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{{Infobox civilian attack
{{Short description|War crime committed by the Yugoslav People's Army}}{{Infobox civilian attack
|title = Škabrnja massacre
|title = Škabrnja massacre
|partof = the [[Croatian War of Independence]]
|partof = the [[Croatian War of Independence]]
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}}
}}
|map_caption= Škabrnja on the map of Croatia, areas held by the JNA and Croatian Serb troops in late 1991 are highlighted in red
|map_caption= Škabrnja on the map of Croatia, areas held by the JNA and Croatian Serb troops in late 1991 are highlighted in red
|location=[[Škabrnja]] and [[Nadin]], [[Croatia]]
|location=[[Škabrnja]] and [[Nadin, Croatia|Nadin]], [[Croatia]]
|coordinates={{coord|44.091418|N|15.450494|E|display=inline,title}}
|coordinates={{coord|44.091418|N|15.450494|E|display=inline,title}}
|target=Croat civilians and [[prisoners of war]]
|target=Croat civilians and [[prisoners of war]]
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}}
}}
{{Campaignbox Croatian War of Independence}}
{{Campaignbox Croatian War of Independence}}
The '''Škabrnja massacre''' was the killing of 62 Croatian civilians and five [[prisoners of war]] by [[SAO Krajina|Serbian Autonomous Oblast Krajina]] (SAO Krajina) [[Territorial Defense Forces (Yugoslavia)|Territorial Defence]] troops and the [[Yugoslav People's Army]] (JNA) in the villages of [[Škabrnja]] and [[Nadin]] northeast of [[Zadar]] on 18–19 November 1991, during the [[Croatian War of Independence]]. The massacre occurred shortly after an agreement to evacuate Zadar's JNA garrison following [[Battle of Zadar|an increase in fighting]] between the [[Croatian National Guard]] (renamed the [[Croatian Army]] in November 1991) and the JNA.
The '''Škabrnja massacre''' was the killing of 62 Croatian civilians and five [[prisoners of war]] by [[SAO Krajina|Serbian Autonomous Oblast Krajina]] (SAO Krajina) [[Territorial Defense Forces (Yugoslavia)|Territorial Defence]] troops and the [[Yugoslav People's Army]] (JNA) in the villages of [[Škabrnja]] and [[Nadin, Croatia|Nadin]] east of [[Zadar]] on 18–19 November 1991, during the [[Croatian War of Independence]]. The massacre occurred shortly after an agreement to evacuate Zadar's JNA garrison following [[Battle of Zadar|an increase in fighting]] between the [[Croatian National Guard]] (renamed the [[Croatian Army]] in November 1991) and the JNA.

Most of the killings were committed by SAO Krajina troops which followed the leading armoured JNA units fighting their way into Škabrnja on 18 November. During the initial attack, the attacking force employed a [[human shield]] of captured civilians forced to walk in front of armoured vehicles. Most of the civilian population fled the village and about 120–130 were captured by the JNA and detained in the village school and kindergarten. However, others who took shelter in basements were killed in or just outside their homes. A portion of those killed in the massacre were buried in a [[mass grave]] in Škabrnja, while dozens of bodies were turned over to Croatian authorities.
Most of the killings were committed by SAO Krajina troops which followed the leading armoured JNA units fighting their way into Škabrnja on 18 November. During the initial attack, the attacking force employed a [[human shield]] of captured civilians forced to walk in front of armoured vehicles. Most of the civilian population fled the village and about 120–130 were captured by the JNA and detained in the village school and kindergarten. However, others who took shelter in basements were killed in or just outside their homes. A portion of those killed in the massacre were buried in a [[mass grave]] in Škabrnja, while dozens of bodies were turned over to Croatian authorities.


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==Background==
==Background==
In 1990, ethnic tensions between [[Serbs]] and [[Croats]] worsened after the [[Croatian parliamentary election, 1990|electoral defeat]] of the government of the [[Socialist Republic of Croatia]] by the [[Croatian Democratic Union]] ({{lang-hr|Hrvatska demokratska zajednica}} – HDZ). The [[Yugoslav People's Army]] ({{lang-sr-Latn|Jugoslovenska Narodna Armija}} – JNA) confiscated Croatia's [[Territorial Defense Forces (Yugoslavia)|Territorial Defence]] ({{lang-hr|Teritorijalna obrana|links=no}} – TO) weapons to minimize resistance.{{sfn|Hoare|2010|p=117}} On 17 August, the tensions escalated into an [[Log Revolution|open revolt]] of the [[Serbs of Croatia|Croatian Serbs]],{{sfn|Hoare|2010|p=118}} centred on the predominantly Serb-populated areas of the [[Dalmatia]]n hinterland around [[Knin]] (approximately {{convert|60|km|abbr=off}} north-east of [[Split, Croatia|Split]]),{{sfn|The New York Times|19 August 1990}} parts of the [[Lika]], [[Kordun]], [[Banovina (region)|Banovina]] and [[eastern Croatia]].{{sfn|Woodward|1995|p=170}} In January 1991, [[Republic of Serbia (1990–2006)|Serbia]], supported by [[Socialist Republic of Montenegro|Montenegro]] and Serbia's provinces of [[Vojvodina]] and [[Autonomous Province of Kosovo and Metohija|Kosovo]], unsuccessfully tried to obtain the [[Yugoslav Presidency]]'s approval for a JNA operation to disarm Croatian security forces.