Monographs of the three CAF wartime units presented

Besides the editors and former members of these units, the promotion was attended by many guests, including Defence Minister Ante Kotromanović, Chief of General Staff Lieutenant General Drago Lovrić, Deputy Interior Minister Evelin Tonković, parliamentarians, representatives of the Ministry of Defence, Armed Forces and the Ministry of Veterans, representatives of war veterans associations and other guests.

Monographs were presented by the Project Manager of military and police forces monographs, retired Colonel Antun Moguš, chief editor, retired Gen. Josip Lucić, and Director of the Croatian Memorial Documentation Centre of the Homeland War Ante Nazor. Authors of individual monographs are mostly retired commanders and members of the Guard brigades that are now leaders, chairmen and members of the Association of guard brigades from the Homeland War. Many employees of the Armed Forces and Ministry of Defence and General Staff were also involved in preparation of the monographs. Monographs present chronologies of the guard brigades from the Homeland War, since their formation, wartimes, to the end of the war, and are a reminder on the people and events that have marked the recent Croatian history.

Moguš reminded that the project began in 2008 in order to document the historical facts about the establishment of the Croatian Army and the Croatian Armed Forces. Before the monographs that were presented tonight, monographs of the 2^nd Guard Brigade “Thunder”, 4^th Guard Brigade “Spiders”, 7^th Guard Brigade “Puma”, 9^th Guard Brigade “Wolves” and of the Unit for special tasks from Raktije of the Ministry of the Interior were published. Now the first edition of monographs was completed, but it is certain that in the future monograph of the 5^th Guard Brigade “Falcons” and of other major units from the Homeland War will be published.

Ante Nazor said that the monographs were not scientific studies, but that does not mean they were not based on documents. They are certainly important starting point for further scientific papers, and thanks to monographs, the Croatian public gets a clear view of the importance of guard brigades and their warpath. Publications show that we are rightly proud of the Homeland War, Nazor concluded.

Editor, retired General Josip Lucić, said that monographs were primarily dedicated to the fallen for Croatia, to veterans and their families. Books are resistant to powerful critique, they represent a significant effort of more than three hundred people that were involved in their preparation. Wars in the future could be avoided only if one writes about them, and study them, that is why we created these books and want to continue, concluded the former Chief of the General Staff.

Defence Minister Ante Kotromanović and Chief of General Staff Lieutenant General Drago Lovrić also addressed the present. The Minister stressed that the Guards Brigades, 1^st Combined Croatian Guards Brigade and special police were the backbone of all operations of the Croatian Army, in defence and in liberation operations. Publishing of the monographs was one of the ways to protect the dignity of the Croatian Army and the Homeland War, and we certainly need to encourage other military units to engage in similar projects.

General Lovrić said that this was “exceptional editorial and publishing enterprise” that showed the enormous effort of those who have realized it and provided memories of historical moments, as they really were. “CAF is proud of its warpath, achievements and battles”, General Lovrić said.

On behalf of the units presented in monographs, former commanders, Maj. Gen. Milenko Filipović (1^st HGZ), Brigadier General Thomas Medved (1^st GBR) and Colonel Marko Leko (3^rd GBR), thanked everyone who participated in their creation.

Monographs will be not for sale, but it is planned to be given to families of deceased members of the Guard Brigades and members of the Brigade Association and to those who participated in the project. The monographs will be also used in the military schools, training centres, in military and civilian libraries, and for the CAF General Staff.

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