During World War II the Independent State of Croatia awarded a number of orders, decorations and medals.

History

After the early April 1941

invasion of Yugoslavia The invasion of Yugoslavia, also known as the April War or Operation 25, or ''Projekt 25'' was a German-led attack on the Kingdom of Yugoslavia by the Axis powers which began on 6 April 1941 during World War II. The order for the invasion was p ...

, the Kingdom of Yugoslavia was crushed, and the so-called Independent State of Croatia was established with Ante Pavelić as the Head of State. As the Ustasha government of Yugoslavia were allies of the German Nazi government, the orders and decorations of Croatia from World War II remained secret until 1990 when Croatia became independent.

List of Medals

* Military Order of the Iron Trefoil (''Vojnički red željeznog trolista'') (27 December 1941) *

Order of the Crown of King Zvonimir The Order of the Crown of King Zvonimir ( hr, Red krune kralja Zvonimira) was an order awarded by the Independent State of Croatia (NDH). It was established as a "visible sign of decoration for merits done, in peace or in war, for Croats, Croatian ...

(''Red krune kralja Zvonimira'') (17 May 1941) * Medal of the Crown of King Zvonimir (''Kolajna krune kralja Zvonimira'') (27 December 1941) *

Medal of Poglavnik Ante Pavelić for Bravery Medal of Poglavnik Ante Pavelić for Bravery ( hr, Kolajna poglavnika Ante Pavelića za hrabrost) is founded as a "visible sign of decoration for acts of personal bravery in combat". Poglavnik of Croatia has awarded with this medal officers, NCOs ...

(''Kolajna poglavnika Ante Pavelića za hrabrost'') (27 December 1941) * Foundation of the Independent State of Croatia Memorial Medal (''Spomenznak na uspostavu Nezavisne Države Hrvatske'') (18 March 1942) *

Order of Merit The Order of Merit (french: link=no, Ordre du Mérite) is an order of merit for the Commonwealth realms, recognising distinguished service in the armed forces, science, art, literature, or for the promotion of culture. Established in 1902 by K ...

(''Red za zasluge'') (19 December 1942) *

Wound Medal A wound is a rapid onset of injury that involves lacerated or punctured skin (an ''open'' wound), or a contusion (a ''closed'' wound) from blunt force trauma or compression. In pathology, a ''wound'' is an acute injury that damages the epiderm ...

(''Ranjenička kolajna'') (8 April 1943) * 5th December 1918 Commemorative Ribbon (''Spomenznak 5. prosinca 1918.'') (30 November 1943) * War Memorial Ribbon (''Ratni spomenznak'') (29 December 1943) * Ustasha Badge of Honour (''Ustaški častni znak'') (3 April 1944) On 10 April 1945 the

Velebit medal Velebit (; it, Alpi Bebie) is the largest, though not the highest, mountain range in Croatia. The range forms a part of the Dinaric Alps and is located along the Adriatic coast, separating it from Lika in the interior. Velebit begins in the nor ...

(''Velebitska kolajna'') for bravery (silver and bronze) was added to the order of Croatian decorations. It was created on 1 January 1932 in Italy, and awarded to soldiers who participated in a diversion in

Lika Lika () is a traditional region of Croatia proper, roughly bound by the Velebit mountain from the southwest and the Plješevica mountain from the northeast. On the north-west end Lika is bounded by Ogulin-Plaški basin, and on the south-east by ...

village Buršani (7 September 1932). By declaration of the Croatian government on 10 October 1943, small signs (ribbons) were added as decorations. Ribbons were made for military personnel and worn on uniforms. Since 1942, decorations of Croatia have been made in the Zagreb mint, "Braća Knaus" (Brothers Knaus) (former "Griesbach & Knaus"), and in the workshop of Teodor Krivak in Varaždin (former "Sorlini"). The Order of the Crown of King Zvonimir was made from the design of air force colonel Jakob Machiedo. Colonel Machiedo's design incorporated art elements from the oldest Croatian culture heritage, the trefoil ornament. The Medal of the Crown of King Zvonimir and the Medal of Poglavnik Ante Pavelić for bravery were made by the Croatian sculptor

Ivo Kerdić Ivo Kerdić (1881–1953) was a Croatian sculptor, best known for his metalwork and medallions. Biography Ivo Kerdić was born 19 May 1881 in Davor, a small village near Slavonski Brod, Croatia, at that time in Austria-Hungary. The son of a ...

. The Order of the Crown of King Zvonimir and The Military Order of Iron Trefoil have the shape of the Trefoil Cross. The Trefoil Cross has become famous and is known in world literature as the "Croatian Cross".

