Historydraft LogoHistorydraft Logo
Historydraft
beta
Historydraft Logo
Historydraft
beta

  • Croatia
    Jan, 1990

    The League of Communists broke up

    Croatia
    Jan, 1990

    In January 1990, the League of Communists broke up on ethnic lines, with the Croatian and Slovene factions demanding a looser federation at the 14th Extraordinary Congress.




  • Croatia
    Feb, 1990

    The Serb Democratic Party

    Croatia
    Feb, 1990

    In February 1990, Jovan Rašković founded the Serb Democratic Party (SDS) in Knin, whose program aimed to change the regional division of Croatia to be aligned with ethnic Serb interests.




  • Petrova Gora, Serbia
    Sunday Mar 4, 1990

    50,000 Serbs rallied at Petrova Gora

    Petrova Gora, Serbia
    Sunday Mar 4, 1990

    On 4 March 1990, 50,000 Serbs rallied at Petrova Gora and shouted negative remarks aimed at Tuđman, chanted "This is Serbia", and expressed support for Milošević.




  • Croatia
    Sunday Apr 22, 1990

    The First Free Elections

    Croatia
    Sunday Apr 22, 1990

    The first free elections in Croatia and Slovenia were scheduled for a few months later. The first round of elections in Croatia was held on 22 April, and the second round on 6 May.




  • Zagreb, Croatia
    Sunday May 13, 1990

    A Tense Atmosphere Prevailed

    Zagreb, Croatia
    Sunday May 13, 1990

    A tense atmosphere prevailed on May 13, 1990, when a football game was held at Zagreb in Maksimir Stadium between Zagreb's Dinamo team and Belgrade's Red Star. The game erupted into violence between the Croatian and Serbian fans and with the police.




  • Croatia
    Monday May 14, 1990

    The Weapons of The TO of Croatia

    Croatia
    Monday May 14, 1990

    On 14 May 1990, the weapons of the TO of Croatia, in Croat-majority regions, were taken away by the JNA, preventing the possibility of Croatia having its own weapons as was done in Slovenia. Borisav Jović, Serbia's representative in the Federal Presidency and a close ally of Slobodan Milošević, claimed that this action came at the behest of Serbia.




  • Croatia
    Wednesday May 30, 1990

    The New Croatian Parliament

    Croatia
    Wednesday May 30, 1990

    On 30 May 1990, the new Croatian Parliament held its first session.


  • Serbia (Yugoslavia)
    Wednesday Jun 27, 1990

    Regarding Croatia and Slovenia

    Serbia (Yugoslavia)
    Wednesday Jun 27, 1990

    According to Jović, on 27 June 1990 he and Veljko Kadijević, the Yugoslav Defense Minister, met and agreed that they should, regarding Croatia and Slovenia, "expel them forcibly from Yugoslavia, by simply drawing borders and declaring that they have brought this upon themselves through their decisions". According to Jović, the next day he obtained the agreement of Milošević.


  • Srb, Croatia
    Wednesday Jul 25, 1990

    Sovereignty and Autonomy of the Serb people in Croatia

    Srb, Croatia
    Wednesday Jul 25, 1990

    After the election of Tuđman (Croatian President) and the HDZ, a Serb Assembly was established in Srb, north of Knin, on 25 July 1990 as the political representation of the Serb people in Croatia. The Serb Assembly declared "sovereignty and autonomy of the Serb people in Croatia".


  • Croatia
    Aug, 1990

    An Unrecognized mono-ethnic referendum

    Croatia
    Aug, 1990

    In August 1990, an unrecognized mono-ethnic referendum was held in regions with a substantial Serb population which would later become known as the Republic of Serbian Krajina (RSK) (bordering western Bosnia and Herzegovina) on the question of Serb "sovereignty and autonomy" in Croatia.


  • Croatia
    Friday Dec 21, 1990

    The SAO Krajina

    Croatia
    Friday Dec 21, 1990

    On 21 December 1990, the SAO Krajina (Serbian Autonomous Oblast of Krajina) was proclaimed by the municipalities of the regions of Northern Dalmatia and Lika, in south-western Croatia. Article 1 of the Statute of the SAO Krajina defined the SAO Krajina as "a form of territorial autonomy within the Republic of Croatia" in which the Constitution of the Republic of Croatia, state laws, and the Statute of the SAO Krajina were applied.


  • Croatia
    Saturday Dec 22, 1990

    The new constitution

    Croatia
    Saturday Dec 22, 1990

    On 22 December 1990, the Parliament of Croatia ratified the new constitution, which was seen by Serbs as taking away rights that had been granted by the Socialist constitution.


