The Independent State of Croatia (NDH) was a puppet state established during World War II, existing from 1941 to 1945. It was formed after the Axis powers invaded and dismembered the Kingdom of Yugoslavia. The NDH was led by the Ustaše, a nationalist and fascist movement, and aimed to create a Croatian nation-state. The regime was marked by severe repression, including the persecution of ethnic minorities, particularly Serbs, Jews, and Roma. The NDH's existence ended with the defeat of Axis forces in 1945, leading to the establishment of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia.