The Last Nazis TV - Christopher Hichens - The Death of Yugoslavia 1996 - Secret Wars Uncovered TV -
[Milivoj] Aschner was a chief of police in the newly formed state of Croatia when the country gained its independence in 1941 in exchange for supporting the Nazis. The Last Nazis I, PBS 2009
In the 1940s, this meant a Nazi puppet state, set up in Croatia and enjoying the patronage of the Vatican, which naturally sought to exterminate all the Jews in the region but also undertook a campaign of forcible conversion directed at the other Christian community. Tens of thousands of Orthodox Christians were either slaughtered or deported in consequence, and a vast concentration camp was set up near the two of Jasenovacs. Christopher Hitchens, God is Not Great p21
So began a secret operation that would culminate in Croatia’s war of independence from Yugoslavia. The Death of Yugoslavia II: The Road to War, BBC 1995
With the collapse of communism, the two major republics – Serbia and Croatia – fell under the sway of rival nationalism. ibid.
The bleak land of southern Croatia was home to large numbers of Serbs. It was here that the fuse was lit that would lead the whole of Yugoslavia to ignite. ibid.
The Yugoslav high command faced the fact that the government of Croatia was equipping itself to form a rival army. ibid.
With a mixed population of Muslims, Serbs and Croats, Bosnia had most to lose if Yugoslavia descended into civil war. ibid.
The republic of Croatia declares itself independent from Yugoslavia and pleads for the world’s recognition. Behind their smiles, Croatia’s leaders were nervous. They feared that Serbia, the biggest Yugoslav republic, would crush them. The neighbouring republic of Slovenia also declared independence that day. The Death of Yugoslavia III: Wars of Independence
‘If we grant the Croat people the right to leave Yugoslavia, then they can’t deny others the right to make their own choice.’ ibid. Milosevic
Once the army was done, the local Serbs walked in. The Yugoslav flag was raised as the army seized Croat town after Croat town. ibid.
Milosevic’s generals, unimpressed by peace plans, had just begun shelling the ancient walled city of Dubrovnic. ibid.
Now they controlled one third of Croatia. ibid.
‘Ethnic cleansing: what does that remind you of? And what is our responsibility?’ The Death of Yugoslavia V: A Safe Area, The Donahue Show
The Bosnian Croats turned on their former Muslim allies … Responsibility for the camps went right to the top of the Croat government. ibid.
Croatia had lost a quarter of its territory to rebel Serbs. The Death of Yugoslavia VI: Pax Americana
In the early days of the war the Catholic Croats and Muslim Bosniacs were allies against the Bosnian Serbs … They began fighting each other instead. Secret Wars Uncovered: Battleground Bosnia, Sky History 2020