Battle of Šibenik

Battle of Šibenik
Part of the Croatian War of Independence
Zadar Šibenik Split Sinj Knin Šibenik on the map of Croatia. JNA-held area in late December 1991 are highlighted red.
Date 16–22 September 1991 Location Northern Dalmatia, Croatia Result Croatian victory
Belligerents
Yugoslav People's Army, Navy and Air Force SAO Krajina	Croatia
Commanders and leaders
Mile Kandić Vladimir Vuković Ratko Mladić Borislav Đukić	Anton Tus Josip Juras Milivoj Petković Luka Vujić Ivan Zelić
Units involved
221st Mechanised Brigade 46th Partisan Division 9th Mixed Artillery Regiment 11th Marine Infantry Brigade SAO Krajina TO	4/4th Guards Brigade 113th Infantry Brigade Police
Casualties and losses
Unknown	3 soldiers killed 49 soldiers wounded
7 civilians killed 64 civilians wounded

The Battle of Šibenik (Croatian: Bitka za Šibenik), also known as the September War (Rujanski rat), was an armed conflict fought between the Yugoslav People's Army (Jugoslovenska Narodna Armija – JNA), supported by the Croatian Serb-established Serbian Autonomous Oblast of Krajina (SAO Krajina), and the Croatian National Guard (Zbor Narodne Garde – ZNG), supported by the Croatian Police. The battle was fought to the north and west of the city of Šibenik, Croatia on 16–22 September 1991, during the Croatian War of Independence. The JNA's initial orders were to relieve Croatian siege of their barracks in the city and isolate the region of Dalmatia from the rest of Croatia. The JNA's advance was supported by the Yugoslav Air Force and the Yugoslav Navy.

Fighting stopped following a Croatian counter-attack that pushed the JNA back from the outskirts of Šibenik. Although some ground was lost to the Yugoslavs, especially around the town of Drniš, northeast of Šibenik, the ZNG captured several JNA and Yugoslav Navy facilities in the city, including dozens of navy vessels and several coastal artillery batteries. The captured batteries were used to support defence of the city. The JNA Šibenik garrison was evacuated following an agreement between the Croatian officials and the JNA, except for several comparably small JNA posts in the city which were captured by the ZNG.

The September–October fighting caused three Croatian military and seven civilian deaths, as well as more than a hundred wounded. JNA bombarded Šibenik, causing damage to numerous structures, including the Cathedral of St. James, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The New York Times judged the bombardment to be a part of calculated assaults on the heritage of Croatia. Artillery bombardment of the city continued over the following 100 days. The battle is commemorated in Šibenik each year.

Background

In 1990, following the electoral defeat of the government of the Socialist Republic of Croatia, ethnic tensions worsened. The Yugoslav People's Army (Jugoslovenska Narodna Armija – JNA) confiscated Croatia's Territorial Defence weapons to minimize resistance.^[1] On 17 August, tensions escalated into an open revolt of the Croatian Serbs,^[2] centred on the predominantly Serb-populated areas of the Dalmatian hinterland around Knin,^[3] parts of the Lika, Kordun, Banovina and eastern Croatia, largely fueled by recollections of the Serbs of the genocide to which they had been subjected in the Independent State of Croatia during World War II, and their resultant unwillingness to be minorities in an independent Croatia.^[4]

After two unsuccessful attempts by Serbia, supported by Montenegro and Serbia's provinces of Vojvodina and Kosovo, to obtain the Yugoslav Presidency's approval of a JNA operation to disarm Croatian security forces in January 1991,^[5] and a bloodless skirmish between Serb insurgents and Croatian special police in March,^[6] the JNA itself, supported by Serbia and its allies, asked the federal Presidency to give it wartime authorities and declare a state of emergency. The request was denied on 15 March, and the JNA came under control of Serbian President Slobodan Milošević. Milošević, preferring a campaign to expand Serbia rather than preservation of Yugoslavia, publicly threatened to replace the JNA with a Serbian army and declared that he no longer recognized the authority of the federal Presidency. The threat caused the JNA to gradually abandon plans to preserve Yugoslavia in favour of expansion of Serbia.^[7] By the end of the month, the conflict had escalated to the first fatalities.^[8] The JNA stepped in, supporting the insurgents, and preventing Croatian police from intervening.^[7] In early April, leaders of the Serb revolt in Croatia declared their intention of integration of the area under their control, viewed by the Government of Croatia as a breakaway region with Serbia.^[9]

