Ivan Prezelj | |
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![]() Prezelj in 1930s | |
Nickname(s) |
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Born | Nova Vas, Istria, Austria-Hungary | 29 August 1895
Died | 22 April 1973 Cleveland, Ohio, United States | (aged 77)
Allegiance |
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Unit | Blue Guard (Slovene) |
Battles/wars |
Ivan Prezelj (29 August 1895 – 22 April 1973) was a Yugoslav military officer and commander of Blue Guard, a detachment of Yugoslav Army in the Fatherland in German-occupied Slovenia during the World War II.[1]
Before the Second World War, Prezelj was the Yugoslav military attache in Prague.[2]
Prezelj was initially subordinated to Major Karl Novak and Colonel Vladimir Vauhnik.[3] After the defeat in the Battle of Grčarice, Major Novak resigned and Prezelj was appointed in his place by Draža Mihailović.[4] Mihailović promoted Prezelj to the rank of General on 29 June[5] or 1 December 1944.[6] The headquarter of Prezelj was with Notranjska Detachment and Soča Detachments.[7]
Prezelj in Ljubljana met with Dimitrije Ljotić and Momčilo Đujić in 1945.[8] In April 1945 Prezelj was appointed as commander of Slovenian People's Army while Mirko Bitanc was appointed as his deputy.[9]
After the World War II Prezelj escaped from Yugoslav authorities to Italy.[10]