Croatian Legion

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The "Croatian Legion" ( Croatian Hrvatska legija , Italian Legione croata ) is the name given to units of the German armed forces and the Italian army , whose team personnel are usually soldiers from the Independent State of Croatia (NDH) and the support personnel from officers from the German Reich or the Kingdom of Italy existed.

These units of "foreign volunteers" were set up for the war against the Soviet Union during World War II . As intended, they were used in the Soviet Union in the fight against the Red Army , but also in the Independent State of Croatia to fight Communist Tito partisans .

Croatian stamp pad depicting members of all branches of the German and Italian "Croatian Legion" (1943)

German units

Emergence

Exhibition poster for the struggle of Croatia against the Soviet Union on the side of the Axis powers (1941/42)

Only a few days after the start of the German Balkan campaign , Croatia declared itself independent on April 10, 1941. The fascist politician Ante Pavelić made himself poglavnik (leader) of the Independent State of Croatia . A week later he decided to join the so-called " Axis Powers " and declared war on the United Kingdom .

Shortly after the German attack on the Soviet Union on June 22, 1941, Pavelić tried to recruit volunteers who were to fight in a Croatian legion alongside the German armed forces on the Eastern Front .

In his appeal it said:

“ The Croatian people cannot remain a quiet spectator in this great, fateful hour, but urge with desire to participate in this struggle to destroy the greatest enemy of humanity and Croatianity, especially since the Moscow autocrats entered the day before our liberation with the rulers of Belgrade Made an alliance in order to prevent our national liberation in the next instant and to save the fortress of the Croatian people, the former Yugoslavia .
In order to comply with the wishes that are brought to me daily from all parts of the Independent State of Croatia and from all social classes, I have decided to allow the formation of a volunteer formation which will fight shoulder to shoulder with the glorious German army against the common enemy.
I therefore call the Ustashe and the other Croatian patriots between the ages of twenty and thirty-two, who are militarily trained and who are ready to fight the cheeky Bolshevik tyrants for the freedom of the subjugated peoples and especially for security, honor, peace and welfare of the Croatian people want to report immediately to the next supplementary district command, which will take them up on the basis of the orders and instructions that have already been issued, take care of them and refer them to the responsible military command. I call on men trained in all branches of the armed forces, navy and air force to do this voluntary military service. At the same time, I have decreed that the families of everyone who obeyed the call should receive regular war support. "

- Ante Pavelic

army

In 1941 a Croatian unit was initially set up from volunteers, the Reinforced (Croatian) Infantry Regiment 369 , which belonged to the 100th Jäger Division and was worn out in the Battle of Stalingrad in early 1943 . The regiment, unlike the later formed units of the Legion, had Croatian officers.

Soldiers of the 369th (Croatian) Infantry Division
Parade of the 369th Infantry Division in Sarajevo on March 21, 1943

Two new Croatian infantry regiments were set up between September and December 1942. In mid-1943 three new German-Croatian divisions were set up in Lower Austria :

There was also a police tank hunter company "Croatia" .

Integrated into a 369th Infantry Division, the new Croatian Legion was commanded by Lieutenant General Fritz Neidholdt . The 369th Infantry Division was primarily used in the fight against the Yugoslav partisans . From September 1944 mutinies and mass desertions broke out in all three Croatian divisions. They shrank to the strength of a total of two battalions, half of which consisted of German support personnel. Tito's offer of amnesty played a role, guaranteeing defectors impunity, but also the collapse of Germany's military south-east position. In a battalion of the 369th Infantry Division, the Croatian teams killed their German officers.

The 392nd Infantry Division was deployed at the end of April 1945 to defend Rijeka against the 4th Yugoslav Army and surrendered there on May 7, 1945.

Uniformity

The Croatian and German members of the Army Legion wore the standard uniform of the Wehrmacht with various variations, plus German steel helmets , on the right side of the helmet the historical coat of arms of Croatia, analogous to the national coat of arms , starting with a first silver field.

