Vladimir Kren

General

Vladimir Kren
General; Vladimir Kren
Birth name	Vladimir Kren
Born	8 December 1903; Vaška, Croatia-Slavonia, Austria-Hungary
Died	2 December 1948 (aged 44); Zagreb, PR Croatia, Yugoslavia
Cause of death	Execution by firing squad
Allegiance	Yugoslavia (1922–1941) Independent State of Croatia (1941–1945)
Service/branch	Royal Yugoslav Army; Yugoslav Royal Air Force Croatian Air Force
Years of service	1922–1945
Rank	Major Major General
Commands held	Croatian Air Force
Battles/wars	World War II

Vladimir Kren (8 December 1903 – 2 December 1948) was a Croatian major general and commander of the Air Force of the Independent State of Croatia (ZNDH) during World War II. He was an officer in the Royal Yugoslav Air Force (VVKJ) before the war. In April 1941, he defected to Nazi Germany and handed over the locations of many of the VVKJ's dispersal airfields and exposed many of its codes. This made it easier for the Luftwaffe to destroy the VVKJ during the Axis invasion of Yugoslavia, which began shortly after Kren's defection.

Kren was named the commander of the ZNDH upon returning to Zagreb in mid-April 1941 and served in this capacity until September 1943, when he voluntarily retired. In June 1944, Croatian leader Ante Pavelić ordered that Kren be returned to active service within the ZNDH and had him re-appointed as its commander.

In May 1945, Kren fled to Italy via Austria and was arrested by Allied forces. He escaped from Allied custody in early 1947, but was arrested by British forces that March while trying to board a ship bound for Argentina. He was extradited to Yugoslavia and put on trial in Zagreb, found guilty of various offences, and sentenced to death by firing squad. He was executed in December 1948.