document count: 9
b. 1871
d. 1960, Spain

 

Archbishop of Sarajevo and militant Ustase adherent. Auxiliary bishop of Sarajevo in 1914, succeeded as full Archbishop of Sarajevo in 1922. An amateur poet, frequently published his writings eulogizing Ante Pavelic, condemning Jews and Serbs as "vipers" and "wolves" and cultivated ties with the Ustase in exile. After the establishment of the Independent State of Croatia, took part in mass conversions and celebrated the slaughter of civilians in his diocese. Publications under his control heaped viturpation upon "schismatics," and allegedly used his influence with the city police to seize prized properties belonging to Sarajevo's Sephardic Jewish community. In his employ was Father Krunoslav Draganovic, later to become one of the most effective operatives on the Vatican Ratline.

Fled Croatia with Pavelic, Andrija Artukovic and other Ustase leaders in the Spring of 1945. Found his way to Spain where he was reunited with Ante Pavelic in 1957. Made a new, highly prejudicial translation of the New Testament into Croatian in Spain, and published a book extolling the virtues of Pope Pius XII. Died in 1960.

News: In the Sign of Sacrifice
April 27, 1941: Excerpt from an article by Father Franjo Kralik praising the work done by Dr. Ivan Merz's Croatian youth group as being in line with the "spiritual program of the Ustase"

Archbishop Saric on his meetings with the Ustase
May 1941: From a nostalgic newspaper article authored by Ivan Saric

Evelyn Waugh on the Sarajevo Franciscans
From the Catholic novelist who spent some time as part of the Allied mission to Yugoslavia in World War II

Article: "Love Has Its Limits"
1941: Anti-Semitic article often attributed to Ivan Saric, but actually the work of his subordinate, Father Franjo Kralik

CIA File: Organization of the Ustase Abroad
October 1946: "Dr. Ivan SARICH, Arch-Bishop of Sarajevo, lives together with the Slovenian Bishop ROZMAN in Klagenfurt in Austria in the Bishops palace there."

US Army File: Background Material on Krunoslav Draganovic
October 10, 1946: One of the first and most crucial extant files tracing Krunoslav Draganovic's role in the Ratline

US Army File: Dr. DRAGANOVIC' Krunoslav
Unknown: Information on Draganovic, Austria, Pavelic, the Vatican and the Krizari

CIA File: Background Report on Krunoslav Draganovic
February 12, 1947: On Saric's mentoring of Fr. Krunoslav Draganovic

CIA File: State Department File on Krunoslav Draganovic
January 9, 1968: Summary describing Saric's patronage of Krunoslav Draganovic

 

Essay: The Patron Saint of Genocide
Archbishop Alojzije Stepinac and the Ustase

 

- None.

 

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