Knighthood

Knighthood in the Independent State of Croatia was conferred by the state during its existence from 1941 to 1945. The title of ''vitez'', or knight, was awarded to recipients of certain state orders and awards. The following awards granted the title: # Military Order of the Iron Trefoil 1st Class with oak leaves # Military Order of the Iron Trefoil 1st Class # Grand

with star and oak leaves # Grand Order of the Crown of King Zvonimir with star and swords # Grand Order of the Crown of King Zvonimir # Ante Pavelić Medal for Bravery in gold # Military Order of the Iron Trefoil 2nd Class with oak leaves # Military Order of the Iron Trefoil 2nd Class # Order of the Crown of King Zvonimir 1st Class with star and oak leaves # Order of the Crown of King Zvonimir with star and swords # Order of the Crown of King Zvonimir with star

Knights

The title was awarded to 26 generals: *Ladislav Aleman (-1945) *Salko Alikadić (-1941) **Received award posthumously after death in Operation Ozren. * Vilko Begić (1874–1946) * Rafael Boban (1907–?) *

Eduard Bona Bunić Eduard Model Accessories is a Czech manufacturer of plastic models and finescale model accessories. Formed in 1989 in the city of Most, Eduard began in a rented cellar as a manufacturer of photoetched brass model components. Following the succ ...

(1894–1944) **Received award posthumously after death in Battle of Travnik. *

Matija Čanić Matija Čanić (1901 – 3 May 1964) was Croatian military officer who became a general during the Independent State of Croatia and was awarded the title of knight (''vitez''). He was a supporter of Lorković-Vokić coup, but suffered no ser ...

(1901–1964) *Milan Desović (1895–1960) *

Fedor Dragojlov Fedor Dragojlov (born in 1881 – died 1961 in Buenos Aires, Argentina) was a colonel-general in the Croatian Home Guard, as well as its chief-of-staff from 1943 to 1944. He was Eastern Orthodox Christian. He was one of only seven to receive the ...

*Stjepan Duić (-1934) **Received award posthumously after establishment of the Independent State of Croatia. *

Jure Francetić Jure Francetić (3 July 1912 – 27/28 December 1942) was a Croatian Ustaša Commissioner for the Bosnia and Herzegovina regions of the Independent State of Croatia (NDH) during World War II, and commander of the 1st Ustaše Regiment of the ...

(1912–1942) **Received award posthumously after his death in 1942. *Đuro Grujić (1885–1945) *Artur Gustović (-1945) * Đuro Jakčin (-1944) *

Slavko Kvaternik Slavko Kvaternik (25 August 1878 – 7 June 1947) was a Croatian Ustaše military general and politician who was one of the founders of the Ustaše movement. Kvaternik was military commander and Minister of '' Domobranstvo'' (''Armed Forces''). O ...

(1878–1947) *

Vladimir Laxa Vladimir Laxa (; 21 January 1870 – 1945) was a Croatian general who served in the Austro-Hungarian Army during World War I and in the Croatian Home Guard during World War II. During World War II, he was Army Chief of Staff of the Axis puppet st ...

(1869–1945) *

Vjekoslav Luburić Vjekoslav Luburić (6 March 1914 – 20 April 1969) was a Croatian Ustaše official who headed the system of concentration camps in the Independent State of Croatia (NDH) during much of World War II. Luburić also personally oversaw and spe ...

(1914–1969) *Franjo Lukac (-1946) *

Josip Metzger Josip Metzger (17 August 1883 – 21 June 1945) was a member of the fascist Ustaše movement who rose to the rank of major general in the Independent State of Croatia during World War II. He was tried, sentenced and executed for war crimes after ...

(1883–1945) *

Ante Moškov Ante or Antes may refer to: * Ante (cards), an initial stake paid in a card game * Ante (poker), a forced bet in the game of poker * Ante (name), Croatian form of the given name Anthony * The Latin word ''ante'', meaning "before", which is used as ...

(1911–1948) *

Ivan Perčević Ivan () is a Slavic male given name, connected with the variant of the Greek name (English: John) from Hebrew meaning 'God is gracious'. It is associated worldwide with Slavic countries. The earliest person known to bear the name was Bulgari ...

(1881–1947) *Krunoslav Stjepan Perčić (1891–1971) *Dragutin Rubčić (-1986) *Adolf Sabljak (1886–1947) *

Tomislav Sertić Tomislav Sertić (21 December 1902 – September 1945) was a Croatian military officer who served as the commander of all Ustaše Military Units, chief of staff of the Ustaše Militia and the Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces. He was ...

(1898–1945) *

Franjo Šimić Franjo Šimić (25 May 1900 – 9 August 1944) was a Croatian colonel, and later general, in the Croatian Home Guard. Education and early career Franjo Šimić was born on 25 May 1900 in Gospić, a town in Kingdom of Croatia-Slavonia, a part ...

(1900–1944) *

Slavko Stanzer Slavko () is a Slavic masculine given name. Notable holders of the name include: Arts * Slavko Avsenik, Slovenian musician * Slavko Avsenik, Jr., Slovenian musician * Slavko Brankov, Croatian actor * Slavko Brill, Croatian Jewish sculptor * Slavko ...

(1872–1945) Colonels to receive the title included: *

Viktor Pavičić Viktor Pavičić (15 October 1898 – 20 January 1943) was a Croatian military commander who led the 369th Reinforced Croatian Infantry Regiment, which fought on the Eastern Front (World War II), Eastern Front and was involved in the Battle of ...

(-1943)

Notes

References

* Mr. sc. Stjepan Adanić, Major General Krešimir Kašpar, prof. Boris Prister i prof. Ivan Ružić "Hrvatska odlikovanja."

External links

Independent State of Croatia's Military Decorations
at Wehrmacht-Awards.com {{DEFAULTSORT:Orders, Decorations, And Medals Of The Independent State Of Croatia