Eduard Bona Bunić

Eduard Bona Bunić (born 1894, died in Travnik October 2 1944), was a Croatian World War II soldier and member of the Bona family, an old Austro-Hungarian noble family.

Bona Bunić served as "pukovnik konjanički" (colonel of cavalry) in the Croatian Home Guard. [http://people.mail2me.com.au/~sljeme/gener.htm List of Generals in the Croatian Armed Forces] ] From September 1943 he was in command of the "II. konjanički sklop" (II. Cavalry Group). [ [http://www.axishistory.com/index.php?id=6304 II Cavalry Group] ]

He later joined the "Brzi zdrug" (Mobile Brigade), and commanded the unit at the defense of Travnik. [ [http://www.axishistory.com/index.php?id=6006 Mobile brigade] ] Yugoslav Partisans took the town, resulting in Bona Bunić leading one last defense which resulted in his death on October 2 1944. [http://www.safaric-safaric.si/knjige/1998%20hos/1998%20HOS%201941-45.htm HOS] ] He received the nickname "Vitez Zrinski od Travnika" (Knight Zrinski from Travnik), owing to his noble background.

In 1943, Bona Bunić was decorated with the Military Order of the Iron Trefoil Fourth Class and the Order of the Crown of King Zvonimir Third Class. He was posthumously promoted to general and awarded the Golden Ante Pavelić Medal for Bravery, which gave him the title of "vitez" (knight).

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