the establishment of ndh was proclaimed on april 10, 1941 by slavko kvaternik, deputy leader of the ustaše. ante pavelić came to power as leader ("poglavnik") of the croatian puppet state. pavelić took power with mussolini and hitler's blessing. on paper, it was a kingdom under king tomislav ii of the house of savoy (the duke of split). but tomislav ii was only a figurehead with no real power.