Russia, Croatia 1943 Croatian Air Force Legion Dr. Ante Pavelić Hrvatska Legija

006 Russia, Croatia 1943 Croatian Air Force Legion Dr. Ante Pavelić Hrvatska Legija German History Archive Fighter pilots of the Croatian Legion return from the East The Croatian state leader Dr. Ante Pavelić steps on the front of the Croatian pilots from 4 January 1943. Shortly after the German invasion of the Soviet Union on 22 June 1941, Pavelić made an effort to recruit volunteers to fight on the Eastern Front in a Croatian legion alongside the German Wehrmacht. The Croatian Air Force Legion emerged from the Croatian Air Force founded on 12 April 1941 and consisted mainly of a hunting squadron and a bomber squadron. From July 1941, the Air Force Legion was deployed in the Russian campaign. The uniforms were based on the uniforms of the German Luftwaffe. German, Italian and RoyalYugoslavian uniform parts were worn. The Jagdstaffel was assigned as 15th squadron to the JG Jagdgeschwader 5