Susak Island Diaspora - From Susak to Hoboken
Susak is a tiny island in the northern Adriatic with a unique history – and a remarkable diaspora community half a world away. In the mid-20th century, Susak’s population was dramatically reduced as a majority of its inhabitants left for new lives abroad. Why did so many Susak residents decide to leave? A combination of harsh political changes and economic hardship after World War II pushed them to seek a better future. After the war, Susak became part of socialist Yugoslavia, where new policies (such as forced collectivization and heavy taxes) devastated the island’s traditional wine-growing and fishing economy (Croatian Studies Review). Faced with poverty, famine, and lack of jobs, and even compelled to perform unpaid labor by the new government, more than 80% of Susak’s people fled by the mid-1960s (Croatian Heritage Foundation). In 1948 the island had about 1,629 inhabitants, but over the next two decades most departed – by 1971 only 323 people remained (Croatian Studies Review). Today Susak’s year-round population is barely around 150, while an estimated 2,500–4,000 Susak emigrants and their descendants live in the United States (primarily New Jersey) (Total Croatia News).
Early Signs of Emigration
While the mass emigration from Susak peaked after WWII, the roots of out-migration began earlier. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Susak’s wine producers and seafarers already faced challenges that prompted some to go abroad. For example, an Austro-Hungarian trade agreement in 1891 slashed tariffs on imported Italian wine, causing cheap Italian wine to flood the market – a serious blow to Susak’s vintners for whom wine was a main source of income (Croatian Heritage Foundation). Later, after World War I, Susak (along with the Cres-Lošinj archipelago) was annexed by Italy, and the interwar economic slump hit local shipping and industry hard. With few jobs at home, many islanders – especially young men – looked overseas for work. In this early period (1910s–1930s), a number of Susak men ventured to America to work in ports and ships, intending to stay only temporarily. Many eventually returned briefly to Susak to marry, then brought their wives back to the US with them. However, U.S. immigration quotas imposed in the 1920s slowed this first wave of migration. Those early emigrants laid the foundation of a community abroad, but it was only after WWII that a mass exodus truly emptied the island.
Post-War Exodus: Why People Left Susak
In the late 1940s and 1950s, political and economic pressures on Susak reached a breaking point. After WWII, the island was incorporated into communist Yugoslavia. The new regime’s nationalization of private land, agricultural reforms, and punitive taxation (such as a high tax on locally-produced wine in 1964) ruined many livelihoods (Croatian Studies Review). At the same time, wartime devastation and isolation led to shortages and hunger. Jobs on the island evaporated – the fish cannery that once provided employment closed by 1963, and the cooperative winery shut down a few years later (Croatian Studies Review). Yugoslav authorities even mandated periods of unpaid labor service for all able-bodied men, a policy that bred resentment (Croatian Heritage Foundation).
Under these conditions – poverty, political pressure, and desire for a better life – families saw no future on Susak. A mass migration ensued between 1948 and the late 1960s. In those years, literally hundreds of islanders sold what they could, said painful goodbyes, and set off for America. By the mid-1960s, over four-fifths of Susak’s inhabitants had left, transforming Susak into a near ghost town (Croatian Heritage Foundation). They carried with them hopes of finding steady work, education for their children, and freedom – the classic immigrant dream.
The Journey: Emigration Routes to America
Most Susak emigrants followed a multi-stage route on their journey to the United States:
- Escape to Italy: In the 1950s, many left illegally by boat to nearby Italy, since Yugoslavia tightly controlled emigration. Refugee camps in Italy sheltered these Susak escapees temporarily (Croatian Studies Review).
- Transatlantic Passage: From Italy, Susak refugees secured passage to the United States, often with the help of relatives already in America or aid organizations. Many traveled by ocean liner to New York.
- Arrival in New York and New Jersey: After disembarking in New York City, the newcomers typically headed across the Hudson River to Hoboken, New Jersey, where a cluster of fellow islanders was already established. This was the heart of the Susak diaspora in America.
