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from Croatian History Museum
site by courtesy of Jelena Borosak Marijanovic
Standard of the Military Border Hussar Troop of the Karlovac
Regiment Austrian (Hapsburg) lands 1746-1749
Yellow silk damask, braids, flat stitch embroidery with silk and
silver metal thread, fluted wood, silvered finial
55 x 88 cm, staff length 299 cm
Double-edged cavalry standard richly embroidered and edged with
fringes. Obverse: in the centre of the field, richly decorated
with floral motifs, is the embroidered Austrian dynastic coat of
arms. Reverse: the field holds an embroidered medallion in the
Baroque manner, depicting a set of Roman military trophies. The
flagstaff, fluted like a tournament lance, ends in a finial,
which has on one side the incised coat of arms of the Prince of
Sachsen Hildburgshausen, and on the other the figure of St John
Nepomucene. The standard was donated by the parish office of
Slunj.
Bigger images at <jagor.srce.hr/hpm/m012600v.jpg>
and <m012601v.jpg>.
J. Borosak-Marijanovic, Zastave kroz stoljeca, Zagreb,
1996, catalogue number 52, page 121
This is a cavalry guidon of Croatian domobran
("home-defenders") comapany. The reverse show in the
pannel the Hungarian corwn sitting on a red cussion. The flag was
supposedly originally red, but the colour seems faded away.
Željko Heimer , 16 March 2000
from Croatian History Museum
site by courtesy of Jelena Borosak Marijanovic
From Croatian History
Museum site by courtesy of Jelena Borosak Marijanovic:
Flag of the Imperial Royal Hungaro-Croatian Home Guard Regiment
with streamer made after 1868
White silk, multicoloured silk embroidery, wood, brass,
embroidery;
128 x 136 cm, length of staff 299 cm
Rectangular flag with a border of alternating triangles in the
colours of the Croatian tricolour. Obverse: in the centre of the
field the coat of arms of the Hungarian crown lands surmounted by
the Crown of St Stephen; the coat of arms is held by two angels.
Reverse: in the centre of the field the embroidered initials of
the ruler FJ I (Francis Joseph I), surmounted by the Hungarian
crown. The flagstaff ends with a finial decorated on one side
with the Hungarian coat of arms, and on the other by the initials
of Francis Joseph I. The year 1874 is engraved on the staff. The
flag belonged to the 84th Bjelovar Regiment. [Bigger images at
<jagor.srce.hr/hpm/m013200v.jpg>
and <m013201v.jpg>].
Streamer
Blue silk, tassels, gilt metal tassels, silk embroidery, gold
embroidery length of bands: a) 120 cm, b) 160 cm; width 20 cm
Streamer with two bands in the centre, fashioned into a loop with
a rosette and a bought cord with tassels for tying it to the
staff. The inscriptions on the bands: Ljudevita Grofica Jankovic
Montbel with family coats of arms on the end of the band; Bog,
Kralj i Dom!; Sreca i pobjeda; Belovarskoj 84. domobranskoj ceti
with the coat of arms of the town of Bjelovar.
J. Borosak-Marijanovic, Zastave kroz stoljeca, Zagreb,
1996, page 127.
by Željko Heimer (based
on a photo from the Croatian
History Museum)
by Željko Heimer (based
on a photo from the
Croatian History Museum)
From Croatian History
Museum site by courtesy of Jelena Borosak Marijanovic:
Flag of the 369th Infantry Regiment of the Independent
State of Croatia:
Silk rep, multicoloured relief silk embroidery and gold
embroidery, accessories, wood
85 x 120 cm; length of staff 230 cm
Rectangular flag, the obverse in the colours of the Croatian
tricolour, the reverse in golden-white silk. Obverse: a Croatian
tricolour edged with a silver border with small red, white and
blue triangular flames. The centre of the field holds the state
coat of arms. Above the coat of arms, in the red field, the
inscription reads: STO BOG DA, while the inscription in the blue
field reads: I SRECA JUNACKA. The top corner near the staff holds
the number of the regiment: 369. Reverse: the centre of the field
holds the monogram AP (Ante Pavelic) embroidered in dark red. The
embroidered inscription around the monogram reads: ZA POGLAVNIKA
I ZA DOM. The flagstaff is simple, and the finial has not been
preserved.
