Alan Labus: THE PROFESSION OF A JOURNALIST IN THE INDEPENDENT STATE OF 26 Informatol. 46, 2013., 1, 26‐39

INFO‐ 2079 UDK: 070:659.3(497.13) Primljeno / Received: 2012‐03‐12 Original Scientific Paper/Izvorni znanstveni rad

THE PROFESSION OF A JOURNALIST IN THE INDEPENDENT STATE OF CROATIA

ZANIMANJE NOVINAR U NEZAVISNOJ DRŽAVI HRVATSKOJ

Alan Labus College of Business and Management Baltazar Adam Krcelic, Zapresic, Croatia Visoka škola za poslovanje i upravljanje s pravom javnosti B. A. Krčelić, Zaprešić, Hrvatska

Abstract Sažetak Based on a part of an archive material and the Na osnovi dijela arhivske građe i svjedočanstava testimony of the contemporaries, the author ex‐ suvremenika, autor razmatra na koji je način, u amines how, to what extent and through which kojoj mjeri te preko kojih institucija, ustaška vlast institutions Ustasha authorities in the Independ‐ u Nezavisnoj Državi Hrvatskoj 1941. – 1945. kon‐ ent State of Croatia (NDH) controlled the work trolirala rad novinskih redakcija i utjecala na sa‐ of journalists and influenced the content of news‐ držaj novina. Pri tome posebno analizira model papers from 1941 to 1945. The model of the multi‐ višeslojnog cenzuriranja novina te profesionalni, layer censorship of newspapers and professional, materijalni i društveni položaj novinara u NDH, financial and social status of journalists in the koristeći kao izvor dokumente iz službene kores‐ NDH are specifically analyzed by using docu‐ pondencije novinskih redakcija i organa vlasti. U ments from official correspondence between the fokusu ovoga članka novinarske su sudbine dijela newspaper editorial staff and the authorities. This novinara, nesiguran status i položaj novinara, kao article focuses on the fate of some of the journal‐ i funkcija koju je ustaška politika nadjenula tom ists, their uncertain status and position as journal‐ zanimanju. Posebna pažnja posvećena je važnosti ists and the function that Ustasha policy deter‐ formiranja Državnog izvještajnog i promidžbe‐ mined for this profession. It also pays special nog ureda, Hrvatskog novinarskog društva i Us‐ attention to the importance of forming the State taškog nakladnog zavoda kao institucija koje su Reporting and Promotion Office, Croatian Jour‐ bitno predodredile položaj i ulogu novinara u nalistsʹ Association and Ustasha Publishing Insti‐ Nezavisnoj Državi Hrvatskoj. tute since these institutions significantly prede‐ termined the position and the role of journalists in the Independent State of Croatia.

Introduction ISC from 1941 till 1945, it is obvious that the puppet Ustasha government was working under The Independent State of Croatia (ISC) was harsh conditions. established as a part of German and Italian Ustasha – Croatian Liberation Movement, the only military and political plan during the April war in political organisation that had the right to operate 1941 in the southeast of Europe, which is today in the ISC, created the government on the German part of Republic of Croatia and Bosnia and and Italian model. In the ISC the Ustasha organisa‐ Herzegovina. The obligation towards Germany tion was the government. The leader of the ISC and Italy assumed by Ante Pavelić put the ISC in a had all the power, as did Führer in Germany or weak position with a questionable sovereignty, not Duce in Italy. He was the head of the state and the to forget the presence of the German forces in the Ustasha organisation that controlled administra‐ ISC from 1941 till 1945 and the Italian forces from tion, judiciary and legislation. He himself issued 1941 till September 1943. Furthermore, bearing in legal regulations, even at the time of the Croatian mind the civic war between Ustashas, Chetnics State Parliament in the period from February 23 till and the People Liberation Movement (PLM) led in December 28, 1942 he adjudicated and made deci‐

