Lisa Medanic never imagined she would write a book. As a child, she struggled with a severe written expression learning disability, and only as an adult—when her daughter received the same diagnosis—did she fully understand the challenges she had faced. Encouraged by a fifth-grade teacher who helped her develop the skills she needed, she eventually flourished in academics, earning a master’s degree in counseling. Yet, despite her successes, the idea of writing an entire book felt unattainable.
That changed when Medanic heard the gripping story of her mother-in-law, Marija, or Oka. The tale—woven through the struggles of World War II, displacement, and survival—was too significant to leave untold. “After my husband’s mother, Marija, told me her story, I had a burning desire to write it down and share it with others,” Medanic explains. More than just a personal account, it held relevance in today’s global conversations about refugees and immigration. She became determined to humanize the plight of refugees by documenting one of the many stories that deserved recognition.
An Island’s Past and Present
One of the central locations in Medanic’s book is Iz, a Croatian island steeped in history and one of a thousand islands in the Adriatic Sea, midway between the larger islands of Ugljan and Dugi Otok, in what is normally called the Zadar archipelago, and a part of the Dalmatian Islands. “About an hour ferry ride from the port city of Zadar in north central Croatia, this eight-mile-long island is one of only seventeen inhabited islands out of the 200 to 300 in the cluster near Zadar,” Medanic explains in Through the Eyes of Oka: Determination and Courage in a World Gone Mad. Considered a part of Yugoslavia at the beginning of WW II, they resisted the invasion the Yugoslav people on April 6, 1941 by German, Italian and Hungarian bombs and Axis ground forces.
Of the three main groups of opposition forces, the Ustashe, Chetniks, and Partisans, most of the people of Iz joined and supported the Partisans. “They were viewed as protectors, liberators and freedom fighters. The Partisans were active in the Dalmatian area and on the islands, especially Iz. Nationally, they were led by (Joseph Broz) Tito.” The scars of World War II left the island nearly abandoned, with many of its people either lost to war or forced to seek a livelihood elsewhere. Despite this, the remaining residents maintain a deep connection to their home, working to bring Iz into the modern era while preserving its history.
The Story
The book recounts the courageous resistance of the Croatian Partisans and villagers of Iz against fascist Italian soldiers during World War II and the devastating consequences of their defiance. When Italian forces arrived at Knez intending to seize oil, the Partisans took drastic action—dumping nearly five tons of oil into the sea and hiding the remainder in caves overnight.
In retaliation, Italian forces rounded up the villagers, ultimately taking 81 men aboard the ship Sofia, where they were expected to be executed upon arrival in Veli Iz. However, during the journey, the captives staged a mutiny, overpowering their eight guards and seizing control of the ship. Amid the chaos, they also killed an Italian teacher and his mother—figures deeply resented by the islanders—along with others they believed had betrayed them.
Most of the people of Iz fled to the neighboring island of Dugi Otok, but the Italians pursued them. Capturing the refugees, they carried out public executions of some of the rebels and interrogated the island’s inhabitants. As a result, 360 Maloizani from Dugi Otok were sent to concentration camps—primarily Molat Camp on the island of Molat, while others were deported to even harsher camps in Italy. Just days earlier, 61 elderly individuals, 52 children, and 5 men from Iz had already been imprisoned at Molat. Italian forces also raided homes, looting valuables and setting fire to over 80 houses.
Despite relentless pursuit, the Partisan forces grew in strength following their capture of Sofia, increasing from 75 fighters to 300. They managed to evade Italian forces for 38 days before finally reaching Kornat, where they merged with other Partisan units in Lika, Bosnia-Herzegovina, and Dalmatia.
The book records the hardships endured in Molat Concentration Camp and the conditions faced by Croatian prisoners, as well as how their loved ones in Mali Iz and elsewhere survived during the war after their homes had been looted and destroyed. The tide shifted on September 8, 1943, when Italy surrendered, ceding control to Germany. “In November and December, Germany began their offensive against the Dalmatian Islands,” Medanic writes. “Everyone had to decide what they wanted to do.” Those who chose to flee were transported to the island of Vis, then onward to Italy—now controlled by the Allies—before finally arriving at the refugee camp in El Shatt, located in the Sinai Desert.
