Croatian National Guard
Encyclopedia
The Croatian National Guard was the name of the first modern Croatia
n military force. Croatian president Franjo Tuđman signed to law the Decree of Formation of the Croatian National Guard on April 20, 1991 which became the first professional armed forces with defence and training duties.
These forces formed within the framework of the Croatian Ministry of the Interior, and under the command of the Croatian Ministry of Defence which on September 21 formed the Command of the Croatian National Guard.
The first brigade of the ZNG was presented to the Croatian public in a special ceremony on May 28 with a march, the handing out of flags
to the soldiers and the recitation of oaths at NK Zagreb
's stadium in the Croatian capital
. By August 12 four brigades had been formed. Croatian defence forces at this time had approximately 60,000 members, with 30,000 under the Interior Ministry's command.
The ZNG formed as a response to the arming of the Territorial Defense
in Croatia as well as the inability of Croatia to ensure its territorial integrity after its declaration of independence.
On November 3, 1991 the Croatian National Guard was officially renamed to the Croatian Army (HV).
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 ...
n military force. Croatian president Franjo Tuđman signed to law the Decree of Formation of the Croatian National Guard on April 20, 1991 which became the first professional armed forces with defence and training duties.
These forces formed within the framework of the Croatian Ministry of the Interior, and under the command of the Croatian Ministry of Defence which on September 21 formed the Command of the Croatian National Guard.
The first brigade of the ZNG was presented to the Croatian public in a special ceremony on May 28 with a march, the handing out of flags
Flag of Croatia
The flag of Croatia is one of the state symbols of Croatia. It consists of three equal size, horizontal stripes in colours red, white and blue. The flag combines the colours of the flags of the Kingdom of Croatia , the Kingdom of Slavonia and the Kingdom of Dalmatia...
to the soldiers and the recitation of oaths at NK Zagreb
NK Zagreb
NK Zagreb is a Croatian football club, from the Croatian capital of Zagreb.NK Zagreb's home is the Stadion Kranjčevićeva with capacity of 8,850. The club's fans are known as the White Angels...
's stadium in the Croatian capital
Zagreb
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...
. By August 12 four brigades had been formed. Croatian defence forces at this time had approximately 60,000 members, with 30,000 under the Interior Ministry's command.
The ZNG formed as a response to the arming of the Territorial Defense
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...
in Croatia as well as the inability of Croatia to ensure its territorial integrity after its declaration of independence.
On November 3, 1991 the Croatian National Guard was officially renamed to the Croatian Army (HV).
Guards brigades
The following guards brigades were formed in the early 1990s and were active during the Croatian War of Independence:- 1st "Tigers" Brigade (active 1990–2008)
- 2nd "Thunders" Brigade2nd Guards Brigade (Croatia)The 2nd Guards Brigade , also known by their nickname Thunders , was one of the original Croatian National Guard brigades formed in 1991 and one of the most elite mechanized infantry units in the Croatian Ground Army during its existence, during which it saw action in a number of engagements...
(active 1991–2008) - 3rd "Martens" Brigade3rd Guards Brigade (Croatia)The 3rd Guards Brigade , also known by their nickname Kune , was a Croatian Ground Army brigade formed on 29 April 1991 in Vinkovci...
(active 1991–2003) - 4th "Spiders" Brigade (active 1991–2008)
- 5th "Falcons" Brigade (active 1992–2003)
- 7th "Pumas" Brigade7th Guards Brigade (Croatia)The 7th Guards Brigade , also known by their nickname Pumas , was a Croatian Ground Army brigade formed on 23 December 1992 in Varaždin...
(active 1992–2003) - 9th "Wolves" Brigade (active 1992–2008), initially numbered 6th