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Alan Labus: THE PROFESSION OF A JOURNALIST IN THE INDEPENDENT STATE OF CROATIA Informatol. 46, 2013., 1, 26‐39 27 sions about positions. The media in the ISC, as a appear in the newsletter or not. The Croatian In‐ means of the broader marketing instrument, was forming Service was initially led by Ivo Bogdan and managed alike. Marketing was put under the ju‐ Stipe Tomičić, and later Colonel Josip Mrmić risdiction of the highest body of administrative /5/.On January 25, 1942 Department for Journalism as authorities in summer of 1941 (on June 24, 1941 the a part of the The State Office for Reporting and Propa‐ State Secretariat for Marketing was put under di‐ ganda (SORP) assumes the responsibilities of the rect jurisdiction of the Presidency of the Govern‐ CIS. Simultaneously the Committee for Journalism ment) /1/ and thus assumed a very important posi‐ was also abolished and all its tasks regarding the tion in Ustasha government. However, it was not marketing and the control over the media were made a ministry as it was in the Third Reich or in taken over by the SORP /6/. the nor was it so influential /2/. A legal regulation of October 29, 1941 established In the first months of the ISC, Croatian Informing the Croatian News Office (CNO) Croatia, as an exter‐ Service (CIS) had a quite complex task. To stop nal press intelligence agency directly controlled by issuing all the newspapers which were not pro‐ the SORP, and abolished the agency Velebit. The Ustasha, to employ its own censors in the newspa‐ agencyʹs task was to inform on all cultural, politi‐ pers, to ensure the right intelligence of the foreign cal, economical, and sports news from country and journalists on the situation in the country, to fol‐ abroad. It mainly received the information from low the foreign press and radio with the emphasis the German News Service (GNS), Italian Stefani, put on the news on the ISC, to ensure that the French agency Havas, English Reuter and Soviet Ustashas assume leading positions in the press, but Tassa, and based on that information the newsletter most importantly, to ensure that the wanted in‐ was created /7/. The Agency was connected to all formation reaches the reader. Such complex tasks the SORPʹs offices and reporters abroad with the caused a rather divergent organisation of the CISʹ help of wireless Hell‐printers, but there was also a offices. Beside the managerʹs office, there was also permanent connection with other news offices and Department for Local Printing that consisted of Intel‐ authorities. The CNO Croatia issued news for Za‐ ligence Office, Subsection for Surveillance and Organi‐ greb and the surroundings as well as the state ra‐ sation, Foto Department, and Department for Foreign dio stations, and in was in charge of preparing Printing that consisted of Radio Wiretabs Office and news in foreign languages for the German and Subsection for Foreign Journalists. With the help of Italian journalists. Secret news were issued for a Velebit, that is the Croatian News Office (CNO) limited number of users, and the editorial boards Croatie, CIS assumed the position of the infor‐ were given orders how and where to issue the mation center that supervised the radio news, news. Secret News washandpicked information press and foreign agenciesʹ information, such as from alien agencies and neutral countries, and they German DNB (German News Service (GNS)) and were put together in three newsletters daily. The Italian Stefania, but also the press and agenciesʹ first one was political news, the second one mili‐ information from Bulgaria, Hungary, Romania, tary reports on Ally war operations, a the third Slovakia and the neutral countries of Switzerland, newsletter called Special servicecontained mainly Sweden and Turkey /3/. However, all the news of the whole shows by the Telegraphic Agency of the diplomatic importance, international relation‐ New Yugoslavia (TANY) as well as the news from ships, and negotiations of the ISC with the foreign the other ally agencies in case they referred to the countries as well as the news on national minori‐ ISC /8/. The CNO Croatia was organised as follows: ties in the ISC, could not be published by the Croa‐ Newspaper Office, with subdivision of Iternal, For‐ tian Informing Service and its offices unless ap‐ eign and ConfidentialOffice /9/.The first head of the proved by the Political Department of the Ministry CNO Croatie was the writer Antun Nizeteo /10/, of Foreign Affairs first /4/. and after him Daniel Uvanović was appointed the Based on the telegrams received from the foreign head, and he will remain at that position till the agencies, CIS created a newsletter that was deliv‐ end of the war /11/. ered to editorial boards during the day, the news‐ From the year 1942, editorial boards in the ISC letters were of secretive information character and were managed by The State Office for Reporting and were delivered to the heads of the boards, editors Propaganda (SORP), i.e. by the Main Directorate for and political editors as well as to the higher politi‐ the Promotion Marketing (MDPM) with the Presi‐ cians. The Head of the Marketing Department had dency of the Government. Department for Journal‐ a final saying in deciding whether some news will ism under the MDPM issued daily orders to the

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Alan Labus: THE PROFESSION OF A JOURNALIST IN THE INDEPENDENT STATE OF CROATIA 28 Informatol. 46, 2013., 1, 26‐39 heads of the newspapers, who then forwarded the main supervisors till the end of the year 1943. messages to editors and journalists in the field, Franc Perše was his successor and he kept this which resulted in a monotone and predictable position till the end of the war. One of the Depart‐ tome of the wholesome journalism. Prior to print‐ ment for Journalismwith the MDPM employees ing, the content had to pass a detailed control, i.e. spoke about the MIAʹs censorships: censorship in order to remove all information that was not in favour of the political establishment of All I know about these people is that we were afraid of the ISC allies. Pre‐censorship was conducted on them and what they might say about a book before it the information that was received in the form of was published. Especially Bjelobrajdić, who was very the agenciesʹ news, weekly, semi‐monthly and diligent and accused me of promoting democratic litera‐ monthly reviews of the foreign press in order to ture such as the Nobel Prize winners. When the book prevent the unwanted information to reach the ʺIntroduction to Sociologyʺ was published in 1944 with editorial boards and then the newspapers. Besides, some pictures of foreign sociologists, such as Marks and a strict selection of the contents of the foreign Engels, without the principalʹs approval, I was kicked newspapers was conducted as to fit the published out of the censorship department and was assigned to information to the political recommendation of the sorting out the mail, where I remained till the very end. ISC press. The MDPM was not the only body that Dr.Bjelobrajdić was appointed commissary as we, the controlled the journalists. Department for Journalism younger ones, took culture too broadly. /12/ of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs was in charge of supervising the foreign politics in the newspapers Enormous amounts of energy and money were and the Ministry of Internal Affairs supervised the invested in the censorship all in order to convince newspapers with the help of their censors who the citizens of the validity of the Ustasha regime, took positions in the MDPM offices. The presence the victorious war led by Germany and the realisa‐ of the USS agents caused discomfort and fear in tion of the project New Europe. The published con‐ the editorial boards as they had power and were a tent of the newspapers in the ISC in the period physical threat to the journalists. between 1941 and 1945 was by no means the result The Ministry of Internal Affairs reserves the right of free journalist work, but the result of the inland to supervise the whole marketing. In case the state political censorship and ally dictate of Germany censorship missed something or failed to check, and Italy. the MIA officials could have prevented the print‐ ing. Dr. Leopold Bjelobrajdić had the role of the

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Alan Labus: THE PROFESSION OF A JOURNALIST IN THE INDEPENDENT STATE OF CROATIA Informatol. 46, 2013., 1, 26‐39 29

