Original scientific paper
A survey of the life of youth on Dalmatian islands Hvar, Brač, Korčula and Vis as witnessed by the influence and activity of youth organisations in the period 1945–1954
Tatjana Šarić
orcid.org/0000-0002-5865-1354
; Croatian State Archives, Zagreb, Croatia
Abstract
The objective of the research, the result of which is this article, was to study and present the operation of communist youth organisations (SKOJ and USAOH/NOH) on Dalmatian islands in the first after-war period 1945–1954, and their impact on the life of the domestic population – the youth. In her research, the author primarily used archival sources – the funds of the Croatian State Archives, followed by published sources and relevant literature. The author studied several aspects of the operation of youth organisations in relation to the life of the youth on the islands: their number in comparison to the number of members of youth organisations; organisation and operation of youth organisations SKOJ and USAOH/NOH; ideological directing of the youth; the relationship of the youth and youth organisations towards the Catholic Church; response of the youth to work actions; socialist transformation of the rural parts; reaction of the youth to the conflict in relation to the Resolution of the Informbureau; exodus of the youth; cultural and historical activity on the islands; sports and military training. By analysing the sources and comparing the existing data, the author reached the following conclusions she presented in the paper: though youth organisations on Dalmatians islands were entrusted with the same tasks as the organisations in other parts of Croatia, the former had more difficulties in the implementation than the latter. SKOJ and NOH did not succeed in materialising the directives received from their leaderships and the Communist Party on the islands, or they did only to a certain extent. The reason thereof was seemingly lack of interest or capability of youth leaderships on the islands in carrying out the entrusted tasks, as well as lack of interest of the wider circle of youth in getting actively involved in the work of communist youth organisations. They joined these organisations only formally, as they actually had no wish to engage in politics. They were more strongly interested in sports and entertainment. Furthermore, it should be reminded of the fact that the Catholic Church, which was traditionally strong in these parts, exercised powerful influence on the youth, who were inclined to it and gathered around it. This represented a major problem for youth organisations.
Keywords
communism; after-war period; Dalmatian islands Hvar, Brač, Korčula, Vis; youth; youth organisations; SKOJ; USAOH; NOH
Hrčak ID:
148948
URI
Publication date:
2.12.2015.
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