The Croatian 369th Reinforced Regiment On the day of the German invasion of the Soviet Union, June 22, 1941, the "Poglavnik" (Leader) of the Independant State of Croatia, Ante Pavelic, met with the military and civilian leadership of Croatia to decide how best to support their German ally. The last official report from 21 January 1943 counted 443 infantry and 444 artillery soldiers in Stalingrad. By November 1942 the fighting in their sector had become a locked stalemate with little progress. New fresh forces from Croatia were not added except for returns of sick and wounded and a few officers and staff. New fresh forces from Croatia were not added except for returns of sick and wounded and a few officers and staff. Poor images of undisciplined, mischievous behavior, non-educated, poorly equipped, and disparate legionaries soon change it in the first serious contact with the enemy. Outside the old Yugoslavia there is little mention of the 369th IR's participation in the war and inside the country there are a few books but they're biased and full of propaganda. Outside the old Yugoslavia there is little mention of the 369th IR's participation in the war and inside the country there are a few books but they're biased and full of propaganda. During its last days at Stalingrad, the Legion was desperately retraining about 700 inexperienced artillery and support soldiers to infantry combat duty. Later in the winter, legionnaires wear uniforms of captured Russian soldiers, winter caps, and shawls instead of Croatian caps. Lt. Tomljenović, Lt. Tomislav Anić and Lt. Ivan Malički were killed in action during this period.[8]. Battle Group Fischer (main force of the 369th Infantry Regiment reinforced with artillery, 187th Reserve Division elements, and Home Guard formations) defended Doboj and sought to recapture Tuzla, in cooperation with the parts of the LXIX Corps from Brčko. Only 20 officers, including Mesic, remained in Stalingrad and one is treated as MIA. Croatian Legion: The 369th Reinforced (Croatian) Infantry Regiment on the Eastern Front, 1941-1943 offers a unique perspective of the fighting on the Eastern … This unit was formed in early 1944 partly from former members of the 369th (Croatian) Reinforced Infantry Regiment, and was commanded by the former Ustaše Lieutenant Colonel Marko Mesić assisted by Captain Milutin Perišić, a Serb. — Berlin, Deutscher Militärverlag, 1965. Only 20 officers, including Mesic, remained in Stalingrad. Through some heavy fighting along the line of the Samara River, the division held on through the winter.[9]. On 10 April 1941, the Independent State of Croatia (NDH, Croatian: Nezavisna Država Hrvatska) was created as a puppet state aligned to the occupying Germans. Two days later the 100th Light Infantry Division was committed to the Battle of Stalingrad. On 24 September 1942, during a visit to the 6th Army headquarters, Pavelić decorated and promoted some soldiers of the regiment. Despite the harsh conditions, the German high command credited the regiment with maintaining 'proper and military beari… Major Tomislav Brajkovic is noted to have desperately attempted to keep morale and discipline high. In mid-January 1942, the 100th Light Infantry Division was deployed to the Stalino area to assist in fighting off a Soviet cavalry corps that had broken through the front line. Markulj was court-martialled and executed after his capture by the Allies, who extradited him to the Yugoslav army in summer 1945. The regiment was raised from volunteers drawn from Croatia and was commonly referred to as the Croatian Legion (Hrvatska Legija). On 2 July 1941, in the NDH, General Ante Pavelic issued a call for volunteers to fight Bolshevism. During the first few months in captivity, Legionnaire numbers were reduced from some 700 to around 400 odd survivors or a 40% loss of life in under twelve months. [5] To improve poor discipline, on 30 September 1941, Colonel Ivan Markulj sent 43 officers and NCOs as well as 144 soldiers back to the NDH due to illness and/or for disciplinary reasons. Nearly $90 billion have been spent for the construction of these objects. The regiment was then transported to Dollersheim, Austria for training. Partizan armed with a German submachine gun MP41 9mm, popularly known as "Schmeisser", today a rare example of the wooden butt. In many difficult battles in 1942, Mesic's soldiers, in written praise and testimony of the Germans and Croatian legionnaires, saved some battalions from total destruction and heavy losses. The M91 was used in both rifle (fucile) and carbine (Moschetto) form by most Italian troops during the First World War