Bigger images at <jagor.srce.hr/hpm/m013600v.jpg>
and <m013601v.jpg>.
J. Borosak-Marijanovic, Zastave kroz stoljeca, Zagreb,
1996, page 128, 129.
What seems odd to me is the high number assigned--somehow I
doubt that there were 368 other regiments in the FSC army. It may
be that the regiment was actually carried on the German
establishment as a volunteer formation. It wouldn't have been at
all unusual four such a unit to have a distinctive
"national" color, even if its troops did wear German
uniform.
Tom Gregg, 30 September 1999
Possibly, but both of us are guessing... However, there might
be that the practice was (as it is today in Croatia, BTW) that
each "type" of units would have similar numbers, and
not necesserily all numbers be filled. Comparing with today
(imagining numbers for I do not know them exactly), and armoured
battalion would be (say) 671th through 679th, while there'd be no
other units with numbers of 600 through 700.
Željko Heimer, 4 October 1999
I checked "Axis Forces in Yugoslavia 1941-5" , and
together with "Flags of the Third Reich; 2: Waffen-SS"
(Brian L. Davis, (Men-at-arms series, no. 274), Osprey
Publishing, 1994.) it has the answer I think.
From the first source I quote from the chapter
"Germany" (note that "Croatia" about the
Croatian Army and the Ustasha Army is another chapter!):
"Unwilling to divert front-line units from Russia to
Yugoslavia, the German high Command explored local sources of
manpower. In August 1942, the 369th Infantry Division, the
'Devils Division', was established as a Legionary Division with
Croatian troops under a german cadre. It had two infantry
regiments (369 and 370), an artillery regiment (369), anti-tank,
reconnaissance, engineer and signal battalions. 369
Infantry Regiment and 1st Battalion, 369 Artillery Regiment,
formed earlier 1941, served as the Croatian Legion in Russia. It
was replaced in the Division by the 969 Infantry Regiment and 969
Artillery Battalion. These unites adopted their predecessors'
numbers when the Croatian Legion was destroyed at Stalingrad in
December 1942. In January 1943 a second Legionary Division, the
373 'Tiger Division', was formed."
From the second source I quote (just the relevant parts not in
the first source):
"Of the three Croat infantry divisions raised by the Germans
- the 369th ('Devils Division' - Vrazja Divizija), the 373rd
('Tiger Division' - Tigar Divizija) and the 392nd ('Blue
Division' - Plava Divizija, not to be confued with the Spanish
'Blue Division') - only the 369th played any significant role in
these vicious anti-partisan operations. The 'Devils Division'
received their special Colour during a ceremony held in Croatia
on 16 May 1944."
Conclusion: it wasn't the 369th Infantry Regiment of the
Independent State of Croatia, but of the German Waffen-SS. I
think this makes more sense, although I know nothing about the
structure of the Waffen-SS or any other armies.
Mark Sensen, 5 October 1999
The only additional comment I'd add is that the 369th ID
wasn't on the "Waffen-SS" establishment.It was, rather,
as its number indicates, on the German Army establishment.
Tom Gregg, 5 October 1999
The inscription on the flag are (obverse) "By the Grace
of God and the Deeds of Heros," and (reverse) "For the
leader and Fatherland."
The 369 Inf.Rgt. , like the 369, 373, and 392nd were indeed
German formations with Croatian troops and was not Croatian Army
(Domobran) or Waffen-SS. The Regiment was formed soon after the
order to do so was given on July 2, 1941 as an all volunteer
force which was sent to the Eastern Front as part of the 100th
Mountain Division, where it was destroyed at Stalingrad. The flag
in question may have been awarded to the unit in July 1941,
although I have seen no photographic evidence of the flag when
the unit was reviewed by "Poglavnik" (Leader) Ante
Paveli in Zagreb or by Croatian Field Marshal Slavko Kvaternik
that Fall. The exact flag in the photograph may have been issued
or reissued to the "second" 369 Rgt. (Grenadier
Regiment) which was the "tradition bearer" of the first
unit and which had "first" 369 Inf.Rgt. soldiers who,
usually wounded, had been evacuated before it was destroyed at
Stalingrad.
