Kerestinec
Encyclopedia : K : KE : KER : Kerestinec
Kerestinec is a village west of Zagreb, (in)famous for certain important events in Croatian history.
In 1573, during the Croatian and Slovenian peasant revolt, government forces led by podban (vice-viceroy) of Croatia Gašpar Alapić defeated rebels in a battle near Kerestinec.
Before the outbreak of World War Two government of Yugoslavia built a prison near Kerestinec and used it to detain political prisoners, mainly Ustashas and Communists. In March 1941, at the eve of Axis invasion, a large number of left-wing intellectuals from Zagreb was arrested and interned in Kerestinec. Few weeks later Yugoslavia collapsed and the prison was taken over by authorities of newly formed Independent State of Croatia. Following German invasion of USSR, Croatian Communist Party started a resistance movement that would later become known as Partisans. Ustasha regime decided to retaliate by having some of Kerestinec prisoners shot. On July 9th first group, including Božidar Adžija, Otokar Keršovani and Ognjen Prica, was executed.
Party reacted by organising an impromptu prison-break. On July 13th the guards were overpowered and all remaining prisoners managed to escape. But the action soon proved to be poorly organised and coordinated. Very quickly, most of the prisoners, including August Cesarec, were recaptured and shot in Maksimir woods. The exact details, especially the role of Comintern agents in it, of the event remain mystery to this day, which led to creation of many conspiracy theories. It is believed that Miroslav Krleža, after hearing what happened to his associate Cesarec, decided not to join Partisans.
Today, Kerestinec is one of the villages in Sveta Nedelja Municipality. Main buildings in the village are the Erdödy castle and the parish church of Holy Cross. In buisnes sphera, Kerestinec is also a seat of several companies and numerous private enterprises. Kerestinec is also a cultural center of the Municipality. The leader of cultural development is local Cultural society Kerestinec. There are also Sport-fishing club "Som", "TOP" Kerestinec Footbal club, Firefighter society Kerestinec and several other unions.
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