Poglavnik Bodyguard Unit

Published: 08 April 2012Last Updated: 02 February 2013

Poglavnik Bodyguard Battalion (Poglavnikova tjelesna bojna), Poglavnik Bodyguard Brigade (Poglavnikov tjelisni zdrug), Poglavnik Bodyguard Division (Poglavnikova tjelesna divizija)
by H.L. deZeng IV

Formation and Background: the first military body on the Markov trg (square) in downtown Zagreb on 10 April 1941, the day the Independent State of Croatia was proclaimed, was composed of Ustasha returnees (povratnika), meaning those who had returned with Poglavnik from Italy as a large group. After several days a more formal military institution came into existence, at the center of which was the Military-Ustasha Headquarters (Vojno-Ustaškom Stožeru). Vjekoslav Servatzi (Bego), then a Satnik (Captain), was the most visible figure at the beginning of this organization. Soon after these first steps were completed, Ante Moškov was appointed to take over command of the Poglavnik’s Bodyguard Battalion (Poglavnikova tjelesna bojna or PTB), which was composed of returnees and the brothers and sons of returnees, and numbered about 200 men. But as the continuous process of reorganization took place over the coming months, many Ustasha formations were created from members of the PTB. Moškov eventually created a brigade – the Poglanikova tjelisna zdrug – from members of the PTB, the organization “Brothers and Sons” and other youth organizations. Some performed guard duty (Stražarski zdrug), while others were used as combat troops in the field, and already by Christmas 1941 the PTS was fighting in the Kordun region south of Zagreb. The PTB (as distinguished from the PTS) remained an honorary organization exclusively of returnees (povratnika), without regard to where they had come from [meaning Italy, Hungary (the Janka Pusta), Germany, etc.]. (1)

The PTB was formed in Zagreb from young men between 18 and 24 years of age, provided they met the following qualifications: Ustasha returnees from the camps in Italy who were well known by Poglavnik; Ustasha political exiles (i..e., those who had been in Hungary, Germany, etc.); the brothers and sons of the foregoing; and, selected Ustasha from the regular active battalions of the Ustasha Militia. Service in the PTB was for four years. (2)

Operational History

1941

Summer 41: the PTB, under the command of Satnik Ante Moškov, was located in Zagreb and directly subordinated to Poglavnik. Throughout the course of 1941 the PTB consisted of one infantry battalion and one motorized detachment (brzi sklop). The Battalion’s cadre was predominantly Ustasha returnees from Italy. The PTB performed guard services (by company around the villas of the senior leadership in Tuskanac; at Sljemena/Rebro; in Novi Dvor near Zapreši?; at the Markov trg; and around establishments, headquarters and garages) and other security duties in behalf of the Poglavnik and periodically participated in anti-Partisan operations around Zagreb and in the Banija and the Kordun. Individual officers from the PTB were reassigned throughout Croatia where they became commanders of other Ustasha formations. The PTB recruit company consisted of all new volunteers, who were then given basic military training. The PTB also had an honors company for parade and colors ceremonies, which usually took place in Zagreb’s Markov Square (trg).10

Aug 41: the PTB was deployed during the summer of 1941 as follows: two companies were located at the Domobran Central School in Varaždin, one company in Slavonska Požega and one company in Kerestinec in Zagreb. The Mobile Group (brzi sklop) was located in Zagreb until about February 1942.11
7 Aug 41: according to a German document, there was a 70-man detachment of the PTB in Prijedor on this date, and possibly a few days before this when large scale killings took place in and around the town.12

19 Sep 41: RAVSIGUR Zagreb (the State security apparatus) was notified that a large group of Communist bandits had gathered in some woods near Sisak. During the night of 19-20 September, Ante Moškov arrived in Sisak from Zagreb with one company from the PTB, two Domobran infantry companies and a small group of 20 Domobran cavalry. That night they were reinforced by local Ustasha from Sisak, Petrinja and Sunja, bringing the group’s total strength to approximately 650 men. The operation began the next day (20 Sep) at 0800 hours with a bombing attack on the woods carried out by 5 Croatian aircraft. The woods were combed all day on the 20th and 21st. Only 3 or 4 armed Communists were eventually caught and all were shot. Moškov and his men returned to Zagreb on the 21st at 2100 hours.13

1 Nov 41: toward the end of 1941 the Germans began to take considerable interest in helping the Ustasha set up, organize and train the PTB. In November, SS-Untersturmführer Scheiber was assigned to the PTB as a permanent training officer.14
1 Nov 41: Headquarters PTB was located Trg Stjepan Radi? 2 in Zagreb.15
2 Nov 41: the motorized section (motoristi?ki odjel) of the PTB, clearly the forerunner of the Mobile Group (brzi sklop), participated in a ceremony at the Trg Stjepan Radi? this date; there was no mention of any tanks.16
11 Nov 41: the 7th Company/PTB (led by Ust. Poru?nik Mate Juroš) paraded at a ceremony in Zagreb.17
15 Nov 41: the 7th Company/PTB (commander: Ust. Nadporu?nik Mato Nosi?) participated in a parade on the Trg Stjepan Radi? in Zagreb this date.18
19 Nov 41: on 18 November, the day before, the Ustasha company from Maja (7 km southeast of Glina) fell into an ambush losing 3 killed and 6 wounded. The next day, 19 November, Ustasha detachments from Zagreb (probably elements of the PTB) and Kostajnica (probably elements of the XII Ustasha Battalion) were sent in to cleanse the area east and southeast of Maja. They massacred around 800 men, women and children, burned down a number of villages and carted off to Zagreb 20 wagons of livestock.19

4 Dec 41: during a parade on the Trg Jela?i? in Zagreb this date, an Ustasha detachment led the way with small tanks given to Croatia by Italy, which were accompanied by Italian instructors. It is believed that these tankettes or small tanks were delivered to the PTB during October.20
5 Dec 41: the parade noted above actually occurred on 5 December in celebration of the Croatian Revolution of 5 December 1918. The description of the PTB’s participation in the parade is as follows: “Leading the contingent was the assault company (jurišna satnija)/PTB led by Satnik Pejkovi?, then the cavalry of the PTB, the motorized battalion (motorizirana bojna)/PTB which included trucks, motorcycles with sidecars containing machine guns, vehicles with trailers that mounted anti-aircraft machine guns, and finally tanks which were led by Satnik Oreškovi?.”21
15 Dec 41: at the end of 1941 the PTB is shown as consisting of one infantry battalion and one motorized (or mobile) group (brzi sklop). The commanding officer was Satnik Ante Moskov and the entire PTB was permanently stationed in Zagreb. The PTB was directly subordinated to Poglavnik, and was only under the Ustasha Vojnica for organizational matters. The motorized group (brzi sklop) was equipped with a number of small, 2-ton Italian tankettes.22
21 Dec 41: the Kordun operation, which was designed to destroy the Partisan “Red Republic” at Kirin near Vrgin Most, began this date. PTB units deployed from Zagreb for this offensive consisted of-: one battalion, including the Cavalry Group/PTB (under the tactical command of Ust. Satnik Sulenti?) and the motorized group/PTB (under Ust. Satnik Nikola Oreškovi?). The PTB, as well as all other Ustasha and Domobran formations engaged in this operation, was under the overall command of Ante Moškov.23

1942

9 Jan 42: PTB units under Ust. Bojnik Ante Moškov at the conclusion of the Kordun operation in the area north of Vrgin Most, with headquarters in Vrgin Most consisted of: 2 PTB infantry companies, the motorized group (brzi sklop)/PTB (with 6 light “carri L” CV 35 Italian tankettes), machine gun company (probably PTB), a section of 2 x 100 mm howitzers (probably PTB); these units were still in Vrgin Most on 23 Jan 42. One of the PTB infantry companies noted above carried the nickname “Stuka satnija”. It was made up of men from Bosnia, Zagorje and from around Senj in the Lika. The Company had fought for six months in Bosnia and the Kordun, including the Kordun operation mentioned above, and at the beginning of February 1942 returned to Zagreb. One of the officers in this Company was Ust. Zastavnik Filip Mari? (a returnee).24

7 Feb 42: “On 7 February 1942 at around 4 a.m. a company from the PTB under command of Ustasha Nadporu?nik Josip Mišlov, and accompanied by Father Vjekoslav Filipovi?, took possession of the mine at Rakovac and killed with picks (krampom) 37 workers of the Greek-Orthodox faith. Continuing on, they killed with axes (sjekir) 715 Greek-Orthodox men, women and children in the village of Motike and a further 1,500 people in Drakuli? and Šargovac. The killing was concluded at around 2 p.m. Over the next several days the Ustasha carted off to their warehouses all of the food, livestock and furniture from the homes of the victims. A detailed report follows.” This is the actual text of Kotarski predstojnik (district head) Banja Luka secret communication No. 129/42 dated 10 February 1942 to the Ministry of the Interior in Zagreb; this and additional NDH documents on this subject can be found in Arhiv VII Beograd, Fond NDH, kut. 173, br.reg. 8/4-1, 8/4-6, and 10/4-1. A subsequent German report states that this incident was carried out by an Ust. Battalion commanded by Ust.Satnik Petar Zeli?, and one of the participants was Ust. Poru?nik Tatek.25
17 Feb 42: three Ustasha ?arkari (riflemen) from the motorized company (samokretna satnija) of the PTB were court martialed by the Ustasha Vojnica and received prison sentences of 3 months to one year for various offenses. Another Ustasha soldier belonging to the lst Cavalry Group (l. konjani?ka sklop)/PTB was sentenced to one year in prison at the same courts martial.26
19 Feb 42: a Partisan intelligence document giving the location of Croatian troops throughout the Kordun does not show any PTB units. Apparently the PTB returned to Zagreb toward the end of January or early February and then returned for the Petrova gora offensive around 18 March 1942.27
21 Feb 42: the 7th Company/PTB was part of the honor guard present at the Zagreb railway station during a ceremony to welcome back Marshal Slavko Kvaternik from his trip to Italy.28
23 Feb 42: members of the l0th Company/PTB formed part of the honor guard at the opening of the Sabor (parliament) in Zagreb.29

18 Mar 42: the motorized group/PTB with 5 light “carri L” CV 35 Italian tankettes and 10 motorcycles with machine gun mounted sidecars in a total strength of 3 officers and 48 men departed Zagreb by train this date for Karlovac en-route to the Petrova gora for the beginning of a major operation under the command of Ust. Dopukovnik Ante Moškov.30
19 Mar 42: deployed for Phase I of the Petrova gora offensive: 2d Company/PTB, motorized group/PTB, artillery group/PTB and cavalry group/PTB.
20 Mar 42: elements of the motorized group with 5 tankettes and two companies of the I (Lika) Ustasha Battalion, all under the command of Ust. Bojnik Sulenti? of the PTB, captured Sjenicak.31
27 Mar – 3 Apr 42: but not all of the PTB was in the Petrova gora at this time: other elements were part of a large anti-Partisan operation being carried out around Psunj (a mountainous region to the west of Slavonska Požega, some 120 km to the east of the Petrova gora.32

Apr 42: in early April the Partisan 1st Zagorski Detachment experienced its first success near Krapinske Toplice/40 km north of Zagreb when it attacked a wel1-armed Ustasha force from the PTB supported by tankettes.33
10 Apr 42: according to the Zagreb newspaper’s description of the 10 April NDH anniversary parade in Zagreb: “A motorized anti-aircraft company aroused great enthusiasm, as well as the motorized company (samovozna satnija) of the PTB. The members of the battalion were dressed in dark-blue leather uniforms that gave them a roguish, yet appealing appearance.”34
19 Apr 42: a PTB truck was ambushed by Partisans near Gejkovac (Petrova gora area) and 13 Ustasha killed.35

May 42: Poglavnik approached the Royal Italian Military Mission in Croatia during the month of May to discuss the possibility of expanding the PTB to the size of a guards division. “The battalion was initially constituted exclusively of Ustasha who were with Poglavnik in Italy; they wear a special emblem on their collar. Subsequently, little recruiting was done to enlarge the PTB, and this was always limited to selected elements, especially in regard to their spirit and patriotism.” The discussion led to the recognition that sufficient personnel could not be found that met these rigid standards, nor could the necessary arms and equipment be provided. The Italians therefore recommended that the expansion be limited to a “group, legion or small mixed brigade.” An official announcement was then published in Narodne novine (the official government gazette) stating the intent to elevate the PTB to a brigade (zdrug). Agreement was then reached that the Italians would provide weapons, equipment and training instructors. As recommended by the Italians, the brigade was to consist of a Headquarters, Palace Guard Company, Honor Battalion (2 companies), Reconnaissance Group (cavalry squadron, light tank company with 20 light tanks, motorized machine gun company, antitank company and a motorcycle platoon), Motorized Guards Battalion (5 companies), Heavy Mortar Company, Artillery Group (2 x 75mm/Model 28 batteries and 1 x 100mm/Model 16 battery), Flak Battery (6 x 20mm guns), Engineer Platoon, Signal Platoon, Medical, Supply and Transport Sections. The Italians agreed to provide 140 light and heavy machine guns, 30-40 mortars, 4 x 100mm guns, 6 x 20mm Flak guns, 260 trucks and 12-20 motorcycles.36
15 May 42: elements of the mobile group (brzi sklop) (5 tankettes and 14 motorcycles with machine gun mounted sidecars) and the 2d Company/PTB (180 men) were still garrisoned at Vrgin Most this date and participating from there in the last phase of the Petrova gora offensive, with Ante Moškov still in overall command of the operation. [Note: Phase III of -the Petrova gore offensive ran from 9 to 15 May 1942. Two companies of the PTB participated, as well as 5 tanks and 14 sidecar motorcycles with machine guns. The PTB element was in Vrgin Most as early as 7 or 8 May, operated from there during the offensive, and returned to Vrgin Most at the conclusion of the operation.37