  • Pakrac, Croatia
    Mar, 1991

    The Serbs attacked Croatian police units

    Pakrac, Croatia
    Mar, 1991

    The conflict escalated into armed incidents in the majority-Serb populated areas. The Serbs attacked Croatian police units in Pakrac in early March.


  • Croatia
    Mar, 1991

    Plitvice Lakes incident

    Croatia
    Mar, 1991

    Josip Jović is widely reported as the first police officer killed by Serb forces as part of the war, during the Plitvice Lakes incident in late March 1991.


  • Serbia (Yugoslavia)
    Tuesday Mar 12, 1991

    Attempt to convince them to declare a state of emergency

    Serbia (Yugoslavia)
    Tuesday Mar 12, 1991

    On 12 March 1991, the leadership of the Army met with the Presidency of the SFRY in an attempt to convince them to declare a state of emergency which would allow for the army to take control of the country.


  • Croatia
    Thursday Apr 11, 1991

    Croatian Army

    Croatia
    Thursday Apr 11, 1991

    The Croatian military was in a much worse state than that of the Serbs. In the early stages of the war, lack of military units meant that the Croatian Police force would take the brunt of the fighting. The Croatian National Guard, the new Croatian military, was formed on 11 April 1991, and gradually developed into the Croatian Army by 1993.


  • Tovarnik, Croatia
    Thursday May 2, 1991

    A Croat policeman was killed

    Tovarnik, Croatia
    Thursday May 2, 1991

    In Tovarnik, a Croat policeman was killed by Serb paramilitaries on 2 May.


  • Sotin, Croatia
    Sunday May 5, 1991

    A Serb civilian was killed

    Sotin, Croatia
    Sunday May 5, 1991

    While in Sotin, a Serb civilian was killed on 5 May when he was caught in a crossfire between Serb and Croat paramilitaries.


  • Split, Croatia
    Monday May 6, 1991

    The 1991 protest

    Split, Croatia
    Monday May 6, 1991

    On 6 May, the 1991 protest in Split against the siege of Kijevo at the Navy Command in Split resulted in the death of a Yugoslav People's Army soldier.


  • Yugoslavia
    Wednesday May 15, 1991

    Blocked appointment

    Yugoslavia
    Wednesday May 15, 1991

    On 15 May, Stjepan Mesić, a Croat, was scheduled to be the chairman of the rotating presidency of Yugoslavia. Serbia, aided by Kosovo, Montenegro, and Vojvodina, whose presidency votes were at that time under Serbian control, blocked the appointment, which was otherwise seen as largely ceremonial.


  • Croatia
    Sunday May 19, 1991

    The Croatian authorities held a referendum on independence

    Croatia
    Sunday May 19, 1991

    On 19 May 1991, the Croatian authorities held a referendum on independence with the option of remaining in Yugoslavia as a looser union. Serb local authorities issued calls for a boycott, which were largely followed by Croatian Serbs. The referendum passed with 94% in favor.


  • Zagreb, Croatia
    Tuesday May 28, 1991

    A Military Parade and Review

    Zagreb, Croatia
    Tuesday May 28, 1991

    The newly constituted Croatian military units held a military parade and review at Stadion Kranjčevićeva in Zagreb on 28 May 1991.


  • Croatia
    Tuesday Jun 25, 1991

    Croatia's independence

    Croatia
    Tuesday Jun 25, 1991

    The parliament of Croatia declared Croatia's independence and dissolved its association with Yugoslavia on 25 June 1991.


  • Slovenia
    Thursday Jun 27, 1991

    Slovenian Independence War

    Slovenia
    Thursday Jun 27, 1991

    In June and July 1991, the short armed conflict in Slovenia.


  • Croatia
    Aug, 1991

    Only 20 brigades

    Croatia
    Aug, 1991

    In August 1991, the Croatian Army had fewer than 20 brigades.


  • Vukovar, Croatia
    Sunday Aug 25, 1991

    Battle of Vukovar

    Vukovar, Croatia
    Sunday Aug 25, 1991

    In August 1991, the Battle of Vukovar began. The Battle of Vukovar was an 87-day siege of Vukovar in eastern Croatia by the Yugoslav People's Army (JNA), supported by various paramilitary forces from Serbia, between August and November 1991. Before the Croatian War of Independence the Baroque town was a prosperous, mixed community of Croats, Serbs and other ethnic groups. As Yugoslavia began to break up, Serbia's President Slobodan Milošević and Croatia's President Franjo Tuđman began pursuing nationalist politics. In 1990, an armed insurrection was started by Croatian Serb militias, supported by the Serbian government and paramilitary groups, who seized control of Serb-populated areas of Croatia. The JNA began to intervene in favour of the rebellion, and conflict broke out in the eastern Croatian region of Slavonia in May 1991. In August, the JNA launched a full-scale attack against Croatian-held territory in eastern Slavonia, including Vukovar.


