Original scientific paper
Maritime affairs of the Independent State of Croatia in the circumstances of Italian presence in the Eastern Adriatic (1941–1943)
Nikica Barić
orcid.org/0000-0003-2118-0736
; Croatian Institute of History, Zagreb, Croatia
Abstract
The paper presents the main characteristics of the maritime affairs of the Independent State of Croatia along the Adriatic coast in the period when the Rome Accords of 18 May 1941 were in force. The signatories of the Rome Accords were Benito Mussolini, Italian leader, and Ante Pavelić, head of the Independent State of Croatia and the Ustaša movement. Pursuant to the Rome Accords, Italy annexed large parts of Croatian Eastern Adriatic coast. Furthermore, the Independent State of Croatia renounced holding navy in the remaining parts of its coast. Hence, Italy seized all the vessels of the Royal Yugoslav Navy, and former Yugoslav steamer companies were put under Italian control. In the summer of1941, Italian Army occupied the whole Croatian coastal region. This move was justified by the Italian need to secure the hinterland of the annexed territories, and to suppress the uprising of Serb population against the Independent State of Croatia. In fact, the Italians used this as a pretext to weaken the military presence of the Independent State of Croatia in the coastal region, and to put its civilian authorities under Italian control. Obviously, although Italy and the Independent State of Croatia were formally allies and Axis partners, in fact Italy achieved territorial gains along Croatian Adriatic coast, and later tried to subvert and weaken the presence of the Independent State of Croatia in the coastal region. After Italy had occupied Croatian coastal region, the control of Croatian naval traffic and fishing came under the control of Italian Army and Navy. Although the naval and other authorities of the Independent State of Croatia in the coastal region were subordinated to the Italians, Croatian representatives tried to protect the interests of Croatian seamen and fishermen. Though the Italians took over or sequestered numerous vessels, the authorities of the Independent State of Croatia tried to keep as many vessels as possible for Croatia. It was – symbolically – of great importance for as many vessels as possible to fly the Croatian flag. The development of Partisan movement aggravated the situationfurther, with Partisan attacks on vessels and maritime traffic. The situation changed dramatically after the capitulation of the Kingdom of Italy in September 1943. The Independent State of Croatia declared the Rome Accords null and void, and proclaimed the return of the annexed – formally Italian – areas under its sovereignty. However, the ensuing development of war, with the growing of Partisan movement and its own navy, as well as activities of Allied naval and air forces from Italy, greatly hampered the attempts of the Independent State of Croatia to improve its maritime affairs, although German Reich gave support to the development of the Navy of the Independent State of Croatia in the Adriatic.
Keywords
Independent State of Croatia; Kingdom of Italy; Adriatic Sea; Dalmatia; Croatian Littoral; maritime affairs; fisheries
Hrčak ID:
170601
URI
Publication date:
15.12.2016.
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