Ivo Herenčić

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Ivo Herenčić (born February 28, 1910 in Bjelovar) was a general of the Croatian World War II Ustaše regime in charge of the Independent State of Croatia during World War II.

By 1944 Herenčić rose to be the commander of all Ustaše units which had been merged with the regular Domobran army by this point. At war's end, and the postwar flight to Bleiburg, he was in command of the Fifth Ustaše Corps.

Herenčić was one of the officials responsible for organizing the surrender of Croatian troops to the British as part of Operation Keelhaul. Herenčić was the most senior officer at the meeting with Brigadier Patrick Scott. The result of this meeting was considered unsuccessful by Herenčić as it was decided that retreating Croat soldiers and civilians would not be allowed to pass further than the Austrian border. Herenčić had a second meeting, in Bleiburg, where Scott decided that his troops would have to surrender their arms to the Yugoslav Partisans. The result of these actions was the Bleiburg massacre.

Ironically, while he was not able to negotiate Croatian passage into Austria, he himself was able to break through the British blocking force and made his way to Italy. From there he travelled to Argentina. He died December 8, 1978 in Buenos Aires.