  • Europe
    Tuesday Aug 27, 1991

    The Arbitration Commission of the Peace Conference on Yugoslavia

    Europe
    Tuesday Aug 27, 1991

    The Arbitration Commission of the Peace Conference on Yugoslavia, also referred to as Badinter Arbitration Committee, was set up by the Council of Ministers of the European Economic Community (EEC) on August 27, 1991, to provide the Conference on Yugoslavia with legal advice.


  • Croatia
    Saturday Sep 14, 1991

    Battle of the barracks

    Croatia
    Saturday Sep 14, 1991

    This move followed months of standoff for JNA positions in Dalmatia and elsewhere now known as the Battle of the barracks.


  • Croatia
    Monday Sep 16, 1991

    Operation Coast-91

    Croatia
    Monday Sep 16, 1991

    It also coincided with the end of Operation Coast-91, in which the JNA failed to occupy the coastline in an attempt to cut off Dalmatia's access to the rest of Croatia.


  • Croatia
    Thursday Oct 3, 1991

    Blockade of the main ports of Croatia

    Croatia
    Thursday Oct 3, 1991

    On October 3, the Yugoslav Navy renewed its blockade of the main ports of Croatia.


  • Croatia
    Saturday Oct 5, 1991

    A Speech against "Greater Serbian imperialism"

    Croatia
    Saturday Oct 5, 1991

    On October 5, President Tuđman made a speech in which he called upon the whole population to mobilize and defend against "Greater Serbian imperialism" pursued by the Serb-led JNA, Serbian paramilitary formations, and rebel Serb forces.


  • Zagreb, Croatia
    Monday Oct 7, 1991

    Bombing of Banski dvori

    Zagreb, Croatia
    Monday Oct 7, 1991

    On 7 October, the Yugoslav air force attacked the main government building in Zagreb, an incident referred to as the bombing of Banski dvori.


  • Croatia
    Tuesday Oct 8, 1991

    Independence day of Croatia

    Croatia
    Tuesday Oct 8, 1991

    The next day, as a previously agreed three-month moratorium on implementation of the declaration of independence expired, the Croatian Parliament severed all remaining ties with Yugoslavia. 8 October is now celebrated as Independence Day in Croatia.


  • Croatia
    Tuesday Oct 15, 1991

    The Dubrovnik Republic

    Croatia
    Tuesday Oct 15, 1991

    On 15 October after the capture of Cavtat by the JNA, local Serbs led by Aco Apolonio proclaimed the Dubrovnik Republic.


  • Croatia and Slovenia
    Tuesday Oct 29, 1991

    Operation Orkan 91

    Croatia and Slovenia
    Tuesday Oct 29, 1991

    Croatian forces made further advances in the second half of December, including Operation Orkan 91 which was a military offensive undertaken by the Croatian Army (Hrvatska vojska – HV) against the Yugoslav People's Army (Jugoslovenska Narodna Armija – JNA) and SAO Western Slavonia Territorial Defense Forces in the Sava River valley, in the region of Western Slavonia during the Croatian War of Independence. The operation began on 29 October 1991 and ended on 3 January 1992 when a nationwide ceasefire was signed to implement the Vance plan. The offensive was aimed at recapturing the region, in conjunction with two other HV offensives launched against SAO Western Slavonia in the north of the region within days.


  • Croatia and Slovenia
    Thursday Oct 31, 1991

    Operation Otkos 10

    Croatia and Slovenia
    Thursday Oct 31, 1991

    Operation Otkos 10 (31 October to 4 November) resulted in Croatia recapturing an area between the Bilogora and Papuk mountains.


  • Croatia
    Friday Nov 1, 1991

    Croatian successful counterattack

    Croatia
    Friday Nov 1, 1991

    The Croatian army began a successful counterattack in early November 1991, its first major offensive operation of the war.


  • Croatia
    Thursday Nov 14, 1991

    The Navy blockade of Dalmatian ports

    Croatia
    Thursday Nov 14, 1991

    On 14 November, the Navy blockade of Dalmatian ports was challenged by civilian ships. The confrontation culminated in the Battle of the Dalmatian channels, when Croatian coastal and island based artillery damaged, sank, or captured a number of Yugoslav navy vessels, including Mukos PČ 176, later rechristened PB 62 Šolta.


