On 6 April 1941, Nazi Germany, along with Italy and Hungary, invaded Yugoslavia after the overthrow of the Yugoslav regent, Prince Paul. Hitler sought to secure the right flank for his upcoming invasion of the USSR and assist Mussolini, who had failed to conquer Greece. The German attack was swift, and by 17 April, Yugoslavia capitulated, leading to the creation of the Independent State of Croatia (NDH). Ante Pavelic, leader of the fascist Usta?e organization, was installed as the head of Croatia. His government immediately began a brutal campaign of repression against non-Croatians, especially Serbs. This sparked rebellions, with Serbian Chetnik bands and Croatian communists forming separate guerrilla movements. The Croatian state was soon overwhelmed by these insurgencies. Italy further complicated matters by creating occupation zones within Croatia, supporting Chetnik bands, and hampering Croatian military efforts. The Croatian Army, unable to fortify its territory due to Italian restrictions, was often attacked by Chetniks and forced to fight on two fronts. Despite these challenges, including inadequate armament and the constant interference of its allies, Croatia maintained a military force that continued to fight until the war's bitter end. AUTHOR: Antonio J. Munoz is a retired professor of history living in New York city. He joined the United States Marine Corps right after graduating from high school. He served honorably for four years, two of them with the Fleet Marine Force Atlantic. He obtained his bachelor's and master's degree in history from Queens College. He later attended St. John's University, where he received a doctorate in history. Before he retired, he taught at St. John's University and, later, at Farmingdale State College. Dr. Muñoz has previously been published. His study The German Secret Field Police in Greece, 1941-1944 was released in 2018. He has been married for forty-three years and has several grandchildren. His family in Spain hails from the province of Asturias while his wife's family is from Galicia. He and his family hold dual American and Spanish citizenship. 16 b/w illustrations
