PUBLIC HYSTERIA AGAINST HISTORY. THE GREAT BATTLES OF 1943 ON THE YUGOSLAV FRONT IN CROATIAN TEXTBOOKS DURING SOCIALISM AND POST-SOCIALISM

Abstract

Since the battles of 1943 on the Yugoslav territory were of crucial importance for the liberation of the occupied territories, the main question of this paper is their presentation in Croatian history textbooks during socialism and post-socialism. While in socialist history textbooks battles were celebrated, even when it comes to the defeats such as the Battle of Sutjeska, in post-socialist history textbooks the importance of National Liberation Movement and great battles were downplayed, and the Independent State of Croatia began to be justified to some extent. Textbooks were very often in the service of spreading political propaganda, instigated by ruling politicians. That problem was especially noticeable in post-socialism as a result of the public hysteria against content in the socialist textbooks. By comparing and analyzing various textbooks and the political situation during the early 1990s, it is possible to get a glimpse on how this process unfolded, but also how the problem began to be solved at the beginning of the 21st century.