The rescue of Jewish physicians in the independent state of Croatia (NDH), 1941-1945.
Despite the murder of three-fourths of Croatia's Jews, Croatian doctors, representatives of the Ministry of Health, and other government figures saved 142 Jewish physicians by mobilizing them for a mission to alleviate endemic syphilis in Bosnia. Twenty-seven others were recruited into the Home Guard. Along with members of their families, these Jews were granted "Aryan rights." In 1942 some began defecting to the partisans; others followed after the capitulation of Italy in 1943. Many died in battle, succumbed to typhus, or were murdered by the Nazis, the Croatian fascist Ustae, or the Serbian nationalist etniks. But the story recounted below shows how much better they fared than the Jewish population generally: sixty-two percent survived, thanks to courageous efforts by Croatian civilians and officials. Their rescue demonstrates both that popular attitudes influenced events in Yugoslavia, and that common stereotypes of Croatia during the war should be reconsidered.
Gitman
Esther
E
D017522:Bosnia and Herzegovina / Q000208:ethnology; D017523:Croatia / Q000208:ethnology; D004196:Disease Outbreaks / Q000191:economics / Q000266:history / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D006077:Government Agencies / Q000191:economics / Q000266:history / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D049673:History, 20th Century; D007585:Jews / Q000193:education / Q000208:ethnology / Q000266:history / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000523:psychology; D008889:Military Personnel / Q000193:education / Q000266:history / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000523:psychology; D010820:Physicians / Q000191:economics / Q000266:history / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000523:psychology; D011056:Political Systems / Q000266:history; D011314:Preventive Health Services / Q000191:economics / Q000266:history / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D018635:Rescue Work / Q000191:economics / Q000266:history / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D011049:Social Control Policies / Q000191:economics / Q000266:history / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D016019:Survival Analysis; D047789:World War II; D015022:Yugoslavia / Q000208:ethnology