It belonged to the complex Gospić group of concentration camps which besides Gospić camp also included Jadovno, Ovčara, Pag (Slana and Metajna).[6] The establishment of this complex of concentration camps marked the beginning of the final phase of the Holocaust in the Independent State of Croatia, mass murders.[7]
The Gospić concentration camp was established in May 1941 in the building which was used as a prison before World War II and organized by Jozo Rukavina.[8] The first transport of inmates from Danica concentration camp was organized on 30 June 1941.[9] The prison in Gospić was placed in a large square building which equal sides of 130 meters. It was erected in 1878 and used as a prison for prisoners sentenced to life imprisonment.[10]
Inmates
Based on the orders issued by Ustaše command in Zagreb on 19 July 1941, notable Serbs were captured and sent to the Gospić concentration camp divided into small groups of 20 to 30.[11] The Serbs, Jews and Romani people were captured all over the territory of the Independent State of Croatia and transported to Gospić concentration camp at daily rate of three hundred.[12]
About 300 women and children were transported on 11 March 1944 from Gospić to Jasenovac where they were all killed.[14]
Aftermath
The Jasenovac concentration camp was founded as an extension of the disestablished Gospic and Jadovnik camps.[15] The first inmates of Jasenovac camp were brought from Gospić concentration camp in period 19—21 August 1941.[16]
^Jacobs 2009, p. 158: "A total of twenty-six concentration camps were established on the territory of NDH, such as Drnje, Kruš cica, Surovo, Bugojno, Bijeljina, Lepoglava, Rogatica, Vlasenica, Tuzla, Tenje, and Pag, but only Jadovno, Jasenovac, and Stara Gradiška were large extermination camps."
^Komisija 2000, p. viii: "To je gospićka grupa logora: Gospić, Jadovno, Ovčara, zatim Slana i Metajna na Pagu."
^(Avramov 1995, p. 337): "Orders from the Ustasa Constabulary from Zagreb, sent on July 19, 1941, specified that "little by little, every day, Serbs who are financially or intellectually prominent should be sent to the concentration camp at Gospic in groups of 20 to 30."
^(Albahari 1977, p. 162): "Već 1. avgusta 1941. ustaše su odveli u koncentracioni logor Gospić prvu grupu Jevreja. "
^(Gilbert 1982, p. 179): "On 11 March 1944, 300 women and children from northern Dalmatia, having been interned at Gospic, were deported to the Croat concentration camp at Jasenovac (right, below). Not a single one survived."
^Dedijer 1981, p. 553: "Logor Jasenovac je nastao kao produženje likvidiranih logora Gospić i Jadovnik na Velebitu kod Gospića."
