Here are 4 famous musicians from Croatia died at 70:
Antonio Vojak (November 19, 1904 Pula-May 9, 1975 Varese) was a Croatian personality.
He was mostly known for his work as a journalist, writer, and translator. Vojak grew up in Istria, a region known for its complex cultural and linguistic history. He started his career as a journalist in Trieste, writing for various newspapers and magazines in the 1920s and 1930s. In the late 1930s, he moved to Zagreb, where he worked as an editor for several publishing houses.
During World War II, Vojak was active in the anti-fascist resistance movement and worked as a partisan journalist. After the war, he continued his work as a journalist and writer, producing numerous articles, essays, and translations. He was also involved in the cultural and political life of post-war Yugoslavia and was an active member of the Communist Party.
Vojak's literary work reflected his interest in the history and culture of Istria and his commitment to social justice. His most famous book, "Istria under Fascism," is a detailed account of the atrocities committed by the Italian occupiers during World War II. It has been translated into several languages and is considered a classic of anti-fascist literature. Vojak died in Italy in 1975.
Aside from his famous book, "Istria under Fascism," Antonio Vojak also wrote other books that explored the cultural and historical background of Istria. He also worked as a translator and translated important literary works from Italian and Slovenian into Croatian. Some of the writers he translated include Luigi Pirandello, Eugenio Montale, and Ivan Cankar. Vojak was recognized for his literary and journalistic work, and he received several awards such as the Order of the People's Hero in Yugoslavia, the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic, and the Order of Brotherhood and Unity in Croatia. Despite living most of his life in different cities, Vojak never forgot his Istrian roots and continued to connect with other Istrian writers and intellectuals throughout his life.
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Ivan Snoj (October 13, 1923 Zagreb-September 18, 1994) was a Croatian personality.
He was a linguist, lexicographer, and a prolific writer who contributed significantly to Croatian literature and language. During World War II, he played an active role in the anti-fascist movement and was imprisoned several times. After the war, he went on to work as a journalist, editor, and publisher. He is best known for his work on the Croatian language, particularly his five-volume dictionary of the Croatian language, which he co-authored with his wife. Snoj also served as a professor of lexicography at the University of Zagreb and was a member of several prestigious linguistic societies. His contributions to Croatian culture earned him numerous awards, including the Order of the Republic of Croatia.
Snoj was born into a family of intellectuals; his father was a renowned art historian and his mother was a linguistics professor. After completing his studies in Zagreb, Snoj joined the anti-fascist movement during World War II and became an active participant in the resistance. He was arrested and imprisoned multiple times for his activities against the Axis powers.
After the war, Snoj became a journalist, editor, and publisher. He used his platform to promote the Croatian language and literature, working to elevate them to the same level as other European languages. His lexicographical expertise was highly regarded, and he was appointed as a professor of lexicography at the University of Zagreb.
In addition to his dictionary and other linguistic works, Snoj also wrote poetry and prose, much of which was focused on his experiences during World War II. He was a member of several prestigious literary and linguistic societies, including the International Society of Lexicography and the Croatian Academy of Sciences and Arts.
Snoj's contributions to the Croatian language and culture were recognized with numerous awards, including the Order of the Republic of Croatia, the highest national award for contributions to Croatian sovereignty and statehood. In the years since his death in 1994, his work has continued to be celebrated and studied by scholars and linguists in Croatia and beyond.
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Petar Kralj (April 4, 1941 Zagreb-November 10, 2011 Belgrade) also known as Kralj Petar or Петар Краљ was a Croatian actor. He had one child, Milica Kralj.
Petar Kralj began his acting career in the 1960s and became one of the most prominent actors in Yugoslavia, appearing in numerous films, TV shows, and stage productions. He was best known for his dramatic roles, including his performance in the popular TV series "Vuk Karadžić". In addition to his acting career, Kralj was also involved in politics, serving as a member of the Parliament of Croatia in the early 1990s. Kralj received numerous awards for his contributions to theatre and film, including the Lifetime Achievement Award at the Pula Film Festival in Croatia. He passed away in 2011 at the age of 70, leaving behind a legacy as one of Yugoslavia's most respected actors.
In addition to his successful acting career, Petar Kralj was also a prominent figure on the Yugoslav theater scene. He acted in theaters throughout the region, including in Serbia, Croatia, and Slovenia. Kralj was particularly known for his collaborations with the Belgrade Drama Theatre and the Zagreb Youth Theatre.
Throughout his career, Petar Kralj appeared in over 100 films and TV shows. Some of his notable film roles include "A Bullet for the General", "The Battle of Neretva", and "The Marathon Family". He also acted in the popular TV series "Bolji život" and "Otpisani".
In addition to his successful acting career, Kralj was also a talented singer and musician. He recorded several albums throughout his lifetime, and was particularly known for his interpretations of traditional Serbian and Yugoslav songs.
Petar Kralj was deeply beloved by audiences throughout Yugoslavia and his legacy continues to be remembered today.
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Ante Pavelić (July 14, 1889 Bradina-December 28, 1959 Madrid) also known as Ante Pavelic was a Croatian politician, statesman and lawyer. He had three children, Višnja Pavelić, Velimir Pavelić and Mirjana Pavelić.
Pavelić served as the leader of the Croatian fascist and ultranationalist organization known as the Ustaše during World War II. He was appointed as the Prime Minister of the Independent State of Croatia (NDH) in 1941 and later became the Poglavnik, or leader, of the NDH. During his tenure, Pavelić's regime committed numerous war crimes and atrocities against Jews, Romas, Serbs, and other non-Croats. It is estimated that his regime killed between 300,000 and 500,000 people, with some sources suggesting even higher numbers. After the war, Pavelić fled to Argentina, where he lived in exile until his death in 1959. Despite his association with extremist and violent political beliefs, Pavelić remains a controversial and divisive figure in Croatian history.
During Pavelić's time in power, he enforced a policy of forced conversions of Orthodox Serbs to Catholicism with the goal of creating a homogeneous Catholic state. He also established concentration camps, including the notorious Jasenovac camp where an estimated 80,000 people perished, and oversaw the mass killing of Jews and Romas in Croatia. Pavelić's regime also collaborated with Nazi Germany, and Pavelić himself met with Adolf Hitler on several occasions.
After fleeing to Argentina, Pavelić continued to espouse his extremist views and remained active in Croatian emigre circles. He was even implicated in a plot to assassinate Yugoslav leader Josip Broz Tito in 1957. Pavelić died of natural causes in Madrid in 1959 and was buried in a private ceremony. His legacy continues to be a contentious issue in Croatia, with some viewing him as a hero who fought for Croatian independence, while others condemn him as a war criminal and advocate for the prosecution of his remaining followers.
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