{{sfn|Hoare|2010|pp=118–119}} The request was denied and [[Pakrac clash|a bloodless skirmish]] between Serb insurgents and [[Croatian special police order of battle in 1991–95|Croatian special police]] in March{{sfn|Ramet|2006|pp=384–385}} prompted the JNA itself to ask the Federal Presidency to give it wartime authority and declare a state of emergency. Even though the request was backed by Serbia and its allies, the JNA request was refused on 15 March. [[Serbian President]] [[Slobodan Milošević]], preferring a campaign to expand Serbia rather than to preserve [[Socialist Federative Republic of Yugoslavia|Yugoslavia]] with Croatia as a federal unit, publicly threatened to replace the JNA with a Serbian army and declared that he no longer recognized the authority of the federal Presidency. The threat caused the JNA to abandon plans to preserve Yugoslavia in favour of expanding Serbia as the JNA came under Milošević's control.{{sfn|Hoare|2010|p=119}} The first casualties of the conflict [[Plitvice Lakes incident|occurred by the end of March]].{{sfn|Engelberg|3 March 1991}} In early April, leaders of the Serb revolt in Croatia declared their intention to unite the areas under their control, the [[SAO Krajina|Serbian Autonomous Oblast Krajina]] (SAO Krajina), with Serbia. These areas were viewed by the [[Government of Croatia]] as breakaway regions.{{sfn|Sudetic|2 April 1991}}
In 1990, ethnic tensions between [[Serbs]] and [[Croats]] worsened after the [[Croatian parliamentary election, 1990|electoral defeat]] of the government of the [[Socialist Republic of Croatia]] by the [[Croatian Democratic Union]] ({{langx|hr|Hrvatska demokratska zajednica}} – HDZ). The [[Yugoslav People's Army]] ({{lang-sr-Latn|Jugoslovenska Narodna Armija}} – JNA) confiscated Croatia's [[Territorial Defense Forces (Yugoslavia)|Territorial Defence]] ({{langx|hr|Teritorijalna obrana|links=no}} – TO) weapons to minimize resistance.{{sfn|Hoare|2010|p=117}} On 17 August, the tensions escalated into an [[Log Revolution|open revolt]] of the [[Serbs of Croatia|Croatian Serbs]],{{sfn|Hoare|2010|p=118}} centred on the predominantly Serb-populated areas of the [[Dalmatia]]n hinterland around [[Knin]] (approximately {{convert|60|km|abbr=off}} north-east of [[Split, Croatia|Split]]),{{sfn|The New York Times|19 August 1990}} parts of the [[Lika]], [[Kordun]], [[Banovina (region)|Banovina]] and [[eastern Croatia]].{{sfn|Woodward|1995|p=170}} In January 1991, [[Republic of Serbia (1990–2006)|Serbia]], supported by [[Socialist Republic of Montenegro|Montenegro]] and Serbia's provinces of [[Vojvodina]] and [[Autonomous Province of Kosovo and Metohija|Kosovo]], unsuccessfully tried to obtain the [[Yugoslav Presidency]]'s approval for a JNA operation to disarm Croatian security forces.{{sfn|Hoare|2010|pp=118–119}} The request was denied and [[Pakrac clash|a bloodless skirmish]] between Serb insurgents and [[Croatian special police order of battle in 1991–95|Croatian special police]] in March{{sfn|Ramet|2006|pp=384–385}} prompted the JNA itself to ask the Federal Presidency to give it wartime authority and declare a state of emergency. Even though the request was backed by Serbia and its allies, the JNA request was refused on 15 March. [[Serbian President]] [[Slobodan Milošević]], preferring a campaign to expand Serbia rather than to preserve [[Socialist Federative Republic of Yugoslavia|Yugoslavia]] with Croatia as a federal unit, publicly threatened to replace the JNA with a Serbian army and declared that he no longer recognized the authority of the federal Presidency. The threat caused the JNA to abandon plans to preserve Yugoslavia in favour of expanding Serbia as the JNA came under Milošević's control.{{sfn|Hoare|2010|p=119}} The first casualties of the conflict [[Plitvice Lakes incident|occurred by the end of March]].{{sfn|Engelberg|3 March 1991}} In early April, leaders of the Serb revolt in Croatia declared their intention to unite the areas under their control, the [[SAO Krajina|Serbian Autonomous Oblast Krajina]] (SAO Krajina), with Serbia. These areas were viewed by the [[Government of Croatia]] as breakaway regions.{{sfn|Sudetic|2 April 1991}}


At the beginning of 1991, Croatia had no regular army. To bolster its defence, Croatia doubled its police numbers to about 20,000. The most effective part of the Croatian police force was a 3,000-strong special police comprising twelve [[battalion]]s organised along military lines. There were also 9,000–10,000 regionally organised reserve police in 16 battalions and 10 companies, but they lacked weapons.{{sfn|CIA|2002|p=86}} In response to the deteriorating situation, the Croatian government established the [[Croatian National Guard]] ({{lang-hr|Zbor narodne garde|links=no}} – ZNG) in May by expanding the special police battalions into four all-professional guards brigades. Under the control of the Croatian [[Ministry of Defence (Croatia)|Ministry of Defence]] and commanded by retired JNA [[General]] [[Martin Špegelj]], the four guards brigades comprised approximately 8,000 troops.{{sfn|EECIS|1999|pp=272–278}} The reserve police, also expanded to 40,000, was attached to the ZNG and reorganised into 19 brigades and 14 independent battalions. The guards brigades were the only units of the ZNG that were fully equipped with [[small arms]]; throughout the ZNG there was a lack of heavier weapons and there was poor command and control structure above the brigade level.{{sfn|CIA|2002|p=86}} The shortage of heavy weapons was so severe that the ZNG resorted to using [[World War II]]-era arms taken from museums and film studios.{{sfn|Ramet|2006|p=400}} At the time, the Croatian weapon stockpile consisted of 30,000 small arms purchased abroad and 15,000 previously owned by the police. To replace the personnel lost to the guards brigades, a new 10,000-strong special police was established.{{sfn|CIA|2002|p=86}}
