4

High-ranking officials were arriving at the Banja Luka Ustashi Headquarters High Command building for a meeting that had been called for January 30th at six o'clock p.m.; however, they were doing so in a lazy, apparently listless manner. The first ones to arrive were Dr Gutic, his brother Blaž and the Commander of the local Police force, Ozren Kvaternik. They talked in subdued voices, pretending to be tired and in a bad mood due to bad weather, but in fact, they were burdened by other thoughts. Even though none of them dared be the first one to say what was bothering him, one could see that their silence on the subject would not last long.

- Pray tell me frankly, have you, by any chance, listened to the BBC London radio station this evening? - Ozren Kvaternik asked all of a sudden.

The Gutic brothers looked at him with some surprise, as if they hadn't quite understood him, going visibly red in the face. It did not escape Kvaternik's notice, and he added:

- My dear sirs, do not pretend that you don't know what I'm asking. I do hope there will be no secrets among us. Nor, for that matter, any reasons to be suspicious of one another, isn't that so, Viktor? I ask you again: have you listened to BBC London this evening? Pray tell, why hesitate and be suspicious...

- Why, yes... I did happen to catch the five o'clock news in passing. About the situation near Moscow, nothing special. Just that... - Dr Gutic said hesitantly, although he gave the impression of a man who knew much more than he was willing to say. He added immediately in a low voice that he hadn't slept at all the night before: he had been making adjustments to his plan, which had originally been given the code name of "Little Crusade" but had been renamed "Operation Little Draculas".

- I really cannot believe this: it almost appears that you are afraid of me. Would you like me, then, to tell you what really worries me? BBC London, my dear sirs, repeatedly reports that the German troops near Moscow have come to a standstill, that fighting of the bloodiest sort imaginable is going on, that, moreover, the Russians have managed to surround very large portions of the German army. According to this radio station, the prospects of our German brothers-in-arms are not appreciably better near Stalingrad, Leningrad, in southern Ukraine... What do you say to that? - asked Kvaternik, looking at Dr Gutic's face, as if he wanted to read his thoughts from his eyes.

- Well, Commander, what can I say. It's mere English propaganda, lies pure and simple, I should think. I listened to Radio Berlin at noon, then at three o'clock. And you know what the reports were? The fall of Moscow, the largest den of those red devils, was a matter of hours, it could be any minute now. In any case, we should bear in mind that the German troops are a mere twenty kilometres or so away from Moscow, that their powerful long-range artillery has been shelling the city for weeks. Radio Zagreb has also repeatedly broadcast such reports...

- Let us hope and pray, Viktor, that it is really so but... I would very much like a drop of that fiery grape brandy of yours, to cheer up my heavy heart a bit. And you, too, relying on Providence to grant our wishes, could do with a drop or two to loosen your tongue tonight. Well, come on, do not tarry! - Kvaternik urged, even though Dr Gutic did not need any additional encouragement.

- It was of the utmost importance, Mr Kvaternik, that I issued that timely order to confiscate all radio sets and similar devices, under threat of arrest or death, from all the Serbs and Jews, even before they were expelled from Banja Luka and ostensibly sent to Serbia, whereas they were actually sent to concentration camps and prisons.

As you have already heard, on that occasion I also ordered that all armaments and military resources, binoculars, photographic devices, as well as all things made of precious metals, money and securities be taken from them; we also confiscated all their printing presses and typewriters - Dr Gutic recited, without the customary excitement in his voice, as if talking in his sleep.

The Ustashi Headquarters Stožernik, Mirko Keljan, appeared at the door, so all three rose and hastened to greet him. Instead of answering their greetings, gloomy and reticent as he was, he merely mumbled something about the "fucking Turkish Bosnia and its ice-cold winter", then made for a seat on the left-hand side, right underneath the Headman's picture. According to the stories being furtively told about him, he was among the first Ustashi to be sworn in in Italy, a man in whom the Headman placed special trust. And another thing, it was impossible to tell whether he was better at shooting from a revolver or at wielding a dagger, two things he never parted with, not even in bed. The next one to arrive was Captain Mišolov, accompanied by his officers and non-coms, a short while after them Friar Miroslav Filipovic, the parish priest of Petricevac monastery, and Dr Nikola Bilogrivic, the Guardian of Banja Luka. The meeting could begin.

