Croatian Falcon Society of Kri？evci: from the Restoration at the End of 1918 to the Abolition in 1929

Sa？etak The Croatian Falcon Society in Kri？evci was founded at the end of 1904 as one of the many falcon societies in the territory of today’s Croatia. By the outbreak of World War I, the Society had developed substantial activities in sports and education: it organised public group exercises, lectures, and literacy courses. It was banned during World War I, but immediately upon its conclusion, the Society was restored. As part of the political and state changes that took place upon the conclusion of World War I, the Croatian Falcon Society in Kri？evci operated within the Falcon Federation of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes, i.e. within the Yugoslavian Falcon Federation, for three years, specifically from 1919 to 1922. Afterwards, the Society once again became a part of the Croatian Falcon Federation. Continuing the pre-war tradition, the Falcons from Kri？evci stood out in sports, but also in culture, education, and music. The peak of their operations transpired during the 1920s when the Society counted more than 300 members. The number later dropped, but the Society was nonetheless active. For example, in 1929, its 25th anniversary was marked by a public group exercise organised by the Preradovi？ Parish, to which it belonged since the founding. The Croatian Falcon Society in Kri？evci ceased to operate at the end of 1929, when, due to political changes in the Kingdom of Yugoslavia, falcon societies bearing the Croatian name began to be abolished