This thesis examines the suffering of the civilian population in the area of Poljica during World War 2. It places a special emphasis on war crimes and the commemoration of these crimes in the present day. The thesis is structured into three main parts. The first part focuses on analyzing the Poljica region itself to provide a better context for understanding the wartime event sin this area. By describing the way of life, traditions and customs of the local population, it offers a picture of how people lived before the war. The second parto f the thesis deals with the war crimes that were committed in this area. Through the analysis of available historical sources and numerous testimonies from people, namely survivors, it reveals the tragedies and many atrocities that occurred in this region. Alongside this, the identities of the victims as well as the perpetrators are also uncovered. Special emphasis is places on the testimonies of survivors in order to better portray the cruel atrocities that have markes their lives. The final part addresses the commemoration of these crimes in today's world. It analyzes the state of affairs after World War 2, during the communist period, as well as the situation following the fall of communism, in present – day Croatia. Thea im of this thesis is to contribute to a better understanding of this relatively recent historical event that has significantly impacted the Poljica area, yet many people are unaware of the crimes that took place. The work also seeks to encourage further interest in research on this historical topic, which is not widely written about and has left deep scars and wounds on the residents of Poljica, and therefore should not remain unexplored and neglected.