Slavko Kvaternik Slavko Kvaternik ( 25 August 1878 – 7 June 1947 ) was a one of the founders of fascist Ustaša movement , and one of the persons most directly responsible for the Holocaust in Independent State of Croatia . Kvaternik was Croatian military commander and Minister of " Domobranstvo " ( Armed Forces ) . On 10 April 1941 he declared the creation of the Independent State of Croatia . Kvaternik was an officer in the Austro - Hungarian Army and was involved in World War I . After collapse of the Austria - Hungary he joined the National Council of State of Slovenes , Croats and Serbs and became Chief of the General Staff of unrecognized State of Slovenes , Croats and Serbs . As such , he defended the region of Međimurje against Hungarians . He later transferred to the Royal Yugoslav Army and remained there until 1921 . In 1930s he was one of the founders of the Ustaša - Croatian Revolutionary Movement in Italy . After Germany invaded Yugoslavia in March 1941 , he declared the creation of the Independent State of Croatia on 10 April 1941 with the support of the Axis . In the newly created state , he became the Minister of the Armed Forces and in 1943 he retired . Early life . Kvaternik was born in Moravice ( then known as Komorske Moravice ) in Kingdom of Croatia Austria - Hungary on 25 August 1878 , the son of Ljudevit , a postman , and his wife Marija Frank , who was of German descent and Catholic by religion . During World War I , Kvaternik served as an adjutant of field marshal Svetozar Boroević and was awarded the Iron Cross 1st Class . In 1918 he joined the newly formed National Council of Slovenes , Croats and Serbs , becoming the Chief of General Staff . At the end of the year , Kvaternik commanded Croatian troops during the successful campaign in Međimurje against the Hungarian army . World War II . After the German invasion of the Kingdom of Yugoslavia on 6 April 1941 , the Ustaše formed their government with Ante Pavelić as leader . Four days later Kvaternik proclaimed the establishment of the Independent State of Croatia ( NDH ) and formed the first Ustasha government . At the same time , at Kvaternik ' s request , Vladko Maček ( the leader of the Croatian Peasant Party , who had refused to cooperate with the Germans when they requested he lead the new nation ) told the people to cooperate with the new regime . Kvaternik ' s position at this time was commander - in - chief of the Croatian Armed Forces . This carried the title of " vojskovođa " ( marshal ) . The Croatian Home Guard was established on 11 April . He stayed at this position until his retirement on 4 January 1943 . He was awarded the 1st Class Cross of the Military Order of the Iron Trefoil during his service to the NDH . This award gave him the title of " vitez " ( knight ) , which is sometimes included in his name . Crimes . Mass murders of Jews , Serbs and Roma and anti - fascist Croats . Creation and operation of Ustasha concentration camps which were established on the model of Nazi concentration camps , among which stands out the Jasenovac . Death . After the Second World War ' s end , Kvaternik was captured by US army , tried and sentenced to death for his crimes during NDH regime , by Yugoslav officials . He was executed in Zagreb on 7 June 1947 . Family . His wife was Olga Frank , daughter of Josip Frank , Croatian nationalist politician of Jewish descent , who converted from Judaism to Catholicism . Son of Slavko Kvaternik and Olga Frank was Dido Kvaternik , a general in the NDH army and a member of the Ustasha .