Ancestry and Migration: Exploring Croatian Roots and Diaspora

Croatians and their ancestry have a complex and interconnected history, especially in regards to Bosnia and Herzegovina. This article delves into the roots, migration, and settlement of Croats from Bosnia and Herzegovina, highlighting both historical and contemporary aspects of their diaspora.

Migrants from Bosnia and Herzegovina to Croatia

While it may not be true for 'most' Croats, a significant portion of Croatian residents indeed have roots from Bosnia and Herzegovina. My parents, for instance, were born in Bosnia-Herzegovina before moving to Croatia in the 1950s. My grandparents on both sides were economic migrants who moved during a period marked by significant demographic shifts and labor demands.

After World War II, the victorious Yugoslav partisans expelled Germans, including those who voluntarily emigrated to West Germany, leaving behind a population that needed to be re-populated. The regions along the Sava and Danube rivers, which were once farming areas, were in desperate need of labor. Simultaneously, Bosnia and Herzegovina faced shortages of work and state policies that industrialized the agricultural sector, leading to the expulsion of private land owners.

Economic incentives, alongside some ethnic discrimination, pushed many, including my grandparents and great-grandparents, to migrate to northern Croatia, particularly the Slavonia region, where they settled into homes vacated by Germans and Danube Swabians.

Ethnic Discrimination and Political Implications

While economic factors played a significant role in migration, political and ethnic considerations also influenced the decision. Croats in southwestern Bosnia and Herzegovina were often accused of supporting the pro-Nazi regime during World War II, leading to widespread accusations of being nationalists or anti-communists. Even amidst severe guilt by association, many Croats from Bosnia and Herzegovina supported the Communist Partisans by providing supplies, reflecting a range of loyalties and responses to political pressures.

Additionally, the Catholic Church in Bosnia and Herzegovina faced immense persecution under Ottoman rule. Non-Muslims were required to pay extra taxes, such as the Jizya, which particularly targeted Catholics due to their association with the Vatican and Habsburgs. This historical context illustrates the complex dynamics of migration driven by both economic and religious factors.

Pre-20th Century Migration to Croatia

There was also a long history of migration of Croats from Bosnia and Herzegovina to Croatia before the 20th century. Many Croats, including Catholic Bosnian and Herzegovinians, chose to leave their homes in Ottoman-controlled Bosnia to seek better living conditions in Croatia and other regions held by Catholic monarchs. Despite some conversions to Eastern Orthodoxy or Islam, these migrations were largely driven by economic hardships and the inability to convert religiously.

Even today, there are still communities in parts of Croatia that trace their roots back to these early migrations. Such communities continue to maintain cultural traditions and sometimes find echoes of their heritage in place names, surnames, and religious practices. An example is the prevalence of surnames like Bonjak, which means "Bosnian" in Croatian, reflecting a continuous connection to their origins in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Understanding the migration patterns and the historical context requires a nuanced approach. Economic and social pressures, alongside ethnic and political considerations, have significantly shaped the diaspora of Croats from Bosnia and Herzegovina to Croatia. This story is not unique but is rather an integral part of a broader narrative of Balkan history and the complex interplay between different cultural and political forces.