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Foundation and activity of the Croatian cultural society Napredak subsidiary in Osijek 1922 – 1944.
Zdravko Matić
; Hrvatsko vojno učilište, Zagreb
Sažetak
The Croatian cultural society „Napredak“, had existed in Osijek since 1902, recording its first members, although the subsidiary was officially founded on 2 February 1922, with the purpose of providing help to pupils of expert high schools and undergraduates at colleges and faculties, enticing people to save, be organized, and provide good upbringing; supporting Croatian cultural societies as well as other cultural and educational entities; encouraging education among people, establishing and supporting student’s homes and spreading national awareness and culture. The Osijek subsidiary managed to perform all these activities with the help of benefactors and its members. Already towards the end of 1922, the “Napredak” subsidiary in Osijek counted 261 members, realizing profit in the amount of 18,256 dinars, which was a sign that it was recognized as a society of solidarity, mutual benefit, and progress. It was the credit of the subsidiary’s management, as well as of an outstanding participation of its prominent members.
The Osijek’s „Napredak“ gained support also from the Bosnian i.e. Đakovo and Syrmia Bishop dr. Antun Akšamović, who was in favour of „Napredak“ from the very start. Apart from being its benefactor and great friend, he supported the idea of building „Napredak’s“ home in Osijek, intended for the accommodation of pupils and students of craft schools and faculties, which was eventually done. In the first period, from 1922-1932, the Osijek subsidiary raised the total income of 143,948.20 dinars, the amount of 5,074.44 dinars coming from SUN’s account in Sarajevo. The subsidiary’s total income amounted to 101,549.49 dinars, 93,600 dinars out of which went for scholarships, supports, and the like. The funds raised through membership fee, voluntary contributions, and in other ways, were invested by „Napredak“ into young people, providing them education throughout the then Yugoslavian Kingdom.
It established full cooperation with „Napredak’s“ central administration in Sarajevo, as may be seen from the annual reports of SUN on income and expenses, as well as the scholarships provided to students and undergraduates from the area of Osijek.
The Osijek subsidiary was both supported and joined by many outstanding citizens, willing to help the Society. Most of them later became active in the Osijek’s subsidiary Management Board. There was a group of rather wealthy publishers in Osijek, who were also supporting the subsidiary through regular annual contributions, as members. After the model of the Savings & Loan and Economic cooperative, founded by HKD „Napredak“ in Sarajevo in 1923, in January 1930, „Napredak“ established a similar institution, with the purpose of supporting Croatian economy.
From 1933 to October 1944, when it shut down, the Osijek subsidiary raised total income in the amount of 295,163.62 dinars, 71,511.50 dinars coming from the SUN’s account. The profit made by the subsidiary totalled 160,312.50 dinars out of which 127,007 dinars were spent for student and undergraduate scholarships. The Osijek subsidiary provided scholarships for over 80 students and undergraduates.
During the period of the Independent State of Croatia, the Osijek Subsidiary at first had some difficulties in functioning, since the then regime passed a number of racist laws and regulations through which it was systematically taking away real estate and land, especially from Jews, involving also some members of „Napredak’s” Savings and Loan cooperative, as executors. Namely, the „Napredak’s“ cooperative was entrusted with evaluation and sale of companies “on economic value basis“, but it was not done in that way, so that Osijek’s Croats and Germans were buying it below its real value, due to political pressure.
After the end of World War II, the communist authorities prohibited the work of the Osijek „Napredak“ subsidiary, closing down also its Savings and Loan cooperative on 8 January 1948. Many members of „Napredak“ who participated in the turning of Jew property into state ownership were sentenced to long-term prison sentences in trials held after the War, accompanied by loss of civil rights and estate expropriation.
Despite that, we must not forget the fact that the Osijek „Napredak“ subsidiary, during its activity from 1922 to 1944, managed to achieve excellent results. Often exposed to regime pressure, it managed nevertheless to function successfully, organizing a number of its own particular activities, raising considerable funds in the process. The funds were used to cover “Napredak’s” general activity, and especially scholarships and other forms of support to numerous Croatian students, undergraduates and future craftsmen, primarily from poor families.
Ključne riječi
Hrčak ID:
217723
URI
Datum izdavanja:
18.5.2017.
Posjeta: 1.708 *