The
Krizari, or "Crusaders," went into operation immediately following the collapse of the Independent State of Croatia in May, 1945. At first a group of scattered bands led inside Croatia by Ustase chieftain
Vjekoslav "Maks" Luburic, the
Krizari gained in sophistication as Western intelligence agencies took an interest in the nascent movement of former Ustase and
Domobran officers. Large expeditions were instigated in which
Krizari saboteurs were smuggled into Yugoslavia via Italy or Austria to conduct guerrilla operations, including dynamiting bridges, sabotaging communications or ambushing Yugoslav Army forces.
The extent of the Krizari campaign, as well as hard information about when it began and ended, is still shrouded in mystery, and perhaps only the unveiling of the archives of OZNA/UDB-a, the Communist Yugoslav secret police agencies, will fill in the gaps. What is known for sure is that it was a true extension of the Ustase leadership's flight upon the collapse of the NDH, and that American intelligence - in the very least - knew about the Krizari and had informers working within the organization. Western intelligence agencies later concluded the entire campaign was compromised by notorious Soviet spy Kim Philby, who passed on data about this and other infiltration operations in the Balkans to Moscow. Yugoslav officials put scores of captured Krizari, including notorious Jasenovac and Lepoglava concentration camp executioner Ljubo Milos, on trial throughout the summer of 1948. The movement is believed to have tapered off thereafter, which coincides with Ustase leader Ante Pavelic's final departure from his hideout in Italy to Buenos Aires on the Ratline.
