{"id":23,"date":"2021-09-06T08:16:00","date_gmt":"2021-09-06T06:16:00","guid":{"rendered":""},"modified":"2026-03-05T11:30:16","modified_gmt":"2026-03-05T09:30:16","slug":"tribyut-horvatskomu-narodovi","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/kilok.art\/en\/tribyut-horvatskomu-narodovi\/","title":{"rendered":"Viktor Klobu\u010dar \u2014 Croatian Pioneer of Austro-Hungarian Naval Aviation"},"content":{"rendered":"

While working on the novel \u201cTsingtao\u2013Vienna\u2013Kyiv\u201d<\/strong><\/a>, I accidentally discovered a little-known historical figure \u2014 Viktor Klobu\u010dar<\/strong>, a Croatian officer of the Austro-Hungarian Navy and one of the pioneers of naval aviation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While working on literary works, I find it meaningful to reintroduce notable Ukrainian figures\u2014unjustly forgotten by history\u2014to a wider audience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To some extent, I don\u2019t even like the idea of using fictional characters in literary works. After all, we have so many real people whose lives unfolded in ways no playwright or writer could ever invent better.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It is enough to take, for example, the documentary books of Roman Kovalyov, which are based on memoirs and archival documents. They contain such characters and such fates that one could make captivating films or write books in any genre.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On the other hand, with the help of a fictional character, you can bring together dozens of historical figures within a single work, and thus convey more important details to the audience, offering a certain vision of the era. This technique is very well demonstrated in the HBO series Rome<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In my novel \u201cTsingtao\u2013Vienna\u2013Kyiv\u201d, there are many Ukrainian historical figures, as well as representatives of other nations. And I would like to tell separately about one of them\u2014or rather, about how I came to discover him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It all began when I accidentally came across his surname. Since the Austro-Hungarian cruiser \u201cKaiserin Elisabeth\u201d appears in the novel, I needed an officer from that ship. I initially conceived him as a composite character, without any connection to a real prototype.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"\/<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

But I still needed a name. And then, in the memoirs of the German aviator G\u00fcnther Pl\u00fcschow (who also appears in the novel as a character), I came across the surname Klobu\u010dar. Fine\u2014it would do. He was supposed to appear in two episodes, say a few lines\u2014and that would be it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"\/
Memoirs of G\u00fcnther Pl\u00fcschow <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

However, that brief mention in G\u00fcnther Pl\u00fcschow\u2019s memoirs intrigued me. First of all, what was his given name? Second, what was his nationality? That matters for describing the character. Third, the phrase \u201cex-aviator\u201d sounds quite unusual for 1914\u2014aviation was only just emerging at the time! Pilots were admired by everyone. Why would someone choose to leave that field?\n\nMoreover, the cruiser \u201cKaiserin Elisabeth\u201d was both morally outdated and physically worn out. It was the kind of ship where very young officers might begin their careers\u2014or, on the contrary, where those nearing retirement might be sent for an \u201chonorable pension.\u201d So what was this \u201cex-aviator\u201d doing there?\n\nAnd finally, how should his surname be spelled correctly? The book is written in English, but the spelling of surnames\u2014at least Mullerskowski\u2014clearly looks German\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"\/
Memoirs of G\u00fcnther Pl\u00fcschow <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

There is a second mention of Klobu\u010dar in G\u00fcnther Pl\u00fcschow\u2019s memoirs that intrigued me even more. It turns out that during the Siege of Tsingtao, he and Pl\u00fcschow managed to build a seaplane biplane! So much for an \u201cex-aviator\u201d!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"\/
Memoirs of G\u00fcnther Pl\u00fcschow <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

I was intrigued. On the internet, all mentions of \u201cKlobu\u010dar\u201d led to Amy Klobuchar<\/a>\u2014clearly not the right person.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In an Austrian study on ships of the First World War, there is a fairly extensive section about the \u201cKaiserin Elisabeth.\u201d It mentions her commander\u2014Captain Second Rank Makovicz\u2014and includes a list of the fallen, among whom there are two Slavic surnames, but Klobu\u010dar is not among them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

