Slavko Kvaternik (25 August 1878 – 7 June 1947) was a Croatian military general and politician who was one of the founders of the ultranationalist

Ustaše The Ustaše (), also known by anglicised versions Ustasha or Ustashe, was a Croats, Croatian fascist and ultranationalist organization active, as one organization, between 1929 and 1945, formally known as the Ustaša – Croatian Revolutionar ...

movement. Kvaternik was military commander and Minister of the Armed Forces ('' Domobranstvo''). On 10 April 1941, he declared the creation of the Independent State of Croatia and became Pavelic's right-hand man, the Doglavnik. Kvaternik was an officer in the Austro-Hungarian Army and was involved in

World War I World War I or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting to ...

. After the collapse of Austria-Hungary, he was appointed by the National Council of the

State of Slovenes, Croats and Serbs The State of Slovenes, Croats and Serbs ( / ; ) was a political entity that was constituted in October 1918, at the end of World War I, by Slovenes, Croats and Serbs (Prečani (Serbs), Prečani) residing in what were the southernmost parts of th ...

to lead a successful incursion into Međimurje in late 1918. He later transferred to the Royal Yugoslav Army and remained there until 1921. In 1929, he was one of the founders of the Ustasha – Croatian Revolutionary Movement in Italy. After Germany invaded Yugoslavia in April 1941, he declared the creation of the

Independent State of Croatia The Independent State of Croatia (, NDH) was a World War II–era puppet state of Nazi Germany and Fascist Italy (1922–1943), Fascist Italy. It was established in parts of Axis occupation of Yugoslavia, occupied Yugoslavia on 10 April 1941, ...

on 10 April 1941 with the support of the Axis. In the newly created state, he became the Minister of the Armed Forces until 1943, when he retired. Kvaternik was executed for war crimes in 1947.

Early life

Slavko Kvaternik was born in Moravice (then known as Komorske Moravice) in the

Kingdom of Croatia-Slavonia The Kingdom of Croatia-Slavonia (; or ; ) was a nominally autonomous kingdom and constitutionally defined separate political nation within the Austro-Hungarian Empire. It was created in 1868 by merging the kingdoms of Kingdom of Croatia (Habs ...

Austria-Hungary Austria-Hungary, also referred to as the Austro-Hungarian Empire, the Dual Monarchy or the Habsburg Monarchy, was a multi-national constitutional monarchy in Central Europe#Before World War I, Central Europe between 1867 and 1918. A military ...

on 25 August 1878, the son of Ljudevit, a postman, and his wife, Marija (née Frank), who was of German descent from

Bavaria Bavaria, officially the Free State of Bavaria, is a States of Germany, state in the southeast of Germany. With an area of , it is the list of German states by area, largest German state by land area, comprising approximately 1/5 of the total l ...

and

Catholic The Catholic Church (), also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the List of Christian denominations by number of members, largest Christian church, with 1.27 to 1.41 billion baptized Catholics Catholic Church by country, worldwid ...

by religion. Slavko Kvaternik married Olga Frank, daughter of Josip Frank, a Croatian nationalist politician of

Jewish Jews (, , ), or the Jewish people, are an ethnoreligious group and nation, originating from the Israelites of History of ancient Israel and Judah, ancient Israel and Judah. They also traditionally adhere to Judaism. Jewish ethnicity, rel ...

descent, who converted from

Judaism Judaism () is an Abrahamic religions, Abrahamic, Monotheism, monotheistic, ethnic religion that comprises the collective spiritual, cultural, and legal traditions of the Jews, Jewish people. Religious Jews regard Judaism as their means of o ...

Roman Catholicism The Catholic Church (), also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the List of Christian denominations by number of members, largest Christian church, with 1.27 to 1.41 billion baptized Catholics Catholic Church by country, worldwid ...

. Their son, Dido, was a member of the Ustasha. At the end of August 1941, Olga Frank committed suicide, probably because of her

origins and the roles of her husband, and (especially) of her son Dido, in the NDH. Educated in a military academy, Kvaternik served in the Austro-Hungarian Army during

, and was awarded the German

Iron Cross The Iron Cross (, , abbreviated EK) was a military decoration in the Kingdom of Prussia, the German Empire (1871–1918), and Nazi Germany (1933–1945). The design, a black cross pattée with a white or silver outline, was derived from the in ...

