by H.L. deZeng IV

Since the end of World War II, there has been very little to appear in print concerning the acquisition and employment of armored fighting vehicles by the Independent State of Croatia, 1941-45. The very little that has appeared has not been well researched and the information presented has been incomplete and misleading at best. The following is an attempt to present the facts discovered during many years of research in the primary documentation and then let each reader come to his own conclusions. At the very least, it is hoped that it might motivate a few to do some additional research and thus add to what is known on this subject.

The discussion is restricted to armored fighting vehicles obtained and used by the Croatian armed forces and does not include those that belonged to the German-Croatian Legion formations (i.e., 369., 373. and 392. Infanterie-Division (kroat.)) and the Kammerhofer German-Croatian police organization. These joint formations were in fact German units that simply used large numbers of Croatians and Croatian Volksdeutschen to fill up the ranks. They were at all times supplied and equipped by the Germans, commanded by German officers and the Croatian state had absolutely no authority or control over them.

Croatian Armor - Chronology of Known and Probable Deliveries

10 Apr 41: 1.ceta/1.Bataljon bornih kola (1st Co./1st Armored Battalion) of the Royal Yugoslav Army surrendered to German forces without a fight in Zagreb with approximately 16 Renault FT-17s; rather than scrap them, the Germans subsequently “gave them to the Ustasha.” (1)
1 Jul 41: the Croatian Army general staff Zagreb asked the Germans (Gen. Glaise von Horstenau in Zagreb) this date if they could “borrow” 25 captured Yugoslav tanks until such time as they received some tanks from the Italians. (2)
10 Oct 41: Croatia had already, or was about to take delivery of 18 ex-Polish TKS tankettes with “Ursus” engines, probably distributed by German Feldzeugstab 41 z.b.V. Aussenstelle Agram (Zagreb). Strong evidence suggests that these were evenly divided upon receipt between an independent and unnumbered tank platoon then forming for employment in Bosnia (later called Tank Platoon/III Corps), and the tank company of the Motorized Bn./PTB in Zagreb. (3)
31 Dec 41: According to Vrančić, total Croatian armored strength consisted of “100 men equipped with 18 ex-Polish tankettes” on this date. (4)

Early 1942: Croatian General Headquarters plans called for equipping Ustasha Brigades I -V with a tank company for each, and a tank platoon with 3 medium and 2 light tanks for each of the 4 mountain brigades and each of the 4 Jäger brigades then in formation or soon to be formed. (5)
1 Jun 42: according to a British intelligence report of this date, “the Croatian Army has 12 old Renault tanks taken over from the former Yugoslav Army; these are probably FT-17s (7-10 tons).” All available evidence points to these having been dismantled and the turrets removed, or otherwise incorporated into the Croatian armored trains. There is absolutely no evidence that any FT-17/18s were ever used by the Croatians in their normal ground role.
First half of Jul 42: “The Croatian Army has obtained from the Germans an allotment of 21 x 5-ton tanks, which are supposed to be destined for the III Corps in Sarajevo for use in Bosnia.” (See the entry below for Autumn 1942 for LT-34 tanks). (5)
Second half of Jul 42: “20 Croatian soldiers recently left Karlovac to attend an armor course in Bjelovar.  At the conclusion of the course they are to return to Karlovac with the tanks.” (6)
Autumn 1942: Croatia obtained 10 Hungarian L 3 (L 33/CV 33) Italian tankettes, with 15 spare “Kovacs” engines and 500,000 rounds of machine gun ammunition. (7)
Autumn 1942: Croatia ordered 20 ex-Czechoslovak LT-34 (P-II) tanks from Germany, but these had to be refurbished at the Skoda factory first.  On receipt at Skoda, they were found to be in such bad condition that they were scraped and never delivered to Croatia. (8)

