Founding Declaration of the Croatian Liberation Movement (HOP)
English translation of the seminal document of the Hrvatski Oslobodilacki Pokret, (Croatian Liberation Movement, or HOP), the successor to the wartime Ustase, founded by poglavnik Ante Pavelic and 12 other former Independent State of Croatia ministers in exile in Buenos Aires, Argentina. The "latest developments" mentioned in the opening salvo refers to the reconciliation of Yugoslavia and the USSR after eight years of bitter fighting, though Yugoslavia would never return to the Warsaw Pact or the Soviet orbit.

 

CROATIAN LIBERATION MOVEMENT

DECLARATION

 

In view of the latest developments regarding the Belgrade Communist government and of the insoluable ties between that government and Soviet Russia, we the undersigned, members of the government of the Independent State of Croatia, pledge to begin work for the immediate liberation of Croatia among ourselves, the Croatian people, and to collaborate with all other peoples enslaved by Communism and all other free people willing to participate.

Required by these consultations and agreements, which were already successfully implemented by a part of the Croatian Liberation Movement in many countries, is a resolute commitment by all organizations and society as a whole against Communist tyranny. Parties to the strengthening of this movement are the Croatian Ustase Movement (HUP), the Croatian Republican Peasant Party-Stjepan Radic (HRSS), the Croatian Armed Forces (HOS), the Croatian State Party (HDS), all patriots, and every part of society and every underground organization abroad with similar goals. Its purpose is the immediate and unconditional freedom for all Croatian people, and to restore the Independent State of Croatia in all her territory, fully comprised of all Croatian lands defined as that between the Mura, the Drava, the Dunava, the Drina and the Adriatic Sea.

Communism destroys the freedom of all people, and leads to the destruction of all spiritual and material values. To fight this evil all people with free hearts and values must be united and prepared for the struggle.

The Croatian Liberation Movement, within the great country of Croatia and abroad, prepares themselves one and all, each making his own contribution, realizing that Communism is a threat without borders, a threat not only totalitarian but universal, and consequently this struggle requires upon all peoples in all places working together in refusal and defiance.

June 8, 1956

 

Dr. Ante Pavelic, Poglavnik and Commander-in-Chief of the Croatian Armed Forces
Dr. Dzafer beg-Kulenovic, deputy and President of the NDH
Dr. Vjekoslav Vrancic, Minister of the NDH
Dr. Stjepan Hefer, Minister of the NDH and deputy of the Peasant Party
Dr. Jozo Dumandzic, Minister of the NDH
Ivica Frkovic, Minister of the NDH
Stipe Matijevic, deputy of the Peasant Party, Doglavnik and State Councillor of the NDH
Dr. Petar grof Pejacevic, Minister of the NDH
Dr. Andrija Ilic, Minister of the NDH
Dr. Oskar Turina, Minister of the NDH
Dr. Ivan Kordic, State Councillor the NDH
Josip Markovic, State Security of the NDH
Ivan Asancaic, Leader of the Croatian Home Guard [Domobran]

 

:: filing information ::
Title: Founding Declaration of the Croatian Liberation Movement (HOP)
Source: US Army, declassified.
Date: June 8, 1956 Added: October 2002