Crusaders

The Crusaders (, also known as Škripari) were a Croatian pro-Ustashe anti-communist guerrilla army. Their activities started after the capitulation of the Independent State of Croatia genocidal regime in May 1945, towards the end of World War II. The Crusaders' activities ended in 1950. During World War II The leadership of the Independent State of Croatia was preparing for the impending major battles against the Yugoslav Partisans who were in 1944 reinforced by the Red Army. They wanted to establish a front on the Varaždin-Koprivnica-Sisak-Petrinja-Karlovac line. They also wanted to establish a guerrilla army that would fight behind the front lines. This guerrilla force would also, if necessary, fight the British, Americans, and Soviets. During the penultimate meeting of the Main Ustaše Headquarters, it was discussed whether a guerrilla army should be created, and if so, how this army would fight. A plan for moving the Croatian Army through Bosnia was already accepted when Ante Pavelić ordered the army's retreat through Slovenia towards Austria (at the time in the British occupation zone). Preparations for guerilla warfare began in 1943 when the Germans formed the Jagdverbände. These formations used the same tactics as the guerrillas who fought against them. Staff jobs, that is planning, logistic, technical work and training were performed by German army experts, while the Ustaše provided the manpower. The guerilla units were named S-Units (S Skupine). Due to Italian capitulation the plan was implemented in 1944, and in 1945 the plan included the whole of what was then Croatian territory. Croatian guerilla actions against Yugoslav Partisans were not notable during the war, but they influenced post-war guerilla combat. Notable people who worked with the S-Units were Vjekoslav Luburić, Ljubo Miloš and Dinko Šakić. Regardless, the majority of the Armed Forces of the Independent State of Croatia and a large number of Ustaše members retreated towards the Austrian and Italian borders.