CROATIAN FORCES

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 offer a gathering place for the veterans of the conflict and collectors and individuals who share an interest in this period of military history.

It has been remarked, somewhat naively that the period we represent is not tasteful. 'NO war is tasteful'. What we portray is not done so in any political or ethnical manner. We portray a period that many will remember in their life times, and that was after all the largest conflict on European soil since World War Two. To ignore it is again we believe, to be naive.

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).

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.