In the beginning of 1991, Croatia had no regular army. In an effort to bolster its defence, Croatia doubled police personnel to about 20,000. The most effective part of the force was 3,000 special police, deployed in twelve battalions adopting military unit organization. In addition, there were 9,000–10,000 regionally organized reserve police. The reserve police were set up in 16 battalions and 10 companies, but the reserve force lacked weapons.^[10] In May, the Croatian government responded by forming the Croatian National Guard (Zbor narodne garde),^[11] but its development was hampered by a United Nations arms embargo introduced in September 1991.^[12]

Prelude

By late June and throughout July, northern Dalmatia saw daily armed skirmishes but no actual combat. Nonetheless, the increasing intensity of the conflict in the region and elsewhere in Croatia led to the preparation of bomb shelters in Zadar by city officials.^[13] Serbian Autonomous Oblast of Krajina (SAO Krajina) authorities called up three Territorial Defence units in the Zadar hinterland on 11 July, one day after another fatal shooting of a Croatian police patrol in the Zadar area,^[14] while the JNA 9th (Knin) Corps conscripted the local Serb population in Benkovac to strengthen its ranks by the end of the month.^[15] In late July, a paramilitary group, led by Miro Barešić and formally subordinated to the Croatian Ministry of Defence, conducted several sabotages in the Benkovac area.^[16] On 1 August, Croatia deployed two battalions of the ZNG 4th Guards Brigade to Kruševo near Obrovac. Two days later they engaged in combat against the SAO Krajina Territorial Defence and police forces, marking the first such engagement of the Croatian War of Independence in the region.^[17] On 26 August, the JNA 9th (Knin) Corps openly sided with the SAO Krajina forces as they jointly attacked Kijevo, expelling all Croats from the village.^[18] Another significant setback for Croatia in the region was JNA capture of the Maslenica Bridge on 11 September. That severed the last overland road link between Dalmatia and the rest of Croatia.^[19] On 11–13 September, an attack in the area of Skradin cut water and power supply to Šibenik.^[20]

On 14 September, the ZNG and the Croatian police blockaded and cut utilities to all JNA facilities located in Croatian-controlled territory, beginning the Battle of the Barracks.^[21] The move blockaded 33 large JNA garrisons in Croatia^[22] and numerous smaller facilities, including border posts, weapons and ammunition storage depots.^[21] The blockade forced the JNA to amend its planned campaign in Croatia to accommodate the new development.^[23] The same day, a coastal artillery battery on the Žirje Island was captured by Croatian forces,^[24] after JNA Senior Sergeant Željko Baltić, battery commanding officer, switched his allegiance.^[25] The battery consisted of twelve Ansaldo 90/53 guns which were once armament of the Italian battleship Vittorio Veneto.^[20]

Order of battle

Šibenik

Knin

Drniš

Benkovac

Biograd na Moru

Vodice

Pirovac

Skradin

Žirje

Maljkovo

Kričke

Unešić

Zečevo

Smokvica I.