- Dear sirs - Dr Gutic began hesitantly - the long-awaited hour for carrying out my plan, the "Little Crusade", is approaching; while putting the finishing touches to it last night, all by myself, I decided to rename it "Operation Little Draculas". But before I proceed to make a detailed exposition of "Operation Little Draculas", it is my duty to introduce to you the officers and non-commissioned officers sitting next to Captain Mišolov - Mioc, Drinjak, Bakotic, Vrdoljak and Grizelj, whom I have already had the pleasure of meeting. They will truly have a decisive role in the carrying out of this holy plan...

Everybody watched Dr Gutic, who was carried away by his exposition of the plan, intently; from his thick lips there flowed a veritable stream of inspired words, as if at prayer:

- Why did I - you may ask - decide to rename the "Little Crusade", approved by the highest instance in the state, and call it "Operation Little Draculas"? Actually, in the distant past of today's Rumania, as legend has it, there lived a knight by the name of Vlad, better known as Count Dracula. During the day, my dear sirs, that knight was the ruler of Transylvania, whereas at night he transformed into an unprecedented, unheard-of blood-thirsty murderer, crawling out of desolate crypts and out-of-the-way hiding-places of black snakes and spiders. And you know what the greatest treat for him was? Blood! Human blood, my very dear sirs! He sucked it out of the blood vessels of his victims - children, young men, girls, young women - with the utmost pleasure. Now, you see, he was the great Dracula, whose name has been preserved to this very day through various legends. And as for us, when, with God's help, we make our way to the Greek-Orthodox village of Drakulic, we must be at least little Draculas. And each and every one of us must drink their filthy blood...

For just a moment, Dr Gutic opened his blood-shot eyes and immediately added:

- In Drakulic and in the villages of Šargovac and Motike, where the Greek-Orthodox population has mingled with Croatians - also in the Rakovac coal mine, that day is to be Judgement Day for them. And not one of them, I repeat, not a single one of them can be allowed to escape with his or her life! We shall exterminate that vermin by the sword, and by the sword only. There can be no human consideration, no shred of compassion for our enemies and blood-suckers of many centuries. Let us all swear: So help us God!

Except for the priests, Filipovic and Bilogrivic, who clapped their hands, muttering "So help us God", the assembled gentlemen kept frowning, looking intently at Dr Gutic. He did not look at anyone in particular, appearing to be transported out of this world altogether.

- "Operation Little Draculas" has been a secret of the utmost importance for the state, and it has to remain so. It must be kept secret at all cost: not even our Great Župan, Sir Ladislav Aleman, or the Commander of the local Army Regiment, Novak, General Rumler of the Home Guard, particularly the local Italian Vice-Consul, Tabiani... In view of the need to keep our task secret, it is my duty to ask the newly-arrived officers and non-commissioned officers - Keljan, Mioc, Drinjak, Bakotic, Vrdoljak and Grizelj - to swear at once before our respected priests, Bilogrivic and Filipovic. For I see the hands of Jesus Christ, our crucified Lord, and our God-given Headman watching over...

The heavily built Ustashi Headquarters Stožernik, Keljan, who appeared not to have been listening to anything being said the whole evening, got up from his chair as if pricked by a needle and shouted:

- What did you say, sir? Repeat what you've just said! These men and me should swear to you!? You presume to put our loyalty to the Headman and the Croatian cause to a test! You, who had never seen a real Ustashi before our victorious arrival here, who... - the Stožernik hissed, reaching for his revolver. It was evident that a deadly conflict might erupt at any moment. The Stožernik made to move towards Dr Gutic, but Captain Mišolov, completely in control of himself, quickly stood in his way.

- Wait a little, Mirko! Mr Gutic really did not mean to be disrespectful. I do agree with you that he has no right to ask you and these other gentlemen to swear anew. You have shown, in the first place through your work abroad, but with equal assiduity since the establishment of our Independent State of Croatia, who and what you are. At the same time, I would like to ask Dr Gutic to apologise to these gentlemen for his momentary lapse. Kindly...

