Croatian Ustase Leader. He received a law degree from the University of Zagreb in 1925 and was active in Croatian organizations striving for independence. In 1934 he was arrested as a participant in the Ustase assassination of Serbian King Alexander but was released. He became a cabinet minister of the interior of the Nazi-sponsored independent Croatia in 1941 and upon its demise in 1945 with Vatican diplomatic devised documents ended up in Seal Beach, California in the year 1948. After his whereabouts became known, the Yugoslavian government filed an extradition request so as to try him for war crimes. This triggered a decades long court battle which culminated in his deportment on Feb 12, 1986 from the Medical ward of the Naval Hospital at Long Beach where he was held after his arrest. The feeble and decrepit Andrija was strapped to a strecher and transported to Zagreb ending a thirty-five year struggle to avoid extradition. He was lodged in Croatia's notorious lepa Glava prison where every polical person ends up at one time or another. Charged with the deaths of several thousand persons during World War II, he was convicted on May 14, 1986 and sentenced to death by firing squad. On April 23, 1987, suffering from Alzheimer's, a stroke while in prison and being completely blind, a Yugoslavian court ruled him to ill to be executed. He died in the medical ward of the prison at age 88. He was quickly cremated and his ashes were secretly disposed in an apparent attempt to eliminate a potential shrine by his supporters.
Croatian Ustase Leader. He received a law degree from the University of Zagreb in 1925 and was active in Croatian organizations striving for independence. In 1934 he was arrested as a participant in the Ustase assassination of Serbian King Alexander but was released. He became a cabinet minister of the interior of the Nazi-sponsored independent Croatia in 1941 and upon its demise in 1945 with Vatican diplomatic devised documents ended up in Seal Beach, California in the year 1948. After his whereabouts became known, the Yugoslavian government filed an extradition request so as to try him for war crimes. This triggered a decades long court battle which culminated in his deportment on Feb 12, 1986 from the Medical ward of the Naval Hospital at Long Beach where he was held after his arrest. The feeble and decrepit Andrija was strapped to a strecher and transported to Zagreb ending a thirty-five year struggle to avoid extradition. He was lodged in Croatia's notorious lepa Glava prison where every polical person ends up at one time or another. Charged with the deaths of several thousand persons during World War II, he was convicted on May 14, 1986 and sentenced to death by firing squad. On April 23, 1987, suffering from Alzheimer's, a stroke while in prison and being completely blind, a Yugoslavian court ruled him to ill to be executed. He died in the medical ward of the prison at age 88. He was quickly cremated and his ashes were secretly disposed in an apparent attempt to eliminate a potential shrine by his supporters.
Bio by: Paul S.
Advertisement
See more Artukovic memorials in:
Explore more
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
