Vladimir Laxa
Encyclopedia
Vladimir Laxa was born in Sisak
, in what is now Croatia
, and was a distinguished soldier and general. He spent his adult life from the age of 20 as a professional soldier who was highly decorated during the First World War. During World War II
he was Army Chief of Staff of the Axis Independent State of Croatia
(Nezavisna Država Hrvatska, NDH) from June 1941 until August 1942, when he resigned his commission in protest at atrocities committed by Ustaše
irregular forces.
Laxa was commissioned into the Austro-Hungarian Army
on 18 August 1890. During the First World War he was commander of the 18th Mountain Brigade, and was one of only 131 men that during the First World War were awarded the Military Order of Maria Theresa
, the highest Habsburg decoration; in Laxa's case for the “heroism, enormous bravery and tenaciously successful defence of positions” by himself and his men on Škabrijel (Italian: Mount Saint Gabriel) during the Eleventh Battle of the Isonzo
in 1917. After the war ended, he joined the newly-formed army of (what became known later as) the Kingdom of Yugoslavia
.
Yugoslavia was invaded
by the German armed forces (Wehrmacht
) on 6 April 1941, and this led to the proclamation
of the Independent State of Croatia
, of which he was first the military's second in command (April–June 1941) and then chief-of-staff. During the war he was awarded the state's Order of the Crown of King Zvonimir
. In October 1941 he was transferred to the NDH High Command. He took part in a conference in Opatija
(2–3 March 1942) that planned the Third anti-partisan offensive
, codenamed ‘Trio’. He remained in the NDH high command until August 1942 when he resigned (although there is a source that claims that Laxa was "removed by order of Marshal Slavko Kvaternik
and retired" ) due to his failure to obtain support from Ante Pavelić
, NDH leader, for his wishes to end the atrocities of Ustaše irregulars, about which he had authored several scathing reports . Laxa was among the exodus that were forcibly returned to the Partisans
at Bleiburg
. He was executed on an unknown date in 1945. He was subsequently buried in Mirogoj cemetery
.
Sisak
Sisak is a city in central Croatia. The city's population in 2011 was 33,049, with a total of 49,699 in the administrative region and it is also the administrative centre of the Sisak-Moslavina county...
, in what is now Croatia
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 ...
, and was a distinguished soldier and general. He spent his adult life from the age of 20 as a professional soldier who was highly decorated during the First World War. 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 Army Chief of Staff of the Axis 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...
(Nezavisna Država Hrvatska, NDH) from June 1941 until August 1942, when he resigned his commission in protest at atrocities committed by 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...
irregular forces.
Laxa was commissioned into the Austro-Hungarian Army
Austro-Hungarian Army
The Austro-Hungarian Army was the ground force of the Austro-Hungarian Dual Monarchy from 1867 to 1918. It was composed of three parts: the joint army , the Austrian Landwehr , and the Hungarian Honvédség .In the wake of fighting between the...
on 18 August 1890. During the First World War he was commander of the 18th Mountain Brigade, and was one of only 131 men that during the First World War were awarded the Military Order of Maria Theresa
Military Order of Maria Theresa
The Military Order of Maria Theresa was an Order of the Austro-Hungarian Empire founded on June 18, 1757, the day of the Battle of Kolin, by the Empress...
, the highest Habsburg decoration; in Laxa's case for the “heroism, enormous bravery and tenaciously successful defence of positions” by himself and his men on Škabrijel (Italian: Mount Saint Gabriel) during the Eleventh Battle of the Isonzo
Eleventh Battle of the Isonzo
The Eleventh Battle of the Isonzo was a World War I battle fought by the Italian and Austro-Hungarian Armies on the Italian Front between August 18 and September 12, 1917.- Background :...
in 1917. After the war ended, he joined the newly-formed army of (what became known later as) 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...
.
Yugoslavia was invaded
Invasion of Yugoslavia
The Invasion of Yugoslavia , also known as the April War , was the Axis Powers' attack on the Kingdom of Yugoslavia which began on 6 April 1941 during World War II...
by the German armed forces (Wehrmacht
Wehrmacht
The Wehrmacht – from , to defend and , the might/power) were the unified armed forces of Nazi Germany from 1935 to 1945. It consisted of the Heer , the Kriegsmarine and the Luftwaffe .-Origin and use of the term:...
) on 6 April 1941, and this led to the proclamation
Proclamation
A proclamation is an official declaration.-England and Wales:In English law, a proclamation is a formal announcement , made under the great seal, of some matter which the King in Council or Queen in Council desires to make known to his or her subjects: e.g., the declaration of war, or state of...
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...
, of which he was first the military's second in command (April–June 1941) and then chief-of-staff. During the war he was awarded the state's 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...
. In October 1941 he was transferred to the NDH High Command. He took part in a conference in Opatija
Opatija
Opatija is a town in western Croatia, just southwest of Rijeka on the Adriatic coast. , the town proper had a population of 7,850, with the municipality having a total 12,719 inhabitants.-Geography:...
(2–3 March 1942) that planned the Third anti-partisan offensive
Third anti-partisan offensive
The Third anti-Partisan Offensive or Third Enemy Offensive was a battle during World War II between the Yugoslav Partisans on one side, German, Italian, and Independent State of Croatia forces on the second and Chetnik forces on the third side...
, codenamed ‘Trio’. He remained in the NDH high command until August 1942 when he resigned (although there is a source that claims that Laxa was "removed by order of Marshal Slavko Kvaternik
Slavko Kvaternik
Slavko Kvaternik was a Croatian military commander and a collaborator with Nazi Germany. He was noted for military service in World War I, later as a deputy leader and founding member of the Croatian Ustaša movement in the 1930s who then became one of the leaders of the "Independent State of...
and retired" ) due to his failure to obtain support from Ante Pavelić
Ante Pavelic
Ante Pavelić was a Croatian fascist leader, revolutionary, and politician. He ruled as Poglavnik or head, of the Independent State of Croatia , a World War II puppet state of Nazi Germany in Axis-occupied Yugoslavia...
, NDH leader, for his wishes to end the atrocities of Ustaše irregulars, about which he had authored several scathing reports . Laxa was among the exodus that were forcibly returned to the Partisans
Partisans (Yugoslavia)
The Yugoslav Partisans, or simply the Partisans were a Communist-led World War II anti-fascist resistance movement in Yugoslavia...
at Bleiburg
Bleiburg massacre
The Bleiburg massacre, which also encompasses Operation Keelhaul is a term encompassing events that took place during mid-May 1945 near the Carinthian town of Bleiburg, itself some four kilometres from the Austrian-Slovenian border....
. He was executed on an unknown date in 1945. He was subsequently buried in Mirogoj cemetery
Mirogoj Cemetery
The Mirogoj Cemetery is considered to be one of the most beautiful cemetery parks in Europe and, because of its design, numbers among the more noteworthy landmarks in the City of Zagreb....
.