At the beginning of 1991, Croatia had no regular army. To bolster its defence, Croatia doubled its police numbers to about 20,000. The most effective part of the Croatian police force was a 3,000-strong special police comprising twelve [[battalion]]s organised along military lines. There were also 9,000–10,000 regionally organised reserve police in 16 battalions and 10 companies, but they lacked weapons.{{sfn|CIA|2002|p=86}} In response to the deteriorating situation, the Croatian government established the [[Croatian National Guard]] ({{langx|hr|Zbor narodne garde|links=no}} – ZNG) in May by expanding the special police battalions into four all-professional guards brigades. Under the control of the Croatian [[Ministry of Defence (Croatia)|Ministry of Defence]] and commanded by retired JNA [[General]] [[Martin Špegelj]], the four guards' brigades comprised approximately 8,000 troops.{{sfn|EECIS|1999|pp=272–278}} The reserve police, also expanded to 40,000, was attached to the ZNG and reorganised into 19 brigades and 14 independent battalions. The guards brigades were the only units of the ZNG that were fully equipped with [[small arms]]; throughout the ZNG there was a lack of heavier weapons and there was poor command and control structure above the brigade level.{{sfn|CIA|2002|p=86}} The shortage of heavy weapons was so severe that the ZNG resorted to using [[World War II]]-era arms taken from museums and film studios.{{sfn|Ramet|2006|p=400}} At the time, the Croatian weapon stockpile consisted of 30,000 small arms purchased abroad and 15,000 previously owned by the police. To replace the personnel lost to the guards' brigades, a new 10,000-strong special police was established.{{sfn|CIA|2002|p=86}}


==Prelude==
==Prelude==
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| label8=[[Maslenica Bridge (D8)|Maslenica Bridge]] | mark8=Mountain pass 12x12 e.svg| lat8=44.22489 | long8=15.531253 | label8_size=75 | mark8size=12| position8=left
| label8=[[Maslenica Bridge (D8)|Maslenica Bridge]] | mark8=Mountain pass 12x12 e.svg| lat8=44.22489 | long8=15.531253 | label8_size=75 | mark8size=12| position8=left
| label9=[[Biograd na Moru]] | lat9=43.939069 | long9=15.447265 | label9_size=75 | mark9size=6| position9=right
| label9=[[Biograd na Moru]] | lat9=43.939069 | long9=15.447265 | label9_size=75 | mark9size=6| position9=right
| label10=[[Nadin]] | lat10=44.073342 | long10=15.497318 | label10_size=75 | mark10size=6| position10=bottom
| label10=[[Nadin, Croatia|Nadin]] | lat10=44.073342 | long10=15.497318 | label10_size=75 | mark10size=6| position10=bottom
| label11=[[Vodice, Croatia|Vodice]] | lat11=43.758945 | long11=15.775138 | label11_size=75 | mark11size=6| position11=top
| label11=[[Vodice, Croatia|Vodice]] | lat11=43.758945 | long11=15.775138 | label11_size=75 | mark11size=6| position11=top
| label12=[[Smilčić]] | lat12=44.128456 | long12=15.505168 | label12_size=75 | mark12size=6| position12=right
| label12=[[Smilčić]] | lat12=44.128456 | long12=15.505168 | label12_size=75 | mark12size=6| position12=right
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Sporadic skirmishes between Croatian forces and the SAO Krajina TO began in the second half of 1990, and mainly consisted of exchanges of gunfire in the [[Zadar]] hinterland. These gradually escalated to mortar attacks on Croat-inhabited villages by July 1991.{{sfn|Brigović|Radoš|2011|p=6}} At this time, the JNA 9th (Knin) Corps did not openly support either side in the conflict, and formed [[buffer zone]]s to separate the SAO Krajina TO and the ZNG. Croatian authorities perceived this action as being intended to protect the territorial gains made by Croatian Serb units from Karin, [[Bukovica, Croatia|Bukovica]], [[Benkovac]] and [[Obrovac, Croatia|Obrovac]]. The 9th Corps began to openly engage the ZNG on 26 August, having been reinforced by the 1st Battalion of the 4th Proletarian Motorised Brigade, which was normally based in [[Pirot]].{{sfn|Brigović|Radoš|2011|p=7}} On 16–23 September, the JNA achieved limited gains in the [[Battle of Šibenik]], before shifting its focus to Zadar.{{sfn|Brigović|Radoš|2011|pp=7–8}}
Sporadic skirmishes between Croatian forces and the SAO Krajina TO began in the second half of 1990, and mainly consisted of exchanges of gunfire in the [[Zadar]] hinterland. These gradually escalated to mortar attacks on Croat-inhabited villages by July 1991.{{sfn|Brigović|Radoš|2011|p=6}} At this time, the JNA 9th (Knin) Corps did not openly support either side in the conflict, and formed [[buffer zone]]s to separate the SAO Krajina TO and the ZNG. Croatian authorities perceived this action as being intended to protect the territorial gains made by Croatian Serb units from Karin, [[Bukovica, Croatia|Bukovica]], [[Benkovac]] and [[Obrovac, Croatia|Obrovac]]. The 9th Corps began to openly engage the ZNG on 26 August, having been reinforced by the 1st Battalion of the 4th Proletarian Motorised Brigade, which was normally based in [[Pirot]].{{sfn|Brigović|Radoš|2011|p=7}} On 16–23 September, the JNA achieved limited gains in the [[Battle of Šibenik]], before shifting its focus to Zadar.{{sfn|Brigović|Radoš|2011|pp=7–8}}


