Battle of Hrvatska Kostajnica
| Battle of Hrvatska Kostajnica | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part of the Croatian War of Independence | |||||||
| |||||||
| Belligerents | |||||||
 Serbian Krajina |
 Croatia | ||||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
|
Branko Dmitrovic Dragan Vasiljković |
Zvonimir Kalan   Nedjeljko Podunajec Janko Bobetko | ||||||
| Units involved | |||||||
|
| ||||||
| Strength | |||||||
| 1,000 - 2,000 | 400 - 450 | ||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||
| Unknown | Many killed, many surrendered | ||||||
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The Battle of Hrvatska Kostajnica was a military engagement fought between SAO Krajina and the newly independent state of Croatia. The city suffered attacks a few days after Serbian “Operation Stinger” seeing much Croatian success in the first stage of the battle. Branko Dmitrovic along with his men made the decision to occupy Hrvatska Kostajnica.[1]
Dragan Vasiljković and the Kninjas then ended the Siege by breaking the outer defense of Hrvatska Kostajnica, where the Croatian defenders would then surrender and be sent to Concentration camp(s).[2]
Prelude[edit]
In 1990, With the defeat of the pro-serb republic in the 1990 Croatian parliamentary election and the 1991 Croatian independence referendum,[3] tensions worsened as the Yugoslav People's Army took away Croatia's Territorial Defense.[4] Croatia then made its First step and declared independence on June 25, 1991.[5] clashes between Serb militias and Croatian Police occurred in Pakrac[citation needed] and in Plitvice Lakes.[citation needed] A war broke out with the Serb minority (Serbian Krajina) declaring itself as a state.[6] With the war beginning in 1991, Ending in 1995.[7]
Order of Battle[edit]
The Yugoslav People’s Army began their invasion of SAO Western Slavonia, Tanks and artillery were seen from across the Una. Intense artillery affected Hrvatska Kostajnica and the surrounding areas.[8] Low-scale fighting occurred between July and Early August, which saw much Croatian success. Croatian Forces withdrew from Hrvatska Kostajnica briefly, re-entering the town on August 2nd. The 7th Banija Division committed to occupying Hrvatska Kostajnica, with 1,000-2,000 troops. They outnumbered the Croatian Garrison of only 400-450 defenders. The 7th Banija Division then cut off the road to Hrvatska Dubica, which is where the Croatian Garrison stationed in Hrvatska Kostajnica got most of their supplies from. The road was captured by Serb forces, but was reportedly re-occupied by the Lučko Anti-Terrorist Unit and the 120th ZNG Brigade. The rest of the fighting devolved into a Unsuccessful Croatian Counter-attack to relieve the besieged town of Hrvatska Kostajnica. The Serbs besieging the town began to push for a final attack, to break the stalemate and occupy Hrvatska Kostajnica. This push came on August 30, Serbian Forces captured the hill of Djed, that overlooked the town and was vital position. On the early morning of September 12th, Serbian forces captured 60 Croatian Policemen, who we're then brutally torturted, this was done to physiologically affect the Croatian Defenders. The situation then completely collapsed as a failed Croatian offensive to break out of the siege and reach Hrvatska Dubica. The elite Knin police, "Kninjas" (Serbian Cyrillic : (Knindže) arrived and broke-through the defenses of the town. They then forced the Croats into a section of the town near the Una (Sava).[2] The Croatian Defenders then surrendered and we're sent to the Manjača camp where they we're mistreated and executed.[9]
Aftermath[edit]
The attacks on Hrvatska Kostajnica we're a major success for the cause for Republic of Serbian Krajina, 60 Croatian Policemen captured, and many Capable and sufficient soldiers from the Zrinski Battalion and the 1st Guards Brigade (Croatia) were captured or killed.[2]
Further advances[edit]
After Hrvatska Kostajnica was captured on September 13th, SAO Krajina forces captured Hrvatska Dubica[10] the same day, Topusko on the 14th of September.[11]
War crimes[edit]
After the strategic hill of Djed was captured, SAO Krajina forces captured 60 Croatian policemen, who were then tortured and executed.[1]After the Knindže pushed the remaining Croatian Soldiers into a section of the town that was near a bridge that led to the city of Kostajnica, Bosnia and Herzegovina, [2]the Croatian garrison stationed at Hrvatska Kostajnica surrendered and were sent to the Manjača concentration camp where they would be tortured and killed. [1] Following the capture of the town, Killings began as SAO Krajina forces torched and looted Hrvatska Kostajnica, and nearby villages.[12]
References[edit]
- ^ a b c Maranić, Borna. "The Fall of Hrvatska Kostajnica". domovinskirat.hr.
- ^ a b c d United States (CIA) (2002). Balkan battlegrounds : a military history of the Yugoslav conflict, 1990-1995. Unknown. p. 84.
- ^ ICTY, International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia. "The Conflicts".[dead link]
- ^ Ramet, Sabrina. Cental and Southeast European Politics since 1989. Cambridge University Press.
- ^ "Croatia declares independence | April 10, 1941". HISTORY. Retrieved 2024-05-03.
- ^ "Brief history of Croatia's Rebel Serb Krajina region". Reuters.
- ^ "The Conflicts | International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia". www.icty.org. Retrieved 2024-05-03.
- ^ Tagliabue, John (1991-09-14). "Serbian Rebels Harden Control of Croatia Coast". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2024-04-20.
- ^ Marinić, Borna (2020-09-12). "The Fall of Hrvatska Kostajnica". Domovinski rat. Retrieved 2024-04-21.
- ^ "The tragic fate of the Croatian village Baćin".
- ^ Marijan, Davor (2011). "The Sarajevo Ceasefire – Realism or strategic error by the Croatian leadership?". Review of Croatian History. VII (1): 103–123. ISSN 1845-4380.
- ^ Dokumenti, Knjiga 1 The Republic of Croatia and the Croatian War of Independence 1990-1995 - Documents, Volume 1 (in Croatian). pp. 427–428.
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