Croatian right-wing singer Marko Perkovic and fans perform pro-Nazi salute at massive concert
One of Marko Perkovic's most popular songs, played in the late Staurday concert, starts with the dreaded 'For the homeland — Ready!' salute, used by Croatia's Nazi-era puppet Ustasha regime that ran concentration camps at the time.
Perkovic, whose stage name is Thompson after a U.S.-made machine gun, had previously said both the song and the salute focus on the 1991-95 ethnic war in Croatia, in which he fought using the American firearm, after the country declared independence from the former Yugoslavia. He says his controversial song is 'a witness of an era.'
The 1990s conflict erupted when rebel minority Serbs, backed by neighboring Serbia, took up guns, intending to split from Croatia and unite with Serbia.
Perkovic's immense popularity in Croatia reflects prevailing nationalist sentiments in the country 30 years after the war ended.
The WWII Ustasha troops in Croatia brutally killed tens of thousands of Serbs, Jews, Roma and antifascist Croats in a string of concentration camps in the country. Despite documented atrocities, some nationalists still view the Ustasha regime leaders as founders of the independent Croatian state.
Organizers said that half a million people attended Perkovic's concert in the Croatian capital. Video footage aired by Croatian media showed many fans displaying pro-Nazi salutes earlier in the day.
The salute is punishable by law in Croatia, but courts have ruled Perkovic can use it as part of his song, the Croatian state television HRT said.
Perkovic has been banned from performing in some European cities over frequent pro-Nazi references and displays at his gigs.
Croatia's Vecernji List daily wrote that the concert's 'supreme organization' has been overshadowed by the use of the salute of a regime that signed off on 'mass executions of people.'
Regional N1 television noted that whatever the modern interpretations of the salute may be its roots are 'undoubtedly' in the Ustasha regime era.
N1 said that while 'Germans have made a clear cut" from anything Nazi-related 'to prevent crooked interpretations and the return to a dark past ... Croatia is nowhere near that in 2025.'
In neighboring Serbia, populist President Aleksandar Vucic criticized Perkovic's concerts as a display 'of support for pro-Nazi values.' Former Serbian liberal leader Boris Tadic said it was a 'great shame for Croatia" and "the European Union' because the concert 'glorifies the killing of members of one nation, in this case Serbian.'
Croatia joined the EU in 2013.
Croatian police said Perkovic's concert was the biggest ever in the country and an unseen security challenge, deploying thousands of officers.
No major incidents were reported.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mail
16 hours ago
- Daily Mail
Poland reintroduces border controls with Germany in migrant crackdown after new nationalist president's 'Poles first' agenda
Poland temporarily reintroduced border controls with Germany and Lithuania at midnight Sunday, saying they are needed to control 'illegal immigration'. The issue was central to June's presidential election where nationalist Karol Nawrocki - who ran on a slogan of 'Poland first, Poles first' - narrowly defeated the candidate backed by Prime Minister Donald Tusk. The Tusk government is now seeking to outflank its rivals by taking a tough approach to immigration. Interior Minister Tomasz Siemoniak said Sunday the decision was taken purely to combat 'illegal immigration' and insisted Poles and other EU nationals would not face inconvenience. In total, 52 checkpoints have been set up on the border with Germany and 13 with Lithuania, the minister said. The controls will last from 7 July to 5 August but could be extended. They will mostly consist of spot inspections, particularly of vehicles carrying several people, Polish officials said. Germany reintroduced temporary checks on the border with Poland in November 2023. Warsaw last month began to accuse Berlin of sending irregular migrants arriving from Poland back across the border. 'The German side is now actually refusing to authorise the entry of migrants heading to Germany to request asylum or obtain another type of status,' Tusk said Tuesday. The controls on Lithuania's border were introduced to stop migrants coming in from Belarus, according to Poland. Nationalist and far-right politicians accuse Tusk's government of having 'abdicated' to Germany on migration and of allowing Berlin to overwhelm Poland with migrants. In late June, members of a far-right party gathered at several points along the border to set up 'citizens' patrols', which the government insists are illegal. The German interior ministry last week said it would 'do everything possible to find a good solution, a good joint solution'. The Germans have proposed joint patrols but the Poles have refused.