and by Italian and some German forces during the Second World War. Lieutenants Tomljenovic, Tomislav Anić, and Ivan Malički died in that period. In late October 1944, a "Yugoslav Legion" numbering about 3000 men operated as part of the Red Army around Čačak during the Belgrade Offensive. The 369th Reinforced Infantry Regiment was a unit of the German Wehrmacht that fought on the Eastern Front in World War II.The regiment was raised from volunteers drawn from Croatia and was commonly referred to as the Croatian Legion. Buy Croatian Legion The 369th Reinforced (Croatian) Infantry Regiment on the Eastern Front 1941-1943 first by Amir Obhodas and Jason Mark (ISBN: 9780975107683) from Amazon's Book Store. From the foundation in the summer of 1941 to the surrender to the Russians, in the beginning of February 1943, operated as part of the Wehrmacht (army of the Third Reich) on the Eastern Front. 0 Sleipnir - Unbekannter Soldat -Tribute to 369th Reinforced Croatian Regiment On the day of the German invasion of the Soviet Union, June 22, 1941, the "Poglavnik" (Leader) of the Independant State of Croatia, Ante Pavelic, met This was an infantry regiment with 3 infantry battalions and its own artillery attached (therefore “reinforced”). Around $4.5 billion were spent for the construction of this air base. Its ground component, the 369th Reinforced (Croatian) Infantry Regiment, was the first to be formed. ) was a unit of the German Wehrmacht that fought on the Eastern Front in World War II. [6], On 21 August 1941, the regiment was transported to Romania. Its first campaign was in the Battle of Uman, followed by action at Kiev and Odessa. Egon Zitnik, the former commander of the Light Transport Unit; Major Marijan Prislin, the former second in command of the 369. Erwin Juric claimed that Pavicic had received written orders signed by Sanne to leave Stalingrad by air on 15 January. However, if we look at sources, Tomasevich 2001 p. 266 refers to it as "369th Reinforced Infantry Regiment". With an effective strength of 5000, the regiment consisted of three infantry battalions, a machine-gun company, an anti-tank company, three batteries of field artillery, headquarters staff and a supply company. The Regiment comprised around 3,895 officers, NCO's and men, and as From there, they were sent to work camps in Siberia. Since 1944, it replaced the cap "Titov ka" a smooth edge. Messages for family members and friends were written on any paper the troops could find, such as cigarette papers or pages torn from notebooks. Colonel Ivan Markulj has been set up for the commander, and after a lack of training in Dollersheim and Stocker, departs by train to Dangeni in Bessarabia, where it gathered on August 23, 1941. At the end of September 1942, the 369th Regiment was visited by the head of NDH Ante Pavelic and rewards a greater number of legionnaires. Initially, two battalions were raised and formed into a regiment at Varazdin. [3] The NDH viewed this as a means of strengthening its ties with Germany, potentially an ally in resisting further territorial losses to Italy. The second level of defense were also airports with underground galleries and the conditions for protection against a nuclear attack. Podobnik and his 18 men surprised the Soviets and captured the building without loss, then handed it over to units from the German 54th Army Group. Colonel Viktor Pavicic reportedly left a resignation letter and disappeared from the theater for good. [11] After the Red Army counterattacked and re-took Rostov in November 1941, the 100th Light Infantry Division was marched south to the front line on the Mius River on 22 November. During the day of 23 January Stalingradskaja airfield fell into Soviet hands. Despite the harsh conditions, the German high command credited the regiment with maintaining 'proper and military bearing'. The establishment and development Its roots JNA pulling out of the National Liberation Struggle and Yugoslav partisan (POJ). Regiment chose Communist Partisan service to avoid almost certain death in Soviet prisoner-of-war camps. By some sources, the legionnaires seemed so neglected that German officers once thought that they were Russian prisoners. In Stalingrad in the fall of 1942, General Sanne and other German high commanders praised the 369th regiment as extremely brave and successful in attacking and defending during the difficult battles in the spring of 1942. Pavelic on the Eastern Front visiting and rewards  Croatian fighter pilots and bomber crew as part of the Luftwaffe. Between 3 and 7 July 1941, there were over 5,000 volunteers at the surprise of the Ustasha