Rasovi

Rasovi (poglavice, knezovi) was the unofficial name given originally to five extremely influential Ustaše who returned from exile to Zagreb in April 1941 with their leader Ante Pavelić. They were Eugen Kvaternik, Ante Moskov, Vilko Pečnikar, Ivo Herenčić and Erih Lisak. When Pavelić became leader (Poglavnik) of the Independent State of Croatia (Croatian: Nezavisna Država Hrvatska, NDH) they retained his respect and trust as fellow émigrés, and he appointed them to senior government positions in which they were able to operate with extensive autonomy. Later Eugen Kvaternik sided with his father Slavko Kvaternik in a conflict with Pavelić and fell into disfavour. The "Rasovi" were thus reduced to four, who were then joined by three powerful Ustaša colonels - Vjekoslav "Maks" Luburić, Vjekoslav Servatzy and Rafael Boban.

The "Rasovi" were extremists, generally mistrusted - sometimes feared - by members of the Domobranstvo (home guard). They were certainly feared by many in the NDH civilian population, particularly Serbs but also those in the smaller Roma and Jewish minorities. The Rasovi and their followers were responsible for many of the atrocities perpetrated by the Ustaša regime in the period 1941-1945.