7th Guards Brigade (Croatia)
Encyclopedia
The 7th Guards Brigade , also known by their nickname Pumas , was a Croatian Ground Army
(HV) brigade formed on 23 December 1992 in Varaždin
. The brigade was initially formed out of the 5th Battalion of the 1st "Tigers" Brigade and its first commander was Ivan Korade
, who led the unit during the War of Independence
(1991–1995).
The 7th Brigade was disbanded in 2003 when it merged with the 2nd "Thunders" Brigade
. In March 2008 the 2nd Brigade was also disbanded. Members of the former 7th Brigade who had served in the 2nd Brigade 2003–2008 were then incorporated into the present-day Armoured Guards Brigade (Gardijska oklopno-mehanizirana brigada or GOMBR) and formed a battalion which uses the original 7th Brigade's nickname and emblem.
Croatian ground army
The Croatian Army is a branch of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Croatia.The fundamental role and purpose of the Croatian Army is to protect vital national interests of the Republic of Croatia and defend the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the state.Basic tasks of the Croatian Army...
(HV) brigade formed on 23 December 1992 in Varaždin
Varaždin
Varaždin is a city in north Croatia, north of Zagreb on the highway A4. The total population is 47,055, with 38,746 on of the city settlement itself . The centre of Varaždin county is located near the Drava river, at...
. The brigade was initially formed out of the 5th Battalion of the 1st "Tigers" Brigade and its first commander was Ivan Korade
Ivan Korade
Ivan Korade was a Croatian Army general famous for his role in the Croatian War of Independence. Korade's long history of violent behaviour resulted in forced retirement in 1997 and culminated in a 2008 shooting spree in which he murdered five people before committing suicide.-Early life and...
, who led the unit during the 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...
(1991–1995).
The 7th Brigade was disbanded in 2003 when it merged with the 2nd "Thunders" Brigade
2nd Guards Brigade (Croatia)
The 2nd Guards Brigade , also known by their nickname Thunders , was one of the original Croatian National Guard brigades formed in 1991 and one of the most elite mechanized infantry units in the Croatian Ground Army during its existence, during which it saw action in a number of engagements...
. In March 2008 the 2nd Brigade was also disbanded. Members of the former 7th Brigade who had served in the 2nd Brigade 2003–2008 were then incorporated into the present-day Armoured Guards Brigade (Gardijska oklopno-mehanizirana brigada or GOMBR) and formed a battalion which uses the original 7th Brigade's nickname and emblem.
Commanders
- Ivan KoradeIvan KoradeIvan Korade was a Croatian Army general famous for his role in the Croatian War of Independence. Korade's long history of violent behaviour resulted in forced retirement in 1997 and culminated in a 2008 shooting spree in which he murdered five people before committing suicide.-Early life and...
(1992–1996) - Željko Dvekar (1996–1999)
- Marijan Kretić (1999)
- Branko Predragović (1999–2002)
- Marijan Kretić (2002–2003)