Croatian War of Independence - Guard Brigades and Guard Battalions (C)

5th Guard Brigade “the Falcons”

The 5th Guard Brigade of Croatian Army was established pursuant to the order of the Minister of Defence of the Republic of Croatia on 5 October 1992. Nevertheless, its wartime history goes back even further, as it was composed of volunteers and experienced soldiers and veterans who stood out in the defence of the eastern part of Croatia during 1991 and 1992.

Members of the 204th “A” Brigade, the Vukovar veterans, formed the basis of the Falcons, together with warriors from other units from this part of Slavonia: 2nd Infantry Battalion of the 3rd Guard Brigade (from Vinkovci), 3rd company of the Nova Gradiška Battalion of the 3rd Guard Brigade, 105th Brigade, 106th Brigade, 107th Brigade, 108th Brigade, 109th Brigade, 121st Brigade, 123rd Brigade, 124th Brigade, 132nd Brigade and 157th Brigade of Croatian Army, as well as members of police forces, defenders and volunteers from other units and other countries. Immediately after its establishment, the 5th Guard Brigade was deployed to the defence of Zadar and Zadar region in the beginning of 1993. After fighting at the Zadar battlefield, during 1993 and 1994, the Brigade heads to the Southern Front (Mostar, Uskoplje and Livno battlefields). 1995, the year of the magnificent victories of Croatian Army in operations Winter ‘94, Flash, Summer ‘95 and Storm, saw an extraordinary contribution of the 5th Guard Brigade members who stood out in the Operation Flash, contributing by their successful action to the swift breakdown of the so-called 18th corps of the Serbian paramilitary formations. In that way, they facilitated the quick liberation of west Slavonia.

The main contribution of “the Falcons” to the Military-police operation Storm was the firm defence of the then line of separation in the east Slavonia, where they readily awaited for the command to free the remaining part of their temporarily occupied homeland. A total of 83 members of the 5th Guard Brigade perished in the fights for freedom and independence of Croatia, while 300 of them were wounded.

After the combats, the unit turned to military education and training, as well as further organisation and development of Croatian Army. With the goal of further organisation and modernisation of Croatian Army, the 5th Guard Brigade ceased to exist on 28 February 2003 by the decision of the Croatian High Command.

Zoran Marunček
retired Captain

9th Guard Brigade “the Wolves”

The renowned 9th Motorised Guard Brigade “the Wolves” was founded on 1 November 1992. Lieutenant Colonel Mirko Norac was put in charge of the formation of the new unit named the 6th Motorised Guard Brigade. The brigade had that name until June 1993, when it was changed to 9th Motorised Guard Brigade “the Wolves”.

Two months after it was established, the Brigade successfully participated in Operation Maslenica, breaking the enemy resistance at Rovanjska – Jesenice – Tulove grede line in record time. The Brigade was also the main force of the Operation Medak Pocket on 9 September 1993, when the area covering 48 km2of the temporarily occupied Croatian territory was recovered in a matter of hours. The new combat mission ensued on 6 March 1994, when the enemy attacked and occupied the dominant terrain mark Repetitor at Ljubovo mountain range. The 9th Guard Brigade was deployed to help the reserve brigades, repelling the enemy back to their initial positions.

The 84th Guard Battalion “the Termites” joined the 9th Guard Brigade as its 2nd Infantry Battalion on 9 March 1995. The unit held the Velebit defence line, participating in the Operation Summer ‘95 in July 1995 as a part of the Split Military district. During the Military-police operation Storm, the 9th Guard Brigade managed to conquer the Ljubovo mountain range, penetrating the Lički Osik – Bunić line and continuing further towards the state border via Udbina. Simultaneously, the 2nd Infantry Battalion “the Termites” attacked from Velebit massif towards Gračac and managed to reach the Bosnia and Herzegovina border via Srb.

Following the Operation Storm, the Brigade’s units were tasked with preserving the state border on the south of the Republic of Croatia. The Brigade had been awarded the Order of Duke Domagoj with the ribbon and with the Charter of the Republic of Croatia. Approximately 5000 defenders have been members of the unit at some point. During the Croatian War of Independence, 56 members of the 9th Guard Brigade perished, while 211 were wounded or injured.

The victorious warpath of the 9th Guard Brigade “the Wolves” ended in 2003, with the tradition passed to the 1st Motorised Battalion “the Wolves” within the Motorised Guard Brigade of Croatian Army. Established in July 2007, the War Veterans’ Association of the 9th Guard Brigade “the Wolves” preserves the memory of the unit.

