Veceslav Holjevac
Encyclopedia
Većeslav Holjevac was a Croatian
and Yugoslav
soldier and communist politician.
Holjevac was born in Karlovac
, at the time in Austria-Hungary
. He joined the Communist Party of Yugoslavia in 1939. Following Axis
invasion of Yugoslavia
and establishment of Independent State of Croatia
, Holjevac was active in resistance movement and in July 1941 he was one of the founders of Partisan
units in Kordun and Banovina regions of Croatia. He served as political commisar of Partisan units in that region until the end of war.
After the war Holjevac served in many important posts in Tito's Yugoslavia.
For his war service he received the title of People's Hero of Yugoslavia
on Jul 23, 1951. The following year he was named mayor of Zagreb
, a post he held until 1963. As such, he is credited with many important construction projects that modernised the city, most notably the creation of Novi Zagreb
. He also successfully lobbied for establishment of Zagreb trade fair
. Because of that Holjevac became one of the most popular mayors in Zagreb history and one of the most respected Communist-era politicians.
His daughter Tatjana Holjevac used his legacy to successfully launch her own political career during the 2005 local elections in Zagreb
.
A major thoroughfare of Zagreb, Većeslav Holjevac Avenue is named after Većeslav Holjevac.
In November 2010, a citizen's group filed a criminal report for Holjevac's involvement in the attack on a hospital on November 17, 1941.
Croats
Croats are a South Slavic ethnic group mostly living in Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and nearby countries. There are around 4 million Croats living inside Croatia and up to 4.5 million throughout the rest of the world. Responding to political, social and economic pressure, many Croats have...
and Yugoslav
Yugoslavs
Yugoslavs is a national designation used by a minority of South Slavs across the countries of the former Yugoslavia and in the diaspora...
soldier and communist politician.
Holjevac was born in Karlovac
Karlovac
Karlovac is a city and municipality in central Croatia. The city proper has a population of 49,082, while the municipality has a population of 59,395 inhabitants .Karlovac is the administrative centre of Karlovac County...
, at the time in Austria-Hungary
Austria-Hungary
Austria-Hungary , more formally known as the Kingdoms and Lands Represented in the Imperial Council and the Lands of the Holy Hungarian Crown of Saint Stephen, was a constitutional monarchic union between the crowns of the Austrian Empire and the Kingdom of Hungary in...
. He joined the Communist Party of Yugoslavia in 1939. Following 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
Yugoslavia
Yugoslavia refers to three political entities that existed successively on the western part of the Balkans during most of the 20th century....
and establishment 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...
, Holjevac was active in resistance movement and in July 1941 he was one of the founders of Partisan
Partisans (Yugoslavia)
The Yugoslav Partisans, or simply the Partisans were a Communist-led World War II anti-fascist resistance movement in Yugoslavia...
units in Kordun and Banovina regions of Croatia. He served as political commisar of Partisan units in that region until the end of war.
After the war Holjevac served in many important posts in Tito's Yugoslavia.
For his war service he 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...
on Jul 23, 1951. The following year he was named mayor of Zagreb
Zagreb
Zagreb is the capital and the largest city of the Republic of Croatia. It is in the northwest of the country, along the Sava river, at the southern slopes of the Medvednica mountain. Zagreb lies at an elevation of approximately above sea level. According to the last official census, Zagreb's city...
, a post he held until 1963. As such, he is credited with many important construction projects that modernised the city, most notably the creation of Novi Zagreb
Novi Zagreb
Novi Zagreb is the part of the city of Zagreb located south of the Sava river, on the way from the Pleso airport to the city center...
. He also successfully lobbied for establishment of Zagreb trade fair
Trade fair
A trade fair is an exhibition organized so that companies in a specific industry can showcase and demonstrate their latest products, service, study activities of rivals and examine recent market trends and opportunities...
. Because of that Holjevac became one of the most popular mayors in Zagreb history and one of the most respected Communist-era politicians.
His daughter Tatjana Holjevac used his legacy to successfully launch her own political career during the 2005 local elections in Zagreb
Zagreb local elections, 2005
The Zagreb local elections of 2005 were held on May 15, 2005 in Zagreb, the capital of Croatia. On the last local elections, in 2001, Milan Bandić had been re-elected as the mayor of Zagreb. However, a 2002 incident made him resign in favor of Vlasta Pavić, a deputy mayor chosen by Social...
.
A major thoroughfare of Zagreb, Većeslav Holjevac Avenue is named after Većeslav Holjevac.
In November 2010, a citizen's group filed a criminal report for Holjevac's involvement in the attack on a hospital on November 17, 1941.
External links
- Veljko Zgurić: Obožavani Holjevac je mučio zarobljene Hrvate, Večernji listVecernji listVečernji list is a Croatian daily newspaper published in Zagreb.The newspaper was started in the 1950s and it is today one of two largest daily newspapers in Croatia...