The Independent State of Croatia (NDH) is a fascist, nationalist state that emerges during World War II, formed in 1941 after the Axis powers carve up the Kingdom of Yugoslavia. Under the leadership of Poglavnik (Leader) Ante Pavelić and the Ustaše regime, the NDH seeks to establish a pure Croatian state, driven by extreme nationalism, Catholicism, and totalitarian control. The regime's policies are violent and discriminatory, particularly targeting Serbs, Jews, Roma, and political opponents.

Pavelić, as the charismatic yet brutal leader, envisions a Croatia that is reborn and free from foreign influence. He closely aligns the state with the Catholic Church, making Catholicism not only the dominant religion but also a key element of Croatian identity. The Church plays a central role in legitimizing the regime’s authority and shaping the vision of a united Croatia. Catholicism becomes a driving force in their efforts to create a state that is ethnically and religiously homogeneous.

The NDH's vision of Croatia's old glory is rooted in the romanticization of the nation's medieval past, a time when Croatia had its own sovereignty and power. This idea of "glory" is intertwined with the ambition to revive a greater Croatia, one that is fully independent and united under a single Croatian identity.