Battle of the Barracks
Encyclopedia
Battle of the barracks - sometimes also called War for the barracks - is a term given to a series of engagements that took place throughout Croatia
as part of the Croatian War of Independence
during 1991, with the most important fighting in September. It was fought between Croatian forces (still undeveloped military, police and volunteer forces) and the Yugoslav Peoples Army (JNA)
. The battle is considered an important Croatian victory as a result of which Croatian forces captured valuable heavy equipment (tanks, artillery, rockets) from military barracks, which they badly needed for the war effort.
had substantial quantities of heavy equipment stored in federal barracks across Croatian territory. With the Croatian independence in 1991, those federal barracks posed a serious threat to internal security, not forgetting the fact each of the garrisoned barracks had valuable equipment Croatia desperately needed for defense of its independence. Since most of the barracks were based in densely populated areas, for example, cities of Bjelovar
and Varaždin
, risk of heavy collateral damage was an issue local territorial forces had to consider to avoid bloodshed.
The worsening of the security situation in Croatia during 1990 led to the Croatian leadership preparing plans for a possible war. Croatian Army Chief of Staff (former Croatian Minister of Defence) Martin Špegelj
- who was the foremost Army advocate of storming the barracks - formulated a comprehensive plan for capture of army barracks throughout Croatia, in order to obtain the weapons in those depots. With the Slovenian Ten-Day War
taking place in June 1991, Špegelj urged Croatian president Franjo Tuđman to attack the barracks and aid the Slovenians. Tuđman refused, fearful of the JNA's full military power in such a war. Davor Domazet-Lošo, in his book Hrvatska i veliko ratište, outlines a belief by a group of historians that this opportunity was just an elaborate plot to force Croatia into an attack. Considering the amount of military equipment inside Croatia's military barracks, this seems doubtful.
The escalation of violence during the summer of 1991 saw the JNA side with the Croatian Serbs. As a result of this, Croatian forces - still not developed as a real force - besieged the numerous army barracks to secure the rear of the fighting forces. The problem of insufficient forces for Croatians meant that many of the besieging forces were not military, but civilians - including police forces, civil protection services and local self-organized volunteers.
It is important to note that the imminent war, as well as earlier independence of Slovenia and the reluctance of non-Serbs to go to war for Croat Serb causes, caused mass desertions by which JNA forces were undermanned. As a result, stationary army barracks where the first to suffer and in 1991, these had more equipment than personnel to man them.
The opening moves of the war took place in August in East Slavonia, at the battle of Vukovar
and in Krajina
and Dalmatia
. The escalation of violence resulted in military personnel on the spot taking the initiative and storming many of the barracks, against government wishes to continue negotiations - even at the time when almost 1/3 of Croatia was already occupied by JNA and Serb rebels.
The majority of the storming of the barracks took place from September 14 to September 19, 1991. In that period, 36 barracks and depots and 26 other military posts were captured or surrendered. On September 27, plan Bilogora was implemented, which resulted in the capture of Bjelovar and Koprivnica barracks.
Some ammo depots were bombed by Yugoslav Air Force after capture, but locally organized Croat units were often very effective and quick to transfer the most valuable equipment to other locations before that. At least five locations were bombed in this way.
barracks - named "Marshall Tito" after Josip Broz Tito
- was one of the largest in Croatia. It was the regional center of 5th Army District (one out of three JNA's main command HQs) and 10th Corps (Zagreb), along with support units. The Croats were reluctant to storm the barracks directly, due to the strength of the JNA forces and the threat of collateral damage it presented to the Croatian capital. Because of this, the fighting was not intensive and it mostly degenerated into occasional shooting from the barracks to the city. A truce was reached and there was no further fighting until the signing of the last cease-fire at the end of the year. As part of the agreement, the JNA evacuated the barracks when it officially left Croatia in January 1992.
Jastrebarsko
barracks was the location of JNA's 4th Armoured (Tank
) Brigade
- one of the most élite JNA armoured units. After weeks of negotiation - JNA evacuated the barracks on November 13, rejoining JNA forces in Banovina in central Croatia.
Samobor
barracks surrendered on October 7, 1991.
