Velimir Škorpik
Encyclopedia
Velimir Škorpik was a Croatia
n and Yugoslav
Partisan
commander, best known for his role in development of the Yugoslav Partisan navy
after the invasion of Yugoslavia
in April 1941.
Škorpik was born in Zadar
, and in 1940 he had finished the Royal Yugoslav Naval School. After the collapse of the Yugoslavia
, he became an officer in regular forces
of the Independent State of Croatia
. He was stationed in Makarska
where in 1941 he got in touch with local resistance movement, led by the local Communist Party of Yugoslavia cell. He secretly became a member of the Party.
In December 1942, under Communist Party orders, Škorpik defected from the forces of the newly formed Independent State of Croatia
(NDH) and joined the Partisans
. He became the head of Naval Section within 4th Operative Zone of Supreme Headquarters of Croatia. Later Škorpik commanded 1st Naval Detachment, using his training to help the Partisans use their small boats as efficient fighting force. After that he became commander of the Biokovo
Partisan Detachment.
When Italy capitulated in September 1943, the Partisans liberated Split
and Škorpik became the commandant of the naval base
there. When the Germans
launched an offensive on Partisan-controlled Dalmatia
, he organised a successful evacuation of Partisan forces and civilians to the islands and to Allied
-controlled Italy.
After the evacuation he became the chief of staff of the 3rd Dalmatian Brigade of the Yugoslav National Liberation Army (YNLA). He died fighting the Ustashas in Zagorje, near Mostar
.
After the war he received the title of People's Hero of Yugoslavia
.
Velimir Škorpik has an arterial road named after him in the Jankomir
neighborhood of Zagreb
.
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 and Yugoslav
Yugoslavia
Yugoslavia refers to three political entities that existed successively on the western part of the Balkans during most of the 20th century....
Partisan
Partisans (Yugoslavia)
The Yugoslav Partisans, or simply the Partisans were a Communist-led World War II anti-fascist resistance movement in Yugoslavia...
commander, best known for his role in development of the Yugoslav Partisan navy
Navy
A navy is the branch of a nation's armed forces principally designated for naval and amphibious warfare; namely, lake- or ocean-borne combat operations and related functions...
after the 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...
in April 1941.
Škorpik was born in Zadar
Zadar
Zadar is a city in Croatia on the Adriatic Sea. It is the centre of Zadar county and the wider northern Dalmatian region. Population of the city is 75,082 citizens...
, and in 1940 he had finished the Royal Yugoslav Naval School. After the collapse of the 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...
, he became an officer in regular forces
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 :...
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...
. He was stationed in Makarska
Makarska
Makarska is a small town on the Adriatic coastline of Croatia, about southeast of Split and northwest of Dubrovnik. It has a population of 13,716 residents. Administratively Makarska has the status of a town and it is part of the Split-Dalmatia County....
where in 1941 he got in touch with local resistance movement, led by the local Communist Party of Yugoslavia cell. He secretly became a member of the Party.
In December 1942, under Communist Party orders, Škorpik defected from the forces of the newly formed 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...
(NDH) and joined the Partisans
Partisans (Yugoslavia)
The Yugoslav Partisans, or simply the Partisans were a Communist-led World War II anti-fascist resistance movement in Yugoslavia...
. He became the head of Naval Section within 4th Operative Zone of Supreme Headquarters of Croatia. Later Škorpik commanded 1st Naval Detachment, using his training to help the Partisans use their small boats as efficient fighting force. After that he became commander of the Biokovo
Biokovo
Biokovo is the second-highest mountain range in Croatia, located along the Dalmatian coast of the Adriatic Sea, between the rivers of Cetina and Neretva...
Partisan Detachment.
When Italy capitulated in September 1943, the Partisans liberated Split
Split (city)
Split is a Mediterranean city on the eastern shores of the Adriatic Sea, centered around the ancient Roman Palace of the Emperor Diocletian and its wide port bay. With a population of 178,192 citizens, and a metropolitan area numbering up to 467,899, Split is by far the largest Dalmatian city and...
and Škorpik became the commandant of the naval base
Naval base
A naval base is a military base, where warships and naval ships are deployed when they have no mission at sea or want to restock. Usually ships may also perform some minor repairs. Some naval bases are temporary homes to aircraft that usually stay on the ships but are undergoing maintenance while...
there. When the Germans
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...
launched an offensive on Partisan-controlled Dalmatia
Dalmatia
Dalmatia is a historical region on the eastern coast of the Adriatic Sea. It stretches from the island of Rab in the northwest to the Bay of Kotor in the southeast. The hinterland, the Dalmatian Zagora, ranges from fifty kilometers in width in the north to just a few kilometers in the south....
, he organised a successful evacuation of Partisan forces and civilians to the islands and to Allied
Allies of World War II
The Allies of World War II were the countries that opposed the Axis powers during the Second World War . Former Axis states contributing to the Allied victory are not considered Allied states...
-controlled Italy.
After the evacuation he became the chief of staff of the 3rd Dalmatian Brigade of the Yugoslav National Liberation Army (YNLA). He died fighting the Ustashas in Zagorje, near Mostar
Mostar
Mostar is a city and municipality in Bosnia and Herzegovina, the largest and one of the most important cities in the Herzegovina region and the center of the Herzegovina-Neretva Canton of the Federation. Mostar is situated on the Neretva river and is the fifth-largest city in the country...
.
After the war he received the title of People's Hero of Yugoslavia
People's Hero of Yugoslavia
The Order of the People's Hero was a Yugoslav gallantry medal, the second highest military award, and third overall Yugoslav decoration. It was awarded to individuals, military units, political and other organisations who distinguished themselves by extraordinary heroic deeds during war and in...
.
Velimir Škorpik has an arterial road named after him in the Jankomir
Jankomir
Jankomir is a neighborhood in Zagreb, Croatia. It is located in the Stenjevec city district in the western part of the city, and is officially referred to as "Stenjevec - jug", with an area of and a population of 8,072....
neighborhood of 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...
.