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Croatia Police Regiments 1-5, Police Anti-Tank Company "Croatia", and Gendarmerie Division "Croatia"
On July 15th 1943, an agreement was signed between the Independant State of Croatia and Germany, by which a German-Croatian Police Force (Deutsch-Kroatische Polizei), under German Police & SS command, was to be raised and organized. The Commander of this new force was SS Major-General Konstantine Kammerhofer, and was intended for "internal security duties". Initially, one regiment, consisting of 2 battalions, was formed, but the strength of this force continually grew. By the Spring of 1944, 15 Battalions had been formed, organized into 5 regiments. These regiments were named "Polizei Freiwilligen-Regiment" and numbered 1-5. As well, 15 Independant Police Battalions were raised, titled Polizei-Freiwilligen-Bataillon 'Kroatien', and numbered 1-15. In early 1945, 12 of these battalions were joined into a "Gendarmerie Division Croatia", but by all accounts, this was a "paper division", as the battalions were scattered all over Croatian territory, and the new headquarters couldn't possibly gather them together under the logistical and strategic circumstances of the time.
The BdO (Befelshaber der Ordnungspolizei) in Zagreb, in December of 1944, raised a "Polizei Panzer-Jaeger Kompanie Kroatien", that was independant of the above regiments and division.
All together, 32,000 Croatians served in these German police units, and, while not frontline troops, helped keep order and defend strategic positions throughout the Independant State of Croatia.
The BdO (Befelshaber der Ordnungspolizei) in Zagreb, in December of 1944, raised a "Polizei Panzer-Jaeger Kompanie Kroatien", that was independant of the above regiments and division.
All together, 32,000 Croatians served in these German police units, and, while not frontline troops, helped keep order and defend strategic positions throughout the Independant State of Croatia.