14 Feb 43: according to a German report, total Croatian armor strength this date was approximately 40 light tanks. (Inescapably, these must all be Italian tankettes and the ex-Polish TKS tankettes). (9)
14 Jul 43: by this date the NDH had established a Command (or Headquarters) for Armored Troops (Kommando der Panzertruppen) located in the Customs Building (next to the Veterinary Faculty) on Hainzlova Ulica in Zagreb. The Command came directly under the Inspector of Technical Troops (Pukovnik Čiril Danda) in the Ministry of the Armed Forces. It was responsible for all matters concerning the procurement of armor, training and maintenance of armored vehicles. (10)
Late 1943: a number of captured Italian L6/40 (PzKpfw. L6/40 733(i)) tanks were given to Croatia sometime after the Italian surrender on 8 September. (11)
15 Dec 43: a German intelligence document lists the types of armored vehicles in the hands of the Croatian forces on this date as follows:
PzKpfw. I Ausf. A (6-ton, 1 light machine gun Model 13),
PzKpfw. Renault (ex-Yugoslav) (1 x 3.7 cm gun and 1 light machine gun),
Pz.Spähwagen Fiat (2 light machine guns) (this is the L 3 (L 33) tankette).
(Comment:  it is not believed that this information is either accurate or complete, since it was prepared by OKW/Abwehr is far-off Berlin and seems to conflict with the known facts). (12)

15 Jan 44:   describing the types of tanks used by the Croatian mountain and Jäger brigades, Croatian general staff Podpukovnik Ivan Babić, who was directly concerned with the equipping of the Croatian forces, told Allied intelligence in Italy immediately following his defection by plane that these were “French Hotchkiss” (H-39s?), “Ursus” (ex-Polish TKS tankettes), and “Ansaldo” (L 33s). (13)
Late spring 1944(?): a number of captured Italian Semovente L/40 DA47/32 (StuG L6 with 47/32 770(i)) self-propelled guns were given to the Croatian Army. Limited evidence suggests that these, possibly no more than 4 of them, were assigned to the Artillery Rgt./PTD. (14)
Spring 1944(?): a few Hotchkiss H-39 tanks may have been delivered to Croatia through German Army channels, and assigned to the mountain and Jäger brigades.   Zaloga says these may have numbered 10 to 16 in total. (15)
Mid-1944: postwar sources state that the Germans delivered 12 to 15 Hanomag SdKfz. 251 armored half-tracks to Croatia in mid-1944. No documents have yet been seen to support this.
By autumn 1944: some postwar sources state that Croatia received from the Germans 20 to 25 PzKpfw. III Ausf. N (25-ton, 75mm L/24 gun), but no documents have been seen to support this.
Autumn 1944(?): Croatia received a few Pz.Kpfw. IV medium tanks from Germany, according to Chamberlain. Postwar sources state that these were 10 x PzKpfw. IV Ausf. F (24.5-ton, 75mm L/24 gun) and 5 x PzKpfw. IV Ausf. G (26-ton, 75mm L/43 gun). Unfortunately, no documents have been seen to support this. (16)
1 Dec 44: the Croatian Armed Forces had a total of 85 armored fighting vehicles on this date, according to the German staff directly concerned with equipping Croatian units. These were allocated and distributed as follows: (17)

Units	Authorized	On Hand
Poglavnikova tjelesna divizija (PTD)	54	35
14 Ustasha Brigades	84	26
4 Mountain Brigades	18	9
3 Jäger Brigades	18	0
3 Replacement Brigades	26	7
Mobile Brigade (Brzi Zdrug)	24	5
Miscellaneously assigned	0	3

Total authorized: 224
Total on hand: 85

Jan 45: according to Croatian veteran Slavko Skara, the tanks provided to the Croatians by the Germans were sent to the front in Syrmia to help halt the Russian and Bulgarian advance into this region. These may have been the Pz.Kpfw. IVs that were delivered, since these are the only ones in the possession of the Croatians that could have been sent to a “front” where they might have encountered enemy tanks. But this is the recollection of an old veteran and lacks the weight of documentary evidence. (18)

Croatian Armor - Units

This section summarizes the history of those Croatian units known to have operated AFVs.

1st Light Tank Co./1st Mountain Division
Commander: Nadporučnik Subotić
27 Jan 43:  in Daruvar - had 14 light tanks armed with a French heavy machine gun, but 7 of these were unserviceable and were pending repair. (19)
22-27 Feb 43: Tank Co. operating in the Hercegovac-Palesnik-Garešnica area. (20)
27 Feb 43: Tank Co. alerted for use in a operation to take place SW of Virovitica. (21)
4-6 Apr 43: Tank Co. at Kutina - it could not move forward for Operation “Virovitica” due to marshy terrain. (22)
7 Apr 43: one of its platoons with 5 light tanks participated in Operation “Braun” - 2 tanks damaged by enemy fire. (23)
May – Jul 43: Tank Co. not mentioned.
Aug 43: 1st Mountain Division disbanded - 1st Light Tank Co. disbanded and divided between 1st and 4th Mountain Brigades. (24)

