Operation Storm

In the summer 1995, Croatia carried out a large scale military operation called Oluja -- Storm -- the objective of which was to reclaim areas of Croatia held by rebel Serb forces. The operation officially lasted four days and effectively eliminated the wartime "Republika Srpska Krajina". It was the largest military operation in Europe since World War II.

Timeline

A few months later, "Operation Storm" was in the making, helped by some countries' intelligence support. In order to surround Knin, the capital of rebel Serbs in Croatia, HVO and HV first captured the crucial cities of Glamo? and Bosansko Grahovo in western Bosnia in the summer of 1995.

Related Topics:
Knin - Bosansko Grahovo

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Before beginning of the operation USAF(United States Air Force) bombed serbian telecommunications,destroying them completely.Serb forces,after this,were unable to communicate with each other and it greatly demoralized them,especially when Croats attacked them in the morning.

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Operation Storm begun in the early morning of August 4th. The Croatian 4th and 7th Guards Brigades broke through the lines of already demoralized Serb forces, advanced quickly and took over Knin and most of the Dalmatian hinterland on August 5th.

Related Topics:
August 4 - Dalmatia - August 5

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By August 6th, the 1st Guards Brigade penetrated Krajina territory near Slunj (north of Plitvice) and reached the border with Bosnia and Herzegovina, where they met with Bosniak forces of the enclave of western Bosnia. The only strong resistance was met in the town of Glina (south of Sisak).

Related Topics:
August 6 - Slunj - Plitvice - Bosnia and Herzegovina - Bosniak - Enclave - Glina - Sisak

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On the evening of August 7th the operation was declared over, as most of the border with Bosnia was controlled by the Croats. The few remaining divisions of the Serbian army peacefully surrendered over the course of the next several days.

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On August 11th, the Croatian Ministry of healthcare published its records of casualties on the Croatian side: 174 dead and 1430 wounded.

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