Blaž Kraljevic
Encyclopedia
Blaž Nikola Kraljević was a Bosnian Croat paramilitary leader during the first few months of the Bosnian War
who commanded the Croatian Defence Forces
(HOS). Bosnian President Alija Izetbegović
appointed him to be a member of Bosnian Army
's Headquarters, seven days before his assassination.
, Bosnia and Herzegovina
. At the age of 19 Kraljević immigrated to Germany
and shortly thereafter to Australia
where he joined Croatian Revolutionary Brotherhood
, and organisation whose aim was to restore the Independent State of Croatia
. Allegedly, he was supposed be the twentieth member of the Bugojno group
, which went to Yugoslavia
in 1972 in order to start an armed uprising, but he was allegedly prevented from leaving Australia by ASIO
. Kraljevic remained in Australia until 1990. Upon his return to Herzegovina he became the leader of the Croatian Party of Rights
and in December 1991 he became the leader of the HOS in Herzegovina.
Unlike the other Croat militia, the Croatian Defence Council
(Hrvatsko Vijeće Obrane, HVO), he opposed the division of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the creation of an ethnically cleansed Greater Croatia, instead he wanted to federate Bosnia and Herzegovina with Croatia. On May 9, 1992 he issued a proclamation to the Bosniak and Croat citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina which stated the following:
The proclamation is concluded by "Bog i Hrvati" (God and Croats), and "Za dom spremni", a salute used during World War II
by the Ustaše
movement.
After many early successes a large number of HVO
soldiers defected and joined the HOS. In the summer of 1992 his militia successfully defended Stolac
, and launched an offensive into eastern Herzegovina
which seized parts of the municipality of Trebinje
. Much of the Serb population of Trebinje
and Bileća
had begun to pack up run. This went against the Graz agreement
that Serbia
and Croatia
made regarding the division of the country.
he left on his way back to his home in Ljubuški
. HVO troops under the command of Mladen Naletilić - Tuta
opened fire on his motorcade killing Kraljević along with eight of his staff. Unlike Kraljević, Naletilić supported a split between Croat and Bosniaks. During the Naletilić-Martinović trial before the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY)
, prosecutors implied that Kraljević was murdered by Mate Boban
's HVO because HOS believed in a, "[...] multi-ethnic Bosnia of the Croats and Muslims working together." Until that point the HOS was composed Croats and a large percentage of Bosniaks around Mostar
. After Kraljević's assassination the HOS dissolved.
Bosnian War
The Bosnian War or the War in Bosnia and Herzegovina was an international armed conflict that took place in Bosnia and Herzegovina between April 1992 and December 1995. The war involved several sides...
who commanded the Croatian Defence Forces
Croatian Defence Forces
The Croatian Defence Forces was the military arm of the Croatian Party of Rights from 1991 to 1992 during the first stages of the Yugoslav wars....
(HOS). Bosnian President Alija Izetbegović
Alija Izetbegovic
Alija Izetbegović was a Bosniak activist, lawyer, author, philosopher and politician, who, in 1990, became the first president of Bosnia and Herzegovina. He served in this role until 1996, when he became a member of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina, serving until 2000...
appointed him to be a member of Bosnian Army
Army of the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina
The Army of the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina was the military force of the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina established by the government of Bosnia and Herzegovina in 1992 following the outbreak of the Bosnian War...
's Headquarters, seven days before his assassination.
Background
Blaž Kraljević was one of eight children born to a Croat family in the village of Lisice in the municipality of LjubuškiLjubuški
Ljubuški is a town and municipality in Bosnia and Herzegovina, located in thewestern part of Herzegovina.-1971:28.269 total* Croats - 26.198 * Muslims by nationality - 1.812 * Serbs - 118 * Yugoslavs - 49...
, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Bosnia and Herzegovina , sometimes called Bosnia-Herzegovina or simply Bosnia, is a country in Southern Europe, on the Balkan Peninsula. Bordered by Croatia to the north, west and south, Serbia to the east, and Montenegro to the southeast, Bosnia and Herzegovina is almost landlocked, except for the...
. At the age of 19 Kraljević immigrated to Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
and shortly thereafter to Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
where he joined Croatian Revolutionary Brotherhood
Croatian Revolutionary Brotherhood
The Croatian Revolutionary Brotherhood ) was a far right-wing organisation formed in Australia in the early 1960s. The organisation was created by Croatian migrants to Australia from Yugoslavia after World War II...
