Operation Summer '95
Encyclopedia
Operation Summer '95 was a joint military offensive of Croatian Army and Croatian Defence Council
forces launched in Western Bosnia and Herzegovina
in July 1995 during the Croatian War of Independence
and the Bosnian War
. It ended with a decisive victory for Croatian forces and paved the way for Operation Storm
which was to follow in August.
were controlled by Bosnian Serb (VRS) forces since the war in 1992. Bihać
was the only area of Western Bosnia not to be under Serb control, as well as the Croat-held Herzegovina
in the southwest. In 1994, Croatia and Bosnia signed the Washington Agreement
and later Split agreement which enabled Croat and Bosnian units to cross the border in support of each other.
By mid-1995, the Croatian Army was in the process of establishing authority among the Serb-held territories in Croatia. After Operation Flash
in May, Croat forces started to plan an offensive to capture the entire Krajina
region. The most important center of this area and the capital of the self-proclaimed Republic of Serb Krajina, Knin
, was the first target for the offensive as its capture would symoblize total defeat for the Serb forces in Croatia.
In order to capture Knin, Croatian forces decided to outflank the city from the east, from the region of Bosnian Krajina. With this in mind, Operation Summer '95 was launched. As preparations for major operations, in the winter of 1994/95, a minor Operation Winter '94
was launched to establish better positions on the vital Dinara
mountains.
The city of Bosansko Grahovo
was a major stronghold for Serb forces in the area and offered fierce resistance. Croatian forces defeated these, however, inflicting heavy casualties. The city was captured on July 28. City of Glamoč
was taken the following day.
The Operation was officially ended on July 30, at which time about 1600 square kilometres (617.8 sq mi) of Bosnian territory were captured.
Following the completion of the offensive, Croatian engineering
units built roads over the Dinara mountains and the Bosnian border. When Operation Storm begun, two elite Croatian units, the 4th Guards Brigade and elements of the 7th Guards Brigade
advanced from Bosnia towards Knin over these roads.
Following only minor resistance, the Croatian Serb army was routed. and Knin was taken on August 5, the second day of the offensive, by these forces acting from Bosnia.
Following the end of Storm, Croat units would continue the offensive in Bosnia, in Operation Mistral
, from the area captured during Summer '95 northwards and would, along with Bosnian Army forces from Bihać, recapture entire western Bosnia until the signing of the Dayton Agreement
and the end of the war.
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:...
forces launched in Western 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...
in July 1995 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...
and the Bosnian War
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...
. It ended with a decisive victory for Croatian forces and paved the way for Operation Storm
Operation Storm
Operation Storm is the code name given to a large-scale military operation carried out by Croatian Armed Forces, in conjunction with the Army of the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina, to gain back control of parts of Croatia which had been claimed by separatist ethnic Serbs, since early...
which was to follow in August.
Introduction
Most areas of western Bosnia and HerzegovinaBosnia 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...
were controlled by Bosnian Serb (VRS) forces since the war in 1992. Bihać
Bihac
Bihać is a city and municipality on the river Una in the north-western part of Bosnia and Herzegovina, in the Bosanska Krajina region. Bihać is located in the Una-Sana Canton in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina.-History:...
was the only area of Western Bosnia not to be under Serb control, as well as the Croat-held 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...
in the southwest. In 1994, Croatia and Bosnia signed the Washington Agreement
Washington Agreement
The Washington Agreement was a ceasefire agreement between the warring Croatian Republic of Herzeg-Bosnia and the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina, signed in Washington on 18 March 1994 and Vienna. It was signed by Bosnian Prime Minister Haris Silajdžić, Croatian Foreign Minister Mate Granić and...
and later Split agreement which enabled Croat and Bosnian units to cross the border in support of each other.