Pakovo Selo

Žitnić

Gaćelezi

Rogoznica

Split

Šibenik Bridge

Map of Šibenik–Drniš area

The JNA's planned campaign included an advance in the Šibenik area by the 9th (Knin) Corps, which was tasked with isolating Dalmatia from the rest of Croatia. As it was fully mobilised and prepared for deployment, the corps began operations against the ZNG on 16 September.^[26] Its main axis of attack was directed at Vodice, with supporting advances towards Zadar, Drniš and Sinj. The push was designed to create favourable circumstances to attack Zadar, Šibenik and Split.^[27] With support from a corps-level battalion of M-84 tanks and the SAO Krajina Territorial Defence, the JNA 221st Mechanised Brigade (without its battalion of T-34 tanks), was committed to the main axis of the attack. The secondary advance, towards Biograd na Moru on the right flank, was assigned to the 180th Mechanised Brigade, supported by the armoured battalion removed from the 221st Brigade, the 557th Mixed Antitank Artillery Regiment and the SAO Krajina Territorial Defence. Offensive support was provided by the 9th Mixed Artillery Regiment and the 9th Military Police Battalion.^[28] The 221st Brigade was commanded by Colonel Borislav Đukić.^[29] Elements the 46th Partisan Division,^[30] drawn from the 24th (Kragujevac) Corps, also provuded support for the corps.^[31] The JNA garrison in Šibenik barracks included the 11th Marine Infantry Brigade—one of a handful of units regularly maintained at full combat readiness.^[32]

In opposition to the JNA, the ZNG 113th Infantry Brigade, commanded by Milivoj Petković, defended the city of Šibenik together with police forces, under overall control of the Šibenik crisis centre headed by Josip Juras.^[33] The 4th Battalion of the 113th Infantry Brigade, commanded by Josip Jukica,^[33][34] as well as the 4th Battalion of the 4th Guards Brigade, commanded by Ivan Zelić,^[35] defended the Drniš area, 25 kilometres (16 miles) northeast of Šibenik, supported by a company of police.^[36] The 600-strong 4th Battalion of the 4th Guards Brigade represented the strongest ZNG unit in the area, while the JNA is estimated by Croatian sources to have deployed approximately 1,500 troops against Drniš.^[37] On 20 September, all Croatian combat troops in Drniš area were subordinated to Luka Vujić.^[35] The western bank of the Krka River and approaches to Vodice were controlled by the 3rd Battalion of the 113th Infantry Brigade. While small arms were sufficient to arm a part of the battalion at a time, the battalion did not have any heavy weapons.^[38]

Timeline

Situation in the northern Dalmatia, January 1992

The offensive commenced at 16:00 on 16 September.^[39] On the left flank, the JNA advanced towards Drniš, capturing the villages of Maljkovo and Kričke, and interdicting the Drniš–Split, east of the Krka River. On the opposite river bank, the JNA advanced towards Vodice and Šibenik, threatening the city from the west,^[40] reaching the western side of the 390-metre (1,280 ft) Šibenik Bridge on the Adriatic Highway. The advance was so rapid it cut off the 1st Company of the 3rd Battalion of the ZNG 113th Infantry Brigade from the rest of the ZNG force.^[33][41] That day, the ZNG captured a 100-millimetre (3.9 in) coastal artillery battery near village of Zečevo.^[24] By 17 September, the commanding officer of the JNA 9th (Knin) Corps, Major General Vladimir Vuković, modified the initial deployment plan, because of strong resistance offered by the ZNG and the Croatian police, relying on populated areas and terrain features to hold back the JNA forces north of Vodice. The changes involved diverting a part of the force to attack Drniš and Sinj directly, while the remainder of the attacking force rested.^[39] The Yugoslav Navy started a blockade of Šibenik and the entire Croatian Adriatic coast.^[27]

On the night of 17/18 September, the JNA was ordered to trap and destroy the ZNG force in Drniš and the Miljevci Plateau area, while holding positions achieved elsewhere.^[39] In the morning, the JNA resumed its offensive towards Vodice, on the right flank of the attack,^[30] while the ZNG abandoned Drniš and pulled back to village of Unešić.^[34] On 19 September, the ZNG captured a 88-millimetre (3.5 in) JNA coastal artillery battery on the Smokvica Island and the "Krušćica" barracks near Rogoznica.^[24][42] Weapons retrieved from the captured barracks, a shipment received from Gospić following capture of JNA facilities in the town,^[38] as well as use of the captured artillery pieces, significantly improved ZNG's capabilities.^[43] The JNA advance south from Drniš was effectively halted that day, following three successful ambush attacks by the ZNG in Unešić, Pakovo Selo and south of Žitnić.^[44]

