Božidar Adžija
Encyclopedia
Božidar Adžija (December 24, 1890 – July 9, 1941) was a Yugoslav left-wing politician and publicist.
A native of Drniš
, of Croat and Serbian descent, Adžija participated in World War I
as a soldier in Austro-Hungarian Army
.
After the war and collapse of Austria-Hungary, in 1919 he became labour policy commissioner in local Zagreb government. As an avid Social Democrat, he was member of various left-wing and Marxist parties and wrote many articles about labour and social issues. His views gradually shifted towards Communism
and in 1934 he joined Communist Party of Yugoslavia. Because of that he was often arrested, the last such occasion being in March 1941, only days before Axis
invasion of Yugoslavia
.
When Yugoslavia collapsed and the Nazi puppet state of Independent State of Croatia
was established few weeks later, Adžija was kept in the Kerestinec
prison together with many other members of Croatian left-wing intelligentsia. Ustaša regime had Adžija shot - together with Otokar Keršovani
and Ognjen Prica
- as a retaliation for Partisan
activity. Adžija posthumously received the title of People's Hero of Yugoslavia
.
A native of Drniš
Drniš
Drniš is a town in Croatia, located in inland Dalmatia at halfway between Šibenik and Knin. Its municipality population is 8,595 , with 3,332 in the town itself and the rest in two dozen surrounding villages...
, of Croat and Serbian descent, Adžija participated in World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
as a soldier in Austro-Hungarian Army
Austro-Hungarian Army
The Austro-Hungarian Army was the ground force of the Austro-Hungarian Dual Monarchy from 1867 to 1918. It was composed of three parts: the joint army , the Austrian Landwehr , and the Hungarian Honvédség .In the wake of fighting between the...
.
After the war and collapse of Austria-Hungary, in 1919 he became labour policy commissioner in local Zagreb government. As an avid Social Democrat, he was member of various left-wing and Marxist parties and wrote many articles about labour and social issues. His views gradually shifted towards Communism
Communism
Communism is a social, political and economic ideology that aims at the establishment of a classless, moneyless, revolutionary and stateless socialist society structured upon common ownership of the means of production...
and in 1934 he joined Communist Party of Yugoslavia. Because of that he was often arrested, the last such occasion being in March 1941, only days before Axis
Axis Powers
The Axis powers , also known as the Axis alliance, Axis nations, Axis countries, or just the Axis, was an alignment of great powers during the mid-20th century that fought World War II against the Allies. It began in 1936 with treaties of friendship between Germany and Italy and between Germany and...
invasion of Yugoslavia
Kingdom of Yugoslavia
The Kingdom of Yugoslavia was a state stretching from the Western Balkans to Central Europe which existed during the often-tumultuous interwar era of 1918–1941...
.
When Yugoslavia collapsed and the Nazi puppet state of Independent State of Croatia
Independent State of Croatia
The Independent State of Croatia was a World War II puppet state of Nazi Germany, established on a part of Axis-occupied Yugoslavia. The NDH was founded on 10 April 1941, after the invasion of Yugoslavia by the Axis powers. All of Bosnia and Herzegovina was annexed to NDH, together with some parts...
was established few weeks later, Adžija was kept in the Kerestinec
Kerestinec
Kerestinec is a settlement west of Zagreb, in the Sveta Nedelja, Zagreb County, infamous for events in Croatian history. It has 1,199 inhabitants living on an area of . The name of Kerestinec comes from Hungarian word kereszt which stands for "cross".According to historical sources, there was a...
prison together with many other members of Croatian left-wing intelligentsia. Ustaša regime had Adžija shot - together with Otokar Keršovani
Otokar Keršovani
Otokar Keršovani was a Croatian and Yugoslav journalist and left-wing politician.He was born in Trieste, which was part of Austria-Hungary at a time. The collapse of Habsburg Empire caught him in Istrian town of Pazin, which was soon occupied by Italian forces and its Croatian school closed...
and Ognjen Prica
Ognjen Prica
Ognjen Prica was a Yugoslav left-wing politician.A native of Ilidža , Prica became interested in politics while studying mathematics and physics at University of Zagreb. In 1921 he became the member of Communist Party of Yugoslavia and one of the founders of SKOJ - Communist Youth League of...
- as a retaliation for Partisan
Partisans (Yugoslavia)
The Yugoslav Partisans, or simply the Partisans were a Communist-led World War II anti-fascist resistance movement in Yugoslavia...
activity. Adžija posthumously received the title of People's Hero of Yugoslavia
People's Hero of Yugoslavia
The Order of the People's Hero was a Yugoslav gallantry medal, the second highest military award, and third overall Yugoslav decoration. It was awarded to individuals, military units, political and other organisations who distinguished themselves by extraordinary heroic deeds during war and in...
.