War & Peace Show, 2009 (Praga
M53 Lizard)
Independent Unit, 1. Battalion,
109.Brigade Croatian Army - Vinkovci
9
1
Who are we?
As a
UK
based group we portray the
image of the Croatian combat
soldier between the June 1991 and March 1992 period of the Homeland War
of Independence.
The group represents unit members of the
109.Brigade
of the
Croatian Army
with
the sole aim of providing a better
awareness of the conflict and the Croatian forces of
the time. In our efforts to provide an authentic
portrayal we use only original items of uniform, equipment and weapons.
We also offer a gathering place for
the
veterans of the conflict and collectors
and individuals who share an interest in
this period.
Hrvatski
Croatian Forces Living
History Group
109. brigade 'Storks',
Vinkovci
Originally formed as the 10.Brigade ZNG "R" (National Guard Corp -
Reserve) on May 10th 1991, the Brigade staff, support units, and 1st and
2nd Battalions were formed from persons mobilized from the Vinkovci
municipality, the 3rd Battalion from the Zupanja municipality and a 4th
Battalion was planned from Vukovar. However events in Vukovar prevented
the formation so a further Independant Company was formed within Vinkovci.
The basis of the
brigade was mobilized from the Bosut Brigade of the Territorial Defence
(TO) of Vinkovci, the Secretariat for People's Defence (NO) and the
Vinkovci Police Department (PU). The formation was completed on May
30th,
1991 in the village of Ceric with a line up of the brigade staff
and support units under the command of Ivan Petrinovic, out of a planned
1,903 soldiers the
brigade had 1,800.
When formed the
brigade had enough weapons for only 40% of its personnel,
only the
independent company was fully armed and was designed as the assault
force of the brigade. Initially the brigade had only 800 rifles, on July
1st another 1000 rifles arrived along with some light machine guns,
RPG's and two Strela 2M (SA-7).
The brigade was now
covering some 60 kilometers of front line from Lipovac to the
Durgutovica forest, exhausted from months of fighting without
cohesive leadership they suffered significant losses.
Website Translation: Ninoslav Tomlinovic
©
2008/09 Sean Vatcher - Croatian Forces
LHG
On June 5th Josip Matic
assumed command and on June 20th the 106, 107 and 108th brigades were
formed, since the 10th was already formed it was renamed the 109th. Part
of 109 brigade were constantly engaged in the defence of Vukovar, by
October 1st the Yugoslav People's Army (JNA) reached the line of the Bosut River cut communications to Vinkovci and Vukovar and completely
surrounded Vukovar.
After the fall of Vukovar on
November 18th, command was assumed by Colonel Josip Zvirotic.
During the next month the brigade reached its peak with a total of six
infantry battalions, an artillery battalion, armoured battalion, independent
company, engineer company and platoon level staff units, but were still under
strength in it's brigade staff.
After several failed attempts
to breakthrough brigade lines - as results of a well fortified defence line
with fire control systems, the JNA limited itself to the shelling of Vinkovci and
it's surrounding villages. Despite the Sarajevo truce, skirmishes continued
throughout January and February 1992.
The 109 brigade was partially
demobilized in March, however an active defence of the region continued
for a further five years until the Eastern Slavonia region was
re-integrated.
Eastern
Slavonia
battlefront 1991-1992
Vukovar
battlefront 1991-1992