Vladimir Kren
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General Vladimir Kren |
|
|---|---|
 |
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| Birth name | Vladimir Kren |
| Born |
8 December 1903 Vaška, near Podravska Slatina, Austria-Hungary |
| Died | 2 December 1948 (aged 44) Zagreb, Croatia, FPR Yugoslavia |
| Allegiance |
 Yugoslavia (1922–1941)
 Independent State of Croatia (1941–1945) |
| Service/branch |
Royal Yugoslav Army Yugoslav Royal Air Force
Croatian Air Force
|
| Years of service | 1922–1945 |
| Rank |
Major
Major General
|
| Commands held | Croatian Air Force |
| Battles/wars | World War II |
Vladimir Kren (8 December 1903 – 2 December 1948) was a Croatian major general and commander of the Air Force of the Independent State of Croatia (ZNDH) during World War II. He was an officer in the Royal Yugoslav Air Force (VVKJ) before the war. In April 1941, he defected to Nazi Germany and handed over the locations of many of the VVKJ's dispersal airfields and exposed many of its codes. This made it easier for the Luftwaffe to destroy the VVKJ during the Axis invasion of Yugoslavia, which commenced shortly after Kren's defection.
Kren was named the commander of the ZNDH upon returning to Zagreb in mid-April 1941 and served in this capacity until September 1943, when he voluntarily retired. In June 1944, Croatian leader Ante Pavelić ordered that Kren be returned to active service within the ZNDH and had him re-appointed as its commander. In May 1945, Kren fled to Italy via Austria and was arrested by Allied forces. He escaped from Allied custody in early 1947, but was arrested by British forces in March of that year while trying to board a ship bound for Argentina. He was then extradited to Yugoslavia and put on trial in Zagreb. The Zagreb municipal court found him guilty of various offences and sentenced him to death by firing squad. He was executed in December 1948.
Vladimir Kren was born on 8 December 1903 in the village of Vaška, near Podravska Slatina. He attended the Military Academy in Belgrade. He initially served as an infantry officer in the Royal Yugoslav Army before being transferred to serve with the Royal Yugoslav Air Force (Serbo-Croatian: Vazduhoplovstvo Vojske Kraljevine Jugoslavije, VVKJ). Before the outbreak of World War II, he was promoted to the rank of captain within the Royal Yugoslav Army and served as a battalion commander at Zagreb Airport.
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