Zagreb: 2.5-Hour Croatian Homeland War Tour

The Croatian Homeland War Tour is a 2.5-hour journey through most of the 20th century history of Croatia and the surrounding region. Starting with the World War II, the tour provides an insight into the situation in Croatia with a special emphasis on the fascist Independent State of Croatia and the antifascist resistance movement.

As the war ends communist Yugoslavia is founded, with Josip Broz Tito as the leader and Croatia as one of the six federal republics for the next couple of decades. Yugoslavia’s domestic policy and foreign affairs are presented, with Tito, as an influential politician of the time, in charge. After Tito’s death, the collapse of Yugoslavia starts concluding with a series of brutal wars in the 1990s. Croatia finds it’s way to independence and democracy through the Homeland War, consequences of which can be felt in many ways until the present day.

The tour starts on the Ban Jelacic Square in front of the horseman statue. Multimedia provided by the licensed guide consists of maps, photos and videos which are presented in a chronological order. The tour visits the World War II underground tunnels built during the fascist regime and later used as a public shelter in the Homeland War. Next stop is the basement where local people were hiding during the air raids in Zagreb where the presentation is given on the details of the Homeland War. Last stop is the Memorial Center of Bombing of Zagreb with the exhibition presenting the war in Zagreb. The tour ends in the Memorial Center giving the guests an opportunity to explore the exhibition in detail on their own.