The JNA orders were changed again on 20 September, when the JNA 9th (Knin) Corps orders were supplanted by the Military-Maritime District order, issued by Vice Admiral Mile Kandić, for the corps to reorient the JNA force north of Vodice towards Šibenik and Split. This required crossing the Šibenik Bridge spanning the Krka River ria.^[30] The eastward advance—with close air support from the Yugoslav Air Force—failed, and cost the air force four aircraft shot down by the ZNG.^[45] On 22 September, a Croatian counter-attack, supported by recently acquired artillery, pushed back the JNA from the bridge by 10:00,^[38] extending the ZNG-controlled bridgehead to the area of Gaćelezi, 9 kilometres (5.6 miles) to the northwest.^[46] Four guns of the Žirje battery were used as anti-tank guns in support of the counter-attack.^[47]

On 22 September, the Croatian forces captured the JNA "Kuline" barracks in Šibenik itself along with the 15 Yugoslav Navy vessels based there. In addition, 19 vessels undergoing various stages of overhaul were captured in the "Velimir Škorpik" shipyard. The ships, comprising approximately a quarter of the Yugoslav Naval assets, included: Vlado Ćetković (RTOP-402) Končar-class fast attack craft (renamed Šibenik (RTOP-21) later on), Velimir Škorpik (RČ-310) Osa-class missile boat, Partizan II (TČ-222) Shershen-class torpedo boat and Biokovo (PČ-171), Cer (PČ-180) and Durmitor (PČ-181) Mirna-class patrol boats.^[24]

On 23 September, the JNA fully secured Drniš and its surroundings. At the same time, it shifted its focus to the Battle of Zadar, away from Šibenik. The Yugoslav naval blockade was lifted unilaterally the same day.^[27] Even though a number of JNA facilities in the city were captured by the ZNG, several major JNA posts remained in Šibenik. Those included "Rade Končar" barracks housing the 11th Marine Infantry Brigade, "Ante Jonić" barracks, "Minerska" depot where naval mines were stored, "Jamnjak" depot and the "Ražine" artillery battery containing confiscated Croatian Territorial Defence weapons and "Duboka" fuel storage.^[48] The "Duboka" depot consisted of three 1,410,000-litre (310,000 imp gal; 370,000 US gal) storage tanks.^[49]

Aftermath

Cathedral of St. James in Šibenik sustained artillery damage in September 1991

The JNA was defeated in the battle, subsequently nicknamed the "September War" (Rujanski rat).^[27] Its total losses in the battle were not reported. The ZNG and the Croatian police sustained losses of three killed and 49 wounded troops in the battle. At the same time seven civilians were killed and 64 wounded.^[46] JNA artillery continued intermittent bombardment of Šibenik over the following 100 days resulting in further casualties and damage.^[50] The damaged structures included the Cathedral of St. James, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. An editorial in The New York Times labeled bombardment of the cathedral as a part of the "calculated assaults" on treasures of Croatia.^[51][52] During the fighting, electrical substations in Bilice and Konjsko were destroyed, disrupting electric power distribution in Dalmatia.^[53]

Evacuation of the JNA facilities and surrender of the confiscated Territorial Defence weapons stored in the Šibenik–Split area was agreed on 21 November.^[54] Throughout the process, tensions remained high, and the JNA made contingency plans to break through from Knin to Šibenik and Split to relieve the siege of its forces there—codenamed Operation Coast-91 (Operacija Obala-91) and Operation Hurricane-91 (Operacija Orkan-91) respectively.^[55] All of the JNA facilities in Šibenik, along with the confiscated Territorial Defence weapons, were handed over to the Croatian authorities by 10 December.^[48]

