The 369th (Croatian) Infantry Division, known as the “Devil’s Division,” was one of the most controversial collaborationist formations to serve under German command during the Second World War. Formed from Croatian volunteers and led largely by German officers, the division traced its origins to the Croatian Legion that fought alongside the Wehrmacht at the Battle of Stalingrad. After the destruction of that unit in early 1943, the Germans created a new formation bearing the same number and assigned it to anti-Partisan operations in occupied Yugoslavia. Although originally intended for service on the Eastern Front, the division spent most of its existence fighting in the mountains and villages of Bosnia, Herzegovina, and Croatia. The division operated in an environment where German anti-Partisan doctrine blurred the line between military operations and collective punishment. Villages suspected of supporting resistance fighters were frequently subjected to reprisals, property destruction, and forced displacement. During major security operations across occupied Yugoslavia, the division participated in actions that left lasting scars on local communities and contributed to the suffering of thousands of civilians. Its reputation became closely associated with anti-Partisan campaigns conducted in the Balkans.
This documentary examines the rise and fall of the 369th (Croatian) Infantry Division, from its origins in the aftermath of Stalingrad to its role within the German occupation system in Yugoslavia. It explores the relationship between the Wehrmacht, Croatian volunteers, the Ustaše regime, and the wider Axis war effort in the Balkans. The film also follows the division’s final months as Germany’s military position collapsed, the surrender of its surviving members in 1945, and the post-war fate of its commander, Fritz Neidholt. Drawing on historical records and wartime accounts, this documentary provides insight into one of the most notorious collaborationist formations of the Second World War and the legacy it left behind in the former Yugoslavia.
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