Franjo Šimić was a Croatian colonel, and later general, in the Croatian Home Guard

Croatian Home Guard

Croatian Home Guard or also, known as the "Homeland Defenders," was the name used for the armed forces of the Independent State of Croatia which existed during World War II.- Formation :...

. Prior to World War II

World War II

World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...

 he served as Maria of Romania

Maria of Romania

Maria of Yugoslavia was the Queen consort of King Alexander I of Yugoslavia. She was originally a princess of Romania.-Early life:She was born in Gotha, Thuringia, in Germany, during the reigns of her maternal grandfather Alfred, Duke of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, and her grand-uncle King Carol I of...

's adjutant.

Šimić retook Šuica and Tomislavgrad

Tomislavgrad

Tomislavgrad is a town and municipality in southwestern Bosnia and Herzegovina. It is in the Canton 10 of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina in Herzegovina region.- Name :...

 in August 1942. He was awarded the Military Order of the Iron Trefoil

Military Order of the Iron Trefoil

Military Order of the Iron Trefoil , also known under name Croatian Cross, was the highest military decoration of Independent State of Croatia, and it was rewarded for "acts of war, achieved by personal incentive, for efforts and good leadership in ventures, which had remarkable success against the...

 III Class in late 1942 for his role in the defence of Kupres

Kupres

Kupres can refer to:* Kupres, Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, a town and municipality in Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bosnia and Herzegovina* Kupres, Republika Srpska, a municipality in Republika Srpska, Bosnia and Herzegovina...

 and Bugojno

Bugojno

Bugojno is a town and municipality of the same name in central Bosnia and Herzegovina on the river Vrbas. It is located in the Central Bosnia Canton of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina entity. The town is to the northwest from Sarajevo, with an estimated population of 50,000 .To the west...

.

He was allegedly assassinated in Mostar in 1944 under unknown circumstances. He was posthumously awarded the Military Order of the Iron Trefoil II with Wreath, which gave him the title of vitez (knight).