Dr Gutic looked around him with eyes wide open, as if he had awoken all of a sudden. The officers and non-commissioned officers from the Headman's Personal Guard had also risen to their feet, not quite knowing themselves what to do at that awkward moment. The Stožernik continued to transfix Dr Gutic with his blood-shot glare. The priests were muttering something indistinct, Gutic's brother, Blaž, stood petrified, not knowing where to move. The only one among them in full control of himself was Captain Mišolov, who, in an ever so slightly raised but very determined tone of voice, warned:

- I had no intention of reminding you of the powers entrusted to me by the highest instance in the state with regard to carrying out Dr Gutic's plan. Have you never asked yourselves at least this: how is it that a mere Captain, that is, myself, should have under his command a unit of the Headman's Personal Guard like this one? And who is this Captain, that is, myself, who has actually been entrusted with a unit fit for at least a Major or even a Lieutenant Colonel? Need I make use of the powers entrusted to me, gentlemen: to have one of you, it doesn't matter who, arrested on the spot and have him tried before a mobile court martial? Need I, I ask you again, resort to such means of putting things right?

These words, which sounded not just like a warning but like an outright threat, managed to calm down even Keljan, who still held a revolver at the ready in his hand.

- I repeat - the Captain added - that Dr Gutic is to apologise immediately for his ill-considered words addressed to the men from my Headquarters and Stožernik Keljan. Failing that...

Dr Gutic, who had been looking in terror at the black barrel of Keljan's revolver, stammered incoherently:

- I do apologise... I truly apologise, although I only meant to...

- We shall consider this apology sufficient, shall we not? And now, Dr Gutic, please continue with the exposition of your plan - concluded the Captain in a tone of voice that admitted of no objection whatsoever.

- Well, gentlemen - Dr Gutic continued, somewhat shaken - the first precondition for a complete success of our Operation Little Draculas, as I have already pointed out, is secrecy of the strictest kind. The second is the element of surprise: not a single inhabitant of the villages in question, be he Serb or Croat, should suspect that anything out of the ordinary is being prepared. The third one is swiftness of execution. We must begin early in the morning, as early as four o'clock, so that our job should be finished by two o'clock in the afternoon at the very latest. The last precondition is that the task should be accomplished with as little noise as possible. The Captain has very strict instructions concerning that: the men in our unit will be armed with revolvers and sub-machine guns, but they are not to use them unless it becomes absolutely necessary. I trust there is no need to dwell on the reasons for this. That would be all for the moment. If there should be any queries or objections, kindly voice them now... - Dr Gutic concluded while rivulets of sweat flowed down his face and huge double chin.

- How do you propose - Sergeant Major Mioc was the first one to respond - to maintain secrecy and surprise them if the men have no idea whatsoever where those villages are? If they are to know, be it only the Commanders of individual groups for the slaughter, they will have to go on a reconnaissance tour of the area. Wouldn't that put paid to the elements of secrecy and surprise, upon which you insist? On top of that...

- The elements of secrecy and surprise, Sergeant Major Mioc, will be easily preserved if you and your men go about those villages shooting, drinking and singing gangas, the way you did in town the other night, a fine example of soldierly conduct that was - the Captain interrupted him angrily - but we'll discuss that in more detail on another occasion, elsewhere. Pray, explain that to him, Doctor.

- This problem has been examined very carefully - Dr Gutic replied readily. "The commanders of individual units for the extermination of the Serb vermin will make a tour of the villages allotted to them dressed in civilian clothes. Lest their arrival there should arouse any suspicion, they will be distributing census forms to the local population, assuring each head of family that they will be allotted food supply benefits on the basis of how they fill in those forms. The Serb cattle are stupid and hungry, you know, so they'll hasten to fill in those forms properly and qualify for getting food and other necessities - he explained, in a better mood now, casting quick glances towards the faces of the assembled gentlemen.

- Why does your plan stipulate that we should start so very early? Shouldn't the fact that it is winter now and that it will be pitch-dark at four o'clock in the morning have been taken into consideration? - Stožernik Keljan inquired suddenly.

