Day of Remembrance of Missing Persons in the Croatian War of Independence (Dan sjećanja na nestale osobe u Domovinskom ratu)
The Day of Remembrance of Missing Persons in the Croatian War of Independence is a memorial day in Croatia. It is called Dan sjećanja na nestale osobe u Domovinskom ratu in Croatian and falls on August 30 yearly.
The Croatian War of Independence called Domovinski rat ended almost 30 years ago. However, we’re still looking for the remains of some people who were killed and those who have been missing since the war.
On this memorial day, we remember everyone who is considered missing in the Croatian War of Independence. Since it is a memorial day (not a holiday), it is a working day.
In this post, we cover:
The facts are these…
Day of Remembrance of Missing Persons in the Croatian War of Independence
Basics about the Croatian War of Independence
The Croatian War of Independence, also called the Homeland War or Domovinski rat in Croatian, was a war between Croatia and joint forces of Serbian extremists in Croatia, the Yugoslav People’s Army, and Serbia and Montenegro. It was fought between 1991 and 1995.
The Croatian War of Independence was a defensive war for the independence and integrity of the Croatian state. The war ended with the victory of Croatia, as well as the complete defeat of Serbia and Yugoslav politics.
The war had many repercussions including:
- More than 12.000 Croats were killed
- Many people have been declared missing, and their fate is still unknown
- More than 180.000 residential buildings were damaged or destroyed
- Many Croats were forced to leave their homes in the occupied territories
- ~550.000 Croats were expelled from their homes at the end of 1991
- ~150.000 Croatian refugees left Croatia
Current situation on missing persons from the Croatian War of Independence
Until today, approximately 82% of missing persons from the Croatian War of Independence have been found. The lack of information makes it difficult for the Croatian government to make any significant progress on those who remain missing.
Until 2020, 242 possible sites of disguised mass and individual graves of missing persons were collected. Field research was conducted at 205 sites. The remains of 124 persons were found and exhumed during this research. The remains of 184 victims were finally identified and buried according to the wishes of their families.
In March 2022, the Croatian government was still looking for 1.840 missing persons from the Croatian War of Independence for whom the burial place is unknown. Their families are still waiting for answers. It is especially important to find the remains of bodies that were moved from primary to secondary graves.
In 2019, the Law on Persons Missing in the Homeland War was enacted. It is called Zakon o osobama nestalim u Domovinskom ratu, and it is available here.
This law defines that the Republic of Croatia is responsible for resolving the cases of all its missing citizens from the war. It also prescribes rewards for those whose information can help to solve cases of missing persons.
People who possess any relevant information about missing persons or hidden graves from the Croatian War of Independence are invited to share it with the Ministarstvo hrvatskih branitelja (Ministry of Croatian War Veterans) or other competent bodies.
[Read: All the Croatian government ministries and what they do]
How the Day of Remembrance of Missing Persons is marked in Croatia
This memorial day was marked in 2020 for the first time. Since it is not a national holiday, it is a working day.
[Read: Croatian national holidays]
Until 2020, Croatia has been marking only The International Day of Missing Persons on August 30. As of 2020, we are marking both events on the same day.
A tribute to the missing persons was paid in front of the monument Glas hrvatske žrtve – Zid boli (Voice of Croatian Victim – Wall of Pain) at the Mirogoj cemetery in Zagreb.
This monument was built by notable Croatian sculptor Dušan Džamonja. 13.500 names of killed Croatian veterans and civilians of the Croatian War of Independence are engraved in black marble.
A conference in memory of their unfortunate fates was held at the congress hall at Zagrebački velesajam in Zagreb. It was called Pravo obitelji na istinu- pravo nestalih na identitet (The right of the family to the truth – the right of the missing to identity). Andrej Plenković, Croatian Prime Minister, and Tomo Medved, the Minister of Croatian Veterans, spoke about people missing during the War.
In 2021, this day was marked in Glina, and in 2022, in Vukovar. This area was significantly affected by the war.
In previous years, similar ceremonies were organized in different cities around the country when Croatia celebrated only the International Day of Missing Persons. In 2019, the International Day of Missing Persons was marked in Vinkovci, in front of the memorial cross at the city cemetery.
In 2018, this day was marked in Karlovac in front of the monument to the killed Croatian defenders Četiri rijeke (Four Rivers). In 2017, the event was held in Osijek.
View other national holiday posts
- Assumption of Mary (Velika Gospa)
- All Saint’s Day (Dan svih svetih) in Croatia
- Anti-Fascist Struggle Day (Dan antifašističke borbe)
- Corpus Christi (Tijelovo)
- Croatia national holidays
- Day of Remembering the Victims of Croatia War of Independence and Day of Remembering Victims of Vukovar and Škabrnja
- Epiphany (Bogojavljenje, Sveta tri kralja)
- How Croatia celebrates Easter
- Međunarodni praznik rada (Labor Day)
- Statehood day (Dan državnosti)
- Sveti Stjepan, Štefanje (St. Stephen’s Day)
- Victory and Homeland Thanksgiving Day (Dan pobjede i domovinske zahvalnosti)
Sources:
Plenković: Traženje nestalih nikada neće prestati biti prioritet hrvatske Vlade by Croatian government
Domovinski rat by Leksikografski zavod Miroslava Krleže
Međunarodni dan nestalih osoba by the Ministry of the Interior
U Hrvatskoj se još traga za 1840 osoba nestalih u Domovinskom ratu by HINA
Obilježen Međunarodni dan nestalih osoba i Dan sjećanja na nestale osobe u Domovinskom ratu by the Ministry of War Veterans
U Glini obilježen Međunarodni dan nestalih osoba i Dan sjećanja na nestale osobe u Domovinskom ratu by the Ministry of War Veterans
Please note: Information provided by Expat in Croatia is only for the purposes of guidance. It does not constitute legal or financial advice in any form. Croatian laws and bureaucratic rules often change, and each personal case is individual, so different rules may apply. For legal advice, contact us to consult with a licensed Croatian lawyer. For financial advice, contact us to consult with a licensed Croatian tax advisor or accountant.