2-4 Jun 42: two battalions of Ustasha under the command of Dopukovnik Ante Moškov, at least some of whom were from the PTS, left Karlovac and arrived in the village of Toboli? (Karlovec area) in the evening of of 2 June and immediately burned it down. By the next morning they were in the village of Plavca Draga (also in the Karlovac area). The Italian authorities were enraged that Moškov had dared to carry out an operation in the Italian-controlled II Zone without permission.38
17 Jun 42: an Italian document states that on this date there were two Ustasha battalions under Ante Moškov in the Li?ko Petrovo Selo – Priboj – Plitvi?ka Jezero area (just to the northwest of Biha?), with Moškov in conference with Italian officers in Biha?. The two battalions are believed to have been II and III Bn./PTS.39
15 Jun – 15 Aug 42: the 1st, 2d and 3d Companies of the PTS, under the command of Ust. Satnik “Pivac” Dev?i?, participated in the Kozara Offensive (Operation “West-Bosnien”) during this period as part of Blockade Group North between Bossanska Dubica and Bosanska Gradiška, while the 14th Company/PTS was assigned to Blockade Group South between Banja Luka and Sanski Most. On or about 12 June 1942 one company of the PTS was used to reinforce the 10th Domobran Infantry Rgt. (belonging to the ad hoc Banja Luka Brigade) in the Radosavska-Rakitovaca area, which is only 10 to 12 Km from Bistrica. According to this account, the 10th Domobran Rgt. suffered heavy losses (around 300) on 10 June.40

Aug 42: according to a participant, the Mobile Group/PTS in the summer of 1942 consisted of the following: Headquarters (Ust.Satnik Nikola Qreškovi?, 33 Trnjanska, Zagreb), 1st Tank Co. (Ust. Nadporu?nik Ivan Milardovi?), 2d Tank Co. (Ust. Zastavnik Franjo Muša), 3d Motorcycle Machine Gun Co. (Ust. Zastavnik Stjepan Lovri?, then Mirko Suli?), 4th Motorcycle Machine Gun Co. (Ust. Zastavnik Pero Duševi?), 5th Motorcycle Co. (Velimir Fotskiju). One of the tank companies was permanently transferred to the IV Ustasha Brigade in Gospi? at about this time. The 3d Company had around 40 of the motorcycle machine gun sidecar combinations.41
20 Aug 42: an Italian document lists the disposition of the PTS as follows for those elements deployed in their zones of occupation only (Zones I, II and III), and does not include any PTS components that might have been in Zagreb or the Zegorje (if any): one battalion in Vrhovine (Lika, 17 km east of Oto?ac), two battalions in Plitvice Jezero (Lika, 26 km northwest of Biha?), one battalion in Priboj (Lika, 24 km west-northwest of Biha?. In retrospect, one or two of these battalions may not have belonged to the PTS.42
26 Aug 42: the order of battle of the PTS was given by the Germans as follows:
– Infantry: 16 companies plus one university student company;
– Cavalry: one cavalry battalion consisting of 3 cavalry squadrons;
– Artillery: one battalion consisting of a battery of 100mm Model 14/19 field guns and one battery of 75mm Model 15 mountain guns.
The greater part of this force was deployed in the Lika and Kordun.43

1 Sep 42: according to a participent, the Mobile Group/PTS received about 200 recruits at the end of August or beginning of September, probably from the Banja Luka area. The recruits engaged in training for the next three months, and did not participate in operations. Tankette training for these recruits was conducted by Mijo Divkovi?.44
14-19 Sep 42: in the second half of August 1942, the Partisans decided to strengthen their forces in the Žumberak region west of Zagreb and destroy the enemy garrisons located there. The Partisan 4th Croatian Brigade moved across the Kupa River from the Kordun, attacked the Domobran garrison at Jastrebarsko, and freed 727 “Kozara” children from an Ustasha camp located nearby. The Croatians immediately responded to this provocation, forming two provisional combat groups: Group East (XIII, XVI Ustasha Battalions and elements of the PTS) in the Stojdraga – Cadar – Samobor area, and Group South (V, XIV and XXXV Ustasha Battalions, elements of the IX Ustasha Battalion and one battery of-artillery) in the Plesivica – Sv.Jana – Vivodina area. These forces advanced toward -Kalje on 14 September, and by 19 September had chased the Partisans out of the Žumberak into Slovenia.45
18 Sep 42: during a reconnaissance patrol in the vicinity of Marini (12 km northwest of Prijedor), the 1st Company/II Battalion of the PTS came under heavy fire from rifles and automatic weapons. The Company withdrew to Prijedor after suffering 2 dead and 2 wounded. Enemy losses are not known.46

1 Oct 42: according to Italian documents, the Artillery Group/PTS was actually called the Ustasha Artillery Group, of which only one battery actually belonged to the PTS. It was stationed in Zagreb (probably meaning Zagreb-Kerestinec).
Oct 42: the Stražarska Bojna (Guard Bn.)/PTS was responsible for guarding public buildings in Zagreb and the residences of high government officials. The Battalion was commanded by Ust. Satnik Juroš, and had its headquarters on the Celska cesta.47

12 Nov 42: 12th Co./PTS was present at a ceremony in Zagreb honoring the 73d anniversary of the king and queen of Italy.48
20 Nov 42: the commander of the Replacement Bn./PTS was Ust. Satnik Juroš and it was stationed in Zagreb.49
29 Nov – 12 Dec 42: the PTS, the Zagreb Garrison Battalion and several other Domobran units launched an operation against the Partisan Kalnik Detachment (odred). The PTS units began the attack from Ludbreg, Varaždin, Varaždinske Toplice and Novi Marof.50

1 Dec 42: the brzi sklop (fast or motorized group) of the PTS had its permanent headquarters in Zagreb on this date. Its composition is given as being a number of “small Italian 2-ton tankettes.”51
Dec 42: according to a participant, a company from the XVI Ustasha Battalion came under strong enemy attack at Stojdraga (on the Slovene border, 15 kilometers northwest of Samobor). Elements of the Brzi Sklop/PTS were moved to Samobor as reinforcements in a strength of about 10 tankettes, 20 motorcycles with machine gun sidecars, and 20 solo motorcycles. While in Samobor the contingent was billeted at a local school. One combat detachment from this group was deployed to Kalje (12 km southwest of Stojdraga) at this time.52

1943

3 Jan 43: German 714. Infanterie-Division (Banja Luka) ordered its Grenadier Rgt. 721 to carry out a reorganization of the II Battalion/PTS beginning this date. The staff and headquarters company were to be transferred from Banja Luka to Prijedor, with the move to be completed by 8 Jan 43, one company was stationed at Brdo and the other company at Sanski Most. Both companies were to take over a strongpoint east of the Sana River and engage in training and refitting. The II Battalion/PTS was to be attached to the II Battalion of Grenadier Rgt. 721 as a demonstration battalion.53
8 Jan 43: 714. Infanterie-Division order: “The staff and headquarters company of the II Battalion/PTS is to be immediately transferred to Zagreb. Movement will be by truck from Banja Luka to Okucani, where arrangements for onward transportation will be made. From the Battalion’s companies, Grenadier Rgt. 721 will form the lst Ustasha Readiness (Verfügungs-) Company, which will be subordinated to the Rgt. Grenadier Rgt. 741 will form the 2d Ustasha Readiness Company from Ustasha recruits in Banja Luka, and this will be subordinated to Gren. Rgt. 741.54
1-10 Jan 43: elements of the PTS were moved into the Žumberak region to stabilize the situation there following the capture of Krasi? (19 km north-northwest of Karlovac) on 1 January 1943 by strong Partisan forces. The village was retaken and the Communists thrown back to the south.55
14 Jan 43: a comprehensive Partisan intelligence report showing all enemy forces in the Žumberak on this date does not identify any PTS units as being there. Either they had already left or Partisan intelligence missed them.56
15-31 Jan 43: according to a participant, a detachment of 8 to 10 tanks from the Mobile Group (brzi sklop)/PTS under Ust. Poru?nik Franjo Muša were sent to Cazin/43 km WSW of Bos. Novi in West Bosnia sometime during the second half of January to take part in an anti-Partisan operation. The detachment returned to Zagreb a few weeks later.57

9 Feb 43: II Bn./PTS transferred from Banja Luka to Zagreb this date.58
27 Feb 43: elements of the PTS, Croatian 1st Infantry Division and the German 187. Res.Div. began an abortive attack on the Partisan Kalnik Detachment from the Koprivnica – Ludbreg – Varaždin – Križevci area.59

1 May 43: III Bn./PTS arrived in Podravska Slatina/28 km SE of Virovitica for the beginning of an unidentified anti-Partisan operation.60
10 May 43: two trucks carrying men from the III Bn./PTS were ambushed by Partisans along the road near Podravska Slatina, killing 8 and wounding 5. In reprisal, 50 Partisan prisoners or hostages were shot.61
17 May 43: one tank platoon of the PTS transferred from Vocin/SW of Podravska Slatina to Pivnica/12 km NNW of Vocin.62
18-19 May 43: a Partisan attack on Virovitica was thrown back by a tank platoon of the PTS.63
26-27 May 43: a band of Partisans that was plundering livestock and grain from villages around Podravska Slatina was attacked by PTS tanks and driven off with a loss of 15 killed, and 80% of the plundered goods and livestock was recovered.64
28 May 43: a freight train en-route to Bjelovar hit a mine at 0610 hours near Vukosavljevica to the northwest of Virovitica. The last four cars were derailed and 30 meters of track destroyed. Plundering of the train by Partisans was prevented by light tanks of the PTS from Virovitica.65
9 Jun 43: around 1000 hours, a Partisan band of 80 men captured a small Croatian horse-drawn column on the road 17 km southeast of Virovitica. Light tanks from the PTS in Virovitica were sent in pursuit and successfully recovered the wagons, disarmed the Partisan escort and returned to Virovitica with the wagons and prisoners.66
17 Jun 43: the only PTS troops in Virovitica at this time was the platoon of light tanks.67
19 Jun 43: according to a planning document for a large anti-Partisan operation to be carried out by German Gruppe West (187. Res.Div.) in the Papuk Mountains, the PTS light tank platoon in Virovitica was to be included as part of the assigned force.68
20 Jun 43: II Bn./PTS operating under the tactical control of the Croatian 1st Mountain Division in Slavonia.69
29 Jun 43: according to a German Embassy Zagreb document, plans were established on this date to increase the strength of the PTS to 10,000 men. A contingent of 3,000 men from the call-up of birth year 1925 was designated for the PTS. When a strength of 10,000 was reached, Paveli? intended to re-designated the PTS as a division (PTD).70