- As we all know, Mirko, the layers of snow are so thick that the men won't be able to move very fast and, consequently, perform their task efficiently. That is why we have agreed on an exceptionally early start. And we can't afford to do it in two days because the Serb vermin would run away and hide like cockroaches. I believe that it was a prudent decision on Dr Gut... I mean, on our part - the Captain explained, deftly avoiding the mention of Gutic's name before Stožernik Keljan.

- I was born in a village, gentlemen - Sergeant Major Mioc's voice was heard again - and I know that there is no village without dogs. I fear that they might ruin our efforts aimed at secrecy through their barking.

- Fear not, dear Sergeant Major. Mr Gutic and I have already taken care of that - Filipovic, the parish priest, hastened to reply, remembering belatedly that Stožernik Keljan was still sullen-looking, frowning like an irate Jupiter. "What I meant to say was that I had personally sent a veterinary doctor, carrying a sufficient quantity of poison, and a few men to help him, out to the villages in question. They put the fear of God into the local villagers by saying that cases of rabies had been reported and that all of them, be they Greek-Orthodox or Croat, should give their dogs this medicine forthwith in order to prevent an outbreak of the disease. Unfortunately, the Croat dogs had to die as well, but...

- Bravo, Mr Filipovic! Bravo! You, too, were obviously reasoning the way an Ustashi should. That's the way for every Catholic priest to reason and act. Bravo... - the Captain said enthusiastically, while others concurred by nodding their heads meaningfully. It was long past midnight, so the faces of everyone showed signs of fatigue. Only those of the Captain and Friar Filipovic appeared quite fresh.

- And how do you propose to make sure that none of those Serbs should run away? - the Captain remembered to ask.

Friar Filipovic cast a quick glance towards Dr Gutic, as if to ask his permission to supply the information required; when the latter consented with a nod, the parish priest resolutely revealed that part of the plan:

- While we were dealing with various aspects of the "Little Crusade" plan, now called "Operation Little Draculas", under the guidance of Dr Gutic, we paid particular attention to details. In view of the need for secrecy, we concluded that, until the very day of carrying out the plan, as few people as possible should be in the know, so we...

- So you waited until tonight - Stožernik Keljan interposed angrily - to invite even me. Pray, let me hear what task you have envisaged for my men, if, that is, you have any confidence in me left and can impart at least that much to me without my having to be sworn in again? Well...

For the umpteenth time, Dr Gutic blinked his tiny eyes, hidden behind the thick glasses, smacking his lips while doing so, but changed his mind immediately, pointing to the parish priest.

- I was just going to impart that piece of information to you, Mr Keljan. The task of your units will be to encircle the villages in question as early as three o'clock in the morning. With you there, we are sure, not even a Greek-Orthodox bird will be able to slip through our hands...

- And you really imagine that my men will just stand there like old women, taking no part in the action? - Stožernik Keljan inquired again, looking at Dr Gutic maliciously.

- Well, with your permission, Mr Keljan, let me explain why our plan is like that. It is our estimate that, God permitting, Captain Mišolov's unit is quite sufficient for the task of exterminating the Serb litter. You see...

- No, I don't see! My men will participate in the action either very actively or not at all. That's what you should bear in mind right away. Do you imagine that the men who have excelled at exterminating Serbs throughout the country owing to their courage will agree to be water-carriers for the sake of your plan? No, I don't want you to tell me anything. What can you say to me anyway? We know what to do, and so should you. So there... - the Stožernik concluded, lighting a cigarette nervously.

- Come on, Mirko, let's leave that for later on. There are six more days to go, and your zealousness when it comes to the advancement of the Croatian cause should be well known to everybody. Everything will fall into place in due time. Please, Mirko... What remains for us to do tonight is to discuss the deployment of our units, as they are to embark upon this task of the utmost importance simultaneously. And we all know how much snow there is, that there are hardly any paths through the snow among these villages - the Captain cautioned.

- So much the better for us and the worse for them. Not even a rabbit can run in this snow, and our men have been hand-picked for the Headman's... - Sergeant Major Mioc interposed again. A mere dark look from the Captain was sufficient to silence him. That certainly meant that he was not prepared to treat the antics of Mioc's unit of three nights ago lightly, as he'd had to apologise for the mess they had made all the way up to the Commander of the Armed Forces of the Independent State of Croatia, Sir Slavko Kvaternik.