Figure 1. – Daily orders to editorial boards from the SORP/ MDPM

Journalist as a Target of Policy …prevent the Jews and Yugo masons, who not only served the torturers of the Croatian people but also took When the Independent State of Croatia was estab‐ pleasure in assaulting Croatian sanctities, from having lished in the spring of 1941, the Ustasha govern‐ any kind of an influence on our journalism, our press. It ment was aware of the fact that not all journalists cannot be further tolerated that those who became rich shared their point of view. Many of them did not by our Ustasha fights to clear our market from Serbian appreciate the intolerance towards other ethnic press and newspapers. /13/ groups, religious communities and above all the During spring 1941, as the editorial boards of the racial laws passed. Firstly, the government issued ISC were formed, it was obvious that there are legal acts and legal regulations to create the as‐ more opposing parties who fought for the control sumptions, and then it took repressive steps to over the published media. One group consisted of remove those who opposed and thus assumed the journalists who gathered around Ivo Bogdan, utter control of the whole media sector. Tias Mortigjije, Daniel Uvanović, Stjepan In the background of the taken measures was the Hrastovec and Stipe Tomičić. The second group Ustasha government decision to: was formed around Ante Oršanić from the stu‐

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Alan Labus: THE PROFESSION OF A JOURNALIST IN THE INDEPENDENT STATE OF CROATIA 30 Informatol. 46, 2013., 1, 26‐39 dentsʹ society August Šenoa. The third was around home town Mače nearby Zlatar. Later he and his the first editor of the Hrvatski narod (Croatian Peo‐ sister were killed by the Ustasha. /18/ ple), D. Bumbera and the Minister M. Budaka. The On the first Conference of journalists of the ISC fourth group, which can politically be defined as a held on July 16, 1941 out of 147 journalists on the party lobby of Ustasha emigrant officers supported list, eighty one was chosen as eligible. About 40% by the Head, was formed under the leadership of of journalists became unwanted and some of them the colonel Josip Mrmić. The group of journalists even fired first those who used to lead the editori‐ led by Matija Kovačić and Mia Tolj Potonja sup‐ als in Yugoslav press. The memo of the June 7, ported this group and in time they will prove to be 1941 sent to the Journalists Society of the Banovina the most influential /14/.J. Grbelja emphasised the of Croatia, is also one of the proofs that journalists colonel Josip Mrmića, as an exponent of the ag‐ were threatened at that time. Twenty five of them gressive Ustasha policy towards the editors and begged the authorities to be intervened in their journalists. /15/ case as they had not been accepted on the lists and The group gathered around colonel Mijo Bizak, a that despite the law they had not received their special commissioner for journalism, confirms the salaries in five months. It also says: We as profes‐ fact that the Ustasha leadership had a very clear sionals cannot be responsible for the newspaperʹs politi‐ goal of controlling the journalistsʹ work. It was cal point of view as the owners and not we made those demanded that the whole tone of the newspapers decisions. This document concludes that Božidar be pro‐Ustasha, that they glorify the Head of the Novak clearly speaks of relationships between the state, and that they use the translations from the governing politicians and the journalism: the jour‐ Italian and German newsletters when reporting on nalists paid a very high price the change of the regime – foreign affairs /16/. Although this was impossible firstly with their salaries and then with their freedom to do in reality, the repression towards the journal‐ and lives. /19/ Thinking of the last April days of ists was as strong till the end of the war. Nonethe‐ Yugoslavia, Ivo Mihovilović, the then director of less, even the smallest mistakes, such as shortening the Zagreber Novosti, said: Do you have any idea the text or showing the slightest hostility towards what our work looked like in those days? As if all of us the allies, could have been fatal for the editors and were writing our joint resignation. At that time I knew the journalists /17/. that was our last joint job. /20/ The ISC government removed all the journalists However, some of the journalists embraced the that used to work in once most influential news‐ new regime and were at disposal to it. paper, such as Jutarnji list, Novosti etc. Younger /21/Although it was clearly that only a minority of people, often not very experienced, took over their them shared the Ustasha ideals, and the others positions. From the journalistʹs point view, there hoped that the cooperation with the governing was a clear decadency and stagnation, and the new regime would ensure them a better status. Daniel policy asked for an Ustasha tone in all areas of Uvanović, who was deported to the authorities of reporting. The same source reports that Tias the Federal Peopleʹs Republic of Yugoslavia Mortigjija was appointed the commissioner for the (FPRY), similarly argumented his way of writing CPPʹs newsletter Hrvatski dnevnik, where the and propaganda in favour of German war accom‐ source was working and the newsletter was plishments, Nazi doctrine, Ustasha ideology and promptly abolished. All the journalists were told anti‐Bolshevik fights. When asked about glorifying that they have to keep appearing at the editorial Hitler and his war accomplishments, he replied: board. Soon after a meeting was held by Matija This question arises from my writing style. However, it Kovačić in the room of the former Jutarnji list, and was neither my personal belief nor intention to justify all the journalists of the abolished newspapers Hitlerʹs plans or actions let alone glorify them. This were obliged to come. Matija Kovačićas, a gov‐ article was written according to the directives of the ernment commissioner, explained to them that the Main Directorate for the Promotion Marketing new state needs them, but they need to be reorgan‐ (MDPM) that demanded a special addition was written ised under his leadership first. On that occasion a to give a special meaning to the German government group of journalists was chosen for the main polit‐ and its Nazi beliefs. ical newspaper Hrvatski narod (Croatian People) and When later asked why he glorifies the Ustasha Nova Hrvatska (New Croatia). Among the journalists movement, Uvanović said: who were not chosen was Mirko Glojnarić, a The mentioned style of writing approves all Ustasha prominent CPP member who then returns to his activities, including its fights and was entirely written

