Slavko Kvaternik

Who was Slavko Kvaternik?

Slavko Kvaternik was a one of the founders of fascist Ustaša movement, and one of the persons most directly responsible for the Holocaust in Independent State of Croatia. Kvaternik was Croatian military commander and Minister of Domobranstvo. On 10 April 1941 he declared the creation of the Independent State of Croatia.

Kvaternik was an officer in the Austro-Hungarian Army and was involved in World War I. After collapse of the Austria-Hungary he joined the National Council of State of Slovenes, Croats and Serbs and became Chief of the General Staff of unrecognized State of Slovenes, Croats and Serbs. As such, he defended the region of Međimurje against Hungarians. He later transferred to the Royal Yugoslav Army and remained there until 1921.

In 1930s he was one of the founders of the Ustaša - Croatian Revolutionary Movement in Italy.

After Germany invaded Yugoslavia in March 1941, he declared the creation of the Independent State of Croatia on 10 April 1941 with the support of the Axis. In the newly created state, he became the Minister of the Armed Forces and in 1943 he retired.