The "second" 369 Gren.Rgt. was formed in September 1942
and trained in Dollersheim (now Austria) under the command of
Oberst (Col) Fritz Neidholt (Brigadier as of October 1, 1942).
The 369 Gren.Rgt. became the foundation of the 369 Infantry
Division formed on December 18, 1942, which was followed by the
373rd and 392nd Inf.Div.s, all with Croatian troops and German,
as well as some Croatian officers. In addition to the 369
Gren.Rgt. , within the 369 Inf.Div., were found the 370 Gren.Rgt.
; the 369 Recon Section 369 Art. R.; 369 Armored-Ranger Section;
369 Engineer Bn.; the 369 Communications Section; and the 369
Field Reserve Bn. Any or all may have had some form of this flag.
The official 369 Inf. Div. flag was not presented until May 16,
1944. It had the same "AP" reverse as the flag
pictured. I have never seen the obverse.
Most of the information above is from F. Schraml's
"Kriegsschauplatz Kroatien" (Neckargem?nd, Germany:
Kurt Vowinckel Verlag, 1962) the definitive history of the three
divisions with an excellent picture of the 369th flag on parade
(p. 48A) being held by its commander, Oberst Fischer in German
uniform with Croatian sleeve insignia. This photo was taken in
late 1942 and the flag may well be a reproduction of the first
which, if it went to Stalingrad, could not have come back. Since
the flag only has the number "369" and no notation of
"Inf." or "Gren." whether this is the
original or not is unknown.
Michael McAdams, 4 July 2000
In the catalogue of the exhibition of flags held in 1996, it
is indeed stated that the flag in question is made only in 1943,
after the new regulations on unit flags was issed on 4-MAY-1943
and new flags were authorized (granted) by Poglavnik.
I have not seen the regulations (but it should be available
published in the official gazette of 1943), and I do not know how
much different that flag is from flags previously granted. It may
even possibly be that the flag was given to the unit in 1944.
The note in the description of the flag in the catalogue
mentiones that the enchanced 369 Infantry Regiment was formed in
the beginning of July 1941 with headquarters in Karlovac.
I am reffering to 369 Inf. Reg. for "369. pjesacka
pukovnija" in Croatian, being the only unit name mentioned
in this context I encountered. I am not sure what would
"grenadier regiment" equivalent be in Croatian, not
infantry division (unless be it "pjesacka divizija",
that I have not encountered with either).
Željko Heimer, 5 July 2000
The flag of the little-known Italian Legion, which drove
trucks on the Eastern Front was the standard red-white-blue with
25 field chessboard, bordered in gold in the center. Above the
shield, in the red was the ancient crown of the Croatian Kingdom
(Crown of King Zvonimir), since Italy appointed its own
"king" of Croatia. The crown is unique with a rounded
shape and "sideburns" more like a Roman helmet. To left
and right of the shield are fasces, blades out, and the motto
"Bog i Hrvati" ("God and the Croats"). The
entire flag was bordered with red, white, and blue triangles like
the 369 flag and the Poglavnik's flag. The reverse had the
letter "U" for "Ustasha" (Revolutionary)
Party surrounded by braid of three strands. It also had the
fasces and an inscription starting with "Za D om
Spremni" (For the Homeland Ready). Attached to the top of
the flag was a streamer, color unknown
Michael McAdams, 4 July 2000
"Lako Prevozni Zdrug" means Light Transportation
Company, though I'm not sure the company is the right translation
for that unit level (I'm not familiar with Croatian military
terminology of WWII).
Željko Heimer, 5 July 2000
I've uploaded some photos of the standard used by the Croatian
volunteers in the Italian Army (WW2) here.