The JNA advance towards Zadar was supported by the SAO Krajina TO and the town's JNA garrison, the latter being [[Battle of the Barracks|besieged by the ZNG]]. The main attacking force consisted of the 180th Motorized Brigade supported by corps-level artillery and the [[Yugoslav Air Force]], while the Croatian defence relied on the [[4th Guards Brigade (Croatia)|4th Guards]] and the 112th Infantry brigades as well as several independent ZNG battalions.{{sfn|Brigović|Radoš|2011|p=9}} The area around the villages of [[Škabrnja]] and [[Nadin]], {{convert|18|km|abbr=off}} east of Zadar, represented the tip of a ZNG-held [[Salients, re-entrants and pockets|salient]].{{sfn|Brigović|Radoš|2011|p=8}} The area boasted an almost exclusively Croat population of about 2,600 people,{{sfn|Brigović|Radoš|2011|pp=10–11}} and was strategically important because of ZNG positions on the hills of Ražovljeva Glavica and Nadinska Kosa, which dominated the area of [[Ravni Kotari]] and the Benkovac–[[Zadar Airport]] road.{{sfn|Brigović|Radoš|2011|p=12}} The JNA attempted to encircle the two villages in late September, but failed.{{sfn|Brigović|Radoš|2011|p=8}} The fighting around Zadar culminated on 5–6 October, followed by a ceasefire on 8 October, which resulted in the JNA agreeing to withdraw its garrison from the city. By 21 October, the withdrawal was complete.{{sfn|Brigović|Radoš|2011|pp=9–10}}
The JNA advance towards Zadar was supported by the SAO Krajina TO and the town's JNA garrison, the latter being [[Battle of the Barracks|besieged by the ZNG]]. The main attacking force consisted of the 180th Motorized Brigade supported by corps-level artillery and the [[Yugoslav Air Force]], while the Croatian defence relied on the [[4th Guards Brigade (Croatia)|4th Guards]] and the 112th Infantry brigades as well as several independent ZNG battalions.{{sfn|Brigović|Radoš|2011|p=9}} The area around the villages of [[Škabrnja]] and [[Nadin, Croatia|Nadin]], {{convert|18|km|abbr=off}} east of Zadar, represented the tip of a ZNG-held [[Salients, re-entrants and pockets|salient]].{{sfn|Brigović|Radoš|2011|p=8}} The area boasted an almost exclusively Croat population of about 2,600 people,{{sfn|Brigović|Radoš|2011|pp=10–11}} and was strategically important because of ZNG positions on the hills of Ražovljeva Glavica and Nadinska Kosa, which dominated the area of [[Ravni Kotari]] and the Benkovac–[[Zadar Airport]] road.{{sfn|Brigović|Radoš|2011|p=12}} The JNA attempted to encircle the two villages in late September, but failed.{{sfn|Brigović|Radoš|2011|p=8}} The fighting around Zadar culminated on 5–6 October, followed by a ceasefire on 8 October, which resulted in the JNA agreeing to withdraw its garrison from the city. By 21 October, the withdrawal was complete.{{sfn|Brigović|Radoš|2011|pp=9–10}}


Despite the ceasefire, the JNA carried out an assault against Škabrnja and Nadin between 4 and 10 October. Its attack on Nadin, led by armoured vehicles and infantry, was repulsed; Škabrnja was targeted by artillery and [[cluster munition]]s. The attack resulted in the deaths of four ZNG troops and damage to two-dozen houses and a school.{{sfn|Brigović|Radoš|2011|pp=11–12}} Following the attack, the ZNG's Staff of the Zadar Sector Defence established the 750-strong Škabrnja Independent Battalion to improve the defensive capabilities of the two villages. Its [[area of responsibility]] encompassed {{convert|32|km|abbr=off}} of ZNG positions east of Zadar. The battalion deployed two companies, consisting of 240 soldiers, along {{convert|6|km|abbr=off|spell=in}} of frontline around Škabrnja and a 100-strong company in Nadin. Despite their numbers, the effectiveness of the battalion was diminished due to shortage of weapons. The unit had sufficient weapons to arm 70 percent of its troops and 30 percent of that stockpile consisted of antiquated firearms or [[hunting weapon]]s. The civilian population of the two villages was evacuated to the islands of [[Ugljan]] and [[Dugi Otok]]. Five busloads of refugees returned on 6 November, following a new ceasefire.{{sfn|Brigović|Radoš|2011|p=12}} The ZNG was renamed the [[Croatian Army]] (''Hrvatska vojska'' {{ndash}} HV) in early November.{{sfn|Marijan|2011|p=476}}
Despite the ceasefire, the JNA carried out an assault against Škabrnja and Nadin between 4 and 10 October. Its attack on Nadin, led by armoured vehicles and infantry, was repulsed; Škabrnja was targeted by artillery and [[cluster munition]]s. The attack resulted in the deaths of four ZNG troops and damage to two dozen houses and a school.{{sfn|Brigović|Radoš|2011|pp=11–12}} Following the attack, the ZNG's Staff of the Zadar Sector Defence established the 750-strong Škabrnja Independent Battalion to improve the defensive capabilities of the two villages. Its [[area of responsibility]] encompassed {{convert|32|km|abbr=off}} of ZNG positions east of Zadar. The battalion deployed two companies, consisting of 240 soldiers, along {{convert|6|km|abbr=off|spell=in}} of frontline around Škabrnja and a 100-strong company in Nadin. Despite their numbers, the effectiveness of the battalion was diminished due to a shortage of weapons. The unit had sufficient weapons to arm 70 percent of its troops and 30 percent of that stockpile consisted of antiquated firearms or [[hunting weapon]]s. The civilian population of the two villages was evacuated to the islands of [[Ugljan]] and [[Dugi Otok]]. Five busloads of refugees returned on 6 November, following a new ceasefire.{{sfn|Brigović|Radoš|2011|p=12}} The ZNG was renamed the [[Croatian Army]] (''Hrvatska vojska'' {{ndash}} HV) in early November.{{sfn|Marijan|2011|p=476}}


==Timeline==
==Timeline==
