And in Zagreb and surrounding areas, groups gathered to discuss publications that had been translated into Croatian.

Next, the brothers decided to begin translation of The Watchtower into both Slovenian and Croatian​—a daunting task in those early days. After a magazine was translated, a sister typed it using carbon paper, which would produce only 20 copies at a time. Later, when a mimeograph machine was obtained, production increased to 200 copies of The Watchtower at a time.

Equipped with these magazines, brothers and sisters would travel by train to various parts of Yugoslavia to preach.

Dušan Mikić, a 23-year-old from Zagreb, Croatia, obtained the booklet Where Are the Dead? He too made quick progress, was baptized, and began pioneering. The ranks of pioneers would soon be fortified by the arrival of zealous German brothers and sisters.

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A Clockmaker Spreads the Truth in Slavonia

In the 1930’s, Antun Abramović traveled from village to village in Croatia, repairing watches and clocks. At an inn he found one of our booklets. Upon reading it, he immediately recognized it as the truth, and his heart was touched. This moved him to write a letter to the branch asking for more literature. Before long, he became a dedicated servant of Jehovah. After that, when he traveled from village to village, he not only repaired people’s watches but also gave them a witness. Having this cover for the preaching work was important because the work was under ban. In a small place called Privlaka, he met some people who wholeheartedly embraced the truth. In time, a small congregation was formed. From there the truth spread to Vinkovci and the surrounding area.

During World War II, Brother Abramović helped to print literature underground that was distributed throughout Yugoslavia. Because of his zealous activity, he was among the 14 brothers who were sentenced to long prison terms in 1947. After his release from prison, he served as a traveling overseer. His zeal in Jehovah’s service remained strong throughout his life.