Literary Evenings of the Croatian Kotromanić Society in Vienna

Hrvatsko studentsko i kulturno društvo Kotromanić osnovano je 1971. u Beču na poticaj fra Stjepana Pavića, franjevca bosanske provincije Bosna Srebrena zbog snažnijeg povezivanja studenata i mladeži, produbljivanja vjere i znanja, održavanja književnih večeri te općenito djelovanja u okviru kulturnih aktivnosti. Djelovanje društva Kotromanić može se podijeliti na dvije faze: od veljače 1971 . god. do lipnja iste godine te od lipnja 1971., kada je službeno utemeljeno Hrvatsko studentsko društvo Kotromanić, do ukinuća 1972. Na sastancima društva Kotromanić vodili su se zapisnici iz kojih se mogu iščitati počeci djelovanja društva, osnivanje i aktivnosti društva. Društvo je u kratkom vremenu svojim djelovanjem privuklo pozornost brojnih uglednika iz znanstvenoga, kulturnog i crkvenog života što je pojačalo i interes jugoslavenskih sigurnosnih službi. Odluka o gašenju društva Kotromanić donesena je krajem 1972. nakon uhićenja fra Stjepana Pavića, predsjednika društva Kotromanić i svećenika Pere Skopljaka u srpnju 1972. nakon čega su osuđeni na zatvor zbog „neprijateljske djelatnosti protiv naroda i države“.Croatian Student and Cultural Society Kotromanić was founded in 1971 in Vienna (Austria). Its foundation was encouraged by Father Stjepan Pavić, a Franciscan of the Bosnian province of Bosna Srebrena, in order to facilitate stronger connections between students and youth, deepening their faith and knowledge, holding literary evenings and cultural events. Activities of the Kotromanić society can be divided into two phases: from February 1971 to June 1971, and from June 1971, when the Croatian Student Society Kotromanić was officially founded, until it was shut down in 1972. From the records that were kept during the Kotromanić meetings it is possible to learn much about the beginnings of the Kotromanić, its foundation and activities. The Kotromanić society had in a very short time attracted the attention of many respectable members in academic, cultural and religious circles, but also the interest of the Yugoslav intelligence services. The decision to shut down the Kotromanić society was made at the end of 1972, after the arrest of Father Stjepan Pavić, the president of the Kotromanić society, and the priest Pero Skopljak in July 1972. They were accused and sentenced to prison because of the „hostile activities against the people and Yugoslav State“