Sisak
barracks and depots surrendered on September 9, 1991.
barracks were the largest in Croatia - the center of JNA's 32nd Corps and assorted other units, including the 32nd Mechanized
Brigade (one of the most élite "A" brigades) and one artillery Regiment
. The barracks was blockaded during the night of September 13/14th, and electricity, water and supplies were cut. Fighting started on the 15th with JNA aircraft bombarding Varaždin airstrip. As the situation deteriorated, more and more soldiers deserted from the barracks and there was a conflict within the barracks itself. After that, tanks and artillery from the barracks were directed to fire at civilian targets and many houses where destroyed and general fighting begun. After a week of sporadic fighting, and in order to spare his men, the commander General
Vladimir Trifunović surrendered the garrison on September 22. Ironically, this caused him resentment from both sides. Croatia sentenced him in absentia
to 15 years for devastation of the city, while Serbia sentenced him to 11 years for treason. The booty was impressive: 74 T-55
tanks, 88 APCs, 36 self-propelled AA guns, 24 100 mm AT guns, 72 120 mm mortars and other heavy equipment was captured. During the fighting, casualties were 6 killed (3 civilians, 2 JNA soldiers and 1 Croatian soldier) and 37 wounded.
Bjelovar
barracks was home to 265th Armored-Mechanized Brigade. Army facilities there included two barracks in the city itself, as well as outside arms and ammunition depots. The situation in the area was tense and constantly threatened to escalate. Up to ten conscripted JNA soldiers deserted daily, since many stationed there were Kosovo
Albanians
, as well as other non-Serb nationalities. In one incident, JNA almost opened fire on a group of mothers from the movement "Wall of Love" protesting for release of conscripts who were forced to be there. On September 29, Croatian forces started an attack, as part of operation Bilogora which was concluded on the same day. The two barracks in the city were captured easily, only an isolated storage (named Barutana) which included three depots remained, but JNA officer Major Milan Tepić
refused to surrender and detonated an explosion: destroying one depot, killing himself along with 7 to 20 other JNA Serb reservists and 11 Croatians. The explosion destroyed all of the weapons and ammunition in that depot, but the capture of others was a great success for the Croatian forces, as the booty included 78 T-55 tanks and 80 APCs. Over 200 officers were captured which were exchanged for Croatian prisoners of war.
Križevci barracks named "Kalnik" housed 411th Mixed Anti-Armour Artillery Regiment commanded by colonel Jovo Radosavljević. It surrendered peacefully on September 17, 1991. However, two Croatian soldiers were killed and one wounded when JNA forces from a detached munitions depot at Široko Brezje tried to reach the barracks on the night before the surrender. The booty was huge but exact numbers are not known. JNA left all of their light and heavy weaponry including all of the vehicles. Barracks now wear the name "Ban Stjepan Lackovic".
Koprivnica
barracks was captured on September 30 as part of operation Bilogora. It was bombed by JNA aircraft on October 5, when one soldier was killed.
Virovitica
barracks housed 288th Mixed Anti-Tank Artillery Brigade and was captured on September 17. One Croatian was killed during the fighting.
Čakovec
barracks surrendered peacefully on September 17, 1991.
barracks were mostly evacuated by agreement just before the escalation of war, in June 1991. The notable exception was Poligon C base, focal point of the JNA attack on the city, which resisted and assisted JNA forces outside the city in shelling, until its capture on September 17.
Đakovo barracks was home to 158th Mixed Anti-Tank Artillery Brigade, including AT guns and self-propelled AT rocket vehicles. The barracks was captured, with five Croatians (one was civilian) dying during the fighting. 54 100 mm AT guns and 48 self-propelled AA guns were captured.
Vukovar
barracks was besieged throughout 1991, as the battle of Vukovar
raged. The outnumbered defenders could not spare men to capture the barracks, as they were attacked by overwhelming force from outside. JNA/Serb forces used the relief of the barracks as an excuse for the attack which destroyed the majority of the city and caused some of the worst atrocities during the war. However, since the barracks was located in the southern suburbs of the city, it was reached quite early on in the battle, before the real siege - and the majority of the devastation and casualties - started.
Vinkovci
barracks Đuro Salaj was involved in bombardment of the city in June.
barracks, as well as Army's Navy District command in Pula
were both evacuated by agreement before the war. Rijeka was the location of the JNA's 13th Corps, which was transferred by sea to Montenegro
and would later attack southern Bosnia and Herzegovina
during the Bosnian War
in 1992.
The Army Naval District from Pula was moved to Boka Kotorska in Montenegro, the only real Yugoslav military port following the secession of Croatia.
Gospić
barracks saw heavy fighting during September - the city being subject to heavy attacks from outside as well - but was eventually captured on September 18.
barracks was assaulted on August 25, after negotiations for the return of confiscated Territorial Defence weapons failed. Two Croatians were killed, but the facilities were captured.