Special badges

Special badge of the "Croatian Legion" (Army)

By decree of the Ministry for the Armed Power No. 20 of May 8, 1942, a special badge was also introduced for members of the Croatian Legion and the German training personnel of the former replacement battalion. The wording for this read:

"The Minister and Commander-in-Chief of the Croatian Army announced that all those members of the Croatian Legion who take part or will take part in the fighting on the Eastern Front will be allowed to wear a special Hrvatska Legija 1941 badge ."

The special badge consists of an aluminum alloy made of an inclined linden leaf with the leaf tip pointing upwards to the left, which shows the pressed-in Croatian coat of arms in the center. Above is the inscription: 1941The coat of arms itself is surrounded by the inscription: HRVATSKA – LEGIJA(CROATIAN LEGION). The Croatian coat of arms, consisting of 25 fields, is white and red, the white fields are smooth and the red fields are rough and deepened by 0.75 mm. The special badge was initially worn on the left front side of the field cap, but from the beginning of 1943 on more and more on the left breast pocket of the field blouse. On April 6, 1944, it was stipulated that the special badge must be worn on the right breast pocket of the field blouse. The closure of the special badge consisted of a 1 mm thick bronze wire or a wire in a similar alloy. The manufacturers were Braća Knaus and Me-Ba in Zagreb.

Authorization to wear the special badge was usually given by the regimental commander, who also had to stock up on the badge. All soldiers who, in association with one of the regiments mentioned above, had crossed the eastern border of the German Reich or Romania were considered to be participants in the fighting on the Eastern Front. If the prerequisite was met, the badge was awarded “free of charge”, but a second or a replacement piece had to be purchased by the borrower. In 1942, the award conditions were adjusted, so the right to wear the special badge was also transferred to the commander of the Croatian Air Force on the Eastern Front and the Commander of the Croatian Navy on the Eastern Front (not the Mediterranean).

Sleeve badge

Sleeve badges (Army and Navy)

The Croatian legionary units of the army and navy wore a machine-woven, coat-of-arms badge on the right upper arm of the tunic or coat. This is 75 mm high, 65 mm wide, shows the historical coat of arms of Croatia and contains on its upper edge an attached black writing block with the red inscription HRVATSKAor, in the case of German management staff, with the inscription KROATIEN. The border of the Croatian coat of arms is formed from the black writing block. The coat of arms of Croatia itself is silver-red nested in 25 fields, starting with a first silver field.

In some cases, the inscription of the members of the German legion was covered HRVATSKAby hammering it in, so that only the coat of arms was visible.

banner

Obverse (front) of the flag of the 369th Infantry Regiment
Revers (back) of the flag of the 369th Infantry Regiment

The 369 Infantry Regiment, which sank in Stalingrad, did not itself have a flag.

It was not until March 13, 1943 (the legal decree dated May 4, 1943) that the newly established Infantry Regiment 369 received a flag from Pavelić in Zagreb . It was 120 cm wide and 84 cm high. The regulation for this read in the extract:

“ I, Poglavnik of the Independent State of Croatia, present the Croatian Reinforced Infantry Regiment 369 with a flag as a token of appreciation for the valiant and determined behavior in the fighting on the Eastern Front and the unprecedented defense of Stalingrad. When handing over the flag to the newly established Infantry Regiment 369 “Defender of Stalingrad” for safekeeping, I wish that this regiment will carry and defend the symbol with the greatest of honor. The inscription on the flag: “What God gives and the happiness of heroes” should be the watchword for all deeds of the members of this regiment. "

With the aforementioned legal ordinance of May 4, 1943, Pavelić had regulated the flags and standards for homeland security and Ustasha. These were all awarded by him for special merits and heroic behavior in front of the enemy.

Regimental flags had a silver border on both sides, which was set off from the actual cloth by a 5 mm wide braid . The band was always covered with blue-white-red triangular flames.

