Petar Zima (1890–1968) was a Kresimirian civil servant and intelligence chief who served as the second Chief State Councillor of the Council for Internal Affairs (CIA) for twenty-three years, from 1932 to 1955.
Zima was the principal architect of the Republic’s early security state, instrumental in implementing the draconian policies that suppressed internal dissent and targeted the Bosken separatist movement. He played a central role in the “Iron Era” of Chancellor Kresimirovic II, but his long career ended in disgrace. He was summarily dismissed following the 1954 assassination of Kresimir Basic, a failure that triggered The Great Purge of 1955.
Early Life and Civil Service
Born in 1890 in Sinj, Zima came from a family of career bureaucrats who had served the Vosti Empire. He attended Sinj University, studying State Administration, and joined the nascent Council for Internal Affairs in 1921, shortly after its formation.
He quickly rose through the ranks, gaining a reputation for his organizational skills and uncompromising loyalty to the central government. He specialized in intelligence gathering on regionalist movements in Severnivaraje and Moraviskameja.
Chief State Councillor (1932–1955)
In 1932, Chancellor Kresimirovic I appointed Zima to head the CIA, recognizing his effectiveness during the aftermath of the 1931 Vijrje Anniversary Attack. Zima immediately embarked on a mission to consolidate state control.
The Architect of Surveillance
Zima was instrumental in drafting and implementing the 1933 National Security Act, which allowed the state to restrict the movement of citizens. He personally oversaw the establishment of the “Internal Passport” system and the deployment of checkpoints across the Republic, effectively isolating District X from the rest of the country.
Counter-Insurgency
Under his command, the CIA achieved its most significant operational success in 1942: the killing of BRC-21 leader Lev Ruka. This was a major victory for the Kresimirian state, which Zima leveraged to secure increased funding and expanded powers for the agency. He also forged a close alliance with the hardline Chancellor Kresimirovic II, becoming his most trusted security advisor.
The Years of Failure
Despite his reputation, Zima failed to contain the escalation of violence in the 1950s.
- 1953: The Ravna Skrad Market Bombing and the attempted assassination of Chancellor Kresimirovic II in Sprodvice exposed major vulnerabilities in the security apparatus.
- 1954: The ultimate blow came with the assassination of Divine Founder Kresimir Basic in Kromine. This event, occurring deep within Kresimirian territory, was viewed by the Chancellor as a catastrophic failure of Zima’s leadership.
Dismissal and Downfall
On January 4, 1955, Chancellor Kresimirovic II summarily dismissed Petar Zima as Chief State Councillor. The dismissal was the opening act of The Great Purge, which saw hundreds of officials removed from their posts. Zima was replaced by the uncompromising military hardliner General Borna Kulas, who immediately set about reorganizing the CIA.
Zima, once the most feared man in the Republic, was placed under house arrest for several months before being allowed to retire quietly.
Later Life and Death
Petar Zima lived in relative obscurity following his dismissal. He remained loyal to the state but never commented publicly on politics. He died in 1968.
His family, however, remains prominent. His granddaughter, Elena Zima, is a prominent corporate lawyer in Sinj and is married to the music mogul Starskard, connecting the family to the “New Money” elite.
Legacy
Petar Zima’s legacy is complex. To modern civil libertarians, he is remembered as the architect of the first Kresimirian surveillance state, responsible for the suppression of basic freedoms. To Kresimirian nationalists, he is seen as a dedicated servant who implemented the difficult, yet necessary, policies to preserve the Republic during its most vulnerable decades.