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A number of civilians who took shelter in house basements were killed. The killings largely took place as the lead elements of the attacking force, composed of regular JNA units, advanced and the SAO Krajina forces came in their wake.{{sfn|Brigović|Radoš|2011|p=15}} The JNA and SAO Krajina TO troops started searching houses in Škabrnja after a JNA tank was destroyed.{{sfn|Amnesty International|March 1992|p=5}} People were either shot in shelters or were removed from their basements and interrogated, beaten or killed. In one instance, a captured HV soldier was beaten and his ears were cut off before he was shot in front of his family.{{sfn|ICTY|12 June 2007|pp=92–93}} A large majority of the killed civilians or prisoners of war were shot at [[point-blank range]], and one woman was crushed to death by a tank.{{sfn|Amnesty International|March 1992|p=5}}
A number of civilians who took shelter in house basements were killed. The killings largely took place as the lead elements of the attacking force, composed of regular JNA units, advanced and the SAO Krajina forces came in their wake.{{sfn|Brigović|Radoš|2011|p=15}} The JNA and SAO Krajina TO troops started searching houses in Škabrnja after a JNA tank was destroyed.{{sfn|Amnesty International|March 1992|p=5}} People were either shot in shelters or were removed from their basements and interrogated, beaten or killed. In one instance, a captured HV soldier was beaten and his ears were cut off before he was shot in front of his family.{{sfn|ICTY|12 June 2007|pp=92–93}} A large majority of the killed civilians or prisoners of war were shot at [[point-blank range]], and one woman was crushed to death by a tank.{{sfn|Amnesty International|March 1992|p=5}}


Several JNA officers and regular soldiers intervened on a number of occasions to prevent further killings and saved a number of civilians.{{sfn|Brigović|Radoš|2011|p=15}} The security service of the 180th Motorised Brigade received reports of the killings and [[Major]] Branislav Ristić interviewed two members of the brigade's [[military police]] (MP) about these murders. The MPs described [[summary execution]]s, brief interrogations of civilians and their killing. They described how they saw TO troops drag a father and a daughter out of a house, shoot the man in the mouth in front of the girl and threaten to kill her as well. Finally, the MPs stepped out of their vehicle and took the girl away, threatening to shoot the soldiers if they did not desist. They reported one instance of a TO soldier hitting an elderly man on the head with a rifle butt, shooting him in the legs and then shooting him in the head. The two also recalled an incident where a child was forced into a house that was then targeted by several RPGs and set alight.{{sfn|Rupić|2007|pp=481–485}} Ristić also received reports that at least one elderly man from Škabrnja was executed using an RPG and that a member of the TO was seen showing off a bag of ears purportedly belonging to dead villagers.{{sfn|Rupić|2007|pp=486–487}}
Several JNA officers and regular soldiers intervened on a number of occasions to prevent further killings and saved a number of civilians.{{sfn|Brigović|Radoš|2011|p=15}} The security service of the 180th Motorised Brigade received reports of the killings and [[Major (rank)|Major]] Branislav Ristić interviewed two members of the brigade's [[military police]] (MP) about these murders. The MPs described [[summary execution]]s, brief interrogations of civilians and their killing. They described how they saw TO troops drag a father and a daughter out of a house, shoot the man in the mouth in front of the girl and threaten to kill her as well. Finally, the MPs stepped out of their vehicle and took the girl away, threatening to shoot the soldiers if they did not desist. They reported one instance of a TO soldier hitting an elderly man on the head with a rifle butt, shooting him in the legs and then shooting him in the head. The two also recalled an incident where a child was forced into a house that was then targeted by several RPGs and set alight.{{sfn|Rupić|2007|pp=481–485}} Ristić also received reports that at least one elderly man from Škabrnja was executed using an RPG and that a member of the TO was seen showing off a bag of ears purportedly belonging to dead villagers.{{sfn|Rupić|2007|pp=486–487}}


About 120–130 civilians were picked up at the village's school and kindergarten and taken to Benkovac.{{sfn|ICTY|12 June 2007|loc=p. 90, n. 709}} They were turned over to Croatian authorities on 20 November in the village of Pristeg, after being subjected to at least some degree of abuse during their stay in Benkovac.{{sfn|Brigović|Radoš|2011|p=13}} Two civilians from the group had been killed on 18 November.{{sfn|ICTY|12 June 2007|p=97}} Eleven captured HV soldiers were also taken to Benkovac. Two of them were killed, but sources disagree as to whether they died in Benkovac{{sfn|Brigović|Radoš|2011|p=15}} or in Knin,{{sfn|ICTY|12 June 2007|p=90}} where the rest of the prisoners were moved.{{sfn|Brigović|Radoš|2011|p=15}}
About 120–130 civilians were picked up at the village's school and kindergarten and taken to Benkovac.{{sfn|ICTY|12 June 2007|loc=p. 90, n. 709}} They were turned over to Croatian authorities on 20 November in the village of Pristeg, after being subjected to at least some degree of abuse during their stay in Benkovac.{{sfn|Brigović|Radoš|2011|p=13}} Two civilians from the group had been killed on 18 November.{{sfn|ICTY|12 June 2007|p=97}} Eleven captured HV soldiers were also taken to Benkovac. Two of them were killed, but sources disagree as to whether they died in Benkovac{{sfn|Brigović|Radoš|2011|p=15}} or in Knin,{{sfn|ICTY|12 June 2007|p=90}} where the rest of the prisoners were moved.{{sfn|Brigović|Radoš|2011|p=15}}
