utorak, 5. kolovoza 2014.

REPUBLIC CROATIA: THANKS THE VETERANS FOR FREEDOM AND DAWN OF DEMOCRACY


Croatia Thanks The Veterans For Freedom And Dawn Of Democracy

by inavukic
Defending freedom - Croat defenders 1991 - 1995
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 byCroatia’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 forCroatia’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
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 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
Croats fled their destroyed towns
under threats of death
and concentration camps
before August 1995
Croatia victims vukovar 1991
Operation Storm begins 4 August 1995
Operation Storm begins
4 August 1995

Croat wounded soldier attended to by mates
Croat wounded soldier
attended to by mates

Operation Storm 1995 Croat soldier in action
Operation Storm 1995
Croat soldier in action

Operation Storm Determined to be finally free
Operation Storm
Determined to be
finally free

Croat veterans charge in 1995 Operation Storm
Croat veterans charge
in 1995 Operation Storm

Operation Storm 5 August 1995  Croat soldiers circle  Serb occupied area
Operation Storm
5 August 1995
Croat soldiers circle
Serb occupied area

4 August 1995 Operation Storm Croat defenders plan liberating battles
4 August 1995
Operation Storm
Croat defenders plan
liberating battles

Swift, determined, strong Operation Storm 5 August 1995 Croat soldiers close in
Swift, determined, strong
Operation Storm 5 August 1995
Croat soldiers close in

Victory and liberty Operation Storm veterans complete their task
Victory and liberty
Operation Storm veterans
complete their task

Croat Operation Storm defenders enter liberated town of Knin
Croat Operation Storm
defenders enter liberated
town of Knin

Operation Storm a swift and determined action for freedom
Operation Storm a swift
and determined action
for freedom

Victory! Streets in Croatia celebrate Operation Storm  5 August 1995
Victory! Streets in
Croatia celebrate
Operation Storm 
















Croat soldiers liberate Knin August 5, 1995
Croat soldiers liberate Knin
August 5, 1995

Tears of joy - Croat soldiers after Operation Storm 5 August 1995
Tears of joy -
Croat soldiers after
Operation Storm 


Operation Storm veteran receives a hug of gratitude
Operation Storm
veteran receives
a hug of gratitude

Operation Storm liberates town of Knin from Serb occupation and Croatia';s president Franjo Tudjman arrives the next day  6 August 1995 to personally shake the hands of the heroes
Operation Storm liberates
town of Knin from Serb
occupation and Croatia';s
president Franjo Tudjman arrives the next day
6 August 1995 to
personally shake the hands
of the heroes

Franjo Tudjman in liberated Knin August 6, 1995
Franjo Tudjman in liberated Knin
August 6, 1995

Franjo Tudjman kisses the Croatian flag in liberated Knin August 6, 1995
Franjo Tudjman kisses the Croatian flag
in liberated Knin
August 6, 1995

Croat veterans in Knin August 6, 1995
Croat veterans in Knin
August 6, 1995

Franjo Tudjman with his Operation Storm team of Croatia's heroes  6 August 1995 in Knin
Franjo Tudjman with his
Operation Storm team of
Croatia's heroes
6 August 1995 in Knin