Top of the flag of the 369th Infantry Regiment

The obverse was horizontally striped in red, white and blue and had the national coat of arms in the middle. The 25 checkerboard squares of the coat of arms were alternately silver and red and lined with a golden cord 3 mm thick. The coat of arms was roughly square and 12.5 cm wide, while the blue upper sign was 7.5 cm wide and high. The one Ufor Ustasha is 2.5 cm high, which is made of 3 mm thick golden cord. In the circle around the state coat of arms there is an inscription in gold letters, which was different for each unit. For the newly established Infantry Regiment 369, the inscription reads: ŠTO BOG DA I SREĆA JUNAČKA(WHAT GOD GIVES AND HEROES LUCKY); the motto of the Croatian ban and general Jelačić . The center of the lettering circle is in the middle of the cloth with an outer diameter of 56 cm. The name of the regiment is always in the upper left corner with characters 3.5 cm high and 2.5 cm wide, which start 5 cm from the top edge and the flagpole.

The lapel , the basic cloth of which was made of silver-white brocade, showed Ante Pavelić's monogram in the center of interlaced letters. The name abbreviation is embroidered in dark red and is 21 cm high. As on the obverse of the flag, there is a golden embroidered inscription on the lapel in the same design, which reads: ZA POGLAVNIKA I ZA DOM(FOR LEADERS AND FATHERLAND).

The flagpole was 230 cm long and made of natural colored hardwood with a diameter of 35 mm. The bronze tip was 18 cm long and 7 cm wide. It showed a badge within the border, which was decorated with the old Croatian triple braid, which was different for each unit. For the 369th Infantry Regiment, the badge is a symbolic devil, namely a fire-breathing, three-tailed billy goat with a trident in its claws, looking to the left and walking upright . The flag included a 10 cm wide ribbon in the color of the weapon tied around the tip. The place and date of the battle, in the course of which the regiment had been able to distinguish itself, was embroidered with gold thread.

The flag of the 369th Infantry Regiment is now in the Croatian Historical Museum in Zagreb (see also web links).

air force

The Croatian Air Force Legion emerged from the Croatian Air Force, which was founded on April 12, 1941 and consisted mainly of a fighter and a bomber squadron . From July 1941 the Air Force Legion was used in the Russian campaign.

The fighter squadron was assigned as the 15th squadron to the Jagdgeschwader 52 (III./JG 52) of the German Wehrmacht. Until her repatriation in July 1944, she counted 263 kills over the Ukraine .

The bomber squadron was assigned as 10th, later 15th squadron, to Kampfgeschwader 53 of the German Wehrmacht and deployed over Leningrad . They were repatriated in December 1942.

On January 6, 1942, the Wehrmacht report reported : “In the context of combat operations from the air, a Croatian task force distinguished itself through boldly conducted deep attacks!” Up to the repatriation, 33 men of the Croatian Air Force Legion received the Iron Cross 1st class, including as first Croatian soldier, Lieutenant Miroschekitsch.

Uniformity

The uniforms were based on the uniforms of the German Air Force . In use, German, Italian and royal Yugoslav uniform parts were applied.

Special badges

Special badge of the "Croatian Air Force Legion"

The badge of the “Croatian Air Force Legion” (Znak Hrvatske zrakoplovne legije) showed the coat of arms of the Independent State of Croatia with three-spring wings stretched horizontally on both sides. All members of the Air Force Legion (Croats and foreigners) had the right to wear. It was worn either in metal or as a colored embroidered fabric version. The metal badge was worn on the right breast pocket of the field blouse; fastened with a horizontal fibula. The cloth badge was worn on the left upper arm of the field blouse. The manufacturers were Braća Knaus and Me-Ba in Zagreb and Juncker in Berlin.