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;Books
;Books
{{refbegin|60em}}
{{refbegin|60em}}
*{{cite book|ref={{harvid|CIA|2002}}|url=https://books.google.hr/books?id=it1IAQAAIAAJ|title=Balkan Battlegrounds: A Military History of the Yugoslav Conflict, 1990–1995|publisher=Central Intelligence Agency|author=[[Central Intelligence Agency]], Office of Russian and European Analysis|year=2002|oclc=50396958|location=[[Washington, D.C.]]}}
*{{cite book|ref={{harvid|CIA|2002}}|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=it1IAQAAIAAJ|title=Balkan Battlegrounds: A Military History of the Yugoslav Conflict, 1990–1995|publisher=Central Intelligence Agency|author=[[Central Intelligence Agency]], Office of Russian and European Analysis|year=2002|oclc=50396958|location=[[Washington, D.C.]]|isbn = 9780160664724}}
*{{cite book|title=Eastern Europe and the Commonwealth of Independent States|year=1999|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=qmN95fFocsMC|ref={{harvid|EECIS|1999}}|publisher=Routledge|isbn=978-1-85743-058-5|location=London, England}}
*{{cite book|title=Eastern Europe and the Commonwealth of Independent States|year=1999|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=qmN95fFocsMC|ref={{harvid|EECIS|1999}}|publisher=Routledge|isbn=978-1-85743-058-5|location=London, England}}
*{{cite book|ref=harv|url=https://books.google.hr/books?hl=hr&id=oFXdiS25N78C|editor-first=Sabrina P.|editor-last=Ramet|title=Central and Southeast European Politics Since 1989|publisher=Cambridge University Press|year=2010|isbn=978-1-139-48750-4|chapter=The War of Yugoslav Succession|first=Marko Attila|last=Hoare|authorlink=Marko Attila Hoare|pages=111–136|location=[[Cambridge]]}}
*{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=oFXdiS25N78C|editor-first=Sabrina P.|editor-last=Ramet|title=Central and Southeast European Politics Since 1989|publisher=Cambridge University Press|year=2010|isbn=978-1-139-48750-4|chapter=The War of Yugoslav Succession|first=Marko Attila|last=Hoare|author-link=Marko Attila Hoare|pages=111–136|location=[[Cambridge]]}}
*{{cite book|ref=harv|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=FTw3lEqi2-oC|title=The Three Yugoslavias: State-Building And Legitimation, 1918–2006|first=Sabrina P.|last=Ramet|publisher=[[Indiana University Press]]|year=2006|isbn= 978-0-253-34656-8|location=[[Bloomington, Indiana]]}}
*{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=FTw3lEqi2-oC|title=The Three Yugoslavias: State-Building And Legitimation, 1918–2006|first=Sabrina P.|last=Ramet|publisher=[[Indiana University Press]]|year=2006|isbn= 978-0-253-34656-8|location=[[Bloomington, Indiana]]}}
*{{cite book|ref={{harvid|Rupić|2007}}|url=http://www.centardomovinskograta.hr/pdf/izdanja/Dokumenti_02_2izdanje.pdf|language=Croatian|title=Republika Hrvatska i Domovinski rat 1990.-1995. – Dokumenti, Knjiga 2.|trans-title=The Republic of Croatia and the Croatian War of Independence 1990–1995 – Documents, Volume 2|editor-first=Mate|editor-last=Rupić|year=2007|location=Zagreb, Croatia|isbn=978-953-7439-13-2|format=PDF|publisher=Hrvatski memorijalno-dokumentacijski centar Domovinskog rata}}
*{{cite book|url=http://www.centardomovinskograta.hr/pdf/izdanja/Dokumenti_02_2izdanje.pdf|language=hr|title=Republika Hrvatska i Domovinski rat 1990.-1995. – Dokumenti, Knjiga 2.|trans-title=The Republic of Croatia and the Croatian War of Independence 1990–1995 – Documents, Volume 2|editor-first=Mate|editor-last=Rupić|year=2007|location=Zagreb, Croatia|isbn=978-953-7439-13-2|publisher=Hrvatski memorijalno-dokumentacijski centar Domovinskog rata}}
*{{cite book|ref=harv|url=https://archive.org/details/balkantragedycha00wood|url-access=registration|title=Balkan Tragedy: Chaos and Dissolution after the Cold War|first=Susan L.|last=Woodward|authorlink=Susan L. Woodward|publisher=[[Brookings Institution Press]]|location=Washington, D.C.|year=1995|isbn=978-0-81572-295-3}}
*{{cite book|url=https://archive.org/details/balkantragedycha00wood|url-access=registration|title=Balkan Tragedy: Chaos and Dissolution after the Cold War|first=Susan L.|last=Woodward|author-link=Susan L. Woodward|publisher=[[Brookings Institution Press]]|location=Washington, D.C.|year=1995|isbn=978-0-81572-295-3}}
{{refend}}
{{refend}}


;Scientific journal articles
;Scientific journal articles
{{refbegin}}
{{refbegin}}
*{{cite journal|ref=harv|url=http://hrcak.srce.hr/index.php?show=clanak&id_clanak_jezik=106808&lang=en|title=Zločin Jugoslavenske narodne armije i srpskih postrojbi nad Hrvatima u Škabrnji i Nadinu 18.-19. Studenoga 1991. godine|language=Croatian|trans-title=The Crime Committed Against Croats by the Yugoslav People’s Army (YPA) and Serb Units in Škabrnja and Nadin on November 18–19, 1991|first1=Ivan|last1=Brigović|first2=Ivan|last2=Radoš|journal=Croatology|publisher=University of Zagreb Center for Croatian Studies|location=Zagreb, Croatia|issn=1847-8050|pages=1–23|volume=1|issue=2|date=May 2011}}
*{{cite journal|url=http://hrcak.srce.hr/index.php?show=clanak&id_clanak_jezik=106808&lang=en|title=Zločin Jugoslavenske narodne armije i srpskih postrojbi nad Hrvatima u Škabrnji i Nadinu 18.-19. Studenoga 1991. godine|language=hr|trans-title=The Crime Committed Against Croats by the Yugoslav People’s Army (YPA) and Serb Units in Škabrnja and Nadin on November 18–19, 1991|first1=Ivan|last1=Brigović|first2=Ivan|last2=Radoš|journal=Croatology|publisher=University of Zagreb Center for Croatian Studies|location=Zagreb, Croatia|issn=1847-8050|pages=1–23|volume=1|issue=2|date=May 2011}}