Split
barracks was evacuated in October, but the naval base at Lora
remained in JRM hands until December.
Šibenik
barracks was an important factor in the JNA attack on the city during the peak of the Operation Coast-91 in September. The cities defenders finally captured the barracks on September 15. Croatian forces also took control of Šibenik naval base, where they seized 29 small naval vessels.
Forces in the Zadar
barracks heavily outmatched the cities defenders and remained in JNA hands until they were evacuated at the end of the year.
The islands of Lastovo
and Vis
were bases for JNA's Navy units and were both occupied until the cease-fire agreement at the end of the year when they were both evacuated by JNA. Naval units of the Yugoslav Navy attempted military actions against Croatian ports further north, particularly on November 15 when the frigate Split
shelled the Port of Split
, where she hit and damaged the ferryboat Vladimir Nazor and killed two members of her crew. Another ferry, the Bartol Kašić was also hit by a number of rounds. The attack was in retaliation for the damage sustained by the JRM patrol boat PČ-176 Mukos, either after being mined, or hit by a torpedo. She was later raised, repaired and put in service by the Croatian Navy as OB-62 Šolta. The Yugoslav Navy was eventually repulsed by coastal artillery fire on November 16, when the Serb-led naval forces lost two minesweeper boats both hit by Croatian 76 mm guns in the Korčula
channel. The first vessel, ML-144, sank in shallow waters at the Bay of Torač, in the island of Hvar
. Another minesweeper, ML-143, sank off Šćedro
island.
s or Soviet T-34
), against almost 2000 tanks of the JNA. Capture of barracks filled with valuable equipment enabled a quick and easy way for Croats to obtain needed equipment. Bjelovar and Varaždin alone provided the Croats with over 140 tanks, or about 7% of JNA total, which disrupted the otherwise overwhelming advantage of the JNA.
As a result, Croatia was able to field its first T-55
tank
battalion
by October. The inflow of tanks, artillery, and AT weaponry helped stop further JNA attacks into Croatia.
Croatia
Croatia , officially the Republic of Croatia , is a unitary democratic parliamentary republic in Europe at the crossroads of the Mitteleuropa, the Balkans, and the Mediterranean. Its capital and largest city is Zagreb. The country is divided into 20 counties and the city of Zagreb. Croatia covers ...
as part of the Croatian War of Independence
Croatian War of Independence
The Croatian War of Independence was fought from 1991 to 1995 between forces loyal to the government of Croatia—which had declared independence from the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia —and the Serb-controlled Yugoslav People's Army and local Serb forces, with the JNA ending its combat...
during 1991, with the most important fighting in September. It was fought between Croatian forces (still undeveloped military, police and volunteer forces) and the Yugoslav Peoples Army (JNA)
Yugoslav People's Army
The Yugoslav People's Army , also referred to as the Yugoslav National Army , was the military of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia.-Origins:The origins of the JNA can...
. The battle is considered an important Croatian victory as a result of which Croatian forces captured valuable heavy equipment (tanks, artillery, rockets) from military barracks, which they badly needed for the war effort.
Preface
Since Croatia was part of the Yugoslav Federation before 1991, the country's Federal Army (JNA)Yugoslav People's Army
The Yugoslav People's Army , also referred to as the Yugoslav National Army , was the military of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia.-Origins:The origins of the JNA can...
had substantial quantities of heavy equipment stored in federal barracks across Croatian territory. With the Croatian independence in 1991, those federal barracks posed a serious threat to internal security, not forgetting the fact each of the garrisoned barracks had valuable equipment Croatia desperately needed for defense of its independence. Since most of the barracks were based in densely populated areas, for example, cities of Bjelovar
Bjelovar
Bjelovar is a city in central Croatia. It is the administrative centre of Bjelovar-Bilogora County. During the 2001 census, there were 41,869 inhabitants, 90.51% which are Croats....
and Varaždin
Varaždin
Varaždin is a city in north Croatia, north of Zagreb on the highway A4. The total population is 47,055, with 38,746 on of the city settlement itself . The centre of Varaždin county is located near the Drava river, at...
, risk of heavy collateral damage was an issue local territorial forces had to consider to avoid bloodshed.
The worsening of the security situation in Croatia during 1990 led to the Croatian leadership preparing plans for a possible war. Croatian Army Chief of Staff (former Croatian Minister of Defence) Martin Špegelj
Martin Špegelj
Martin Špegelj was the second Defense Minister of Croatia and, later, the chief of staff of the newborn Croatian army and inspector-general of the army. His efforts to organize and equip the army from scratch were seen as instrumental in helping Croatia survive the first year of the Croatian War of...
