Miroslav Filipović: The Fascist Priest Known as “Brother Satan” of Jasenovac

Miroslav Filipović was one of the most disturbing figures to emerge from the machinery of terror created by the Ustaša regime during the Second World War. A former Franciscan friar and Catholic priest, Filipović became a willing participant—and later a leading executioner—in the genocidal system of the Independent State of Croatia, a fascist puppet state allied with Nazi Germany.After the Axis invasion and occupation of Yugoslavia in April 1941, the Ustaša launched a campaign of mass violence against Serbs, Jews, Roma, and political opponents. Concentration camps were established across Croatia, with Jasenovac becoming the largest and most notorious. It was there, and later at Stara Gradiška and Ciglana, that Filipović earned his infamous reputation.Known to prisoners as “Brother Satan,” he combined religious hypocrisy with extreme brutality, personally participating in mass executions, torture, and the murder of children. Witness testimonies describe Filipović shooting prisoners, forcing inmates to kill one another, and competing with other guards over who could kill more efficiently. Survivors recalled that he sometimes wore religious garments while carrying out executions, a detail that shocked even his fellow perpetrators.His crimes were so severe that even German and Italian authorities temporarily arrested him—though this did nothing to stop his later rise within the camp system. As the war came to an end, Filipović attempted to flee but was captured and extradited to Yugoslavia. In 1946, he stood trial in Belgrade for war crimes committed at Jasenovac and other camps. Survivor testimony left no doubt about his role. He was convicted and sentenced to death.This documentary examines the life, ideology, and crimes of Miroslav Filipović, placing them within the broader context of Ustaša atrocities, the Holocaust in Croatia, and the system of concentration camps that claimed tens of thousands of lives. It is a story of radicalization, cruelty, and accountability—and a reminder of how ideology can corrupt even those who once claimed moral authority.This episode is part of the series Male Fascist Guards and Camp Auxiliaries.Watch the full documentary and explore hundreds of historical films at:WorldHistory.tv