The three key anti-Jewish legal orders entered into force on the 30th of April 1941: the Legal order on citizenship, the Legal order on racial affiliation, and the Legal order on the protection of Aryan blood, and the honor of the Croatian people. These legal orders define the citizen as “the member of the state of Aryan origin who proved by his conduct that he did not act against the liberating aspirations of the Croatian people [...]”. The remaining two orders defined Jews as a race, which defined them as Jews, regardless of their Jewish status, or their actual religious or national identity, and that status was not changeable. Besides Jews, racial laws also affected Roma people. These laws laid the foundations for further development of racial legislation, and the exclusion of Jews from the society.
On the 4th and 5th of June 1941, a range of legal orders and other legal acts entered into force, based on the Legal order on racial affiliation of the 30th of April: the Legal order of the protection of national and Aryan culture of the Croatian people stipulating that “Jews by race cannot in any way contribute to the development of the national and Aryan culture, and are therefore not permitted to take part in the work, organizations and institutions of social, youth, sport or cultural life of the Croatian people in general, and in literature, journalism, art, music, architecture, theater and film in particular.”
Racial-political Committee was also established for the purposes of dealing with the determination of racial affiliation, especially in unclear cases. An Order on the change of Jewish surnames and the labelling of Jews and Jewish business also entered into force. Moreover, Jews who were racially defined by this Order were forbidden to wear Croatian national colors and “Aryan emblems”. This also applied to their property, institutions and businesses.
In the end, “Jews by race, who are older than 14 years of age, when they are outside of their apartment, must wear a Jewish label in the form of round tin plate, 5 cm in diameter. The plate must be colored yellow, and in its middle, there must be a capital letter painted black, 3 cm high, and 2 cm wide. This label is to be worn visibly on the left-hand side of the chest. On the day of entry into force of this Order, all previous orders regulating the external labelling of Jews cease to apply.”
Analyze the names of laws in the NDH directed against Jews. What do they testify to, and what is their ultimate goal?
Study the IHRA’s Working Definition of Antisemitism, which was adopted by Croatia: “Antisemitism is a certain perception of Jews, which may be expressed as hatred toward Jews. Rhetorical and physical manifestations of antisemitism are directed toward Jewish or non-Jewish individuals and/or their property, toward Jewish community institutions and religious facilities.”
Can you explain the roots of antisemitism and answer the question: Why were Jews targeted?