- who was the foremost Army advocate of storming the barracks - formulated a comprehensive plan for capture of army barracks throughout Croatia, in order to obtain the weapons in those depots. With the Slovenian Ten-Day War
Ten-Day War
The Ten-Day War or the Slovenian Independence War was a military conflict between the Slovenian Territorial Defence and the Yugoslav People's Army in 1991 following Slovenia's declaration of independence.-Background:...
taking place in June 1991, Špegelj urged Croatian president Franjo Tuđman to attack the barracks and aid the Slovenians. Tuđman refused, fearful of the JNA's full military power in such a war. Davor Domazet-Lošo, in his book Hrvatska i veliko ratište, outlines a belief by a group of historians that this opportunity was just an elaborate plot to force Croatia into an attack. Considering the amount of military equipment inside Croatia's military barracks, this seems doubtful.
The escalation of violence during the summer of 1991 saw the JNA side with the Croatian Serbs. As a result of this, Croatian forces - still not developed as a real force - besieged the numerous army barracks to secure the rear of the fighting forces. The problem of insufficient forces for Croatians meant that many of the besieging forces were not military, but civilians - including police forces, civil protection services and local self-organized volunteers.
War breaks out
The war was very slow to start - tensions brewing since mid-1980 - which enabled negotiations to decrease the problem. JNA and Croatian leadership agreed for a withdrawal of some JNA barracks - notably in places far from the frontlines like Pula and Rijeka (13th Corps). This compromise was criticised by elements within the Croatian military (notably Martin Špegelj) who claimed the Croat leadership was allowing the enemy to withdraw with its full equipment, at a time when war seemed unavoidable.It is important to note that the imminent war, as well as earlier independence of Slovenia and the reluctance of non-Serbs to go to war for Croat Serb causes, caused mass desertions by which JNA forces were undermanned. As a result, stationary army barracks where the first to suffer and in 1991, these had more equipment than personnel to man them.
The opening moves of the war took place in August in East Slavonia, at the battle of Vukovar
Battle of Vukovar
The Battle of Vukovar was an 87-day siege of Vukovar in eastern Croatia by the Yugoslav People's Army , supported by various paramilitary forces from Serbia, between August and November 1991. Before the Croatian War of Independence the Baroque town was a prosperous, mixed community of Croats,...
and in Krajina
Krajina
-Etymology:In old-Croatian, this earliest geographical term appeared at least from 10th century within the Glagolitic inscriptions in Chakavian dialect, e.g. in Baška tablet about 1105, and also in some subsequent Glagolitic texts as krayna in the original medieval meaning of inlands or mainlands...
and Dalmatia
Dalmatia
Dalmatia is a historical region on the eastern coast of the Adriatic Sea. It stretches from the island of Rab in the northwest to the Bay of Kotor in the southeast. The hinterland, the Dalmatian Zagora, ranges from fifty kilometers in width in the north to just a few kilometers in the south....
. The escalation of violence resulted in military personnel on the spot taking the initiative and storming many of the barracks, against government wishes to continue negotiations - even at the time when almost 1/3 of Croatia was already occupied by JNA and Serb rebels.
The majority of the storming of the barracks took place from September 14 to September 19, 1991. In that period, 36 barracks and depots and 26 other military posts were captured or surrendered. On September 27, plan Bilogora was implemented, which resulted in the capture of Bjelovar and Koprivnica barracks.
Some ammo depots were bombed by Yugoslav Air Force after capture, but locally organized Croat units were often very effective and quick to transfer the most valuable equipment to other locations before that. At least five locations were bombed in this way.
Zagreb and Central Croatia
ZagrebZagreb
Zagreb is the capital and the largest city of the Republic of Croatia. It is in the northwest of the country, along the Sava river, at the southern slopes of the Medvednica mountain. Zagreb lies at an elevation of approximately above sea level. According to the last official census, Zagreb's city...
barracks - named "Marshall Tito" after Josip Broz Tito
Josip Broz Tito
Marshal Josip Broz Tito – 4 May 1980) was a Yugoslav revolutionary and statesman. While his presidency has been criticized as authoritarian, Tito was a popular public figure both in Yugoslavia and abroad, viewed as a unifying symbol for the nations of the Yugoslav federation...
