The Fate of the Domobranci: Survival and Persecution

The Domobranci were Croatian Home Guard units in WWII, aligned with Axis powers. Post-war, many faced dire consequences, but some managed to survive the tumultuous aftermath through various means.

After WWII, the Yugoslav Partisans sought retribution against the Domobranci. Thousands were executed in the Bleiburg repatriations and subsequent death marches, but a significant number did manage to escape.

A surprising number of Domobranci escaped to Western Europe or South America. Organized networks and sympathetic foreign communities helped them evade capture and eventually assimilate into new societies.

Some Domobranci survivors lived under false identities within Yugoslavia. They blended in with the population, and some even managed to secure government jobs, living out their lives in relative obscurity.

In recent years, efforts have been made to acknowledge the complex history of the Domobranci. Memorials and historical research have shed light on their fates, fostering a nuanced understanding of their experiences.

Some Domobranci received help from former Partisans, showcasing the complex and often contradictory human relationships formed during and after the war.