Original scientific paper
Town of Koprivnica and Its People During the World’s Great Depression
Mira Kolar Dimitrijević
orcid.org/0000-0002-6050-5700
; Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, University of Zagreb – Full Professor (retired)
Abstract
During the Great Depression, Koprivnica was a town without conflicts. It was led by Mayor Dr. Vladimir Malancec and Deputy Mayor Dr. Branko Svarc, who managed the town’s affairs, communal policies and had control over social life. Both were local sons, dr. Malancec, as a lawyer in a family that sympathized with Croat-Serbian coalition; the other one a Jew; they both steered the town and managed its affairs toward the capital Belgrade, so the town was receiving more than giving back; some local folks believed it was treachery and betrayal of Croatian interests, a compromise with Serbian nationalists. Yet, it was salvation for Koprivnica. For years, it was an outsider, either as border town in some administrative region (county or region). For the first time now within borders of Savska banovina province, Koprivnica was an important town on the Hungarian border; it only needed to modernize, be enabled for civic functions, stop the negative tendencies and provide a peaceful life. By the help of Koprivnica’s citizens, and through allowing some activities of the political opposition, i.e. members of Croatian party and Party of rights, - it eventually came through. Quality approach to politics and good diplomacy skills of the town administration, Koprivnica saved itself and remained its own.
Keywords
Koprivnica; the Great Depression; town administration
Hrčak ID:
78183
URI
Publication date:
1.6.2007.
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