- was one of the largest in Croatia. It was the regional center of 5th Army District (one out of three JNA's main command HQs) and 10th Corps (Zagreb), along with support units. The Croats were reluctant to storm the barracks directly, due to the strength of the JNA forces and the threat of collateral damage it presented to the Croatian capital. Because of this, the fighting was not intensive and it mostly degenerated into occasional shooting from the barracks to the city. A truce was reached and there was no further fighting until the signing of the last cease-fire at the end of the year. As part of the agreement, the JNA evacuated the barracks when it officially left Croatia in January 1992.
Jastrebarsko
Jastrebarsko
- Antiquity :In 1865, remnants of a Roman settlement were uncovered in Repišće, Klinča Sela, a village in Jastrebarsko metropolitan area. Further archeological investigation in the late 20th century classified them as a villa rustica and a necropolis consisting of six tumuli, both dating to...
barracks was the location of JNA's 4th Armoured (Tank
Tank
A tank is a tracked, armoured fighting vehicle designed for front-line combat which combines operational mobility, tactical offensive, and defensive capabilities...
) Brigade
Brigade
A brigade is a major tactical military formation that is typically composed of two to five battalions, plus supporting elements depending on the era and nationality of a given army and could be perceived as an enlarged/reinforced regiment...
- one of the most élite JNA armoured units. After weeks of negotiation - JNA evacuated the barracks on November 13, rejoining JNA forces in Banovina in central Croatia.
Samobor
Samobor
Samobor is a town in the Zagreb County, Croatia. It is part of the Zagreb metropolitan area.-Geography:Samobor is located west of Zagreb, between the eastern slopes of the Samoborsko gorje , in the Sava River valley.-Population:...
barracks surrendered on October 7, 1991.
Sisak
Sisak
Sisak is a city in central Croatia. The city's population in 2011 was 33,049, with a total of 49,699 in the administrative region and it is also the administrative centre of the Sisak-Moslavina county...
barracks and depots surrendered on September 9, 1991.
North Croatia
Next to Zagreb, VaraždinVaraždin
Varaždin is a city in north Croatia, north of Zagreb on the highway A4. The total population is 47,055, with 38,746 on of the city settlement itself . The centre of Varaždin county is located near the Drava river, at...
barracks were the largest in Croatia - the center of JNA's 32nd Corps and assorted other units, including the 32nd Mechanized
Mechanized
Mechanized refers to the use of machines. Related articles:*Mechanised agriculture*Mechanization* For "Mechanized artillery", see Self-propelled artillery* For "Mechanized force" and "Mechanized warfare", see Armoured warfare*Mechanized infantry...
Brigade (one of the most élite "A" brigades) and one artillery Regiment
Regiment
A regiment is a major tactical military unit, composed of variable numbers of batteries, squadrons or battalions, commanded by a colonel or lieutenant colonel...
. The barracks was blockaded during the night of September 13/14th, and electricity, water and supplies were cut. Fighting started on the 15th with JNA aircraft bombarding Varaždin airstrip. As the situation deteriorated, more and more soldiers deserted from the barracks and there was a conflict within the barracks itself. After that, tanks and artillery from the barracks were directed to fire at civilian targets and many houses where destroyed and general fighting begun. After a week of sporadic fighting, and in order to spare his men, the commander General
General
A general officer is an officer of high military rank, usually in the army, and in some nations, the air force. The term is widely used by many nations of the world, and when a country uses a different term, there is an equivalent title given....
Vladimir Trifunović surrendered the garrison on September 22. Ironically, this caused him resentment from both sides. Croatia sentenced him in absentia
In absentia
In absentia is Latin for "in the absence". In legal use, it usually means a trial at which the defendant is not physically present. The phrase is not ordinarily a mere observation, but suggests recognition of violation to a defendant's right to be present in court proceedings in a criminal trial.In...
to 15 years for devastation of the city, while Serbia sentenced him to 11 years for treason. The booty was impressive: 74 T-55
T-55
The T-54 and T-55 tanks were a series of main battle tanks designed in the Soviet Union. The first T-54 prototype appeared in March 1945, just before the end of the Second World War. The T-54 entered full production in 1947 and became the main tank for armored units of the Soviet Army, armies of...
tanks, 88 APCs, 36 self-propelled AA guns, 24 100 mm AT guns, 72 120 mm mortars and other heavy equipment was captured. During the fighting, casualties were 6 killed (3 civilians, 2 JNA soldiers and 1 Croatian soldier) and 37 wounded.