Tank Platoon/1st Mountain Brigade
Commander: ?
Aug 43: formed from half of the disbanded 1st Light Tank Co./1st Mountain Division with 5 tanks.
1 Jun 44: had 3 medium French Somua tanks and 2 light tanks. (25)
1 Dec 44: still in existence. (26)

Tank Co./I Ustasha Brigade
Commander: ?
Dec 41: as the “Black Legion”, had a small number of Italian L 33 tankettes, then all or some of these were handed over to the V Ustasha Brigade around September or October 1942. (27)
Oct 42: Sarajevo - had a total of 6 light tanks and participated in Operation “Jajce I”. (28)
Sep 44: still in existence - had one platoon of 3 tanks in Sarajevo. (29)

Armored Replacement Co./I Replacement Brigade
Commander: ?
1 Sep 43: Zagreb area - had 3 medium and 2 light tanks. (30)
Jan – Jun 44: had 7 tanks. (31)
Nov 44: still located in Zagreb.

Light Tank Platoon/I Transportation Battalion
Commander:
1 Feb 43: in Zagreb - had a total of 5 light tanks. (32)
17 Feb 43: now in Glina with its 5 light tanks attached to the Petrinski Zdrug. (33)
20 Jun 43: now attached to V. Mountain Brigade - still had 5 light tanks. (34)
Spring 44: no longer listed and appears to have been absorbed into the Tank Co./III. Ustasha Brigade. (35)

Tank Platoon/III Corps
Commander: ?
Nov 41: formed at the end of November 1941 with some 6 to 9 ex-Polish tankettes. The Platoon was unnumbered, independent and initially had a total of 41 men. (36)
28 May 42: in Sarajevo. (37)
15 Jun 42: at least two of the Platoon’s tanks transferred by train from Sarajevo to Zepce, off-loaded, and sent into action around Vlasenica. The next day, both tanks either broke down or were knocked out by the enemy. (38)
4 Jul 42: 3 tanks at Hadzici, just west of Sarajevo, attached to I. Bn./5th Inf.Rgt. (39)

Tank Platoon/3d Mountain Brigade
Commander: ?
16 Sep 44: in Banja Luka with 3 Hotchkiss tanks (65mm gun and 1 heavy machine gun). (40)

Tank Platoon/3d Jäger Brigade
Commander: ?
15 Aug 44: shown on order of battle charts, but the number and type of tanks not indicated.
1 Dec 44: no longer existed by this date. (41)

Tank Co./III Ustasha Brigade
Commander: ?
Spring 44: formed in early 1944 with 7 tanks. (42)

Tank Platoon/4th Mountain Brigade
Commander: ?
Aug 43: formed around August with 5 tanks from half of the disbanded 1st Light Tank Co./1st Mountain Division. (43)
24 Apr 44: participated in Operation “Ungewitter” in the Papuk Mountains until 8 May. (44)
1 Jun 44: Platoon had 3 medium Somua S-35 tanks. (45)
1 Dec 44: still in existence. (46)

Tank Platoon/4th Jäger Brigade
Commander: ?
1 Jun 44: had 4 medium tanks (probably either Somua or Hotchkiss). (47)
1 Dec 44: no longer existed by this date. (48)

Tank Co./IV Ustasha Brigade
Commander: Ust. Nadporučnik Ivan Milardović  (8/42)
Aug 42: formed around August in Gospić by (temporarily?) renaming 3d Tank Co./PTS. Since it’s designation was never formally changed, it will be referred to here as 3d Tank Co./PTS. (49)
1 Apr 43: 3d Tank Co./PTS in Gospić assigned to HQ Operations District Lika (“Zapoli”). (50)
15 Oct 43: 3d Tank Co./PTS in Gospić with 7 x 3.5-ton light tanks, each with 1 heavy machine gun - total strength 2 officers, 5 NCOs and 32 men. (51)
1 Nov 43: Gospić as 3d Tank Co./PTS. (52)
Dec 43: Gospić area with Italian L 33 tankettes. (53)
Jan – Jun 44:  3d Tank Co./PTS in Gospić - repeatedly show on order of battle charts as having 7 x L 33 tankettes plus 39 other motor vehicles. (54)
1 Jul 44: 3d Tank Co./PTS in Gospić under IV Ustasha Brigade. (55)
1 Dec 44: still in existence with 8 x L 33 tankettes. (56)