Medanic meticulously chronicles the perilous voyage to El Shatt, the resilience of the Croatian refugees in their temporary desert tent city, and their eventual release after the war. Speaking of the refugee experience at El Shatt, she says, “Thirty thousand Croatians were thrown together in a hot desert where they lived,
several families to a large sand floored tent, following countless individual terrifying
experiences, but they all learned to work together and created a city that met their
needs for culture, religion, socialization and fun. The British provided their food and the
Red Cross provided their clothes but they took care of everything else and made a
thriving city in the desert sand. They used everything they were provided including yarn
that was around the tent poles for needlepoint and the walls between the families for
clothing until the Red Cross provided it.”
The book stands as a rare, invaluable testimony to the courage of the Partisans and villagers, highlighting their sacrifices and unwavering determination to resist fascism—even in the face of overwhelming hardship.
Piecing Together History: The Process Behind the Book
The research process was daunting. “I am extremely detail-oriented, but this was an overwhelming amount of information to organize,” Medanic admits. She had interviews, videotaped accounts, translated articles, and historical records to sift through. To organize it all, she relied on a method taught by her high school English teacher in 1969—note cards. Every piece of information was recorded, sorted, and placed within a structure that would allow the story to flow logically.
Since multiple timelines unfolded simultaneously, she worked carefully to separate narratives into distinct chapters, ensuring clarity for readers. A multi-colored timeline was even included to help maintain perspective throughout the book.
Medanic’s attention to detail made her the perfect person to lead this project, but she acknowledges that it took persistence and unwavering determination to bring the book together. One of her greatest obstacles was overcoming her own self-doubt—childhood voices telling her she couldn’t write. But by immersing herself in the research and pushing forward, she proved those voices wrong. Her editor affirmed her abilities, reassuring her that the book was well-written and compelling.
Influences That Shaped Her Journey
Medanic credits much of her worldview and work ethic to key influences in her life. Her grandfather, a soft-spoken and gentle man, modeled the value of affirmation and kindness. “Whether it was husking corn, washing dishes, raking leaves, or sledding down our steep driveway together, I always felt very loved in his presence,” she remembers.
Her fifth-grade teacher, Francis McCabe, changed the trajectory of her education, providing the foundation for her future academic successes that allowed her to attain her master’s degree in counseling. Her childhood pastor, Rev. John Adams, instilled in her the courage to stand up for justice, which fueled her career in social work and activism. “He participated in the Civil Rights Movement, declaring at church when people were angry, that he ‘had to do what God wanted, not what man wanted.’ That has stuck with me my whole life,” she explains. “It has helped define what being a Christian is for me, someone who, because they have experienced God’s love, can now love others and stand up against injustice.” And, growing up during the 1960s—a time of upheaval and social change—further strengthened her resolve to make a difference.
Moments That Stay with Her
Of all the accounts Medanic collected, some remain particularly haunting. One memory, from a Croatian magazine article, stands out more than any other. In it, a woman recounts the moment her father was taken away to be shot, her three-year-old nephew clinging to his leg and screaming, “Not my Dida, not my Dida!” The chilling scene struck Medanic deeply—her own grandchildren call Steve “Dida,” the Croatian word for grandfather. The weight of such stories remains with her, as does the responsibility to share them.
Fortunately, many of the individuals she interviewed were eager to tell their stories. They had spent years being ignored, their accounts dismissed. One elderly man in Dugi Otok, overlooked by his own family, was overwhelmed with joy to have someone finally listen.
Heritage, Identity, and Family Legacy
Medanic’s own heritage is a blend of English, German, and Scottish ancestry, with her family’s roots in the United States tracing back as far as the 1600s. Perhaps that’s why Steve’s family history fascinated her—it was a connection to a world and a lineage different from her own.
Although Steve was initially hesitant about Medanic’s determination to tell his mother’s story, he eventually embraced the significance of the project. His support grew as he witnessed the depth of her research and the impact the book could have.
