COUNTER INTELLIGENCE CORPS
HEADQUARTERS, MTOUSA,
APO 512
CASE No.________________
18 APRIL, 1947.
COUNTER INTELLIGENCE CORPS,
HEADQUARTERS, MTOUSA,
APO 512, U.S. ARMY.
SUBJECT: INVESTIGATION RE: WHEREABOUTS OF ANTE PAVELIC, CROATIAN WAR CRIMINAL AND FORMER USTASA LEADER, (JUGOSLAVIA).
1. On April 11, 1947, the following persons met at Headquarters, G-2, MTOUSA, and discussed the above subject:
(a) Col. Blunda, Acting Asst. Chief of Staff, G-2,
(b) Lt. Col. Tom Hartman, Officer in Charge, G-I, MTOUSA
(c) Mr. Grennan, Officer in Charge, C.I.C., MTOUSA,
(d) Mrs. Heda Stern, civilian,
(e) Capt. M.H. Scott, CMP, from AMG, Venesia-Giulia, (Trieste).
By agreement and instruction of Col. Blunda and Lt. Col. Hartman, the discussion and further arrangements continued between the above letter-named three persons, at the office of Mr. Grennan, Headquarters, C.I.C.
2. At that time we turned over to Mr. Grennan for his purpose of photographic reproduction, the following photographs:
(a) One exceppent-likeness [sic] photo, size 7 X 9 1/4 inches, of ANTE PAVELIC,
(b) One camera snapshot, size 2 1/4 X 3 1/4 inches, of MRS. MARA PAVELIC, wife of Ante Pavelic,
(c) One post-card-size group photo, size 3 1/4 X 5 1/4 inches, of the three children of Mr. & Mrs. Ante Pavelic, namely, (left to right): (1) Mirjana, (daughter), (2) Visnja, (daughter), (3) Velimir, (son).
The above-mentioned photographs were returned to us by Mr. Grennan at his office on 15 on 15 April, 1947.
3. Following our conference with Mr. Grennan on 11 April, 1947, we procered [sic] to Florence where, on the following day, we contacted Maj. Wadio Giacobbe, Officer in Charge, Florence Detachment, C.I.C., and obtained his assistance in an investigation of one ISIDORI, Brunetto, alias BENEDETTI, Benedetto, (see their investigation report, B8F-6114-P, dated 14 April, 1947). Our motive for that particular investigation was: to gain a better position of appreciation and confidence in connection with a source known by us for valuable and reliable information on Ante Pavelic, his family and colleagues. The results of that information thus far are useful and promising to our search.
4. While conferring with Mr. Grennan on 11 April, 1947, and examining our photographs of the various members of the Pavelic family, mention was made that a young man was then being questioned by his office, who was suspected of being Velimir, son of Ante Pavelic; that he was picked up in Florence, and had apparently attempted to make contacts at a POW Camp at or near Livorno. Subsequently through investigation we gained the following information, which may or may not have connection with the young man who was being questioned:
About the last of August, 1946, Mara Lovrencic (wife of Ante Pavelic) and her three children, Visnja, Mirjana and Velimir Pavelic came to Florence and stayed one night at the home of a friend, telling them that Mrs. Pavelic had come there from Austria, and that the children had come from Rome. Next day, they proceded [sic] from Florence to CECINA (Province of Livorno) where they took up residence, probably early in September 1946 under the following false names: MARTINI, Maria, widow of Antonelli; daughter of the late Giuseppe and Rosi Ana; born at Trento, 8 March 1896; and her children: ANTONELLI, Marie, of the late Pietro; age 21; and Clara, age 20. Our information fails to explain the difference between the facts that all three children were with Mrs. Pavelic at Florence but only two of them were indicated as being with her under false names at Cecina. We do not know WHERE they resided in Cecina, but records of the Comune of Cecina might reveal useful information such as signatures, fingerprints, etc. where they applied for Identity Cards, Tessera, etc. Their story to their landlady and local authorities there was that their identity documents had been "robbed from them". Soon thereafter, Mrs. Pavelic is said to have gone to Rome, to "L'Associasione Croata, San Gerolamo", to attempt to obtain false identity documents, but apparently failing in this, returned to Cecina, where their secrecy and extreme retirement attracted local suspicion and they then disappeared. We are reliably informed that the elder daughter, Visnja Pavelic, is betrothed to one PECNIKAR, Vilko, former Commander of the Croat (Ustasa) "Gendarmerie," whose last-known whereabouts are said to be in Modena or its vicinity. It is quite possible that Mrs. Pavelic and the children are with or near him.
5. In our efforts to ascertain the whereabouts of former associated [sic] of Pavelic in connection with tracing him, we are informed that one BOSNJAK, Slavisa, fu Pietro, born at Spalato in 1909; and one BUICIC, Mirko, fu Jurani; former Ustasa Minister, are both presently guests at the Villa San Francesco, Rome, of Padre-Generale Turwitt; and are both in close contact with the Croats having refuge at the Vatican.
6. In 1942, Ante Pavelic bought a villa at Via Salviatino, No. 6, Florenice, (Fiesole), from DONATI, Donatella for 750,000 lire and registered it in the names of himself and his wife, Mara. It is still their property, in their names, and its rental is paid to the account of Mrs. Pavelic.