5 Jul 43: two companies from the III Bn./PTS and 4 PTS light tanks were in Podravska Slatina this date and responsible for the defense of the town.71
11 Jul 43: one company from the PTS and 3 PTS light tanks were in Varaždin this date.72
13 Jul 43: daily report of the German 187. Res. Div. states that two strong Communist groups moving on Varaždin from the southwest and west had been tentatively identified as elements of the XII and XVII Partisan Brigades. Lepoglava prison was attacked and 1,200 prisoners liberated. One battalion of the PTS boarded a train in Zagreb at 1530 hours this date for movement to Krapina/38 km WSW of Varaždin.73
14 Jul 43: Varaždin situation: a PTS battalion is advancing on Lepoglava/25 km WSW of Varaždin from the southwest (this was the battalion brought to Krapina from Zagreb). The intention is to mop up the Lepoglava area with two battalions from the group under Pukovnik Peri?i?, the PTS battalion and 4 tanks of the PTS.74
16 Jul 43: to reinforce Pukovnik Peri?i?’s group, the elements of the PTS located in Podravska Slatina along with the 8 PTS tanks (divided between Podravska Slatina and Virovitica) were ordered to proceed by train from Podravska Slatina via Pocli?, where they were to be joined by the 4 tanks from Virovitica, and then continue by train to Krapina via Daruvar – Banova Jaruga – Zagreb. On arrival in Krapina, the PTS elements were to be subordinated to Pukovnik Peri?i?’s group.75
18 Jul 43: situation in the Varaždin area still critical due to the threat posed by the Partisan XII “Slavonska” Brigade. One and one-half battalions of the PTS with 8 light tanks were building a defensive line on the axis Zlatar – Mace – Miholjan – Radoboj – Krapina.76
18 Jul 43: the PTS force in the Varaždin operation was under the command of Ustasha Major of the PTS Dev?i?, with tactical headquarters in Mace. In addition to the 8 light tanks of the PTS, the Germans brought in from Zagreb 3 heavy and 6 light tanks belonging to Panzer-Abteilung 202 (a German tank battalion that had been in Yugoslavia since November 1941).77
18 Jul 43: commander of the German tanks was Oberleutnant Hanf of l.Kp./Pz.-Abt.202.78
19 Jul 43: special report from Gruppe West concerning the Varaždin operation: “During the afternoon of 18 July a strong Communist group (approximately 2,000 men) attempted to break out to the south through Mihovljan/8 km southeast of Krapina where they encountered the tanks of 1.Kp../Pz.-Abt. 202 reinforced by one platoon of the PTS, all under the command of Oberleutnant Hanf. Catching the Partisan group by surprise, Hanf opened fire and attacked. Result: 418 counted enemy dead, with a corresponding number of wounded according to statements by locals, at a cost of only two lightly wounded on our side.”79
20 Jul 43: 4 light tanks of the PTS were under Group Obstlt. Vukics (a German officer commanding one of the regiments of the 187. Res.Div.), and the other 4 light tanks of the PTS were under Group Pukovnik Peri?i? (Croatian 1st Infantry Division). All forces participating in the Varaždin operation, including the PTS units, were at all times under the overall command of Gruppe West (German 187. Res.Div. commanded by Gen.Lt. Brauner).80
21 Jul 43: a Gruppe West teletype to Group Obstlt. Vukics identifies the PTS officer in Zlatar as Ustasha Major Dev?i?.81
22 Jul 43: a more complete report concerning the killing of the 418 Partisans by tanks near Mihovljan on 18 July implies that only German tanks participated in this action, so the “one platoon of the PTS” that was used to reinforce the German tanks (see entry for 19 Jul 43) must have been a platoon of infantry.82
25 Jul 43: the final report for the Varaždin operation, which officially concluded this date, states that there were a total of 12 Croatian light tanks employed with the PTS during this operation (the 4 from Podravska Slatina, the 4 from Virovitica and 4 more from Varaždin).83
30 Jul 43: with the conclusion of the Varaždin operation, one platoon of PTS light tanks was ordered to be transferred back to Virovitica on 4 August.84

20 Aug 43: 3d Co. of the I Battalion /PTS had been and still was part of the permanent garrison in Krapina, while 12th Co. of the III Battalion/PTS was the permanent garrison in Zlatar. Also present in Krapina this date was one platoon of light PTS tanks, and in Zlatar 2 light tanks of the PTS. These tanks were to participate in a cleansing operation in the vicinity of Lepoglava – Lobor – Krapina under Res.Gren.Rgt.135. The operation ran 20 and 21 August, but the German/Croatian forces were unable to make contact with the enemy.85
26 Aug 43: I, II and III Battalions/PTS and I and II Recruit Battalions/PTS all had their permanent garrison in Zagreb this date. The composition and locations for the PTS were unchanged on this date from those given for 20 June 1943, except that the Replacement Battalion had been disbanded (or divided) and in its place were the I and II Recruit Battalions of the PTS.86
31 Aug 43: on 23 July 1943 a formal agreement was signed by Minister Dr. Lorkovi? for the NDH and General Glaise von Horstenau for the German Reich concerning the allocation of recruits from call-up birth year 1925. Of the total who were expected to report by the end of August 1943, 3,000 were to be allocated to the PTS.87

1 Sep 43: 187.Res.Div. telephoned Bojnik Gvozti?, operations officer of the PTS, asking him to dispatch a motorized company to cleanse both sides of the railway tracks in the Sesvete – Dugo Selo area.88
1 Sep 43: surprise attack on a passenger train from Zagreb by a Partisan group 5 km east of Dugo Selo, with 1 killed and 5 wounded (all Germans from Res.Gren.Rgt. 45). Also 1 civilian killed and 16 wounded, 1 Croatian Satnik and I Poru?nik missing. The train returned to Dugo Selo. One company of PTS tanks from Zagreb and one Ustasha company from Sesvete sent in pursuit of the Communists.89
Sep 43: the I Hospital (bolnica)/PTS was established in Zagreb this month. Its commander in December 1944 was Ust. Bojnik Dr. Mi1ivoj M. (last name not given in article).90

3 Oct 43: Ludbreg attacked by strong enemy forces and evacuated by the Croatian garrison at 1000 hours. Garrison consisted of II Bn./Croatian Recruit Rgt. 2, one company of the PTS, one Gendarmerie company. A combat group from the PTS was sent to retake the town, and this was locked in bitter fighting at Stefanec/8 km east of Varaždin, at 1300 hours – so far 150 enemy dead. The group fought its way through to within 3 km of Ludbreg, but then withdrew to Varaždin because of the strong enemy pressure.91
3 Oct 43: III.SS-Pz.Korps asked Pz..AOK 2 for permission to transfer the Recruit Battalion of the PTS from Ludbreg to Varaždin, and on this date Pz..AOK 2 approved the transfer. This little exchange shows that by this stage of the war Croatian units for tactical purposes (how they were to be used and where they were to be stationed) were completely under German control.92
3-6 Oct 43: the Partisan XVII “Slavonska” Brigade captured Ludbreg on 3 October, which had been defended by elements of the Croatian 2d Infantry Rgt. and one company of Germans. Shortly after this the PTS, supported by tanks and aircraft, attempted to retake Ludbreg by attacking from Varaždin. According to Partisan accounts, the PTS’s advance was checked by the Partisan Brigade “Brace Radi?” and Ludbreg remained in Partisan hands.93
3 Oct 43: in another Partisan account of the battle for Ludbreg, the counterattacking forces are identified as the I Bn./PTS and the Brzi Sklop/PTS under Ust. Bojnik Qreškovi?. During the counterattack, elements o.f the Partisan Brig8de “Brace Radi?” destroyed one PTS tank with an anti-tank rifle; the counterattack then continued with air support from German Stuka dive bombers, inflicting 48 killed on the II Bn. of “Brace Radi?”.94
8 Oct 43: during a meeting between German Ambassador Kasche and Poglavnik in Zagreb, the latter stated that the PTS was still critically short of appropriate Italian ammunition, especially for the machine guns in the tanks, and asked Kasche to help obtain the ammunition from recently captured Italian stocks (Italy capitulated on 8 September 1943, and their massive stockpiles of weapons and supplies fell into either German or Partisan hands). This discussion further substantiates the fact that the PTS Mobile Group (Brzi sklop) was still only equipped with Italian light machine gun armed tankettes at this time. During this same meeting, the question of security for the Zagreb area using the PTS was also discussed. Poglavnik stated that at the time he had sufficient recruits on hand plus weapons and equipment left over following the Italian capitulation, mostly Italian carbines and machine guns, to form an additional regiment for the PTS. The training of officers for the PTS was to be seen to by the German Army Inspector in Croatia, General Juppe. Poglavnik stated that Domobran officers were already assigned to the PTS, and that he intended to continue this policy. However, the PTS had recently had problems with two of these officers, one of whom was named Gali?, in that they were in contact with the Partisans. 200 NCOs had recently been taken into the PTS following their graduation from the German training center for the Croatian armed forces at Stockerau (in Austria).95
11 Oct 43: Pz.AOK 2 teletype to Dt.bevoll.Gen.in Kroatien (Glaise von Horstenau): “Following the surrender of Ludbreg and the present Partisan situation in that area, Koprivnica is seriously endangered due to the weak garrison stationed there. German forces will not be available for this area before the beginning of November. A transfer of several companies of the PTS to Koprivnica would be expedient at this time.” The two PTS companies were to come from Zagreb.96
13 Oct 43: Dt.bevoll.Gen.in Kroatien teletype to Pz.AOK 2: “According to information from the HQ of the Ustasha Militia, the PTS only has 3 combat battalions, of which 2 and 1/3rd are presently at Varaždin and Stojdraga engaged against the Partisans. Remainder of the PTS is the Zagreb Guard Battalion, three untrained recruit battalions at Osijek, Karlovac and Hrv. Karlovci, plus a handful of mounted troops at Maksimir. Novi Dvor and Milhojne that together only number 400 men. The proposal to transfer several companies to Koprivnica is therefore denied.”97
15 Oct 43: strong enemy pressure reported on Varaždin from the south and southeast. Elements of the garrison and the PTS engaged against the enemy 4 km south of Varaždin. Railway and the road interdicted and blocked by the enemy at Novi Marof.98
15 Oct 43: the PTS tank company that was attached to the IV Ustasha Brigade in Gospi? consisted of the following on this date: 7 x 3.5 ton light tanks, each equipped with one heavy machine gun, and 2 officers, 5 NCOs and .32 men.99
21 Oct 43: LXIX. Res.Korps letter to Pz.AOK 2 this date requested the attaching of a light tank platoon of the PTS to the II Ustasha Brigade on a more or less permanent basis. The reason is because the Partisans have so interdicted rail and road communications between Osijek and Nasice (location of HQ II Ust.Brigade), that it has become almost impossible to bring up supplies to the Brigade. The tanks were to be used to escort supply columns along the road. Two months later, on 24 December, this request was denied due to all of the PTS tanks already being committed.100

Nov 43: in discussions between Croatian and German military officials, the latter agreed to provide enough equipment and weapons of German manufacture to increase the size of the PTS to that of a full division.101
8 Nov 43: Croatian combat group Dev?i? (2 motorized rifle companies of the PTS and 8 platoon of light Italian tanks from the PTS) that was sent as a relief force to Koprivnica encountered strong enemy resistance west of Ludbreg, suffering two lightly wounded. Combat group Dev?i? withdrew to Varaždin at 2100 hours. The Partisan attack was broken off before the PTS tanks arrived, so they did not see action during this operation.102
10 Nov 43: at 1200 hours this date a battalion from Kampfgruppe Geiger reinforced with one platoon of heavy infantry guns and one company of Italian tanks (school company) moved from Krapina to Varaždin, and there joined up with Croatian Kampfgruppe Dev?i? (2 motorized rifle companies of the PTS and one platoon of light PTS tanks). Early 11 November the Kampfgruppe was to advance on Koprivnica via Ludbreg and cleanse the area there.103
15 Nov 43: one company from the PTS, one platoon of PTS light tanks and one company of Ustasha garrison troops were detailed to guard railway tunnels along the stretch Zlatar to Rogatec this date because the Germans believed the Partisans planned to blow up or block the tunnels.104
18 Nov 43: throughout the month of November the area garrisoned by the PTS, including its Mobile Group, was relatively calm. Occasionally joint patrols with the German SS-Pz.Gren.Rgt. 2 (nederländische) in the Stubica – Zlatar – Marija Bistrica area rarely resulted in enemy contact. The Varaždin area was also calm.
20 Nov 43: a letter from the Operations Branch of the Croatian Ministry of the Armed Forces to the Dt.bevoll.Gen. in Kroatien (Glasie von Horstenau) stated that all combat troops of the Croatian armed forces were subordinated to the various German commands in the country, with the sole exception of the PTS, which was under the Poglavnik personally.105
21 Nov 43: Ust. Bojnik Nikola Oreškovi?, commander of the Mobile Group (brzi sklop)/PTS was awarded the large silver medal “za Hrabrost” this date.106

6 Dec 43: on the occasion of the renewed occupation of Ivanec (near Varaždin) by the PTS and other Ustasha units, the Partisans had lost up to this date 64 killed. The Partisans lost a further 24 dead in fighting with the Ustasha near Josenje/35 km SW of Varaždin. Croatian losses were 2 lightly wounded. Formations of the PTS and other Ustasha units occupied Oberovo/13 km SE of Dugo Selo on 28 November. In the fighting that ensued, the Partisans lost 25 killed and numerous wounded, while Croatian losses were just 3 killed.107
8 Dec 43: since this date, combat with Partisan formations had been going on between Horvati and Zdencina to the southwest of Zagreb. Committed were elements of the PTS, the I Traffic Control Brigade of the Ustasha Militia together with one company of German troops. The enemy had so far lost 85 killed, numerous wounded and 13 prisoners. Total Ustasha losses were 5 killed and 16 wounded.108
9 Dec 43: a LXIX. Res.Korps document this date gives the combat strength of the PTS as “approximately 3 battalions with artillery and one tank company with roughly 20 tanks.”109
18 Dec 43: Dt.bevol1.Gen.in Kroatien letter to the Croatian Ministry of the Armed Forces with info copy to the PTS: “Request PTS units be made available to take the place of SS-Brigade “Nederland” units which have been transferred to the Eastern Front in Russia. Elements of the inbound 367. Inf.Div. are intended for this purpose, but they are still too insufficient to take up the slack completely.” The area in question was around Krapina, Krapina Toplice and Zabok due north of Zagreb.110
22 Dec 43: a LXIX. Res.Korps document refers to two battalions of the PTS being stationed in Varaždin on this date, and an earlier document of 9 December implies that this was so on that date, too.111
23 Dec 43: units of the PTS, the Ustasha Militia and German troops were locked in heavy fighting with Partisan formations near Siljakovina and V. Buna (6.5 and 8 km south of Velika Gorica). The enemy has lost 32 killed and 4 prisoners, while Croatian-German losses had been 10 killed and 11 wounded. During a reconnaissance patrol by formations of the PTS in the direction of the Villa “Bauer” (10 km south-southeast of Varaždin) on 23 December, 4 Partisans were arrested and 11 rifles captured.112
27 Dec 43: the 5th Volunteer Rgt./PTS was being raised in Drnis (Dalmatia) from volunteers and from Croatians who had been imprisoned by the Italians. The commander of this Regiment was Ust. Pukovnik Kecet. This Regiment was renamed VII Ustasha Brigade in April 1944; in addition to the above, this Rgt. also included a large number (500 to 700 or more) former Roman Catholic MVAC personnel who had served under the Italians side-by-side with the hated Chetniks(!).113