, and organisation whose aim was to restore the Independent State of Croatia
Independent State of Croatia
The Independent State of Croatia was a World War II puppet state of Nazi Germany, established on a part of Axis-occupied Yugoslavia. The NDH was founded on 10 April 1941, after the invasion of Yugoslavia by the Axis powers. All of Bosnia and Herzegovina was annexed to NDH, together with some parts...
. Allegedly, he was supposed be the twentieth member of the Bugojno group
Bugojno group
The Bugojno group was the name of a Croatian terrorist paramilitary formation which was infiltrated into Yugoslavia on June 20, 1972 to raise a rebellion against the communist Yugoslav government....
, which went to Yugoslavia
Yugoslavia
Yugoslavia refers to three political entities that existed successively on the western part of the Balkans during most of the 20th century....
in 1972 in order to start an armed uprising, but he was allegedly prevented from leaving Australia by ASIO
Australian Security Intelligence Organisation
The Australian Security Intelligence Organisation is Australia's national security service, which is responsible for the protection of the country and its citizens from espionage, sabotage, acts of foreign interference, politically-motivated violence, attacks on the Australian defence system, and...
. Kraljevic remained in Australia until 1990. Upon his return to Herzegovina he became the leader of the Croatian Party of Rights
Croatian Party of Rights
The Croatian Party of Rights is a right-wing political party in Croatia. The "right" in the party's name refer to the idea of Croatian national and ethnic rights that the party has vowed to protect since its founding in the 19th century...
and in December 1991 he became the leader of the HOS in Herzegovina.
War
When the war began Kraljević began to position his group as the main Croat militia in Bosnia and Herzegovina.Unlike the other Croat militia, the Croatian Defence Council
Croatian Defence Council
The Croatian Defence Council was a military formation of the self-proclaimed Croatian Republic of Herzeg-Bosnia during the Bosnian War.-History:...
(Hrvatsko Vijeće Obrane, HVO), he opposed the division of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the creation of an ethnically cleansed Greater Croatia, instead he wanted to federate Bosnia and Herzegovina with Croatia. On May 9, 1992 he issued a proclamation to the Bosniak and Croat citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina which stated the following:
- We implore all citizens of Bosnia and HerzegovinaBosnia and HerzegovinaBosnia and Herzegovina , sometimes called Bosnia-Herzegovina or simply Bosnia, is a country in Southern Europe, on the Balkan Peninsula. Bordered by Croatia to the north, west and south, Serbia to the east, and Montenegro to the southeast, Bosnia and Herzegovina is almost landlocked, except for the...
, especially Croats and Bosniaks not to take into account any statements or agreements between Mate BobanMate BobanMate Boban was a Bosnian Croat politician and the only president of the short lived and self proclaimed Croatian Republic of Herzeg-Bosnia that existed between 1991−1994 during the Bosnian war.-Pre-war life:...
and Radovan KaradžićRadovan KaradžicRadovan Karadžić is a former Bosnian Serb politician. He is detained in the United Nations Detention Unit of Scheveningen, accused of war crimes committed against Bosnian Muslims and Bosnian Croats during the Siege of Sarajevo, as well as ordering the Srebrenica massacre.Educated as a...
. - Not one nor the other speak in the name of Croats and Bosniaks. They do not represent what the Croats and Bosniaks want.
- There will be no division of Bosnia and Herzegovina, we can and we will preserve Bosnia and Herzegovina for all of us; we won't leave our people on the grinder. Either we will all die or we will all be free. We are not ready for treason. Radovan Karadžić is the murderer of Croat and Bosniak people's and Mate Boban cannot and doesn't have the right to lead the Croats and Bosniaks of BH into ruin.
- Bosnia and Herzegovina is defended and will be defended by the HOS and TO Bosnia and Herzegovina (Territorial Defence Force of the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina). Bosnia and Herzegovina is in ruins, the people are displaced but the victory is ours. We invite all HVO units to come under our command. Under the command of the HOS and with the cooperation of the TO Bosnia and Herzegovina we will free Bosnia and Herzegovina for the benefit of all people's. We will throw the people with the dark pasts and suspicious present out of the defensive units of BH. We will send them home, but keep an eye on them, we are talking about our destiny. We have a chance, but just one.
The proclamation is concluded by "Bog i Hrvati" (God and Croats), and "Za dom spremni", a salute used during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
by the Ustaše
Ustaše
The Ustaša - Croatian Revolutionary Movement was a Croatian fascist anti-Yugoslav separatist movement. The ideology of the movement was a blend of fascism, Nazism, and Croatian nationalism. The Ustaše supported the creation of a Greater Croatia that would span to the River Drina and to the border...
movement.
