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| Rafael Boban | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | (1907-12-22)22 December 1907 Sovići, Grude, Austria-Hungary |
| Died | 1946 or 47 Yugoslavia |
| Allegiance |  Independent State of Croatia (1941-1945) United States of America (Allegedly) (1950s) |
| Service | UstašeUnited States Army (Allegedly) |
| Years of service | 1941-1946 |
| Rank | General |
| Commands | Black Legion |
| Battles / wars | Velebit RebellionWorld War II
|
Rafael "Ranko" Boban (born December 22, 1907 - Unknown) was a member of the Croatian World War II Ustaše regime, and the commander of the Black Legion of the Ustaše militia.
Early Life
Boban was born in Sovići near Grude, which was at that time part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Little is known of his early life prior to his Ustaše Service.
Ustaše Service
Rafael Boban became a member of the Ustaše (Croation Revolutionary Movement) in 1932. Initially, the movement was based in Fascist Italy, as they were outlawed in Yugoslavia. He returned with the movement to Croatia in 1932 and took part in the unsuccessful Velebit Rebellion. Following the unsuccessful rebellion, he became part of Ante Pavelić's inner circle.
In November 1941, following the outbreak of war in the Balkans, Boban was promoted to Captain (Satnik). He later joined the Black Legion (Crna Legija), an elite Croatian unit. After the death of Jure Francetić, Boban became the sole commander of the Black Legion. Following the Legion's breakup, Boban became the commander of the 5th Ustaša Active Brigade. The unit served in Podravina until the end of the war, when they retreated to Bleiburg, in modern-day Austria. Boban and a group of his followers refused to surrender with the rest of the unit, and returned to Croatia. Here they joined the Crusaders, an anti-communist guerrilla group. His unit was known as the "Death Company" (Ceta Smrti). They continued to fight in the vicinity of Podravina until at least 1946. From then on, his fate becomes unclear. Some claim that he was killed in action here in late 1946. Others, such as Croatian historian Ante Vrban, claim that he was seen in Herzegovina in 1946, and was killed there.
Alleged Post-War Service
There are many stories circulating that Rafael Boban survived the war, and fled Croatia. One such story asserts that he fled to the United States via Argentina. Here, he served with the United States Army during the Korean War. Some claim he was killed here, while others say he lost his hand or arm. Those who claim that he survived say that he served in Vietnam, and retired to Ireland. As of yet there is no evidence to support these claims. Due to the turbulent nature of post-war Yugoslavia, it is unlikely that we will ever know for certain his fate.
References
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- Articles lacking sources from September 2007
- 1907 births
- Croatian military personnel of World War II
- Croats of Bosnia and Herzegovina
- People from Grude
- Croatian Nazi collaborators
- Recipients of the Iron Cross
- American military personnel of the Korean War
- Recipients of the Military Order of the Iron Trefoil
- Croatian people stubs