By mid-1995, the Croatian Army was in the process of establishing authority among the Serb-held territories in Croatia. After Operation Flash
Operation Flash
The Serbs in western Slavonia took part in the organized rebellion against the government of the Republic of Croatia that had just proclaimed independence in June 1991, by proclaiming the Serbian Autonomous Oblast of Western Slavonia in August 1991...
in May, Croat forces started to plan an offensive to capture the entire Krajina
Krajina
-Etymology:In old-Croatian, this earliest geographical term appeared at least from 10th century within the Glagolitic inscriptions in Chakavian dialect, e.g. in Baška tablet about 1105, and also in some subsequent Glagolitic texts as krayna in the original medieval meaning of inlands or mainlands...
region. The most important center of this area and the capital of the self-proclaimed Republic of Serb Krajina, Knin
Knin
Knin is a historical town in the Šibenik-Knin county of Croatia, located near the source of the river Krka at , in the Dalmatian hinterland, on the railroad Zagreb–Split. Knin rose to prominence twice in history, as a one-time capital of both the Kingdom of Croatia and briefly of the...
, was the first target for the offensive as its capture would symoblize total defeat for the Serb forces in Croatia.
In order to capture Knin, Croatian forces decided to outflank the city from the east, from the region of Bosnian Krajina. With this in mind, Operation Summer '95 was launched. As preparations for major operations, in the winter of 1994/95, a minor Operation Winter '94
Operation Winter '94
Operation Winter '94 was a joint military offensive of Croatian Army and Croatian Defense Council launched in Western Bosnia and Herzegovina on November 29 and continuing up until December 24 of 1994 during the Croatian War of Independence and the Bosnian War...
was launched to establish better positions on the vital Dinara
Dinara
Dinara is a mountain located on the border of Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina. One of its summits, also called Dinara, is the highest point in Croatia at 1,831 m and a prominence of 728 m.-Etymology:...
mountains.
The Operation
On July 25, Croat forces attacked from Herzegovina, driving north through the Dinara hills. The attack met with only minor resistance and Croat forces could advance quickly.The city of Bosansko Grahovo
Bosansko Grahovo
Bosansko Grahovo is a town and municipality in western Bosnia and Herzegovina. It is located near the border with Croatia, near the towns of Drvar, Livno and Glamoč...
was a major stronghold for Serb forces in the area and offered fierce resistance. Croatian forces defeated these, however, inflicting heavy casualties. The city was captured on July 28. City of Glamoč
Glamoc
Glamoč is a town and municipality of the same name in western Bosnia and Herzegovina. It is in Canton 10, in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina...
was taken the following day.
The Operation was officially ended on July 30, at which time about 1600 square kilometres (617.8 sq mi) of Bosnian territory were captured.
Aftermath
As a result of the offensive, the south of the Croatian Serb territory in Croatia found itself surrounded from three sides and vulnerable.Following the completion of the offensive, Croatian engineering
Engineering
Engineering is the discipline, art, skill and profession of acquiring and applying scientific, mathematical, economic, social, and practical knowledge, in order to design and build structures, machines, devices, systems, materials and processes that safely realize improvements to the lives of...
units built roads over the Dinara mountains and the Bosnian border. When Operation Storm begun, two elite Croatian units, the 4th Guards Brigade and elements of the 7th Guards Brigade
7th Guards Brigade (Croatia)
The 7th Guards Brigade , also known by their nickname Pumas , was a Croatian Ground Army brigade formed on 23 December 1992 in Varaždin...
advanced from Bosnia towards Knin over these roads.
Following only minor resistance, the Croatian Serb army was routed. and Knin was taken on August 5, the second day of the offensive, by these forces acting from Bosnia.
Following the end of Storm, Croat units would continue the offensive in Bosnia, in Operation Mistral
Operation Mistral
Operation Mistral were two linked military offensives of the Croatian Army, Army of the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and the Croatian Defence Council launched in Western Bosnia and Herzegovina during September 1995 as part of the Croatian War of Independence and the Bosnian War...
, from the area captured during Summer '95 northwards and would, along with Bosnian Army forces from Bihać, recapture entire western Bosnia until the signing of the Dayton Agreement
Dayton Agreement
The General Framework Agreement for Peace in Bosnia and Herzegovina, also known as the Dayton Agreement, Dayton Accords, Paris Protocol or Dayton-Paris Agreement, is the peace agreement reached at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base near Dayton, Ohio in November 1995, and formally signed in Paris on...
and the end of the war.