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Bojan Dimitrijević, PhD
Institute for Contemporary History
Belgrade, Republic of Serbia

 

CAPTURE OF THE YUGOSLAV ARMY GARRISON IN BJELOVAR, 29th SEPTEMBER 1991

Vol. XLI, 2/2023, pp. 435–454
https://doi.org/10.29362/ist20veka.2023.2.dim.435-454

 

ABSTRACT/RESUME:

The article provides the overview of events on 29th September 1991 when the Croatian forces captured the Yugoslav People’s Army (JNA) garrison in city of Bjelovar in Western Slavonia. The garrison was manned by the members of the 265th Mechanized Brigade and few miscellaneous units. In the large-scale operation launched by Croatian forces, most of the JNA units belonging to the 32nd Corps with HQ in Varaždin, were captured between 15 and 22 September. The garrison in Bjelovar remained as the last one, surrounded by the Croatian forces in the same period. In the morning of 29th September the JNA units at several locations in Bjelovar were attacked. Three minor objects were easily captured. On the contrary at large ammunition storage at “Bedenik”, JNA units resisted until it was prevailed by the Croatian forces. When they entered the storage, Captain Tepić activated explosive producing huge explosion and damage to the wider area, killing himself and several of the Croatian troops. After the whole day of fighting around the barracks in Bjelovar, and after the continuing of the resistance was impossible, the commander of brigade Colonel Kovačević decided to surrender its troops to the Croatian forces. They already managed to enter into the parts of the compound. After the surrender, Croatian forces executed Kovačević and two of his aides, and six reserve members of the unit few days later. Around 60 officers, NCOs and over 330 conscripts were captured and held in captivity until mid-November. Captured quantities of tanks, armoured fighting vehicles, artillery pieces and other smaller armament and equipment was immediately used to improve the inventory of the Croatian forces at the other frontlines against the JNA forces.

 

KEYWORDS: Yugoslav People’s Army, Croatia, Bjelovar, 1991, 265. Mechanized Brigade, 32. Corps of Yugoslav People’s Army, Colonel Rajko Kovačević, Major Milan Tepić, “Bedenik”

 

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