1st Class (1918). In 1918, he joined the newly formed National Council of Slovenes, Croats and Serbs, becoming the Chief of General Staff. At the end of the year, Kvaternik commanded Croatian troops during the successful 1918 occupation of Međimurje.

World War II

After the German invasion of the

Kingdom of Yugoslavia The Kingdom of Yugoslavia was a country in Southeast Europe, Southeast and Central Europe that existed from 1918 until 1941. From 1918 to 1929, it was officially called the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats, and Slovenes, but the term "Yugoslavia" () h ...

on 6 April 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 Ustasha government. At the same time, at Kvaternik's request,

Vladko Maček Vladimir Maček (20 June 1879 – 15 May 1964) was a politician in the Kingdom of Yugoslavia. As a leader of the Croatian Peasant Party (HSS) following the 1928 assassination of Stjepan Radić, Maček had been a leading Croatian political figure ...

(the leader of the

Croatian Peasant Party The Croatian Peasant Party (, HSS) is an agrarianism, agrarian List of political parties in Croatia, political party in Croatia founded on 22 December 1904 by Antun Radić, Antun and Stjepan Radić as Croatian Peoples' Peasant Party (HPSS). The ...

, 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 is a term used in several official titles in various branches of society. As marshals became trusted members of the courts of Middle Ages, Medieval Europe, the title grew in reputation. During the last few centuries, it has been used fo ...

). He was also the second-most powerful man in the state, even though he was only one of the members of the "Doglavnik's Council" (). The Croatian Home Guard was established on 11 April. He stayed in his position until his retirement on 4 January 1943."Tko je tko u NDH", Minerva, Zagreb, 1997; , pp. 226–227. In May 1942 Kvaternik ordered the deportation of Serbs from 12 villages in

Petrinja Petrinja () is a town in central Croatia near Sisak in the historic region of Banija, Banovina. It is administratively located in Sisak-Moslavina County. On December 29, 2020, the town was 2020 Petrinja earthquake, hit by a strong earthquake wit ...

County and 6 villages in Glina County to Jasenovac and Stara Gradiška concentration camps. From Petrinja County villages 1200-1250 people were deported to concentration camps, while from Glina County at least 471 of those deported died in Ustaše concentration camps. 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 A knight is a person granted an honorary title of a knighthood by a head of state (including the pope) or representative for service to the monarch, the church, or the country, especially in a military capacity. The concept of a knighthood ...

), which is sometimes included in his name.

Death

After the

Second World War World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

's end, Kvaternik was captured by the

United States Army The United States Army (USA) is the primary Land warfare, land service branch of the United States Department of Defense. It is designated as the Army of the United States in the United States Constitution.Article II, section 2, clause 1 of th ...

and extradited to Yugoslavia. In Yugoslavia, he was tried and sentenced to death for his crimes under the NDH regime. He was executed by hanging in

Zagreb Zagreb ( ) is the capital (political), capital and List of cities and towns in Croatia#List of cities and towns, largest city of Croatia. It is in the Northern Croatia, north of the country, along the Sava river, at the southern slopes of the ...

on 7 June 1947.

Awards and decorations

of 1914, 1st class * Military Order of the Iron Trefoil, 1st class * Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of the Kingdom of Hungary * Grand Cross of the Order of the German Eagle

References

Sources

External links

Biography of Slavko Kvaternik
{{DEFAULTSORT:Kvaternik, Slavko 1878 births 1947 deaths Austro-Hungarian military personnel of World War I Croatian Home Guard personnel Croatian people convicted of war crimes Croatian people of German descent Croatian people of World War I Croatian Roman Catholics Executed Croatian collaborators with Fascist Italy Executed Croatian collaborators with Nazi Germany Executed mass murderers Genocide of Serbs in the Independent State of Croatia perpetrators Government ministers of the Independent State of Croatia Grand Crosses of the Order of Merit of the Republic of Hungary (military) Holocaust perpetrators in Yugoslavia People executed by Yugoslavia by hanging People from the Kingdom of Croatia-Slavonia People from Vrbovsko Recipients of the Iron Cross (1914), 1st class Recipients of the Military Order of the Iron Trefoil Royal Yugoslav Army personnel Ustaše members World War II prisoners of war held by the United States Yugoslav anti-communists Executed military leaders