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Alan Labus: THE PROFESSION OF A JOURNALIST IN THE INDEPENDENT STATE OF CROATIA Informatol. 46, 2013., 1, 26‐39 31 in the spirit of the Ustasha propaganda. However, it CJA. The occupation of a journalist was declared a was neither my intention nor my convincement that public occupation and it was to be acquired by there were any arguments to support the many Ustasha being added on the List of Journalists and Journalist atrocities... /22/ Trainee. The condition was being of full age and The membership in the Croatian Journalistsʹ Asso‐ passed Matura test. The applied person had to ciation, the roof organisation of all journalists, was have a citizenship of Aryan heritage and not mar‐ a main condition to be able to perform the job of a ried to a non‐Aryan person based on the law regu‐ journalist in the ISC. The first leadership of the lation on protection of blood and honour of the CJA were: Matija Kovačić, the president, the Croatian people, which was taken from the Ger‐ Ustasha prominents dr. Ivo Mrakovčić, Antun man Law on editors from 1933. /23/ The journalistsʹ Šenda, Franjo Dujmović, Ante Jedvaj and Josipom role was to work on Ustasha well‐being, which is Blažina. Mile Budak was appointed an honorary also confirmed by the article 29 of the CJAʹs rule‐ president. CJAʹs rulebook, that was in power from book: The Ustasha supporter is invited to destroy all September 23, 1942 (later known as a part of the attempts against homeland and state as determined as Law on Jurnalists and Journalisms, had strict rules he can, if necessary with blood. /24/ and conditions on who can become a member of

Figure 2 – Being a member of CJA was a licence to work in the editorial boards of the ISC

In order to become an associate, assume a perma‐ membership in the CJA, they also had to fill in a nent position or an editor in the ISC, beside the questionnaire on personal data that looked very

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Alan Labus: THE PROFESSION OF A JOURNALIST IN THE INDEPENDENT STATE OF CROATIA 32 Informatol. 46, 2013., 1, 26‐39 much like a police file. It asked for not only per‐ Vilim Peroš, Tijasa Mortigjije, that all the journal‐ sonal data like name, address, qualifications, but ists were under strict control of the regime in the also religion, membership in the Ustasha‐Croatian period from 1941 till 1945 and in order to be able to Liberation Movement, hair colour, form of the fore‐ survive, they had to fully obey all the goals of the head as well as a picture as a proof. /25/ This is also Ustasha propaganda. /26/ confirmed by the statements made by the impris‐ oned journalists in the ISC, Danijel Uvanović,

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Alan Labus: THE PROFESSION OF A JOURNALIST IN THE INDEPENDENT STATE OF CROATIA Informatol. 46, 2013., 1, 26‐39 33

Figure 3– The questionnaire the journalists had to take prior to working in the editorial boards

Croatian Journalistsʹ Society had a key role in ensur‐ porary journalist, the war circumstances made the life ing the basic needs and social security of the jour‐ in extremely difficult for all people living on nalists in the ISC. Since, as reported by a contem‐ their monthly salaries, and not participating in some

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Alan Labus: THE PROFESSION OF A JOURNALIST IN THE INDEPENDENT STATE OF CROATIA 34 Informatol. 46, 2013., 1, 26‐39 illegal activities. The CJA helped its protégés to find responsible for the reform in the business of the firewood but it also helped them with loans. The newspaper editorials and all the journalists were Societyʹs incomes were accumulated with member‐ laid off in order to ensure the closing of new deals ship fees and surtaxes on advertising in local but not with the editorial boards but with the newspapers. The surtax was implemented by the Ustasha Publishing Institute. In the middle of the Ustasha government upon CJAʹs request to ensure year 1944, the minister Mirko Puk takes over the financial basis for autonomous retirement insur‐ Instituteabolishing the Law on Journalism and ance. In the end of the year 1941 an agreement was issuing an order on mandatory membership in the reached between big daily newspapers Hrvatskog Ustasha movement. According to an anonymous naroda (Croatian people), Nove Hrvatske and contemporary, this was a very difficult period for Hrvatskog lista to stop issuing all Sundayʹs issues many journalists. Many of them lost their jobs, and thus a medium room was created for Nedjeljne some were politically persecuted and some of viesti (Sunday News) published by Croatian Journal‐ them feared for their lives due to strong repression istsʹ Society (CJA). by the Luburićevac group (Vjekoslav Max Luburić, When the weekly newsweekly Nedjeljne viesti the commander Jasenovac concentration camp and (Sunday News) appeared on the market, the jour‐ the head of the third department of the USS, the nalists got a day off weekly, and the ICA an extra so‐called Ustasha Defence) and the military sup‐ income. Beside the informative character, this porters of Josa Rukavina. Despite the enormous newsweekly was also a union newsletter. At first, pressure, only an insignificant number of the jour‐ journalists of different editorial boards wrote arti‐ nalists gave in /29/.All these measures had a cles for Nedjeljne viesti (Sunday News) without any unique goal – toe insure th unified model of in‐ pay. However, for the year 1943 the newspaper forming promoting he Wellbeing of the ISC, became very professional and changed its name to Ustasha principles and higher political interests Novine (The News). At the beginning of 1942, this that were clear only to the policy makers. In the newsweekly came out on three pages, then on last few months of the war in 1944 and 1945, the eight during 1943, then ten and twelve during ISC was no longer in charge of it territory and state 1944. Till the end of the year 1942 the editor was institutions /30/,as reported by some Swiss report‐ Antun Šenda, and then Josip Blažina. According to ers. The Head tried to conduct the Ustasha policy the MDPM decision in 1943 abridged versions of in all segments of the Croatian society and ensure the newsweekly were being published in Osijek the monolithic of the alignment with Germany and and Sarajevo. This newsweekly was especially Italy till the end of the war, no matter what the end significant for a better understanding of the jour‐ result was. Hence the journalists as well. The jour‐ nalistsʹ position in the ISC, which was understand‐ nalists who did not want to join the Ustasha able as the newsweekly was created by CJA. movement, was fired in a month without the right A large number of articles were dedicated to jour‐ on separation pay. So thirty to forty journalists, nalists and their work, as well as their social status eight of which from the Hrvatskog naroda(Croatian /27/.The surtax on all daily issues and its own people) and fifteen from Nove Hrvatske (New Croatia) newsweekly were a certain favour the Ustasha were not only fired but also automatically enlisted. government did for the CJA in order to improve Dr. Mirko Puk, the minister, had to remove that the journalistsʹ position in the ISC but also to make was not Ustasha, so the journalists who did not them even more dependent on benefits of market‐ pledge to the Ustasha regime were included ing the ISC state. The creating of the side fond was /31/.Vilim Peroš, the principal of the Nove Hrvatske of essential importance for many journalists in the (New Croatia), after being deported from Rome in ISC from the middle of 1942 when due to paper 1947 to the authorities of the FPRY, explained why shortage 72 newsweekly, biweekly news, news he forced the staff to join the Ustasha organisation: monthly and bimonthly newspapers were abol‐ In December of 1944 Dr. Puk, who was the Head of the ished by a SORPʹs decision /28/. Ustasha Publishing Institute, asked me to give him an Starting from the spring 1943 and by the decision declaration of each member of the editorial board wheth‐ of the Ustasha government, all the newspapers in er he is or is not a member of the Ustasha editorial the ISC were under direct control of the Ustasha board. I presented this dr. Pukʹs memo to each member Publishing Institute in order to strengthen the and then sent their declaration to dr. Puk officially. Ustasha influence in editorials boards. The first Afterwards, based on these declarations, he asked me to director of the Institute was dr. Edo Bulat, who was fire almost all the members of the editorial board who