  • Serbia
    Thursday Dec 19, 1991

    The Republic of Serbian Krajina

    Serbia
    Thursday Dec 19, 1991

    On December 19, as the intensity of the fighting increased, Croatia won its first diplomatic recognition by a western nation—Iceland—while the Serbian Autonomous Oblasts in Krajina and western Slavonia officially declared themselves the Republic of Serbian Krajina.


  • Istria, Croatia
    Saturday Dec 21, 1991

    Istria was under attack

    Istria, Croatia
    Saturday Dec 21, 1991

    On December 21, 1991 for the first time in the war Istria was under attack.


  • Serbia
    Thursday Dec 26, 1991

    A Smaller Yugoslavia

    Serbia
    Thursday Dec 26, 1991

    On December 26, 1991, the Serb-dominated federal presidency announced plans for a smaller Yugoslavia that could include the territory captured from Croatia during the war.


  • Croatia
    Tuesday Dec 31, 1991

    Croatian Army expansion

    Croatia
    Tuesday Dec 31, 1991

    Croatia lost much territory, but expanded the Croatian Army from the seven brigades it had at the time of the first ceasefire to 60 brigades and 37 independent battalions by December 31, 1991.


  • Croatia
    Thursday Jan 2, 1992

    A new UN-sponsored ceasefire

    Croatia
    Thursday Jan 2, 1992

    A new UN-sponsored ceasefire, the fifteenth in just six months, was agreed on January 2, 1992, and came into force the next day.


  • Croatia
    Wednesday Jan 15, 1992

    Croatia was officially recognized by the European Community

    Croatia
    Wednesday Jan 15, 1992

    This so-called Sarajevo Agreement became a lasting ceasefire. Croatia was officially recognized by the European Community on January 15, 1992.


  • New York, U.S.
    Friday Feb 21, 1992

    The United Nations Protection Force

    New York, U.S.
    Friday Feb 21, 1992

    The UNPROFOR (United Nations Protection Force) was officially created by UN Security Council Resolution 743 on February 21, 1992.


  • Križ Hill, Croatia
    Friday May 22, 1992

    Operation Jaguar

    Križ Hill, Croatia
    Friday May 22, 1992

    Operation Jaguar at Križ Hill near Bibinje and Zadar, on May 22, 1992.


  • Croatia
    Friday May 22, 1992

    A member of the UN

    Croatia
    Friday May 22, 1992

    Croatia became a member of the UN on May 22, 1992, which was conditional upon Croatia amending its constitution to protect the human rights of minority groups and dissidents.


  • Croatia
    Wednesday Jul 1, 1992

    Operation Tigar

    Croatia
    Wednesday Jul 1, 1992

    A series of military actions in the Dubrovnik hinterland: Operation Tigar, on 1–13 July 1992.


  • Bosnia and Herzegovina
    Sunday Oct 18, 1992

    The Croat-Bosniak conflict

    Bosnia and Herzegovina
    Sunday Oct 18, 1992

    In 1992, the Croat-Bosniak conflict erupted in Bosnia and Herzegovina, just as each was fighting with the Bosnian Serbs. The war was originally fought between the Croatian Defense Council and Croatian volunteer troops on one side and the Army of the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina (ARBiH) on the other, but by 1994, the Croatian Army had an estimated 3,000 to 5,000 troops involved in the fighting.


  • Croatia
    Friday Jan 22, 1993

    Operation Maslenica

    Croatia
    Friday Jan 22, 1993

    The Croatian army launched Operation Maslenica, an offensive operation in the Zadar area on January 22.


  • Croatia
    Thursday Feb 18, 1993

    A Secret agreement

    Croatia
    Thursday Feb 18, 1993

    On February 18, 1993, Croatian authorities signed the Daruvar Agreement with local Serb leaders in Western Slavonia. The aim of the secret agreement was normalizing life for local populations near the frontline. However, authorities in Knin learned of this and arrested the Serb leaders responsible.


  • The Hague, the Netherlands
    Tuesday May 25, 1993

    The International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia

    The Hague, the Netherlands
    Tuesday May 25, 1993

    The International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) was established by UN Security Council Resolution 827, which was passed on 25 May 1993.


  • Serbia
    Jun, 1993

    Merging Referendum

    Serbia
    Jun, 1993

    In June 1993, Serbs began voting in a referendum on merging Krajina territory with Republika Srpska.


