Ww2 and Its Influences in the Bosnian Genocide - 4761 Words

Extended Essay in History World War II and the Bosnian Genocide of 1992-1995 Research Question: To what extent did the Axis occupation of Yugoslavia influence the Bosnian Genocide of 1992-1995? Name: Topias Hokkanen Candidate number: 03939051 Session: May 2012 School: Coppell High School Supervisor: Michael Cook Word count: 3,847 Abstract This extended essay deals with the Bosnian Genocide from 1992-1995, where the Bosnian Serb army committed various acts of war crimes towards Bosnian Muslims. It carries out a historical investigation of the causes of the war crimes, trying to make clear how the Bosnian Serbs could kill neighbors just because of their religion or where they resided. In more†¦show more content†¦Even though tensions between Bosnian Serbs and Bosniaks were prevalent before the Second World War, it is certain that their ideological perceptions of each other changed with the new ideologies and institutions introduced by the Axis powers. Even after the Axis powers’ left the former Kingdom of Yugoslavia, both groups never managed to transcend the horrors and ideologies fixed upon them from World War II. The author of this investigation will therefore argue to some extent that the Bosnian Genocide was influenced by the Axis occupation. 1.The origins of Different Identities in the Region In order to determine the significance of the Axis occupation as a cause of the Bosnian Genocide, the investigation will first examine the origins of different races, religions and groups in the region. The Bosnian and Herzegovinian population consists of three major ethnic groups: the Bosniaks, the Serbs, and the Croats. 1.1 Theories There is no definite historical evidence that provides the exact details of the origins of the Bosniaks, Serbs and Croats. However there are theories that suggest plausible explanations of their origins which became the basis of carrying out the Bosnian genocide. There are very few racially homogeneous provinces in the Balkan region, and only a few individuals could claim a racially pure ancestry for themselves (Malcolm 1). And yet, many times during the last