
two generals and 40 officers, while a Franciscan brother, with the 
help of a number of youths, disarmed an entire Serbian company. 

Hrvatski Narod, No. 251, of June 4, 1944, page 3, carried a death notice, 
written by priest Eugen Beluhan, of Chaplain Ivan Miletic, which in describing 
his Ustashi activities asserted: "As a priest he assisted in the disruption of the 
Yugoslav Army during the revolution." There is an endless list of such reports 
in the files of the War Crimes Commission. 

Following the fall of Yugoslavia and the rise of the independent State of 
Croatia, the Catholic Press came all out for Pavelic and his Ustashi. Vjesnik 
Pocasne Straze Srca Isusova (The Courier of the Honourable Guards of Christ's 
Heart) contained, in issues Nos. 5 and 6, 1941, an article entitled, "The Banner 
of Croatia — the Heart of Christ," in which the "resurrection" of Croatia was 
compared to that of Christ: 

In the early spring the Croatian people experienced their 
resurrection at the time of Christ's resurrection. The great son of 
the Croatian people returned and gave them their liberty and 
ancient rights. And this is also the work of God; the Lord did it all 
and that is why it is strange to our eyes. 

Glasnik Biskupije Bosanske i Sremske (The Voice of the Bosnian and Srem 
Bishoprics), No. 13, of July 15, 1941, imitating Pope Pius XI, who had called 
Mussolini the man sent by Divine Providence, called Pavelic a man of 
Providence: 

Holy is this year of the resurrection of the Independent State of 
Croatia. The gallant image of our chieftain appeared in the 
rainbow. It can and it must be said of him that his is a man of 
Providence. 

Glasnik Sv. Ante (The Voice of Saint Anthony), in its issue of December 12, 
1941, went further, declaring that the birth of the Independent State of Croatia 
was God's work: 

The Croatians, who are mostly a Catholic people, consider such a 
great historical event as some fortunate accident, or as a stroke of 
luck. No, this is the work of God and Providence. 



Even this was not enough. The Ustashi were compared to no one else but 
Christ. Witness the voice of the Crusader movement, Nedelja, which, in its 
issue of June 6, 1941, in an article entitled, "Christ and Croatia," declared the 
following: 

Christ and the Ustashi and Christ and the Croatians march 
together through history. From the first day of its existence the 
Ustashi movement has been fighting for the victory of Christ's 
principles, for the victory of justice, freedom, and truth. Our Holy 
Saviour will help us in the future as he has done until now, that is 
why the new Ustashi Croatia will be Christ's, ours and no one 
else's. 

Catholic leaders, priests, and indeed bishops were given positions in the 
Ustashi State. Immediately after Pavelic assumed power many priests were 
appointed to local and provincial administrative posts in the newly created 
Ustashi State. To mention only a few: the Catholic priest Ante Klaric Tepelun, 
from the village of Tramosnica, district of Gradacac, who in April, 1941, 
became an Ustashi tabornik, and took part in disarming the Yugoslav Army. 
Father Emanuel Rajich, priest in Gornji Vakuf, who participated in disarming 
the Yugoslav Army, organized Ustashi rule in Gornji Vakuf, and was appointed 
Ustashi tabornik, in which capacity he organized the first Ustashi army unit in 
Gornji Vakuf. 

Novi List, No. 54, in 1941, reported the appointment of priest Stjepan Lukic to 
the post of logorni pobocnik (camp adjutant) of the Zepce camp. Cecelja 
Martin, priest in Recica, District of Karlovac, was appointed to the post of 
Ustashi tabornik for the county of Recica. Dr. Dragutin Kamber, priest in 
Doboj, was appointed in April, 1941, to the post of Ustashi commandant for the 
District of Doboj, with all political and civil powers thus concentrated in his 
hands. 

No. 34 of the same paper, dated July I, 1941, carried an order of the 
Government appointing priest Didak Coric to the post of tabornik in Jaska; 
Ante Djuric, priest in the village of Divusa, to the post of tobornik for the 
district of Drvar; and priest Dragan Petranovic to the post of logornik in the 
camp of the district of Ogulin. 

