Slavko Kvaternik
Encyclopedia
Slavko Kvaternik was a Croatia
n military commander and a collaborator
with Nazi Germany. He was noted for military service in World War I
, later as a deputy leader and founding member of the Croatian Ustaša
movement in the 1930s who then became one of the leaders of the "Independent State of Croatia
", a puppet state
created following the German Invasion of Yugoslavia
during World War II
. After the war he was tried and executed on war crimes charges.
Austria-Hungary
on August 25, 1878.
During World War I
, Kvaternik served as an adjutant of field marshal Svetozar Boroević
and was awarded the Iron Cross
1st Class.
In 1918 he joined the newly-formed National Council of Slovenes, Croats and Serbs, becoming the army chief of general staff. At the end of the year, Kvaternik commanded Croatian troops during the successful campaign in Međimurje against the Hungarian army.
invasion of the Kingdom of Yugoslavia
on April 6, 1941, the Ustaše formed their government with Ante Pavelić
as leader. Four days later Kvaternik proclaimed the establishment of the Independent State of Croatia (NDH) and formed the first Ustashi government. At the same time, at Kvaternik's request, Vladko Maček
(the leader of the Croatian Peasant Party
, who had refused to cooperate with the Germans when they requested he lead the new nation) told the people to cooperate with the new regime.
Kvaternik's position at this time was commander-in-chief of the Croatian Armed Forces. This carried the title of vojskovođa (marshal
). The Croatian Home Guard
was established on April 11. He stayed at this position until his retirement on 4th of January 1943.
He was awarded the 1st Class Cross of the Military Order of the Iron Trefoil
during his service to the NDH. This award gave him the title of vitez (knight
), which is sometimes included in his name.
's end, Kvaternik was tried and sentenced to death for his crimes during NDH regime, by Yugoslav
officials. He was executed in Zagreb
on June 7, 1947.
, Croat nationalist politician of Jewish descent, who converted from Judaism
to Catholicism
. Son of Slavko Kvaternik and Olga Frank was Dido Kvaternik
, a general in the NDH army and a member of the Ustasha.
Croatia
Croatia , officially the Republic of Croatia , is a unitary democratic parliamentary republic in Europe at the crossroads of the Mitteleuropa, the Balkans, and the Mediterranean. Its capital and largest city is Zagreb. The country is divided into 20 counties and the city of Zagreb. Croatia covers ...
n military commander and a collaborator
Collaborator
Collaborator or collaborators may refer to:* Collaboration, working with others for a common goal* Collaboration: Japanese Agents and Local Elites in Wartime China, a 2005 history book by Timothy Brook...
with Nazi Germany. He was noted for military service in World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, later as a deputy leader and founding member of the Croatian Ustaša
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...
movement in the 1930s who then became one of the leaders 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...
", a 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...
created following the German Invasion of Yugoslavia
Invasion of Yugoslavia
The Invasion of Yugoslavia , also known as the April War , was the Axis Powers' attack on the Kingdom of Yugoslavia which began on 6 April 1941 during World War II...
during 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...
. After the war he was tried and executed on war crimes charges.
Early life
Kvaternik was born in Moravice (then known as Komorske Moravice) in Kingdom of CroatiaKingdom of Croatia (Habsburg)
The Kingdom of Croatia was an administrative division that existed between 1527 and 1868 within the Habsburg Monarchy . The Kingdom was a part of the Lands of the Crown of St. Stephen, but was subject to direct Imperial Austrian rule for significant periods of time, including its final years...
Austria-Hungary
Austria-Hungary
Austria-Hungary , more formally known as the Kingdoms and Lands Represented in the Imperial Council and the Lands of the Holy Hungarian Crown of Saint Stephen, was a constitutional monarchic union between the crowns of the Austrian Empire and the Kingdom of Hungary in...
on August 25, 1878.
During World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, Kvaternik served as an adjutant of field marshal Svetozar Boroević
Svetozar Boroevic
Svetozar Boroević von Bojna was an Austro-Hungarian field marshal who was described as one of the finest defensive strategists of the First World War....
and was awarded the Iron Cross
Iron Cross
The Iron Cross is a cross symbol typically in black with a white or silver outline that originated after 1219 when the Kingdom of Jerusalem granted the Teutonic Order the right to combine the Teutonic Black Cross placed above a silver Cross of Jerusalem....
1st Class.
