Friar Miroslav Filipović - The Priest Killer

Friar Miroslav Filipović-Majstorović is remembered as one of the most brutal commanders of Jasenovac and one of the few Ustaša criminals to face justice.

Who was he?

• Born: 5 June 1915, Jajce (Bosnia and Herzegovina)
• Occupation: Franciscan priest
• Education: Franciscan gymnasium, theological studies
• Ordained a priest in 1939.

Joining the Ustaše

Immediately after the proclamation of the NDH in April 1941:

• He joined the Ustaše
• He became an Ustaša soldier and political commissar
• He was active in the persecution of Serbs in the Bosanska Krajina region

The massacre in Drakulić (February 1942)

Friar Miroslav took part in the massacre in Drakulić, a village near Banja Luka:

• Date: 7 February 1942.
• Victims: 2,300 Serbian civilians (women, children, old people)
• Method: Cutting throats with knives, mallet, throwing into pits
• Filipović's role: He organised and personally took part in the killing

According to the testimonies of survivors: "I saw the friar holding a knife covered in blood. He was laughing as he slaughtered people. He said: 'This is God's work, cleansing the land of the Orthodox.'"

Commander of Jasenovac (May-October 1942)

Friar Miroslav was appointed commander of Jasenovac in May 1942. During his 5 months in that position:

• At least 20,000-40,000 people were killed
• He personally took part in the killings
• He organised "contests" among the Ustaše - who could kill the most people with a knife in one night
• He systematically killed children - according to testimonies, he personally cut the throats of hundreds of children

The notorious killing "contest"

According to the testimonies of prisoners and post-war reports, Friar Miroslav organised a contest among the Ustaše:

• Date: 29 August 1942.
• The rule: Whoever kills the most people with a knife/srbosjek in one night
• The winner: Petar Brzica - allegedly cut the throats of 1,360 people in one night
• Friar Miroslav: Personally took part and "came in second place"

The prize: A gold watch, a silver service, the title "King of the Cutters". Note: The figure of 1,360 people in one night is physically impossible. However, the very fact that such a contest was organised and that there were victims - shows the monstrousness.

Removal from office

In October 1942, Friar Miroslav was relieved of the commander's position because:

• The Franciscan order demanded that the priest "return to his duties"
• Ante Pavelić (the leader of the NDH) wanted to reduce the publicity around the brutality
• International pressure - news of the "killer friar" had begun to spread

Nevertheless, Friar Miroslav continued his Ustaša activities until the end of the war.

Capture

In May 1945, after the fall of the NDH:

• Friar Miroslav tried to flee
• He was captured in Maribor (Slovenia) while attempting to cross into Austria
• He was handed over to the Yugoslav authorities

The trial

Date of the trial: October 1946, Belgrade

• Charges:
  • Mass murder (at least 2,000+ people personally)
  • Organisation of mass murder (20,000-40,000 people as commander)
  • Torture
  • Crimes against humanity
• Witnesses: Over 50 surviving prisoners of Jasenovac
• Evidence: Ustaša documents, testimonies, exhumed graves

Testimony at the trial

Friar Miroslav at the trial: "I did not kill out of hatred. I killed for religious reasons. The Orthodox are heretics. My duty as a Catholic priest was to cleanse the land of heretics." The judge replied: "You are a disgrace to the priestly office. You are a murderer, not a priest."

The verdict

• The verdict: Death by hanging
• Date of execution: 15 February 1946.
• Place: Belgrade

Before the execution, Friar Miroslav asked to be accompanied by a Catholic priest. This was refused - the Catholic Church had excommunicated him (expelled him from the order).

Last words

Before the gallows, Friar Miroslav said: "I die at peace. I did what my faith required of me."

The reaction of the Church

• The Franciscan order - excommunicated him in 1945.
• The Vatican - never officially condemned him, but distanced itself
• Certain Croatian clerical circles - attempts at rehabilitation (rejected by the Vatican)

Why does this story matter?

• It symbolises the abuse of religion for political genocide
• One of the few Ustaše who faced justice
• It shows the extremity of Ustaša ideology - even priests became killers
• Evidence of systematic genocide - it was not "an isolated exception", but part of a system

"Friar Miroslav Filipović was not a priest. He was a demon in a priest's robes." - The judge at the trial, 1946.