Poglavnik

Poglavnik was the title held by Ante Pavelić, the leader of the Independent State of Croatia (Nezavisna Država Hrvatska, NDH) during World War II. The NDH was a fascist puppet state established by Nazi Germany and Fascist Italy in 1941 on the territory of conquered Yugoslavia. Pavelić, as Poglavnik, was the supreme commander and head of state, wielding absolute power within the NDH.

The title "Poglavnik" itself is a Slavic word meaning "chieftain" or "leader." Pavelić adopted it to evoke a sense of national leadership and authority. Under his rule, the NDH implemented extreme racist policies, most notably against Serbs, Jews, and Roma. The Ustaše regime, led by Pavelić, was responsible for widespread atrocities and the establishment of concentration camps, including the notorious Jasenovac camp.

Pavelić's regime collaborated closely with the Axis powers, participating in military campaigns and contributing to the Holocaust in the region. After the defeat of the Axis powers in 1945, Pavelić fled into exile, first to Austria and then to Argentina, where he died in 1959. The legacy of the Poglavnik and the NDH remains a highly controversial and sensitive topic in Croatian history, associated with state-sponsored terror and ultranationalism.