General Primorac Triumphs in Homeland War Competition
The first prize 'We Were First When It Mattered' went to the author of 'When Truth Speaks', with six other titles commended by the jury.
The first prize 'We Were First When It Mattered' went to the author of 'When Truth Speaks', with six other titles commended by the jury.
The non-fiction work "When Truth Speaks, A Croatian General's Testimony", authored by General Ivica Primorac, has been declared the best entry in this year's literary and non-fiction competition "We Were First When It Mattered", as announced on August 17, 2026. This is a traditional competition for the best book on the Homeland War and the creation of the Croatian state.
The competition is organized by the Association of Croatian Homeland War Veterans '91 (UHBDR91.), under the auspices of the Ministry of Croatian Veterans of the Republic of Croatia, in collaboration with other associations stemming from the Homeland War. The aim of the competition is to encourage direct participants in wartime events to document their own experiences, ensuring that sacrifices, heroism, and historical truth are not forgotten.
This year, a total of 17 books were submitted to the competition, which organizers interpret as a sign of sustained interest in documenting history. The winner was decided by a seven-member jury, composed predominantly of Croatian veterans.
In addition to the main award, the jury specially commended six other titles: "Hornet" by Dragica Zeljko Selak, "Ruins of Dreams" by Zdenka Čavić, "Lest We Forget" by Zdravko Senčar, "My and Your Vukovar" by Adrijana Marić, "Let the Dawn of Freedom's Seed Rise" by Jozo Klarić-Klaja, and "Yellow Ladybug" by Maja Vidaković.
The winner receives the Grand Gold Plaque, We Were First When It Mattered. Last year, this recognition was awarded to authors Miljenko Brekalo and Stjepan Adanić for the book "Varaždin Chronicle of the Homeland War."
The jury deemed Primorac's work the best due to its authentic historical weight, documented accuracy, and value for understanding events on key battlefronts. General Primorac, who held command positions in the Croatian Defense Forces (HOS), the Croatian Defense Council (HVO), and the Croatian Army during the war, offers firsthand insight into operations and political processes from the early 1990s.
The book also deconstructs imposed historical myths and geopolitical narratives about the war in Bosnia and Herzegovina. It addresses topics that, according to the jury, have been silenced for too long, including the process of de-Tuđmanization after the war and the selective presentation of documents.
The ceremonial award ceremony will be held in early autumn in Zagreb. Thanks to institutional support from the ministry, the awarded book positions itself as a lasting bulwark against oblivion and a guide for future scholarly research on the Homeland War, as reported by Cronika.hr.
