Ankica Tudman
Croatia- Birth and Childhood
- Meeting Franjo Tuđman
- Marriage and Family
- Education and Career
- Supporting Franjo Tuđman's Career
- First Lady of Croatia
- Humanitarian Efforts
- Post-Tuđman Era
- Legacy
Birth and Childhood
A native of Zagreb, Croatia, Antica Žumbar was born on July 24, 1926. After completing primary school in her hometown, she briefly attended a hospitality school before abandoning her studies to join the Yugoslav Partisan resistance in May 1944.
Meeting Franjo Tuđman
At the age of 18, Antica encountered her future husband, Franjo Tuđman, in the town of Čazma, where he led the 10th Zagreb Corps of the Yugoslav National Liberation Army. In January 1945, she was transferred to the Partisan Supreme Command in Belgrade.
Marriage and Family
Following the liberation of Zagreb, Antica returned home in May 1945. Soon after, she relocated to Belgrade with Tuđman and began working at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. The couple exchanged vows on May 25, 1945, and welcomed three children: Miroslav (1946-2021), Stjepan (born 1948), and Nevenka (born 1951).
Education and Career
In 1954, Antica earned her high school diploma and enrolled at the University of Belgrade to study English. However, she dropped out of the program after the second year and completed an English course at the Yugoslav Foreign Ministry instead.
Supporting Franjo Tuđman's Career
In 1960, Franjo Tuđman rose to the rank of Major General but resigned from military service in 1961. The family returned to Zagreb, where Franjo became the first director of the Institute of the History of the Workers' Movement in Croatia. He was dismissed and expelled from the League of Communists of Yugoslavia in 1967, and served prison sentences in 1972 and 1981 for his political views.
First Lady of Croatia
In the 1990 parliamentary elections, the Croatian Democratic Union led by Franjo Tuđman achieved a commanding majority in the Croatian Parliament. He was elected President of the Presidency of the Socialist Republic of Croatia on May 30, 1990. The collective presidency was abolished on July 25, 1990, and the independent Republic of Croatia was established.
Humanitarian Efforts
During the Croatian War of Independence (1991-1995), Antica founded the Humanitarian Fund for the Children of Croatia. The organization provided assistance to children of war participants and families in need.
Post-Tuđman Era
Following her husband's death in December 1999, Antica and her family faced criticism, particularly from Stjepan Mesić, Tuđman's successor as President of Croatia. Antica, who had been a member of the Croatian Democratic Union since its inception in June 1989, was expelled during the leadership of Ivo Sanader. In 2012, she rejoined the party under Tomislav Karamarko's chairmanship.
Legacy
In 2006, Antica published a memoir titled "My Life with Franček" (a diminutive of Franjo). She is the grandmother of seven: Nina and Ivan (children of Miroslav Tuđman), Siniša and Dejan (children of Nevenka), and Anna-Maria, Nera, and Anton Franjo (children of Stjepan).
