During a concert in Zagreb last night, Croatian artist Marko Perković Thompson initiated “Bojna Čavoglave” with the Ustasha greeting “Za dom” (For Homeland), to which the audience responded with a resounding “spremni” (ready), echoing the song’s opening.

This salute was employed by the Ustasha in World War II and later by members of the Croatian Defense Forces (HOS) during the conflicts in the former Yugoslavia in the 1990s.

Večernji list reported that “Bojna Čavoglave” commenced with the controversial salute “Za dom spremni”, a slogan originating from the Independent State of Croatia (NDH) during World War II, associated with members of the Ustasha movement who were aligned with Nazi Germany’s leader, Adolf Hitler.

The Croatian portal Index also noted that Thompson began “Bojna Čavoglave” with the shout “For home…”, prompting a ‘ready!’ from the audience at the Hipodrome.

Thompson held the largest concert in Croatian history last night at the Zagreb Hippodrome.

According to reports, over half a million attendees were present.

Organizers confirmed to HRT that 504,000 people gathered at the Hippodrome.

Media outlet tportal highlighted concerns over Thompson’s connections to the Ustasha movement, noting bans in several European countries. They have recently issued alerts advising against travel to Zagreb for a concert featuring a “right-wing pop star” with “pro-Nazi sympathies.”

Thompson defended the song, stating it’s a piece reflecting the Homeland War that holds no controversy for him or fellow veterans.

“It memorializes the era of Croatia’s statehood. Anyone who opposes it is against the truth of the Homeland War,” he remarked years back, emphasizing his intent to convey a “Croatian narrative centered on love for God, family, and homeland,” according to tportal.

The High Misdemeanor Court ruled in 2020 that the phrase “For the homeland, ready” at the start of a song does not violate public order when performed by its author in its original form.

Despite the day passing without major incidents, chants of “Ready for home” were reported before the concert. Police monitored the situation but did not take immediate action, as per tportal.

“We adhere to the principle of proportionality in our actions, ensuring not to incite a larger gathering. We are documenting the public event throughout the day and will analyze the recordings for any necessary follow-up,” stated the police.

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