PRIMUS INTER PARES – THE FIRST AMONG THE EQUALS

Milan Franić
the Vice President of the War Veterans’ Association of
the 9th Guard Brigade “the Wolves”

81st Guard Battalion “the Godfathers”

The 81st Guard Battalion “the Godfathers” from Virovitica was the youngest professional unit and a part of the elite group of Croatian Army guard formations during the Croatian War of Independence. It was established pursuant to the order of the Minister of Defence of the Republic of Croatia on 15 February 1994. After one year of intense training and equipping, the Battalion got the status of a sub-HQ unit in March 1995, joining the circle of Croatian Army elite units intended to perform the most complex missions.

The Battalion began its glorious war journey as the main force of the Military-police Operation Flash, accomplishing its mission with a complete success, entering the town of Okučani with an associated battalion from the 3rd Guard Brigade of Croatian Army. Its successful helicopter airdrop behind the enemy lines ensued, contributing significantly to their ultimate defeat in west Slavonia. Afterwards, it participated in the Operation Summer ‘95, giving a notable contribution to establishing the grounds for the Military-police operation Storm by penetrating the enemy lines on Šator mountain. “The Godfathers” then participated in the Operation Storm, defending the flanks of the 4th and 7th guard brigades, with some units participating in the main attack. The warpath of the 81st Guard Battalion ended in the Operation Mistral.

Throughout the operations it participated in, the 81st Guard Battalion “the Godfathers” performed at the highest level, expected by its operational commands, justifying its existence with the highest grades. The most of the operations had been conducted in mountainous regions under similar conditions it was trained in back in 1994. Operation Summer ‘95 deserves to be pointed out as the most demanding, as the Battalion penetrated the fortified and well-organised enemy defence at a difficult mountainous terrain, giving an impetus to the attacking pace of other units.

A total of 21 members of “the Godfathers” gave their lives for the free and democratic Croatia, with 169 of them being wounded. None of its members went missing. The Battalion was awarded the Order of Duke Domagoj with the ribbon and the Order of Nikola Šubić Zrinski that confirmed the bravery and heroism of its members.

The Battalion ceased to exist in April 1996, when it was integrated into the 2nd Guard Brigade of Croatian Army “the Thunders”. During the war, its commander was the current Brigadier General Renato Romić.

Davor Špoljarić, ing.
retired Major of Croatian Army

84th Guard Battalion “the Termites”

The Croatian Army’s 84th Guard Battalion “the Termites” was a mountain assault guard unit from Zadar with a number of significant achievements over the course of the Croatian War of Independence, especially in operations Summer ‘95 and Storm, together with the actions that preceded the two.

It was formed as an elite unit with experienced defenders. The Battalion comprised some former members of the 204th Vukovar Brigade of Croatian Army, the 112th Brigade and the 7th Home Guard Regiment from Zadar, some members of special Croatian army and police forces, as well as the 4th Guard Brigade and one platoon of “Rafael vitez Boban” Battalion of Croatian Defence Forces. During the Završje area battle for Šator mountain, “the Termites” were tasked with securing the area with a part of its units. They managed to secure the area covering a very demanding terrain and to conduct a commando action in broad daylight with a part of the 3rd company, destroying a special Chetnik military police stronghold and creating turmoil in the enemy ranks.

The unit held a Velebit defence line, being deployed to Livno on 24 and 25 July 1995 to participate in Operation Summer ‘95 with the goal of preventing the enemy’s attack on Bihać, taking over Bosansko Grahovo and Glamoč, as well as creating the prerequisites for the liberation of Knin and the remaining occupied area of northern Dalmatia and Lika. For their extraordinary effort in winning over the 47 well-fortified Chetnik bunkers, “the Termites” received a written commendation from the President of the Republic of Croatia, dr. Franjo Tuđman and the Minister of Defence Gojko Šušak.

“The Termites” had a complex task during Operation Storm as well. Joining the special police forces, they occupied the dominant strategic marks Tulove grede and Ošćenica, inflicting heavy loss of life to Serb forces on the very first day of the action. After conquering the enemy positions on Velebit, they transferred to Gračac area on 7 August. The unit moved towards Srb afterwards, conquering the Una river canyon in cooperation with the 4th and the 7th guard brigades. Sergeant Dean Nikpalj and Major Senad Župan were killed in these combat actions, with 14 “Termites” wounded.

Following the Operation Storm, “the Termites” were deployed to Southern Front to neutralise the Montenegrin and Yugoslavian aspirations for the Prevlaka peninsula. Celebrating its 20th anniversary in 2014, the 84th Guard Battalion was awarded the Order of Nikola Šubić Zrinski for its bravery in the Croatian War of Independence through the decision of the President of the Republic of Croatia.

Joso Vukić
retired Sergeant Major and the
Vice President of the Termites
Zadar Association