Croatian War of Independence: Difference between revisions

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Croatian War of Independence

The Croatian War of Independence was a conflict fought from 1991 to 1995 between Croatian forces loyal to the government of Croatia—which had declared independence from the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (SFRY)—and the Serb-controlled Yugoslav People's Army (JNA) and local Serb forces. The war was characterized by ethnic tensions, territorial disputes, and the breakup of Yugoslavia.

Background[edit]

The roots of the Croatian War of Independence can be traced back to the complex ethnic and political landscape of the former Yugoslavia. Following the death of Josip Broz Tito in 1980, the SFRY faced increasing economic difficulties and rising nationalism among its constituent republics. In Croatia, the election of Franjo Tuđman and his Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) in 1990 marked a shift towards independence.

Declaration of Independence[edit]

On 25 June 1991, Croatia declared independence from Yugoslavia, alongside Slovenia. The move was not recognized by the Yugoslav government, which sought to maintain the federation. Tensions escalated as the JNA, dominated by Serbs, intervened to support local Serb militias in Croatia who opposed independence.

Course of the War[edit]

The war began in earnest in March 1991 with skirmishes in the region of Plitvice Lakes. The conflict quickly spread, with major battles occurring in cities such as Vukovar, Dubrovnik, and Osijek.

Siege of Vukovar[edit]

The Siege of Vukovar was one of the most brutal episodes of the war, lasting from August to November 1991. The city was heavily bombarded by the JNA and eventually fell, leading to widespread destruction and atrocities.

International Involvement[edit]

The international community was initially slow to respond to the conflict. However, the European Community and the United Nations eventually intervened, leading to a series of ceasefires and the deployment of UN peacekeepers.

Resolution and Aftermath[edit]

The war effectively ended with the signing of the Erdut Agreement in November 1995, which provided for the peaceful reintegration of the remaining Serb-held territories into Croatia. The Dayton Agreement, which ended the Bosnian War, also contributed to the cessation of hostilities in Croatia.

Impact[edit]

The war resulted in significant loss of life, displacement of populations, and destruction of infrastructure. It also left deep ethnic divisions that continue to affect the region.

Also see[edit]

