Introduction: Class III malocclusions have been causing increased interest of clinicians for hundreds of years due to the complexity of therapy, the possibility of relapses conditioned by individual growth and development and due to the great influence on facial aesthetics. A complicating factor for diagnosis and treatment planning is its etiologic diversity. Accurate diagnosis of skeletal and dental components of a given malocclusion, especially the vertical growth pattern, is essential in determining the proper approach and treatment timing. Objective: The objective of this study is to determine dental, skeletal and soft tissue relations and rotational growth pattern in subjects pertaining to Croatian population with Class III malocclusion by using cephalometric radiographic analysis, furthermore to determine whether the linear measures of the maxilla, mandible and cranial base were predictors of facial growth rotation as well as to evaluate which parameters are predictors of maxillary retrognatism or mandibular prognathism. Material and methods: The sample was gained from the Department of Orthodontics patients database at the Clinic University Hospital Centre Zagreb. It consisted of 201 latero-lateral head records (111 females, 90 males) made before the initiation of the orthodontic therapy. On each cephalogram, eighteen cephalometric landmarks, representing hard and soft tissues, were identified. From these landmarks, 43 angular and linear measurements were recorded and analysed. All the necessary measurements were classified into seven categories for analysis: cranial base, skeletal maxillary and skeletal mandibular relationships, intermaxillary, dentoalveolar, vertical and soft tissue profile facial relationships. Three criteria were being used as a measure to classify into a category of facial growth pattern: Bjork and Jarabak analysis and angle between nasion-sella and gonion-menton (N-S:Go-Me). Five multiple linear regression models were used to identify predictors of facial rotation pattern. A multiple logistic regression was executed to estimate which parameters are predictors of maxillary retrognatism or mandibular prognathism. Results: Maxillary retrognathism was associated with shorter maxilla (Co-A), shorter length of mandibular corpus (Go-Gn), shorter height of mandibular ramus (Ar-Go) and shorter effective length of the mandible (Co-Gn), larger gonial angle (Me-Go-Ar) and a more pronounced vertical growth pattern. A significant feature of mandibular prognathism is more pronounced proclination of maxillary incisors. The effective length of the mandible was the most important predictor of facial rotation pattern, with the increased length largerly predisposing the tendency to the vertical growth pattern. No significant sexual dichotomy was found except in the fourth model where the posterior rotation of maxilla is related to female gender. Conclusion: From the results of the present study, it was concluded that maxillary retrognathism was more often associated with a vertical growth pattern, that means it is not favorable for the therapy with a protraction face mask. There are evident compensatory mechanisms as a result of skeletal discrepancies. They manifest as dentoalveolar compensation mechanisms and as a downward and backward rotation of the mandible. In contrast to maxillary retrognathism, mandibular prognathism was associated with a horizontal growth pattern as well as a more pronounced dentoalveolar compensatory mechanism, which was expressed by remarkably more protrusive maxillary incisors. Since the method of treatment between the surgical and non surgical patients is completely different, maybe these findings could help to better discern which patients are candidates for camouflage orthodontic treatment (horizontal growth pattern, protrusion of the upper incisors) and in which we will immediately decide for orthognathic surgery. Predictors of the facial rotation pattern which were found in this study could also help orthodontists in timing and therapy decision of Croatian patients with Class III malocclusion.