Marcus Wendel, 28 April 2008
Recently it was reported to me about a flag of the Croatia
International Brigades (in spanish "Brigadas Internacionales
de Croacia"), led by a Spanish named Rosa Flores. According
to an interview with Flores, who command the forces that defend
Osijek, in first line, after the fall of Vukovar. My
correspondant qualified Brigades of fascist people (but also
serbians qualified fascist).
The flag is yellow-ochre (golden) with a larger black emblem in
center. The emblem is unknown
Jaume Olle', 24 September 1999
An article
describes and pictures the
streamers used at the national flags granted to the rigades
paraded on 28 May 1991 at the FK Zagreb Stadium in Kranjceviceva
Street in Zagreb - this being considered the begining of the
modern Croatian defence forces.
I have serious doubts that the two streamers preserved in the
Military Museums were ever actually used - I believe that they
have been prepared to be granted at the parade as for preceeding
9 brigades, but they were not granted at the event (and so were
preserved somewhere and finally ended up in the Military Museum).
However, the full history of these flags and streamers is still
not enlighted.
Željko Heimer, 3 August 2009
Since the previous numbers the Croatian military weekly
magazine started as short series of articles about the military
units flags (colours) from the collection of the Military Museum
in Zagreb, prepared by yours truly.
From Hrvatski vojnik, br. 281, February 2010 at <www.hrvatski-vojnik.hr>,
my translation:
"77th Independent Battalion of ZNG - Grubišno polje
The Crisis Staff of Grubišno Polje decided on its session of
14 August 1991 on formation of an independent battalion, and thus
on 26 September 1991 the 57th Independent Battalion of ZNG was
formed. The battalion is active in actions on Bilogora, the
operation "Otkos 10" on 31 October 1991 on its southern
and south-western directions. It is engaged there until 4
November 1991. On 5 December 1991 it is engaged in the operation
"Ledina" on the Papuk mountains advancing towards
Daruvar. In the village of Bastajski Brdani it destroys a
paramilitary unit of White Eagles and on 25 December 1991,
together with other units, it takes the line
Pakrac-Bucje-Požega. On the same day it was renamed 77th
Independent Battalion and under that name it is active until the
arrival of UNPROFOR, when it was disbanded.
The Battaliuon flag is in fact an "upgraded" flag of
the Republic of Croatia, with yellow inscriptions printed on it.
In the red stripe next to the hoist is inscribed 77. SAMOSTALNI,
and in the fly "BILOGORA" "91, and in the blue
stripe at hoist BATALJUN, and in fly in two rows GRUBIŠNO /
POLJE. The inscription in the fly is somewhat damaged due to the
wear of material. The flag is sized to ca. 100×200 cm. Along the
fly is yellow fringe, ca. 2 cm in length. The flag sleave is made
of folded tricolour material of the flag field.
The flag was manufactured in 1991, probably using the previously
produced national flag, consisting of three sewn stripes with
printed state arms application over them on both sides.
This is an example of rarely preserved flags from the very
begining of the Homeland War, when they were being produced with
ad hoc materials, usually simply by adding inscriptions and
symbols to the state flag. Since the conditions did not alow for
putting the unit symbols on the flag, here we have only the
inscriptions. So far, only three flags from the Homeland War of
this type are recorded, although it is highly probable there are
more. These others may have been preserved as valuable
memorabilia by the soldiers who made them or fought under them in
the first days of the war. Such flags were soon replaced with
differently designed flags, when the idea that such defacement of
the national flag is not allowed by the legislation."
Photo by Branimir
Šenk is here.
Željko Heimer, 17 March 2010
Since the previous numbers the Croatian military weekly
magazine started as short series of articles about the military
units flags (colours) from the collection of the Military Museum
in Zagreb, prepared by yours truly.
The previous week's issue is at <www.hrvatski-vojnik.hr>.
