Operation Orkan 91
Encyclopedia
Operation Orkan 91 was a military operation
during the Croatian War of Independence
. After successful completion of Operation Otkos 10
, the first offensive operation of such scale by Croatian army in the homeland war, Croatian troops were in position to retake further territory and neutralize a number of Serbian held military positions and fortifications.
The operation took place in western Slavonia
, on and around parts of Papuk
mountain. On December 12, 127th Croatian army brigade advanced along its sector south of Virovitica
and linked up with forces advancing from Daruvar
and Grubišno Polje
. From the direction of Slatina
, the 136th Croatian army brigade advanced and liberated villages of Voćin
and Hum by December 15, and continued their advance to the infamous Serbian stronghold of Bučje
. In the village of Voćin, a Croatian village, a massacre of over 40 civilians by Serb forces was discovered. The Voćin massacre
became the most documented atrocity of the war in Croatia since foreign medical experts were nearby and conducted forensic examination. One of these experts, dr. Jerry Blaskovich, wrote a book which detailed the massacre.
On the Nova Gradiška
and Požega
sector of the battlefield, the 121st and 123rd Croatian army brigades started their advance on December 10th, pushing the opposing forces towards Bučje. Between December 15 and December 18, Novo Zvečevo, Kamenska and several other villages have been retaken by Croatian troops in the Požega area.
On December 19, the 121st and 149th Croatian army brigades have retaken village Mašička Šagovina near Nova Gradiška.
On December 24 and December 25, in Pakrac sector of the battlefield, the 127th Croatian army brigade has liberated villages of Grahovljane and Dragovići, while the 104th Croatian army brigade has retaken village Kusonje. Both 127th and 104th brigades made further advances during the next two days.
On December 25, 1991, the 123rd and 136th Croatian army brigades have entered Serbian stronghold of Bučje.
Further advances have been stopped because of the ceasefire negotiated in Sarajevo
on January 2, 1992, which was in effect as of January 3, 1992.
Operation Orkan 91 successfully neutralized a total of 21 Serb-held fortified positions and brought 170 square kilometers under Croatian control. More importantly, it made possible to use Pakrac - Požega road providing another supply route between Slavonia and the rest of Croatia, it made Podravska magistrala road and rail communication completely safe and being another successful offensive operation right after Operation Otkos 10
it was widely perceived as a sign of increasing military capabilities of Croatian army.
Military operation
Military operation is the coordinated military actions of a state in response to a developing situation. These actions are designed as a military plan to resolve the situation in the state's favor. Operations may be of combat or non-combat types, and are referred to by a code name for the purpose...
during 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...
. After successful completion of Operation Otkos 10
Operation Otkos 10
Operation Otkos 10 was a military offensive undertaken by the Croatian army against the Yugoslav People's Army in SAO Western Slavonia...
, the first offensive operation of such scale by Croatian army in the homeland war, Croatian troops were in position to retake further territory and neutralize a number of Serbian held military positions and fortifications.
The operation took place in western Slavonia
Slavonia
Slavonia is a geographical and historical region in eastern Croatia...
, on and around parts of Papuk
Papuk
Papuk is the largest mountain in the Slavonia region in eastern Croatia, near the city of Požega. It extends between Bilogora to the northwest, Krndija to the east, and Ravna gora and Psunj to the southwest....
mountain. On December 12, 127th Croatian army brigade advanced along its sector south of Virovitica
Virovitica
Virovitica is a Croatian town near the Croatian-Hungarian border. It is situated near the Drava river and belongs to the historic region of Slavonia. Virovitica has a population of 14,663, with 21,327 people in the municipality...
and linked up with forces advancing from Daruvar
Daruvar
Daruvar is a town in central Croatia, population 9,815 , total municipality population 13,243 ....
and Grubišno Polje
Grubišno Polje
-Demographics:In the 2001 census, the municipality had 7,523 inhabitants, with the following ethnic makeup:* 4,692 Croats* 1,356 Czechs* 872 Serbs* 228 Hungarians...
. From the direction of Slatina
Slatina
Slatina refers to a number of geographical objects in Europe:In Albania:* another name for Slatine and for SllatinaIn Antarctica* Slatina Peak...
, the 136th Croatian army brigade advanced and liberated villages of Voćin
Vocin
Voćin is a village and municipality in western Slavonia, Croatia, located southwest of Slatina and east of Daruvar. The population of the municipality is 2,500, with 1,161 people living in Voćin itself ....
and Hum by December 15, and continued their advance to the infamous Serbian stronghold of Bučje
Bučje
-Croatia:*Bučje , a village near Pleternica in Požega-Slavonia County, Croatia*Bučje , a village near Pakrac in Požega-Slavonia County, Croatia-Serbia:*Bučje *Bučje *Bučje *Bučje *Ravno Bučje...
. In the village of Voćin, a Croatian village, a massacre of over 40 civilians by Serb forces was discovered. The Voćin massacre
Vocin massacre
Voćin massacre was a massacre committed against Croatian civilians in the village of Voćin by Serb paramilitary units in December 1991, during the Croatian War of Independence....
became the most documented atrocity of the war in Croatia since foreign medical experts were nearby and conducted forensic examination. One of these experts, dr. Jerry Blaskovich, wrote a book which detailed the massacre.
On the Nova Gradiška
Nova Gradiška
Nova Gradiška is a city located in the Brod-Posavina County of Croatia, population 14,196 . It is located in the historic region of Slavonia, near the border to Bosnia and Herzegovina....
and Požega
Požega, Croatia
Požega is a city in western Slavonia, eastern Croatia, with a total population of 26,403 . It is the administrative center of the Požega-Slavonia County.-Geography:...
sector of the battlefield, the 121st and 123rd Croatian army brigades started their advance on December 10th, pushing the opposing forces towards Bučje. Between December 15 and December 18, Novo Zvečevo, Kamenska and several other villages have been retaken by Croatian troops in the Požega area.
On December 19, the 121st and 149th Croatian army brigades have retaken village Mašička Šagovina near Nova Gradiška.
On December 24 and December 25, in Pakrac sector of the battlefield, the 127th Croatian army brigade has liberated villages of Grahovljane and Dragovići, while the 104th Croatian army brigade has retaken village Kusonje. Both 127th and 104th brigades made further advances during the next two days.
On December 25, 1991, the 123rd and 136th Croatian army brigades have entered Serbian stronghold of Bučje.
Further advances have been stopped because of the ceasefire negotiated in Sarajevo
Sarajevo
Sarajevo |Bosnia]], surrounded by the Dinaric Alps and situated along the Miljacka River in the heart of Southeastern Europe and the Balkans....
on January 2, 1992, which was in effect as of January 3, 1992.
Operation Orkan 91 successfully neutralized a total of 21 Serb-held fortified positions and brought 170 square kilometers under Croatian control. More importantly, it made possible to use Pakrac - Požega road providing another supply route between Slavonia and the rest of Croatia, it made Podravska magistrala road and rail communication completely safe and being another successful offensive operation right after Operation Otkos 10
Operation Otkos 10
Operation Otkos 10 was a military offensive undertaken by the Croatian army against the Yugoslav People's Army in SAO Western Slavonia...
it was widely perceived as a sign of increasing military capabilities of Croatian army.