Zvonimir Červenko
Encyclopedia
Zvonimir Červenko was a Croatian
general and the chief of General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Croatia between 1995 and 1996.
, in region of Sandžak
, what is today Serbia
. He started his military career at the Military Technical Academy in Zagreb
, where he became a lecturer after 19 years.
During the Croatian Spring
in the 1970s, he was a lieutenant colonel
, and became involved by advocating Croatian interests. After the government crackdown, he was sentenced to 18 months in prison with rank and right to pension both withdrawn. Until 1990 he worked as bill collector for RTV Zagreb
.
, president of the Republic of Croatia
offered him the position of the minister of defence, but Červenko refused saying "I'm a soldier, not politician". He organized the defence of Zagreb, the blockade of enemy barracks, and started the process of forming 14 brigades in Zagreb.
In January 1992, Červenko became the commander of Croatian Home Guard
(Domobranstvo), thus becoming deputy of chief of General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Croatia.
The top of his military career came just before the Operation Storm
, when he succeeded Janko Bobetko
in the position of Chief of General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Croatia. He served as Chief of General Staff from 15 July 1995 until 16 November 1996. During his command, the Croatian Army executed the most successful operation of the war, Operation Storm
. President Tuđman retired him in November 1996.
He later became a member of the Chamber of Counties of Croatian Sabor on the electoral list of Croatian Democratic Union
, and from 2000 he was a member of Amnesty Commission.
Červenko died on 17 February 2001 in Zagreb. With the highest honors, he was buried in Alley of Croatian Heroes at the Mirogoj Cemetery
.
Croats
Croats are a South Slavic ethnic group mostly living in Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and nearby countries. There are around 4 million Croats living inside Croatia and up to 4.5 million throughout the rest of the world. Responding to political, social and economic pressure, many Croats have...
general and the chief of General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Croatia between 1995 and 1996.
Prewar life
Červenko was born in PrijepoljePrijepolje
Prijepolje is a town and municipality in the Zlatibor District of Serbia. According to the 2011 census, the municipality of Prijepolje has a population of 36,713 people, while the town itself has a population of 13,068...
, in region of Sandžak
Sandžak
Sandžak also known as Raška is a historical region lying along the border between Serbia and Montenegro...
, what is today 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...
. He started his military career at the Military Technical Academy in Zagreb
Zagreb
Zagreb is the capital and the largest city of the Republic of Croatia. It is in the northwest of the country, along the Sava river, at the southern slopes of the Medvednica mountain. Zagreb lies at an elevation of approximately above sea level. According to the last official census, Zagreb's city...
, where he became a lecturer after 19 years.
During the Croatian Spring
Croatian Spring
The Croatian Spring was a political movement from the early 1970s that called for greater rights for Croatia which was then part of Yugoslavia as well as democratic and economic reforms.-History:...
in the 1970s, he was a lieutenant colonel
Lieutenant colonel
Lieutenant colonel is a rank of commissioned officer in the armies and most marine forces and some air forces of the world, typically ranking above a major and below a colonel. The rank of lieutenant colonel is often shortened to simply "colonel" in conversation and in unofficial correspondence...
, and became involved by advocating Croatian interests. After the government crackdown, he was sentenced to 18 months in prison with rank and right to pension both withdrawn. Until 1990 he worked as bill collector for RTV Zagreb
Croatian Radiotelevision
Croatian Radiotelevision is a Croatian public broadcasting company. It operates several radio and television channels, over a domestic transmitter network as well as satellite...
.
Croatian War of Independence
At the beginning of the Croatian War of IndependenceCroatian 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...
, president of the Republic of 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 ...
offered him the position of the minister of defence, but Červenko refused saying "I'm a soldier, not politician". He organized the defence of Zagreb, the blockade of enemy barracks, and started the process of forming 14 brigades in Zagreb.
In January 1992, Červenko became the commander of Croatian Home Guard
Croatian Home Guard
Croatian Home Guard or also, known as the "Homeland Defenders," was the name used for the armed forces of the Independent State of Croatia which existed during World War II.- Formation :...
(Domobranstvo), thus becoming deputy of chief of General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Croatia.
The top of his military career came just before the 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...
, when he succeeded Janko Bobetko
Janko Bobetko
Janko Bobetko was a Croatian Army general and Chief of the General Staff during the Croatian War of Independence from 1992 until his retirement in 1995. Bobetko had been charged with war crimes by the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia but died before he could be tried...
in the position of Chief of General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Croatia. He served as Chief of General Staff from 15 July 1995 until 16 November 1996. During his command, the Croatian Army executed the most successful operation of the war, 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...
. President Tuđman retired him in November 1996.
He later became a member of the Chamber of Counties of Croatian Sabor on the electoral list of Croatian Democratic Union
Croatian Democratic Union
The Croatian Democratic Union is the main center-right political party in Croatia. It is the biggest and strongest individual Croatian party since independence of Croatia. The Christian democratic HDZ governed Croatia from 1990 to 2000 and, in partial coalition, from 2003...
, and from 2000 he was a member of Amnesty Commission.
Červenko died on 17 February 2001 in Zagreb. With the highest honors, he was buried in Alley of Croatian Heroes at the Mirogoj Cemetery
Mirogoj Cemetery
The Mirogoj Cemetery is considered to be one of the most beautiful cemetery parks in Europe and, because of its design, numbers among the more noteworthy landmarks in the City of Zagreb....
.
Decorations
- Grand Order of King Petar Krešimir IVGrand Order of King Petar Krešimir IVThe Grand Order of King Petar Krešimir IV , or more fully the Grand Order of King Petar Krešimir IV with sash and Morning Star , is an order of the Republic of Croatia. It ranks third in the Croatian order of precedence after the Grand Order of Queen Jelena. The next order in rank is the Grand...
, - Order of Duke Domagoj,
- Order of Ban Jelačić,
- Order of the Croatian Trefoil,
- Order of the Croatian Wattle,
- Commemorative Medal of the Homeland War,
- Medal for Participation in Operation "Flash"
- Medal for Participation in Operation "Summer '95"
- Medal for Participation in Operation "Storm"