In a recent edition of the journal "Journal of Contemporary History" for 2025, historian Dr. Tomislav Kardum published an article detailing the mission of Colonel Ivan Babić, drawing upon a declassified file from the British War Office. This file, which incorporates communist-era documentation, memoirs, and Babić's correspondence, sheds new light on his role as a courier for the Croatian Peasant Party (HSS) amid the tumultuous political landscape of wartime Croatia in early 1944. The study aims to contextualize Babić's mission and its implications for Croatia during this critical period.

During his examination by British officers, Babić refrained from discussing political objectives, revealing only fragments of the mission that involved various figures from the Croatian Domobranstvo and the HSS, an organization that sought to represent Croatian interests in exile. Despite his reticence regarding the political context, the information he provided gave insight into the participants involved in the mission, their intentions, and the overarching goals of the conspiracy, including plans to transfer the regular army of the Independent State of Croatia (domobranstvo).

The implications of Babić's mission and the associated archival findings are significant; they provide a clearer understanding of the internal and external conflicts faced by Croatia during World War II. As historians continue to uncover hidden narratives from this era, the newly available documents contribute to a more nuanced interpretation of resistance and collaboration within the Croatian context. This research not only enriches the academic discourse but also holds value for contemporary discussions on national identity and historical memory in Croatia.