Bjelovar
Bjelovar
Bjelovar is a city in central Croatia. It is the administrative centre of Bjelovar-Bilogora County. During the 2001 census, there were 41,869 inhabitants, 90.51% which are Croats....
barracks was home to 265th Armored-Mechanized Brigade. Army facilities there included two barracks in the city itself, as well as outside arms and ammunition depots. The situation in the area was tense and constantly threatened to escalate. Up to ten conscripted JNA soldiers deserted daily, since many stationed there were Kosovo
Kosovo
Kosovo is a region in southeastern Europe. Part of the Ottoman Empire for more than five centuries, later the Autonomous Province of Kosovo and Metohija within Serbia...
Albanians
Albanians
Albanians are a nation and ethnic group native to Albania and neighbouring countries. They speak the Albanian language. More than half of all Albanians live in Albania and Kosovo...
, as well as other non-Serb nationalities. In one incident, JNA almost opened fire on a group of mothers from the movement "Wall of Love" protesting for release of conscripts who were forced to be there. On September 29, Croatian forces started an attack, as part of operation Bilogora which was concluded on the same day. The two barracks in the city were captured easily, only an isolated storage (named Barutana) which included three depots remained, but JNA officer Major Milan Tepić
Milan Tepic
Milan Tepić , was a major of former Yugoslav People's Army, ethnic Serb from village Komlenac near Kozarska Dubica under Kozara mountain...
refused to surrender and detonated an explosion: destroying one depot, killing himself along with 7 to 20 other JNA Serb reservists and 11 Croatians. The explosion destroyed all of the weapons and ammunition in that depot, but the capture of others was a great success for the Croatian forces, as the booty included 78 T-55 tanks and 80 APCs. Over 200 officers were captured which were exchanged for Croatian prisoners of war.
Križevci barracks named "Kalnik" housed 411th Mixed Anti-Armour Artillery Regiment commanded by colonel Jovo Radosavljević. It surrendered peacefully on September 17, 1991. However, two Croatian soldiers were killed and one wounded when JNA forces from a detached munitions depot at Široko Brezje tried to reach the barracks on the night before the surrender. The booty was huge but exact numbers are not known. JNA left all of their light and heavy weaponry including all of the vehicles. Barracks now wear the name "Ban Stjepan Lackovic".
Koprivnica
Koprivnica
Koprivnica is a city in northern Croatia. It is the capital of the Koprivnica-Križevci county. In 2011 the city administrative area had a total population of 30,872, with 23,896 in the city itself.-Population:...
barracks was captured on September 30 as part of operation Bilogora. It was bombed by JNA aircraft on October 5, when one soldier was killed.
Virovitica
Virovitica
Virovitica is a Croatian town near the Croatian-Hungarian border. It is situated near the Drava river and belongs to the historic region of Slavonia. Virovitica has a population of 14,663, with 21,327 people in the municipality...
barracks housed 288th Mixed Anti-Tank Artillery Brigade and was captured on September 17. One Croatian was killed during the fighting.
Čakovec
Cakovec
Čakovec is a city in northern Croatia, located around 90 kilometres north of Zagreb, the Croatian capital. Čakovec is both the county seat and largest city of Međimurje County, the northernmost, smallest and most densely populated Croatian county.-Population:...
barracks surrendered peacefully on September 17, 1991.
Slavonia
OsijekOsijek
Osijek is the fourth largest city in Croatia with a population of 83,496 in 2011. It is the largest city and the economic and cultural centre of the eastern Croatian region of Slavonia, as well as the administrative centre of Osijek-Baranja county...
barracks were mostly evacuated by agreement just before the escalation of war, in June 1991. The notable exception was Poligon C base, focal point of the JNA attack on the city, which resisted and assisted JNA forces outside the city in shelling, until its capture on September 17.
Đakovo barracks was home to 158th Mixed Anti-Tank Artillery Brigade, including AT guns and self-propelled AT rocket vehicles. The barracks was captured, with five Croatians (one was civilian) dying during the fighting. 54 100 mm AT guns and 48 self-propelled AA guns were captured.