News coverage of the battle produced television footage of ZNG air defence artillery at Zečevo firing at a Yugoslav Air Force Soko J-21 Jastreb and scoring a hit on another J-21 using a guided missile. The footage, ending in shouts claiming that both of the planes were downed, became one of the most significant pieces of material in terms of propaganda and morale in Croatia. Nonetheless, the footage proved controversial, since the first plane is not shown falling to the ground or into the sea, but diving towards the horizon after giving away a puff of smoke — variously interpreted as smoke caused by the plane's cannon fire or anti-aircraft fire damage. While the first J-21 downing remains unconfirmed, the second J-21, piloted by Croat Valter Juršić of the 240th Fighter-Bomber Aviation Squadron, was shot down by Neven Livajić using a 9K38 Igla and wreckage of the plane was retrieved.^[45]

Another controversy which arose in the aftermath of the battle pertains to the Žirje Island coastal artillery battery. Extent of the role played by the battery was disputed between Brigadier General Rahim Ademi, who claimed the bridge was beyond range of the guns,^[43] and thirteen ZNG and police officers, who held various posts in Šibenik at the time, who claimed Ademi was wrong in his assessment.^[56] After the war, the guns were removed from Žirje. As of 2010 two were refurbished in preparation for return to Žirje, as museum exhibits.^[57]

The battle is commemorated annually in Šibenik each September. There are two documentary films covering Šibenik and its surroundings during the battle: My city will be happy too (I moj će grad biti sretan) by Matea Šarić and September War 1991, Šibenik–Vodice (Rujanski rat 1991. Šibenik–Vodice) by Šime Strikoman.^[58][59]

Footnotes

1. Hoare 2010, p. 117
2. Hoare 2010, p. 118
3. The New York Times 19 August 1990
4. ICTY 12 June 2007, p. 44
5. Hoare 2010, pp. 118–119
6. Ramet 2006, pp. 384–385
7. Hoare 2010, p. 119
8. The New York Times 3 March 1991
9. The New York Times 2 April 1991
10. CIA 2002, p. 86
11. EECIS 1999, pp. 272–278
12. The Independent 10 October 1992
13. Ružić 2011, p. 416
14. Ružić 2011, p. 418
15. Ružić 2011, p. 420
16. Ružić 2011, pp. 420–421
17. Ružić 2011, p. 421
18. Silber & Little 1996, pp. 171–173
19. CIA 2002, p. 93
20. Hrvatski vojnik June 2010
21. CIA 2002, p. 95
22. Ramet 2006, p. 401
23. CIA 2002, p. 96
24. Hrvatski vojnik November 2001
25. Slobodna Dalmacija 26 September 2009
26. CIA 2002, p. 99
27. Brigović 2011, p. 428
28. Hrvatski vojnik September 2010
29. Slobodna Dalmacija 2 March 2006
30. Hrvatski vojnik October 2010c
31. Marijan 2012, p. 262
32. Marijan 2003, note 20
33. Slobodna Dalmacija 18 September 2010
34. Lucić 2013, p. 76
35. Radio Drniš 20 September 2011
36. Lucić 2013, p. 72
37. Lucić 2013, p. 73
38. Slobodna Dalmacija 15 September 2001
39. Hrvatski vojnik October 2010a
40. Hrvatski vojnik October 2010b
41. Večernji list 3 June 2011
42. Brigović 2011, p. 424
43. Slobodna Dalmacija 14 September 2010
44. Lucić 2013, pp. 76–77
45. Index.hr 21 September 2011
46. Šibenik 22 September 2011
47. Slobodna Dalmacija 23 November 2007
48. Brigović 2011, p. 440
49. Brigović 2011, p. 443
50. Mojzes 2011, p. 153
51. Ramet 2006, p. 400
52. The New York Times 22 September 1991
53. Gow 2003, pp. 156-157.
54. Brigović 2011, pp. 438–439
55. Brigović 2011, p. 436
56. Večernji list 15 September 2010
57. Slobodna Dalmacija 7 August 2010
58. Slobodna Dalmacija 23 September 2011
59. Jutarnji list 15 April 2009

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Coordinates: 43°44′N 15°53′E / 43.73°N 15.89°E