Republika Srpska National Assembly Speaker Nedeljko Čubrilović said that the Jasenovac concentration camp system in the then Independent State of Croatia (NDH) was one of the most destructive execution sites of the Serb, Jewish and Roma peoples in World War II.
“Being aware that they would be executed, the break through the wire fencing the camp was the only salvation for the camp inmates. Unfortunately, not everyone managed to escape the death and be free. Many were liquidated on April 22, 1945. The survivors’ remembrance bears witness to suffering, pain and the horror they went through and the Ustasha’s atrocities against prisoners who were killed only for belonging to different ethnic background,” said Čubrilovic on the occasion of the 75th anniversary of the breakthrough of the last group of Jasenovac inmates.
He recalled that the horrific crime of genocide was committed in Jasenovac concentration camp against innocent people, weak inmates, women, and, most frighteningly enough, it was the only detention camp for children, which is clear proof of NDH’s genocidal intent to try to completely destroy the Serb people, as well as Jewish and Roma, in its territory.
“We must never forget Jasenovac, Jadovno, Stara Gradiška and other execution sites and death camps for the Serb people. Generations who come must never cease to warn of the horrific crimes committed in them, so such crimes would never be repeated,” said Čubrilović.
The Remembrance Day of Jasenovac Victims is commemorated on April 22, when the last group of inmates broke through in 1945.
On 21 April 1945, the number of inmates was 1,073. A total of 169 inmates managed to survive the Ustasha’s liquidation of the Jasenovac Concentration Camp.