Croatians across Australia mark Victory and Homeland Thanksgiving Day with special programmes
When the twenty-metre Croatian flag was raised on Knin fortress on 5th August 1995, joy echoed around the world – from Zagreb to Sydney, from Melbourne, Geelong… to Perth, Adelaide, Brisbane, Canberra… Today, 30 years after the military-police operation Storm, the Croatian community in Australia preserves the memory of this pivotal moment in Croatian history in a special way.
A commemorative day that unites generations
Victory and Homeland Thanksgiving Day and Croatian Veterans’ Day is not merely a date on the calendar for Croatians in Australia – it is a day when all generations gather to pay tribute to those who made the ultimate sacrifice for a free Croatia. The Croatian community of Australia organises ceremonial programmes in their clubs, centres and halls that combine tradition, remembrance and pride.
“Operation Storm holds special significance for us here in Australia,” some of the organisers who have participated in organising these celebrations over the years told us. “Our children born in Australia learn through these celebrations about the courage of their grandfathers and the importance of the homeland for which their parents fought in various ways.”
“Victory Day – So this year marks the 30th anniversary of Operation Storm. Now although we celebrate this each and every year, this year seems all that more special. In the midst of a busy family life, running a small business and being president of the club, and as we get closer to our official Storm celebration, my mind frequently wanders back to this time 30 years ago. It was a time of anxiety, despair, fear and finally relief. It was a mixed bag of emotions for a then 15-year-old kid to comprehend, particularly watching the emotion in my dad’s eyes. The late night phone calls, organising our donations of clothing etc, the meetings and the tears. We fast forward 30 years and again, a mixed bag of emotions led primarily by pride in what we’re part of, what we do and who and what we are!” Anthony Sumich, President of the WA Croatian Community Centre, told us.
From holy masses to cultural programmes
The commemoration of Victory Day in Croatian communities across Australia often begins with holy mass in memory of fallen defenders and all victims of the Homeland War. In churches, the faithful gather to pray for the souls of those who gave their lives for Croatian freedom, as well as for those who still bear the wounds of that war.
Following the spiritual ceremonies, joint programmes take place in Croatian clubs and centres. Children from Croatian schools perform patriotic songs, recite verses about the homeland, whilst older community members share their memories of wartime days and the moment when they learnt that Knin had been liberated.
Preserving identity across the ocean
The uniqueness of these celebrations lies in their role in preserving national identity. For many Croatians who arrived in Australia during or after the Homeland War, this day represents a bridge between their new homeland and the country for which they fought.
“Our children must know that their roots reach back to a land that dreamed of freedom for centuries,“ many say.
It is particularly important to Croatian communities in Australia to pass on the story of Operation Storm to younger generations. Through documentary films, photographs, testimonies and cultural programmes, young Croatians learn about the significance of the date that changed the course of Croatian history.
– Organising Victory Day commemorations at the Croatian Club Adelaide is both a personal honour and a meaningful responsibility to our community. It is a day to remember and pay tribute to the sacrifices made for Croatian independence, while also celebrating the enduring strength, resilience, and cultural pride of our people. For our community in Adelaide, it is a powerful moment of unity—bringing together generations to preserve our heritage and pass on the stories, values, and identity that connect us to our homeland. Each year, we are especially proud to welcome those among us who fought for our independence to join us for a commemorative dinner at the Dom. This year dinner will be Friday 8th August. – they proudly told us from the Croatian club in Adelaide.
Connecting with the homeland
Technology enables members of the Croatian community in Australia to be part of the central celebrations in Croatia. Croatians proudly follow the ceremonies via satellite links, which allow them to feel part of the great national celebration.
At the same time, representatives of Croatian societies regularly send messages of support and gratitude to Croatia, emphasising that distance cannot weaken the bond with the homeland nor diminish gratitude towards the defenders.
A living legacy
Thirty years after Operation Storm, the Croatian community in Australia demonstrates that great historical moments are not forgotten. Through organised celebrations, cultural programmes and passing on memories to new generations, Croatians in Australia keep alive the spirit of Victory and Homeland Thanksgiving Day.
Their approach to commemorating Operation Storm is proof that geographical distance cannot weaken the deep connection with the homeland nor the gratitude towards those who, through their sacrifice, made a free Croatia possible. In Australian Croatian communities, 5th August remains a day when Croatian flags are proudly displayed as a symbol of freedom and the victorious spirit that lives on regardless of how far they are from their native soil.
More about how Croatians marked the 30th anniversary of the military-police Operation Storm, which occupies a central place in Croatia’s turbulent history, will be featured in the next report on celebrations in the Croatian community of Australia. If your community is also preparing a special commemoration of this day of glory, pride and victory, please let us know so we can include your celebration too