In my translation the text says:
"6th Home Defense Regiment (6. domobranska pukovnija
The unit was established by the Presidential Decision of 26th May
1992 as the 6th Home Defense Regiment "R" - Split. It
was restructured under the same name on 27th July 1994, and was
active formally until 18th January 2000.
The flag of the Regiment is a black flag with a red square in
each corner bordered white on the inner sides and a yellow border
all around the black field. In the middle is a black oval unit
patch on which is printed on the golden bordered oval sign, along
the inner edge above inscribed DOMOBRANSKA PUKOVNIJA, and below
SPLIT, the inscriptions on both sides separated by golden wattle
pattern. In the centre is set the white coat of arms of the city
of Split: the rectangular shield framed with counter-compony
picturing the north facade of the Diocletian's Palace, in its
medieval appearance. Above the centre of the Palace is rising the
tower of the Cathedral of St. Domnio (St. Dujam). In the upper
corners of the shield are two coats of arms in semicircular
shields: dexter chequy gules and argent, and sinister argent St.
Domnio as bishop standing with his dexter raised in blessing and
holding a crozier in his sinister. Above the city arms is golden
figure 6. and below are the initials of the Croatian Army (HV).
The size of the flag is ca. 80 × 160 cm. The flag sleeve is made
of black cloth, the flag has no decorative fringe. Made in 1992
or 1993.
The main part of the emblem is the coat of arms of the city of
Split, which basically comes from XIV. century, and in this form
is used since 1991.
The central insignia is in the form of the patch that was made in
Split in 1993 (Tudman: Hrvatsko ratno znakovlje 3, pp. 117-118),
and a table flag of equal basic design was being produced
(Tudman: Hrvatske ratne i vojne zastavice, p. 403). A new flag,
which is rather faithful replica of the war-time flag (except for
dimensions that were now standardized to 1 × 2 m), was produced
in 2006 at the occasion of 15th Anniversary of CAF (Croatian
Armed Forces), made in two copies, which are kept in the Military
Museum in CAF General Staff, and are used for military ceremonies
in stead of this irreplaceable original war flag, which is kept
in the Military Museum."
Photo is here
(unfortunately, the online version has the raw photo without the
excess surrounding background cropped, the printed issue has the
properly processed photo).
Željko Heimer, 22 February 2010
Since the previous numbers the Croatian military weekly
magazine started as short series of articles about the military
units flags (colours) from the collection of the Military Museum
in Zagreb, prepared by yours truly.
The current week issue is at <www.hrvatski-vojnik.hr>
In my translation the text says:
The unit was established by the Presidential Decision of 4th
August 1993 and formally was active until 18 March 1999.
The Battalion flag is dark-purple with a yellow plastic emblem
applied by thermo-printing in the shape of a semicircular shield
with convex top edge. In the chief a tricolor arch, under it a
black initials HV (for Croatian Army), and below it in the right
two red squares in diagonal and one white. From the latter, along
the edge of the sign to the opposite side is white bordered gold
wattle pattern. In the centre of it a black gun, its battel runs
diagonally the left of the header and partially covers it, and
the back part of the cannon protrudes behind the wattle. Above
the emblem, along the upper edge of the flag is sewn golden
inscription 16. TOPNICKI DIVIZION. The flag size ca. 150 × 300
cm. The flag sleeve is made of the same material as the flag
field. Along the three outer edges golden fringe 3 cm. The flag
was probably made 1994. The emblem is made by E. Petric, Zagreb
(Tudman: Hrvatsko ratno znakovlje 2, p. 224).
This unusually large flags (the usual size of unit flag in CAF is
about 1 × 2 m) is representative of one of typical flag designs
of CAF unit colours - monocoloured with the unit emblem and the
inscription. Such design occurs in somewhat less than a third of
flags from the Homeland War. Somewhat more than a third are
monocoloured flags with unit emblem with no additional
inscriptions, while all other types are represented by only the
remaining third of flags. The purple flag field is very unusual
and occurs in less than 10 of almost 200 flags from the Homeland
War period."
Photo is here.
