Banovina

The Banovina was a historical administrative and territorial unit in Yugoslavia. It was established in 1939 and existed until the country was occupied by the Axis powers in 1941. The Banovina of Croatia, also known as the Banovina, was one of the six constituent units of the Kingdom of Yugoslavia.

The Banovina was created after the Kingdom of Yugoslavia was reorganized in 1939. It was named after the word "banovina," which translates to "banate" or "ban's land," and was a territory governed by a ban, a medieval title for a high-ranking official. The Banovina covered a significant portion of the territory that is now the Republic of Croatia, and it also included parts of what is now Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The Banovina was the largest of the six units of the Kingdom of Yugoslavia, accounting for approximately 41% of the total territory of the country. It was headquartered in the city of Zagreb, the capital of the Banovina, and it was governed by a ban who was appointed by the king. The Banovina had its own government, with responsibility for administering its territory, collecting taxes, and maintaining public order.

The Banovina played a significant role in the history of Yugoslavia, particularly during World War II. After the Axis powers occupied the country, the Banovina was abolished, and Croatia declared its independence. The Banovina was replaced by the Independent State of Croatia, a Nazi-puppet state that existed until the end of the war. Today, the Banovina is remembered as an important part of Yugoslavia's history, a time period marked by significant change and turmoil.