An unknown story about the key role of Otto von Habsburg, in lobbying for international recognition of Croatia. This is a story that fully exemplifies the maxim: “While victory has many fathers, defeat is an orphan.” Whilst many, motivated by a desire for (undeserved) honours, Crown Prince Franjo Oton (Croatian for Otto) Habsburg - Lothringen, Croatian Crown Prince and Heir to the throne, remained modest, assuring his place in the margins of modern political and social science. Yet it was his actions that earned him the right to occupy the front pages of Croatian history textbooks. Today, when we remember January 15th, and the great success on the international scene that resulted in the recognition of Croatia in 1992, it is time to remember and honour this silent, but incredibly deserving member of our royal family.
Emperor and King Karl IV and Queen Zita with their 7 children
Difficult beginnings, in the shadow of the suffering of his father, a blessed Karl
Dr. Otto or in Croatian Franjo Oton Habsburg - Lothringen was born on November 20, 1912, as the eldest son of Archduke Karl. Following the assassination of the heir to the throne, Archduke Franz Ferdinand, and his wife Sophia in Sarajevo in 1914, due to his efforts to unify all Croatian crown lands (Trialism), Otto’s father became the heir to the throne. Two short years later, following the death of the long-serving Croatian king and the Austrian emperor Franz Joseph in 1916, Otto's father became emperor and king. King Charles IV was crowned at the magnificent Croatian-Hungarian coronation in Budapest. At the young and tender age of 4, Otto's oldest memories of this event are those that proved crucial to his upbringing. Ensuing the collapse and the forceful disintegration of the Habsburg monarchy, and the two subsequent attempts to restore power in Hungary, King Charles IV with his wife Zita, together with their eight children, were exiled to the island of Madeira. Thus, Otto von Habsburg-Lothringen grew up in extreme poverty and was forced to witness the torment of his father who died in agony with the words of Christ and a pledge for his people on his dying lips. Eight decades later (2004), King Charles IV was declared blessed by Pope St. John Paul II, with whom Archduke Otto von Habsburg-Lothringen was a close friend. The two giants of the 20th century shared love, desire, and hope for the freedom of the people from the Bolshevik yoke. After the death of her husband, Queen Zita told the then-ten-year-old Archduke Otto that he was now: “the father of his brothers and the father of his nations.” The heavy burden of being a king without a kingdom fell on him.
"Witness how he dies like a king and Christ... Your father is now dreaming an eternal dream - you are now the king"
(Queen Zita, 1922.)
The exiled family spent the rest of Otto’s youth in Belgium, Switzerland, Spain, and, with the start of the Second World War, in the United States. He was educated in the fields of sociology and social sciences. Archduke Otto von Habsburg-Lothringen earned his doctorate at the Catholic University of Louvain in 1935. During the Second World War, he was hated and targeted by both the Bolsheviks and the Nazis. At one point when the Austrian chancellor was ready to capitulate to Nazi pressure, Archduke Otto offered, If the burden of government was heavy, leave it for me to show you how to defend the country's independence.
Christianity as the basis of realpolitik and the European alliance
Compelling is the fact that, while many domestic actors of the struggle for Croatia’s independence glorified Yugoslavia and even actively murdered freedom-loving Croats during the late ‘80s and early ‘90s, it was Archduke Otto who was an uncompromising fighter for Croatian independence, and its rightful place in Central Europe. Crown prince Otto was an active member of the European Parliament, where he advocated for the Pan-European Union, an organisation in which he interlaced an exclusively Christian view through Catholic social teachings. He wanted a Christian Europe, a European Union as advocated by his ancestors. A union of sovereign nations based and built on Christianity - not secularism, atheism, Bolshevism and fascism. Through his initiatives, he consistently exerted systematic political pressure aimed at tearing down the Iron Curtain, opening of European borders, and saving dissidents from communist oppression. Following the fall of communism, an heir to the throne HRH Crown Prince Otto outlined a pan-European path, the idea of a European state, cultural, economic, and military alliance that would prevent future conflicts and totalitarian ideologies on the European continent. He advocated an alliance based on sovereign states, peoples, and their culture and individuality, as well as on European and Christian values.
"I have been a Croatian citizen since the day I was born!"
(Crown Prince Otto, 2006)
Crown Prince Otto with his mother, the servant of the Lord Zita, with Pope St. John Paul II
The road to Croatia's freedom and the restoration of its millennial statehood.