After many early successes a large number of HVO
HVO
- Organizations :*Croatian Defence Council , a military formation of the self-proclaimed Croatian Republic of Herzeg-Bosnia during the Bosnian War*Hawaiian Volcano Observatory, a unit of the US Geological Survey...
soldiers defected and joined the HOS. In the summer of 1992 his militia successfully defended Stolac
Stolac
Stolac is a town and municipality in Bosnia and Herzegovina, located in the southern part of Herzegovina. Administratively, it is part of the Herzegovina-Neretva Canton in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina....
, and launched an offensive into eastern Herzegovina
Herzegovina
Herzegovina is the southern region of Bosnia and Herzegovina. While there is no official border distinguishing it from the Bosnian region, it is generally accepted that the borders of the region are Croatia to the west, Montenegro to the south, the canton boundaries of the Herzegovina-Neretva...
which seized parts of the municipality of Trebinje
Trebinje
Trebinje is the southernmost municipality and town in Bosnia and Herzegovina. It is administratively part of the Republika Srpska entity and is located in southeastern Herzegovina, some from the Adriatic Sea....
. Much of the Serb population of Trebinje
Trebinje
Trebinje is the southernmost municipality and town in Bosnia and Herzegovina. It is administratively part of the Republika Srpska entity and is located in southeastern Herzegovina, some from the Adriatic Sea....
and Bileća
Bileca
Bileća is a town and municipality in the southeast of Bosnia and Herzegovina in the entity of Republika Srpska. It is in eastern Herzegovina near the border with Montenegro, north of Trebinje and south of Gacko...
had begun to pack up run. This went against the Graz agreement
Graz agreement
The Graz agreement was a partition agreement signed between Bosnian Serb leader Radovan Karadžić and Bosnian Croat leader Mate Boban on 6 May 1992 in the town of Graz, Austria. The agreement was meant to divide Bosnia and Herzegovina between Republika Srpska and the Croatian Republic of Herzeg-Bosnia...
that Serbia
Serbia
Serbia , officially the Republic of Serbia , is a landlocked country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeast Europe, covering the southern part of the Carpathian basin and the central part of the Balkans...
and Croatia
Croatia
Croatia , officially the Republic of Croatia , is a unitary democratic parliamentary republic in Europe at the crossroads of the Mitteleuropa, the Balkans, and the Mediterranean. Its capital and largest city is Zagreb. The country is divided into 20 counties and the city of Zagreb. Croatia covers ...
made regarding the division of the country.
Assassination
On August 9, 1992 after a meeting with local HOS commanders at MostarMostar
Mostar is a city and municipality in Bosnia and Herzegovina, the largest and one of the most important cities in the Herzegovina region and the center of the Herzegovina-Neretva Canton of the Federation. Mostar is situated on the Neretva river and is the fifth-largest city in the country...
he left on his way back to his home in Ljubuški
Ljubuški
Ljubuški is a town and municipality in Bosnia and Herzegovina, located in thewestern part of Herzegovina.-1971:28.269 total* Croats - 26.198 * Muslims by nationality - 1.812 * Serbs - 118 * Yugoslavs - 49...
. HVO troops under the command of Mladen Naletilić - Tuta
Mladen Naletilić
Mladen Naletilić Tuta was Croatian military commander of "Convicts' Battalion" of Croatian Defence Council and war criminal.-Biography:...
opened fire on his motorcade killing Kraljević along with eight of his staff. Unlike Kraljević, Naletilić supported a split between Croat and Bosniaks. During the Naletilić-Martinović trial before the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY)
International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia
The International Tribunal for the Prosecution of Persons Responsible for Serious Violations of International Humanitarian Law Committed in the Territory of the Former Yugoslavia since 1991, more commonly referred to as the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia or ICTY, is a...
, prosecutors implied that Kraljević was murdered by Mate Boban
Mate Boban
Mate Boban was a Bosnian Croat politician and the only president of the short lived and self proclaimed Croatian Republic of Herzeg-Bosnia that existed between 1991−1994 during the Bosnian war.-Pre-war life:...
's HVO because HOS believed in a, "[...] multi-ethnic Bosnia of the Croats and Muslims working together." Until that point the HOS was composed Croats and a large percentage of Bosniaks around Mostar
Mostar
Mostar is a city and municipality in Bosnia and Herzegovina, the largest and one of the most important cities in the Herzegovina region and the center of the Herzegovina-Neretva Canton of the Federation. Mostar is situated on the Neretva river and is the fifth-largest city in the country...
. After Kraljević's assassination the HOS dissolved.