Catholic leaders directly under the orders of the Hierarchy were given the 
highest positions — e.g., the President of Crusaders, priest Dr. Felix Niedzielski, 
who was made Ustashi Vice-Governor of Bosnia during the first days of 
Pavelic regime. Another Catholic priest, Grga Peinovic, Director of the 



Crusaders, was made nothing less than President of the Ustashi Central 
Propaganda Office, as reported in Fledelja on August 10, 1941. In an article 
entitled, "Crusaders in the Independent State of Croatia," the same paper 
pointed to the fact that many persons trained in the Crusader organization were 
now occupying high offices, which was indeed true. 



VM S1NIK " 

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A collection of Catholic newspapers issued in Ustashi Croatia, all 
showing Pavelic's portrait. 

The press, including the Diocesan and Episcopal papers, all supported 
and praised the Ustashi, from the first to the last. 

Besides the propagation of Nazi-Ustashi ideas, the Catholic press 
played a tremendous role in conditioning the Croatian people to the 
horrors that were eventually to occur once Croatia came into being. It 
represented the Pavelic Regime as the instrument of justice and the 
vengeance of God. It became especially skillful in sowing religious 
hatred against the Orthodox Serbs. 

The official organ of the Archbishopric of Zagreb, Katolicki List, No. 
16, 1941, declared that Ustashi Croatia had been created by an all 
powerful Providence. So did Glasnik St. Ante (The Voice of St. 
Anthony), December 12, 1941: "This is the work of Cod." The paper 
Nedelja, June 6, 1941, the organ of the Catholic Crusader movement, 
declared "Christ and the Ustashi march together." 



The active participation of so many Catholic leaders and Catholic clergy in the 
formation of the Ustashi State of Croatia had been possible only thanks to one 
thing: the consent of, and indeed instructions from, the leaders of the Catholic 
Hierarchy. This was proved from the very first by the incontrovertible fact that 
high and low clergy cooperated whole-heartedly with Pavelic. Catholic 
parishes, as well as Catholic Cathedrals, and, indeed, the very radio, were used 



as a political platform for Pavelic and the Ustashi. Witness Radio Zagreb, 
which on April 11, 1941, the day after Kvaternik and the German Army had 
entered the Croatian capital, instructed the people to welcome the German 
Army and "to seek answers to all questions from the Catholic parish offices, 
where instructions will be given about the future work." 

The official organ of the Archbishopric of Zagreb, Kato-licki List, No. 16, 
1941, declared that the independent State of Croatia had been created by an all- 
powerful Providence. The Catholic Church, it concluded, prayed God that the 
New Croatia should find its fulfillment. The same paper went farther, and soon 
afterwards published "The Principles of the Government of the Independent 
State of Croatia and of the Ustashi Movement," to acquaint its readers with the 
basic directives regulating the life of every individual in the new puppet State. 
These directives soon helped Pavelic to convert Croatia into a virtual 
concentration camp. Archbishop Stepinac, on April 28, 1941, issued a pastoral 
letter, in which he asked the clergy to respond without hesitation to his call that 
they take part in the exalted work of defending and improving the Independent 
State of Croatia, declaring that from then onwards in the "resurrected" Croatian 
State the Church would be able in complete freedom to preach "the invincible 
principles of eternal truth and justice." The pastoral letter, which was also 
published in Nedelja and Katolicki List on April 28, 1941, said the following: 

Honourable brethren, there is not one among you who did not 
recently witness the most significant event in the life of the 
Croatian people among whom we act as herald of Christ's word. 
These are events that fulfilled the long-dreamed-of and desired 
ideal of our people.... You should, therefore, readily answer my 
call to do elevated work for the safeguarding and the progress of 
the Independent State of Croatia.... Prove yourselves, honourable 
brethren, and fulfill now your duty toward the young Independent 
State of Croatia. 

The pastoral letter was read in every Croatian parish. It was also read over the 
radio. The impression it had on the people, and especially on the clergy, was 
indicated by Father Peter Glavas, who, during his trial after liberation, said in 
his own defense: "The order given by Archbishop Stepinac to the people over 
the radio to fight for the Independent State of Croatia constituted a political 
directive to the clergy." Like any other priest, he had to obey. 