Sleeve stripes

The members of the Luftwaffe Legion wore a dark blue sleeve strip 2 cm wide, 10 cm from the left edge of the sleeve , with the silver-embroidered inscription of their respective unit:

  • LOVCI – IZTOČNO BOJIŠTE (HUNTER - EAST FRONT)
  • BOMBARDERI – IZT. BOJIŠTE (BOMBER - EAST FRONT)
  • ZRAKOPLOVNI SAT – IZT. BOJIŠTE (FLYING UNIT - EAST FRONT)
  • SKUPINA DŽAL (DŽAL GROUP)

All members of the Air Force Legion in the service of the unit named with the label had the right to wear.

Combat and achievement badges

Members of the Legion could also wear the following badges of the regular Croatian armed forces:

  • Air Force Badge (Aviator Clasp)
  • Pilot badge
  • Gunner's badge
  • Radio operator badge
  • Paratrooper badge.

Flak

In autumn 1943 a "Croatian Flak Legion" (Protuzrakoplovna legija) was set up in the service of the German Air Force. It was assigned to the 22nd Flak Division (7 / s. Flaka Department 463- (0), 22nd Flak Div.) And was used on the territory of the German Reich as "Heimatflak".

marine

The Croatian Navy Legion (Hrvatska pomorska legija) was set up on July 17, 1941 under the official name Hrvatskog pomorska sklopa Crno more (Croatian Navy Unit "Black Sea"). She was under the command of frigate captain Andro Vrkljan, later under the command of Käpitan Stjepan Rumenović. The Marine Legion served in the 23rd submarine flotilla of the German Wehrmacht, deployed in the Crimea , the Azov and Black Seas .

In March 1943, the Marine Legion received battery- strength coastal artillery .

On May 21, 1944, the Marine Legion was repatriated and then used in Trieste under German command.

The Marine Legion was disbanded in December 1944 to prevent a defection to the Allies or to the Tito partisans .

The manpower was ultimately about 1,000 men.

Uniformity

The uniforms corresponded to those of the former Royal Yugoslav Navy.

Special badges

Special badge of the "Croatian Navy Legion"

The badge of the “Croatian Naval Legion” (znak Hrvatska pomorska legija) was donated on June 28, 1942. All members of the Marine Legion (Croatians and foreigners) who had fought on the Eastern Front for more than two months had the right to wear.

The oval shape is represented by a Lindenlaub Wreath, labeled HRVATSKA POMORSKA LEGIJAformed. Inside the wreath there is an anchor with anchor gear; the year on the anchor point 1941. Overlying the historical coat of arms of Croatia, starting with a first silver field. It was produced in two variants - one enamelled - and with different types of attachment (different types of fibulae, hooks, needles). The manufacturer was Braća Knaus (Zagreb). The badge was worn on the left breast pocket of the uniform jacket.

Members of the Marine Legion could be awarded further war badges.

Sleeve badge

The members of the Marine Legion wore the same sleeve badge as the army. The way of wearing was identical, but sometimes it was also worn on the left upper arm of the tunic.

Soldiers newspaper

From May 15, 1943, the bilingual German-Croatian front-line newspaper Borac - The Fighter , was published in Zagreb as a newspaper for the Croatian Wehrmacht volunteers. The newspaper editors also published a book series under the name Die kleine Borac book series, the few books of which appeared in a handy format as a knapsack edition.

Italian unity

Emergence

The Italian armed forces tried to imitate the German armed forces and caused the commander-in-chief of the Croatian armed forces, Slavko Kvaternik , to establish a “Croatian Legion” in Italian service in order to deploy it on the Eastern Front against the Soviet Union. Therefore, such a "Croatian Legion" (also "Croatian-Italian Legion") was set up on July 26, 1941. The official name was: Legione croata autotrasportabile ; Croatian: Lako-prevoznog zdrug (Light Transport Brigade).

army

In Varaždin 47 officers, 72 non-commissioned officers and 1,202 soldiers were combined to form a battalion . Due to the war situation, the Legion was initially deployed in Bosnia and took part in the fighting there until December 1941.

