Nikola Petrovic

63 years old

“My father was left by himself. He was exploited for forced labour in Germany; his entire family, during or prior to Jasenovac, were executed. The accordion is my life, it’s the only thing that gives me comfort.”

The accordion helped bring food to the table of Nikola Petrović and his children. The only song you will never hear from Nikola is “Ciganska je tuga pregolema” (“Gypsy Sorrow Is Immense”) due to painful memories of the Holocaust (Porajmos) in the period of the Independent State of Croatia (NDH, 1941-1945), during which the family of Nikola’s father was also found among the victims.