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Alan Labus: THE PROFESSION OF A JOURNALIST IN THE INDEPENDENT STATE OF CROATIA Informatol. 46, 2013., 1, 26‐39 35 declared that they are not the members of the Ustasha vincing content by an accomplished Croatian au‐ movement. They then suggested I fire those who were thor. An anonymous author, interrogated in 1947 less diligent and professional. Then I asked the members by FPRY, described this as follows: Some of the of the editorial board to write a short summary of their Spremnosti (Readiness)ʹ associates were the University jobs, tasks and articles they wrote in the last two ProfessorGrga Novak, Kus Nikolajev, dr. Ante Ciliga months. I then presented those elaborates with my opin‐ and the above mentioned Magdić (op. a. Milivoj). ion to dr. Puk. Based on this, all the journalists who /35/An awkward combination of clerofashists, were serving the civil duty were fired: Katičić, the city „trockists“, „social‐democrats“, and the Yugoslavs! For reporter, Svoboda, Betanik, who later was kept and the Ustashas, this was the need of the times. They need‐ Maruševski was fired, Mlinarić, Djunio, Ožegović, Ivan ed to elaborate to some of the famous names the reason Ambrozić and Salih Alić. I do not think anybody else why some articles were written /36/. Hence was fired. /32/ Spremnost(Readiness) was somewhat different than In the ISC there were journalists who did not fit the rest of the daily newspapers and periodicals their ideological profile, but nonetheless were not since the Teheran conference /37/. fired due to their academical respect in the com‐ The Ustasha regime tried to keep the journalists munity, influence in the society and their reputa‐ under its control. The fact that the journalists had tion were used to promote Ustasha principles. So, difficulties trying to obtain the passport to travel in 1941 Ante Ciliga /33/, a famous publicist of the abroad also proves the difficult situation and the communist orientation ended up in the concentra‐ strict control they were under. They had to under‐ tion camp in the period between the two wars. go a comply and very strict control on several in‐ However, the Ustasha regime recognised his influ‐ stances. In the case of a prominent regime journal‐ ence and importance in the promotion of their ist and a member of the editorial board of the propaganda in the ISC, so he was rehabilitated Hrvatskog narodav(Croatian people), Boris Berković, under constant supervision and political control. In the procedure lasted over a month procedure the beginning of the year 1943 on the initiative of (April/Mai in 1943), and several levels of decision Ivo Bogdan, the principal for the main political makings were involved. After preliminary confirm daily newspaper in the ISC (soon after the head of of the Zagreb headquarters of the Ustasha – Croa‐ the MDPM in the ISC) and Aleksandra Seitza, the tian Liberation Movement, on Berković behalf, chief of the Headʹs office, Ciliga was dismissed Hrvatski narod (Croatian People) applied to the from the concentration camp Jasenovac, as the SORP and the Department for Print and Photo of the political Ustasha influential considered his erudi‐ MFA, in order to obtain a positive answer, i.e. the tion and eloquence, and above his knowledge of possibility of issuing the passport at the police, the USSR, could serve in their anti‐communist Department for Passports, Zagreb /38/. All this actions. /34/Hence in Zagreb Spremnosti (Readiness) makes it clear that a journalistʹs escape to a neutral during 1943 and 1944 a series of columns was ded‐ country was impossible, except joining the PLM, icated to the criticism of the communist regime in which many of the Croatian writers and journalists the . Ciling cooperated with a diver‐ did, like Vladimir Nazor, Ivan Goran Kovačić or gent group of intellectuals in the Spremnosti (Readi‐ Nova Hrvatska (New Croati)aʹs writer Šime Balena ness) as the Ustasha regime, with the press context /39/. taken over from the Axis press, needed on the pages of the political and cultural magazine a con‐