Why Hoboken? Largely due to chain migration and job opportunities. A handful of Susak men had settled in Hoboken even before WWII, drawn by its busy port and industrial jobs. Those pioneers sent word back home, attracting friends and relatives from Susak to join them. As a result, unlike many other Croatian immigrant groups that scattered across the U.S., the vast majority of Susak emigrants concentrated in one area – New Jersey (Croatian Studies Review). By one estimate, 95% of all post-1945 emigrants from Susak ended up in New Jersey, primarily in Hoboken and a few neighboring towns (Croatian Studies Review). This tight geographic clustering reinforced the community’s cohesion. Hoboken in the 1950s–60s was a thriving waterfront city where jobs were plentiful for unskilled labor, which made it an ideal landing spot for the Susak Islanders arriving with limited English and education (Croatian Heritage Foundation).
Aside from the United States, smaller numbers of Susak natives migrated to other countries as well. Some families relocated to Canada or Australia, and a few individuals settled in France, Argentina, or elsewhere in Europe. Italy itself became a permanent home for a handful of Susak emigrants. However, these groups abroad remained relatively small. The community in Hoboken/New Jersey far surpassed all others and became synonymous with the Susak diaspora experience.
Building a Community in Hoboken, NJ
A key milestone was the founding of the Society of St. Mikula (St. Nicholas) of Susak in 1948 by a Susak emigrant named John Matesić (Total Croatia News). This society, established in Hoboken, was dedicated to helping Susak families adjust and thrive – providing mutual aid, organizing gatherings, and keeping connections to the old country.
Over the years, other community groups sprang up:
- Sansego Soccer Club (Hoboken, 1960) – a football club named after Sansego (the Italian name for Susak), a social hub for youth and families.
- Klapa Susak (Hoboken, 1981) – a traditional Dalmatian a cappella singing group to preserve folk music.
These organizations – along with church fellowship and informal networks – wove a supportive safety net for the immigrant community. Leaders like John Matesić and others ensured new arrivals were greeted with guidance: finding housing, getting jobs, and navigating American paperwork. In essence, the Susak community in New Jersey recreated a bit of village life in an urban American setting.
Working Life in America: Trades and Professions
Most of the men and women who left Susak had been farmers, wine-growers, or fishermen. Suddenly finding themselves in the bustling New York metro area, they had to adapt quickly to new livelihoods. Many Susak men found work as longshoremen and stevedores on the docks of Hoboken and New York Harbor, others in factories, construction, or trades. The women often worked in garment factories or service jobs. Over time, as the second generation grew up in America, the community’s economic profile expanded to include engineers, teachers, business owners, lawyers, and doctors (Croatian Heritage Foundation).
Challenges and Triumphs in the New World
The first generation faced struggles with language and adaptation, often arriving with little formal education. They worked long hours at physically demanding jobs and lived in crowded housing. Despite modest incomes, they were frugal and pooled resources. Prejudice was not uncommon, but by banding together, the Susak people created a welcoming enclave where newcomers could feel at home.
One significant challenge was the emotional burden of separation from the homeland. At times, the community grappled with whether to assimilate or preserve their identity. They managed to do both: learning English and contributing to American society, while also fiercely preserving their own language and customs.
Keeping Ties: Do Susak Emigrants Return Home?
Permanent return was rare. Once families settled in the U.S., most stayed for good. Only a small number of individuals ever moved back to live on Susak full-time – usually men returning in retirement. However, “not returning to live” does not mean severing ties. The annual Day of Emigrants (Dan iseljenika) celebration on Susak, held every last weekend of July, brings emigrants and descendants back to the island for a grand homecoming (Total Croatia News). These yearly reunions have become a cherished ritual, reinforcing bonds between the diaspora and those who still live on Susak.
Notable Personalities and Legacy
John Matesić stands out as a pioneer – by founding the Society of St. Mikula in 1948, he effectively became the patriarch of the Susak community in America. Organizers of the Sansego Soccer Club and Susak Klapa also deserve credit for enriching community life.
Beyond community organizers, many Susak-Americans achieved personal successes as business owners, professionals, and local leaders in New Jersey. While there may not (yet) be a Susak-born celebrity on the national stage, the collective achievement of turning a poor island populace into a thriving American diaspora is itself noteworthy.