Tomislav Sertić (21 December 1902 – September 1945) was a Croatian military officer who served as the commander of all Ustaše Military Units, chief of staff of the Ustaše Militia and the Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces.
He later served as the chief of staff of the Ustaše Militia and after that as a supervisor of all military schools of the Independent State of Croatia.
[2] After finishing his education, Sertić became a lieutenant in Royal Yugoslav Army, he was promoted to the rank of major on 6 September 1939.
While in the Yugoslav Army, Sertić maintained a secret connection with Ustaše (Croatian fascist organization) groups in Italy and Hungary which helped him flee Yugoslavia in 1940.
[1] On 27 August 1940, Tomislav Sertić fled to Hungary and later moved to Italy where he met with several Ustaše leaders, including Ante Pavelić, Dido Kvaternik and Mijo Bzik [hr].
[7] While in this position, Sertić also commanded several Ustaše units which carried out operations against the Partisans and Chetniks in Western Bosnia.
[10] On 1 May 1943, Sertić was heavily injured during the Partisan siege of Gospić by what he claimed to be a bullet fired by Ustaše units.
[12] For his actions during siege of Gospić he was awarded with Military Order of the Iron Trefoil of 3rd Class[11] and Wound Medal.
[13] After recovering from the injury, Sertić continued to serve as supervisor of all military schools until September 1943 when he was again appointed for chief of staff of the Ustaše militia.
[14] For his accomplishments in this position Sertić was promoted to a rank of general in the Croatian Home Guard on 14 July 1944.