>>212623049Vladko Maček refused to collaborate with the Nazis. Sure, he made public announcements that Croatians should adhere to the new regime, but that's understandable as he probably had no other choice but to say so. He even spent time at Jasenovac and spent most of the war in house arrest, alongside his family, imprisoned by the rival regime. I think that's protesting, especially since it came from a democratically elected leader.
That's one of the reasons the Entente never punished Croatia as well, since they rightfully considered that it was under occupation.
As for Zagreb and its liberation, I can see why people celebrated when Nazis came, they saw it as throwing off the Serbian yoke. I can also see why they didn't go out on the streets when the partisans came, it was after 4-5 long years of war under a hostile regime.
Speaking of which, there actually was a gigantic celebration of Zagreb's liberation, a day or two after it had been liberated, so there's that. Anyhow, my point stands. Had it not been for the German Nazis, no harm would've come to Serbs in Croatia.