Dinko Šakić facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Dinko Šakić
|
|
|---|---|
| Birth name | Dinko Ljubomir Šakić |
| Nickname(s) | Ljubo |
| Born | 8 September 1921 Studenci, Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes |
| Died | 20 July 2008 (aged 86) Zagreb, Croatia |
| Allegiance |  Independent State of Croatia |
| Service/ |
Ustaše Supervisory Service (UNS) |
| Years of service | 1941–1945 |
| Commands held | Jasenovac concentration camp |
| Battles/wars | World War II in Yugoslavia |
| Spouse(s) |
Nada Luburić
(m. 1943) |
Dinko Šakić (born September 8, 1921 – died July 20, 2008) was a Croatian official during World War II. He was part of a group called the Ustaše, which was an extreme nationalist and fascist movement. From April to November 1944, he was the commander of the Jasenovac concentration camp in the Independent State of Croatia.
Šakić was born in a village called Studenci, which was then part of the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes. He joined the Ustaše when he was very young. When the Axis powers took over Yugoslavia in April 1941, Šakić, who was 19, started working at the Jasenovac camp. He became the camp's assistant commander in 1942. In 1943, he married Nada Luburić, whose half-brother, Vjekoslav "Maks" Luburić, was also a camp commander. Because of his strong support for the Ustaše leader Ante Pavelić and his marriage, Šakić became the commander of Jasenovac in April 1944.
After World War II ended in 1945, Šakić and his wife left the Independent State of Croatia. They moved to Argentina in 1947. There, Šakić started a business and was active in the Croatian community. He even became friends with Paraguayan dictator Alfredo Stroessner. Šakić lived openly and did not hide who he was. In 1998, he was interviewed on Argentine television. He admitted to being a leader at Jasenovac but said that no one was killed there during his time. This interview caused a lot of anger, and the Argentine president called for his arrest. Šakić was arrested in May 1998 and sent to Croatia. He was found guilty of war crimes and crimes against humanity in October 1998 and was sentenced to 20 years in prison. He died in 2008.
Early Life
Dinko Ljubomir Šakić was born on September 8, 1921, in Studenci. This village was near the town of Imotski in what was then called the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes. He finished high school and became a strong supporter of the Croatian fascist group known as the Ustaše when he was very young.
Jasenovac Camp
In April 1941, forces from the Axis powers invaded and took control of Yugoslavia. The country was broken up, and Ante Pavelić, an extreme Croatian nationalist and fascist, became the leader of a new Croatian state called the Independent State of Croatia (NDH). This new state included most of modern-day Croatia, all of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and parts of Serbia. The NDH government, led by the Ustaše militia, carried out very harsh policies against Serb, Jewish, and Romani populations.
Šakić started working at the Jasenovac concentration camp in 1941. The next year, he became the assistant commander. He was mentored by the camp commander, Vjekoslav "Maks" Luburić.
In 1943, Šakić married Nada, Maks Luburić's half-sister, who had also started working at Jasenovac when she was 16. Šakić became the commander of the Jasenovac camp in April 1944, when he was only 22 years old. He quickly rose through the Ustaše ranks because he was a very strong supporter of Pavelić and because of his marriage. A survivor from Jasenovac named Šimo Klaić remembered Šakić as being very young for such an important job. He was described as arrogant, always dressed perfectly in a black Ustaše uniform and shiny black boots.
During his time as commander, Šakić was involved in the deaths of prisoners at the camp.
Life in Exile
After the war ended, Šakić left Croatia with other Ustaše leaders and went to Argentina. They were welcomed by the Argentine leader Juan Perón. Šakić and his wife first found safety in Francoist Spain before settling in Argentina in 1947. Šakić's wife changed her name to Esperanza. They lived in a coastal town called Santa Teresita in Buenos Aires. There, Šakić ran a textile business and was an active member of the large Croatian community. Šakić and his wife had three children, and Pavelić became their godfather.
Šakić was friends with the Paraguayan dictator Alfredo Stroessner. He lived a quiet life but stayed involved in Ustaše politics among Croatians living outside Croatia. He did not hide his identity or change his name. In 1990, a magazine called Feral Tribune interviewed Šakić and published his photo. In this interview, Šakić spoke negatively about Serbs and praised the Ustaše.
In 1994, Šakić met Croatian leader Franjo Tuđman at a party in Buenos Aires. After this, Šakić was interviewed by a Croatian magazine.
In March 1998, Šakić was interviewed on Argentine national television. The full interview was shown on April 6. In it, Šakić admitted he was a leader at Jasenovac from December 1942 to October 1944. However, he claimed that no one was killed during that time. He said that any deaths that happened were from natural causes. This interview caused a public outcry, and the Argentine president Carlos Menem called for Šakić's arrest the day after it aired. Šakić disappeared shortly after but was arrested on May 1.
Trial and Imprisonment
Šakić was one of the most important people from World War II who was still alive to face trial. He was the last known living commander of a World War II concentration camp. Šakić argued that Jasenovac was a false story made up to harm Croats.
He showed no regret for his actions. He said that Jasenovac was not a camp for killing people but a work camp for holding enemies of the NDH. He claimed these prisoners were treated well and that no killings happened while he was in charge. He stated that his conscience was clear and that he would do the same again if Croats were in danger. He admitted that Jewish and Romani people were held because of their background, but claimed Serbs and others were held because they were seen as enemies of the state.
More than forty witnesses gave evidence against Šakić during his trial. His lawyers asked for him to be found not guilty, saying the prosecution had not proven his guilt and that he was just following orders. On October 4, 1998, Šakić was found guilty of war crimes and crimes against humanity. He was sentenced to twenty years in prison. The judge confirmed that Šakić had personally shot prisoners and had overseen the hanging of at least twenty inmates.
Šakić served his sentence in Lepoglava prison. He had a television and a computer in his cell to write his memories. He was allowed to visit his wife, who was in a home for the elderly, several times a month.
Death
Šakić had heart problems during his time in prison and spent much of his later years in the hospital. He died from heart problems in a Zagreb hospital on July 20, 2008. He was cremated in a full Ustaše uniform, as he had wished.
