Mihajlo Klajn

Ing. Mihajlo Klajn (born Mihajlo Klein; 1912–1941) was a Yugoslav agronomist and communist who was killed during the Holocaust in the Independent State of Croatia.

Mihajlo Klajn
Born
Mihajlo Klein

(1912-08-24)24 August 1912
Osijek, Kingdom of Croatia-Slavonia, Austria-Hungary
Died22 October 1941(1941-10-22) (aged 29)
Osijek, Independent State of Croatia
NationalityCroatian
Alma materUniversity of Zagreb
OccupationAgronomist

Klajn was born on 24 August 1912 in Osijek, Austro-Hungary to a poor Jewish family. In Osijek he finished elementary and high school. In Zagreb Klajn enrolled Faculty of Agriculture at the University of Zagreb. During his study he was emphasized as fair, modest, hard working and persistent person. At the university he joined the Young Communist League of Yugoslavia (SKOJ). He graduated in 1937 and became a member of the Communist Party of Yugoslavia (KPJ). Upon graduation he returned to Osijek where he was employed at the Agricultural Institute Osijek. Klajn published a book "Kako se gaje uljane biljke" (How are grown oilseed plants) in 1938. In Osijek Klajn was named secretary of the provincial committee of the KPJ for eastern Slavonia. His work as a communist and a Jew was noticed by the regime of a newly founded Independent State of Croatia. He was arrested on 22 September 1941. In prison he was heavily tortured and abused. Klajn withstand the torture and never provide the required information about the KPJ organizations and membership. His last words, written in a letter, to his parents were: I'm sorry that I'm dying, but when it has to be, I do not fear at all. I ask you to boldly withstand all life difficulties you may face. I'm sure you will survive. Live for my sake. Live modestly, but with dignity.[1][2][3]

Klajn was killed on 22 October 1941 with six of his comrades, he was 29 years old. In 1959 bust of Mihajlo Klajn was revealed at the Faculty of Agriculture, University of Zagreb as an honor to his sacrifice.[1][2] His studies are now learned at the Faculty of Agriculture, University of Zagreb and Faculty of Agriculture in Osijek. Street in Kneževi Vinogradi is named after Klajn and until 1991 in Osijek (now Trpimirova street).[4]

Works
  • Kako se gaje uljane biljke, Seljački bukvar, Beograd 1938

Bibliography
  • Romano, Jaša (1980). Jevreji Jugoslavije 1941-1945: žrtve genocida i učesnici narodnooslobodilačkog rata. Beograd: Jevrejski Istorijski Muzej, Saveza jevrejskih opština Jugoslavije.
  • Živaković-Kerže, Zlata (2005). Židovi u Osijeku (1918.-1941.). Osijek: Židovska općina Osijek – Tiskara Pauk d.o.o., Cerna. ISBN 953-6659-22-0.

References
  1. P.J. (October–November 1959). "Povodom otkrivanja biste Ing. Mihajla Klajna na Poljoprivrednom-Šumarskom fakultetu u Zagrebu". Šumarski list (in Croatian). No. 10–11. Šumarsko društvo Narodne Republike Hrvatske). pp. 406–407. Žao mi je što umirem, ali kad tako mora biti, nije me nimalo strah. Vas molim da hrabro podnesete sve životne teškoće s kojima se sukobljavate. Siguran sam da ćete preživjeti. I živite meni za volju. Živite i dalje skromno, ali i dostojanstveno. Posljednja mi je želja da ne klonete duhom zbog moje smrti. Danas je nas sedmero osuđeno na smrt, presuda će uskoro biti izvršena. Ipak, nitko se od nas ne boji smrti. Štoviše, mnogi i pjevaju. Ponovo vas molim, budite jaki duhom.
  2. Jaša Romano (1980, pp. 230, 410)
  3. "Povijest" (in Croatian). Poljoprivredni institut Osijek. Retrieved 2013-06-15.
  4. Živaković-Kerže, Zlata; Igor Galir (2010-07-26). "Osječki spomendan 25. srpnja". Osijek (in Croatian). Retrieved 2013-06-15.
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