Customer Reviews

The Krajina Chronicle: A History of Serbs in Croatia, Slavonia and Dalmatia

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

A copious, must-read account of not only Serb and Krajina ("borderland") history, but the dynamics of the Balkan region in general - - - an extremely complex area for a non-native to completely understand. Evidently a laborious project, Dr. Srdja Trifkovic provides a chronological account of the Balkan Peninsula from early settlement to the Serb's last stand in 1991. Michael Stenton wrote a wonderful afterword.

Dr. Trifkovic is correct in his assertion that "The only way we can meaningfully judge the present is by the example of the past. This is the main difficulty in addressing the predicament of the Balkans to today's English-speaking world, where many assumptions are made on the basis of too few facts." Remembering this assumption wouldn't be out-of-line for us westerners who have been fed a great deal of inaccurate information by mass media and self-serving politicians.

The Serbs have been "used" and "abused" empire after empire. Used for their loyalty and fighting capabilities; abused for simply being Serbian and Orthodox Christians. Their personal endurance, giving nature [to a fault], and forgiving tendencies during the rise and fall of each conquest demonstrates their ability to "overcome." Extraordinary early leaders [i.e. Prince Lazar, Petrovich] could only be sickened by the less than savvy 20th century Serbian politicians operating within a political cesspool out of their depth. The creation of Yugoslavia - - - seen as an "Illyrian" solution, resulted in an ultimate mess. The Coatian Ustasa [ethnic cleansing of Serbs during WWII] was backed by the Catholics - - - unbelievable [and almost non-reported] crime against humanity. The US backing of Albanian Muslims against the Serbs - - - extremely misguided would be an "understatement."

If we can only judge the present by an example of the past, we best wake soon. Today's Muslim insurgence and their persecution of Orthodox Christians (and Christians in general) are reflective of Ottoman conquests. The western world's "choice" in taking the wrong side [again] is reflective of the failure of the Roman Empire West [Catholics] and the Byzantine [Roman] Empire East [Greek Orthodox Christian] to come to the aid fellow "Christians." Nazi Germany's rise and the Croatian Ustasa [Nazi] are reflective of the "behind the curtain" build up of the present day fascist movements arising in Austria (FPO) and Hungary's Jobbik Party. The Orthodox Serbs, again, are trapped. Is anyone paying attention? One doesn't have to be a "Tesla" to see this.

Can they [and the world] sustain? As Dr. Trifkovic concluded his book, "But it's not over. In the Balkans it never is."



* Thank you Dr. Trifkovic for your hard-work and dedication in providing a fact-based history.*

As a side note: In order to gain a better "understanding" of the history, it was necessary for me to read the book twice. Do not expect an easy read for such a complex history. It simply isn't possible. Take your time . . . it's worth the read.

REVIEW QUOTES FROM THE BACK JACKET
This pioneering work takes the reader through more than half a millennium of the rich and tragic history of the Krajina Serbs. They endured an attempt to exterminate them in 1941-45 that horrified even the Germans. Most recently they were ethnically cleansed from Croatia, aided and abetted by the Clinton Administration. Dr. Trifkovic ably shines the light of truth on this, a crime that is still largely ignored in the West. -- Doug Bandow, former Special Assistant to President Reagan

Dr. Trifkovic has written a long overdue history of the Serbian warrior farmers who for centuries formed the first line of defense against Islamic incursions into Europe. It is a story of heroism and tragedy. It ends with mass expulsion of the Krajina Serbs in 1995 from their ancestral lands, abandoned by their fellow Serbs in Belgrade and former allies abroad. This excellent book is essential reading for anyone who seeks to understand the often complex and violent history of the Balkan powder keg. -- James Bissett, former Canadian Ambassador in Yugoslavia

