Before the beginning of the Second World War, Dubrovnik was a part of the Kingdom of Yugoslavia. However, shortly after the establishment of the Independent State of Croatia on April 10, 1941, Dubrovnik became a part of the state under the Ustaše regime. The Ustaše regime swiftly implemented oppressive measures targeting Jews, Serbs, and other groups considered "hostile." The Italian fascists soon occupied Dubrovnik, maintaining control until September 1943 when Italy capitulated. Subsequently, German Nazi troops took over Dubrovnik and remained there until October 18, 1944, when the city was liberated by the partisans.
Immediately after the foundation of the NDH, laws were passed according to which Jews are not "citizens" but "state members" of the NDH, then a law prohibiting marriages between Jews and non-Jews, the employment of Croatian women under the age of 45 in Jewish homes, ritual slaughter is prohibited and the sale of ritually slaughtered animals, Jews are forbidden to work in social, youth, sports, cultural and educational organizations, and to engage in literature, journalism, fine and musical arts, theater and film. The law stipulated that Jews must wear a Jewish symbol, and the declaration of Jewish property and the confirmation of Jewish property was mandatory. During the summer of 1941, anti-Jewish activity intensified. However, the arrival of the Italian authorities brought some relief for the Jews, as Italian fascists exhibited a more lenient attitude towards them. Unfortunately, with the subsequent arrival of the German authorities, measures against Jews intensified once again, despite the decreased number of Jewish residents in the city during that period.