Vukovar
Vukovar
Vukovar is a city in eastern Croatia, and the biggest river port in Croatia located at the confluence of the Vuka river and the Danube. Vukovar is the center of the Vukovar-Syrmia County...
barracks was besieged throughout 1991, as the battle of Vukovar
Battle of Vukovar
The Battle of Vukovar was an 87-day siege of Vukovar in eastern Croatia by the Yugoslav People's Army , supported by various paramilitary forces from Serbia, between August and November 1991. Before the Croatian War of Independence the Baroque town was a prosperous, mixed community of Croats,...
raged. The outnumbered defenders could not spare men to capture the barracks, as they were attacked by overwhelming force from outside. JNA/Serb forces used the relief of the barracks as an excuse for the attack which destroyed the majority of the city and caused some of the worst atrocities during the war. However, since the barracks was located in the southern suburbs of the city, it was reached quite early on in the battle, before the real siege - and the majority of the devastation and casualties - started.
Vinkovci
Vinkovci
Vinkovci is a city in Croatia, in the Vukovar-Syrmia County. In the 2011 census, the total population of the city was 35,375, making it the largest town of the county...
barracks Đuro Salaj was involved in bombardment of the city in June.
Northern seacoast and Lika
RijekaRijeka
Rijeka is the principal seaport and the third largest city in Croatia . It is located on Kvarner Bay, an inlet of the Adriatic Sea and has a population of 128,735 inhabitants...
barracks, as well as Army's Navy District command in Pula
Pula
Pula is the largest city in Istria County, Croatia, situated at the southern tip of the Istria peninsula, with a population of 62,080 .Like the rest of the region, it is known for its mild climate, smooth sea, and unspoiled nature. The city has a long tradition of winemaking, fishing,...
were both evacuated by agreement before the war. Rijeka was the location of the JNA's 13th Corps, which was transferred by sea to Montenegro
Montenegro
Montenegro Montenegrin: Crna Gora Црна Гора , meaning "Black Mountain") is a country located in Southeastern Europe. It has a coast on the Adriatic Sea to the south-west and is bordered by Croatia to the west, Bosnia and Herzegovina to the northwest, Serbia to the northeast and Albania to the...
and would later attack southern Bosnia and Herzegovina
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Bosnia and Herzegovina , sometimes called Bosnia-Herzegovina or simply Bosnia, is a country in Southern Europe, on the Balkan Peninsula. Bordered by Croatia to the north, west and south, Serbia to the east, and Montenegro to the southeast, Bosnia and Herzegovina is almost landlocked, except for the...
during the Bosnian War
Bosnian War
The Bosnian War or the War in Bosnia and Herzegovina was an international armed conflict that took place in Bosnia and Herzegovina between April 1992 and December 1995. The war involved several sides...
in 1992.
The Army Naval District from Pula was moved to Boka Kotorska in Montenegro, the only real Yugoslav military port following the secession of Croatia.
Gospić
Gospic
Gospić is a town in the mountainous and sparsely populated region of Lika, Croatia. It is the administrative centre of Lika-Senj county. Gospić is located near the Lika River in the middle of a karst field....
barracks saw heavy fighting during September - the city being subject to heavy attacks from outside as well - but was eventually captured on September 18.
Dalmatia
SinjSinj
Sinj is a town in the continental part of Split-Dalmatia County, Croatia. The town itself has a population of 11,448, while the population of the administrative municipality which includes surrounding villages is 24,832 ....
barracks was assaulted on August 25, after negotiations for the return of confiscated Territorial Defence weapons failed. Two Croatians were killed, but the facilities were captured.
Split
Split (city)
Split is a Mediterranean city on the eastern shores of the Adriatic Sea, centered around the ancient Roman Palace of the Emperor Diocletian and its wide port bay. With a population of 178,192 citizens, and a metropolitan area numbering up to 467,899, Split is by far the largest Dalmatian city and...
barracks was evacuated in October, but the naval base at Lora
Lora prison camp
Lora prison camp was a prison camp in Split, Croatia. It was active from 1992 to 1997 with mainly Serbian residents of Split and prisoners of war being imprisoned...
remained in JRM hands until December.
Šibenik
Šibenik
Šibenik is a historic town in Croatia, with population of 51,553 . It is located in central Dalmatia where the river Krka flows into the Adriatic Sea...
barracks was an important factor in the JNA attack on the city during the peak of the Operation Coast-91 in September. The cities defenders finally captured the barracks on September 15. Croatian forces also took control of Šibenik naval base, where they seized 29 small naval vessels.
Forces in the Zadar
Zadar
Zadar is a city in Croatia on the Adriatic Sea. It is the centre of Zadar county and the wider northern Dalmatian region. Population of the city is 75,082 citizens...
barracks heavily outmatched the cities defenders and remained in JNA hands until they were evacuated at the end of the year.