Tank Co./V Ustasha Brigade
Commander: ?
Oct – Dec 42: formed on receipt of a couple of L 33 tankettes from the “Black Legion” (I. Ustasha Brigade). (57)
3 Oct 43:  based in Livno - had a total of 2 x L 33 tankettes, 1 officer, 30 NCOs and 48 men. (58)
Jan 44: said to be operating in the area south of Sarajevo with L 33 tankettes. (If this is so, then it had been sent there from Livno and attached to the I Ustasha Brigade). (59)

Tank Co. (later 1st and 2d Tank Cos.)/PTS
Commander: Ust. Poručnik Franjo Muša  (8/42, 1/43)
5 Dec 41: first mention - it was part of the Motorized Group (Brzi Sklop)/PTB (Satnik Orešković) and took part in a parade in Zagreb with its tankettes (probably ex-Polish TKS tankettes?). (60)
9 Jan 42: operating in the Vrgin Most area with the Motorized Group/PTB with 6 Italian CV 35 tankettes. (61)
18 Mar 42: departed Zagreb by train for the Petrova gora with 5 x CV 35s as part of the Motorized Group/PTB. (62)
15 May 42: at Vrgin Most with 5 x CV 35s. (63)
Aug 42: by this date the Company had been reorganized into 1st and 2d Tank Companies/PTB. (64)
1 Dec 42: Zagreb with CV 35s under the Motorized Group/PTS. (65)
Dec 42: approximately 10 x CV 35s transferred to Samobor for operations. (66)
Feb 43: around 8-10 CV 35s transferred to Cazin for operations, but returned to Zagreb a few weeks later. (67)
20 Mar 43: 8 x CV 35s arrived at Dulavec in Slavonia by train from Zagreb to take part in anti-partisan operations. (68)
May – Jun 43: operating in the Varaždin – Virovitica area with 12 x CV 35s.
Jul 43: all 12 of the tanks participated in Operation “Paula” in the Varaždin area.
Aug 43: one Tank Co. in Zagreb and the other in Krapina.
3 Oct 43: some of the tanks based in Varaždin were operating in the Ludbreg area.
Nov 43: one tank platoon was supposed to be shipped to Slavonia for attachment to II Ustasha Brigade to help keep the supply roads open, but this plan was cancelled.
9 Dec 43: had some 20 tanks operating in the Koprivnica-Ludbreg area.
1 Jan 44: 1st and 2d Tank Companies/PTS transferred from Zagreb to Varaždin this day to be reorganized as Tank or Armored Group/PTS.
3 Oct 43: some of the tanks based in Varaždin were operating in the Ludbreg area.
Nov 43: one tank platoon was supposed to be shipped to Slavonia for attachment to II Ustasha Brigade to help keep the supply roads open, but this plan was cancelled. (69)
9 Dec 43: had some 20 tanks operating in the Koprivnica-Ludbreg area.
1 Jan 44: 1st and 2d Tank Companies/PTS transferred from Zagreb to Varaždin this day to be reorganized as Tank or Armored Group/PTS.

Croatian Armor - Late War Organization and Activity

1943: Motorized Group (brzi sklop)/I Ustasha Defense Brigade (I Ustaški Obrambeni Zdrug) formed at Jasenovac under the command of Bojnik Josip Mataja. It consisted of a Headquarters Section (367 officers and men with 20 to 30 tanks and armored cars, and a large number of motorcycles and trucks), an Engineer Co. (opkoparska satnija with 249 officers and men), Antitank Co. (protuoklopna satnija with 147 officers and men), Grenadier Co. (grenadirska satnija with 188 officers and men) and a Bicycle Co. (koturăska satnija with 169 officers and men). (70)