Political changes of the early ‘90s coupled with the fall of communism, made it possible for Archduke Otto to return to his Croatian homeland for the first time since 1918. Most Croats, who were just discovering their long-lost freedom, were able to see their heir to the throne through a television report. Sadly, while taking a pleasant walk in the Upper and Lower Town, he went almost unnoticed by the wider population. His Royal Highness then met, for the first time, with the first democratically elected Croatian president dr. Franjo Tudjman, with whom he would maintain a close friendship. The then-president was almost confused by the appearance of a person who was born with the right to rule from God. Soon he recognise Crown Prince Otto as an ally and a key figure in the fight for Croatia's international reputation on her difficult path through war years (1991-1995).
"Although I was given the right by God, which I carry with my birth, I did not come to rule but to serve"
(Crown Prince Otto, 1991)
From the very beginning of the war, starting in 1991, Crown Prince Otto was exceptionally and wholeheartedly involved in the service of his homeland. His two sons, Karl and George were also present during the war years, especially in the area of protection of Croatian cultural heritage from the aggressor's targeted destruction. For after all, a nation without cultural heritage is one without history, and a nation without history is one without identity. Fully aware of this dictum, the Yugoslav aggressor purposely targeted valuable Croatian cultural property and legacy, aiming for destruction and appropriation of the same. Otto’s son Karl particularly distinguished himself in the area of the Karlovac and Dubrovnik zone of combat operations with the Blue Shield organization. It is particularly interesting that young Archduke Karl met his future spouse here – on the field of battle. Baroness Francesca Thyssen-Bornemisza, an art historian herself, was involved in preservation of Croatian heritage, art and cultural treasure. Further, it is particularly important to note that our royal family has proven itself in the field of humanitarian aid, especially when providing care for the wounded and refugees from the city of Vukovar. These courageous acts were not without risk. Because of his pro-Croatian activities, Archduke Karl was specifically targeted for murder during the rocket attack on the Dubrovnik airfield. Fortunately, he and many other guests and representatives of the Croatian government, survived that assassination attempt. Risks never dissuaded our royal family. On the contrary, Archduke Karl’s attachment to Vukovar was further deepened by his friendship with the parliamentary representative and Vukovar refugee - Count Eltz, whose family home became a symbol of the Greater Serbia destruction of Croatian cultural heritage. Finally, we must recognize his ability to successfully advocate and mediated during the negotiations and implementation of the peaceful reintegration of the Croatian Danube region (1995 – 1998).
"Croatia is one of the states that has always, first of all, been faithful, that has been an example to others with its courage..."
(Crown Prince Otto, 2008)
Crown Prince Otto 2ith President Tuđman during the air strikes on Zagreb in 1991
The fight for the international standing of Croatia
Crown Prince Otto’s decades-long commitment to Croatian sovereignty and independence, and orientation towards Central European and Christian values, enabled him to quickly and correctly assess the strength of the overwhelming lobby opposing Croatia’s fight for freedom and international recognition. He often said that Croatia belongs in Central Europe and not in the Balkans. Nevertheless, the voices of those who were antagonistic to Croatia were not letting up. Crown Prince Otto particularly stressed how unfair it was to impose the burden of Ustasha (1941-1945) crimes on modern-day Croatia. This was, as he pointed out, a tool used to attack a country under the guise of criticising the Ustasha – the worst form of weaponization of history for the purposes of warfare in the information environment. Correctly assessing the Serbian aggressor plans, he pointed out that such injustice, elevated by the simultaneous cover-up of Serb Nazi collaborator regime crimes from the same period, is meant to disable Croatian ability to gain economic, material, and moral support in its war of Independence. Was he not so vocal and persistent, it is now quite clear that Croatia would have not succeeded and would have suffered the terrible effects of military defeat and occupation.
