June 22This holiday in Croatia, also called Anti-Fascism Day, dates back to the Second World War. After Nazi Germany invaded and conquered Yugoslavia in 1941, Croatia became a German puppet state under a government of Croatian fascists, called the Usta e. One of the resistance groups that sprang up to oppose the fascist government was called the Partisans. It was headed by a half-Croatian Communist leader called Tito (his real name was Josip Broz), who later appointed himself president for life of Yugoslavia.
Anti-Fascist Resistance Day is a national holiday in Croatia. Like most warm weather holidays in the country, it is celebrated with outdoor barbeques and fireworks.
CONTACTS:
Embassy of Croatia
2343 Massachusetts Ave. N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20008
202-588-8497; fax: 202-234-2363
croatiaemb.org