Željko Heimer, 22 February 2010
Since the previous numbers the Croatian military weekly
magazine started as short series of articles about the military
units flags (colours) from the collection of the Military Museum
in Zagreb, prepared by yours truly.
From Hrvatski vojnik, br. 283, March 2010. at <www.hrvatski-vojnik.hr>,
my translation:
"21st Home Defence Regiment - Krapina
The Regiment was established with the Presidential Decree of 27
July 1994, and probably formed/mobilized on 1st September 1994
(as the date on the flag indicates) from the previous Independant
Home Defence Company and other smaller units. It was disbanded on
17 September 1999, when it is inherited by the reserve 641st
Infantry Brigade - Krapina.
The unit flag is blue, bordered with a double row of interlaced
red and white squares. In the middle top is a golden bordered
black disk including within a golden bordered triple wattle
ornament a black shield. The shield depicts a gray figure of the
Monument to the Croatian Anthem, between golden figures 2 and 1.
and in the chief golden motto MI SMO TU NAVEK ("We are
always here" in the local dialect), and in the base ZAGORSKA
("of the Zagorje region"). Under the shield is a white
ribbon bordered red on it stop and blue onthe bottom inscribed in
golden "domobranska pukovnija" (Home Defence Regiment).
Under the disk is a tricolour ribbon with the coat of arms of
Croatian in each end and the date in the middle 1. 9. 1994. The
flag size is ca. 100×200 cm. It does not have a flag sleave, but
six white ribbons along the hoist edge.
The central element of the symbol is the Monument to the Croatian
Anthem "Lijepa naša" written by Antun Mihanovic in
place called Zelenjak on the road connecting Klanjec and
Kumrovec. The monument was erected by the Brotherhood of Croatian
Dragon Association on 24 November 1935 on the occasion of
centenary of the anthem. This monument became not only a kind of
a national symbol, but also a recognizable symbol of the Zagorje
region.
The flag is unique in using the counter-compony border. The
omitting of the fringe and the unusual hoisting method suggests
that this item was used for hoisting on a mast rather then on a
staff.
The flag was probably manufactured in 1994. The unit patch of the
same circular design was produced in 1996."
Photo by Branimir
Šenk is here.
Željko Heimer, 17 March 2010
I am working for quite some time on the topic of the Croatian
military flags and therefore I was surprised to find (part of)
them published in the national newspapers "Vecernji
list" on 5 August 2009 (the day celebrating the victory of
1995, liberating larger parts of rebel-held Croatia in the action
named Storm).
In the article,
one can find the article titled "We publish the the coat of
arms of the victorious units of the Croatian Army from the
Storm"
The article is full of journalistic imprecissions - but the most
interestng for us is that the published drawings are not
"coats of arms", but the flags (for the most part),
however, those flags that I call "symbolical war flags"
(i.e. designs "invented" and produced in 2006 only, and
nt in 1995 and before). I am pretty much confident that the
source of these flag images are drawing of the flags prepared for
the production of these flags by the flag makers company VIS
Varazdin, probably the collection of those drawings from the
Military Museum (or obtained directly from the flag makers?)
It may be interesting to know that all the drawings may be
downloaded at once in RAR compressed file from <blog.vecernji.hr>.
The 2006 "symbolical war flags" are not replicas of the
original flags used during the war, but "recreations" -
as may be most notably seen on the flag of the 113th Brigade -
compary the drawing (the only red flag on the abovementioned
page), with the photo at the top of the page - they are obviously
different. The photo there is taken from the journal's archive,
and I believe it originates from some event prior to 2006, when
the original flags were still being used (and as far as I can see
no other flag shown on that photo matches any other unit flag
shown in the drawings).
Željko Heimer, 6 August 2009
The web site at <library.foi.hr>
include a project of digitazing of the regional journal Glas
Podravine, from its first issues in 1951.
- An article from 1996 includes a photo shows a military
ceremony, with the flag of the 13th anti-armour rocket artillery
battalion of the Croatian Army. This flag is today in the
Military Museum.
Željko Heimer, 11 August 2009