The Sun
a day ago
- The Sun
Love Island's Jessy Potts looks incredible as she strips off to barely-there bikini in Croatia
LOVE Island's Jessy Potts looked incredible as she stripped off to a barely-there bikini in Croatia. Former Islander Jessy, 25, left very little to the imagination as she soaked up the sun on holiday. 6 6 6 The reality star - who shot to fame on Love Island last year - showed off her flawless body as she enjoyed a girls holiday. The blonde bombshell shared a slew of stunning snaps from her idyllic vacation. In the sexy pics Jessy can be seen wearing a barely-there bikini as she sat on a catamaran. The tiny two piece showed off her incredible figure. She wrote next to the stunning snaps: "Best time with the best gals in one of the best places," Jessy's fans rushed to compliment her on her pics, with one saying: "Gorgeous babe!" While another added: "Absolutely stunning!" This one simply said: "Beautiful." ROMANCE WITH OG ISLANDER Jessy was recently linked to another very famous Love Island star. Earlier this year, the stunner went on a string of dates with OG islander, Scott Thomas. But after just a month together, The Sun revealed how the couple had called time on their romance after realising they weren't compatible. A source told The Sun: "Jessy and Scott went on one date but decided they were better off as friends. "Jessy is looking forward to having a single summer and to get out there and date, while Scott has different priorities right now. "They felt that they would be better as pals and weren't compatible on a romantic level. "Jessy is keen to find a boyfriend who is ready to commit and who is emotionally available. "She's been single for a while now and is hoping she'll find a new man that will tick all her boxes." Shortly after their break-up Jessy told White Fox's podcast that she was fed up of being played by guys. She said she often dated "older" men, but said it doesn't always make them "wiser". 6 Jessy revealed: "I've been single, this is probably my fourth summer, it's pure hot girl summer vibes. "I'd like a boyfriend at some point. "I guess looks-wise tall, dark and handsome. "Personality-wise... I'm trying to avoid the commitment phobe, emotionally immature because that tends to be my type at the minute. "The boys need to step up this year. Emotionally they need to grow up." JOEY ESSEX SPLIT Jessy famously dated former Towie star Joey Essex after they met on Love Island. However, they didn't last long outside of the villa and just a month after the show ended they called time on their romance. At the time Joey told The Sun: "Unfortunately, we have decided to call an end to the relationship but I hope we can continue to be friends. "I truly wish Jessy the very best with whatever she does in the future." While Jessy added: "I appreciate the Love Island experience I had with Joey, we tried to make it work but it wasn't to be. "I'm so grateful to everyone who supported us and look forward to all of the exciting opportunities ahead."
NBC News
2 days ago
- NBC News
Croatian right-wing singer Marko Perkovic and fans perform pro-Nazi salute at massive concert
A hugely popular right-wing Croatian singer and hundreds of thousands of his fans performed a pro-Nazi World War II salute at a massive concert in Zagreb, drawing criticism. One of Marko Perkovic's most popular songs, played in the late Saturday concert, starts with the dreaded 'For the homeland — Ready!' salute, used by Croatia's Nazi-era puppet Ustasha regime that ran concentration camps at the time. Perkovic, whose stage name is Thompson after a U.S.-made machine gun, had previously said both the song and the salute focus on the 1991-95 ethnic war in Croatia, in which he fought using the American firearm, after the country declared independence from the former Yugoslavia. He says his controversial song is 'a witness of an era.' The 1990s conflict erupted when rebel minority Serbs, backed by neighboring Serbia, took up guns, intending to split from Croatia and unite with Serbia. Perkovic's immense popularity in Croatia reflects prevailing nationalist sentiments in the country 30 years after the war ended. The WWII Ustasha troops in Croatia brutally killed tens of thousands of Serbs, Jews, Roma and antifascist Croats in a string of concentration camps in the country. Despite documented atrocities, some nationalists still view the Ustasha regime leaders as founders of the independent Croatian state. Organizers said that half a million people attended Perkovic's concert in the Croatian capital. Video footage aired by Croatian media showed many fans displaying pro-Nazi salutes earlier in the day. The salute is punishable by law in Croatia, but courts have ruled Perkovic can use it as part of his song, the Croatian state television HRT said. Perkovic has been banned from performing in some European cities over frequent pro-Nazi references and displays at his gigs. Croatia's Vecernji List daily wrote that the concert's 'supreme organization' has been overshadowed by the use of the salute of a regime that signed off on 'mass executions of people.' Regional N1 television noted that whatever the modern interpretations of the salute may be its roots are 'undoubtedly' in the Ustasha regime era. N1 said that while 'Germans have made a clear cut' from anything Nazi-related 'to prevent crooked interpretations and the return to a dark past ... Croatia is nowhere near that in 2025.' In neighboring Serbia, populist President Aleksandar Vucic criticized Perkovic's concerts as a display 'of support for pro-Nazi values.' Former Serbian liberal leader Boris Tadic said it was a 'great shame for Croatia' and 'the European Union' because the concert 'glorifies the killing of members of one nation, in this case Serbian.' Croatia joined the EU in 2013. Croatian police said Perkovic's concert was the biggest ever in the country and an unseen security challenge, deploying thousands of officers.
