A Telegram to Mussolini
Letter sent by Ante Pavelic to Italian dictator Benito Mussolini, heralding the start of the invasion of Yugoslavia. Pavelic had spent almost ten years in Italy, through varying states of favor with the authorities.

 

8 April, 1941

 

Duce,

In this decisive hour - after twenty-two years of oppression for the Croatian people by the imposition of the Treaty of Versailles and the Serbian tyranny - I address to you the salute of all Croat nationalists, of all combatant organizations and the entire Croatian people.

All of Croatia rejoices at your glorious soldiers and all our nationalist forces, our organized and ready combatants will fight with them for the freedom of our people and for the independent state of Croatia for which we have for so long and so bloodily fought.

We see in you the great friend of the oppressed [lit: "the small people"], and the founder of a new government of justice, and we stand ready to testify with our eternal gratefulness. I assure to you that, at this hour, and in the future we will be always with you.

Long live the independent State of Croatia! Long live Italy!

 

:: filing information ::
Title: A Telegram to Mussolini
Source: Private collection. Translated by Cali Ruchala.
Date: April 8, 1941 Added: October 2002