7. During our short interval at Florence I went to the Girls' School, SS, Annunziata, Poggio Imperiale, Florence, upon the suggestion of Mrs. Stern, and obtained from the Directress, the dossier of Mirjana Pavelic, who with her sister Visnja, was a student there in the late 1930's. This dossier contained two applications for admission of the two girls to that institution, each containing the personal signature of "Dr. Ante Pavelic"; also certified birth certificates of the two daughters, and other less pertinent records. The complete dossier was turned over by us to Mr. Grennan at his office on 15 April 1947 for his information, and photographic reproduction of the signatures of Pavelic; and will be later returned to the afore-mentioned [sic] school as promised by me. The Directress was cooperative and gladly turned the dossier over to me.
8. We are reliably informed that two ex-chambermaids of the Pavelic family who were in their service in Italy for a long time up to 1941, then in Croatia during Pavelic's regime there, then remaining faithfully with them in their flight from Croatia, are living at or near a certain town in northern Italy. (We can name the town, but need further careful and diplomatic "conversion" to learn the names and precise location of them). These chambermaids have told a friend that each time the "Allied Officials" were about to capture the Pavelic's [sic] they were moved elsewhere by Allied personnel who were hiding them, and who were each time rewarded by Pavelic's with jewelry and money amounting to great sums. These chambermaids were trusted and faithful friends and we are practically sure they keep in touch with the Pavelic's.
9. In the U.S. Zone of Austria, we know of two women in a town known by us; one is the wife of a former Ustasa Minister (PERIC), the other, the sister of a former Ustasa Finance Minister (KOSAK) (the latter, shot by Tito regime). Both of these women were formerly great friends of Pavelic, but now would gladly betray him. In the same town, in refuge, is a former Navy Commander under Pavelic, whom Mrs. Stern knew very well before Pavelic's regime. This man would have full confidence in Mrs. Stern and has asked friends to help him get in touch with her for assistance. He probably has valuable information on the whereabouts of Pavelic and other important fugitives.
10. Mrs. Stern was informed that "a new bunch of Ustasi" were collecting and preparing for shipment to So. America from Genova, and that one PSENICNIK, Srecko, living at Via [illegible - Osanam? Asanam?], No. 9, Milan, the Assistant of one of Pavelic's Ministers, knew all about the preparations, and she knew that she would be able to gain valuable information from him, or else from his two Ustasi friends, one DRAGAN and one FRANIC, living at Viale Morgani, No. 81, Milan. So, following our conference of 15 April, 1947 with Mr. Grennan, we proceded to Milan where, on 16 April, we contacted Mr. Ingargiola, Officer in Charge, Milan Detachment, C.I.C.. On 17 April, Mrs. Stern discreetly [sic] inquired for the above three persons, and was definitely advised that all three had sailed from Genova for Argentina (So. America) about twenty days ago.
11. The interval of our investigation covered by this report is obviously too short to permit us to follow up and develop many of the leads indicated. However, we have here submitted them for further reference and whatever immediately value they may have. Our best and most valuable source of information is a person of long and trusted friendship of Pavelic and his family, who knows and confides in Mrs. Stern enough to give her much of the information already obtained, and who COULD, (and we believe WILL) finally actually "lead" us to Pavelic. This person must be handled carefully however, and must not suspect that Mrs. Stern is actually "on Pavelic's trail". We are quite sure that this person would not "talk" by force, but from our experience through our tactics thus far employed, we are convinced of our ultimate success.
12. For observation of Mr. Grennan, we left him on 15 April,'47, our copy of information submitted AFHQ (G-2) in connection with our investigation regarding this same subject in 1945. More valuable information was obtainable along this line at that time, and of course the situation has changed very much in the meantime. Many of the fugitives named in that report have undoubtedly escaped to So. America, etc., but others still remain at liberty in this theater. Our information indicated that Pavelic and his family are among the latter.
13. We remain now, as two years ago, at the disposal of your office, to contribute our utmost service in this matter without any personal ambitions.
14. As indicated in our personal conversation of 15 April '47, Mrs. Stern must depart for London, England on 19 April in connection with her private affairs and her eventual immigration to the U.S. If deemed possible by your office, she is willing to return to Italy as soon as possible, probably by about 10 May, '47, and continue her service on this search. She could return to Trieste where she has previously resided and has many acquaintances who volunteer useful information to her; among them being one family whose three Ustasi cousins went with one of the most recent groups from Genova to So. America. From Trieste, it would be quite easy and inconspicuous to check and follow up important leads and connections under various feasible excuses acceptable to all, such as pretending to visit her ill daughter at Merano Sanitorium (as the daughter is actually there confined with T.B.). Her most important condition would be that she be permitted to live at Allied hotels for her safety, especially when at Trieste.
Marion H. Scott
Capt, CMP, 0-522200.
DISTRIBUTION:
C.I.C., AFHQ (MTOUSA) (3)
Capt M.H.Scott, CMP (2)
Mr. Ingargiola, C.I.C. Milan (1)