A Soldbuch of Croatian Soldier, Grenadier Regiment 847 (kroat.), 392. Infantry Division

A Soldbuch of Croatian Gefreiter Vinko Zrinski, born in Ivanjska, Croatia in 1924. Soldbuch contain his uniform photo (interestingly, he is wearing what appears as an SS-Officer's buckle and black belt on the photo); Gefreiter Zrinski enlisted in May of 1943, serving in 12. (M.G.) Kp./Kroat.Ausb.Brigade, 847 (kroat.) Regiment, 392. Infanterie-Division (kroatische). Soldbuch contains usual standard entries, equipement given out, his pay; page 22 indicates he was awarded Croatian War Commemorative Badge on September 1944.

Footnote: The 392nd (Croatian) Infantry Division (German: 392. (Kroatische) Infanterie-Division, Croatian: 392. (hrvatska) pješačka divizija) was a so-called "legionnaire"division of the German Army during World War II. It was formed in August 1943 using Croatian Home Guard soldiers with a German cadre. The division was commanded by Germans down to battalion and even company level in nearly all cases. Originally formed with the intention of service on the Eastern Front, this did not eventuate, and the division was used in anti-Partisan operations in the territory of the Independent State of Croatia (NDH) until the end of the war. It was commonly known as the Blue Division. Its commanding Officer, Generalleutnant Johann Mickl, was severely wounded on 9 April 1945 when his column was ambushed by partisans near Senj. He died the following day.