Thereafter, the Legion was staffed up, reorganized and adopted on December 15, 1941 on St. Mark's Square in Zagreb for deployment to the Eastern Front. The Legion at that time consisted of 45 officers, 70 NCOs and over 1,100 soldiers. On December 17, 1941, the Legion arrived in Riva del Garda, Italy, for training. On March 26, 1942, she came to the Eastern Front as part of the 3rd Rapid Division "Principo Amedeo Duca d'Aosta", which belonged to the Italian Expeditionary Corps in Russia . The Legion was commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Eugen Žitnik. The Legion received its baptism of fire on May 7, 1942 near the village of Pervomaisk. After heavy fighting, the remnants of the Legion surrendered to the Red Army on December 20, 1942 . The “Croatian-Italian Legion” was officially dissolved on March 16, 1943.

Uniformity

The members of the Legion wore the standard uniform of the Croatian army ( Hrvatsko domobranstvo ) with Italian field caps and badges.

Steel helmet

The soldiers wore Italian steel helmets , on the right side of the helmet the historical coat of arms of Croatia, analogous to the national coat of arms , starting with a first silver field.

Special badges

Special badge of the Italian "Croatian Legion"

The enamelled metal badge shows a dark blue coat of arms, which is optically split by a vertical golden fascia . In the upper right half of the coat of arms is the Italian royal coat of arms . Diagonally opposite in the lower left half of the historical coat of arms of Croatia. Both coats of arms are tied to the fasces. The motto of the Italian fascists is written diagonally above the vacancies of the blue coat of arms in gold: PER L’ITALIA ALALÀ(FOR ITALY ALALÀ ); including the motto of the Croatian Ustasha : ZA DOM SPREMNI(READY FOR HOME). The blue escutcheon is crowned by a seated golden Roman eagle with spread wings, which holds the Fasces in its claws. Above the blue coat of arms a white line in which LEGIONE CROATAthe words HRVATSKA LEGIJAare written in gold letters on a white background on the side with the Italian coat of arms and above the half with the Croatian coat of arms . All members of the unit had the right to wear. It was worn on the left breast pocket; attached with a vertical fibula.

Sleeve badge

The metal badge in the shape of a coat of arms consists of embossed sheet metal with four punched holes for sewing on. The historical Croatian coat of arms and the overlying lettering HRVATSKA(CROATIA) are pronounced on it . The red fields of the Croatian coat of arms are painted with red lacquer paint. It was worn on the left upper arm; attached by sewing.

banner

The flag was provided with a silver border on both sides, which was covered with blue-white-red triangular flames. In the corners of the ribbon the letter Ufor Ustasha.

The obverse was horizontally striped in red, white and blue and had the historic coat of arms of Croatia in the middle with a first silver field. The coat of arms was crowned by the Croatian royal crown.

The lapel was also striped horizontally in red, white and blue and bore the symbol of the Ustasha in the middle, the letter U with a grenade with the Croatian coat of arms on top. The symbol was framed by an old Croatian triple braid as it appeared in the national coat of arms of the Independent State of Croatia . In the white stripe the Ustasha's motto: ZA DOM SPREMNI(READY FOR HOME), interrupted by the aforementioned symbol and finished with fasces on both outer sides .

The top of the flag showed the symbol of the lapel, i.e. H. the Ustascha symbol framed by the old Croatian triple network of the national coat of arms. The flag had a ribbon looped around the tip with the embroidered name of the unit LAKO PREVOZNOG ZDRUGand in front of it the symbol of the Ustasha as it appeared in the state flag of the Independent State of Croatia .

Others

Yugoslav partisans escort captured soldiers of the 369th Infantry Division ( Sušak , 1945)

The captured Croatians were viewed by Yugoslav authorities as traitors.

