Hrvatski dobrovoljci u njemačkoj vojsci - Drugi svjetski rat

This movie is a small tribute to the Croatian soldiers who died for their homeland fighting in the German army. It is the least what they deserve... since they are virtually unheard of in Croatia.(tip: read quickly) Here's the whole text movie if you haven't been able to catch it: On July 2nd, 1941, Pavelic called for volunteers from Croatia to join the struggle in the East.The ground contingent of the planned Croatian formations was the first to be formed. When finally organized on July 16th 1941, the Regiment was given the title Verstarken (Reinforced) Kroatischen Infanterie-Regiment 369. The Regiment had 3,895 men. The commander was Colonel Ivan Markulj. On September 22nd 1942, Colonel Viktor ''Vitez'' Pavicic replaced Colonel Markulj. On September 26th 1942 the Regiment arrived in the suburbs of Stalingrad and soon entered the city itself. The 369th Regiment thus became the only unit of non-Germans to participate in the attack on Stalingrad. In the inferno of Stalingrad their casualties steadily accumulated. As December arrived, the few remaining Croats were frozen, hungry and lacking ammunition and weapons. On December 25, 1942, defending the Red October factory, they first threw back the Soviet attack and than counter-attacked and destroyed the enemy unit and retook their previous position... Lt-Colonel Eichler, upon hearing of this success, sent them a message, saying that the Grenadiers of the 212th Regiment are proud to have warriors like us Croats in their midst. Most men of the Regiment died in the desperate battles at the end. Lt.-Colonel Mesic (who replaced Pavicic) and a handfull of soldiers survived and surrendered to the Soviets... They were forced to walk with no warm clothes and no food all the way to Moscow. Here they were fed once a day and in 1945, Mesic was sent to Yugoslavia where the Communists had him liquidated. When Pavelic's call on Croatian volunteers for the Eastern Front went out, an airforce unit was quickly organized. Colonel Ivan Mrak was selected as the Commander of the Legion. The Legion itself was organized into a Fighter Squadron (commanded by Lt.Colonel Franjo Dzal) and a Bomber Squadron (commanded by Lt.Colonel Vjekoslav Vicevic). The Fighter Squadron received the official designation '15.(Kroatische)/JG 52', and arrived to the Eastern Front on October 6th 1941. The first kill by a Croatian pilot occured in December 1941 by Captain Ferencina, and the second by Lt.Colonel Dzal. By July 1944, when it was returned to Croatia to combat the increasing Partisan menace, the Squadron had tallied 283 kills and had 14 pilots with Ace status. Mato Dukovac (44 kills), Cvitan Galic (38), Mato Culinovic (18), Franjo Dzal (16), Ljudevit Bencetic (15), Safet Boskic (13), Zlatko Stipcic (12), Veca Mikovic (12), Eduard Martinko (12), Stjepan Martinasevic (11), Josip Helebrant (11), Albin Starc (11 kills), Tomislav Kauzlaric (11), Vladimir Ferencina (10), Zdenko Avdic (10), Bozidar Bartulovic (8), Josip Kranjc (9), Jure Lasta (8), Dragutin Gazapi (7), Vladimir Kres (6), Stjepan Radic (5)... ... there were also many unconfirmed victories. The Croatian pilots, during their tour on the Eastern Front, performed over 5.000 sorties. Total number of lost Croatian pilots was 16. The bomber squadron, officially designated '15.(Kroatische)/KG 53'., was equipped with Dornier Do17 aircraft. It arrived on the Eastern Front on October 25th 1941. Its assignments were in the Northern Sector of the Eastern Front, including the bombing of Leningrad and Moscow. After flying 1247 sorties, it was disolved in December of 1942, and integrated into the Croatian airforce to battle the Partisans. During the time it was active, 5 aircraft and 20 men were lost by the Squadron. A Croatian Naval Legion was also formed. Serving on the Black sea and being well liked by the locals, the Town Council of Geniscek named a street "Hrvatska" (Croatia) in their honour. (You can find more on the internet: axishistory.com, feldgrau.com and other pages)

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YouTube | June 4, 2007

Tags:. .soviets. .frozen. .steadily. .honour. .vladimir