Breaking the myths about Croatia #1 - Za dom spremni! (For home ready!)

Day 1,358, 05:07 • Published in Croatia Croatia • by Vjekoslav1701




This article is a first in a series of articles that will concentrate on breaking the myths about Croatia and it's culture.

Now, many might argue that this is about RL, but this culture is also present in eRep. You can see "Za dom spremni!" written here many times, so please trolls, before trying to trash this please read it and you'll find nothing offensive or provocative.

The only RL elements will be historical facts which are necessary. This is meant to teach all our enemies and allies a bit about ourselves and our cultural idiosyncrasies and habits.

First, history corner:

In the year 1566, Nikola Šubić Zrinski is defending the fortress of Siget with his 2500 troops against 100 000 Ottomans. After longterm battles and lengthy siege instead of surrendering, the remaining 200 men decide to make a final charge against the enemy army. Only a few soldiers survived and killed over 30 000 Ottomans. Before the final charge Zrinski shoute😛 "Za dom sad u boj" (For home now to battle) From this shout you get two modern ones - "Za dom spremni!"(For home ready) i "U boj, u boj, za narod svoj!"(To battle, to battle, for your people.)

About 300 years later Ban Josip Jelačić uses a similar shout before going to battle. He shouts: "Za dom!"(For home!) and the troops reply: "Spremni umrijeti!"(Ready to die!)

The myth:

Now, the myth of it being a nazi salute comes from WW II Ustasha regime in Croatia. They used the salute: "Za poglavnika i dom spremni!"(For home and our leader ready!) and it was accompanied with the standard Nazi hand raise.

Since then it wasn't used until our homeland war. From then it's a standard shout used in patriotic songs, sports fans cheers (specially during the national team games) and even in everyday life when two patriots meet.

Now please vote and shout so that this myth becomes busted in the heads of as many eRep players possible.

Addon by Mivanci:

In 90` RL Croatian Army, some units (like mine 111.war brigade from Rijeka) used word "spreman"(ready) When soldier was called, he replayed "ready!"...This was shorten from "for home ready!", as association to Croatian war history...
Also, some people, interpreted this, as Nazi legacy, and that was not true.... this words, are far older and noble...

NEXT MYTH: Grb: Šahovnica - Croatian coat of arms: Checkerboard.