Inquiry Commission for Determining the War Crimes of the Occupiers and Their Collaborators in Banat

Collection

Holding institution (official language):: Историјски архив Зрењанин (Istorijski arhiv Zrenjanin)

Title:: Inquiry Commission for Determining the War Crimes of the Occupiers and Their Collaborators in Banat

Title (official language):: Анкетна комисија за утврђивање ратних злочина окупатора и њихових помагача у Банату

Creator/accumulator:: Inquiry Commission for Determining the War Crimes of the Occupiers and Their Collaborators in Banat

Scope and content:: The collection contains various records relating to Jewish history, which are listed in the thematic register entitled ‘The Jews’. It comprises documents on the following: deportation of Jews from Begej Sveti Đurađ (Žitište), Jaša Tomić, Banatski Arandjelovac and Čoka; Jewish property; Jewish enterprises in 1941 in the upper Banat; concentration camp Banjica; the Synagogue in Kikinda and others.

The collection also includes testimonies and statements of victims who survived and eyewitnesses of the crimes committed. The Commission compiled minutes in the Commission office in Petrovgrad which contained the following data: date of the statement, the testimony, persons present. The commissioner and his assistant were present when testimony was given, and signed the minutes along with the person or persons who testified.

Administrative/biographical history:: The State Commission for Determining the Crimes of the Occupiers and Their Collaborators was formed on 29 November 1943, pursuant to the decision no. 9 brought by the Anti-Fascist Council of the National Liberation of Yugoslavia (AVNOJ), under the competency of the Presidency of the National Committee for the Liberation of Yugoslavia. The Commission began its work immediately after the liberation of Yugoslavia in November 1944. In accordance with the Regulations of the State Commission, the Main Committee for the National Liberation of Vojvodina formed a Commission for the territory of Vojvodina with the task to collect evidences of war crimes, war criminals, victims and property damage caused on the territory of Vojvodina. According to the organisational chart, the Commission had six district commissions: Novi Sad, Sombor, Subotica, Petrovgrad (Zrenjanin), Pančevo, Zemun and three commissions in Novi Sad (for Bačka and Baranja), Petrovgrad (Zrenjanin, for Banat) and Zemun (for Srem). The district commissions were composed of district councils, with local commissions. Each inquiry commission had branches. The Commission ceased to work in 1945.

Access points: locations:: Banat; Banatski Aranđelovac; Begej Sveti Đurađ; Čoka; JašaTomić; Serbia; Veliki Bečkerek; Vojvodina; Žitište; Zrenjanin

Subject terms:: Holocaust; Holocaust--Concentration camps; Holocaust--Deportation; Holocaust--Survivors; Real estate; Synagogues; Testimony; Trade and commerce; War crimes

Finding aids:: The following finding aids are available: summary catalogue; thematic catalogue; name register.

Author of the description:: Vanda Vojvodić Micova; Historical Archives of Zrenjanin; 2020