Obilježena 29. obljetnica ustrojavanja 1. gbr Tigrovi i bojne Tigrovi| Foto: MORH / M. Čobanović

“Tigrovi” Guards Brigade marks 29th anniversary

Minister Krstičević : The young generations of the Battalion “Tigrovi” are proud and dignified successors of the tradition and the glorious history of the Brigade “Tigrovi”

The Barracks “1st Guards Brigade Tigrovi – Croatia” in Zagreb on 5 November 2019 hosted the ceremony marking the 29th anniversary of the establishment of the 1st Guards Brigade “Tigrovi” of the Croatian Army.

Alongside the members of the 1st Guards Brigade and of the Battalion “Tigrovi”, by the families of the fallen, missing and deceased members of the Brigade and by the asociation of the veterans of the Brigade, ceremony was attended by the President of the Republic and Supreme Commander of the Croatian Armed Forces Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović, by the Envoy of the Speaker of the Croatian Parliament Maj. Gen. (Ret.) Miljenko Filipović, by the Minister of the Homeland War Veterans Tomo Medved as Envoy of the Prime MInister, by the Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Damir Krstičević, by General (Ret.) Mladen Markač as Envoy of the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Interior, by the Director of the General Staff of the Croatian Armed Forces Vice Admiral Robert Hranj, by the Special Advisor to the Defence Minister and former Commander of the Brigade “Tigrovi” Božo Kožul, by the representatives of the City of Zagreb and other senior officials.

A minute of silence was observed for all fallen, missing and deceased members of the 1st Brigade,f followed by the laying of wreaths and respects paying by the high state delegation headed by the President of the Republic Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović and by the families of the fallen, missing and deceased members of the Brigade and by the Association of Veterans of the 1st Brigade.

 

Obilježena 29. obljetnica ustrojavanja 1. gbr Tigrovi i bojne Tigrovi | Foto: MORH / M. Čobanović

Young members of the Battalion ” Tigrovi” receive berets

The ceremony featured the symbolical presentation of berets to 80 new members of the 1st Mechanised Battalion “Tigrovi” of the Croatian Army.

The Minister of the Homeland War Veterans (and formerly a commander of a company of the Brigade “Tigrovi” Tomo Medved) extended congratulations on behalf of the Prime Minister Andrej Plenković and recalled the historic date of the establishment – 5 November 1990.

“Our wartime history was an epitome of courage and honour of the Croatian soldiers, led by their wartime commanders and the first Croatian President dr. Franjo Tuđman to victory through hardest battles”, said Minister Medved.

“We have demonstrated to be able to overcome any hardship, led by the desire to build a free and democratic state; today too, when we are building Croatia for future generations, we have to demonstrate to be a country of strong and determined people that we are. We must guard unity and build Croatia we fought for!”, said Minister Medved.

Ministar Krstičević poručio: Mladi nasljednici bojne Tigrovi ponosno i dostojanstveno baštine tradiciju i nastavljaju slavni put Tigrova

The young generations are proud and dignified successors of the tradition and the glorious victorious history of the Brigade “Tigrovi”.

Defence Minister Damir Krstičević extended his congratulations saying: “You joined the Homeland War first, for the freedom of our country and gave an outstanding contribution for its independence. Your young successors in the Battalion “Tigrovi” today are proud and dignified successors of the tradition and the glorious victorios history of the Brigade.

Minister Krstičević praised the awarding of the berets to the young members of the Battalion “Tigrovi” – the tradition restored by the present Government of Croatia, in respect of the values of the Homeland War.

“My congratulations go to the young members , who have today received the berets to wear them with pride. It is our obligation to guard the memory of the Homeland War, guards brigades and the brave Croatian defenders who brought us peace and freedom”, said Minister Krstičević.

Lieutenant Colonel Ivica Krizmanić addressed the visitors on behalf of the members of the 1st Brigade, recalling the establishment of the Brigade 29 years ago and praised its importance in the Homeland War.

“During the Homeland War the 1st Guards Brigade “Tigrovi” was engaged in all defensive and liberating actions and operations throughout the country, and we are also proud to emphasise 145 female members among us. Unfortunately, 367 members of the Brigade were killed and six are missing to this day”, said Lt. Col. Krizmanić.

Lt. Col.Krizmanić praised the naming of the barracks after the Brigade. “I am glad that the young members of the Battalion “Tigrovi” are receiving the 1st Brigade’s black berets and taking their oath of service. The Croatian Armed Forces are proud of the Defence Minister and his commitment to provide proper conditions to and restore respect to their members and cherish the values of the Homeland War”, said Lt. Col. Krizmanić.

Ministar Krstičević poručio: Mladi nasljednici bojne Tigrovi ponosno i dostojanstveno baštine tradiciju i nastavljaju slavni put Tigrova

Major Kršinić: Superior training to bring up “Tigrovi” into a world-class professionals

The Commander of the Guards Mechanised Brigade Major Krešimir Kršinić commented the prospective training of the members of the Battalion, a part of the integration training bringing up the trainees as world-class professionals.

The member of the 1st Mechanised Battalion “Tigrovi”, Private Matea Jurašković shared her enthousiasm and pride on receiving the beret on the 29th anniversary of the Brigade :”Both me and my parents, members of the 1st Guards Brigade themselves, have been waiting for this day. Once a member of “Tigrovi” , always a member of “Tigrovi”.
On the occasion of the 29th anniversary of “Tigrovi” the members of the Guards Mechanised Brigade were presented with commendations and awards, and a mass for the fallen, missing and deceased members was recited by the military chaplain Rev. Vlado Mandura in the Church of Sv. Križ in Zagreb.

Obilježena 29. obljetnica ustrojavanja 1. gbr Tigrovi i bojne Tigrovi| Foto: MORH / M. Čobanović

The respects was paid by laying wreaths at the memorial monument in the original barracks of the Brigade at Rakitje near Zagreb.

“It was right here, in this Barracks, that we took oath of allegiance to our homeland to sacrifice our lives for its freedom”, said Minister of the Homeland War Veterans Tomo Medved.
“It is our obligation to build Croatia as members of the Brigade “Tigrovi” dreamed of” said the Prefect of the Krapina-Zagorje County Željko Kolar.

The Mayor of Zagreb Milan Bandić congratulated the members of the Brigade and paid honour to its fallen members.
 
The Commander of the 2nd Guards Brigade of the Croatian Army Staff Brigadier (Ret.) Petar Bajan emphasised that the Brigade “Tigrovi” took part in combat in all battlefields and that the respects were paid at their original base.

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