Croatia has been embroiled in significant controversy following a concert by popular Croatian singer Marko Perković – Thompson, held Saturday in Zagreb. Tens of thousands of attendees were observed making the infamous salute of the Ustaše regime.
“For the Homeland – Ready” Salute Draws Condemnation
The chant “For the Homeland – Ready” (Za dom spremni), loudly echoed by the crowd, is the official salute used by the notorious Ustaše regime during World War II. Perković, known by his stage name Thompson – taken from the American weapon – has faced fierce international criticism for the concert.
The Associated Press reported that the concert, which gathered over half a million people, reflects the persistence of nationalist sentiment in Croatia, even 30 years after the bloody war for independence from former Yugoslavia.
In a statement, Perković said: “My songs, which are considered controversial and provocative by many, are proof of the end of an era,” adding that they are linked to Croatia’s declaration of independence after the 1990s war.
Widespread Criticism and Political Reactions
However, the concert has ignited strong reactions. “Vecernji List” wrote that the event “remained under the shadow of the salute of a regime that approved the mass execution of people.” N1, on the other hand, assessed that “whatever interpretation can be given to the salute, it undoubtedly refers to the Ustaše regime,” emphasizing that “Croatia is not even close to separating from the past, even in 2025,” contrasting it with Germany’s clear distancing from any links to Nazism.
Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić reacted to these developments, calling Perković’s concerts “a display of support for Nazism.” Similarly, former Serbian President Boris Tadić termed the concert “a shame for Croatia and the European Union, because it glorifies the killing of people of one nation, in this case Serbia.”
Despite documented salutes and symbols associated with the Ustaše regime, Croatian courts have ruled that Perković can use the salute as part of a song, state television HRT reported. The Croatian police announced that the concert was the largest ever held in the country, and no major incidents were reported.
