Slavko Kvaternik

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Slavko Kvaternik
Kvaternik in 1942
1st Minister of Armed Forces of the Independent State of Croatia
In office 10 April 1941 – 4 January 1943
Prime Minister	Ante Pavelić
Preceded by	Office established
Succeeded by	Ante Pavelić
Chief of General Staff of the State of Slovenes, Croats and Serbs
In office 29 October 1918 – 1 December 1918
President	Anton Korošec
Preceded by	Office established
Succeeded by	Office abolished
Personal details
Born	(1878-08-25)25 August 1878 Moravice, Croatia-Slavonia, Austria-Hungary
Died	13 June 1947(1947-06-13) (aged 68) Zagreb, PR Croatia, FPR Yugoslavia
Cause of death	Execution by hanging
Nationality	Croat
Political party	Ustashe
Spouse	Olga Frank
Children	Eugen Dido Kvaternik
Profession	Military
Awards	Iron Cross 1st Class Iron Trefoil 1st Class
Military service
Allegiance	Austria-Hungary (1896–1918)  Kingdom of Yugoslavia (1918–1921)  Independent State of Croatia (1941–1943)
Branch/service	Austro-Hungarian Army (1896–1918) Yugoslav Royal Army (1918–1921) Domobranstvo (1941–1943)
Years of service	1896–1921 1941–1943
Rank	Vojskovođa (field marshal)
Commands	Domobranstvo
Battles/wars	World War I Eastern Front Italian Campaign World War II

Slavko Kvaternik (25 August 1878 – 7 June 1947) was a Croatian Ustaše military general and politician who was one of the founders of the Ustaše movement. Kvaternik was military commander and Minister of Domobranstvo (Armed Forces). On 10 April 1941, he declared the creation of the Independent State of Croatia and became Pavelic's right-hand man, the Doglavnik.

Kvaternik was an officer in the Austro-Hungarian Army and was involved in World War I. After the collapse of Austria-Hungary, he was appointed by the National Council of the State of Slovenes, Croats and Serbs to lead a successful incursion into Međimurje in late 1918. He later transferred to the Royal Yugoslav Army and remained there until 1921.

In 1929, he was one of the founders of the Ustasha – Croatian Revolutionary Movement in Italy. After Germany invaded Yugoslavia in April 1941, he declared the creation of the Independent State of Croatia on 10 April 1941 with the support of the Axis. In the newly created state, he became the Minister of the Armed Forces until 1943, when he retired.^{[citation needed]} Kvaternik was executed for war crimes in 1947.