204th Vukovar Brigade
Encyclopedia
The 204th Vukovar Brigade of the Croatian Army was a military unit of the Republic of Croatia that led the defence of the city of Vukovar
during the 1991 Battle of Vukovar
, in the Croatian War of Independence
.
The first Croatian National Guard
(Zbor narodne garde, ZNG) units that were active in Vukovar included elements of the 109th Brigade that was first mobilized in late June 1991, a part of the 1st "A" Brigade in July, and the 4th Battalion of the 3rd "A" Brigade formed in the city in August 1991. By the end of September, elements of the 109th stationed in Vukovar started to form the local 204th brigade.
The 204th brigade was formed on September 25, 1991, after having been promulgated by the September 23, 1991 order of general Karl Gorinšek, at the time the commander of the Osijek sector. At the time of its founding, the brigade roster included 1,803 men. It was assigned to cover the area of the former municipality of Vukovar, that included the city of Vukovar, Ilok
as well as numerous surrounding villages. The command was also sent to the General Staff in Zagreb, which made some amendments, notably renaming it to the 124th Brigade, that were signed into an order of the Minister of Defence on September 26.
The brigade was not a trained military formation, but it included some trained soldiers and was led by trained officers, first by Mile Dedaković
, nicknamed Jastreb ("hawk"), who was previously a lieutenant colonel of the Yugoslav People's Army
. A notable commander was Blago Zadro
who commanded the 3rd Battalion that defended the city from the northwest on the Trpinja road. Zadro was killed in combat on October 16, 1991. Also in mid-October, Dedaković was reassigned to Vinkovci
and the command passed on to Branko Borković, nicknamed Mladi Jastreb ("young hawk"), who previously had the rank of captain.
At its peak it was composed of around 2,200 men, of which around 770 in active combat. A total of 921 soldiers died, 457 went missing in action, 770 were wounded, and 1527 were captured. A total of 5,497 soldiers were part of the brigade over the course of the entire war.
After the fall of Vukovar in late November 1991, the leftovers of the brigade moved to Vinkovci and elsewhere. The brigade commanders never signed an official surrender. The brigade was, however, officially disbanded on June 5, 1992, but its remaining personnel soon moved into the newly-formed 5th Guards Brigade, founded on October 25, 1992. The two surviving commanders, Dedaković and Borković, were never promoted, and many of its members were never credited for their valor in combat. Only Blago Zadro was posthumously promoted to Major general
.
The verification of the brigade rosters in the Ministry of Defence was delayed until long after the war was over, to the dismay of the brigade's former commanders.
The first lineup of the brigade survivors after the war happened on September 23, 2001, sponsored by a former member and then-Minister of Croatian Defenders Ivica Pančić, as well as the Ministry of Defence
under Jozo Radoš
.
In November 2005, the Ministry of Defence
under Berislav Rončević
finally confirmed that the official records were consolidated, which cleared the way for the official recognition of the brigade.
On September 25, 2006, the whole of the brigade was officially lined up at a ceremony in Vukovar under the brigade's now-official banners and before the Commander-in-Chief President of Croatia
Stjepan Mesić
.
The raw data of the Croatian Defender Registry (Registar hrvatskih branitelja) that was leaked in 2010 lists the names of over 3,300 soldiers from the 204th brigade over the course of the whole war.
Vukovar
Vukovar is a city in eastern Croatia, and the biggest river port in Croatia located at the confluence of the Vuka river and the Danube. Vukovar is the center of the Vukovar-Syrmia County...
during the 1991 Battle of Vukovar
Battle of Vukovar
The Battle of Vukovar was an 87-day siege of Vukovar in eastern Croatia by the Yugoslav People's Army , supported by various paramilitary forces from Serbia, between August and November 1991. Before the Croatian War of Independence the Baroque town was a prosperous, mixed community of Croats,...
, in the Croatian War of Independence
Croatian War of Independence
The Croatian War of Independence was fought from 1991 to 1995 between forces loyal to the government of Croatia—which had declared independence from the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia —and the Serb-controlled Yugoslav People's Army and local Serb forces, with the JNA ending its combat...
.
The first Croatian National Guard
Croatian National Guard
The Croatian National Guard was the name of the first modern Croatian military force. Croatian president Franjo Tuđman signed to law the Decree of Formation of the Croatian National Guard on April 20, 1991 which became the first professional armed forces with defence and training duties.These...
(Zbor narodne garde, ZNG) units that were active in Vukovar included elements of the 109th Brigade that was first mobilized in late June 1991, a part of the 1st "A" Brigade in July, and the 4th Battalion of the 3rd "A" Brigade formed in the city in August 1991. By the end of September, elements of the 109th stationed in Vukovar started to form the local 204th brigade.
