by H.L. deZeng IV

Fifteen (15) were ordered formed on 24 July 1941 as a source of trained replacements for wartime losses suffered by the infantry regiments. Each battalion had an authorized strength of 571. The battalions remained in existence until they were disbanded in February 1944 and their personnel absorbed into the new replacement brigades. The total strength of Croatian Army replacement units on 1 September 1943 was 4,260. (1)

Replacement Bn./1st Infantry Rgt.
Formed 24 July 1941 by renaming III Bn./13th Infantry Rgt. in Mostar as the Mostarska doknadna bojna (Mostar Replacement Bn.) to provide replacements to the 1st Infantry Regiment.
Operational History
Dec 41: Mostar, less 5th Co. stationed in Nevesinje; but on the same date other sources list it in Bjelovar.
10 Apr 42: Bjelovar - participated in the first clearing operation in the Karnik Mountains under the tactical control of the Kalnik Brigade.
Jan 43: Bjelovar with at least 3 companies.
12-13 Feb 43: a March Co. (i.e., Replacement Transfer Co.) from the Bn. took part in Operation “Moslavačka gora” that was ordered to engage and destroy the Partisan Moslavačka Detachment in the vicinity of the villages of Prokop – Popovac – Oštri Zid – G. Garešnica. The Croatians claimed 144 Partisans killed, 20 wounded and 8 captured for a loss of only 4 KIA.
6 May 43: the Battalion’s 2d March Co. was partially destroyed in a Partisan attack near Bjelovar.
28 May 43: its 1st March Co. was stationed in Ivanska/12 km south of Bjelovar. The Battalion is not mentioned again in the available records.

Replacement Bn./2d Infantry Rgt.
Formed 24 July 1941 by renaming III Bn./7th Infantry Rgt. in Sarajevo as the Sarajevska doknadna bojna (Sarajevo Replacement Bn.) to provide replacements to the 2d Infantry Regiment.
Operational History
Dec 41: Sarajevo with 3d Co. in Zavidovići.
Dec 42: Sarajevo. Not identified after this date.

Replacement Bn./3d Infantry Rgt.
Formed 24 July 1941 in Banja Luka as the Banjalučka doknadna bojna (Banja Luka Replacement Bn.) to provide replacements to the 3d Infantry Regiment.
Operational History
Dec 41: in Banja Luka.
Dec 42: in Banja Luka. Not identified after this date.

Replacement Bn./4th Infantry Rgt.
Formed 24 July 1941 in Tuzla as the Tuzlanska doknadna bojna (Tuzla Replacement Bn.) to provide replacements to the 4th Infantry Regiment.
Operational History
Dec 41: Tuzla with 2d Co. in Petrovo Selo and 3d Co. in Karanovac.
Jan 42: Bn. participated in Operation “Süd-Kroatien”.
Oct 42: now stationed in Osijek. Not identified after this date.

Replacement Bn./5th Infantry Rgt.
Formed 24 July 1941 by renaming III Bn./11th Infantry Rgt. in Petrinja as the Petrinjska doknadna bojna (Petrinja Replacement Bn.) .) to provide replacements to the 5th Infantry Regiment.
Operational History
Dec 41: Bn. HQ in Petrinja, 1st Co. in Glina, 2d Co. in Kostajnica – Bos. Novi area, 3d Co. in Kotorište near Banja Luka, 4th Co. in Petrinja and 5th Co. in Kraljevčani near Petrinja.
Jan 43: Bn. now in Slavonska Požega. Not identified after this date.

Replacement Bn./6th Infantry Rgt.
Formed 24 July 1941 in Travnik as the Travnička doknadna bojna (Travnik Replacement Bn.) to provide replacements to the 6th Infantry Regiment.
Operational History
Dec 41: Travnik with 1st Co. in Zavidovići and platoons in D. Vakuf, Majdan and Zenica. Not identified after this date.

Replacement Bn./7th Infantry Rgt.
Formed 24 July 1941 in Zagreb as the Zagrebačka doknadna bojna (Zagreb Replacement Bn.) to provide replacements to the 7th Infantry Regiment.
Operational History
Dec 41: Zagreb in cadre strength of only 17 officers and men. Not identified after this date.