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Alan Labus: THE PROFESSION OF A JOURNALIST IN THE INDEPENDENT STATE OF CROATIA 36 Informatol. 46, 2013., 1, 26‐39

Figure 4– The certificate of the Ustasha organisation that guaranteed issuing of the passport to the journalists in the ISC

Regardless of all the precautions of the Ustasha fear amongst the responsible journalists who regime, the journalists did not truly believe all the feared political mistakes and radical punishment information given to the public. Since the begin‐ of the journalists. A memo sent to Journalist De‐ ning of the 1942 many journalists secretly listened partment it I s clear that some journalists were to the enemy radio stations, and read the Ministry fired for no obvious reason while others were not of Foreign Affairsʹ newsletter Izvještajni ured (Re‐ punished for mistakes they had made. The memo porting office) thus having an access to the neutral states: journalism, and it became obvious that the Ger‐ A materialistic and moral injustice was made, especial‐ manyʹs victory on the Eastern front was question‐ ly towards the journalist Ambrozić, who is a provider able. A further proof of this was a meeting of of a family of ten. This brings even bigger hatred of the newspapers editors, commentators and associates Ustasha regime, and this is something that should be of the external affairs coloumns and radio held on having a special attention because of the marketing. CHAʹs invitation early 1942, attended by Ministry /41/ This all supports the thesis that the journalists of Foreign Affairsʹ representatives and the minis‐ were under strict control of SORP, MFY and USS, ter himself, Mladen Lorković. Some of the journal‐ and that fear of the sanctions in the editorial ists openly asked the minister about the current boards they made some denunciations. As far as situation on the Eastern front, about the Soviet the Ustasha, i.e. state offices were concerned; the offensive and the difficult situation of the German journalistsʹ job was closely connected to the politi‐ forces, and some even asked him what he thought cal interests, Ustasha movement, whose reputa‐ of the neutral journalism of Sweden and Switzer‐ tion was seriously damaged at that time accord‐ land on the Soviet success /40/.This confirms the ing to a memo from the year 1942. thesis that many journalists fearing for their life The Ustasha leadership denied civic rights and and survival were forced to think one think, speak freedom, especially the freedom of speech, which the other and write the third. directly disabled the journalists to write based on The pressure on the newspaper editors was the truth. The fact that the journalists and editors enormous. On one occasion on September 5, 1942, were arrested because of what they wrote is fur‐ USS had to intervene in SORP due to the panicky ther supported by the example of T. Mortigjija

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Alan Labus: THE PROFESSION OF A JOURNALIST IN THE INDEPENDENT STATE OF CROATIA Informatol. 46, 2013., 1, 26‐39 37 who was arrested in the fall of the year 1941, as the Secretiat for Internal Affairs of the Socialist ordered by A. Pavelić, because of a piece of news Republic of Croatia (SIA of SRC), Institute for he wrote about CPP prominents Janko Tortić and State Security, and the memoirs of the journalists dr. Josip Berković. T. Mortigjija also states that and politicians in the ISC. A part of the promi‐ Milan Lavicki, the editor of the economy column nent intellectuals in the ISC, who by no means in Hrvatski narod(Croatian People), was also arrest‐ belonged to the Ustasha regime, were Ante Ciliga, ed, and many more who were severely warned Grge Novak or Mirko Kus Nikolajev, the column‐ /42/. ist of Spremnosti (Readiness), rehabilitated by the Terror over the journalists and their work was Ustasha. This was Ustasha regimeʹs way of show‐ intensified in the year 1943. Many of the journal‐ ing its openness towards the different political ists ended up in the concentration camps or were views, its simulation of freedom and its attempts executed, especially those not supportive of the to gain credibility. Because of this the newsweekly regime. Among the sixteen people hanged in De‐ Spremnost (Readiness) had a special place in the cember, 21 1943 for being proven communists, press in the ISC. were some journalists of the news agency Croatia, On the first Conference of journalists of the ISC dr. Branimir Ivakić, Petar Mihočević, then the held on July 16, 1941 out of 147 journalists on the journalists Ljubomir Sokolović, Radovan list about 40% of journalists became unwanted Reicherzer and the distinguished writer Bogdan and in the years to come some of them even lost Ogrizović, as reported by Nova Hrvatska (New their job, due to financial difficulties and extin‐ Croatia) /43/. guishing of 73 newspapers in 1942, technical error or due to flagrant opponents to the Ustasha re‐ Conclusion gime in the year 1944 when the editorial boards were becoming pro‐Ustasha. Some of the journal‐ The journalist occupation in the Independent ists were unfortunately executed, like dr. Branimir State of Croatia in the period from 1941to 1945 Ivakić, Petar Mihočević, Ljubomir Sokolović, Ra‐ was brought down to the spokesman of the only dovan Reicherzer and the prominent writer allowed political party – Ustasha‐Croatian Libera‐ Bogdana Ogrizovića. tion Movement. The social status, the rights and the In order to become an associate, assume a perma‐ responsibilities towards the State were deter‐ nent position or an editor in the ISC, was the mined by the Law on Journalists and journalism, membership in the CJA and filling in a question‐ which was taken from the German Law on editors naire on personal data, which was a guarantee from 1933. Upon the establishment of the ISC, the that the person applying for the job was racially, journalists were politically selected and after‐ nationally, confessionally and ideologically right. wards carefully controlled by the government CJA had a very important social role for journal‐ offices and agencies the CIS, CNO Croatia, SORP/ ists in difficult situation, which the Ustasha re‐ MDPM, but also the police, USS and MFA. The gime used in promoting purposes. Namely, by multilevel censorship was conducted in the edito‐ implementing surtax on all newspaper issues in rial boards, then by the government through the the ISC and allowing them to have their own appointed offices and agencies, followed by the newsweekly Nedjeljne viesti (Novina), the govern‐ censorship done by the police agents, who spread ment ensured an income for the CJA, which was fear among the journalists from the middle of the partly used as financial basis for autonomous year of 1944 when Mirko Puk, the minister and retirement insurance and partly as aid for the the head of the Ustasha Publishing Institute, de‐ poorest journalists. clared that in order to be a journalist one had to Since the beginning of the year 1943 administra‐ be a member of the Ustasha‐Croatian Liberation tive and financial jurisdictions for all the press in Movement. Fearing for their life, the greatest num‐ the ISC was assumed by the Ustasha Publishing ber of the journalists was forced to write accord‐ Institute, and since then all the journalists were no ing to the directives obtained from the Department longer employees of the editorial boards but of for Journalism in the SORP/MDPM, which is clear the newly found Institute. Their position was from the documents of the Fonds of the Presiden‐ even worsened since the Institute was initially cy of the Government in the SORP/MDPM , im‐ established to implement the rationalisation of the migrant testimonies of prominent officials of press in the time of the war when having paper newspaper editorials or government agencies in was considered a wealth, but also to further tie

