Content Warning: This article discusses historical events involving war crimes, ethnic persecution, and execution during World War II, which may be distressing. It aims to educate on the atrocities of the Ustaša regime and the pursuit of justice, encouraging reflection on human rights and the dangers of ethnic violence.
Maja Buždon (1923–1945), an Ustaša guard at Jasenovac concentration camp in the Independent State of Croatia (NDH), earned the moniker “Hyena of Death” for her brutal treatment of prisoners, particularly women and children. Born into poverty in a rural Croatian village, Buždon joined the fascist Ustaša movement after Yugoslavia’s 1941 invasion. Convicted of war crimes at the Zagreb Trials in 1945, she was executed by hanging on December 20, 1945. This analysis, based on verified sources like Wikipedia and historical accounts from the Jasenovac Memorial, provides an objective overview of Buždon’s life, role in the Ustaša regime, crimes, and trial, fostering discussion on the human cost of fascism and the value of accountability.
Early Life in Poverty
Maja Buždon was born on August 15, 1923, in Praputnjak, a village in the Kingdom of Yugoslavia. Her mother, Božica, died of tuberculosis in April 1930, leaving Maja and her two brothers raised by their maternal grandmother. The family endured severe poverty, with Maja described as quiet and withdrawn. She completed only four years of elementary school in the region, limiting her opportunities.
As a young woman, Maja worked as a seamstress in Zagreb, the Croatian capital. Yugoslavia’s ethnic tensions simmered, with Croatian nationalists like the Ustaša seeking independence from Serbian dominance.
Rise of the Ustaša and NDH
World War II erupted on September 1, 1939, with Germany’s invasion of Poland. Yugoslavia remained neutral until April 1941, when Axis forces invaded on April 6, dismembering the kingdom. On April 10, the Ustaša, a fascist, ultranationalist, terrorist organization, proclaimed the Independent State of Croatia (NDH), endorsed by Germany and Italy. Ante Pavelić became Poglavnik (leader), establishing a puppet regime marked by ethnic cleansing targeting Serbs, Jews, and Roma.
Buždon, radicalized by poverty and nationalism, joined the Ustaša in 1941, aligning with its anti-Serb, anti-Jewish ideology. She quickly rose in the ranks, recruited for Jasenovac, the NDH’s largest camp.
Role at Jasenovac: The “Hyena of Death”
Jasenovac, operational from 1941 to 1945 near the Sava River, was Ustaša’s primary extermination site, killing 77,000–99,000 prisoners—mostly Serbs (45,000–52,000), Jews (12,000–20,000), and Roma (15,000–20,000)—through beatings, blades, and gas. Women and children suffered disproportionately.
Buždon, a junior guard, oversaw female sections, earning “Hyena of Death” for sadistic cruelty. Survivors testified she beat prisoners with clubs, stomped on them, and killed children by smashing heads against walls. She participated in “selections,” sending groups to death, and abused women sexually, contributing to the camp’s terror.
Her actions exemplified Ustaša brutality, with Jasenovac’s “Stone Hill” (Gradina) mass graves holding thousands.
Capture and the Zagreb Trials
Yugoslavia’s liberation in 1945 saw Ustaša remnants flee or surrender. Buždon was captured by Yugoslav Partisans in May 1945.
The Zagreb Trials (1945–1946), part of Yugoslavia’s reckoning, prosecuted Ustaša leaders. Buždon faced the Trial of 16 Ustaša Women (December 1945), charged with war crimes, including murder of 20 prisoners.
Testimonies detailed her beatings and child killings. Convicted on all counts, Buždon was sentenced to death by hanging on December 20, 1945, at age 22. Executed publicly in Zagreb, her death marked swift justice for Jasenovac survivors.
Legacy and Reflection
Buždon’s crimes highlight women’s roles in Ustaša violence, challenging stereotypes. The Jasenovac Memorial documents her as a symbol of NDH terror, educating on genocide.
Historians like Ivo Goldstein note the trials’ severity but necessity for catharsis. Her youth underscores radicalization’s speed under fascism.
Maja Buždon’s brief life—from rural poverty to Jasenovac guard and 1945 hanging—exemplifies the NDH’s ethnic hatred. Her “Hyena” brutality killed dozens, contributing to Jasenovac’s 99,000 deaths. For history enthusiasts, Buždon’s story urges remembrance of victims, genocide prevention, and human rights advocacy. Verified sources like Wikipedia ensure accurate education, promoting tolerance and vigilance against discrimination.