One of the greatest projects in this field was the creation of the Croatian Encyclopaedia, initiated in 1938 in Zagreb by Mate Ujevic (1901-1967), but unfortunately the war did not permit our scientists to complete this enormous job. Only five volumes of the highest typographical quality were issued (1941-1945), from A to Elektrika, out of 12 planned volumes. The Encyclopaedia was written according to highest scientific standards, and contains no traces of anti-Semitism, though the ustasha regime in Croatia, being subdued to fascist Italy and Germany, was anti-Semitic. Mate Ujevic was the greatest Croatian lexicographer of the 20th century.

Furthermore, it is known that even some outstanding Serbian scientists wrote their contributions for the Croatian Encyclopaedia from Belgrade during the WW2! The scientific committee was divided into 52 sections, covering among others themes like Judaica (dr. Lavoslav Sik), Serbian life, culture, history and art (dr. Milan Budimir from the University of Belgrade).  

Artistic advisor of Croatian Encyclopaedia was distingusihed Croatian sculptor Ivan Mestrovic, while artistic editor was Joza Kljakovic. Outer design had been entrusted to Vladimir Kirin, and magnificantly realized. Volume 1 of this monumental encyclopaedia had 808 pp.,  22 x 29 cm. See the list of editors of the main areas, [JPG]. 

Volume 1 was published by the Konzorcij hrvatske enciklpedije (Consortium of Croatian Encyclopaedia), while subsequent four volumes were published by the HIBZ (Hrvatski izdavalački bibliografski zavod – Croatian Publishing Bibliographic Institute), directed by Mate Ujevic.

Photo from Wikipedia

It is also interesting that the whole Encyclopaedia (with exception of the last, fifth volume, issued in 1945) was written in phonetical orthography, contrary of the official etymological orthography adopted in 1941, which was regulated by a special law under insistance of Mate Ujevic at president Ante Pavelic. The whole edition has been systematically destroyed by the Yugoslav communist regime, when the Second World War finished. At the same time, Mate Ujevic left without job for almost a year.

Mate Ujevic, posrednik izmedju stare i nove domovine

Mate Ujevic is one of Croatian Righteous. Namely, risking his own life and the lives of his large family, he saved Manko Berman, outstanding architect and member of the Jewish community in Zagreb, from the infamous Jasenovac concentration camp. He intervened also at Archbishop dr Alojzije Stepinac (who openly declared for Jasenovac to be the greatest shame of the Croatian state), and then authoritatively asked at president Pavelic for his release, since he considered him as one of key collaborators for realization of the Croatian Encyclopaedia. Additional information about Ujevic is here (in Burgenland Croatian).

Some of the collaborators of Croatian Encyclopaedia (1938-1945) were: Josip Andreis, Josip Andric, Stjepan Antoljak, Ljubo Babic, Josip Badalic, Antun Barac, Miho Barada, Slavko Batusic, Albert Bazala, Julije Benesic, Franjo Bosnjakovic, Antun Bonifacic,  Danica Bresler, Franjo Bucar, Ramiro Bujas, Rudolf Cesarec, Antun Dabinovic, Jean Dayre, Olinko Delorko, Milislav Demerec, Mladen Dezelic, Franjo Dugan, Matija Evetovic, Franjo Fancev, Vladimir Filipovic, Stanko Flögl, Vinko Foretic, Miroslav Freiberger, Milovan Gavazzi, Petar Grgec, Stjepan Gunjaca, Josip Hamm,  Ljudmil Hauptmann, Stanko Hondl, Stjepan Ivsic, Ljudevit Jonke, Ljudevit Jurak, Dragutin Kniwald, Franjo Kogoj, Mihovil Kombol, Dervis Korkut, Hamdija Kresevljakovic, Gjuro Kurepa, Emilije Laszowski, Josip Loncar, Radoslav Lopasic, Vatroslav Lopasic, Dominik Mandic, Petar Mardesic, Zeljko Markovic, Alija Nametak, Vilim Nice, Grga Novak, Marko Oreskovic, Stjepan Pavicic, Dusan Pejnovic, Drago Perovic, Mihailo Petrovic, Josip Poljak, Bare Poparic, Vladimir Rozov, Janko Simrak, Bozidar Sirola, Petar Skok, Stjepan Skreblin, Andrija Stampar, Vjekoslav Stefanic, Gjuro Szabo, Mate Tentor, Pavao Tijan, Ciro Truhelka, Fran Tucan, Mate Ujevic, Vladimir Varicak, Dusan Zanko, Vinko Zganec, Nikola Zic, Stjepan Zimmermann, and many other. More than 360 names in Volume I only.

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