Replacement Bn./8th Infantry Rgt.
Formed 24 July 1941 in Osijek as the Osiječke doknadna bojna (Osijek Replacement Bn.) to provide replacements to the 8th Infantry Regiment.
Operational History
Dec 41: Bn. in Bijeljina with one Co. in Osijek and one Co. in Slavonski Brod.
6 Feb 42: One company took part in an anti-partisan operation in the Papuk Mountains. Not identified after this date.

Replacement Bn./9th Infantry Rgt.
Formed 24 July 1941 in Vinkovci as the Vinkovačka doknadna bojna (Vinkovci Replacement Bn.) to provide replacements to the 9th Infantry Regiment.
Operational History
Dec 41: Vinkovci with one Co. in Sremski Rača, one in Hrv. Mitrovica and one in Ruma. Not identified after this date.

Replacement Bn./10th Infantry Rgt.
Formed 24 July 1941 by renaming III Bn./3d Infantry Rgt. in Karlovac as the Karlovačka doknadna bojna (Karlovac Replacement Bn.) to provide replacements to the 10th Infantry Regiment.
Operational History
2 Aug 41: Banja Luka under the tactical control of the Sanski Brigade.
Dec 41: Karlovac with 5th Co. in Ogulin. Not identified after this date.

Replacement Bn./11th Infantry Rgt.
Formed 24 July 1941 in Slavonska Požega as the Sl. Požeška doknadna bojna (Sl. Požega Replacement Bn.) to provide replacements to the 11th Infantry Regiment.
Operational History
Dec 41: Sl. Požega with one Co. in Bos. Dubica and 5th Co. in Nova Gradiška.
6 Feb 42: 4th and 5th Co. took part in an anti-partisan in the Papuk Mountains. Not identified after this date.

Replacement Bn./12th Infantry Rgt.
Formed 24 July 1941 by renaming III Bn./15th Infantry Rgt. in Knin as the Kninska doknadna bojna (Knin Replacement Bn.) to provide replacements to the 12th Infantry Regiment.
Operational History
Dec 41: Knin with 1st Co. in Sinj and 2d Co. in Livno.
Apr 42: now in Varaždin tactically under the Kalnik Brigade. Not identified after this date.

Replacement Bn./13th Infantry Rgt.
Formed 24 July 1941 in Varaždin as the Varaždinska doknadna bojna (Varaždin Replacement Bn.) to provide replacements to the 13th Infantry Regiment.
Operational History
Dec 41: Varaždin with 1st Co. in the Kostajnica – Bos. Novi area.
1 Feb 43: now in Mostar; one of its companies was an Expeditionary Co. Not identified after this date.

Replacement Bn./14th Infantry Rgt.
Formed 24 July 1941 in Bjelovar as the Bjelovarsja doknadna bojna (Bjelovar Replacement Bn.) .) to provide replacements to the 13th Infantry Regiment.
Operational History
Dec 41: Bjelovar with 5th Co. in the Kostajnica – Bos. Novi area.
24-25 Mar 42: 59 Domobrans from the 7th Co./Bjelovar Replacement Bn. were taken prisoner by elements of I Bn./2d Krajina NOP Detachment near the village of Vodičevo located along the Bos. Novi – Kostajnica railway line.
14 May 43: the Battalion’s 1st March (Replacement Transfer) Co. transferred from Varaždin to Novi Marof to guard materials belonging to the German Organisation Todt.
15-16 Sep 43: the Novi Marof garrison was attacked by a battalion from Partisan Brigade “Braća Radić” and 71 men from the Replacement Bn. were captured.
Feb 44: Repl. Bn./14th Infantry Rgt. said to be in Varaždin.

Replacement Bn./15th Infantry Rgt.
Formed 24 July 1941 in Otočac as the Otočačka doknadna bojna (Otočac Replacement Bn.) .) to provide replacements to the 15th Infantry Regiment.
Operational History
Dec 41: Otočac.
8 Apr 42: 1st Co. transferred from Otočac to Gospić with agreement of the Italians who controlled the area.
19 Jul 43: Repl. Bn./15th Infantry Rgt. now in Knin. Not identified after this date.

Footnotes

1. Colić, Mladen - Takozvana Nezavisna Država Hrvatska 1941.