Dr Gutic waited for a sign from the Captain before he got on with the exposition of his plan. Drumming nervously with his finger upon a page of it, he went on energetically:

- It's like this... The entire village of Drakulic is made up of Greek-Orthodox population, and they have flatly refused to be converted to our Holy Faith. The slaughter, as has been pointed out, will begin simultaneously. Needless to say, without a single shot being fired. Only Serb-bashers, daggers and short knives are to be used. Axes will also do, depending on personal preferences. Other sharp instruments will do as well. Approaching the place from the direction of the Petricevac monastery, we come across the following households: on the left-hand side, the Stolics and the Glamocanins, on the right-hand side, the Katalinas and the Kuruzovics, then the Mitrovics, the Amidžics, the Katalinas again, then the Piljagics and Cušics, the Mitrovics again, the Brkovics, the Stijakovics, the Savanovics, the Todorinovics, the Kambers... Now, you see...

- What now? You don't propose to read the whole list, do you? And to have Friar Filipovic recite "Hail Marys" to them before sending them off to hell? Bashing and slaughtering the bloody lot of them, that's all there is to it - Stožernik Keljan was heard again, very much subdued this time around.

- You know, Mr Keljan, that's precisely what I'm going to do. This is the "Hail Mary" that they'll be getting from me! - the parish priest laughed, taking a short Ustashi knife and a Serb-basher from under his cassock.

- Mr Filipovic, my admiration for you increases by the minute! You are, if you don't mind my saying so, a real Satan in priest's clothing. A true-blue Ustashi, no doubt about it... - the Captain laughed heartily, then motioned Dr Gutic to continue.

- As it's getting very late indeed, the only thing I would like to add tonight is that for the villages of Šargovac and Motike, as well as the Rakovac coal mine, where, if you'll pardon the expression, the Greek-Orthodox population and our own are intertwined like dog's entrails, we have secured local guides. Those are loyal, exemplary Croats, who will accompany slaughter groups from house to house and point out Serb houses to them...

- And what about mixed marriages? - Sergeant Bakovic, who had been just sitting and smoking until then, inquired.

- As to that, we shall continue on the basis of our practice so far. Whoever has desecrated our Holy Faith through marriage will go straight to hell! A shining example in this respect is Dr Ivan Peric, the parish priest from the Gorica monastery near Livno, who was born in the purely Serb village of Crni Lug, near Grahovo, where his father was a forester. He invited the Ustashi to start the slaughter of the local Greek-Orthodox population, saying: "Slaughter my sister first, the bitch married a Serb. Then slaughter the rest, each and every one of them. I shall personally give you absolution at my monastery." - Sergeant Major Mioc pointed out, casting a wary glance towards captain Mišolov. The latter, however, seized this opportunity to castigate him for conduct in violation of the Regulation Book and the killing of an as yet unknown number of prisoners at the "Black House".

- Sergeant Major, even though it is well known that you are a highly deserving member of the Ustashi movement, I find it hard to listen to you tonight. I do not know who might find himself before the court martial on account of the killing of those prisoners, many of whom were not meant to be liquidated. That, however, as I've said, will be dealt with on another occasion and elsewhere - the Captain said angrily. As soon as he had finished, Dr Gutic took the opportunity to bring his exposition of the plan to a close.

- The latest census, carried out for the purpose of the distribution of food and other necessities, whose validity need not be doubted, indicates that most of the Greek-Orthodox vermin to be exterminated reside in Drakulic. Their families there are the largest. Consider, for example, the family of Gajo Glamocanin! There are fifteen of them altogether! Also in the family of Stevan Piljagic. As for that of Trivun Mitrovic, thirteen of them. Then that of Kosta Mitrovic, fifteen. That of a certain Stoja Savanovic, no less than twenty. That of Simeun Stankovic, seventeen, that of Mirko Piljagic, fourteen, that of Djordjo Kararanovic...