1944: Poglavnik Bodyguard Brigade/Division (PTS/PTD) tanks - to approximately April 1944, the only tanks in the PTS were some 9 to 20 x 3½-ton light tanks, all in 1st and 2d Tank Companies (oklopna satnija) that came under the PTS Motorized or Mobile Group.   The tank formation departed Zagreb in January 1944 and moved to Varaždin where it was attached to the 1st Infantry Rgt./PTS for operations. Around 21 April the tank formation was being described as the Armored Group (oklopni sklop)/PTS that now had some 6-ton tanks along with the smaller light tanks. It was expanded using tanks captured following the surrender of the Italians in September 1943. The Armored Group was now directly under HQ PTS and was no longer a part of the Motorized Group/PTS. The commander (at least by Sep 44) is Ust. Dopukovnik Franjo Šarić. (71)
8 Jan 44: one of the PTS tank platoons in action around Zlatar.
8 Feb 44: PTS tanks took part in Operation “Dubrovnik 2” in the Kalnik Mountains.
Mar 44: PTS tanks engaged in operations in Zagorje.
11 Apr 44: Armored Group/PTS based in Varaždin - involved in heavy action during April and May.
1 Jun 44: Armored Group/PTD consisted of: 1st Medium Tank Co. (15 tanks), 2d Light Tank Co. (7 tanks), 3d Motorized Inf. Co. (12 x light machine guns and 2 x medium mortars), 4th Motorized Inf. Co. (12 x light machine guns and 2 x medium mortars), 5th Headquarters Co. (with engineer, signal, antitank and maintenance platoons);
Motorized Group/PTD consisted of: 2d Motorcycle Co. (17 x heavy machine guns and 4 x medium mortars), 3d Tank Co. (15 light tanks – in Gospić attached to IV. Ust. Zdrug), 4th Motorized Inf. Co. (2 x heavy machine guns, 9 x light machine guns, 5 x light mortars), 5th Headquarters Co. (with engineer, signal, antitank and maintenance platoons). (72)
15 Jun 44: the PTD reported that it had a total of 26 x 6-ton Italian Type L6/40 tanks but because of a total lack of replacement parts only 4 of these were serviceable and capable of use. The PTD asked the Germans for help in obtaining the necessary parts. (73)
7 Jul 44: Armored Group/PTD participated in Operation “Rouen” in the vicinity of Koprivnica and in the Kalnik Mountains.
29 Aug 44: the 3. Tank Co. of the Motorized Group/PTD now in Markuševac, just NNE of Zagreb, with 11 x CV 35 tankettes.   (Comment: it appears that the company had returned to Zagreb from Gospić during Jul 44). (74)
15 Sep 44: Motorized Group/PTD (Bojnik Nikola Orešković) in Sv. Ivan Zelina with 11 small light tanks (malih tenkova); Armored Group/PTD (Dopukovnik Franjo Šarić) based in Varaždin. (75)
7-13 Oct 44: both the Motorized Group/PTD and the Armored Group/PTD took part in the defense of Koprivnica, losing 6 tanks. The Motorized Group suffered heavy losses and had to be withdrawn to Zagreb to be brought back to full strength of around 600 men with replacements. (76)
1 Nov 44: Armored Group/PTD now back in Varaždin and the Motorized Group/PTD back in Sv. Ivan Zelina.
1 Dec 44: Armored Group/PTD had two tank companies of 10 tanks each and the Motorized Group/PTD had one company with 15 tanks. (77)
Dec 44: 1st HUD (Hrvatska udarna divizija - formed 1 Dec 44) included a Motorized Group (brzi sklop) with a recon co. (izvidjačka sat) and two armored companies (oklop. sati). (78)

