Prime Minister and HDZ leader Andrej Plenkovic on Saturday sent a congratulatory message on the occasion of Antifascist Struggle Day, Croatia's national holiday, observed in memory of 22 June 1941 when the First Sisak Partisan Detachment was formed in Brezovica Forest.

On this day we remember the first anti-Fascist unit in Croatia, which was formed on 22 June 1941 and we pay tribute to Croatian anti-Fascist fighters who bravely stood up against the Nazi and Fascist regimes in Europe, and brought Croatia into the group of victorious countries at the end of the Second World War, Plenkovic posted on the X platform.

The detachment with 77 fighters was initially established following the attack of Germany against the Soviet Union, which provoked the intense anti-fascist struggle in these areas.

The antifascist uprising, which began in Sisak, gradually spread throughout Croatia.

More than 500,000 Croatians actively participated in the national liberation struggle, contributing to the victory over fascism.

About 230,000 soldiers from Croatia fought in the units of the National Liberation Army, and 52 brigades, 17 divisions and five of the 11 corps of the Army were formed on Croatia’s territory.

The central commemoration was held in Sisak on Saturday.