*{{cite journal|ref=harv|url=http://hrcak.srce.hr/index.php?show=clanak&id_clanak_jezik=139610&lang=en|title=Graditeljski spomenici prohujalih epoha i stilova|language=Croatian|trans-title=Monuments of Past Eras and Styles|first=Mateja|last=Ladišić|journal=Technical Journal|publisher=University North|location=Varaždin, Croatia|issn=1846-6168|pages=207–212|volume=6|issue=2|date=December 2012}}
*{{cite journal|url=http://hrcak.srce.hr/index.php?show=clanak&id_clanak_jezik=139610&lang=en|title=Graditeljski spomenici prohujalih epoha i stilova|language=hr|trans-title=Monuments of Past Eras and Styles|first=Mateja|last=Ladišić|journal=Technical Journal|publisher=University North|location=Varaždin, Croatia|issn=1846-6168|pages=207–212|volume=6|issue=2|date=December 2012}}
*{{cite journal|ref=harv|journal=Journal of Contemporary History|publisher=Croatian Institute of History|issn=0590-9597|title="Slučaj" Logorište|language=Croatian|trans-title=Logorište Case|first=Davor|last=Marijan|volume=43|issue=2|date=October 2011|url=http://hrcak.srce.hr/index.php?show=clanak&id_clanak_jezik=109851&lang=en|pages=453–480|location=Zagreb, Croatia}}
*{{cite journal|journal=Journal of Contemporary History|publisher=Croatian Institute of History|issn=0590-9597|title="Slučaj" Logorište|language=hr|trans-title=Logorište Case|first=Davor|last=Marijan|volume=43|issue=2|date=October 2011|url=http://hrcak.srce.hr/index.php?show=clanak&id_clanak_jezik=109851&lang=en|pages=453–480|location=Zagreb, Croatia}}
{{refend}}
{{refend}}


;News reports
;News reports
{{refbegin|60em}}
{{refbegin|60em}}
*{{cite news|ref={{harvid|Brkić|1 December 2012}}|date=1 December 2012|url=http://www.zadarskilist.hr/clanci/01122012/na-razovljevoj-glavici-2014-godine-memorijalni-centar|language=Croatian|title=Na Ražovljevoj glavici 2014. godine memorijalni centar|trans-title=Memorial Centre at Ražovljeva Glavica by 2014|newspaper=[[Zadarski list]]|location=Zadar, Croatia|first=Velimir|last=Brkić}}
*{{cite news|ref={{harvid|Brkić|1 December 2012}}|date=1 December 2012|url=http://www.zadarskilist.hr/clanci/01122012/na-razovljevoj-glavici-2014-godine-memorijalni-centar|language=hr|title=Na Ražovljevoj glavici 2014. godine memorijalni centar|trans-title=Memorial Centre at Ražovljeva Glavica by 2014|newspaper=[[Zadarski list]]|location=Zadar, Croatia|first=Velimir|last=Brkić}}
*{{cite news|ref={{harvid|Engelberg|3 March 1991}}|newspaper=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1991/03/03/world/belgrade-sends-troops-to-croatia-town.html|first=Stephen|last=Engelberg|title=Belgrade Sends Troops to Croatia Town|date=3 March 1991|archiveurl=https://www.webcitation.org/6LSyULDLT?url=http://www.nytimes.com/1991/03/03/world/belgrade-sends-troops-to-croatia-town.html|archivedate=28 November 2013|url-status=live}}
*{{cite news|ref={{harvid|Engelberg|3 March 1991}}|newspaper=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1991/03/03/world/belgrade-sends-troops-to-croatia-town.html|first=Stephen|last=Engelberg|title=Belgrade Sends Troops to Croatia Town|date=3 March 1991|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131002222925/http://www.nytimes.com/1991/03/03/world/belgrade-sends-troops-to-croatia-town.html|archive-date=2 October 2013|url-status=live}}
*{{cite web|ref={{harvid|Nova TV|23 March 2013}}|date=23 March 2013|language=Croatian|url=http://dnevnik.hr/vijesti/hrvatska/izgradzen-kriz-od-suhozida-za-poginule-branitelje-kod-skabrnje---279682.html|title=Izgrađen križ od suhozida za poginule branitelje kod Škabrnje|trans-title=Dry Stone Cross Built for Killed Defenders at Škabrnja|publisher=Nova TV (Croatia)|agency=[[HINA]]}}
*{{cite web|ref={{harvid|Nova TV|23 March 2013}}|date=23 March 2013|language=hr|url=http://dnevnik.hr/vijesti/hrvatska/izgradzen-kriz-od-suhozida-za-poginule-branitelje-kod-skabrnje---279682.html|title=Izgrađen križ od suhozida za poginule branitelje kod Škabrnje|trans-title=Dry Stone Cross Built for Killed Defenders at Škabrnja|publisher=Nova TV (Croatia)|agency=[[HINA]]}}
*{{cite news|ref={{harvid|Kalmeta|17 November 2011}}|date=17 November 2011|first=Lada|last=Kalmeta|title=Iako je prošlo 20 godina za Škabrnju 27 optuženih, a zatvoreno samo dvoje|trans-title=Even Though 20 Years Passed, 27 Indicted for Škabrnja, and Only Two Imprisoned|language=Croatian|url=http://slobodnadalmacija.hr/Hrvatska/tabid/66/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/155405/Default.aspx|newspaper=Slobodna Dalmacija|location=Split, Croatia}}
*{{cite news|ref={{harvid|Kalmeta|17 November 2011}}|date=17 November 2011|first=Lada|last=Kalmeta|title=Iako je prošlo 20 godina za Škabrnju 27 optuženih, a zatvoreno samo dvoje|trans-title=Even Though 20 Years Passed, 27 Indicted for Škabrnja, and Only Two Imprisoned|language=hr|url=http://slobodnadalmacija.hr/Hrvatska/tabid/66/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/155405/Default.aspx|newspaper=Slobodna Dalmacija|location=Split, Croatia}}
*{{cite web|ref={{harvid|Kraske|7 March 2007}}|date=7 March 2007|first=Marion|last=Kraske|publisher=[[Spiegel Online]]|location=Hamburg, Germany|title=Ethnic Hatred Lingers in Croatia: "God May Forgive, We Don't"|url=http://www.spiegel.de/international/ethnic-hatred-lingers-in-croatia-god-may-forgive-we-don-t-a-470419.html}}
