Original scientific paper
https://doi.org/10.5559/di.21.2.10
Istrian Croatian Clergy and the Diplomatic-Political Struggle for the Union of Istria with Croatia (1945–1954)
Stipan TROGRLIĆ
; Institute of Social Sciences Ivo Pilar – Regional Centre Pula
Abstract
This research paper, based on the archival materials, press
and literature, analyzes the role of the Istrian Croatian clergy
in the diplomatic-political struggle for the union of Istria with
its homeland Croatia, in the first decade of that struggle
after World War II. In the first phase (1945–1947) the
Croatian clergy, led by charismatic Božo Milanović, on the
invitation of the new ''national government'' joins actively in
that struggle: enters the negotiating teams, writes
development plans for politicians, delivers the Memorial to
the Allied Commission in Pazin, holds speeches on political
meetings. In the second, longer phase (1947–1954) the
Croatian clergy is (self)marginalised in the diplomatic-
-political events concerning the solution for the disputable
area between Yugoslavia and Italy, known as the Free
Territory of Trieste. On the one hand, it was the consequence
of the conviction of the government that it no longer needed
the help of the clergy, and on the other, the clergy itself
considered it had played its historical role in the previous
phase and that the established state can manage the new
challenges of the diplomatic-political struggle for ''the rest'' of
Istria by itself. The work of the clergy was now reduced to
writing memorials and statements in which it rises against
the Italian irredentistic demands for Istria and providing
support to Yugoslav government in the defence of the
western borders.
Keywords
Istria; diplomatic struggle; union; Croatian clergy; Božo Milanović
Hrčak ID:
84543
URI
Publication date:
1.4.2012.
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