From documents of the Austrian naval authorities published online, I was able to learn that Lieutenant Viktor Klobu\u010dar served in Tsingtao aboard the \u201cKaiserin Elisabeth.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So now we know that his name was Viktor. The spelling of his surname is completely different from what appears in G\u00fcnther Pl\u00fcschow\u2019s memoirs, but he was likely writing from memory\u2014and Slavic surnames are not easy for Germans\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Further searches (using various possible spellings of the surname) yielded materials from Croatian, Polish, Czech, and Hungarian sources.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It turned out that he was Croatian, and his full name was Viktor Klobu\u010dar-Rukavina von Buni\u0107 (or, in Croatian form, Klobu\u010dar-Rukavina od Buni\u0107a). He lived from 1878 to 1965 and was the son of an Austrian general.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\u0412\u0456\u043a\u0442\u043e\u0440
Viktor Klobu\u010dar<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

With this information, the search became easier, and I even managed to find several articles in Croatian dedicated to this person. And, it must be said, there was plenty to write about. Viktor Klobu\u010dar was the founder and the first commander of Austro-Hungarian naval aviation<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But let\u2019s start from the beginning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He graduated from the Naval Academy in 1896 and served on ships of the Austro-Hungarian Navy. From 1902, he took part in flights on army balloons as an observer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The idea of flight captivated him. Klobu\u010dar became an enthusiast of aviation, obtained a balloon pilot\u2019s license (number 33\u2014meaning he was the 33rd in Austria-Hungary) from the Austrian Aero Club. He followed aviation news and attended airshows. In 1909, he was sent on assignment to France, where he learned to fly, though he did not receive a pilot\u2019s license.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

After returning, he trained at an Austrian aviation school and in Frankfurt am Main. He received pilot\u2019s license No. 26 from the Austrian Aero Club.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"\/
Viktor Klobu\u010dar at the Austrian aviation school, 1911<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

In 1911, Viktor Klobu\u010dar took part in the \u201cCircuit of Britain\u201d air race for the prize of the Daily Mail. Those who have seen the 1965 film Those Magnificent Men in Their Flying Machines<\/a> (also known as \u201cThe Great Air Race\u201d) are not mistaken\u2014this race was one of the inspirations for the film\u2019s \u0441\u044e\u0436\u0435\u0442.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"\/
Promotional material for the race (Klobu\u010dar is not depicted here)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Viktor Klobu\u010dar flew together with Lieutenant Bier in a \u201cTaube\u201d aircraft (which explains his appearance in G\u00fcnther Pl\u00fcschow\u2019s memoirs: he offers his assessment of the situation, and Pl\u00fcschow himself also flew a Taube in Tsingtao).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Austrian aviators did not have much luck. During the first stage of the race, they were forced to turn back due to problems with the propeller (Pl\u00fcschow would later write about similar issues already in Tsingtao).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

During the second stage, their engine failed, and they were forced to make an emergency landing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"\/
Bier and Klobu\u010dar\u2019s aircraft (Bier is shown in the inset)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

During the third stage, they again had to make an emergency landing, in which Bier was injured, and Klobu\u010dar had to continue alone. However, they had lost too much time and were forced to admit defeat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"\/
Bier and Klobu\u010dar\u2019s damaged aircraft<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Viktor Klobu\u010dar and the Creation of Austro-Hungarian Naval Aviation<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Meanwhile, in 1910, the commander of the Austro-Hungarian Navy ordered the creation of an experimental naval aviation unit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Viktor Klobu\u010dar was appointed commander of the unit. At first, the Austrians attempted to build their own seaplane, but the process dragged on. Klobu\u010dar donated his own Farman aircraft to the navy, though it was damaged during transport from France. They also tried to convert it into a seaplane.\n\nIn search of suitable equipment for the Austro-Hungarian Navy, Klobu\u010dar ordered a flying boat from a Franco-British company, which became the eighth aircraft of the Austrian fleet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"\/
Seaplane of the Austro-Hungarian Navy<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

With several models of experimental aircraft at his disposal, Klobu\u010dar carried out the first takeoff from water in the Austro-Hungarian Navy. He also took part in the first group flight over the Adriatic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Under his leadership, a naval aviation school and a technical school were established. He also developed and planned the basing system of Austro-Hungarian naval aviation and created several naval air bases.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"\/
Aircraft of the Austro-Hungarian Navy at their base<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