The islands of Lastovo
Lastovo
Lastovo is an island municipality in the Dubrovnik-Neretva County in Croatia. The municipality consists of 46 islands with a total population of 792 people, of which 93% are ethnic Croats, and a land area of approximately . The biggest island in the municipality is also named Lastovo, as is the...
and Vis
Vis (island)
Vis is the most outerly lying larger Croatian island in the Adriatic Sea, and is part of the Central Dalmatian group of islands, with an area of 90.26 km² and a population of 3,617 . Of all the inhabited Croatian islands, it is the farthest from the coast...
were bases for JNA's Navy units and were both occupied until the cease-fire agreement at the end of the year when they were both evacuated by JNA. Naval units of the Yugoslav Navy attempted military actions against Croatian ports further north, particularly on November 15 when the frigate Split
Yugoslav frigate Split
The Yugoslav frigate Split or VPBR-31 Split, often called destroyer Split is the name for an anti-submarine warfare frigate built as a Koni class frigate by the Soviet Union in 1976, and upgraded to the Kotor class frigate between 1985 and 1986 by SFR Yugoslavia.In the prelude to the Battle of the...
shelled the Port of Split
Port of Split
The Port of Split is a seaport in Split, Croatia, located in the Central Dalmatia. A trading post at the site was originally established by Greek settlers from the island of Vis and subsequently taken over by the Romans...
, where she hit and damaged the ferryboat Vladimir Nazor and killed two members of her crew. Another ferry, the Bartol Kašić was also hit by a number of rounds. The attack was in retaliation for the damage sustained by the JRM patrol boat PČ-176 Mukos, either after being mined, or hit by a torpedo. She was later raised, repaired and put in service by the Croatian Navy as OB-62 Šolta. The Yugoslav Navy was eventually repulsed by coastal artillery fire on November 16, when the Serb-led naval forces lost two minesweeper boats both hit by Croatian 76 mm guns in the Korčula
Korcula
Korčula is an island in the Adriatic Sea, in the Dubrovnik-Neretva County of Croatia. The island has an area of ; long and on average wide — and lies just off the Dalmatian coast. Its 16,182 inhabitants make it the second most populous Adriatic island after Krk...
channel. The first vessel, ML-144, sank in shallow waters at the Bay of Torač, in the island of Hvar
Hvar
- Climate :The climate of Hvar is characterized by mild winters and warm summers. The yearly average air temperature is , 686 mm of precipitation fall on the town of Hvar on average every year and the town has a total of 2800 sunshine hours per year. For comparison Hvar has an average of 7.7...
. Another minesweeper, ML-143, sank off Šćedro
Šćedro
Šćedro is an island in the Adriatic Sea, off the south coast of the island of Hvar, Croatia, opposite the settlement of Zavala. The name comes from štedri, meaning charitable in old Slavonic, because the island offers two deep, well-protected bays for shipping...
island.
Aftermath
At the beginning of the war, Croat forces had a chronic lack of any equipment. Estimates place their tank strength at a measly fifteen tanks (majority old World War II U.S. M4 ShermanM4 Sherman
The M4 Sherman, formally Medium Tank, M4, was the primary tank used by the United States during World War II. Thousands were also distributed to the Allies, including the British Commonwealth and Soviet armies, via lend-lease...
s or Soviet T-34
T-34
The T-34 was a Soviet medium tank produced from 1940 to 1958. Although its armour and armament were surpassed by later tanks of the era, it has been often credited as the most effective, efficient and influential design of World War II...
), against almost 2000 tanks of the JNA. Capture of barracks filled with valuable equipment enabled a quick and easy way for Croats to obtain needed equipment. Bjelovar and Varaždin alone provided the Croats with over 140 tanks, or about 7% of JNA total, which disrupted the otherwise overwhelming advantage of the JNA.
As a result, Croatia was able to field its first T-55
T-55
The T-54 and T-55 tanks were a series of main battle tanks designed in the Soviet Union. The first T-54 prototype appeared in March 1945, just before the end of the Second World War. The T-54 entered full production in 1947 and became the main tank for armored units of the Soviet Army, armies of...
tank
Tank
A tank is a tracked, armoured fighting vehicle designed for front-line combat which combines operational mobility, tactical offensive, and defensive capabilities...
battalion
Battalion
A battalion is a military unit of around 300–1,200 soldiers usually consisting of between two and seven companies and typically commanded by either a Lieutenant Colonel or a Colonel...
by October. The inflow of tanks, artillery, and AT weaponry helped stop further JNA attacks into Croatia.