| Slavko Kvaternik | |
|---|---|
| Minister of Armed Forces | |
| In office 10 April 1941 – 4 January 1943 |
|
| Prime Minister | Ante Pavelić |
| Preceded by | Office established |
| Succeeded by | Ante Pavelić |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 25 August 1878 Moravice, Austria-Hungary |
| Died | 13 June 1947 Zagreb, SR Croatia |
| Nationality | Croat |
| Political party | Ustaše |
| Spouse(s) | Olga Frank |
| Children | Eugen Dido Kvaternik |
| Profession | Mlitary |
| Religion | Roman Catholic |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance | Austria-Hungary (1896-1918) Kingdom of Yugoslavia (1918-1921) Independent State of Croatia (1941-1943) |
| Service/branch | Austro-Hungarian Army (1896-1918) Yugoslav Royal Army (1918-1921) Domobranstvo (1941-1943) |
| Years of service | 1896-1921 1941-1943 |
| Rank | Vojskovođa |
| Commands | Domobranstvo |
| Battles/wars | World War I |
| Awards | Iron Cross 1st Class Iron Trefoil 1st Class |
Slavko Kvaternik (August 25, 1878 - June 7, 1947) was a Croatian 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.
Contents |
Kvaternik was born in Moravice (then known as Komorske Moravice) in Kingdom of Croatia Austria-Hungary on August 25, 1878.[1]
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.
After the German 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.[2]
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.
After the Second World War'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.
His wife was Olga Frank, daughter of Josip Frank, 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.
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||