Minister Anušić: Maslenica was one of the biggest and most important operations of the Homeland War

A special ceremony took place in Zadar on Monday, 22 January 2024, to commemorate the 31st anniversary of the Maslenica Military and Police Operation. Through this operation, the Croatian Armed Forces reconnected Croatia’s south with the rest of the country.

“It was one of the first liberating operations that our forces carried out. Other smaller operations took place in the western Slavonia region, but with that operation, we demonstrated that we were now operationally capable of both liberating and defending our territory. Maslenica was one of the largest and most important operations of the Homeland War. Our forces achieved a great victory and reconnected the south of Croatia with the rest of the country.” Ivan Anušić, the Minister of Defence, stated that he had been on the ground in the Zadar hinterland for the entire year of 1993 and that it concluded with Operation Storm and the total liberation of Croatian territory.

“I was in Kašić and Smoković. From the beginning of the Homeland War to its conclusion, I was on the battlefield and in the theatres of operations. I was sent to this area because, when operations ended in Slavonia, they continued here, on the southern battlefield in 1991. Those were the days of pride and glory. Although the memories of those times invoke a great sense of pride, they also bring sadness because our fellow soldiers are no longer with us. We have to honour them since their lives are interwoven with the principles that constitute the Republic of Croatia. Everything we did paid off because our country gained independence, a right we owe to our veterans. The Minister of Defence went on to conclude, “And everyone else behind them can get in line and take credit for it.”

“We must never forget the atrocities we endured as a result of Milošević’s Greater Serbian aggression and all the suffering it caused, including the devastation of Dubrovnik and the fall of Vukovar, as well as the casualties we suffered in the hinterland and Zadar itself. The first Croatian president, Dr. Franjo Tuđman, the Chief of the General Staff, General Janko Bobetko, General Ante Gotovina, and all other commanders must be remembered along with everything that took place during those years, but above all, our brave veterans,” stated Tomo Medved, the Minister of Croatian veterans.

On the occasion of this anniversary, Admiral Robert Hranj, Chief of the CAF General Staff, stated, “The outcome of Operation Maslenica indicated that Croatia would win the Homeland War. All services of the armed forces took part in it. The value of volunteerism as well as the professionalism of the armed forces has been clearly demonstrated.”

In remembrance of the fallen, missing, and deceased Croatian defenders, candles were lit and wreaths placed at the main Zadar cemetery, at the memorial monuments to the 3rd Battalion Imotski Sokolovi and the 4th Guards Brigade Pauci, and at Jazine Bay, at the monument to Croatian defenders. The traditional march of the Operation participant units – members of the Ministry of Interior and the Croatian Armed Forces – displaying wartime unit flags completed the commemoration. The parade started at Jazine Bay and proceeded across the bridge, passing through Kalelarga and ending in the middle of the peninsula.

After the parade, a mass for the homeland was recited in the Church of St. Simon. Respects were then paid at the memorial monuments to the 3rd Kuna Guards Brigade at Kašić and the 4th Guards Brigade Pauci at Islam Latinski, located on the southern side of the Maslenica Bridge.

At the celebration of this liberation operation’s anniversary, in addition to Deputy Prime Minister of the Republic of Croatia and Minister of Defence Ivan Anušić, there were also the Minister of Croatian Veterans and Deputy Prime Minister Tomo Medved, the Envoy of the President of the Republic of Croatia and Commander-in-Chief of the Croatian Armed Forces, the Chief of the CAF General Staff , Admiral Robert Hranj, the Minister for Regional Development and EU Funds, Šime Erlić, the General Police Director Nikola Milina, the Envoy of the Speaker of the Croatian Parliament and member of the Croatian Parliament, Rade Šimičević, and numerous current and former commanders of the armed forces and representatives of local and regional authorities.

The evening will feature a special concert by the Croatian police a cappella band St. Mihovil and the Croatian Navy a cappella band St. Juraj in the atrium of Providur’s Palace, which is home to an exhibition of posters and photos of wartime military units.