1944

Jan – Feb 44: the 1st Regiment of the PTS with three battalions (1- III) and a mountain howitzer battery (4 guns) were all located in Varaždin under PTS Dopukovnik Gredelj. During January the light tank company of. the Motorized Group (Brzi Sklop) of the PTS moved from Zagreb to Varaždin, followed in February by the new IV Battalion of the 1st Infantry Regiment of the PTS. Concurrently, a new PTS regiment was being formed in the Omis – Sibenik – Zadar area in Dalmatia, that by the end of February 1944 had a strength of 1,850 men.114
1 Jan 44: the III Recruit Battalion of the PTS from Hrv. Karlovci and the PTS Recruit Battalion from Karlovac were completely outfitted with Italian weapons (rifles, light MGs, heavy MGs, light and heavy mortars, etc.) according to a report of the German LXIX. Res.Korps to Pz.AOK 2 on this date.115
1 Jan 44: an LXIX. Res.Korps planning document for Operation “Cannae”, which was a large anti- Partisan operation aimed at cleansing the Zagreb – Sisak – Bjelovar area and scheduled to begin in early January, was to include: PTS HQ staff, 3 battalions (I Bn./PTS from Varaždin, III Recruit Bn./PTS from Hrv. Karlovci, the PTS Recruit Bn. from Karlovac, 10 cm howitzer battery/PTS (horse-drawn) from Zagreb, one platoon of PTS tanks (4 tanks) from Zagreb.116
3 Jan 44: in fighting with a company of the PTS near Varaždinski Bregi/9 km SE of Varaždin, the Partisans lost 20 dead. Croatian losses were 4 killed, 11 wounded and 3 missing. A subsequent report dated 6 January increased the number of Partisan dead to an estimated 200.117
4 Jan 44: formations of the PTS occupied Varaždinski Toplice this date, and during the fighting the enemy lost 25 killed and 30 prisoners; the survivors fled in the direction of Zlatar.118
6-9 Jan 44: the Partisan 32d Division attacked Zlatar, defended by 7th Company of the Zagreb Ustasha Garrison Battalion, but was unable to take possession of the town due to the arrival of strong reinforcements from Zagreb, Marija Bistrica and Donje Stubica (some of these being PTS units).119
8 Jan 44: Zlatar/32 km northeast of Zagreb was surrounded by strong Partisan forces on 7 January. The southern part of the town was occupied by the enemy at 1500 hours. A company of the Domobran Garrison Brigade Zagreb, two companies of the Ustasha Garrison Battalion Zagreb, one platoon of the Armored Gp./PTS and one motorcycle platoon were sent in relief. This force met strong enemy resistance 3 km south of Zlatar and could not break through. Contact was broken off.120
9 Jan 44: Zlatar was now surrounded by two Partisan brigades. The garrison was holding out in the barracks. An attempt to break through to the town on 8 January did not succeed. On 9 January a tank (probably from the PTS) forced its way into the town and quickly returned with the Ustasha Logornik. German reinforcements are on the way from Zagreb, while an Ustasha relief column is presently 2 km south of Zlatar. Losses so far were 6 dead, 23 wounded, and 31 missing. Enemy losses were not known.121
9 Jan 44: formations of the PTS occupied the village of Ludbreski Lovinac/9 km SSW of Ludbreg this date, where they found and destroyed a school of the Kalnik Partisan Detachment and a Partisan hospital. 15 Partisans were killed. The PTS had 2 wounded, one of whom was an officer.122
16 Jan 44: according to Croatian reports, an operation by the PTS in the Sv. Ivan Zelina area/28 km northeast of Zagreb was underway. Details were not yet known.123
16-31 Jan 44: during the second half of January 1944, the lst Rgt./PTS from Sv. Ivan Zelina, Zlatar and Varaždinske Toplice attacked the Partisan 32d Division in the Hum – Novi Marof area, overwhelming it and forcing it back into the Kalnik Mountains.124
16 Jan 44: the following PTS elements were alerted this date for participation in Operation “Cannae”, which was planned to clear the area between the Sava and Drava Rivers so as to make possible the seizure of foodstuffs for the Croatian Armed Forces: I Bn./PTS (from Varaždin), III Recruit Bn./PTS (from Hrv. Karlovci), three recruit companies PTS (from Karlovac), one 10cm howitzer battery PTS (from Zagreb) and 4 tanks PTS (from Zagreb). The operation was repeatedly postponed, and finally cancelled in March 1944.125
19 Jan 44: during the night of 16/17 January units of the PTS engaged Partisan forces in the vicinity of Varaždinske Toplice killing 19 of the enemy.126
21 Jan 44: formations of the PTS fought Partisan forces near Varaždinbreg/7 km southeast of Varaždin on 21 January, killing 50 of the enemy and taking 11 prisoners.127
21 Jan 44: 1st Rgt./PTS (1,700 Ustasha), elements of the V Ust. Brigade (Ust. Bojnik Rafael Boban) along with a few German units and a 10cm howitzer battery began Operation “Dubrovnik” in the Kalnik Mountains area to re-establish communications along the road between Zagreb and Varaždin, and to reconstitute garrisons at Novi Marof and Varaždinske Toplice. At the conclusion of this operation, the main body of the lst Rgt./PTS took up new positions in Novi Marof and Varaždinske Toplice on a permanent basis. Taking part in Operation “Dubrovnik” were the Recruit Gp.PTS, one battery from the Artillery Gp./PTS, the Mobile Gp./PTS, a signal platoon from the PTS. Altogether, around 2,000 men. By 29 January the operation had been expanded with the addition of the I and III Bns./1st Rgt. PTS. Ust. Dopukovnik Gredelj was commander of the 1st Rgt./PTS, and Ust. Bojnik Perkovi? was commander of the Recruit Gp./PTS (two of the companies of which were numbered 23d and 25th Companies).128

1 Feb 44: Partisan groups were destroyed as a result of an operation conducted by the PTS this date around Svibovec/15 km southeast of Varaždin. Enemy losses were 57 killed and 47 prisoners. This action was carried out by the I Bn./lst Rgt. PTS from Varaždinske Top1ice against a battalion from the Partisan Brigade “Matija Gubec”. The Partisan account states that this Ustasha victory was due to good intelligence on the whereabouts of the enemy and weak perimeter security on the part of the Partisan battalion. The Partisan battalion was literally destroyed – they admit to 50 killed, 7 wounded and 47 captured. The battalion, 4th Bn./”Matija Gubec”, was disbanded. The catholic Župnik Lesjaka in the village of Svibovec was suspected of spying on the Partisans, apprehended by the Partisans in 1944 and shot.129
3 Feb 44: 10 enemy killed and 1 prisoner taken during a PTS operation this date 7 km south of Varaždin.130
4 Feb 44: a Croatian I Corps planning document for Operation “Cannae” places the deployed units of the PTD (now clearly being referred to as a division since around the beginning of 1944) as follows: HQ lst Inf.Rgt./PTD at Vrbovec with the I and II Battalions, III Battalion with three recruit companies from Karlovac at Cubinec.131
5 Feb 44: Partisan forces had lost 57 killed and 47 prisoners in fighting with the PTS in the area southeast of Varaždin.132
8 Feb 44: the 1st Rgt./PTD and elements of the V Ustasha Brigade (Rafael Boban) began an attack on the Kalnik Mountains (Partisan 32d Div.) on this date, advancing from Varaždin, Varaždinske Toplice, Novi Marof and Križevci. The Partisans withdrew in the face of this superior force. The designation of this operation, which lasted from 7 to 11 February, was “Dubrovnik 2”. The PTS elements employed in “Dubrovnik 2” were: I, II and III Battalions/lst Rgt. PTS, Mobile Group (Brzi sklop)/PTS, Armored Group/PTS.133
8-9 Feb 44: Ust. Bojnik Krune Dev?i?, commander of I Bn./1st Inf. Rgt. PTS, was killed in action during heavy fighting around the village of Svibovec, near Varaždinske Toplice. In addition to Dev?i?, Ust. Dopukovnik Rai? (or Raji? – Ivan?) and Ust. Satnik Rukavina (Josip?) were killed during the “Dubrovnik 2” operation in the Kalnik Mountains. The units to which these two belonged is not given, but it has to be either the PTS or the V Ustasha Brigade.134
9 Feb 44: a LXIX. Res.Korps KTB entry this date: “since 9 February elements of the PTD have been carrying out an operation in the Križevci – Varaždin – Koprivnica area. The Division has taken Ludbreg and the Partisan strong points Ribnja and V. Pogarac.” This operation was also carried out by the V Ustasha Brigade (Boban), which transferred from Bosnia to Križevci area northeast of Zagreb in early February 1944. In the Partisan account, one PTD battalion reinforced with 3 tanks attacked the village of Veliki Poganac (west-southwest of Koprivnica) at 1500 hours on 9 February, supported by another battalion coming in from the other side. The numerically inferior forces from I Bn./Brigade “Bra?a Radi?” and III Bn./Brigade “Matija Gubec” abandoned the village. The PTD then entered and massacred all inhabitants who had been unable to flee and burned down the majority of the houses. The combined forces of the PTS and V Ustasha Brigade looted and burned down a number of other villages in the Kalnik Mountains during this operation. In terms of results, the Partisans claim they only lost 22 killed, 21 wounded and 17 missing during “Dubrovnik 2”, while the Ustasha lost 88 killed, and 109 wounded. The Partisans also claim they damaged 2 PTD tanks and destroyed one truck. When compared with the losses reported in the German and Croatian records, it becomes apparent that someone is lying. Either the Partisans are understating their losses, or the difference consists of civilians killed by the Ustasha in the villages. This point was raised during the Nürnberg trial Case VII (Southeast Case) when numerous German officers testified that the Ustasha consistently overstated Partisan losses to conceal the fact that they including massacred civilians.135
14 Feb 44: a LXIX. Res.Korps KTB entry states: “according to the operations officer of the PTD, the fighting around Ludbreg, Ribnjak and V. Poganac was very heavy. The enemy had an estimated 450 dead. The badly beaten Partisans have withdrawn from the Kalnik Mountains in a southeast direction toward the Bilo Gora. Koprivnica was taken by the PTD on 10 February without a fight, and the surrounding area is now free of the enemy.”136
15 Feb 44: the PTD reported renewed Partisan infiltration into the Kalnik Mountains. Dugo Rijeka and V. Poganac (19 km and 17 km west of Koprivnica, respectively) had again been occupied by the enemy. The lst Infantry Regiment of the PTD has one battalion stationed in Ludbreg, one in Varaždinske Toplice and one in Novi Marof. Partisans from Brigade “Bra?a Radi?” attacked I Bn./PTD in the village of Ludbreski Vinogradi killing 6 and wounding 4 Ustasha.137
16 Feb 44: a LXIX. Res.Korps KTB entry states: “the PTD has changed its estimate of enemy dead now to 477 plus 25 prisoners. The V Ustasha Brigade (Boban), which is now in Koprivnica, reports that it has taken in around 400 Partisan deserters since the amnesty decree was proclaimed on 26 January 1944.” This entry is in reference to an operation in the Kalnik Mountains. During this operation the PTD lost 2 officers and 12 men killed and 14 wounded.138
18 Feb 44: the IV Recruit Battalion/1st Inf. Rgt. of the PTD located in Brošni?ki Hum/22 km south of Varaždin.139
22-23 Feb 44: during a night attack on strong points around Ludbreg held by I Bn,/PTD, Partisan Brigade “Bra?a Radi?” lost 6 killed and 22 wounded, while the PTD had no known losses.140
25 Feb 44: a German 330. Geb.Div. operations order for Operation “Fuchsjagd II”, to take place in the Križanec area/7 km south of Varaždin, lists among the units to participate: the PTD Battalion from Varaždinske Top1ice, the PTD Battalion from Novi Marof, and another PTD Battalion which was to be used only in Ludbreg (suggesting that it was stationed there on this date).141

