Red Star Monument in Rijeka Angers Croatian War Veterans

The giant red star artwork, entitled the Monument of Red Rijeka, was installed on a towerblock on Sunday, marking the decision in 1943 by the State Anti-Fascist Council for the National Liberation of Croatia, the highest authority of Croatia's WWII anti-fascist movement, to seize back the city from the Nazis after the capitulation of the Italian fascist forces who had controlled it.

Local media reported that protesters led by war veterans gathered in Rijeka city centre on Sunday afternoon to demonstrate against the installation.

Nikica Maravic, a member of one war veterans' association, told Novi list newspaper that they were protesting against "a symbol of the greatest evil in the Republic of Croatia from [19]45 onwards", linking the red star to crimes committed by members of the Yugoslav People's Army against Croats in the 1990s war.

Spomenik crvenoj Rijeci postavljen je 20. rujna, na dan kada je 1943., poslije kapitulacije Italije Izvršni odbor ZAVNOH-a donio odluku, koja je kasnije potvrđena na zasjedanju u Plaškom, o priključenju Rijeke Hrvatskoj
2800 krhotina kao simbol 2800 palih žrtava nacizma i fašizma pic.twitter.com/bWtwEQAIOa

— Luka Duvnjak (@Luka_Duvnjak) September 20, 2020

The artwork, by local artist Nemanja Cvijanovic, is a reference to a red star which was erected in 1945 in the same place. It will remain on the building until October 4 as part of the city's European Capital of Culture programme.

It is made of reinforced concrete and iron, with bright red glass shattered into 2,800 pieces incorporated into the star.

Cvijanovic said that the 2,800 shards of glass recall the 2,800 fallen anti-fascist fighters in 1945 Battle of Rijeka which liberated the city from Nazi...