- Never mind the count now, Viktor - Dr Bilogrivic interposed, suppressing a yawn - because it will be quite simply a great advantage to our men. They'll come to such a schismatic family, roll up their sleeves and get the job done in one place. It would appear to me that the most important thing here is the utmost scrupulousness in the carrying out of our task. Not one, not a single one of these creatures is to be allowed to escape with his or her life. Should that happen despite our best efforts, our task will remain unfulfilled before God and our beloved Headman. That is what everyone, from a private to the highest-ranking officer, as well as the local guides, must bear in mind. That, at least, is how I see it...

- I have no doubt whatsoever that we shall manage, as always, to fulfil this task in the best way possible, to the greatest satisfaction of our Headman. Let me emphasise that I do not like the mere thought of the possibility that some of them might get away. The experience from the previous operations of extermination of the Greek-Orthodox population is a perfect illustration of the fact that they are ignorant and stupid, that they are unable to see what constitutes a threat to their lives. They are gullible in the extreme and no-one, not even their cursed faith, has managed to teach them who their deadly enemy is and...

- Sub-Lieutenant Vrdoljak, you seem to have just awoken. And yet, there you go, rambling about their faith, gullibility, threat to their lives... Better skip it! - Captain Mišolov joked good-naturedly.

- No, Captain - Vrdoljak would not be deterred - I merely wanted to point out to those among us who, obviously, have had no experience of this sort how we did it in the area around Knin, throughout Dalmatia, Bosnia and Lika. You will certainly remember that Sergeant Grizelj and myself used to gather about a hundred of those fools, strapping fellows one and all, take them to the edge of a pit and shoot them. Believing that we only shoot the ones who were guilty of something or other, they kept repeating: "I'm not guilty of anything! Everyone will confirm that I've never stolen anything, slandered anyone, spoken against the state. I'm telling the truth, so help me God. I wouldn't hurt a fly..."

- That may have been so in the beginning, back in 1941, before they learned some sense. It is February 1942 now, my dear Sub-Lieutenant... - the Captain cautioned him mildly.

The clock of the Catholic cathedral of St Bonaventura in the very centre of the town struck three.

Fatigue and sleepiness clearly showed on every face. They could hardly wait for this long meeting, convened for the purpose of imparting the necessary instructions for putting the plan into practice, to end, and kept casting glances in the direction of Dr Gutic and the Captain.

- We are all obviously very tired and sleepy, but I would like to add just one more thing, with your permission: before we start "Operation Little Draculas", it will be necessary for us to meet once more. Captain Mišolov will bring a few of the slaughter group guides over here for more detailed instructions. I thank you all in advance for your understanding and co-operation... - Dr Gutic concluded.

- No-one here should take offence - Stožernik Keljan spoke again, rising from his seat - on account of what I'm going to say. If you, Dr Gutic, had done your duty as assiduously as you would have us believe now, bragging about it so much, there would be no need for these meetings or your operations or... All that should have been taken care of towards the end of the previous summer, the way true-blue Ustashi took care of things. There's no point in talking so much about it now...

- If you really must know, Mr Keljan, it was precisely because I went about doing my duty in the most assiduous manner possible that I was removed from the post that you now occupy. On top of everything else, I was sent to Zagreb at the insistence of that German General, Fortner...

- And a lot of harm that did to you: you were promoted to the rank of Great Župan with the Ministry of Internal Affairs. Who are you trying to fool now? - the Stožernik asked ironically.

- In view of my contribution to the Croatian cause, I was promoted by none other than the Headman. You, therefore, criticise the Headman, sir...

- Kindly control yourselves, gentlemen! I repeat, control yourselves! Do not make me resort to extreme measures. We all have the same aim, we are all dedicated to the utmost to the Headman and our common cause, but we are all very tired and, hence, irritable. Let me thank you for everything on my behalf as well, and see you all in three days - the Captain said sharply, while the Stožernik and Great Župan Gutic kept exchanging poisonous looks, reminiscent of flashes of lightning.

Two orderlies entered the room hurriedly and started restoring it to its proper condition.

Content | Next: 5th chapter

Copyright © 1998 Jovan Babic
Copyright © 1998 Zaduzbina Petar Kocic, Banja Luka - Beograd