authorities. The commander of the 100th Light Infantry Division, Generalleutnant Werner Sanne commended the regiment's successes over the winter, especially the actions of Lieutenant Colonel Marko Mesić's artillery battalion on 21–22 February 1942. The regiment was raised from volunteers drawn from Croatia and was commonly referred to as the Croatian Legion (Hrvatska Legija). More than 1000 legionnaires were evacuated from the Soviet Union and later Stalingrad by various means and for various reasons. In the Forward, Amir Obhodas explains his reasons for writing this book. The third level of defense was reinforced concrete shelters for aircraft and people. On the stroke has a partisan cap ("Tito hat") with a sewn red star. For JNA specifically, because of its non-alignment and strategic importance, in its possession had weapons of American and Soviet production. Introduced in 1891, this rifle was chambered for the rimless 6.5×52mm Carcano cartridge (Cartuccia Modello 1895). Its ground component, the 369th Reinforced (Croatian) Infantry Regiment, was the first to be formed. The Poglavnik presented the regiment with the flag in memory of the Croatian Legion (369th Reinforced Croatian Infantry Regiment), which fought on the Eastern Front (as part of the German 100th Jäger Division) and was destroyed [8], "Croatian Legion" redirects here. General Sanne officially reported that Pavicic was a deserter, but Sgt. The 369th Infantry Regiment, formerly known as the 15th New York National Guard Regiment, was an infantry regiment of the New York Army National Guard during World War I and World War II. A report dated 21 June 1942 states that Legion contained 113 officers, 7 military clerks, 625 NCOs, and 4317 soldiers, as well as 2902 horses. In addition, the regimental doctors received distinction for their actions and success in saving lives. In April 1942, four legionnaires were sentenced to death and shot, and some were sentenced to prison of 2 to 10 years. On 31 January 1943 General Paulus announced the surrender of the German 6th Army. From there, it spent several weeks marching on foot to the front line. On 24 September 1942, during a visit to the 6th Army headquarters, Pavelić decorated and promoted some soldiers of the regiment. The 369th Croatian Reinforced Infantry Regiment Was a unit of the German armed forces that fought on the Eastern Front. 369th Croatian Reinforced Infantry Regiment Description Discussions 0 Comments 6 Change Notes Rate Favorite Favorited Unfavorite Share Add to Collection. Many died on the march due to starvation, hypothermia or disease.[8]. [8], At 'Proljet Kultura,' the regiment suffered 53 dead and 186 wounded in desperate hand-to-hand combat during the German attack on 27 July and subsequent overwhelming Soviet counterattack on 28 July. On October 9, 1941, regiment entered the village of Nadeždovka in the composition of the 100th Jager Division, the 17th German Army, the Armory Group South. During April 1942 four soldiers of the regiment were sentenced to death and shot while many others were sentenced to imprisonment of between 2–10 years. New unit military training was very fast as most men were experienced soldiers. Consequently, the “Verstärktes Kroatisches Infanterie-Regiment 369”, or 369th Reinforced Croatian Infantry Regiment, began its formation on 16th July 1941. This was followed by the raising of a third battalion at Sarajevo. After the Second Battle of Kharkov, Colonel Markulj, Lieutenant Eduard Bakarec and six other officers of the regiment were awarded the Iron Cross First Class. Croatian Legion: The 369th Reinforced (Croatian) Infantry Regiment on the Eastern Front, 1941-1943 offers a unique perspective of the fighting on the Eastern Front through the eyes of a foreign volunteer unit. For the naval force, see, Insignia worn by members of the regiment on the right side of the helmet and right upper sleeve of the tunic, Articles containing Croatian-language text, Articles with unsourced statements from November 2014, Articles with Croatian-language external links, Articles incorporating text from Wikipedia, Military units and formations established in 1941, Recipients of the Medal of Poglavnik Ante Pavelić for Bravery, Medal of Poglavnik Ante Pavelić for Bravery in gold, 369th (Croatian) Infantry Division (Wehrmacht), German prisoners of war in the Soviet Union, http://www.ljevak.hr/knjige/knjiga-541-hrvatska-pukovnija-369-na-istocnom-bojistu-1941---1943, http://free-sk.htnet.hr/radio_museum/Povijest%20radija%20u%20Hrvatskoj.htm, http://books.google.com.au/books?id=VcTtZ6u4w3wC&printsec=frontcover&source=gbs_ge_summary_r&cad=0#v=onepage&q&f=false, http://books.google.com.au/books?id=6WflV0uqxVYC&printsec=frontcover&source=gbs_ge_summary_r&cad=0#v=onepage&q&f=false, http://books.google.com/books?id=yoCaAAAAIAAJ&printsec=frontcover, http://books.google.com/books?id=fqUSGevFe5MC&printsec=frontcover. The 