A Lifelong Interest in Genealogy and Unfinished Stories
Medanic’s fascination with genealogy played a critical role in her research for the book. The experience deepened her appreciation for historical records, mysteries, and piecing together lost narratives. Through her research, she has uncovered many compelling family stories—some with heroes, others with villains.
One that especially intrigues her involves her fifth great-grandparents, pioneers in Kentucky during the Revolutionary War. Their fort was attacked, and family members were taken prisoner—some by the British, some by Native Americans. Despite harrowing conditions, they miraculously survived and reunited, leaving behind a tale that Medanic believes would make a fantastic historical fiction novel. Though she hasn’t yet begun writing it, the idea remains in the back of her mind, waiting for the right time. (We agree. We think it’s such a good idea, we hesitate to publish it here for fear someone might steal the idea.)
A Story That Had to Be Told
“Croatia has been occupied by various countries for much of its history, but they have fiercely clung to their identity as Croatians. They can be a very stubborn people who are quite proud of who they are and unwilling to give into their oppressors,” Medanic says. Croatia’s history has often been overshadowed by larger nations, like Yugoslavia, with many of its stories lost or distorted by political shifts. “This story was glorified, at least on the island, by the Communists and Tito while he was the ruler but not really known outside of the country because they were Communist. After Croatia received their independence, much of this history is being erased as a backlash to the previous propaganda. That made some of my research more difficult.” Her goal was to strip away the embellishments and instead present accounts as told by the people who lived them, supported by documented sources.
Her book stands as one of the few works preserving these particular events. By chronicling the experiences of those who endured, Lisa Medanic has helped ensure that their voices—and the history of Iz—are not forgotten.
You can purchase Through the Eyes of Oka: Determination and Courage in a World Gone Mad at Amazon.
Croatian Nut Roll, Povitica
This is a simplified version of the nut roll that my mother-in-law spent the entire day making.
Preheat oven to 350°
Ingredients
- 1 (13 oz.) package refrigerated puff pastry, room temperature
- ¼ cup flour, all purpose
- 3 cups walnuts
- ¾ cup sugar + 1 TB. sugar, divided
- ¼ tsp. salt
- 2 tsp. cocoa
- 1 TB. cinnamon
- ¼ cup milk
- 8 TB. butter, room temperature
- 1 tsp. vanilla
- 1 egg, separate yolk and white, divided
- Powdered sugar for dusting
Instructions
- Have a large clean flour cloth (28” x 28”). Place on a clean surface.
- Dust flour cloth with some of the flour. Unroll the puff pastry. Use a rolling pin and gently roll out thinner to about 24-26” by 20-24” or slightly larger without any holes in the dough.
- Put the walnuts, three-fourths cup of sugar, salt, cocoa and cinnamon in a food processor. Pulse until a tiny crumbly mixture.
- Pour into a large mixing bowl. Heat the milk and butter, melting the butter. Add the vanilla and blend. Pour into the nut mixture and blend well.
- Add the egg yolk to the nut mixture and work into it. The mixture will be thick like play dough. Put dollops of the nut mixture on the rolled-out pastry.
- Use a spreading knife to evenly spread over the dough leaving about ½” to ¾” from the edges. Gently start rolling the dough end opposite yourself.
- Roll carefully until in one long snake roll. Brush with egg white. You can make into a ‘U’ ‘S’ or tight ‘W’ or zigzag shape and put on a parchment paper lined cookie baking sheet or bread pan.
- Let the parchment paper extend on opposite ends. This helps with removing from baking sheet or pan when cooled.
- Bake in a preheated 350° oven for 50 to 55 minutes. Remove and let cool completely.
Medanic has spent summers in Naples with her husband since 2019, but very recently the snowbirds have decided to sell their house and move to Iowa full-time. Their greatest joy now is their relationship with their grandkids, Isaac and Parker. Their beloved Bichon, Toby, was also an important part of their lives before passing away a few years ago. His absence is still felt, but their love for family—especially their grandchildren—fills their days with purpose and happiness.
Extraordinary People
