The research of Edi Miloš, Associate Professor, focuses on the period from the Treaty of Versailles to the outbreak of the Second World War, a pivotal chapter in the formation of Croatian identity, rich in first-order “sites of memory,” including the Treaty of Rapallo, the assassination of Stjepan Radić, King Alexander’s dictatorship, and his assassination in Marseille. During this period, the growing prestige of France and its institutional presence in the Croatian lands fostered a rapid expansion of exchanges between Croats and the French. An increasing number of Croats travelled to Paris to study, work, or reside for varying periods, seeking creative inspiration or allies in their efforts to improve their nation’s position. Many of these intermediaries later played significant roles in the cultural, scientific, religious, and political life of their homeland. The Croatian elite increasingly looked to France as a beacon of culture, thought, and freedom. French influence on the development and shaping of Croatian identity and culture steadily intensified. At the same time, these productive relations were occasionally marked by stagnation and disappointment, primarily due to Paris’s persistent support for the centralist policies of Belgrade. The complexity and multidimensional character of Croatian–French relations in the interwar period, combined with their previously underestimated role in the maturation of Croatian political and cultural identity, as well as the insufficient exploration of many aspects, make them a highly valuable and promising field of research. This study will utilize archival collections from the Archives nationales, theCentre des archives diplomatiques de Nantes, and the Centre des archives diplomatiques de La Courneuve.