The 204th brigade was formed on September 25, 1991, after having been promulgated by the September 23, 1991 order of general Karl Gorinšek, at the time the commander of the Osijek sector. At the time of its founding, the brigade roster included 1,803 men. It was assigned to cover the area of the former municipality of Vukovar, that included the city of Vukovar, Ilok
Ilok
Ilok is the easternmost town and municipality in Croatia. Located in the Syrmia region, it lies on a hill overlooking the Danube river, which forms the border with the Vojvodina region of Serbia. The population of the town of Ilok is 5,036, while the total municipality population is 6,750...
as well as numerous surrounding villages. The command was also sent to the General Staff in Zagreb, which made some amendments, notably renaming it to the 124th Brigade, that were signed into an order of the Minister of Defence on September 26.
The brigade was not a trained military formation, but it included some trained soldiers and was led by trained officers, first by Mile Dedaković
Mile Dedaković
Mile Dedaković is a retired Croatian Army colonel. Also known by his nom de guerre Jastreb , Dedaković is best known for commanding the 204th Vukovar Brigade and the city of Vukovar's defenses in during the 1991 Battle of Vukovar in the early stages of the Croatian War of...
, nicknamed Jastreb ("hawk"), who was previously a lieutenant colonel of the Yugoslav People's Army
Yugoslav People's Army
The Yugoslav People's Army , also referred to as the Yugoslav National Army , was the military of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia.-Origins:The origins of the JNA can...
. A notable commander was Blago Zadro
Blago Zadro
Blago Zadro was a commander of the northern part of Croatian defense forces in Vukovar during the Croatian War of Independence...
who commanded the 3rd Battalion that defended the city from the northwest on the Trpinja road. Zadro was killed in combat on October 16, 1991. Also in mid-October, Dedaković was reassigned to Vinkovci
Vinkovci
Vinkovci is a city in Croatia, in the Vukovar-Syrmia County. In the 2011 census, the total population of the city was 35,375, making it the largest town of the county...
and the command passed on to Branko Borković, nicknamed Mladi Jastreb ("young hawk"), who previously had the rank of captain.
At its peak it was composed of around 2,200 men, of which around 770 in active combat. A total of 921 soldiers died, 457 went missing in action, 770 were wounded, and 1527 were captured. A total of 5,497 soldiers were part of the brigade over the course of the entire war.
After the fall of Vukovar in late November 1991, the leftovers of the brigade moved to Vinkovci and elsewhere. The brigade commanders never signed an official surrender. The brigade was, however, officially disbanded on June 5, 1992, but its remaining personnel soon moved into the newly-formed 5th Guards Brigade, founded on October 25, 1992. The two surviving commanders, Dedaković and Borković, were never promoted, and many of its members were never credited for their valor in combat. Only Blago Zadro was posthumously promoted to Major general
Major General
Major general or major-general is a military rank used in many countries. It is derived from the older rank of sergeant major general. A major general is a high-ranking officer, normally subordinate to the rank of lieutenant general and senior to the ranks of brigadier and brigadier general...
.
The verification of the brigade rosters in the Ministry of Defence was delayed until long after the war was over, to the dismay of the brigade's former commanders.
The first lineup of the brigade survivors after the war happened on September 23, 2001, sponsored by a former member and then-Minister of Croatian Defenders Ivica Pančić, as well as the Ministry of Defence
Ministry of Defence (Croatia)
The Ministry of Defence of the Republic of Croatia is the ministry in the Government of Croatia which is in charge of the nation's military. The ministry was established in 1990.-Ministers:-References:...
under Jozo Radoš
Jozo Radoš
Jozo Radoš is a Croatian centre-left politician, currently a prominent member of the Croatian People's Party - Liberal Democrats.In the 1990s he was a member of the Croatian Social Liberal Party ....
.
In November 2005, the Ministry of Defence
Ministry of Defence (Croatia)
The Ministry of Defence of the Republic of Croatia is the ministry in the Government of Croatia which is in charge of the nation's military. The ministry was established in 1990.-Ministers:-References:...
under Berislav Rončević
Berislav Roncevic
Berislav Rončević is a Croatian politician, and the former Minister of Internal Affairs in the Government of Croatia and the Minister of Defense....
finally confirmed that the official records were consolidated, which cleared the way for the official recognition of the brigade.
On September 25, 2006, the whole of the brigade was officially lined up at a ceremony in Vukovar under the brigade's now-official banners and before the Commander-in-Chief President of Croatia
President of Croatia
The President of Croatia , officially styled the President of the Republic represents the Republic of Croatia in the country and abroad as the head of state, maintains the regular and coordinated operation and stability of the national government system, and safeguards the independence and...
Stjepan Mesić
Stjepan Mesić
Stjepan "Stipe" Mesić is a Croatian politician and former President of Croatia. Before his ten-year presidential term between 2000 and 2010 he held the posts of Speaker of the Croatian Parliament , Prime Minister of Croatia , the last President of the Presidency of Yugoslavia , Secretary General...
.
The raw data of the Croatian Defender Registry (Registar hrvatskih branitelja) that was leaked in 2010 lists the names of over 3,300 soldiers from the 204th brigade over the course of the whole war.