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Alan Labus: THE PROFESSION OF A JOURNALIST IN THE INDEPENDENT STATE OF CROATIA 38 Informatol. 46, 2013., 1, 26‐39 the journalists to the marketing interests of the /8/ After being deported to Democratic Federal Yugo‐ Ustasha government. This will become obvious in slavia (DFY) and during his interviews on March 9, the end of the year 1955 and the beginning of the 1947, Daniel Uvanović said Tajne vijesti (Secret News) year 1945 when the Ustasha government openly were sent to ministers, some state offices, newspa‐ persʹ principals and about 50 foreign journalists Till tried to make all the journalists pro‐Ustasha. the end of the war the number was reduced to about 12 to16 users as ordered by the Minister of the Notes Internal Affairs, dr. Mate Frkovića, CSA, Fond RSUP‐SRH‐SDS (1561), 0131.18 – Record of the in‐ /1/ Itković Zuckerman, Boško, Funkcija protužidovske terview conducted with Danijel Uvanović on March propagande zagrebačkih novina u Nezavisnoj Državi 9, 1947. Hrvatskoj od travnja do srpnja 1941. godine, Časopis za /9/ Spomen knjiga prve obljetnice the ISC, 46.‐ 48. Domaća suvremenu povijest 38, br. 1, 80., Zagreb 2006. , 81. služba (Interior Office) was divided into political, Unnamed source, a journalist in the ISC, states the county and Zagreb, whereas the Inozemna (Foreign CIS was under the Ministry of the Foreign Affairs, Affairs) was divided into correspondence, economic most probably thinking of the additional control of and sports. Novinska služba (Journalists Office) re‐ the confidential diplomatic information. However, ceived about 100‐150 pieces of news and infor‐ the CIS was not a part of the MFA. CSA, Fond of mation daily, and during the Parliament sitting rec‐ RSUP SRH SDS (1561), 0131.18. ord of 357 pages. /2/ The German Ministry for Peopleʹs illumination and /10/ Antun Nizeteo, a writer (1913. – 2000.) After the marketing were also music, theatre, art. Jareb, Mar‐ establishment of the ISC he finds employment with io, Media and Marketing of the Independent State of the MFA and was appointed the ambassador for Croatia, Independent State of Croatia from 1941to 1945 – cultural relations in Rome. After Italyʹs capitulation almanac, Zagreb 2009. he was appointed thethe Beliff of the Department of /3/ After Ivo Bogdan, who initially led the agency, the the cultural relations with the MFA, and just before agency was led by the Ustasha colonel Josip Mrmić. the end of the war was transferred to the newly Since January till August of the year 1942 he was the opened consulate in Prague. After the break of fall bailiff of the Croatian News Office Croatia, and later of the ISC he moved to Munich, and then to the he has several duties in the Headquarters of the USA. Tko je tko u NDH (Who is who in the ISC), 297., Ustasha military and the Ministry of Defence. CSA, 298. Fond of the Presidency of the Government of the /11/ CSA, Fond RSUP‐SRH‐SDS (1561), 0131.18. ISC – CIS, summary inventory, 2.‐ 10. /12/ Op. cit. /4/ On November, 3 1941 special commissioner for /13/ Spomen knjiga prve obljetnice Nezavisne Države journalism with the Presidency of the Government Hrvatske, 40. warns that CIS cannot make a diplomatic, i.e. inter‐ /14/ CSA, Fond RSUP‐SRH‐SDS, 0131.18 national announcement without the prior approval /15/ Grbelja, Josip, Uništeni naraštaji, Zagreb 2000., 18.‐ of the MFA. CSA, Fond of the CIS (1078), 2911/41. 20. /5/ CSA, Fond RSUP SRH SDS (1561), 0131.18. After the /16/ Jelić, Butić, F., op. cit., 204., Mortigjija, Tijas, Moj news about the Belgrade revolution spread in životopis, Zagreb, 1996., 75. March 1941, Josip Mrmić, Ustasha colonel (1907 ‐ ?) /17/ Grbelja, J., op. cit, 27. takes part in establishing the radio station Velebit in /18/ CSA, Fond RSUP SRH SDS, 0131.18. . After the ISC was established, he was ap‐ /19/ Novak, Božidar, Hrvatsko novinarstvo u 20.stoljeću, pointed the commissioner for the Petrinja County, Zagreb 2005., 313. – 315. and soon after the Head of the Ustasha Headquar‐ /20/ Košutić, Ivan, Rađanje, život i umiranje jedne države. ters Gora in Petrinja. From January 1942 he was the 49 mjeseci the ISC, Zagreb, 1997., 33. bailiff of the CNO Croatia. From Ostober 1943 till /21/ Upon the establshment of the ISC, the Ustasha January 1945 he was the head of the Educational journalists and editors showed their loyalty by at‐ department of the Ministry of Defence. After the tending a reception bei the Head in July of the year war he emigrated to the US. Tko je tko u NDH (Who 1941, which was reported on in the Novi list July 26, is who in the ISC), 284. 1941.Itković Z. B., op. cit., 81. /6/ The frequent changes of the jurisdiction over the /22/ Fond RSUP‐SRH‐SDS (1561), 0131.18 – Record of media and the marketing in general since the estab‐ the interview conducted with Danijel Uvanović on lishment of the ISC (State Secretary for Peopleʹs il‐ March 9, 1947. lumination, SORP, MDPM) do not change the fact /23/ The German law from the October 4, 1933 states that there was always a central body that in the pe‐ that the editor can be only the person with German riod from 1941 to 1945 was competent for all the citizehship, of Aryan heritage and married to a per‐ media in the ISC. Jareb, M., op. cit., 92., 93. son of non‐Aryan heritage. CSA, Fond of the Presi‐ /7/ CSA, Fond of the Presidency of the Government of dency of the Government CIS (237), A. J. 313. the ISC – CIS, summary inventory, 2.‐ 10. /24/ Novak, Božidar, op. cit, 317. – 318.

