Croatian Armed Forces (Independent State of Croatia)

Not to be confused with Armed Forces of the Republic of Croatia.

The War flag of the Independent State of Croatia.

The Croatian Armed Forces were the armed forces of the Independent State of Croatia which were formed in 1944 with the uniting of the Croatian Home Guard and the Ustaše militia forces.

The Army of the Independent State of Croatia (Croatian: Hrvatske oružane snage, HOS) was reorganized in November 1944 to combine the units of the Ustaše and Croatian Home Guard into eighteen divisions, comprising 13 infantry, two mountain, two assault and one replacement Croatian divisions, each with its own organic artillery and other support units. There were also several armoured units. From early 1945, the Croatian divisions were allocated to various German corps and by March 1945 were holding the Southern Front.^[1] Securing the rear areas were some 32,000 men of the Croatian Gendarmerie (Hrvatsko Oružništvo), organised into 5 police volunteer regiments plus 15 independent battalions, equipped with standard light infantry weapons, including mortars.^[2]

By the end of March, 1945, it was obvious to the Croatian Army command that, although the front remained intact, they would eventually be defeated by sheer lack of ammunition. For this reason, the decision was made to retreat into Austria, in order to surrender to the British forces advancing north from Italy.^[3] These forces remained in being until their surrender to the British Army around Bleiburg, Austria, in 1945.

Marching order at end of 1944

• 1. Poglavnik Bodyguard Division

• 1. Croatian Assault Division
  • Commander: General Ante Moškov
  • Headquarters: Zagreb

• 2. Croatian Infantry Division
  • Commander: General Mirko Gregurić
  • Headquarters: Zagreb

• 3. Croatian Infantry Division
  • Commander: General Stjepan Mifek
  • Headquarters: Vinkovci

• 4. Croatian Infantry Division
  • Commander: General Antun Nardelli
  • Headquarters: Dvor na Uni

• 5. Croatian Assault Division
  • Commander: General Rafael Boban
  • Headquarters: Bjelovar

• 6. Croatian Infantry Division
  • Commander: General Vladimir Metikoš
  • Headquarters: Banja Luka

• 7. Croatian Mountain Division
  • Commander: General Stjepan Perčić
  • Headquarters: Nova Kapela, Batrina

• 8. Croatian Infantry Division
  • Commander: General Roman Domanik
  • Headquarters: Sarajevo

• 9. Croatian Mountain Division
  • Commander: General Božidar Zorn
  • Headquarters: Mostar

• 10. Croatian Infantry Division
  • Commander: General Ivan Tomašević
  • Headquarters: Bihać

• 11. Croatian Infantry Division
  • Commander: Colonel Juraj Rukavina
  • Headquarters: Gospić

• 12. Croatian Infantry Division
  • Commander: Colonel Slavko Cesarić
  • Headquarters: Brčko

• 13. Croatian Infantry Division
  • Commander: General Tomislav Rolf
  • Headquarters: Karlovac

• 14. Croatian Infantry Division
  • Commander: Colonel Jaroslav Šotola
  • Headquarters: Brod na Savi

• 15. Croatian Infantry Division
  • Commander: General Zorko Čudina
  • Headquarters: Doboj

• 16. Croatian Replacement Division
  • Commander: General Milivoj Durbešić
  • Headquarters: Zagreb

• 18. Croatian Infantry Division

Commanders' fates

Executed

• Ante Moškov
• Mirko Gregurić
• Stjepan Mifek
• Antun Nardelli
• Vladimir Metikoš
• Roman Domanik
• Božidar Zorn
• Ivan Tomašević
• Juraj Rukavina
• Zorko Čudina

Unclear

• Rafael Boban
• Jaroslav Šotola
• Milivoj Durbešić

Emigrated

• Stjepan Peričić
• Slavko Cesarić

Committed suicide

• Tomislav Rolf

References

1. ^ Thomas, 1995, p.17
2. ^ Thomas, 1995, p.30
3. ^ Shaw, 1973, p.101

Sources

• Shaw, L., Trial by Slander: A background to the Independent State of Croatia, Harp Books, Canberra, 1973. ISBN 0-909432-00-7
• Thomas, N., Mikulan, K. and Pavelic, D. Axis Forces in Yugoslavia 1941-45 Osprey, London, 1995. ISBN 1-85532-473-3