Crusaders (Ustasha)
Encyclopedia
Crusaders were a Croatian anti-communist
guerrilla army. Their activity's started after the capitulation of the Independent State of Croatia
, which was at the time a Nazi
puppet state
, in May 1945, toward the end of World War II
. The Crusaders' activity ended in 1950.
The crusaders were members of the Croatian Armed Forces, mostly Ustaše
, members of the Croatian Home Guard
(Domobranstvo), and soldiers of the Croatian Legion. After Croatia's defeat they organized themselves into a guerrilla army, taking the white crosses as a symbol instead of the old Home Guard and Ustasha insignia. There was also support for the Crusaders in anti-Communist emigrant communities, especially in Spain, Argentina, Canada, the United States, and West Germany.
Despite the name, the Crusaders were not a religious movement. Religion was just a banner that they used to distinguish themselves from atheist communists. Most supporters of the Crusaders were Catholic but there were also many Muslim
members, including the Crusader commander in Sarajevo
, Hasan Biber. They also spread propaganda that Yugoslav partisans were a Serbian, anti-Croat, movement.
The leader of the Crusaders was a former Croatian general, Vjekoslav Luburić, and possibly also Rafael Boban
. The Crusaders engaged in similar activity to the Yugoslav partisans, attacking small groups, and sabotaging railways and roads.
The communist government of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia
, especially through the Department for the Protection of the People (OZNA) security agency
and Department of State Security (UDBA) secret police
fought against the Crusaders mercilessly. In total, the Crusaders killed over 2000 members of OZNA, UDBA and the Yugoslav People's Army
.
Anti-communism
Anti-communism is opposition to communism. Organized anti-communism developed in reaction to the rise of communism, especially after the 1917 October Revolution in Russia and the beginning of the Cold War in 1947.-Objections to communist theory:...
guerrilla army. Their activity's started after the capitulation of the Independent State of Croatia
Independent State of Croatia
The Independent State of Croatia was a World War II puppet state of Nazi Germany, established on a part of Axis-occupied Yugoslavia. The NDH was founded on 10 April 1941, after the invasion of Yugoslavia by the Axis powers. All of Bosnia and Herzegovina was annexed to NDH, together with some parts...
, which was at the time a Nazi
Nazi Germany
Nazi Germany , also known as the Third Reich , but officially called German Reich from 1933 to 1943 and Greater German Reich from 26 June 1943 onward, is the name commonly used to refer to the state of Germany from 1933 to 1945, when it was a totalitarian dictatorship ruled by...
puppet state
Puppet state
A puppet state is a nominal sovereign of a state who is de facto controlled by a foreign power. The term refers to a government controlled by the government of another country like a puppeteer controls the strings of a marionette...
, in May 1945, toward the end of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. The Crusaders' activity ended in 1950.
The crusaders were members of the Croatian Armed Forces, mostly Ustaše
Ustaše
The Ustaša - Croatian Revolutionary Movement was a Croatian fascist anti-Yugoslav separatist movement. The ideology of the movement was a blend of fascism, Nazism, and Croatian nationalism. The Ustaše supported the creation of a Greater Croatia that would span to the River Drina and to the border...
, members of the Croatian Home Guard
Croatian Home Guard
Croatian Home Guard or also, known as the "Homeland Defenders," was the name used for the armed forces of the Independent State of Croatia which existed during World War II.- Formation :...
(Domobranstvo), and soldiers of the Croatian Legion. After Croatia's defeat they organized themselves into a guerrilla army, taking the white crosses as a symbol instead of the old Home Guard and Ustasha insignia. There was also support for the Crusaders in anti-Communist emigrant communities, especially in Spain, Argentina, Canada, the United States, and West Germany.
Despite the name, the Crusaders were not a religious movement. Religion was just a banner that they used to distinguish themselves from atheist communists. Most supporters of the Crusaders were Catholic but there were also many Muslim
Muslim
A Muslim, also spelled Moslem, is an adherent of Islam, a monotheistic, Abrahamic religion based on the Quran, which Muslims consider the verbatim word of God as revealed to prophet Muhammad. "Muslim" is the Arabic term for "submitter" .Muslims believe that God is one and incomparable...
members, including the Crusader commander in Sarajevo
Sarajevo
Sarajevo |Bosnia]], surrounded by the Dinaric Alps and situated along the Miljacka River in the heart of Southeastern Europe and the Balkans....
, Hasan Biber. They also spread propaganda that Yugoslav partisans were a Serbian, anti-Croat, movement.
The leader of the Crusaders was a former Croatian general, Vjekoslav Luburić, and possibly also Rafael Boban
Rafael Boban
Rafael "Ranko" Boban was a member of the Croatian World War II Ustaše regime, and the commander of the Black Legion....
. The Crusaders engaged in similar activity to the Yugoslav partisans, attacking small groups, and sabotaging railways and roads.
The communist government of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia
Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia
The Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia was the Yugoslav state that existed from the abolition of the Yugoslav monarchy until it was dissolved in 1992 amid the Yugoslav Wars. It was a socialist state and a federation made up of six socialist republics: Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia,...
, especially through the Department for the Protection of the People (OZNA) security agency
Security agency
A security agency is a governmental organization which conducts intelligence activities for the internal security of a nation. They are the domestic cousins of foreign intelligence agencies...
and Department of State Security (UDBA) secret police
Secret police
Secret police are a police agency which operates in secrecy and beyond the law to protect the political power of an individual dictator or an authoritarian political regime....
fought against the Crusaders mercilessly. In total, the Crusaders killed over 2000 members of OZNA, UDBA and the Yugoslav People's Army
Yugoslav People's Army
The Yugoslav People's Army , also referred to as the Yugoslav National Army , was the military of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia.-Origins:The origins of the JNA can...
.