Zagreb - The central ceremony marking Anti-Fascist Struggle Day, which was marked on Sunday in Brezovica Forest, near Sisak, where the first armed antifascist unit - The Sisak Partisan Unit - was formed on 22 June 1941, was attended by numerous state delegations and representatives of the diplomatic corps in Croatia.
Wreaths were laid by Zagreb Mayor Milan Bandić as envoy of Croatian President Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović, MP Margareta Mađerić as envoy of the Croatian Parliament Speaker Željko Reiner, Administration Minister Dubravka Jurlina as envoy of Prime Minister Tihomir Orešković, a delegation of the Croatian Academy of Sciences and Arts (HAZU), representatives of foreign embassies in Croatia, delegations of the City of Zagreb, Sisak-Moslavina County, City of Sisak the Alliance of Anti-Fascist Fighters and Anti-Fascists of Croatia (SABAH) and other anti-fascist associations.
On behalf of the organiser of today's commemoration, SABAH president Franjo Habulin greeted all anti-fascist fighters and all Croatian citizens on the occasion of the 75th anniversary of the uprising against fascism.
He said Croatia would not be what it was today had there not been for anti-fascist struggle. -Anti-fascism was the fight of all peoples of Croatia and the leading forces were made up of Partisans led by Tito. A majority of fighters had fought for freedom or to avoid concentration camps and death, Habulin said.
Croatia observes Antifascist Struggle Day on June 22 in memory of the formation of the first armed antifascist unit in Croatia and occupied Europe in World War Two - the 1st Sisak Partisan Detachment - formed in Brezovica forest near Sisak on 22 June 1941.
Of the 77 fighters who set up the first Partisan unit, 38 survived the war. (Hina)