Defending freedom - Croat defenders 1991 - 1995
Croatian War of Independence (1991 - 1995) -
The Storm Of Victory
Video tribute to
Croatian veterans and Operation Storm with "Brothers in Arms" - Dire Straits music:
Today, August 5, Croatia commemorates the Day of Victory and Homeland Gratitude andthe Day of Croatian Defenders, the day when 19 years ago its military and police forces regained control of most of the Serb occupied territory in the legendary military offensive Operation Storm.
Operation Storm restored Croatian sovereignty over nearly a fifth of the country's territory, occupied by Serb terrorising, murderous rebels backed by the Yugoslav People's Army (JNA) from Serbia in 1991. Operation Storm, along with Operation Flash (Western Slavonia part of Croatia) successfully launched in May 1995, crushed the Serb forces and thus ended the military part of Homeland War in August 1995.
After the four years of occupation, shelling attacks and ethnic cleansing of Croats and other non-Serbs from the Serb-held areas, and many rounds of failed peace talks and initiatives, Croatia had no other choice but to liberate its sovereign but occupied territory with its own military force.
Operation Storm was launched at 5am on August 4, 1995, and within the next 84 hours nearly 10,500 square kilometres or 18.4 % of Croatia's territory was liberated. A 20-metre-long Croatian flag was displayed on the fortress in Knin, the heart of the Serb rebellion, at noon on August 5.
The gratitude to
the veterans and
Croatian leadership at
the time championed by
Croatia’s first president Franjo Tudjman is immense. They should forever be remembered, celebrated and raised to
the pedestal of eternal gratitude of
the Croatiannation. Their resolve to fight off communist Yugoslavia venom was astonishing;
the kind of resolve and bravery that pours hope and joy of freedom. In that light and in expressing my personal and deep gratitude to all those who fought in
the battles for freedom, to all those who worked for freedom in
the background, to all those who lost their lives for
Croatia’s freedom, I have collected a series of screen shots from Operation Storm documentary films and turned them into photographs (please click on them to enlarge and enjoy). Ina Vukic, Prof. (Zgb); B.A.,
M.A.Ps. (Syd)
Croatia destroyed by Serb aggression
and on its knees
by August 1995
Croats forced to leave their towns
in their hundreds of thousands
by August 1995
Croats fled their destroyed towns
under threats of death
and concentration camps
before August 1995
Operation Storm begins
4 August 1995
Croat wounded soldier
attended to by mates
Operation Storm 1995
Croat soldier in action
Operation Storm
Determined to be
finally free
Croat veterans charge
in 1995 Operation Storm
Operation Storm
5 August 1995
Croat soldiers circle
Serb occupied area
4 August 1995
Operation Storm
Croat defenders plan
liberating battles
Swift, determined, strong
Operation Storm 5 August 1995
Croat soldiers close in
Victory and liberty
Operation Storm veterans
complete their task
Croat Operation Storm
defenders enter liberated
town of Knin
Operation Storm a swift
and determined action
for freedom
Victory! Streets in
Croatia celebrate
Operation Storm
