Until the beginning of the Homeland War, the complex of the Jasenovac Memorial area of the Republic of Croatia contained the original exhibits of the concentration camp as well as a monument to the victims of Jasenovac designed by architect Bogdan Bogdanovic. The open-field location of the former concentration camp was arranged in the form of a memorial cemetery, marked with commemorative plaques and monuments.

The Jasenovac concentration camp was the only one within the territory of the NDH (Independent State of Croatia) which was under continual construction and which operated during the entire existence of this state; that is, from 1941-1945. There were also a number of smaller camp units (Brocice, Krapje, Ciglana, Kozara, Stara Gradiska) as well as working camps (Mlaka, Jablanac, Grecani, Bistrica and Ferincani), modeled after similar camps in the Third Reich.

On July 1, 1968, the area of the former Jasenovac concentration camp was proclaimed the Jasenovac Memorial Area in memory of the innocent victims - Jews, Gypsies, Serbs, Croats and others. At the same time, the Jasenovac Memorial Museum was opened in a separate museum building. The museum holdings contained collections of original items which belonged to the inmates or which were used in the camp, as well as original documents and photographs. The museum had an extensive archive and documentation, as well as a library.

The permanent collection provided a view into the historical period from 1941 to 1945 and showed the Jasenovac camp and its operations at that time. The collection contained a huge relief entitled "To the Victims of Fascism" by Dusan Dzamonja, as well as prints by. I. Delale.

Jasenovac was within the Serb rebel-occupied area of the Republic of Croatia from October 1991 to May 1995, during which period access was denied to museum employees and others involved with the protection of monuments. The Memorial Museum began to function again in June of 1997. Because the entire area was occupied from August 1991 until the beginning of May, 1995, and because the area was heavily mined, it became possible only in 1997 - after de-mining - for people to return.( the first returnees from Jasenovac and neighboring villages began to return in April of 1997). The Memorial Area of Jasenovac is now de-mined for the most part (99.6%) and safe, except for narrow areas between the train tracks and the Sava River.

A breakout from the camp which took place in April 22, 1945, is celebrated every year on the Sunday closest to this date. At this time, former prisoners gather at the Jasenovac Memorial Area to hold a multi-denominational religous service.

Microfilming of the museum inventories was completed in September 1991 at the Croatian State Archives, where the copies were stored. Unfortunately, all of the original museum materials and documentation, including materials from the Stara Gradiska collection, were confiscated and removed to the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia during the occupation of that area, with the exception of the relief by Dusan Dzamonja.

On the basis of the report of the National Commission for the Estimates of War Damage to Cultural Objects, which contains a complete background of the devastated Memorial Museum building and damage to the entire Jasenovac Memorial Area, the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Croatia initiated several programs in order to effect the renovation of the area. The project and renovation plan for the Jasenovac Memorial Area began with a complete clean-up and gradual re-opening of the Memorial Museum, restoration of the above-mentioned sculpture from the Museum holdings, de-mining and extensive efforts in the area of horticulture.

A commission of experts and researchers from state cultural institutions was formed by the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Croatia, and is working on a multi-disciplinary approach with the purpose of creating a museological conception for the new permanent collection of the Memorial Museum. This new collection will attempt to provide answers to numerous, still unresolved, historical questions connected to this particular period and area.

The Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Croatia, in cooperation with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Croatia, has prepared a complete expert analysis so that a request for the return of the confiscated museum and documentary material and archives can be initiated. Such analyses will be conducted for other items of historical or cultural significance which were removed from the Republic of Croatia during the Homeland War and taken to Yugoslavia.

Negotiations on the return of such items are to begin in 1999, in accordance with pre-existing conclusions concerning the realization of the Agreement on the normalization of relations between the Republic of Croatia and the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia.

Beginning in 1991, the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Croatia has provided regular reports regarding wartime damage to cultural heritage, and devastation of the Jasenovac memorial area in particular, to UNESCO, ICOM, ECMM and numerous other international institutions and organizations. It has also requested protection of that area from damage and theft and specifically requested that the Hague Convention and other international conventions which the Republic of Croatia has signed be implemented.

The Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Croatia has initiated the resumption of work on the "Jasenovac Memorial Area" public institutions in Jasenovac, which, among other things, are responsible for the implementation of a series of extensive investment and expert renovation programs by the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Croatia. A majority of these programs are expected to be completed during 1999.

Source: Jasenovac Memorial Area, February 1999.