Slavonski Brod and the foundation of Banovina of Croatia in 1939

U članku je prikazana prijelomna 1939. godina u Slavonskom Brodu. Počela je pojačanim napetostima između HSS-a, koji je dobio izbore u prosincu 1938. i gradskog poglavarstva, kojeg su držali njegovi politički protivnici iz JRZ-a. Nakon uspostave Banovine Hrvatske konačno dolazi do promjena u gradskom rukovodstvu, ali i do prvih ozbiljnijih sukoba unutar heterogenog hrvatskog seljačkog pokreta predvođenog HSS-om.This paper outlines the events in the year 1939 which was a watershed in the history of Slavonski Brod. The year started with increased tension between the Croatian Peasant Party (HSS), which had won the elections in December 1938 and the City Hall, which was dominated by the party\u27s political opponents from the Jugoslav Radical Community (JRZ). Following the foundation of Banovina of Croatia, there finally came to changes in the structure of the city administration, but also to the first serious conflicts within the heterogenous Croatian peasant movement headed by the Croatian Peasant Party. After the electoral victory of December 1938 and the appointment of lawyer Filip Markotiæ as people\u27s representative, HSS staged a more open fight against the city hall in Slavonski Brod. Since 1935 the City Hall was dominated by the designated (not elected) members headed by Emanuel Kovaèiæ, who were all members of the ruling JRZ. Although it seemed that the campaign would succeed, especially since after the collapse of Stojadinoviæ\u27s government the city hall lost the support it had enjoyed, the old guard, i.e. old city hall members retained their positions until the foundation of Banovina of Croatia (on 26. 8.1939). Only after some authorities had been conferred on the Banovina of Croatia, could there come to changes in some state instituions in the city (city hall, county, police forces, schools and railway). The positions held by persons who had been supportive of the Serbian regime, were then filled by those poeple who were expected to be loyal to Banovina, and who were mostly Croats. During these changes there had been a lot of initial confusion and disorientation, which resulted in a breach between Markotiæ and the temporary commissioner of Banovina of Croatia for Slavonski Brod Ivan Mahin and the chief of police force, Ljubièiæ. Both were removed from office, but within the Slavonski Brod branch of HSS there came to serious internal problems, which marked the entire 1940