goli otok
The story of Goli Otok begins after World War I when the island was (first) used as a prison by the Austro-Hungarian’s as a Prisoner of War camp for captured Russians.
Later in 1949 it was decided by Tito’s Government that this island would make a perfect place of exile and punishment for political prisoners, the harshest treatment was reserved for the time of“Informbiro” (opponents of Tito and followers of the Stalin) between 1949 and 1958. The first prisoner arrived on the island arrived on the 09 July 1949 and he and the other following inmates arrived to find the island completely barren and desolate as part of their punishment was to build their own accommodation and workplaces. The regime was tough on the prison island with hard labour being given to all and also extreme punishment was applied aimed to make the prisoner lose his personality, the methods were brutal and many people were never the same after a spell on the island.
In 1950 a women's prison camp was also situated on the island - Little of which remains today.
Chance of escape from Goli was nearly impossible with the strong sea currents, powerful winter winds, distance from the mainland and a strong guard to prisoner ratio all playing their part to make Goli Otok secure.
After 1958 the prison island begain to take other catagories of prisoners not just political and the treatment of those interned became a little more tolerable. In total some 16,000 prioners were held on the Barren Island, with a total number of 3500 on the island at any one time. It is estimated that by the time Goli Otok closed in 1989 400 people had lost their lives on the island due to torture, exhaustion and disease.
The prison closed in 1989 and the island came under the control of the nearby island of Rab, after the dissolution of the Yugoslavia the island was left to decay for many years before recently being seen as a tourist destination with a small bar in the harbor !
Later in 1949 it was decided by Tito’s Government that this island would make a perfect place of exile and punishment for political prisoners, the harshest treatment was reserved for the time of“Informbiro” (opponents of Tito and followers of the Stalin) between 1949 and 1958. The first prisoner arrived on the island arrived on the 09 July 1949 and he and the other following inmates arrived to find the island completely barren and desolate as part of their punishment was to build their own accommodation and workplaces. The regime was tough on the prison island with hard labour being given to all and also extreme punishment was applied aimed to make the prisoner lose his personality, the methods were brutal and many people were never the same after a spell on the island.
In 1950 a women's prison camp was also situated on the island - Little of which remains today.
Chance of escape from Goli was nearly impossible with the strong sea currents, powerful winter winds, distance from the mainland and a strong guard to prisoner ratio all playing their part to make Goli Otok secure.
After 1958 the prison island begain to take other catagories of prisoners not just political and the treatment of those interned became a little more tolerable. In total some 16,000 prioners were held on the Barren Island, with a total number of 3500 on the island at any one time. It is estimated that by the time Goli Otok closed in 1989 400 people had lost their lives on the island due to torture, exhaustion and disease.
The prison closed in 1989 and the island came under the control of the nearby island of Rab, after the dissolution of the Yugoslavia the island was left to decay for many years before recently being seen as a tourist destination with a small bar in the harbor !
