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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 | 25 August 1878 Moravice, Croatia-Slavonia, Austria-Hungary |
| Died | 13 June 1947 (aged 68) Zagreb, PR Croatia, FPR Yugoslavia |
| Cause of death | Execution by hanging |
| Nationality | Croat |
| Political party | Ustashe |
| Spouse | Olga Frank |
| Children | Eugen Dido Kvaternik |
| Profession | Military |
| 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 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). 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 the Austro-Hungarian Army and was involved in World War I. After the collapse of Austria-Hungary, he was appointed by the National Council of the State of Slovenes, Croats and Serbs to lead a successful incursion into Međimurje in late 1918. He later transferred to the Royal Yugoslav Army and remained there until 1921.
In 1929, he was one of the founders of the Ustasha – Croatian Revolutionary Movement in Italy. After Germany invaded Yugoslavia in April 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 until 1943, when he retired.[citation needed] Kvaternik was executed for war crimes in 1947.