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-[[File:Logo_of_the_Yugoslav_People's_Army_(1991–1992).svg|thumb|Logo_of_the_Yugoslav_People's_Army_(1991–1992)]] [[file:Franjotudjman.jpg|right|thumb|Franjotudjman]] [[file:JNA_offensive_plan_1991.jpg|right|thumb|JNA_offensive_plan_1991]] [[file:Serb_T-55_Battle_of_the_Barracks.JPG|thumb|Serb_T-55_Battle_of_the_Barracks]] [[file:Plitvice_Lakes_incident,_memorial,_of_the_first_killed_croatian_policemen.JPG|thumb|Plitvice_Lakes_incident,_memorial,_of_the_first_killed_croatian_policemen]] [[file:Muzej_DR-crop.JPG|thumb|Muzej_DR-crop]] [[file:Dubrovnik_shelling.jpg|thumb|Dubrovnik_shelling]] {{Infobox military conflict
+[[File:Emblem of the Yugoslav People's Army (1991-1992).svg|thumb]] [[File:Stevan Kragujevic, Slobodan Milosevic, portret.jpg|thumb]] [[File:Franjotudjman.jpg|thumb]] [[File:JNA offensive plan 1991.jpg|thumb]] {{Infobox military conflict
 | conflict = Croatian War of Independence
-| partof = the [[Yugoslav Wars]]
+| partof = the Yugoslav Wars
 | image =
 | caption =
 | date = 31 March 1991 – 12 November 1995
-| place = [[Croatia]]
+| place = Croatia
-| territory =
 | result = Croatian victory
-| combatant1 = [[Republic of Croatia]]
+| combatant1 = Croatia
-| combatant2 = [[Republic of Serbian Krajina]], [[Federal Republic of Yugoslavia]]
+| combatant2 = Yugoslavia, Republic of Serbian Krajina
-| commander1 = [[Franjo Tuđman]], [[Janko Bobetko]], [[Ante Gotovina]]
+| commander1 = Franjo Tuđman
-| commander2 = [[Milan Martić]], [[Ratko Mladić]], [[Slobodan Milošević]]
+| commander2 = Slobodan Milošević
-| strength1 =
-| strength2 =
-| casualties1 =
-| casualties2 =
-| notes =
 }}
-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]] (SFRY)—and the [[Serb]]-controlled [[Yugoslav People's Army]] (JNA) and local [[Serb]] forces. The war was characterized by widespread [[ethnic cleansing]], significant civilian casualties, and the destruction of infrastructure.
+The '''Croatian War of Independence''' was a conflict fought from 1991 to 1995 between Croatian forces loyal to the government of Croatia—which had declared independence from the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (SFRY)—and the Serb-controlled Yugoslav People's Army (JNA) and local Serb forces. The war was characterized by ethnic tensions, territorial disputes, and the breakup of Yugoslavia.
 ==Background==
-The roots of the conflict lay in the complex history of the region, particularly the rise of [[nationalism]] in the late 1980s and early 1990s. The [[Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia]] was a federation of six republics, including [[Croatia]] and [[Serbia]]. Tensions between the republics grew as the central government weakened, leading to the rise of nationalist movements.
+The roots of the Croatian War of Independence can be traced back to the complex ethnic and political landscape of the former Yugoslavia. Following the death of [[Josip Broz Tito]] in 1980, the SFRY faced increasing economic difficulties and rising nationalism among its constituent republics. In Croatia, the election of [[Franjo Tuđman]] and his Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) in 1990 marked a shift towards independence.
+===Declaration of Independence===
+On 25 June 1991, Croatia declared independence from Yugoslavia, alongside Slovenia. The move was not recognized by the Yugoslav government, which sought to maintain the federation. Tensions escalated as the JNA, dominated by Serbs, intervened to support local Serb militias in Croatia who opposed independence.
 ==Course of the War==
-The war began in earnest in March 1991, following a series of skirmishes and escalating tensions. The [[Battle of Vukovar]] was one of the first major conflicts, resulting in a prolonged siege and significant casualties. The [[Siege of Dubrovnik]] and the [[Battle of the Dalmatian Coast]] were other notable engagements.
+The war began in earnest in March 1991 with skirmishes in the region of [[Plitvice Lakes]]. The conflict quickly spread, with major battles occurring in cities such as [[Vukovar]], [[Dubrovnik]], and [[Osijek]].
+===Siege of Vukovar===
+The [[Siege of Vukovar]] was one of the most brutal episodes of the war, lasting from August to November 1991. The city was heavily bombarded by the JNA and eventually fell, leading to widespread destruction and atrocities.
-The conflict saw the involvement of various paramilitary groups and the use of guerrilla tactics. The [[United Nations]] intervened with peacekeeping forces, but their impact was limited. The war continued until the signing of the [[Erdut Agreement]] in November 1995, which led to the peaceful reintegration of the remaining Serb-held territories into Croatia.
+===International Involvement===
+The international community was initially slow to respond to the conflict. However, the European Community and the United Nations eventually intervened, leading to a series of ceasefires and the deployment of UN peacekeepers.
-==Aftermath==
+==Resolution and Aftermath==
-The war had a profound impact on Croatia, leading to significant loss of life, displacement of populations, and economic damage. The [[International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia]] (ICTY) was established to prosecute war crimes committed during the conflict. Several high-profile leaders, including [[Slobodan Milošević]] and [[Ante Gotovina]], were tried for their roles in the war.
+The war effectively ended with the signing of the [[Erdut Agreement]] in November 1995, which provided for the peaceful reintegration of the remaining Serb-held territories into Croatia. The [[Dayton Agreement]], which ended the Bosnian War, also contributed to the cessation of hostilities in Croatia.
-==Legacy==
+===Impact===
-The Croatian War of Independence remains a significant event in the history of the region. It is commemorated annually on [[Victory and Homeland Thanksgiving Day]] and the [[Day of Croatian Defenders]]. The war also had a lasting impact on the political landscape of the Balkans and the process of [[European integration]] for the countries involved.
+The war resulted in significant loss of life, displacement of populations, and destruction of infrastructure. It also left deep ethnic divisions that continue to affect the region.
-==Related Pages==
+==Also see==
 * [[Yugoslav Wars]]
-* [[Battle of Vukovar]]
+* [[Bosnian War]]
-* [[Siege of Dubrovnik]]
+* [[Slovenian Independence War]]
-* [[Erdut Agreement]]
+* [[Operation Storm]]
-* [[International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia]]
 * [[Franjo Tuđman]]
 * [[Slobodan Milošević]]
-[[Category:1990s conflicts]]
+{{Yugoslav Wars}}
 [[Category:Wars involving Croatia]]
 [[Category:Yugoslav Wars]]
-[[Category:Independence wars]]
+[[Category:1990s conflicts]]
-{{Yugoslav Wars}}
-{{medicine-stub}}