Tomislav Sertic
Encyclopedia
Tomislav Sertić was a member of the Croatia
n World War II
Ustaše
regime in charge of the Independent State of Croatia
during World War II
.
He was born in Udbina
on December 21, 1902. He finished business school in Dubrovnik
, and further completed military training in Belgrade
in 1923. He later served in the army of the Kingdom of Yugoslavia
where he gained the rank of Major
in 1939.
In 1941 he became the commanding officer of the 1st Ustaša Regiment. In 1944 he became a Domobran
general.
He was suspected of participating in the Lorković-Vokić coup
in 1944, which attempted to align the state with the Allied powers
. Unlike some others, he was not arrested.
At war's end he was captured by the British and delivered to Partisans
and on September 27, 1945 was executed by order of a military court in Belgrade, in spite of the appeal of Archbishop A. Stepinac. According the British F.O. document R.16394 (Deakin's telegram nr.1729 from Belgrade) not a war criminal.
Sertić was awarded the honorary title of Vitez ("knight") upon receiving the Order of the Crown of King Zvonimir
, and as such the title is often included with his name.
Croatia
Croatia , officially the Republic of Croatia , is a unitary democratic parliamentary republic in Europe at the crossroads of the Mitteleuropa, the Balkans, and the Mediterranean. Its capital and largest city is Zagreb. The country is divided into 20 counties and the city of Zagreb. Croatia covers ...
n 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...
Ustaše
Ustaše
The Ustaša - Croatian Revolutionary Movement was a Croatian fascist anti-Yugoslav separatist movement. The ideology of the movement was a blend of fascism, Nazism, and Croatian nationalism. The Ustaše supported the creation of a Greater Croatia that would span to the River Drina and to the border...
regime in charge of the Independent State of Croatia
Independent State of Croatia
The Independent State of Croatia was a World War II puppet state of Nazi Germany, established on a part of Axis-occupied Yugoslavia. The NDH was founded on 10 April 1941, after the invasion of Yugoslavia by the Axis powers. All of Bosnia and Herzegovina was annexed to NDH, together with some parts...
during 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 was born in Udbina
Udbina
Udbina is a village and a municipality in the Lika region of Croatia. It is an administratively part of in the Lika-Senj county.-Geography:The village is located in the large karst field called Krbava...
on December 21, 1902. He finished business school in Dubrovnik
Dubrovnik
Dubrovnik is a Croatian city on the Adriatic Sea coast, positioned at the terminal end of the Isthmus of Dubrovnik. It is one of the most prominent tourist destinations on the Adriatic, a seaport and the centre of Dubrovnik-Neretva county. Its total population is 42,641...
, and further completed military training in Belgrade
Belgrade
Belgrade is the capital and largest city of Serbia. It is located at the confluence of the Sava and Danube rivers, where the Pannonian Plain meets the Balkans. According to official results of Census 2011, the city has a population of 1,639,121. It is one of the 15 largest cities in Europe...
in 1923. He later served in the army of the Kingdom of Yugoslavia
Kingdom of Yugoslavia
The Kingdom of Yugoslavia was a state stretching from the Western Balkans to Central Europe which existed during the often-tumultuous interwar era of 1918–1941...
where he gained the rank of Major
Major
Major is a rank of commissioned officer, with corresponding ranks existing in almost every military in the world.When used unhyphenated, in conjunction with no other indicator of rank, the term refers to the rank just senior to that of an Army captain and just below the rank of lieutenant colonel. ...
in 1939.
In 1941 he became the commanding officer of the 1st Ustaša Regiment. In 1944 he became a Domobran
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 :...
general.
He was suspected of participating in the Lorković-Vokić coup
Lorkovic-Vokic coup
Lorković-Vokić coup was a failed attempt plotted by Mladen Lorković and Ante Vokić to take over the power in Independent State of Croatia in August 1944. Mladen Lorković, Foreign Minister in government of NDH realized that Axis powers are going to lose World War II and decided it is time NDH...
in 1944, which attempted to align the state with the Allied powers
Allies of World War II
The Allies of World War II were the countries that opposed the Axis powers during the Second World War . Former Axis states contributing to the Allied victory are not considered Allied states...
. Unlike some others, he was not arrested.
At war's end he was captured by the British and delivered to Partisans
Partisans (Yugoslavia)
The Yugoslav Partisans, or simply the Partisans were a Communist-led World War II anti-fascist resistance movement in Yugoslavia...
and on September 27, 1945 was executed by order of a military court in Belgrade, in spite of the appeal of Archbishop A. Stepinac. According the British F.O. document R.16394 (Deakin's telegram nr.1729 from Belgrade) not a war criminal.
Sertić was awarded the honorary title of Vitez ("knight") upon receiving the Order of the Crown of King Zvonimir
Order of the Crown of King Zvonimir
The Order of the Crown of King Zvonimir was order awarded by the Independent State of Croatia . It is established as a "visible sign of decoration for merits done, in peace or in war, for Croatian people and Independent State of Croatia" It was established by Croatian leader Ante Pavelić on May...
, and as such the title is often included with his name.