This continued until 1913. In that year, Admiral Count Montecuccoli was replaced as commander of the fleet by Admiral Anton Haus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here the sources provide differing accounts. According to official records, after an accident (two aircraft crashes in which he was injured), Viktor Klobu\u010dar was transferred to the technical committee in Pula, the main base of the fleet, and from there\u2014to the \u201cKaiserin Elisabeth\u201d as an artillery officer (his original naval specialty).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Another source claims that he ended up on the deck of the old cruiser due to a misunderstanding involving a married woman.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Unofficial sources describe a dispute between him and the new commander regarding the role of aviation in fleet operations, which ended with insulting remarks directed at the admiral.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This version seems more plausible, since sending a specialist with such experience to an outdated ship in a colony appears highly illogical. Moreover, Klobu\u010dar did not lose his interest in aviation: as already mentioned, he and G\u00fcnther Pl\u00fcschow were building a seaplane during the Siege of Tsingtao.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"\/
Viktor Klobu\u010dar<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

After returning from Japanese captivity in 1920, he joined the Yugoslav Navy, where he became head of the naval section of the General Staff, and later commanded the cruiser \u201cDalmatia.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 1931, he retired from service. After that, he was engaged in public activities and became the author of books and articles on naval topics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What a remarkable person! And I had planned to limit him to just a few lines in two episodes! It even made me feel a bit ashamed. I gave careful thought to the kind of worldview such a person must have held\u2014and his role in the novel \u201cTsingtao\u2013Vienna\u2013Kyiv\u201d was significantly expanded.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

One of the Croatian articles about Klobu\u010dar concludes with regret that the name of such an extraordinary person has not been honored in any way in Croatia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Thus, his appearance in my novel becomes a tribute to the friendly Croatian people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The figure of Viktor Klobu\u010dar became one of the historical prototypes for characters in the historical novel \u201cTsingtao\u2013Vienna\u2013Kyiv\u201d<\/strong><\/a>, where the events of the First World War and the Ukrainian Revolution are portrayed through the lives of both real and fictional figures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Previous materials related to the topic:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In search of a lost aircraft depot (in Ukrainian)<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

About Shevchenko and the calendar<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

About the \u201cKaiserin Elisabeth\u201d<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

About Tsingtao<\/a><\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

\u041f\u0440\u0430\u0446\u044e\u044e\u0447\u0438 \u043d\u0430\u0434 \u0440\u043e\u043c\u0430\u043d\u043e\u043c \u00ab\u0426\u0438\u043d\u0434\u0430\u043e\u2013\u0412\u0456\u0434\u0435\u043d\u044c\u2013\u041a\u0438\u0457\u0432\u00bb, \u044f \u0432\u0438\u043f\u0430\u0434\u043a\u043e\u0432\u043e \u0432\u0456\u0434\u043a\u0440\u0438\u0432 \u0434\u043b\u044f \u0441\u0435\u0431\u0435 \u043c\u0430\u043b\u043e\u0432\u0456\u0434\u043e\u043c\u0443 \u0456\u0441\u0442\u043e\u0440\u0438\u0447\u043d\u0443 \u043f\u043e\u0441\u0442\u0430\u0442\u044c \u2014 \u0412\u0456\u043a\u0442\u043e\u0440 \u041a\u043b\u043e\u0431\u0443\u0447\u0430\u0440,<\/p>","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":859,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[189,196],"tags":[3],"post_folder":[],"class_list":["post-23","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-blog","category-novel","tag-CZyndao-Viden-Kyyiv"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/kilok.art\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/23","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/kilok.art\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/kilok.art\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kilok.art\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kilok.art\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=23"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/kilok.art\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/23\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":6546,"href":"https:\/\/kilok.art\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/23\/revisions\/6546"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kilok.art\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/859"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/kilok.art\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=23"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kilok.art\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=23"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kilok.art\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=23"},{"taxonomy":"post_folder","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kilok.art\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/post_folder?post=23"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}