This comprehensive study provides the best explanation yet of the fact ignored by most media and Western governments during the 1990's Balkan upheavals: that rather than being bent on conquering the lands of other peoples, the Serbs in what is today's Republic of Croatia were actually trying to hold on to their historical native soil. It casts light on one of the most egregious violations of human rights that continues to be ignored by the "international community" - the right of the ethnically cleansed Krajina Serbs to return to their homelands. -- Col. Dr. Ronald Hatchett, former U.S. arms control negotiator

This book brings together in one short volume episodes of European and South Slav history which are known only in fragmentary form. --
Dr. Michael Stenton, Royal Naval College Britannia, England

Excellent book, well written covering a fascinating history of a people-the Serbs-who have withstood one calamity after another for centuries.This book covers so much history in a well organized format.European history is incomplete without the valiant struggle of the Serbian people.To gloss over the events in the Balkans is to leave out a big piece of the puzzle and disconnect to what is happening now.This book should be required reading for history courses and current geopolitical courses.Highly recommended and a great effort on Dr.Trifkovic's part!THANKS

I found this book very informative and a good read. Specifically it addressed the "Serb side" of a very confusing time in history. I used this book as a road map to understand a war inside another greater war and it makes clear the degree of suffering a certain strain of Serbs who rejected the Communists and fought the Nazi's. On a personal note I'm an American married to the Granddaughter of one of the key players in this book and NOT a history buff so despite the oral history of the actual survivors I had heard over the years, I used this book as a guide to understanding all the factions and players, the interactions and the betrayals of the various groups that fought each other around the time of World War 2.

A book like this was long over-due, and Dr. Trifkovic was just the one to document such an important piece of history!

If you are familiar with any of Dr. Trifkovic's books, or the work he's done for the BBC or The Washington Times, you will know that he pulls no punches in his quest for thorough documentation and clear, truth-telling. This book is no exception.

"The Krajina Chronicle: A History of Serbs in Croatia, Slavonia and Dalmatia" is meticulously documented. In a mere 247 pages, Dr. Trifkovic manages to cover 500 years of important historical evidence of the triumphs and tragedies of the Serbian people. Although the book is an historical account, it is in no way a dry read. The author's style is comprehensive and interesting, with pertinent photographs and illustrations peppered along the way to enhance the account and documentation.

Students of history should take note of this book, because this is exactly the way to present an historical case. It's also a must for anyone interested in learning more about the diverse and tumultuous history of the Balkan region. Highly recommended.

Dr. Trifkovic is not an objective observer of what happened at Sbrernica in the 1990's, but his recounting of WWII Yugoslavia is the most enjoyable book I have read this year. Dr. Trifkovic goes into great detail about the Chetniks, Titoists, Italians, Germans, Ustashi, and the British in WWII Yugoslavia. He makes the argument that Kim Philby. a British double agent who worked for Stalin, colored his reports to make it look like Tito and not the Chetniks were doing the greater fighting against the Nazi occupation. He documents how the Italians tried to prevent the Ustashi from committing genocide against the Serbs.

Since all four of my Serbian-American grandparents originated from the Krajina area of today's "Croatia", I am most grateful to Dr. Srdja Trifkovic for his thorough and well-documented book, THE KRAJINA CHRONICLE. Anyone wishing to know more about the history of the Serbs in Croatia, Slavonia and Dalmatia would do well in purchasing this book. In fact, I was only 1/2 of the way through before I ordered two more books for friends of mine, knowing they would be as grateful as I to find such a difficult and intriguing topic brought to light in such an understandable manner. Anyone who has followed the writings of Dr. Trifkovic would expect nothing short of excellence and this work definitely falls into that category.

This is a comprehensive, pioneering/long overdue history of the area. Trifkovic capably reduces half of a millennium to 238 pages when explaining the rich and tragic history of the Krajina Serbs, who suffered through multiple wars and occupations. An effort to ethnically exterminate them in the 1941-45 years by the dreaded Croatian Ustashi horrified even the Germans. The effort to ethnically cleanse them from their ancestral homeland was repeated in the 1990's, a fact repeatedly ignored by most Western governments.