1 Mar 44: order of Battle of the PTD: lst Infantry Rgt./PTD (all under Operations District Varaždin/I Croatian Corps) Battalions I- IV, Light Tank Company, Garrison Guard Battalion/PTD (under Operations District Zagreb/I Croatian Corps)with 1st – 6th Co. (all in Zagreb, except for the 3d Co. which was in Samobor).142
1 Mar 44: on 29 February and 1 March, two companies from I Bn./PTD in Ludbreg carried out a sweep of the Ribnjak woods south of Ludbreg in the direction of the village of Segovina. Here they encountered elements of the Partisan Brigade “Matija Gubec” which was billeted in the village of Cukovec. In the ensuing fight, the PTD lost 4 dead and 14 wounded, and withdrew to Ludbreg.143
4 Mar 44: in a sweep near the villages of Ribnjak and V. Poganac, elements of the I Bn./PTD clashed with the Partisan Brigade “Matija Gubec”. The PTD lost around 35 dead and wounded, while the Partisans lost 6 dead and 20 wounded. This action is believed to have occurred during Operation “Fuchsjagd II”, which was designed to destroy Partisan supply bases and strong points in the eastern part of the Kalnik Mountains to the west of Koprivnica in the vicinity of V. Poganac – Ribnjak – Radejevo – Ivancec.144
20 Mar 44: part of the Croatian garrison of Zlatar has occupied Zlatar Bistrica.145
22 Mar 44: around noon, a column of 200 Ustasha escorted by 2 motorcycles and 6 light tanks was hit by the 2d Bn./Brigade “Matija Gubec” on the road near the village of Jertovec/4 km northeast of Marija Bistrica in the Zagorje. The Ustasha lost one Ust.Poru?nik (a Paveli? returnee), 3 Ustasha officers were wounded and one tank from the 12th Motorized Sklop/PTD was damaged.146
25 Mar 44: 24 enemy have been killed during the course of an operation by the PTS in the area 10 km east of Zlatar.147

Apr 44: the prison camp at Lepoglava was re-established during the spring of 1944, with the PTD to be in charge of it, although in practice the feared Obrana organization eventually took over. The PTD’s chief negotiator for control of the camp in the spring of 1944 was PTD Nadprou?nik Straža. The first commandant of the camp in the spring of 1944 (to the summer of 1944) was PTD Bojnik Mate Brzica. The commander of the guard detachment at the camp from 1944 to 1945 was PTD Nadporu?nik Mijo Grabovac, and his deputy commander was Zastavnik (possibly also PTD) Ivan Vasilj. For a time during 1944, the exterior security of the camp was looked after by a company from the III Bojna/lst Rgt. PTD (internal security was furnished by the Obrana).148
Apr 44: according to a participant, about half of the Mobile Group (Brzi Sklop) was ordered by train to Vocin/15 km southwest of Podravska Slatina, in the Papuk Mountains to counter a Partisan offensive between Virovitica and Daruvar. The tanks off-loaded at Pivnica/11 km south of Suhopolje and proceeded toward Vocin. Also deployed from Zagreb were two companies from the Guard Bn. (Stražarska Bojna)/PTD under Ust. Nadporu?nik Josip Mišlov and (Stjepan?) Zdilar, the latter apparently commanding an assault company (jurišna satnija) from the Stražarska Bojna. The results of this operation were apparently inconclusive. [Note: there is no mention of this operation in the German records and there should be.149
11 Apr 44: Partisan intelligence placed the Brzi Sklop/PTD with light tanks in Varaždin on this date.150
16 Apr 44: the PTD has met with outstanding success in heavy fighting in the Zlatar Bistrica area, with enemy losses now placed at 200 killed and a great number of wounded.151
16 Apr 44: most of the fighting on the 15th and 16th of April occurred between the villages of Golubovec and Belec (6 to 10 km north and northeast of Zlatar). Engaged were elements of the II Bn./PTD and the Armored Gp./PTD, the latter using up to a total of 12 tanks and armored cars. In scattered fighting the PTD had at least 8 killed and 17 wounded, mostly from the II Bn./PTD. Several tanks and armored cars were damaged.152
17 Apr 44: the PTD carried out an operation in the direction of G. Jesenje/19 km NNW of Zabok. Two days before, on 15-16 April, a Partisan attack on strong point Belec/5 km NE of Zlatar was stopped in its tracks and driven back.153
18 Apr 44: according to a PTD report, the Partisans lost 88 killed and 60 wounded during the attack on strong point Belec, while the PTD lost 2 killed and 5 wounded.154
21 Apr 44: very heavy fighting between the PTD and a large Partisan force in the hills and woods between Novi Marof – Hum – Zajezda. Engaged were the II Bn. and III Bn. PTD supported by elements of both the Mobile Gp./PTD and Armored Gp./PTD. The Partisan forces including elements of the 33d Division, and the Brigades “Bra?a Radi?” and “Matija Gubec”. The PTD lost 31 dead and 9 wounded (by their own account), claiming Partisan losses at 400. The Partisans claimed the capture of one intact and serviceable 7-ton tank with crew, 2 x 75mm guns and 5 motorcycles, and the destruction of 3 tanks, 1 truck and 1 motorcycle. According to the Partisans, they only lost 1 killed and 4 wounded.155
23 Apr 44: an LXIX. A.K.z.b.V. KTB entry this date places the Mobile Group of the PTD is the Krapina – D. Stubica area north of Zagreb, and implies that it was part of the permanent garrison there. The commander of the Ustasha garrison strong point at Ivanec, who withdrew and led the survivors back to Varaždin on 23 April was Ust. Poru?nik-PTD Jure Rukavina.156
24 Apr 44: an LXIX. A.K.z.b.V. KTB entry reads: “in an operation carried out by the PTD on 21 and 22 April in the Ivanš?ica Mountains (southwest of Varaždin) against an estimated 5 enemy brigades, which were armed with artillery, anti-tank guns, medium mortars and a large number of heavy and light machine guns, the Partisans lost an estimated 136 dead, numerous wounded and a large amount of weapons and equipment. The PTD lost 9 killed and 15 wounded. The PTD also lost 2 mountain guns, which were destroyed after firing the last round to keep them from falling into enemy hands, a demolished field radio and a disabled tank. On 23 April the enemy attacked the strong point at Ivanec/18 km southwest of Varaždin) with strong forces. After courageous resistance against a superior enemy, the strong point was evacuated and the garrison withdrew to Varaždin. The enemy lost 124 dead, while the Croatians had 25 dead and 40 missing. Nothing is yet known concerning the fate of the strong points at Lepoglava, Golubovec and Bednja.” The figure of 124 enemy dead subsequently changed to 260 enemy dead.157
24 Apr 44: at 1430 hours the I Bn./V Ust. Brigade, elements of the 1st Rgt./PTD, the Armored Gp./PTD, a platoon of howitzers from the Domobran Central School and a detachment of German Gendarmerie attacked strong Partisan concentrations near Ivanec to the southwest of Varaždin. The operation concluded on the 25th. The Croatian forces lost 15 killed, 20 wounded and one large tank, which was destroyed after hitting a mine. The Partisans lost 300 killed, 402 wounded and 11 captured, according to the Croatian after action report. The Partisans, on the other hand, claim they only lost 2 killed and 16 wounded, all from the Partisan 32d Division.158
25 Apr 44: the Mobile Group of the PTS has been transferred to Zacretje/30 km north of Zagreb, and a company of the PTD has transferred to Zabok/24 km north of Zagreb.159
26 Apr 44: an LXIX. A.K.z.b.V. KTB entry reads: “the PTD has lost the strong points at Belec/6 km northeast of Zlatar and Mace/3 km west of Zlatar following strong Partisan attacks. The PTD counterattacked and after heavy fighting reached the area immediately south and southeast of Ivanec.” A half-company of the PTD has arrived in Vel. Ves /11 km north of Zabok.160
27 Apr 44: LXIX. Res.Korps KTB entry: “Ivanec has been recaptured by the PTD. The Partisans have fled. The PTD suffered 15 killed and 20 wounded. Enemy losses are still not known, but 11 Communists, including a deputy commissar, were captured. 40 Ustasha who were prisoners of the Partisans have been freed. The PTD estimates that the enemy lost 300 killed during the attack on the strong point at Belec. The Croatian garrison from Belec has fought its way through to Zlatar, but 50 men are still missing.161
29 Apr 44: LXIX. Res.Korps KTB entry: “the PTD has achieved a complete victory during an enemy attack on Novi Marof. The PTD counterattacked, destroying and dispersing the main body of the enemy, estimated at 3,200 men. The headquarters and staff of the Communist “West-Detachment” was destroyed, its chief of staff Vlado Balat killed and its commander Družinec wounded. The enemy lost approximately 323 killed and 4 heavy machine guns, 3 heavy mortars, 100 rifles, 2 wagons with munitions and 1 wagon with radio and telephone equipment were captured.” During the fighting the PTD recovered a tank that had been captured from them by the Partisans.162

May 44: there was an “Officer School Battalion PTD” stationed in Zagreb with two companies (1st and 2d) during May under a Bojnik (Major) of the PTD Schebek. This school had not been identified prior to this.163
2 May 44: LXIX. Res.Korps KTB entry: “the PTD has achieved a new success against the Partisans in the Hum – Podrute area/20 km S of Varaždin, killing 51 of the enemy. The PTD lost 2 killed and 1 wounded in the operation.”164
4 May 44: the PTD reported that the enemy had lost a further 42 killed, 15 wounded and 5 prisoners in continuing fighting around Hum – Konjacina – Zitomir, all 22 to 34 km SSW of Varaždin while suffering 1 man wounded.165
5 May 44: the PTD reported contact with the enemy during patrols in the Ivanec area/18 km SW of Varaždin resulting in 17 enemy killed and 2 prisoners. PTD losses were 1 killed and 2 wounded. The bridge on the road east of Ivanec has been destroyed by the Partisans.166
7 May 44: the PTD reports that the garrison at Ivanec has been withdrawn following the enemy attack on Lepoglava/6 km west of Ivanec. Croatian losses were 2 killed and 5 wounded, while the enemy losses were placed at 30 killed and 1 prisoner. The Mobile Bn./PTD and two companies from the I Battalion of the lst Inf. Rgt./PTD were brought up for a counterattack and are now fighting in the area 6 km northeast and east of Ivanec. The Partisans have been strengthened with reinforcements brought in from the Papuk Mountains.167
8 May 44: an LXIX. A.K.z.b.V. KTB entry reads: “after breaking through strong enemy resistance, Ivanec is again in the hands ot the PTD.” An entry for the next day (9 May) reads: “In the fighting around Ivanec, the PTD has accounted for a further 147 estimated enemy dead and 3 prisoners.”168
12 May 44: the PTD reported that a Partisan attack on Komin/34 km northeast of Zagreb during the night of 11/12 May has been repulsed. The enemy lost 17 killed, while we had 3 wounded. Two enemy attacks on Sv. Ivan Zelina were also beaten back during the same night. Both towns were again attacked by strong enemy forces on 12 May. Details are still lacking. One of our patrols to the north and northwest of Zlatar reported large scale enemy movement.169
13 May 44: LXIX. A.K.z.b.V. KTB entry: “Mace/4 km west of Zlatar was attacked at 0400 hours by enemy forces. The garrison of 40 men held out, and the enemy was finally thrown back around 1200 hours by relief forces of the PTD’s Mobile Bn.. Croatian losses were 38 killed.”170
15 May 44: Operation “Sarajevo” commenced. Objective was to cleanse the area west of the Sesvete – Varaždin road between the Ivana?i?a and the Zagreba?ka Mountains. The 1st Rgt. of the PTD was one of the units committed.171
15 May 44: the 1st Rgt./PTD from Novi Marof, Sv. Ivan Zelina, Zlatar and Ivanec attacked forces of the Partisan 32d and 33d Divisions in the Pazurovec – Zajezda – Belec – Martinscina – Trgovisce – Hrascina area, forcing them back toward Gornja Rijeka – Sudovec – Mozdenec, then to Apatovac and Ivanec. Croatian forces consisting of the II Bn./1st Rgt. of the PTD and II Bn./V Ustasha Brigade renewed the attack on 17 May, and by the next day the Partisan units had been driven back into the Bilo Gora.172
17 May 44: Operation “Sarajevo” has ended. Enemy losses placed at 552 counted dead, a further 700 – 800 estimated dead and 61 prisoners. 64 Croatian and German armed forces personnel who were prisoners of the Partisans were freed. A brigade commander of the Partisan 32d Division has been shot. The deputy to the commander of the Partisan X Corps was severely wounded. Our losses were 4 killed and 15 wounded.173
18 May 44: LXIX. A.K.z.b.V. this date proposed to Pz.AOK 2 that immediate steps be taken with Berlin to have the PTD mentioned in the official Wehrmacht communiqués in honor of the outstanding success of the Division in the recent fighting in Ivana?i?a and Kalnik Mountains.174
26 May 44: Combat Group Berger (German Police Battalion 7 and one battalion from the PTD) located in the area 4 km northwest of Vojni? (Kordun) getting ready for Operation “Schach”. The purpose of this operation, which was under the command of the German LXIX Armeekorps z.b.V. (Gen. Auleb), was to cleanse the Kordun and Banija using forces located in the area Karlovac – Zagreb and Zagreb – Sisak. It is unclear from the documentation exactly which PTD units participated, but it appears to have been one battalion from the lst Rgt. PTD and the PTD Recruit Battalion from Karlovac.175
30 May 44: the PTD reported fighting 20 km southwest of Varaždin and 14 km north of Križevci with the enemy losing 10 killed. 17 men of the Croatian armed forces who were prisoners of the Partisans were freed.176
30-31 May 44: one company of the PTD and some Volksdeutsche were attacked by 3d Bn./6th Vojvodina NOU Brigade while defending the village of Jakovo near Zemun in Syrmia, losing 26 killed according the Partisans177