See also

literature

Memoir literature

  • Gerhard Rauchwetter: "U" over the Eastern Front: As a German war reporter for a fighter pilot association of the Croatian Legion . Europa Verlag, Zagreb 1943.
  • Adolf von Ernsthausen: The Wolves of Lika: With legionaries, Ustaschi, Domobranen and Tschetniks against Tito's partisans: Experiences in Croatia 1944 . Kurt Vowinckel Verlag, Neckargemünd 1959.
  • Franz Schraml: Theater of war Croatia: The German-Croatian legion divisions - 369th, 373rd, 392nd Inf.-Div. (Croat.): their training and replacement formations . Kurt Vowinckel Verlag, Neckargemünd 1962.

Scientific literature

  • Georg Tessin : Associations and troops of the German Wehrmacht and Waffen SS in World War II 1939–1945. Volume 9. The Land Forces 281-370 . Biblio-Verlag, Bissendorf 1974, ISBN 3-7648-1174-9 .
  • Kurt-Gerhard Klietmann : The Croatian Legion and its awards 1941-1943 . Ed .: International Society for Scientific Order Studies (=  Order Studies: Contributions to the History of Awards . Volume 6 ). The Order Collection, Berlin 1958.
  • Davis, McGregor: Flags of the Third Reich, Vol. 2: Waffen-SS (=  Men-at-Arms-Series . No. 274 ). Osprey, London 1994, ISBN 1-85532-431-8 .
  • Rolf-Dieter Müller: At the side of the Wehrmacht: Hitler's foreign helpers in the “Crusade against Bolshevism” 1941–1945 . Berlin 2007, ISBN 978-3-86153-448-8 , pp. 106-112 .
  • Klaus Schmider : The Yugoslav Theater of War (January 1943 to May 1945) . In: Karl-Heinz Frieser (ed.): The Eastern Front 1943-44: War in the East and to the side fronts . Deutsche Verlags-Anstalt, Stuttgart 2007, ISBN 978-3-421-06235-2 , pp. 1320 .
  • Ben Shepherd: With the Devil in Titoland: A Wehrmacht Anti-Partisan Division in Bosnia-Herzegovina 1943 . In: Was in History . Vol.XVI, No. 1 , p. 77-97 .
  • David M. Glantz: Armageddon in Stalingrad: September-November 1942 (The Stalingrad Trilogy, Vol. 2) . University of Kansas Press, Lawrence 2009, ISBN 978-0-7006-1664-0 .
  • Amir Obhođaš, Jason D. Mark: Croatian Legion: The 369th Reinforced (Croatian) Infantry Regiment on the Eastern Front, 1941–1943 . Leaping Horseman Books, Sydney 2010, ISBN 978-0-9751076-8-3 .
  • Amir Obhođaš: Lako prevozni zdrug Hrvatske legije: u borbama od Une do Dona, kolovoz 1941. - prosinac 1942 [The Light Transport Brigade of the Croatian Legion: in the fighting from Una to Don , August 1941 - December 1942] . Despot infinitus, Zagreb 2012, ISBN 978-953-7892-02-9 .