369th Reinforced Infantry Regiment was a unit of the German Wehrmacht raised from volunteers drawn from Croatia. For this reason, it was commonly referred to as the Croatian Legion. More than a hundred legionnaires fled, and some were shot by a 100th division court martial. September 30, 1941, from the village of Novi Senečani commander Ivan Markulj, returns 43 officers and NCOs and as many as 144 legionnaires in their homeland for illness or misconduct. [2] By 25 June 1941, Poglavnik Ante Pavelić, the leader of the NDH, had sent an envoy to Berlin to offer volunteers to serve on the Eastern Front. These two air bases represented the first level of defense. The Croatian legionaries participated in some of the most famous engagements of World War 2, including the first battle of Kharkov, Operation Fridericus, Plan Blau and finally the grim struggle for Stalingrad. The Croatian Legion fought on the Eastern Front of WW2, and was the only non-German Axis unit to fight at the Battle of Stalingrad. [5] All soldiers wore Wehrmacht uniforms with a Croatian checkerboard patch incorporating the word Hrvatska (Croatia) on the upper right sleeve and right side of the helmet. Hrvatski legionari u Staljingradu za Pavelića, a u Srbiji za Tita, https://military.wikia.org/wiki/369th_Croatian_Reinforced_Infantry_Regiment_(Wehrmacht)?oldid=4660752, Welz H. Verratene Grenadiere. [8] - 1943. Whilst not an official part of the Wehrmacht, the regiment was under German military jurisdiction and direct German command throughout its existence, serving as part of the 100th Light Infantry Division. [8], Elements of the regiment fought as long as they could but ultimately surrendered to the Soviet General Vasiljev on 29 or 30 January 1943. Along with Tito and the Communist Party, considered to be one of the three pillars of Yugoslavia. The Yugoslav underground project represents the labyri, Carcano Modello 1891 infantry rifle Carcano is the frequently used name for a series of Italian bolt-action, magazine-fed, repeating military rifles and carbines. It is important to note that NDH never declared war on the Soviet Union as it was declared to America, so the legionaries there was part of the German military machine as foreign volunteers in the Wehrmacht army. Yugoslav People's Army, at its peak, was the fourth military power in Europe, behind the Soviet Union, Great Britain, and France. The 369th Infantry Regiment (also known as the Croatian Legion) or the 369th Legionna Regiment was a unit of the NDH Army. We don't create history, we publish it... 1. [8] [8] [8], Lt. Bakarec, who was the first Legion soldier ever to receive the Iron Cross 2nd class, was later wounded at Stalingrad and evacuated to Croatia, where he was killed on 5 July 1944. In October 1941, the first legionnaire was awarded the German Iron Cross for Courage at Kharkiv. Such as a cap made anti-fascist fighters of the Spanish Civil War and the first Junos Croatian partisans. Col. and later NDH general Markulj was tried and executed in Belgrade in September 1945. [8], The 100th Light Infantry Division, including the 369th Croatian Reinforced Infantry Regiment, was involved in the heavy fighting for the "Red October" factory and for Mamayev Hill during the Battle of Stalingrad. [citation needed], Col. Mesić was given command by the Soviets of this newly formed First Yugoslav Volunteer Brigade, assembled from prisoners of war of Yugoslavian origin as well as volunteers living in Russia at the time. By December 1942 the regiment had seen such intense combat that it was at 1/3 strength. [8] Just before the surrender of the 6th Army at the end of January, about 1,000 wounded were flown out, and of the remaining men in the regiment, nearly 900 became prisoners of war. It is quite likely that most former Croatian soldiers of the 369. [7], In order to accustom the regiment to the conditions and divisional procedures, as well as to further progress their training, the units of the regiment were initially divided up among other regiments of the division immediately after their arrival on the front line near Kharkov. For this reason, it was commonly referred to as the Croatian Legion. The units of the regiment, still divided among the other regiments of the division, dug in alongside the Slovak Mobile Brigade and SS-Division Wiking. Markulj was transferred back to Croatia and was temporarily replaced by Colonel Marko Mesić on 7 July 1942 and Lieutenant Colonel Ivan Babić who was finally replaced by Colonel Viktor Pavičić. Heroji za pogrešnu stvar: Bačeni na Staljingrad, Jutarnji list, 24. veljače 2008. Pavicic ordered a strategic building to be captured in the Red October factory, however the armored vehicle support was delayed. In September 1941, the partisan Supreme Headquarters ordered that the caps will wear red five-pointed star as a symbol of anti-fascist struggle. By 14 January the regiment's section of the front line had reduced to 200m held by some 90 remaining troops, all suffering from extreme cold, hunger, fatigue and lack of ammunition. 