1 Jun 44: the PTD was engaged near Klanjec/31 km northwest of Zagreb, losing 1 killed and 2 wounded.178
3 Jun 44: Polizeigebietsführer Agram (Zagreb) issued operations order for “Wildsau” to commence 5 June 1944 with purpose to clear the Dešini? – Vinogora area north of Zagreb. A reinforced battalion of the PTD and the Mobile Battalion (brzi sklop) of the PTD along with a battalion from the Ustasha Traffic Control Brigade (Prometna Ustaška zdrug) were to participate, with tactical headquarters at Sv. Jana. This somewhat abortive operation ran from 6 to 7 June 1944, and the Partisans only lost 48 killed and 7 taken prisoner.179
6 Jun 44: the transfer of the Artillery Gp./PTD from Zagreb and Kerestinec to Zlatar Bistrica/26 km NNE of Zagreb and D. Konjacina/30 km NE of Zagreb was ordered this date and carried out the next day. The reason for the transfer was said to be for the purpose of using the field guns and howitzers to defend and protect the railway track section Zabok – Varaždin.180
9 Jun 44: the PTD was ordered this date to furnish two companies to provide security for the harvest and to transfer them as soon as possible to Koprivnica.181
12 Jun 44: the PTD reported a shortage of replacement parts for its Italian 6-ton tanks (Type L6/40). The Division’s Tank Battalion had 26 of these tanks, but only 4 were serviceable and capable of being used. The Division had proposed to the Croatian Armed Forces Ministry (MINORS) and to the German General in Zagreb (Glaise von Horstenau) that an officer from the Division be sent to the appropriate factories for the purpose of buying the necessary spare parts.182
13 Jun 44: the PTD reported two enemy killed in fighting 12 km north of Sesvete, while losing one killed and one wounded of its own.183
14 Jun 44: one platoon from the Artillery Gp./PTD was transferred from Krapina to Zlatar Bistrica.184
15 Jun 44: the 3d Armored Co. of the Mobile Bn./PTD was stationed in Gospi? and attached to the IV Ustasha Brigade and was still there at the end of August.
16 Jun 44: during a patrol in the area north of Lepoglava/25 km SW of Varaždin, the PTD accounted for 5 enemy killed.185
20 Jun 44: the PTD reported 61 enemy killed, 1 wounded and 2 prisoners during an operation carried out 6 km north and 12 km SSW of Ludbreg.186
21 Jun 44: the 1st Squadron of the Cavalry Gp./PTD was transferred to Pregrada/10 km W of Krapina.187
23 Jun 44: the 2d Squadron of the Cavalry Gp./PTD was transferred to Sv. Ivan Zelina/27 km NE of Zagreb.188
25 Jun 44: a combat group made up of elements of both the PTD and V Ustasha Brigade arrived in Bjelovar this date.189
26 Jun 44: 7 Allied air crew, who parachuted from their plane, were captured by the Croatian garrison at Marija Bistrica/6 km SE of Zlatar Bistrica. (Note: these were from a 15th USAAF bomber).190
27 Jun 44: one company from the Mobile Bn./PTD was transferred to Hum/15 km NW of Krapina for the purpose of guarding the glass factory located there.191
28 Jun 44: the PTD reported an engagement 5 km NE of Krapina. The enemy lost 22 killed with no losses to the Division. Partisan attacks in the Koprivnica area between 26 and 28 June were thrown back. Details are still not available. A later report stated that the Partisans lost 15 killed in thse attacks while the PTD lost 3 killed and 4 wounded.192
30 Jun 44: the 2d Infantry Rgt./PTD became operational with three battalions (I – III) during late June of early July 1944.

2 Jul 44: initial notification order issued for Operation “Rouen” to commence 3 July 1944 in the Koprivnica – Ludbreg area. Forces to be employed: I Bn./Rgt. 1 of the PTD, one battalion from the V Ustasha Brigade and elements of Police Battalion Varaždin. Enemy forces consisted of the main body of the Partisan 32d Division. In an update, the enemy was later identified as the Partisan VI and X Corps, which were led by English officers (according to the Germans – actually, these two corps only had English liaison officers; the commanders were Partisan officers).193
4 Jul 44: amendment order for “Rouen” states that the PTD was to located its tactical HQ at either Hum or at Novi Marof and that the Division was to deploy two battalions of the lst Inf. Rgt. (Ust. Dopukovnik Gredelj) in the Sv. Petar Orehovac – Sudovec area (10 and 17 km northwest of Križevci), one battalion of the lst Inf. Rgt. at Novi Marof and two motorized grenadier companies in the area south of Varaždin.194
7 Jul 44: additional forces committed to “Rouen” this date: I Bn./2d Rgt. of the PTD, the Tank Battalion of the PTD, the Artillery Battalion of the PTD, one battalion of the Ustasha prometna zdrug (Traffic Control Brigade), the Ustasha NCO School, the remainder of the V Ustasha Brigade, the German-Croatian II Bn./Police Rgt. 4 (at Križevci) and 4 Hungarian regiments.195
11 Jul 44: HQ PTD (Ust. Pukovnik Ante Moškov) at Koprivnica (Operation “Rouen”) with 1st Rgt./PTD at Jaghjedovac/6 km south of Koprivnica with I, II and III Battalions/lst Rgt. PTD, one tank company and two companies of motorized infantry from the Armored Group (oklopni sklop) of the PTD, HQ V Ustasha Brigade (Ust. Bojnik Boban) with two battalions from the V Ust. Brigade plus the HQ and elements of the XX Ustasha Battalion, two (2) battalions from the Croatian IV Mountain Brigade, and Reserve Group Kavalek with one company. This order of battle is from a PTD document signed by Moškov giving the composition of the forces under his command for Operation “Rouen” on this date.196
14 Jul 44: a LXIX.A.K.z.b.V. teletype to the PTD this date directed that on conclusion of Operation “Rouen” strong elements of the PTD were to be transferred to Virovitica to provide security for the harvest, to include the movement of the PTD’s 2d Inf. Rgt. from Karlovac for that purpose. During this operation the degree of cooperation between the PTD and the LXIX.A.K.z.b.V. was found to be outstanding. Approximately 1,600 Partisans were killed during the operation, which ran from the end of June to mid-July 1944, first as Operation “Dünkirchen” and then as Operation “Rouen”. The latter was fought between 2 and 16 July by a combined force of the PTD and the V Ustasha Brigade under command of Ust. Pukovnik Moškov, and resulted in 1,017 Partisan dead for a loss to the Ustasha force of 158 killed, 112 wounded and 23 missing.197

29 Aug 44: Partisan intelligence places elements of the Mobile Gp./PTD at Markuševac (a few kilometers NNE of Zagreb) on this date with 8 tanks, each equipped with 2 light machine guns, in a strength of about 250 men, under Ust. Bojnik Oreškovi? and Ust. Satnik Suboti?.198

15 Sep 44: the Mobile Group in Sv. Ivan Zelina reportedly consisted of about 400 men equipped with 11 small tanks, 2 quick-fire artillery guns and 30 light machine guns; there is no mention of any motorcycles.199
18 Sep 44: strong Partisan forces attacked and captured Banja Luka. A few days later, on 22 September, German General Auleb (commanding general of LXIX. A.K.z.b.V.) asked German ambassador Siegfried Kasche to plead with Poglavnik Ante Paveli? for the release of a PTD battalion for use at Banja Luka. At 12 noon Kasche met with Paveli? and Moškov. Moškov pointed to a map he had showing the distribution of his troops, and said none were available to be had. Instead he recommended a battalion of the Ustasha Traffic Control Militia then engaged in Syrmia and two companies from the II Ustasha Brigade be used. After further discussion and a phone conversation between Poglavnik and Pukovnik Serti?, Paveli? directed that Moškov make available to General Auleb the PTD battalion in Jastrebarsko, which was to join the Varaždin NCO School, which had already been turned over to Auleb for use in the relief of Banja Luka.200

7 Oct 44: the I Bn./lst Rgt. PTD was located in Bregi/4 km SE of Koprivnica this date and both the Mobile Group and the Armored Group of the PTD were located in Koprivnica this date.201
11 Oct 44: the Battle for Koprivnica. In the opening phase, two battalions of Ustasha supported by 8 tanks (2 of 12 tons and 6 of 5 tons), most of this force belonging to the PTD, attempted to take the village of Ferdinandovac on the Drava (east of Djurdjevac) at 0930 hours. The village was occupied by the Viroviti?ke Brigade of the Partisan 40th Division. The fighting ran on for over 12 hours, with the Ustasha losing 28 killed, 43 wounded and 2 tanks. The Partisans claim they only lost 2 dead and 4 wounded.202
12 Oct 44: during the morning most of the fighting occurred between Ustasha and elements of the Partisan 7th and 32d Divisions in and around Novigrad and Virje. According to the Partisans, the Ustasha lost 150 killed, 20 captured, 4 tanks captured and 12 trucks captured, while they only lost 3 killed and 8 wounded. According to PTD reports, the Ustasha units caught up in the heavy fighting around Djurdjevac – Virje – Novigrad were: I Bn./lst Rgt. PTD, Mobile Gp./PTD, I Bn./V Ust. Brigade-and XX Ust. Bn./V Ust. Brig. The Mobile Gp./PTD, which attempted to break through the Partisan ring toward Hlebine/8 km north of Novigrad, was scattered and suffered heavy losses. Partisan sources speak of perhaps a total of 500 Ustasha killed during the fighting on 11 and 12 October.203
13-16 Oct 44: the Partisan 7th and 32d Divisions attacked Koprivnica this date, defended by the XX and XXXVI Ustasha Battalions/V Ustasha Brigade, 1st Rgt./PTD with artillery and tanks, and other Ustasha units located nearby. The fighting raged on for nearly a week, but the superior Croatian forces prevailed and the town did not fall. The battle for the town of Koprivnica began in earnest at 2200 hours on the 13th with a heavy artillery barrage on the city from the guns of Partisan X Corps artillery. The fighting through 16 October was intense, and even the Partisans admit that the Ustasha fought well. The Croatians sent in a relief force under General Peri?i? late on the 15th, which forced the Partisans to break off the siege. During the fighting, according to their account, the Partisans lost 108 killed, 474 wounded and 62 missing, all belonging to the 7th, 32d and 40th Divisions. Croatian losses were 104 killed (among whom were 5 old-guard Paveli? returnee officers) and 200 wounded. It is of historical interest that Rade Bulat (commander of the Partisan 32d Division at the time of the battle) found it necessary in his account of the battle to spend 10 pages (pp.175-84) justifying why the Partisans were unable to take Koprivnica.204
22 Oct 44: the PTS Recruit Battalion from Karlovac, commanded by Ust.Nadporu?nik Šari?, along with a tactical force from the Bjelovar Gendarmerie School were engaged in the Bjelovar area this date against elements of the Partisan 33d Division. Croatian losses were 61 killed, 48 wounded and 6 captured while the Partisans lost 5 dead and 53 wounded and 1 missing.205
29 Oct 44: Partisan intelligence reported that Ust. Bojnik Nikola “Gandi” Oreškovi? had arrived back in Zv. Ivan Zelina from Koprivnica with the shattered remnants of the Mobile Gp./PTD. Oreškovi? expected to draw on replacements from Zagreb and bring his unit back to full strength within a week.206

1 Nov 44: the Mobile Gp./PTD in Sv. Ivan Zelina numbered about 600 men. At the same time, the Cavalry Gp./PTD in a strength of 460 was deployed in small villages between Zagreb and Donji Zelina, along the road toward Varaždin.207

1 Dec 44: a German document this date shows the Mobile Gp./PTD with one (1) company of 15 tanks plus infantry companies with HQ at Sv. Ivan Zelina and the Armored Gp./PTD with two (2) companies of 10 tanks each plus infantry companies with HQ at Varaždin.208
1 Dec 44: the PTS was officially re designated Poglavnikova tjelesna divizija (PTD) during early December. Strangely, it had been referred to as a division in the official Croatian and German records since sometime in February 1944.209
2 Dec 44: strong Partisan forces attacked Bjelovar. Elements of the PTD, one Rgt. of the Croatian Assault Div. (HUD) and units from the V Ustasha Brigade were ordered in to relieve the pressure on the strong points around the town.210
20 Dec 44: the PTD was still in defense of the Bjelovar area and on 21 December the 1st Regiment of the PTD along with elements of the lst Croatian Assault Division (1. Hrvatska udarna divizija or 1. HUD) began Operation “Bilogora” on this date. The operation took place in the Vrbovec – Križevci area and continued to 31 December.211
22 Dec 44: the advance by a regiment of the PTD in the Carevdar – Sokolovac area/17 and 11 km NW of Koprivnica and a regiment of the lst Croatian Assault Div. from Bjelovar into the heights around Kapela/10 km north of Bjelovar ran according to plan on 22 December.212
25 Dec 44: in the Bilo gora, the attack by the PTD on the heights at Topolovac destroyed the Partisan forces and resulted in 84 enemy dead. Combat Group Moškov, with the lst Rgt./PTD and the 20th Croatian Assault Rgt., was being assembled in the Zendrovac – Lasovac area and during the night of 25/26 December was to attack in the direction of Pitomaca in cooperation with the 2d Cossack Brigade (of the German Army).213
26 Dec 44: the operation by the 2d Cossack Brigade in cooperation with Combat Group Moškov on 25/26 December was reported as a total success.214

