THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE UNITING OF ISTRIA, RIJEKA, ZADAR AND THE ISLANDS TO CROATIA

Motif: Map of Istria, Bologna 1620 The capitulation of Italy on 8 September 1943 saw the uprising against Italian fascism in Istria. The Communist Party formed local anti-fascist authorities; (NOO in Croatian). These authorities proclaimed the uniting of Istria to Croatia on 13 September 1943. Their proclamation was soon extended to other regions in Croatia under the Italian occupation and confirmed on 20 September 1943 by the Supreme Political Anti-fascist Council of Croatia (ZAVNOH) presided by the Croatian writer Vladimir Nazor. After the capitulation of Italy on 8 September 1943, the Croatian antifascists proclaimed the uniting of Istria to Croatia on 13 September 1943, shortly after the government of the Independent State of Croatia had already abolished the Demarcation Act from 1941. The defeat and the retreat of the German forces from Croatia in 1945 put into effect the 1943 Declaration Act of Croatian partisans and Istria was united with Croatia within Communist Yugoslavia; Yugoslav ideas were systematically implemented into the population of Istria under the Communist regime and only the forming of the Republic of Croatia can bring to Istria full national revival and prosperity within the mother country. The stamp was printed in sheets of 20 pieces each. HPT issued a first day cover (FDC) and a commemorative sheet.