Operation Orkan 91

Operation Orkan 91
Part of the Croatian War of Independence
Serb held territories in western Slavonia, Croatia, in 1991 (dark color), before a majority of it was returned to Croatia after Operation Orkan 91.
Date December 12, 1991 - January 2, 1992 Location western Slavonia, Croatia Result Croatian victory
Belligerents
Croatia National Guard Croatian Police	Local militia of the SAO Western Slavonia Yugoslav People's Army (Serb-controlled remnant)
Strength
13,600 soldiers [1] 29 tanks, 60 artillery	13,500 soldiers 100 tanks, 120-150 artillery
Casualties and losses
779 casualties(184 dead, 595 wounded)	1131 casualties(516 dead, 615 wounded)

Operation Orkan 91 (English "Hurricane 91") was a military operation during the Croatian War of Independence. After successful completion of Operation Otkos 10, the first offensive operation of such scale by Croatian army in the homeland war, Croatian troops were in position to retake further territory and neutralize a number of Serbian held military positions and fortifications.

The operation took place in western Slavonia, on and around parts of Papuk mountain. On December 12, 127th Croatian army brigade advanced along its sector south of Virovitica and linked up with forces advancing from Daruvar and Grubišno Polje. From the direction of Slatina, the 136th Croatian army brigade advanced and liberated villages of Voćin and Hum by December 15, and continued their advance to the infamous Serbian stronghold of Bučje. In the village of Voćin, a Croatian village, a massacre of over 40 civilians by Serb forces was discovered. The Voćin massacre became the most documented atrocity of the war in Croatia since foreign medical experts were nearby and conducted forensic examination. ^[2] One of these experts, dr. Jerry Blaskovich, wrote a book which detailed the massacre.

On the Nova Gradiška and Požega sector of the battlefield, the 121st and 123rd Croatian army brigades started their advance on December 10th, pushing the opposing forces towards Bučje. Between December 15 and December 18, Novo Zvečevo, Kamenska and several other villages have been retaken by Croatian troops in the Požega area.

On December 19, the 121st and 149th Croatian army brigades have retaken village Mašička Šagovina near Nova Gradiška.

On December 24 and December 25, in Pakrac sector of the battlefield, the 127th Croatian army brigade has liberated villages of Grahovljane and Dragovići, while the 104th Croatian army brigade has retaken village Kusonje. Both 127th and 104th brigades made further advances during the next two days.

On December 25, 1991, the 123rd and 136th Croatian army brigades have entered Serbian stronghold of Bučje.

Further advances have been stopped because of the ceasefire negotiated in Sarajevo on January 2, 1992, which was in effect as of January 3, 1992.

Operation Orkan 91 successfully neutralized a total of 21 Serb-held fortified positions and brought 170 square kilometers under Croatian control. More importantly, it made possible to use Pakrac - Požega road providing another supply route between Slavonia and the rest of Croatia, it made Podravska magistrala road and rail communication completely safe and being another successful offensive operation right after Operation Otkos 10 it was widely perceived as a sign of increasing military capabilities of Croatian army.

References

1. ^ (Croatian) Croatian War of Independence
2. ^ Jerry Blaskovich, Anatomy of Deceit: An American Physician's First-hand Encounter With The Realities Of The War In Croatia