Mirjana Gross (10 October 1922 – 13 May 2012) was a Croatian historian, Holocaust survivor, and academic known for her research on modern Croatian and Yugoslav history, particularly the Holocaust in the Independent State of Croatia (NDH). She served as a professor at the University of Zagreb and was a member of the Croatian Academy of Sciences and Arts.
Early life and education
Mirjana Gross was born in Osijek, then part of the Kingdom of Yugoslavia. She began her higher education in history at the University of Zagreb. Her studies were interrupted by World War II.
World War II experience
In 1943, Gross was arrested by the Ustaše regime and deported to Auschwitz concentration camp, where she survived until the camp’s liberation. After the war, she returned to Zagreb and resumed her academic pursuits.
Academic career
Gross earned her doctorate in history in the 1960s, focusing on contemporary Croatian history. She joined the Faculty of Philosophy at the University of Zagreb, where she taught modern history and mentored graduate students. In 1990, she was elected a full member of the Croatian Academy of Sciences and Arts.
Research focus and publications
Gross specialized in the study of the NDH, the Holocaust in Croatia, and the Yugoslav Partisan movement. Notable works include:
- Holokaust u Hrvatskoj (The Holocaust in Croatia) – a comprehensive analysis of the persecution and extermination of Jews, Serbs, Roma, and political dissidents under the NDH regime.
- Hrvatsko‑jugoslavenska povijest 1918‑1945 (Croatian‑Yugoslav History 1918‑1945) – a survey of interwar and wartime developments in the region.
Her scholarship contributed to a deeper understanding of the complexities of wartime collaboration, resistance, and genocide in the Balkans.
Awards and honors
Gross received several recognitions for her contributions to historical research, including the Order of Danica Hrvatska with the image of Marko Marulić, awarded by the Republic of Croatia.
Later life and death
Mirjana Gross remained active in academic circles until her retirement. She passed away on 13 May 2012 in Zagreb.
Legacy
Gross is regarded as a leading authority on the Holocaust in Croatia and is credited with advancing the historiography of the region’s World War II era. Her works continue to be referenced in scholarly research and education concerning the history of the former Yugoslavia.