In late April 1941, shortly after the establishment of the Independent State of Croatia, the Ustaše regime launched a campaign targeting the Serbian population within its borders. This campaign was rooted in a toxic mixture of fascist ideology and ethnic nationalism, which aimed to create a homogeneous Croatian state. Gudovac, a small village near Bjelovar, became one of the first sites of mass execution as the Ustaše forces, responding to perceived threats from local Serbs, rounded up nearly 200 individuals. Allegations of resistance or insubordination often served as justification for these atrocities, which were conducted with extreme brutality. The victims, predominantly men, were taken from their homes and executed en masse, with many bodies discarded in nearby fields or rivers. This event marked a significant escalation in the violent campaign against Serbs and would foreshadow the large-scale atrocities that would follow during the war. The Ustaše’s approach not only intended to eliminate identified threats but also aimed to instill terror among the remaining Serbian communities, leading to systematic displacement and further violence throughout the region.