In 1918 he joined the newly-formed National Council of Slovenes, Croats and Serbs, becoming the army chief of general staff. At the end of the year, Kvaternik commanded Croatian troops during the successful campaign in Međimurje against the Hungarian army.
World War II
After the GermanNazi 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...
invasion of the Kingdom of Yugoslavia
Kingdom of Yugoslavia
The Kingdom of Yugoslavia was a state stretching from the Western Balkans to Central Europe which existed during the often-tumultuous interwar era of 1918–1941...
on April 6, 1941, the Ustaše formed their government with Ante Pavelić
Ante Pavelic
Ante Pavelić was a Croatian fascist leader, revolutionary, and politician. He ruled as Poglavnik or head, of the Independent State of Croatia , a World War II puppet state of Nazi Germany in Axis-occupied Yugoslavia...
as leader. Four days later Kvaternik proclaimed the establishment of the Independent State of Croatia (NDH) and formed the first Ustashi government. At the same time, at Kvaternik's request, Vladko Maček
Vladko Macek
Vladko Maček was a Croatian politician active within the Kingdom of Yugoslavia in the first half of the 20th century. He led the Croatian Peasant Party following the assassination of Stjepan Radić, and all through World War II.- Early life :Maček was born to a Slovene-Czech family in the village...
(the leader of the Croatian Peasant Party
Croatian Peasant Party
The Croatian Peasant Party is a center and socially conservative political party in Croatia.-Austria-Hungary:The Croatian People's Peasant Party was formed on December 22, 1904 by Antun Radić along with his brother Stjepan Radić. The party contested elections for the first time in the Kingdom of...
, who had refused to cooperate with the Germans when they requested he lead the new nation) told the people to cooperate with the new regime.
Kvaternik's position at this time was commander-in-chief of the Croatian Armed Forces. This carried the title of vojskovođa (marshal
Marshal
Marshal , is a word used in several official titles of various branches of society. The word is an ancient loan word from Old French, cf...
). 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 :...
was established on April 11. He stayed at this position until his retirement on 4th of January 1943.
He was awarded the 1st Class Cross of the Military Order of the Iron Trefoil
Military Order of the Iron Trefoil
Military Order of the Iron Trefoil , also known under name Croatian Cross, was the highest military decoration of Independent State of Croatia, and it was rewarded for "acts of war, achieved by personal incentive, for efforts and good leadership in ventures, which had remarkable success against the...
during his service to the NDH. This award gave him the title of vitez (knight
Knight
A knight was a member of a class of lower nobility in the High Middle Ages.By the Late Middle Ages, the rank had become associated with the ideals of chivalry, a code of conduct for the perfect courtly Christian warrior....
), which is sometimes included in his name.
Death
After the Second World WarWorld 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...
's end, Kvaternik was tried and sentenced to death for his crimes during NDH regime, by Yugoslav
Yugoslavia
Yugoslavia refers to three political entities that existed successively on the western part of the Balkans during most of the 20th century....
officials. He was executed in Zagreb
Zagreb
Zagreb is the capital and the largest city of the Republic of Croatia. It is in the northwest of the country, along the Sava river, at the southern slopes of the Medvednica mountain. Zagreb lies at an elevation of approximately above sea level. According to the last official census, Zagreb's city...
on June 7, 1947.
Family
His wife was Olga Frank, daughter of Josip FrankJosip Frank
Josip Frank was a Croatian lawyer and politician, a noted representative of the Party of Rights and the Pure Party of Rights in the Croatian Parliament, and a vocal advocate of Croatian national independence in Austria-Hungary.- Early life :Frank was born into a Croatian Jewish family, and he...
, Croat nationalist politician of Jewish descent, who converted from Judaism
Judaism
Judaism ) is the "religion, philosophy, and way of life" of the Jewish people...
to Catholicism
Catholicism
Catholicism is a broad term for the body of the Catholic faith, its theologies and doctrines, its liturgical, ethical, spiritual, and behavioral characteristics, as well as a religious people as a whole....
. Son of Slavko Kvaternik and Olga Frank was Dido Kvaternik
Dido Kvaternik
Eugen Dido Kvaternik was a Croatian Ustaše General-Lieutenant and the Chief of the Ustaška nadzorna služba , Internal Security Service in the Independent State of Croatia, a Nazi puppet state during World War II...
, a general in the NDH army and a member of the Ustasha.