Apr 45: the Motorized Group still shown to be with 1st HUD.   Another Motorized Group (brzi sklop) is shown as part of the PTD. (79)
c. 15 Apr 45: major reorganization - the Poglavnikov Tjelesni Zbor (PTZ - Poglavnik Bodyguard Corps) is formed to included PTD, 1st HUD and 5th HUD.   The two Motorized Groups still belong to the PTD (the PTD’s located in Sv. Ivan Zelina) and the 1st HUD.   The PTD’s Armored Group (oklopni sklop) still located in Varaždin under Dodpukovnik Franjo Šarić that was said to consist of 11 x 6-ton tanks. In addition, there were 4 x 148 mm Italian self-propelled guns assigned to the Artillery Rgt./PTD. A new Motorized Brigade (brzi zdrug), that is subordinated directly under the PTZ, is also shown with its HQ in Dugo Selo under the command of Pukovnik Šlaher, strength 1,600. Its composition is given as two battalions (I. and II. bojna), an independent artillery battery, supply and support elements. (80)
At the same time, the Ustaški Obranbeni Zdrug in the Jasenovac – Bos.Dubica – Sunja area, which had its own Motorized Group (brzi sklop), see above, is reorganized as the 30th Assault Infantry Regiment (30. udarna pješačka pukovnija) and incorporated into the new 18th Croatian Assault Division (18. Hrvatska udarna divizija). (81)
1-7 May 45: acting on the direct orders of Poglavnik Ante Pavelić, Ust.Pukovnik Max Luburić concentrated a formation of tanks in Zagreb and these were used a few days later to spearhead the withdrawal of NDH forces toward the Austrian border. We can only speculate where these tanks came from, but presumably they were whatever tanks were left that could be made to run. It is not known how many there were, but on 14 May the number 30 is used (see below). Certainly some dropped out along the way north from Zagreb or were destroyed in action with the Partisans, so the actual number that departed Zagreb may have been somewhat more. (82)
13 May 45: Motorized Group/PTD was still intact and was engaged against Partisan forces near Dravograd. (83)
14 May 45: the PTD is said to have still had some 30 tanks on this date and these were withdrawing with the rest of the NDH forces toward Austria in the vicinity of Bleiburg and Dravograd. In a battle with the 8th Partisan Brigade south of Dravograd on this date, the Croatians lost 3 of their 30 tanks to bazooka fire. (84)
20 May 45: nearly all of the survivors of the Motorized Group were now in a British PoW camp at Grafenstein/14 km E of Klagenfurt. They were handed over to the Partisans who took them to St. Vid near Ljubljana where most of the officers were executed. (85)

Concluding Comments

The central question, then, concerns the German Pz.Kpfw. III and IV tanks that may have suddenly appeared in the final few months of the war. Did they really exist? If so, where did they come from? To which Croatian unit did they belong? When were they delivered? Did they have Croatian crews or were they crewed by Germans? How many of each type were there? Vague statements by veterans are only really helpful if they are specific as to dates, places and facts, and if there are enough of them so they corroborate one another. What is really needed to substantiate the existence of these tanks and the claim that they were delivered to the Croatian state and assigned to a purely Croatian unit is hard evidence.
If hard evidence cannot be produced to answer these questions, then there are several alternative possibilities to consider. Did these tanks actually belong to the three Police Tank Companies (Polizei-Panzerkompanie 6, 11 and 16 Kroatien), which were engaged in the Osijek area until they retreated north toward Zagreb in late April 1945? These were initially equipped in 1943-44 with Austrian, French and Italian armored cars and tanks (ADGZ, Hotchkiss H 38’s, Panhard, Renault R 35’s, etc.), but they could have acquired a few German Pz.Kpfw. III and IV tanks in 1945. Their personnel were mainly German and Croatian Volksdeutsche. Another possibility is that these mysterious tanks may have belonged to a German unit that was caught up in the general withdrawal through Zagreb in early May 1945. Slowly grinding along in columns of tightly packed Croatian units jamming the roads north through Slovenia to the Austrian border, eyewitness veterans may have simply assumed that they were Croatian tanks.
The speculative possibilities are almost endless until such time as hard, documented evidence turns up. Until then, each individual will have to weigh the facts and arrive at his own conclusion.