1945

Jan – Feb 45: the basic composition of the PTD was unchanged from that shown for 15 Sep 44. During January, the 1st Regiment/PTD participated in action in Podravina and the Bilo gora, while other elements of the division were in the Zagreb area and in the Zagorje. The fighting in the Division’s area of deployment slowed down dramatically due to the weather and exhaustion on both sides. The Partisans used the lull to reorganize and build up their forces in preparation for the final effort to crush the Croatian fascists and defeat the German invader.215

Mar 45: the 1st Regiment/PTD was deployed in the Narta – Prespa – Tomas area, and the 2d Regiment was in the Pobjenik – Suhaja area in the Moslavina.216
25 Mar – 2 Apr 45: III Assault Bn./PTD together with 3 or 4 battalions from 20th Inf. Rgt./1st Assault Div. and the Domobran 14th Inf. Brig., carried out an operation in the Banija, attacking from Petrinja toward Glina.217

Apr 45: the lst Rgt., 2d Rgt. and the Mobile Group of the PTD were primarily engaged in securing the road Zagreb – Varaždin. The Artillery Group, on the other hand, was being used along the front from Vratno to Ludbreg. There was heavy fighting in this sector during the second half of April, but specific details concerning the PTD have not been found. At the end of April, the 1st and 2d Regiments held positions along the Drava River in the sector Vratno – Varaždin.218

1-8 May 45: the PTD fell back on Zagreb and then joined the rest of the Croatian armed forces in their retreat north to the Austrian border.
9 May 45: a hospital train full of PTD wounded and PTD medical personnel was en-route to Austria via Maribor, but it was intercepted by Partisan units and forced to return to Zagreb via Celje.219
13 May 45: Oreškovi?’s Mobile Group/PTD was engaged in a sharp fight with Partisans on this date near Dravograd, but drove the enemy off with effective artillery fire. On the same date the Guard Group (Stražarska sklop)/PTD suffered fairly heavy losses in a fight with Partisan forces near Slovengrad
(today Slovenjgradec, south of Dravograd). One of the group’s company commanders, Ust. Satnik Mate Vodopija, was killed. The next day, 14 May, the III Battalion of the Guard Group was again in combat with the Partisans south of Dravograd, while the V Battalion of the Guard Gp. managed to get through to Dravograd nearly intact.220
14 May 45: the PTD still had 30 tanks on this date, as the surviving Croatian forces were continuing their fighting withdraw toward Austria in the vicinity of Bleiburg and Dravograd.221
20 May 45: about 1,000 PTD survivors, plus the entire Mobile Group/PTD under Dopukovnik Nikola Oreškovi?, were all in a camp at Grafenstein /14 km east of Klagenfurt on or around this date, with Oreškovi? as the camp commander. Believing they were going to a camp in Italy, the British put them all aboard trains in Klagenfurt, but then deceived them by handing them over to the Partisans. The trains ended up at St. Vid (near Ljubljana) where many officers were shot. The survivors ended up for the most part in a camp at Osijek. There was another group of about 700 PTD at Krumpendorf/Austria under the command of an Ust. Dopukovnik Madirac, but this group managed to move on to Salzburg and the safety of the American zone. Ante Moškov, accompanied by Ust. Bojnik Franjo Šari?, was with this group, but then left it when it reached Krumpendorf and joined Paveli? on 20 May.222

Jul 45: Tito declared an amnesty in July 1945 and many men were eventually released from these camps. It is very doubtful that anymore than a handful of these were from the PTD because most of them had already been singled out and executed by Tito’s extermination squads between May and July.

Commanders

Ust. Pukovnik Ante Moškov (Apr 1941 – Nov 1944)
Ust. General Milan Gregurić (Dec 1944 – May 1945)

Subordination

III Domobran Corps (III Territorial Corps) (Aug 1942 – Nov 1944)
8th Croatian Infantry Division (Dec 1944 – May 1945)

Order of battle (1 Dec 1942) (3)

Brigade HQ in Zagreb
I Bn. in Zagreb
II Bn. in Banja Luka
III Bn. in Zagreb
Replacement Bn. in Zagreb
I Mobile (or Motorized) Gp. in Zagreb
Cavalry Gp. with 1st – 3d Sqdn. in Zagreb
Artillery Bn. with a 10cm field gun battery and a 7.5cm mountain gun battery in Zagreb
Music Section in Zagreb.

Order of battle (20 Jun 1943) (4)

Brigade HQ
I Bn. (1st – 3d Co.)
II Bn. (1st – 3d Co.)
III Bn. (1st – 3d Co.)
Replacement Bn. (1st – 5th Co.)
Cavalry Sqdn.
Tank Co. (8 light tanks)
Artillery Battery (4 guns)
Labor Co.
Permanent garrison in Zagreb.

Order of battle (8 Oct 1943) (5)

Brigade HQ Zagreb
I Bn. (1,200 men) in Varaždin
II Bn. (1,200 men) in Zagreb
III Bn. (1,400 men) in Zagreb
Recruit Bn. (500 men) in Osijek
Recruit Bn. (500 men) in Karlovac
Recruit Bn. (500 men) in Hrvatski Karlovci
Cavalry Sqdn. (100 men) in Zagreb-Maksimir
Cavalry Sqdn. (100 men) in Novi Dvor
Cavalry Sqdn. (100 men) in Donji Moholjac
Light Tank Co.
Artillery Battery
Support and service units

Order of battle (1 Jan 1944) (6)

Brigade HQ Zagreb
1st Ustasha Rgt. HQ in Varaždin
– I Bn. in Ludbreg
– II Bn. in Novi Marof
– III Bn. in Ivanec – Lepoglava
– IV Bn. in Varaždin
2d Ustasha Rgt. (in formation in Osijek with just one battalion);
Garrison Guard Bn./PTS (1. – 7th Co.) in Zagreb with 2d, 3d and 7th Co. deployed in the field
Artillery Group (1st – 3d Battery) in Zagreb
Mobile Group in Sv. Ivan Zelina
Armored Group in Varaždin
Cavalry Group in D. Zelina
Motor Transport Group in Zagreb
I Recruit Bn. and II Recruit Bn. both in Zagreb
Support and service units

Order of battle (1 Jun 1944) (7)

Div. HQ
– HQ Co.
– Signal Co.
– Motor Transport Maintenance Co.
– HQ Guard Platoon
1st Infantry Rgt./PTD
– I Bn. (1st – 4th Co.)
– II Bn. (5th – 8th Co.)
– III Bn. (9th – 12th Co.)
– 13th HQ Co. (with motorcycle, engineer and signal platoons)
– 14th Heavy Weapons Co. (with mortar, machine gun and anti-tank platoons)
– Light Supply Column (horse-drawn)
2d Infantry Rgt./PTS (in formation – became operation around 1 Jul 44)
– Guard Gp./PTD
– I Bn. (1st – 3d Co.)
– II Bn. (4th – 6th Co.)
– III Bn. (7th – 9th Co.)
Recruit Gp./PTD with 1st – 9th Co.
Cavalry Gp./PTD with 1st – 3d Sqdns.
Artillery Gp./PTD with HQ Battery
– Light Field Artillery Battery (4 x 8.4cm guns)
– Light Field Artillery Battery (4 x 8.4cm guns)
– Heavy Motorized Field Howitzer Battery (8 x 9cm guns)
Mobile Bn. (Brzi sklop)/PTD
– 2d Motorcycle Co. (17 x heavy machine guns and 4 x medium mortars)
– 3d Tank Co. (15 tanks)
– 4th Motorized Infantry Co. (2 x heavy machine guns, 9 x light machine guns, 5 x light mortars)
– 5th HQ Co. (with engineer, signal and maintenance platoons)
Armored Bn./PTD
– 1st Medium Tank Co. (15 tanks)
– 2d Light Tank Co. (7 tanks)
– 3d Motorized Infantry Co. (12 x light machine guns and 2 x medium mortars)
– 4th Motorized Infantry Co. (12 x light machine guns and 2 x medium mortars)
– 5th HQ Co. (with engineer, signal and maintenance platoons)
Motor Transport Bn./PTD
– 1st – 2d Truck Co.
Medical Detachment/PTD
– Medical Co.
– Convalescent Co.
– Veterinary Platoon.

Order of battle (15 Sep 1944) (8)

Div. HQ (Ust. Pukovnik Ante Moškov)
– HQ Co. and other support and service components in Zagreb;
1st Inf. Rgt./PTD (Ust. Dopukovnik Gredelj) in Ludbreg
– I Bn. (Ust. Bojnik Agičić) Ludbreg
– II Bn. (Ust. Satnik Vidaković) Novi Marof
– III Bn. (Ust. Satnik Gavezi) Ivanec and Lepoglava
– IV Bn. (Ust. Satnik Šarić) Varaždin
2d Inf. Rgt./PTD in Harascina
– I Bn. in Trgovisce
– II Bn. in Križevci and Varaždin
– III Bn. in Donje Miholjac
Artillery Gp./PTD (Ust. Dopukovnik Loncarević) deployed in the Hum, Zlatar and Bistrica area
Cavalry Gp./PTD deployed in the D. Zelina, Bjelovar and Popovac area
Mobile Gp./PTD (Ust. Bojnik Orešković) deployed in and around Sv. Ivan Zelina
Armored Gp/PTD (Ust. Dopukovnik Franjo Šarić) in Varaždin
Guard Gp./PTD
– I, II and III Bn. all in Zagreb
Replacement Bn./PTD in Osijek

Order of battle (15 Apr 1945) (9)

Div. HQ (Ust. Gen. Milan Gregurić)
– HQ Co. and other support and service components in Zagreb
1st Inf. Rgt./PTD (Ust. Dopukovnik Zdunić) in Novi Marof
– I Bn. (Ust. Satnik Corec) in Ludbreg
– II Bn. in Novi Marof
– III Bn. (Ust. Satnik Vujnemcević) in Varaždinske Toplice
2d Inf. Rgt./PTD (Ust. Dopukovnik Juraj Bobinac)
– I Bn. in Sv. Ivan Zelina
– II Bn.
– III Bn.
Artillery Gp./PTD (Ust. Dopukovnik Loncarević) in Zlatar Bistrica
– 1st Battery (10cm)
– 2d Battery (10cm)
– 3d Battery (7.5cm)
Mobile Gp./PTD (Ust. Dopukovnik Orešković) in Sv. Ivan Zelina
Armored Gp./PTD in Varaždin
Cavalry Gp./PTD in Zagreb
Guard Gp./PTD (Ust. Bojnik Juroš) in Zagreb
– I Bn. in Sljemen
– II Bn. in the D. Zelina – Bjelovar – Moravce area
– III Bn. in Zagreb
Replacement Bn./PTD (Ust. Dopukovnik Marijan) in Zagreb

