Dragojević i Pavlaković | Local Memories of Wartime Violence: Commemorating World War Two in Gospić 66 UDK: 355.01’’382’’(497.562)’’1939/1945’’ 32’’382’’(497.562)’’1939/1945’’ Izvorni znanstveni rad Primljeno 27. listopada 2016. Local Memories of Wartime Violence: Commemorating World War Two in Gospić MILA DRAGOJEVIĆ Department of Politics, University of the South, Sewanee, TN
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[email protected] How do dominant state narratives influence commemorative practices in local communities in different historical periods? We address this question by carrying out a study of World War Two commemorations in Gospić in two distinct periods of a political regime transition. The study is based on the documents from the archive of Gospić, articles from the local paper, existing scholarly publications on this area, as well as reports from state institutions and non-governmental organizations. We also photographed standing monuments and graveyards dating back to World War Two, or collected archival images and documentation of those that were removed or destroyed, in a fifty-kilometer radius around Gospić. We show how the narratives, symbols, and rituals that formed part of commemorations of World War Two violence changed when competing political actors attempted to establish their political legitimacy or gain political support. Keywords: commemorative practices, collective memory, World War Two, Yugoslavia, Gospić, Lika suvremene TEME, (2016.) god. 8., br. 1. 67 April is the cruelest month, breeding Lilacs out of the dead land, mixing Memory and desire, stirring Dull roots with spring rain. Winter kept us warm, covering Earth in forgetful snow, feeding A little life with dried tubers.