Gospić Camp - The First Mass Execution Site in the NDH

The camp in Gospić was one of the first concentration camps in the NDH, established in May 1941, at the same time as Jadovno.

Location and organisation

The camp was located in Gospić itself, in the building of former barracks. It was a transit camp - people were gathered here, tortured, and then transported to Jadovno or executed in the surrounding pits.

Operating period

May - August 1941 - about 3-4 months in total.

Victims

According to research:

• Museum of Genocide Victims: at least 3,000
• Local sources: 4,000-6,000

• Serbs from Lika - peasants, merchants, priests
• Jews from Gospić
• Roma

Mass executions

The Ustaše organised systematic executions:

• The Jadovno pit - transport by truck, throwing into the pit
• The Velebit pits - local pits around Gospić (Golubnjača, Šaranova jama)
• Shooting - by the road, in the forest

Known victims

• Stevan Filipović - a lawyer from Gospić
• Đuro Davidović - a merchant
• Sava Kosanović - an Orthodox priest
• The entire Jewish community of Gospić - about 200 people

Testimony

Milan Radić, a survivor: "We saw them leading columns of people. There were women, children, old people. The Ustaše were drunk and singing. They led them towards the Velebit. No one came back. The next day the trucks came back empty."

Closure

After the Italians took over Lika in August 1941, the camp was closed. Most of the remaining prisoners were transported to Jasenovac or killed.

Today

• A memorial plaque at the site of the camp
• An annual commemoration