  • Gospić, Croatia
    Thursday Sep 9, 1993

    Operation Medak Pocket

    Gospić, Croatia
    Thursday Sep 9, 1993

    Operation Medak Pocket took place in a salient south of Gospić, from September 9–17. The offensive was undertaken by the Croatian army to stop Serbian artillery in the area from shelling nearby Gospić.


  • Washington D.C., U.S.
    Saturday Feb 26, 1994

    A meeting of Croatian, Bosnian, and Bosnian Croat representatives with US Secretary of State

    Washington D.C., U.S.
    Saturday Feb 26, 1994

    Under pressure from the United States, the belligerents agreed on a truce in late February, followed by a meeting of Croatian, Bosnian, and Bosnian Croat representatives with US Secretary of State Warren Christopher in Washington, D.C. on February 26, 1994.


  • Croatia
    Friday Mar 4, 1994

    The Creation of Federation

    Croatia
    Friday Mar 4, 1994

    On March 4, Franjo Tuđman endorsed the agreement providing for the creation of Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina and an alliance between Bosnian and Croatian armies against the Serb forces.


  • Udbina, Croatia
    Monday Nov 21, 1994

    NATO attacked the Udbina

    Udbina, Croatia
    Monday Nov 21, 1994

    On November 21, NATO attacked the Udbina airfield controlled by the RSK, temporarily disabling runways. Following the Udbina strike, NATO continued to launch strikes in the area.


  • Dvor, Croatia
    Wednesday Nov 23, 1994

    NATO planes attacked a SAM site

    Dvor, Croatia
    Wednesday Nov 23, 1994

    On November 23, after a NATO reconnaissance plane was illuminated by the radar of a surface-to-air missile (SAM) system, NATO planes attacked a SAM site near Dvor with AGM-88 HARM anti-radiation missiles.


  • Croatia & Bosnia and Herzegovina
    Tuesday Nov 29, 1994

    Winter '94 Operation

    Croatia & Bosnia and Herzegovina
    Tuesday Nov 29, 1994

    From November 29 – December 24 in the Winter '94 operation near Dinara and Livno. These operations were undertaken to detract from the siege of the Bihać region and to approach the RSK capital of Knin from the north, isolating it on three sides.


  • Dinara, Croatia
    Tuesday Jul 25, 1995

    Operation Summer 95

    Dinara, Croatia
    Tuesday Jul 25, 1995

    From 25–30 July, the Croatian Army and Croatian Defense Council (HVO) troops attacked Serb-held territory north of Mount Dinara, capturing Bosansko Grahovo and Glamoč during Operation Summer '95.


  • Croatia
    Friday Aug 4, 1995

    Operation Storm

    Croatia
    Friday Aug 4, 1995

    On 4 August, Croatia started Operation Storm, with the aim of recapturing almost all of the occupied territory in Croatia, except for a comparatively small strip of land, located along the Danube, at a considerable distance from the bulk of the contested land. The offensive, involving 100,000 Croatian soldiers, was the largest single land battle fought in Europe since World War II. Operation Storm achieved its goals and was declared completed on 8 August.


  • Erdut, Croatia
    Sunday Nov 12, 1995

    Erdut Agreement

    Erdut, Croatia
    Sunday Nov 12, 1995

    Further combat was averted on 12 November when the Erdut Agreement was signed by the RSK acting defense minister Milan Milanović, on instructions received from Slobodan Milošević and Federal Republic of Yugoslavia officials.


  • Slovenia
    Monday Jan 15, 1996

    New UN mission

    Slovenia
    Monday Jan 15, 1996

    The new UN mission was established as the United Nations Transitional Authority for Eastern Slavonia, Baranja and Western Sirmium (UNTAES) by United Nations Security Council Resolution 1037 of 15 January 1996.


  • Prevlaka, Croatia
    Monday Jan 15, 1996

    The UNTAES replaced the UNCRO mission

    Prevlaka, Croatia
    Monday Jan 15, 1996

    As the UNTAES replaced the UNCRO mission, Prevlaka peninsula, previously under UNCRO control, was put under control of United Nations Mission of Observers in Prevlaka (UNMOP). The UNMOP was established by United Nations Security Council Resolution 1038 of 15 January 1996, and terminated on 15 December 2002.


  • Croatia
    Thursday Jan 15, 1998

    The UNTAES mandate ended

    Croatia
    Thursday Jan 15, 1998

    The transitional period was subsequently extended by a year. On 15 January 1998, the UNTAES mandate ended and Croatia regained full control of the area.


<