22.11.1942 postcard mailed "loco" in Zagreb from 'Domobranska zastavnička škola' (Homeguard officer cadet school) located in Ilica 242 in Zagreb. Zastavnik means Ensign in English or Fahnrich in German. This was the lowest officer rank that cadets recieved upon graduation. Im May 1941 first officer cadet school was formed as Domobranska akademija, it closed in June 1942 and new officer school - Domobranska zastavnička škola was opened in September 1942. Afert the closure one part of the cadets graduated and was sent to the active army units while another part was sent to the German military school in Stockerau. Cadets that returned from Stockerau introduced German military discipline to the new school. The school was organised as a single battalion with 4 companies, it numbered around 400 cadets at any time. The school accepted boys aged around 14-15 years that had already completed 8 years of education, and the schooling lasted 4 years. On 07.05.1945 the school evacuated from Zagreb to the west trying to reach Western allies in Austria. The faith of the cadets is mostly unknown, probably most of them were executed by the Yugoslav communists after the war. In Požega(Slavonia) there is a location near Grgin dol where 32 cadets and 50 other Croatian soldiers were executed with cold weapons in July 1945. Since 2015 this place is marked with a commemorative plaque.
No comments:
Post a Comment