The Gospić concentration camp ( hr, Sabirni logor Gospić; sr, Koncentracioni logor Gospić) was one of 26 concentration camps in the
Independent State of Croatia
The Independent State of Croatia ( sh, Nezavisna Država Hrvatska, NDH; german: Unabhängiger Staat Kroatien; it, Stato indipendente di Croazia) was a World War II-era puppet state of Nazi Germany and Fascist Italy (1922–1943), Fascist It ...
during
World War II
World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...
, established in
Gospić (modern-day
Croatia
, image_flag = Flag of Croatia.svg
, image_coat = Coat of arms of Croatia.svg
, anthem = "Lijepa naša domovino"("Our Beautiful Homeland")
, image_map =
, map_caption =
, capit ...
).
Establishment
It belonged to the complex Gospić group of concentration camps which besides Gospić camp also included
Jadovno, Ovčara, Pag (
Slana and Metajna). The establishment of this complex of concentration camps marked the beginning of the final phase of the
Holocaust in the Independent State of Croatia, mass murders.
The Gospić concentration camp was established in May 1941 in the building which was used as a prison before
World War II
World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...
and organized by Jozo Rukavina. The first transport of inmates from
Danica concentration camp
Danica was the first concentration and extermination camp established in the Independent State of Croatia during World War II. It was established in Koprivnica (modern-day Croatia) on 15 or 20 April 1941 in the deserted building of former fertiliz ...
was organized on 30 June 1941. The prison in Gospić was placed in a large square building which equal sides of 130 meters. It was erected in 1878 and used as a prison for prisoners sentenced to life imprisonment.
Inmates
Based on the orders issued by Ustaše command in Zagreb on 19 July 1941, notable Serbs were captured and sent to the Gospić concentration camp divided into small groups of 20 to 30. The Serbs, Jews and Romani people were captured all over the territory of the Independent State of Croatia and transported to Gospić concentration camp at daily rate of three hundred.
On 1 August 1941 Ustaše transported the first group of Jews from
Visoko
Visoko ( sr-cyrl, Високо, ) is a city located in the Zenica-Doboj Canton of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, an entity of Bosnia and Herzegovina. As of 2013, the municipality had a population of 39,938 inhabitants with 11,205 livi ...
in
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Bosnia and Herzegovina ( sh, / , ), abbreviated BiH () or B&H, sometimes called Bosnia–Herzegovina and often known informally as Bosnia, is a country at the crossroads of south and southeast Europe, located in the Balkans. Bosnia and H ...
to Gospić camp.
About 300 women and children were transported on 11 March 1944 from Gospić to Jasenovac where they were all killed.
[: "On 11 March 1944, 300 women and children from northern Dalmatia, having been interned at Gospic, were deported to the Croat concentration camp at Jasenovac (right, below). Not a single one survived."]
Aftermath
The
Jasenovac concentration camp was founded as an extension of the disestablished Gospic and Jadovnik camps. The first inmates of Jasenovac camp were brought from Gospić concentration camp in period 19—21 August 1941.
References
Sources
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Gospic, concentration camp
Concentration camps of the Independent State of Croatia
Jewish Croatian history
The Holocaust in Yugoslavia
History of the Serbs of Croatia