Kirchenakte Documented events from judgments, reports and church documents
1942-1945 · 3 years · show in timeline

Jasenovac 1942 to 1945: The Franciscan Miroslav Filipović-Majstorović takes part in the massacre of Serbs and becomes commandant at Jasenovac; the Church and the Holy See exclude him

The Jasenovac Memorial Site reports that the Franciscan and priest Miroslav Filipović joined the Ustasha in 1940 and took part in the killing of Serbs near Banja Luka in February 1942. From May 1942 he was commandant of Jasenovac Camp III, then of Stara Gradiška. The Church excluded him from the order because of the killings, which the Holy See confirmed in July 1942. In 1945 he was sentenced to death in Zagreb.

Period
1942-1945 (3 years)
Country
Croatia
Institutions
Franciscan Order
Category
Agreements with dictatorships, Murder
Level of evidence
A Primary source · what does this mean?
Persons
Miroslav Filipović Majstorović (Franciscan, priest, commandant at Jasenovac)

What happened to the people

Who was affected? Victims and numbers

  1. In February 1942 he took part in the slaughter of Serbs in the villages of Šargovac, Motike and Drakulić near Banja Luka.
    Evidence: Öffentliche Einrichtung Gedenkstätte Jasenovac (JUSP Jasenovac), Kroatien, Abschnitt Miroslav Filipović Majstorović
    „In February 1942 he participated in the slaughter of Serbs in the villages of Šargovac, Motike and Drakulić, near Banja Luka.“
    Miroslav Filipović Majstorović, Abschnitt Miroslav Filipović Majstorović. Original
  2. From 10 May 1942 he was commandant of Camp III (Brickworks) at Jasenovac, and from 27 October 1942 to 20 March 1943 commandant of Stara Gradiška camp. During that period mass executions began, in which he took part according to his own confession. Prisoners called him Brother Satan.
    Evidence: Öffentliche Einrichtung Gedenkstätte Jasenovac (JUSP Jasenovac), Kroatien, Abschnitt Miroslav Filipović Majstorović
    „From 10 May 1942 he was the Commandant of Jasenovac Camp III (Brickworks).“
    Miroslav Filipović Majstorović, Abschnitt Miroslav Filipović Majstorović. Original
    Evidence: Öffentliche Einrichtung Gedenkstätte Jasenovac (JUSP Jasenovac), Kroatien, Abschnitt Miroslav Filipović Majstorović
    „mass executions and individual killings began, in which Majstorović participated, according to his own confession“
    Miroslav Filipović Majstorović, Abschnitt Miroslav Filipović Majstorović. Original
    Evidence: Öffentliche Einrichtung Gedenkstätte Jasenovac (JUSP Jasenovac), Kroatien, Abschnitt Miroslav Filipović Majstorović
    „The prisoners called Majstorović Brother Satan.“
    Miroslav Filipović Majstorović, Abschnitt Miroslav Filipović Majstorović. Original

How were they charged and sentenced?

  1. In May 1945 he fled to Austria, was extradited by the British to Yugoslavia and was sentenced to death in Zagreb on 29 June 1945.
    Evidence: Öffentliche Einrichtung Gedenkstätte Jasenovac (JUSP Jasenovac), Kroatien, Abschnitt Miroslav Filipović Majstorović
    „He was sentenced to death in Zagreb on 29 June 1945.“
    Miroslav Filipović Majstorović, Abschnitt Miroslav Filipović Majstorović. Original

Background

Course of events

  1. Filipović attended the Franciscan high school in Visovo, studied theology in Sarajevo and was ordained in 1939. He ministered in the Petričevac monastery and as parish priest in Šargovac, and joined the Ustasha in 1940.
    Evidence: Öffentliche Einrichtung Gedenkstätte Jasenovac (JUSP Jasenovac), Kroatien, Abschnitt Miroslav Filipović Majstorović
    „he was ordained in 1939“
    Miroslav Filipović Majstorović, Abschnitt Miroslav Filipović Majstorović. Original
    Evidence: Öffentliche Einrichtung Gedenkstätte Jasenovac (JUSP Jasenovac), Kroatien, Abschnitt Miroslav Filipović Majstorović
    „linked up with members of the Ustasha movement and became a member in 1940“
    Miroslav Filipović Majstorović, Abschnitt Miroslav Filipović Majstorović. Original

Response of the Church

  1. Because of these killings the church authorities excluded him from the Franciscan order, which the Holy See confirmed in July 1942. He had to give up his name in the order, Tomislav.
    Evidence: Öffentliche Einrichtung Gedenkstätte Jasenovac (JUSP Jasenovac), Kroatien, Abschnitt Miroslav Filipović Majstorović
    „the church authorities excommunicated him from the Franciscan order, which was confirmed by the Holy See in July 1942“
    Miroslav Filipović Majstorović, Abschnitt Miroslav Filipović Majstorović. Original

See also

Original documents to read

  1. Government report
    Öffentliche Einrichtung Gedenkstätte Jasenovac (JUSP Jasenovac), Kroatien: Miroslav Filipović Majstorović. Original (retrieved 31 Oct 2026)
Change log (1)

The change log is kept in German only.

  • : Aufgenommen

Last changed on 31 October 2026. Is something missing or wrong? Suggest an addition or correction.