Croatia [Early Religion Conflict and War]: A Long History The End of the 1814-18 War, Involving: Bosnia-Herzegovina, Serbia, Montenegro, Croatia, Dalmatia, Hungarian Empire, Hapsburg Empire | Samuel Ash

From April 1941 until May 1945, a Croatian state existed as part of Hitler's Europe. It was the 'Nezavisna` Drzava Hrvatska', and referred to as the NDH. The Catholic Bishops and priests of Croatia have been accused of welcoming the establishment of this state, and the coming to power of Ante Pavelic's Ustasha Movement. It is alleged that this was led by dedicated Catholics aiming to make Croatia completely Catholic, and that as its population Included two million Orthodox Christians, they planned to kill or expel those who refused to convert.It is further alleged that the State and Church both issued edicts and laws to promote this aim. It is asserted that Ustasha detachments, led by Catholic priests, slaughtered hundreds of thousands of Orthodox men, women and children. It is said that the complicity of the Church is confirmed by the absence of any condemnations by the Catholic hierachy. Also, although aware of what was happening, the Pope welcomed Pavelic to Rome and considered him a "much maligned man".