The European Day of Remembrance for Victims of Totalitarian and Authoritarian Regimes in Vodice was marked by the unveiling of the Monument to the Victims of Yugoslav Communism, the first monument of its kind in Croatia. The unveiling of the monument was preceded by a holy mass for the victims, which will be served by Šibenik Bishop Msgr. Ante Ivas in the parish church of St. Cross.
The monument features a semi-circular design that incorporates water and light. Reflectors inside the monument create light that exits through perforations, highlighting the openings at night. At regular intervals, orchestral music by Croatian composers is played, and an additional element featuring a cross, national coat of arms, name, and commemorative text is placed next to the monument.
The monument does not include the names of victims. It is known that on a broader Vodice area, 153 people were brutally murdered, with 90% being civilians, and the Golubinka pit remains uninvestigated. The construction of the monument costs slightly over 200,000 kuna and is financed from the city budget, while the Croatian Home Guard Association contributes approximately 30% of funds donated by citizens.
The City of Vodice in partnership with the 'Hrvatski Domobran' Association, and ceremony was opened by Zvonimir Šeparović, President of the Croatian Victimology Society.
"The association "Hrvatski domobran" was founded on 1991, in Zagreb [...] It also takes care of finding, marking, dignified maintenance, and protection of graves of fallen and executed members of the Croatian Home Army and civilian victims during World War II..."
The name "Hrvatski domobran" is also the name of the historical political organisation. Hrvatski Domobran (Croatian Home Defenders) political organisation was founded in 1928. and was a Croat political organization that advocated independence for Croatia from Yugoslavia, and became associated with the Ustaše.
Kažimir Hraste