It brings to mind the letter I wrote to TIME magazine (1990-91?) about having the information wrong about how the Serbs from the Krajina voted by over 90% to be a part of Croatia. Instead, it should have stated they wished to stay a part of Yugoslavia. One writer wrote back, "You are absolutely correct. It is our mistake. That letter writer was promptly fired or "sought employment elsewhere."

As Col. Ronald Hatchett of Schreiner University writes: "It casts light on one of the most egregious violations of human rights that continues to be ignored by the 'international community', the right of the ethnically cleansed Krajina Serbs to return to their homelands."

I hope more people take the time to read this long needed documentation of South Slav history/Military Borders--- THE KRAJINA CHRONICLES. Find out why the Krajina Serbs refused to be human fodder again, and the real reasons behind the break-up of multi-ethnic Yugoslavia. It's a book every family with origins from this region should have on home bookshelves.

First, I will say that I am American-born, 75% Serb, with my paternal grandmother's line hailing from the town of Slunj, near the Plitvice area where the events of the 1990s began. My most recent visit to Serbia was August 2011.

I read this book because I was interested in genealogy and not so much the events of the 1990s. My forebearers had the foresight, or good luck, to leave the Krajina in the early 1900s. One brother of my great-grandfather returned home and eventually spent time in a concentration camp, courtesy of the Ustashe.

As to the book, the history of Serbs in the Krajina was cursory and excessively inflammatory, as hard as this is to imagine! The analysis of the events of the 1990s was rushed and almost non-existent. I was also dismayed by the author's severe right-wing bent in US political circles.

Yes, the Serbs were dealt a bad hand in the Krajina. For a better history and explanation as to why, I would recommend the works of G.E. Rothenberg: "The Military Border in Croatia" in two volumes 1522-1749 and 1740-1881.

I recommend a "Pass" on Trifkovic's book.

I would highly recommend this book to anyone studying the break up of Yugoslavia. As an American of Serbian heritage I found this book invaluable in my studies of this region and Yugoslavia as a whole. Srdja Trifkovic has done a wonderful job in putting together this book of a peoples struggle to survive against all odds through the centuries. For those who want make some sense in what happened during the wars with Croatia and Serbia , this book will exlplain the struggles Krajina Serbs went through for centuries to understand why they fought for independence from Croatia and for unity with Serbia.

REVIEW QUOTES FROM THE BACK JACKET
This pioneering work takes the reader through more than half a millennium of the rich and tragic history of the Krajina Serbs. They endured an attempt to exterminate them in 1941-45 that horrified even the Germans. Most recently they were ethnically cleansed from Croatia, aided and abetted by the Clinton Administration. Dr. Trifkovic ably shines the light of truth on this, a crime that is still largely ignored in the West. -- Doug Bandow, former Special Assistant to President Reagan

Dr. Trifkovic has written a long overdue history of the Serbian warrior farmers who for centuries formed the first line of defense against Islamic incursions into Europe. It is a story of heroism and tragedy. It ends with mass expulsion of the Krajina Serbs in 1995 from their ancestral lands, abandoned by their fellow Serbs in Belgrade and former allies abroad. This excellent book is essential reading for anyone who seeks to understand the often complex and violent history of the Balkan powder keg. -- James Bissett, former Canadian Ambassador in Yugoslavia

This comprehensive study provides the best explanation yet of the fact ignored by most media and Western governments during the 1990's Balkan upheavals: that rather than being bent on conquering the lands of other peoples, the Serbs in what is today's Republic of Croatia were actually trying to hold on to their historical native soil. It casts light on one of the most egregious violations of human rights that continues to be ignored by the "international community" - the right of the ethnically cleansed Krajina Serbs to return to their homelands. -- Col. Dr. Ronald Hatchett, former U.S. arms control negotiator

This book brings together in one short volume episodes of European and South Slav history which are known only in fragmentary form. --
Dr. Michael Stenton, Royal Naval College Britannia, England