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/25/ CSA, Fond 237, box 42, 1492/944. was the custodian of the Museum of arts and crafts /26/ CSA, Fond Fond RSUP‐SRH‐SDS (1561), 0131.18 in Zagreb and the Museum of a south Serbia in /27/ B. NOVAK, op. cit, , 291. Skopje. After the establishment of the ISC he was /28/ CSA, Fond 237, box 10, 844/42 arrested (Kerestinec), and from the middle of the /29/ The source states that they knew of no old journalist year1942 he was the librarian in the MDPM, be‐ (from the ex editorial boards) who signed the cause of which he was sentenced in 1946 to long Ustasha movement membership. CSA, Fond RSUP imprisonment. During the ISC he cooperated with SRH SDS (1561), 0131.18. many magazines such as: Spremnost (Readiness), /30/ In the middle of November 1944, Berner Der Bund Suradnja, Hrvatski krugoval, Hrvatska misao, itd. Tko je reports that in Croatia there is no legal authority. tko u NDH (who is Who in the ISC), 222. Milivoj Zagreb is completely isolated from the rest of the Magdić, publicist (Koprivnica 1900. – Zagreb 1948.) state and strictly controlled by the Gestapo. Pavelić In his articles he was trying to connec the principles and his associates would in a case of need be trans‐ of the social democracy with the Croatian state idea. ferred to Germany by a plane. Of all Ustasha units He greets the establishment of the ISSC, but is very allegedly only four devisions remained faithful to critical towards the regime and its activities. He be‐ Wermacht. CSA, MVP – Izvještajni ured (Reporting came an associate of Spremnosti (Readiness), Where office), kut. 27, The review of the Swiss press, No. he published the brochures Intelektualci prema 789, Kaos u Hrvatskoj (Chaos in Croatia). marksizmu i liberalizmu, Najstrašnije razdoblje života /31/ Grbelja, J., op. cit., 97.‐98. seljačtva u Sovjetskoj Uniji i Slučaj Vere Wagnerove.Tko /32/ CSA, RSUP SRH SDS (1561), 0131.18 – Zapisnik je tko u NDH (Who is who in the ISC), 249.‐250. razgovora od 6. kolovoza 1947. Record of the interview /36/ CSA, Fond Fond RSUP‐SRH‐SDS (1561), 0131.18 conducted on August 6, 1947. /37/ Labus, Alan, Politika i novine u NDH, Plejada, Za‐ /33/ Ante Ciliga, politician and a publicist (Šegotići greb 2011., 65. – 70. nearby Vodnjan, 1898 – Zagreb, 1992). After the ISC /38/ CSA, Fond of the Presidency of the Government was established he was arrested based on an old SORP /MDPM(237), 3080/43. Yugoslav warrant and imprisoned in Jasenovac. In /39/ CSA, Fond Fond RSUP‐SRH‐SDS (1561), 0131.18 January of the year 1943 was released and appoint‐ /40/ Košutić, I., op. cit., 241.‐244. ed the editor of Spremnosti(Readiness), Where is al‐ /41/ CSA, Fond of the Presidency of the Government lowed to publish his analysis of the Soviet com‐ SORP /MDPM(237),1332/42. Ambrozić Ivan was the munism. During the war he published the books: editor of the second edition of Nove Hrvatske (New Deset godina u Sovjetskoj Rusiji, Komunistička stranka. Croatia), CSA, Fond of the Presidency of the Gov‐ Nacrt ustrojstva.ect.Tko je tko u NDH (Who is who in ernment SORP /MDPM(237), 1356/42., Novak, B., the ISC),, 70., 71. op. cit., 310. – 311. /34/ CSA, Fond Fond RSUP‐SRH‐SDS (1561), 0131.18 /42/ Mortigjija T., op. cit., 33., 73. /35/ Mirko Kus‐Nikolajev, sociologist and ethnologist /43/ Novak, B., op. cit., 312. – 313. (Zagreb, 1896.– Zagreb, 1961.).between the wars he

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