Footnotes

1 Luburi?, Vjekoslav – “General Ante vitez Moškov”, in: Drina, reg.br. 1-2/1965, pp.132-166.
2 Coli?, Mladen – Takozvana Nezavisna Država Hrvatska 1941 (Belgrade: Delta-pres, 1973), p.271, citing Hrvatski narod newspaper of 24.6.41.
3 NARA WashDC: RG 242 (T-315 roll 2270/1032-36).
4 T-315 roll 1554/470.
5 T-313 roll 192/2765; T-315 roll 1555/1104; T-501 roll 265/1167.
6 Arhiv VII, kut. 134a, reg.br. 4/1 – 36; [Institut za historiju radni?kog pokreta] – Sjeverozapadna Hrvatska u narodnooslobodila?koj borbi i socijalisti?koj revoluciji (Varaždin, 1976), p.89.
7 T-314 roll 1545/866 – HQ PTD document.
8 Arhiv, VII, kut. 114b, reg.br. 1/2 and kut. 134a, reg.br. 4/1.
9 Arhiv VII, kut. 134a, reg.br. 3/1.
10 Coli? – Takozvana, pp.277-78.
11 Veteran interview (name withheld) with author, December 1987.
12 NARA WashDC: RG 242 (T-315 roll 2265/683 and 707).
13 [ – ] – Gradja za povijest narodnooslobodila?ke borbe u sjeverozapadnoj Hrvatsko 1941-1945 (Zagreb, 1982-87), vol. I, pp.251-55.
14 Hory, Ladislaus and Martin Broszat – Der Kroatische Ustascha-Staat 1941-1945 (Stuttgart: Deutsche Verlags-Anstalt, 1964), p.71.
15 Hrvatski narod newspaper 3.11.41, p.1.
16 Hrvatski narod newspaper 3.11.41, p.1.
17 Hrvatski narod newspaper 12.11.41, p.3.
18 Hrvatski narod newspaper 16.11.41, p.1.
19 NARA WashDC: RG 242 (T-501 roll 267/646 – from a Glaise von Horstenau report).
20 T-501 roll 267/618-19 – from a Glaise von Horstenau report).
21 Hrvatski narod newspaper 6.12.41, p.2.
22 Arhiv VII, kut. 134a, reg.br. 4/1.
23 Bulat, Rade – Svjedocanštva iz Petrove gore (Zagreb: “Globus”, 1980), pp.251-69.
24 T-821 roll 52/993 – an Italian Military Mission Zagreb teletype; Hrvatski narod newspaper 14.2.42, p.3.
25 Babi?, Dr. Nikola (ed.) – Kozara u narodnooslobodila?koj borbi i socijakisti?koj revoluciji (1941-1945) (Prijedor, 1980), 117; NARA WashDC: RG 242 (T-501 roll 265/1265).
26 Hrvatski narod newspaper 18.2.42, p.2.
27 [Vojnoistorijski institute] – Zbornik dokumenata i podataka o narodnooslobodila?kom ratu jugoslovenskih naroda, Tom V/3, pp.184-86.
28 Hrvatski narod newspaper 22.2.42, p.1.
29 Hrvatski narod newspaper 24.2.42, p.2.
30 T-821 roll 52/1078 – an Italian Military Mission Zagreb teletype.
31 Zbornik dokumenata, Tom V/32, p.200.
32 Zbornik dokumenata, Tom V/4, p.35.
33 [Institut za historiju radni?kog pokreta] – Sjeverozapadna Hrvatska u narodnooslobodila?koj borbi i socijalisti?koj revoluciji (Varaždin, 1976), p.124.
34 Hrvatski narod newspaper 11.4.42, p.1.
35 Zbornik dokumenata, Tom V/4, p.122 and V/32, pp.232 and 254.
36 T-821 roll 53/184-93 – letter R. Missione Militare Italiana in Croazia to Comando Supremo, dated 29.5.42.
37 Zbornik dokumenata, Tom V/32, p.258.
38 T-821 roll 53/094 – Italian V Corps report No. 8014 dated 10.6.42 to Supersloda.
39 T-821 roll 59/77 – Italiam Military Mission Zagreb teletype.
40 Peki?, Mirko – Bitka na Kozari (Prijedor, 1976), pp.70, 72, 75 and 90.
41 Veteran interview (name withheld) with author, December 1987.
42 T-821 roll 52/436.
43 T-311 roll 196/060-64 – Abwehr K.O. Agram report dated 26.8.42.
44 Veteran interview (name withheld) with author, December 1987.
45 [Vojnoistorijski institute] – Oslobodila?ki rat naroda Juooslavije 1941-1945 (Belgrade: 1965), vol. I, p.304.
46 Zbornik dokumenata, Tom IV/7, p.466 – Croatian II Corps monthly report for Sep 42.
47 Veteran interview (name withheld) with author, December 1987.
48 Hrvatski narod newspaper 12.11.42, p.3.
49 Hrvatski narod newspaper 20.11.42, p.3.
50 [Vojnoistorijski institute] – Oslobodila?ki rat naroda Juooslavije 1941-1945, vol I, p.356.
51 NARA WashDC: RG 242 (T-315 roll 2270/1032-36); (T-821 roll 448/627); Arhiv VII, kut. 134a, reg.br. 4/1-34.
52 Veteran interview (name withheld) with author, December 1987.
53 NARA WashDC: RG 242 (T-315 roll 1294/74.
54 NARA WashDC: RG 242 (T-315 roll 1294/67.
55 T-77 roll 895/591-93 – Glaise von Horstenau 10-day report.
56 Zbornik dokumenata, Tom V/11, p.145.
57 Veteran interview (name withheld) with author, December 1987.
58 T-315 roll 1294/122 – 114. Jäger-Div. KTB entry.
59 [Vojnoistorijski institute] – Oslobodila?ki rat naroda Juooslavije 1941-1945, vol I, p.499.
60 T-315 roll 1554/138.
61 T-315 roll 1554/181.
62 T-315 roll 1554/190.
63 T-315 roll 1554/204.
64 T-315 roll 1554/313.
65 T-315 roll 1554/272.
66 T-315 roll 1554/398-99.
67 T-315 roll 1554/445.
68 T-315 roll 1554/457.
69 T-315 roll 1554/470.
70 T-501 roll 265/1167.
71 T-315 roll 1554/971.
72 T-315 roll 1554/1020.
73 T-315 roll 1554/1046.
74 T-315 roll 1554/1070 – Gruppe West daily report.
75 T-315 roll 1554/1092.
76 T-315 roll 1554/1105 – Gruppe West daily report.
77 T-315 roll 1554/1114.
78 T-315 roll 1554/1118.
79 T-315 roll 1554/1130-33.
80 T-315 roll 1554/1147-48.
81 T-315 roll 1554/1163.
82 T-315 roll 1554/1169.
83 T-315 roll 1554/1246-47.
84 T-315 roll 1554/1322.
85 T-315 roll 1555/412 and 596.
86 T-315 roll 1555/469; T-314 roll 1544/251.
87 T-120 roll 2908/E464476.
88 T-315 roll 1555/80.
89 T-315 roll 1555/549.
90 Hrvatski narod newspaper 13.12.44, p.3.
91 T-313 roll 189/9198.
92 T-313 roll 192/2744.
93 [Vojnoistorijski institute] – Oslobodila?ki rat naroda Juooslavije 1941-1945, vol I, p.601.
94 [Institut za historiju radni?kog pokreta] – Sjeverozapadna Hrvatska u narodnooslobodila?koj borbi i socijalisti?koj revoluciji (Varaždin, 1976), p.83.
95 T-501 roll 265/1167; T-120 roll 5793/H306830.
96 T-313 roll 192/2753.
97 T-313 roll 192/2760.
98 T-313 roll 191/1847.
99 T-314 roll 558/1139.
100 T-313 roll 192/2767; T-313 roll 192/2804.
101 KTB/OKW, Vol. III, Teil 2, p.1300 and Vol. IV pp.742 and 744.
102 T-313 roll 189/9767; T-314 roll 1545/337-38.
103 T-313 roll 189/9769.
104 T-313 roll 189/9618.
105 T-313 roll 192/2790.
106 T-175 roll 460/8596.
107 T-120 roll 5790 – report K.M. (Kroatischen Meldungen) 339.
108 T-120 roll 5790 – report K.M. 343.
109 T-314 roll 1544/574.
110 T-313 roll 192/3032.
111 T-314 roll 1544/625.
112 T-120 roll 5790 – report K.M. 356.
113 T-314 roll 561/686-91; [ – ] – Zbornik Instituta za historiju radni?kog pokreta Dalmacije, Knjiga (volume) 4 (Split, 1978), p.890.
114 Zbornik dokumenata, Tom V/21, p.488; V/24, pp.593-94.
115 T-314 roll 1545/1363-64.
116 T-314 roll 1544/665.
117 T-120 roll 5790 – reports K.M. 3 and 5.
118 T-120 roll 5790 – report K.M. 6.
119 [Vojnoistorijski institute] – Oslobodila?ki rat naroda Juooslavije 1941-1945, vol II, p.158.
120 T-314 roll 1547/1056 – LXIX. Res.Korps daily report.
121 T-120 roll 5790 – report K.M. 9.
122 T-120 roll 5790 – report K.M. 11.
123 T-314 roll 1547/1047.
124 [Vojnoistorijski institute] – Oslobodila?ki rat naroda Juooslavije 1941-1945, vol II, p.158.
125 T-313 roll 189/8890; T-314 roll 1545/682 and 1062.
126 T-120 roll 5790 – report K.M. 20.
127 T-120 roll 5790 – report K.M. 25.
128 Bulat, Rade – Deseti korpus “Zagreba?ki” NOV i POJ (Zagreb: “Globus”, 1985), p.32; [ – ] – Zagreba?ki partizanski odred: Zbornik dokumenata i sje?anja (Zagreb: Spektar, 1978), pp.197-201.
129 Bulat, Rade – Deseti korpus “Zagreba?ki” NOV i POJ (Zagreb: “Globus”, 1985), p.34.
130 T-314 roll 1547/1016 – LXIX. Res.Korps daily report.
131 T-314 roll 545/1050.
132 T-120 roll 5790 – report K.M. 36.
133 Zbornik dokumenata, Tom V/24, pp.593-94.
134 Bulat, Rade – Deseti korpus, p.38.
135 T-314 roll 1545/650; Bulat, Rade – Deseti korpus, p.37-38.
136 T-314 roll 1545/656.
137 Bulat, Rade – Deseti korpus, p.42.
138 T-314 roll 1547/998.
139 T-314 roll 1547/995.
140 Bulat, p.42.
141 T-314 roll 1545/932.
142 T-314 roll 1545/889.
143 Bulat, p.43.
144 Bulat, p.46; T-314 roll 1547/974; T-315 roll 1545/926 and 932-33.
145 T-120 roll 5790 – report K.M. 80.
146 Bulat, p.49.
147 T-120 roll 5789 – K.M. report 89.
148 Lazi?, Dusan – Organizacija policijsko-obaveštajne službe ‘Nezavisne Države Hrvatske’, in: Zbornik za istoriju (Matica Srpska, 1972-75), pp.159-61.
149 Veteran interview (name withheld) with author, December 1987.
150 Bulat, p.53.
151 T-120 roll 5789 – K.M. report 110.
152 Bulat, p.54.
153 T-314 roll 1547/919 – LXIX. A.K.z.b.V. daily report.
154 T-314 roll 1547/918 – LXIX. A.K.z.b.V. daily report.
155 Bulat, p.55.
156 T-314 roll 1545/738; Bulat, p.51.
157 T-314 roll 1545/740.
158 Bulat, p.59.
159 T-314 roll 1547/911 – LXIX. A.K.z.b.V. daily report.
160 T-314 roll 1545/744; T-314 roll 1547/910.
161 T-314 roll 1545/744; T-314 roll 1547/909.
162 T-314 roll 1545/748; T-120 roll 5790 – K.M. report 121.
163 T-501 roll 267/486-95.
164 T-314 roll 1545/754.
165 T-314 roll 1547/901.
166 T-314 roll 1547/900.
167 T-314 roll 1547/898.
168 T-314 roll 1545/762.
169 T-314 roll 1547/891.
170 T-314 roll 1545/770.
171 T-314 roll 1545/772.
172 [Vojnoistorijski institute] – Oslobodila?ki rat naroda Juooslavije 1941-1945, vol II, p.160.
173 T-314 roll 1547/888.
174 T-314 roll 1545/778.
175 T-314 roll 1545/786; T-314 roll 1546/445-64.
176 T-314 roll 1547/873.
177 [Vojnoistorijski institute] – Hronologija oslobodila?ke borbe naroda jugoslavije 1941-1945 (Belgrade, 1964), p.777.
178 T-314 roll 1547/877.
179 T-314 roll 1546/381; T-314 roll 1545/800.
180 T-314 roll 1547/865.
181 T-314 roll 1545/804.
182 T-314 roll 1548/340-47.
183 T-314 roll 1547/859.
184 T-314 roll 1547/858.
185 T-314 roll 1547/855.
186 T-314 roll 1547/851.
187 T-314 roll 1547/850.
188 T-314 roll 1547/848.
189 T-314 roll 1547/846.
190 T-314 roll 1547/845.
191 T-314 roll 1547/843.
192 T-314 roll 1547/842.
193 T-314 roll 1548/1092.
194 T-314 roll 1548/1088.
195 T-314 roll 1548/983.
196 T-314 roll 1548/792.
197 T-314 roll 1548/697-700.
198 [ – ] – Zagreba?ki partizanski odred: Zbornik dokumenata i sje?anja (Zagreb: Spektar, 1978), p.283.
199 [ – ] – Zagreba?ki partizanski odred: Zbornik dokumenata i sje?anja (Zagreb: Spektar, 1978), p.303.
200 T-120 roll 5793/H306653-57.
201 Bulat, p.160.
202 Bulat, p.163.
203 Bulat, pp.164-66.
204 Bulat, pp.170-84; [Vojnoistorijski institute] – Oslobodila?ki rat naroda Juooslavije 1941-1945, vol II, p.465.
205 Bulat, p.188.
206 [ – ] – Zagreba?ki partizanski odred: Zbornik dokumenata i sje?anja (Zagreb: Spektar, 1978), p.349.
207 Bulat, p.191.
208 NARA WashDC: RG 242 (T-77 roll 776/5502724-26.
209 [Vojnoistorijski institute] – Zbornik dokumenata i podataka o narodnooslobodila?kom ratu jugoslovenskih naroda, Tom V/36, p.743.
210 T-311 roll 195/034 – OB Südost daily report.
211 T-311 roll 195/302; Zbornik dokumenata i podataka o narodnooslobodila?kom ratu jugoslovenskih naroda, Tom V/36, p.743.
212 T-311 roll 195/315.
213 T-311 roll 195/361.
214 T-311 roll 195/381.
215 Arhiv VII, kut. 134a, reg.br. 3/1.
216 Arhiv VII, kut. 134a, reg.br. 3/1.
217 Zbornik dokumenata i podataka o narodnooslobodila?kom ratu jugoslovenskih naroda, Tom V/39, p.374.
218 Arhiv VII, kut. 134a, reg.br. 3/1.
219 Drina, reg.br. 2/1963, p.62.
220 Drina, reg.br. 2/1963, p.77-78, 87 and 93.
221 Journal of Croatian Studies, 1977/78, p.123.
222 Drina, reg.br. 2/1963, pp.35, 39-50, 123.

Reference material on this unit

– None known at this time –