Dušan Žanko

Who was Dušan Žanko?

Dušan Žanko was a Croatian writer and the intendant of the Croatian National Theatre in Zagreb from 1941 to 1943.

He graduated from the Franciscan Classical Gymnasium in Široki Brijeg in 1924. During this time he was a member of the Croatian Eagles Association. He graduated in history from the University of Zagreb in 1928. He subsequently worked as a gymnasium professor in Zagreb. In the 1930s he was one of the leaders of the Crusader Brotherhood in Croatia, and was also active in Catholic Action.

From 22 April 1941 to 8 November 1943 he was intendant of the Croatian National Theatre in Zagreb. During his time as intendant, he led Zagreb's opera company on performances in Venice, Florence and Rome in April 1942 and to Vienne in 1943. In January 1943, Bucharest's opera singers guested at the theatre, performing Aida and Carmen. After his stint at the theatre, he was employed in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs as a cultural-economic representative to France.

On 6 May 1945 Žanko emigrated. He spent the next few years at the refugee camp in Fermo. On 4 October 1946 the Yugoslav government requested his return to face trial, but the request was never carried out. In 1948 he moved to Argentina, before settling in Venezuela in 1954. In emigration he was active in the magazine Hrvatska revija and was president of the printing house Zajednica izdanja Ranjeni labud. He attended the canonization of Nikola Tavelić in Rome on 21 June 1970. Žanko attended the founding of the Croatian National Council in Toronto in 1974 and remained a member of the organization until his death.