Marko Mesić (soldier)
Marko Mesić | |
|---|---|
| Born | 30 September 1901 Bjelovar, Croatia-Slavonia, Austria-Hungary (now Croatia) |
| Died | 9 February 1982 (aged 80) Zagreb, SR Croatia, Yugoslavia (now Croatia) |
| Buried | |
| Allegiance | Royal Yugoslav Army Wehrmacht (Croatian Legion) Yugoslav People's Army |
| Service | Army |
| Years of service | 1941–1945 |
| Rank | Colonel |
| Commands | Croatian Legion |
| Wars | World War II |
| Awards | Iron Cross Military Order of the Iron Trefoil |
| Relations | Franjo Mesić (father) Katarina Blau (mother) Dragutin Mesić (brother) |
Marko Mesić (30 September 1901 – 9 February 1982) was a decorated gunnery officer who served in the armies of the Kingdom of Yugoslavia, the Independent State of Croatia, and the SFR Yugoslavia. He is best known for being the final commander of Croatian legionnaires in World War II, serving in the German Wehrmacht on the Eastern Front in the Battle of Stalingrad, and later joining the Yugoslav People's Army.