Footnotes

1. Babić, Mihajlo.  Qklopne jedinice u NOR-u (Belgrade, 1969).
2. NARA WashDC:  RG 242 (T-501:267/937).
3. RG 242 (T-501:264/1311); Vrančić, Vjekoslav - “Postrojenje I Brojčano Stanje Hrvatskih Oružanih Snaga” in: U Službi Domovine (Buenos Aires, 1977); J.C.M. Probst letter to H.L. deZeng dated 12/82.
4. T-78:4501573-74; Vrančić.
5. Italian intelligence report, in: T-821:278/469.
6. Italian intelligence report, in: T-821:278/477.
7. J.C.M. Probst letter, 5 Mar 1983.
8. J.C.M. Probst letter, 5 Mar 1983.
9. T-501:264/884.
10. NDH Ministry of the Armed Forces, Inspectorate of Technical Troops, No. 1691, 14 July 1943; in: T-315:1554/1098-99.
11. Chamberlain, Peter.  Encyclopedia of German Tanks of World War Two (NY, 1978).
12. T-78:450/579.
13. NARA WashDC:   RG 226 (Records of the Office of Strategic Services) OSS Report No. 9611.
14. P.Chamberlain – op.cit., p.233.
15. Zaloga, Steve - Eastern Front Armor (Carollton (TX): Squadron-Signal Publications, 1983), p.63.
16. P.Chamberlain – op.cit., p.99.
17. OKW WFSt/Org(IVa) 4090/44g.Kdos., 11.12.1944, “Kriegsgerätelieferungen an Kroatien.”  In: NARA WashDC:  RG 242 (T-77:776/724-26).
18. Prcela, John and Stanko Guldescu.  Operation Slaughterhouse (Philadelphia: Dorrance & Co., 1970), pp.277, 410 and 423.
19. T-315:1553/305.
20. T-315:1553.
21. T-315:1553.
22. T-315:1553/1161-63.
23. T-315:1553/1139-56.
24. German LXIX. Armeekorps order of battle chart.
25. German LXIX. Armeekorps order of battle chart.
26. T-77:776/724-26.
27. Drina and Partisan intelligence reports.
28. T-315:2270/586-90.
29. Zbornik NOR.
30. T-77:883/890-92; T-313:191/052.
31. German LXIX. Armeekorps order of battle chart.
32. T-501:264/884.
33. T-315:1553/131.
34. T-315:1554.
35. T-77:776/724-26.
36. V.Vrančić – op.cit.; Colić, Mladen – Takozvana Nezavisna Država Hrvatska 1941 (Beograd, 1973), p.235.
37. T-315:2270/005.
38. T-315:2268/826, 829, 835 and 841.
39. T-315:2268/875.
40. Zbornik AVII, IV/29, pp.359-64.
41. T-77:776/724-26.
42. German LXIX. Armeekorps order of battle chart.
43. German LXIX. Armeekorps order of battle chart.
44. T-314:1546/421-40.
45. German LXIX. Armeekorps order of battle chart.
46. T-77:776/724-26.
47. German LXIX. Armeekorps order of battle chart.
48. T-77:776/724-26.
49. Veteran interview.
50. Zbornik AVII, V/14, p.373.
51. T-314:558/1139.
52. Zbornik AVII, V/21, p.600.
53. German documents and Partisan intelligence reports.
54. German LXIX. Armeekorps order of battle charts.
55. Zbornik AVII, V/31, p.607.
56. T-77:776/724-26.
57. Drina and Partisan intelligence reports.
58. T-314:554/1196.
59. German documents and Partisan intelligence reports.
60. Hrvatski Narod, 6.12.41, p.2.
61. T-821:52/993.
62. T-821:53/1078.
63. Zbornik AVII, V/32, p.258.
64. Veteran interview.
65. T-315:2270/1032-36; AVII Beograd, fond NDH, kut. 134a.
66. Veteran interview.
67. Veteran interview; T-501:264/884.
68. T-315:1553/1117-26.
69. T-313:192/767 and 804; T-501:267/248.
70. Lazić, Dusan.  “Organizacija policijsko-obaveštajne službe ‘Nezavisne Države Hrvatske’”; in: Zbornik za istoriju (Matica Srpska, 1972-75)
71. Bulat, Rade - Deseti Korpus “Zagrebački” NOV I POJ (Beograd, 1985).
72. Order of Battle listing prepared by HQ PTD in: NARA WashDC:  RG 242 (T-314 roll 1545 frame 866).
73. NARA WashDC:  RG 242 (T-314 roll 1548 frames 340-47).
74. Zagrebački partisanski odred, p.283.
75. AVII Beograd, fond NDH, kut. 114b, br. reg. 1.2; kut. 134a, br. reg. 4/1; Zagrebački partisanski odred, p.303.
76. Bulat, Rade.  Deseti Korpus, pp.163-84; Zagrebački partisanski odred, p.349.
77. T-77:776/724.
78. AVII Beograd, f.3, d.1, kut. 134a “Oružane Snaga Bivše NDH.”
79. AVII – op. cit.
80. AVII – op. cit; NARA WashDC:  RG 223 (Records of the Office of Strategic Services), Report No. GB-3890 (Dissemination No. A-51671) dated 25 Feb 45.
81. AVII – op. cit.
82. Prcela, John and Stanko Guldescu.  Operation Slaughterhouse (Philadelphia: Dorrance & Co., 1970), pp.277, 410 and 423.
83. Drina, 2/1963, pp.77-78, 87 and 93.
84. Journal of Croatian Studies, 1977/78, p.123.
85. Drina, 2/1963, pp. 35 and 123.