Original scientific paper
Croatian schools in Istria in the period from 1943 till 1945
Ante Cukrov
Abstract
With Italian conquest of Istria after the First WW began a total destruction of Slavic elements in Istria. For a long time it would be irredentist settling with Slavic, especially Croatian spirit of Istria. In order to destroy Croatian spirit the first institutions under attack were churches and schools. After that, in relation to the fascism and racism, a change would appear into Italian form, in the fi rst place change of first and last names of Slavic population and later also toponyms. Very soon priests and teachers were thrown out of their churches and schools, schools were closed, language forbidden, names changed, cultural heritage irreversibly destroyed. Knowing the importance of schools in creating national awareness and in order to accelerate Italianization schools are open in vast areas where there are no basic conditions for their functioning. Istria shall for a long time remain closed into a spiritual camp. Under these circumstances the plan was to erase every trace of Slavic origin in people already in the second
generation. How much was it successful? Some results cannot be denied, but disproportion between imagined and implemented on one hand and realized on the other hand is too big to allow discussion on successful denationalization. Resistance to complete Italianization is big. Despite the harshness and blooded assimilation of Istria the results were very humble. It will best be shown in 1943 when the people’s revolution started where Croatian school experienced resurrection instead of annihilation.
Keywords
history of education; Italianzation; Istria; from 1910 till 1945
Hrčak ID:
334714
URI
Publication date:
31.12.2004.
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