Slavko Kvaternik | |
|---|---|
 Kvaternik in 1942 | |
| 1st Minister of Armed Forces of the Independent State of Croatia | |
| In office 10 April 1941 – 4 January 1943 | |
| Prime Minister | Ante Pavelić |
| Preceded by | Office established |
| Succeeded by | Ante Pavelić |
| Chief of General Staff of the State of Slovenes, Croats and Serbs | |
| In office 29 October 1918 – 1 December 1918 | |
| President | Anton Korošec |
| Preceded by | Office established |
| Succeeded by | Office abolished |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1878-08-25)25 August 1878 |
| Died | 13 June 1947(1947-06-13) (aged 68) |
| Cause of death | Execution by hanging |
| Nationality | Croat |
| Political party | Ustaše |
| Spouse | Olga Frank |
| Children | Eugen Dido Kvaternik |
| Profession | Military officer |
| Awards | Iron Cross 1st Class Iron Trefoil 1st Class |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  Austria-Hungary(1896–1918)  Kingdom of Yugoslavia(1918–1921)  Independent State of Croatia(1941–1943) |
| Branch/service | Austro-Hungarian Army (1896–1918) Yugoslav Royal Army (1918–1921) Domobranstvo (1941–1943) |
| Years of service | 1896–1921 1941–1943 |
| Rank | Vojskovođa (field marshal) |
| Commands | Domobranstvo |
| Battles/wars | |
Slavko Kvaternik (25 August 1878 – 7 June 1947) was aCroatian military general and politician who was one of the founders of the ultranationalistUstaše 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 theAustro-Hungarian Army and was involved inWorld War I. After the collapse of Austria-Hungary, he was appointed by the National Council of theState of Slovenes, Croats and Serbs to lead a successfulincursion into Međimurje in late 1918. He later transferred to theRoyal Yugoslav Army and remained there until 1921.
In 1929, he was one of the founders of the Ustasha – Croatian Revolutionary Movement in Italy. AfterGermany invaded Yugoslavia in April 1941, he declared the creation of theIndependent State of Croatia on 10 April 1941 with the support of theAxis. 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.
Slavko Kvaternik was born inMoravice (then known as Komorske Moravice) in theKingdom of Croatia-Slavonia ofAustria-Hungary on 25 August 1878, the son of Ljudevit, a postman, and his wife, Marija (née Frank), who was of German descent fromBavaria andCatholic by religion.[1]
Slavko Kvaternik married Olga Frank, daughter ofJosip Frank, a Croatian nationalist politician ofJewish descent, who converted fromJudaism toRoman Catholicism. Their son,Dido, was a member of theUstasha.[2] At the end of August 1941, Olga Frank committed suicide, probably because of herJewish origins and the roles of her husband, and (especially) of her son Dido, in theNDH.[2]
Educated in a military academy, Kvaternik served in the Austro-Hungarian Army duringWorld War I, and was awarded the GermanIron Cross 1st Class (1918).[3] In 1918, he joined the newly formedNational Council of Slovenes, Croats and Serbs, becoming the Chief of General Staff. At the end of the year, Kvaternik commanded Croatian troops during the successful1918 occupation of Međimurje.[4]
After theGerman invasion of theKingdom of Yugoslavia on 6 April 1941, the Ustaše formed their government withAnte Pavelić as leader. Four days later Kvaternik proclaimed the establishment of the Independent State of Croatia (NDH) and formed the first Ustasha government.[5] At the same time, at Kvaternik's request,Vladko Maček (the leader of theCroatian 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 ofvojskovođa (marshal). 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" (Croatian:Doglavničko vijeće). TheCroatian Home Guard was established on 11 April. He stayed in his position until his retirement on 4 January 1943.[6] In May 1942 Kvaternik ordered the deportation of Serbs from 12 villages inPetrinja County and 6 villages inGlina County toJasenovac andStara Gradiška concentration camps.[7] From Petrinja County villages 1200-1250 people were deported to concentration camps,[8] while from Glina County at least 471 of those deported died in Ustaše concentration camps.[9]
He was awarded the 1st Class Cross of theMilitary Order of the Iron Trefoil during his service to the NDH. This award gave him the title ofvitez (knight), which is sometimes included in his name.[10]
After theSecond World War's end, Kvaternik was captured by theUnited States Army and extradited to Yugoslavia. In Yugoslavia, he was tried and sentenced to death for his crimes under the NDH regime. He wasexecuted by hanging inZagreb on 7 June 1947.
Croatia:Military Order of the Iron Trefoil, 1st class
German Empire:Iron Cross, 1st class
Kingdom of Italy:Order of Saints Maurice and Lazarus, Knight Grand Cross[11]
Kingdom of Hungary:Order of Merit of the Kingdom of Hungary, Grand Cross
Nazi Germany:Order of the German Eagle, Grand Cross| International | |
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