1. It was developed by the chief technician Salvatore Carcano at the Turin Army Arsenal in 1890 and called the Modello (model) 91 or simply M91. By December 1942 the regiment had seen such intense combat that it was at 1/3 strength. 369th Croatian Reinforced Infantry Regiment (Wehrmacht) الاستخدام في es.wikipedia.org 369.º Regimiento Croata de Infantería Reforzada (Wehrmacht) الاستخدام في … Google books searches show,,. Successively replacing the previous Vetterli-Vitali rifles and carbines in 10.35×47mmR, it was produced from 1892 to 1945. The Legion assembled at Beketovka on river Volga where they were joined by some 80,000 mainly German as well as Italian, Romanian and Hungarian POWs. By December of 1942, surviving veterans of the 369th Croat Reinforced Regiment, complemented with an influx of new Croatian volunteers, were under training as part of the newly formed 369 Infanterie Division (Kroat), led by its Dressed in a civilian coat, the military jacket of unknown origin, the German military pants and cavalry boots. From the foundation in the summer of 1941 to the surrender to the Russians, in the beginning of February 1943, operated as part of the Wehrmacht (army of the Third Reich) on the Eastern Front. According to Colonel Ivan Markulja's report of September 13, 1941, there was a disorder in the Legion and undisciplined. Although the unit was considered by the NDH to be a part of the Croatian Home Guard and the NDH authorities retained responsibility for providing replacements, the members of the regiment swore an oath to Adolf Hitler. In this village comes in the first contact with the enemy. For a belt carrying a gun "Parabellum" P08 9mm and a hand grenade. The artillery support of the Croatian legion under the command of Lieutenant Colonel NDH Marka Mesic according to by German and Croatian reports and numerous medals was very effective. By November 1942 the fighting in their sector had become a locked stalemate with little progress. John Markulj reports to Zagreb to legionnaires steal, rob, rob, shoot at night, leave the unit and transported by private car more than 100 kilometers, throwing weapons ..... rape. In the beginning of 1941 and later up to the Battle of Kharkov 369th Regiment had big problems with morale and discipline legionnaires. 369th Croatian Reinforced Infantry Regiment The independent state of Croatia was formed on 10 April 1941, ten days after the Axis invasion of Yugoslavia. [8] The worst recorded casualties before Stalingrad were 171 dead suffered in combat in various villages along the Samara River. Everyday low prices and free Hello Pete: I have researched the 369th Reinforced (Croat) Infantry Regiment for a number of years, but have, unfortunately, never come across Franjo Kurnik's name. According to experts, the only airbase that could rival Željava, although much smaller, was the air base Slatina near Pristina. Regiment's artillery section; and Major Marijan Tulicic, the former artillery unit commander. Beautiful animation by Nikmon production VIDEO, JNA, the army that no longer exists: What is all possessed one of the most powerful European armies Part I, World War II Weapons: The Italian Carcano rifle, Flag of the 369th Infantry Regiment of the Independent State of Croatia, Ivan Markulj in uniform of the Army of the Kingdom of Yugoslavia, Ante Pavelic with soldiers of 369th Regiment, Soldier of the 369th Croatian Reinforced Infantry Regiment (Wehrmacht). 600 pages on a high On 23 February 1942, Sanne awarded Mesić the Iron Cross. Communications from the Regiment's soldiers were subsequently broadcast on Radio Zagreb (later known as Hrvatski Krugoval), alongside propaganda announcements that praised the Croatian authorities and did not mention the soldiers' fate — most often death or capture. The 369th Reinforced Infantry Regiment was a unit of the German Wehrmacht raised from volunteers drawn from Croatia. 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