 The Italians handed over the administration of eastern Herzegovina to the NDH government on 20 May 1941 , following the signing of the <unk> of Rome , which ceded formerly Yugoslav territory along the Adriatic coast to Italy . The Italians did not immediately withdraw all their troops from the region . The NDH moved quickly to establish its authority in the towns and districts of eastern Herzegovina , which included appointing mayors and prefects , the creation of local units of the Ustaše Militia , and deploying hundreds of gendarmes , Croatian Home Guards and Ustaše Militia units from outside eastern Herzegovina . These forces were brought in to maintain order . The academic Professor <unk> <unk> was appointed the Ustaše commissioner for eastern Herzegovina . 