The Ustashi section of the clergy, which had been active in terrorism even 
before the war, did not need this circular to tell them how to act. Yet many who 
until then had hesitated, after Stepinac's instructions accepted his directives and 



actively engaged in supporting the Ustashi. The Catholic clergy did not join the 
Ustashi merely to chant Latin hymns. They joined in order to carry out the 
Ustashi racial and religious terror programs. 

When Pavelic returned from Italy to Zagreb, to assume leadership of the New 
Croatia, he stopped in the town of Ogulin, on April 13, 1941, where he 
conferred with one of his most fanatical lieutenants, the Ustashi Catholic priest 
Canon Ivan Mikan. On that same day, in a public speech, Canon Mikan 
foretold the shape of things to come: "There will be purges," shouted priest 
Mikan. "Yes, there will be purges." On the same evening, not far from that 
region, the first Ustashi punitive expedition attacked individual Serbs in several 
villages. 

Were these massacres committed only by the followers of Pavelic? They were 
often promoted and carried out by Catholic priests claiming to be the followers 
of Christ and the representatives of a Church trumpeting to the four winds that 
she preached universal love. It will suffice for us to mention only a few. The 
first Ustashi commandant in the District of Udbina was the Franciscan priest, 
Mate Mogus, who had organized the Ustashi militia and disarmed Yugoslav 
troops. At a meeting in Udbina on June 13, 1941, he gave the following 
homily: "Look, people, at these 16 brave Ustashi, who have 16,000 bullets and 
who will kill 16,000 Serbs, after which we will divide among us in a brotherly 
manner the Mutilic and Krbava fields" — a speech which was the signal for the 
beginning of the slaughter of Serbs in the district of Udbina. 

In Dvor na Uni, priest Anton Djuric kept a dairy of his activities as an Ustashi 
functionary. The diary shows that on his orders the Ustashi plundered and 
burned the village of Segestin, where 150 Serbs were murdered, and that in the 
village of Goricka he arrested 117 people, who were sent to a concentration 
camp, where most of them were killed. 

A group of Franciscan priests, who tortured and finally killed twenty-five Serbs 
in the village of Kasle, took photographs of their victims. In the village of 
Tramosnica, priest Ante Klaric became the first Ustashi commissar, the 
personally led Ustashi units in attacks on Serbian villages. He organized the 
Ustashi militia and, according to witnesses, spoke from the pulpit as follows:" 

You are old women and you should put on skirts, for you have not 
yet killed a single Serb. We have no weapons and no knives and 
we should forge them out of old scythes and sickles, so that you 
can cut the throats of Serbs whenever you see them. 



Priest Bozo Simlesa, in the village of Listani, was one of the most active 
members of the Ustashi. He held the post of chief of the district of Livno. 
During the slaughter of the Serbs in the county of Listani he told the people 
from the pulpit that the time had arrived to exterminate all Serbs living in 
Croatia. He personally organized the Ustashi militia and obtained arms for 
them. On July 27, 1941, he held a meeting in the village, and when he was 
informed that all Serbian men had been murdered and that women and children 
were to be killed that night, he told them not to wait for the night, for twenty- 
four hours had already passed since the chief had issued his order that not a 
single Serb must be left alive in Croatia. 

The Catholic Dean of Stolac, in Herzegovina, priest Marko Zovko, was 
responsible for the murder of 200 persons, whose bodies were thrown into a 
ditch in a field in Vidovo. Franciscan Mijo Cujic, of Duvno, personally gave 
instructions for the massacre of Serbs in the villages of Prisoje and Vrila, where 
not one person was allowed to remain alive.Were these the abominable deeds 
of some few individuals maddened by religious and racial fanaticism? Indeed 
they were not. They were an integral part of the official policy of the Catholic 
Church, which, screened behind the mantle of the Independent State, had 
inspired and promoted all the horrors which soaked the historical land of 
Croatia in a sea of blood. 

Chapter 7 



CATHOLIC FRIARS, PRIESTS, EXECUTIONERS, BISHOPS AND 

MURDERERS