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Call of the Poglavnik to fight against Bolshevism of July 2, 1941. In: Gerhard Rauchwetter: “U” over the Eastern Front. As a German war correspondent during a combat pilot Association of Croatian Legion . Europa Verlag, Zagreb 1943, p. 11 f.
  2. ↑ Partisan War. Mystery of the missing division. In: Spiegel online. 2009.
  3. ^ Klaus Schmider: The Yugoslav Theater of War (January 1943 to May 1945). In: Karl-Heinz Frieser (Ed.): The Eastern Front 1943/44. The war in the east and on the secondary fronts. Deutsche Verlags-Anstalt, Stuttgart 2007, ISBN 978-3-421-06235-2 , p. 1069.
  4. ↑ a b Borna Barac, Siniša Pogačić: Odlikovanja i znakovlje Nezavisne Države Hrvatske 1941–1945. Publishing house Obol, Zagreb 1998, ISBN 953-6388-02-2 , p. 113.
  5. ↑ Croatian Ordinance Gazette, year 1942, No. 22 (print of the supplementary decree). In: Uniforms Market . Born 1944, issue 4, p. 7.
  6. ↑ a b Borna Barac, Siniša Pogačić: Odlikovanja i znakovlje Nezavisne Države Hrvatske 1941–1945. Obol Verlag, Zagreb 1998, ISBN 953-6388-02-2 , p. 117.
  7. ↑ Kurt-Gerhard Klietmann : The badges and standards of the volunteer associations of the army and the Waffen-SS in the war . In: Uniforms Market. Born 1944, issue 4, p. 7.
  8. ^ Franz Schraml: Theater of War Croatia: The German-Croatian Legion Divisions . Kurt Vowinckel Verlag, Neckargemünd 1962, p. 27.
  9. ↑ Croatian Ordinance Gazette, year 1943, No. 22 of June 5, 1943 (copy of the ordinance). In: Uniforms Market. Born 1944, issue 4, p. 7.
  10. ↑ a b c Detailed description of the Croatian troop flag. In: Uniforms Market. Born 1943, issue 7.
  11. ↑ Description of the flag in the detailed report. In: Uniforms Market. Born 1944, issue 4, p. 7.
  12. ↑ Description with photographs. In: Jelena Borošak-Marijanović: Zastave kroz stoljeća: Zbirka zastava i zastavnih vrpca Hrvatskoga povijesnog muzeja . Hrvatski povijesni muzej, Zagreb 1996, p. 128 f.
  13. ^ A b c d N. Thomas, K. Mikulan: Axis forces in Yugoslavia 1941-5. Osprey publishing, Oxford, 1995, ISBN 1-85532-473-3 , p. 18
  14. ↑ Gerhard Rauch weather: "U" on the Eastern Front: The German war correspondent during a combat pilot Association of Croatian Legion . Europa-Verlag, Zagreb 1943, p. 78.
  15. ↑ Gerhard Rauch weather: "U" on the Eastern Front: The German war correspondent during a combat pilot Association of Croatian Legion . Europa-Verlag, Zagreb 1943, p. 85.
  16. ↑ Borna Barac, Siniša Pogačić: Odlikovanja i znakovlje Nezavisne Države Hrvatske 1941–1945. Verlag Obol, Zagreb 1998, ISBN 953-6388-02-2 , p. 111 u. 113.
  17. ↑ Borna Barac, Siniša Pogačić: Odlikovanja i znakovlje Nezavisne Države Hrvatske 1941–1945. Obol Verlag, Zagreb 1998, ISBN 953-6388-02-2 , p. 102.
  18. ↑ a b Krunoslav Mikulan, Siniša Pogacic: Croatian oružane snage: 1941.-1945th PC grafičke usluge, Zagreb 1999, ISBN 953-97564-2-1 , p. 117.
  19. ↑ a b c Krunoslav Mikulan, Siniša Pogačić: Hrvatsko oružane snage. 1941-1945. PC grafičke usluge, Zagreb 1999, ISBN 953-97564-2-1 , pp. 118-119.
  20. ↑ Borna Barac, Siniša Pogačić: Odlikovanja i znakovlje Nezavisne Države Hrvatske 1941–1945. Obol Verlag, Zagreb 1998, ISBN 953-6388-02-2 , p. 114.
  21. ↑ Heinz-Werner Eckhardt: The front newspapers of the German army 1939-1945. W. Braumüller, Vienna 1975, ISBN 3-7003-0080-8 , p. 75 u. 122.
  22. ↑ a b c d e Krunoslav Mikulan, Siniša Pogačić: Hrvatsko oružane snage. 1941-1945. PC grafičke usluge, Zagreb 1999, ISBN 953-97564-2-1 , p. 59 f.
  23. ^ Photographs of members of the Legion with a flag at the parade on December 15, 1941 in Zagreb. In: Krunoslav Mikulan, Siniša Pogačić: Hrvatsko oružane snage. 1941-1945. PC grafičke usluge, Zagreb 1999, ISBN 953-97564-2-1 , p. 61.