CAS SEE Seminars with Guests: Lovro Kralj

In the field of Holocaust Studies, history of the Holocaust in the Independent State of Croatia (NDH) has largely occupied a peripheral position. Understudied in terms of research, misunderstood in terms of teaching, and difficult to approach in terms of learning, history of the Holocaust in the NDH, as well as broader history of Jewish communities in this region, has long been mainly the purview of scholars with access to archives and academic publications. Since January 2023, Lovro Kralj, Emil Kjerte, and Danijel Matijevic have pursued a project that aims to make this important history more accessible to broader audiences, including researchers, educators, and the general public. Titled “Mapping the Holocaust in the Independent State of Croatia,” the project revolves around a digital platform that maps the locations of Jewish life, persecution, and death in the territories that encompassed the former NDH, providing a historical overview of each location, original archival documentation, photographs, and testimonies – all available in English and BCMS. Made possible by a generous grant from the Conference on Jewish Material Claims against Germany, the platform was launched on May 1, 2024, and is now available for the general public. The online map currently features five locations, which are going to steadily multiply over the coming years. In his talk, Dr. Kralj will present the platform and its main features, as well as discuss the complexities of researching and teaching the Holocaust in Croatia and the broader region.