"Without Croatia, Europe is unthinkable"
(Crown Prince Otto, 1991)
Diplomatic struggle for international recognition of Croatia
Croatia's diplomatic efforts during those war years were difficult. Many patriots showed their skills and great ability, resulting in significant diplomatic gains for Croatia. Nevertheless, it was Crown Prince Otto who proved to be the greatest diplomat and lobyst that Croatia had at her disposal! As an Austrian and German politician, EU parliament MP, this European representative made significant political efforts to sway leaders of key countries such as Germany and Austria to support Croatian recognition and independence. His constant was his closely held belief that Croatia is and should be a European member, against the then-established view of it as a Balkan country and a further proposition of Yugoslav or Balkan union. With his knowledge, family influence and roots, experience, and connections, he heartily defended Croatia’s reputation. As the sovereign of several distinguished European and dynastic orders, he was intertwined with dignitaries of many countries, to include many royal families. He used his close ties with the Belgian, Luxembourgish, Spanish, and Liechtenstein ruling families to fight for the Croatian state. Moreover, the Habsburgs have always had great influence in the Church, being its greatest protectors throughout the centuries. In addition to the already mentioned close relationship with St. Pope John Paul II, Otto was a close friend of Cardinal Ratzinger of the Roman Curia, the future Pope Benedict XVI. These relationships too were enlisted to support Croatian sovereignty. With Crown Prince Otto, the Croats received a guarantor in the otherwise extremely neutral diplomatic policy of the Holy See, preventing the repeat of the history of Vatican diplomacy towards Croatia during the Second World War. In the Sovereign Military Order of Malta, as the Order’s member, Otto used all his connections and opportunities to fight for diplomatic recognition of Croatia. Often, in discussions for international recognition, he lobbied firmly and strongly saying Croatia or me! It is ultimately due to his efforts, today a little-known historical fact, that the Kingdom of Morocco recognised Croatia. This is yet another example, in the sea of many, where Crown Prince Otto used his close friendships, such as his with King Hasan II, to lobby for Croatia. Today, while sad – and true, it is a fact that many diplomats and lobbyists for the international recognition of Croatia cashed in their contributions by purchasing luxury dwellings and entire villas. They did so by dipping into state coffers. Yet, Crown Prince Otto never received a state salary, nor was he officially part of the state service. He believed that by birth it was his duty to fight for Croatia. He did not want or ask to be paid for that role, for he simply performed his duty as dictated by his birth and upbringing.
His lobbying did not stop with the international recognition of Croatia. Whenever an opportunity presented itself, he used it to advocate for Croatia’s European path and return to its Christian identity. It is particularly important to note his participation in post-conflict negotiations for the peaceful integration of the then-occupied Danube region. For his actions, he survived several Serbo - Yugoslav sponsored assassination attempts on his, and the lives of his children. Following the conclusion of combat operations, he redirected his efforts towards the defence of Croatian military leaders and veterans who were unjustly accused of war crimes. At one point, displaying his unwavering support and moral courage, he chided Carla Del Ponte, a Hague Tribunal Prosecutor, attesting that what the Tribunal was doing against Croatia was unjust; that the war was defensive (not a civil war), and that Croatia was the one that suffered aggression. He clearly defended the Croatian leaders and accused generals:
"The whole deliberately harmful act and thought, which Carla Del Ponte managed to propagate against Croatia, is the worst of all and still plays a role today. We must be honest here. We must tell the truth! If I'm going to tell you honestly, my role was to act against that slander, because one of the most important weapons in such political confrontations was propaganda. Others didn't do that. I mean other Croats, unfortunately, and I believe that's where we, as Croats, have to do something and stand up for Croatia. First of all, defend the truth about Croatia!"
(Crown Prince Otto, 2008)
Otto is one of the first Croats who entered the occupied Vukovar after the integration negotiations, in which he participated
The best Croatian king we never had
As he was noble and modest, Crown Prince Otto did not seek nor receive recognition that was rightfully his. He simply considered himself an individual who was obligated to serve his homeland. While many, often guilty of stolen honour, attributed Otto’s merits to themselves, he would simply wave off such dishonorable practice for he knew that it was his work that resulted in Croatia being an independent and recognised country. Dr. Franjo Tuđman recognised his value and, in 1995, decorated him with the Grand Order of King Dmitar Zvonimir with Sash and Morning Star. Crown Prince Otto was never a member of the ruling parties in Croatia, yet he considered himself a servant of his people and country. And that happens to be a rare quality in our people, one that sadly has no fertile ground in contemporary Croatian politics.
President Franjo Tuđman awarded Crown Prince Otto with the Grand Order of King Dmitar Zvonimir
In conclusion, it is tragic and appalling that President Tuđman rejected the counsel of some of his advisers who advocated he, upon his death or retirement, enthrones Otto as Croatian King and fulfill his promise made in 1990, and restore our historical statehood through reinstitution of our right to a crown. Instead, he left the independence and ideals of the Croatian homeland to politicians, who, in the manner already tried by history, tarnished, and sold it for who knows how many times. And we, the Croat people, were deprived of a King who would be above politics, and whose interest would always be our people and country first. Let's imagine a Croatia with such a king today, three decades later. Surely, there would not have been an exodus of over 1 million Croats who had to leave their homeland in search of a dignified life in Western countries. One wonders if Croatia of today would be the Croatia that the generations of our fathers dreamed of and fought for. Perhaps it would be a Croatia worthy of a man to raise his family there, grow old, and die on his land, knowing that he lived the dignified life of a Croat.
A heartfelt Thank you! to the silent giant of our history, HRH Crown Prince dr. Franjo Oton Habsburško - Lotarinški or simply Otto von Habsburg!
Author: Ante Brešić pl. Mikulić Translated into English: Kristijan pl. Janković
Crown Prince Otto died on 16th July 2011
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