Between Desire and Reality: An Ustasha in Military Uniform

Abstract

Using modest and fragmentary sources, this paper studies the discrepancy between that which was desired and that which was achieved within the military branch of the Ustasha organisation during World War II. The material originating from the Ustasha military units is fragmentary and it is therefore questionable whether one can make any far-reaching conclusions at all. The acceptance of the Ustasha concept of Croatianness was expected of all members of the Ustasha party and, due to the state of war, especially among members of its military branch. Within this concept of exclusive Croatianness, the Ustasha declaratively imposed high standards of behaviour upon themselves, but these would prove difficult to achieve. The need for a broader legitimation basis opened the possibility of joining the Ustasha movement to many people, including those who were unsuitable. The favouring of Ustashas within a system striving towards totalitarianism reflected poorly upon efforts to build the military forces of the Independent State of Croatia and their place within a society that accepted such a state. In addition to various benefits, the primary motive for putting on an Ustasha uniform was the opportunity for those performing compulsory military service to serve literally at their doorsteps. Other phenomena characteristic of Ustasha units, with the caveat that there is no indication of how widespread they were, can be considered common among all military units in the war: from misconduct to serious breaches of order, work, and discipline – primarily chronic alcoholism and, it seems, widespread fornication, which resulted in sexually transmitted diseases that didn’t remain within the uniformed part of society, but continued spreading beyond it. However, the most serious, and officially denied, problem were the relations between Catholics and Muslims, which were very strained in many areas and far from the idyllic picture often presented during the war and later in émigré circles. Propaganda trumps such as Colonel Jure Francetić and the Black Legion were maximally exploited and used to paint a picture that was in reality more of an exception than the rule.