Slavko Kvaternik

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 MinisterAnte Pavelić
Preceded byOffice established
Succeeded byAnte Pavelić
Chief of General Staff of the
State of Slovenes, Croats and Serbs
In office
29 October 1918 – 1 December 1918
PresidentAnton Korošec
Preceded byOffice established
Succeeded byOffice abolished
Personal details
Born(1878-08-25)25 August 1878
Moravice, Croatia-Slavonia, Austria-Hungary
Died13 June 1947(1947-06-13) (aged 68)
Zagreb, PR Croatia, FPR Yugoslavia
Cause of deathExecution by hanging
NationalityCroat
Political partyUstashe
SpouseOlga Frank
ChildrenEugen Dido Kvaternik
ProfessionMilitary
AwardsIron 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/serviceAustro-Hungarian Army
(1896–1918)
Yugoslav Royal Army
(1918–1921)
Domobranstvo
(1941–1943)
Years of service1896–1921
1941–1943
RankVojskovođa (field marshal)
CommandsDomobranstvo
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.