*{{cite web|ref={{harvid|Kraske|7 March 2007}}|date=7 March 2007|first=Marion|last=Kraske|publisher=[[Spiegel Online]]|location=Hamburg, Germany|title=Ethnic Hatred Lingers in Croatia: "God May Forgive, We Don't"|url=http://www.spiegel.de/international/ethnic-hatred-lingers-in-croatia-god-may-forgive-we-don-t-a-470419.html}}
*{{cite news|ref={{harvid|Luić|27 January 2012}}|date=27 January 2012|newspaper=[[Večernji list]]|language=Croatian|title=Josipović položio kamen temeljac za memorijalni centar|trans-title=Josipović Lays Memorial Centre Foundation Stone|url=http://www.vecernji.hr/dalmacija/josipovic-polozio-kamen-temeljac-za-memorijalni-centar-370917|first=Andrina|last=Luić}}
*{{cite news|ref={{harvid|Luić|27 January 2012}}|date=27 January 2012|newspaper=[[Večernji list]]|language=hr|title=Josipović položio kamen temeljac za memorijalni centar|trans-title=Josipović Lays Memorial Centre Foundation Stone|url=http://www.vecernji.hr/dalmacija/josipovic-polozio-kamen-temeljac-za-memorijalni-centar-370917|first=Andrina|last=Luić}}
*{{cite news|ref={{harvid|Mišković|19 November 2013}}|date=19 November 2013|first=Jure|last=Mišković|language=Croatian|title=Uz jaku kišu održan mimohod Benkovac – Nadin – Škabrnja|trans-title=Benkovac–Nadin–Škabrnja Procession Held in Heavy Rain|newspaper=[[Slobodna Dalmacija]]|url=http://www.slobodnadalmacija.hr/%C4%B9%C2%A0ibenik/tabid/74/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/227911/Default.aspx|location=Split, Croatia}}
*{{cite news|ref={{harvid|Mišković|19 November 2013}}|date=19 November 2013|first=Jure|last=Mišković|language=hr|title=Uz jaku kišu održan mimohod Benkovac – Nadin – Škabrnja|trans-title=Benkovac–Nadin–Škabrnja Procession Held in Heavy Rain|newspaper=[[Slobodna Dalmacija]]|url=http://www.slobodnadalmacija.hr/%C4%B9%C2%A0ibenik/tabid/74/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/227911/Default.aspx|location=Split, Croatia}}
*{{cite web|ref={{harvid|Ožaković|17 May 2014}}|date=17 May 2014|language=Croatian|url=http://www.voxportal.hr/vijest/uoci-gradnje-memorijalnog-centra-tenk-tezak-38-tona-stigao-u-skabrnju/32369.html|publisher=Vox Portal|location=Zadar, Croatia|first=Dinko|last=Ožaković|title=Tenk težak 38 tona stigao u Škabrnju|trans-title=38-tonne Tank Arrives in Škabrnja}}
*{{cite web|ref={{harvid|Ožaković|17 May 2014}}|date=17 May 2014|language=hr|url=http://www.voxportal.hr/vijest/uoci-gradnje-memorijalnog-centra-tenk-tezak-38-tona-stigao-u-skabrnju/32369.html|publisher=Vox Portal|location=Zadar, Croatia|first=Dinko|last=Ožaković|title=Tenk težak 38 tona stigao u Škabrnju|trans-title=38-tonne Tank Arrives in Škabrnja}}
*{{cite news|ref={{harvid|The New York Times|19 August 1990}}|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1990/08/19/world/roads-sealed-as-yugoslav-unrest-mounts.html|agency=[[Reuters]]|title=Roads Sealed as Yugoslav Unrest Mounts|date=19 August 1990|location=New York City|issn=0362-4331}}
*{{cite news|ref={{harvid|The New York Times|19 August 1990}}|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1990/08/19/world/roads-sealed-as-yugoslav-unrest-mounts.html|agency=[[Reuters]]|title=Roads Sealed as Yugoslav Unrest Mounts|date=19 August 1990|location=New York City|issn=0362-4331}}
*{{cite news|ref={{harvid|Šarić|18 November 2013}}|date=18 November 2013|newspaper=Večernji list|language=Croatian|title=General Ademi u Škabrnji: U Vukovaru ne smije biti podjela|trans-title=General Ademi in Škabrnja: No Divisions Must Exist in Vukovar|url=http://www.vecernji.hr/dan-sjecanja/u-skabrnji-u-koloni-sjecanja-vise-od-tisucu-ljudi-903503|first=Frane|last=Šarić}}
*{{cite news|ref={{harvid|Šarić|18 November 2013}}|date=18 November 2013|newspaper=Večernji list|language=hr|title=General Ademi u Škabrnji: U Vukovaru ne smije biti podjela|trans-title=General Ademi in Škabrnja: No Divisions Must Exist in Vukovar|url=http://www.vecernji.hr/dan-sjecanja/u-skabrnji-u-koloni-sjecanja-vise-od-tisucu-ljudi-903503|first=Frane|last=Šarić}}
*{{cite news|ref={{harvid|Simons|Smale|12 March 2006}}|date=12 March 2006|newspaper=The New York Times|first1=Marlise|last1=Simons|authorlink1=Marlise Simons|first2=Alison|last2=Smale|title=Slobodan Milosevic, 64, Former Yugoslav Leader Accused of War Crimes, Dies|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2006/03/12/international/europe/12milosevic.html}}
*{{cite news|ref={{harvid|Simons|Smale|12 March 2006}}|date=12 March 2006|newspaper=The New York Times|first1=Marlise|last1=Simons|author-link1=Marlise Simons|first2=Alison|last2=Smale|title=Slobodan Milosevic, 64, Former Yugoslav Leader Accused of War Crimes, Dies|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2006/03/12/international/europe/12milosevic.html}}
*{{cite web|ref={{harvid|Nova TV|17 November 2014}}|date=17 November 2014|publisher=[[Nova TV (Croatia)]]|location=Zagreb, Croatia|language=Croatian|title=Škabrnja obilježava 23. godišnjicu tragedije|trans-title=Škabrnja Marks the 23rd Anniversary of the Tragedy|url=http://dnevnik.hr/vijesti/hrvatska/skabrnja-obiljezava-23-godisnjicu-tragedije---361180.html|agency=[[HINA]]}}
*{{cite web|ref={{harvid|Nova TV|17 November 2014}}|date=17 November 2014|publisher=[[Nova TV (Croatia)]]|location=Zagreb, Croatia|language=hr|title=Škabrnja obilježava 23. godišnjicu tragedije|trans-title=Škabrnja Marks the 23rd Anniversary of the Tragedy|url=http://dnevnik.hr/vijesti/hrvatska/skabrnja-obiljezava-23-godisnjicu-tragedije---361180.html|agency=[[HINA]]}}
*{{cite web|ref={{harvid|Nova TV|28 September 2012}}|date=28 September 2012|publisher=Nova TV (Croatia)|location=Zagreb, Croatia|language=Croatian|title=Suđenje za Škabrnju: Renato Petrov oslobođen optužbi za ratni zločin!|trans-title=Škabrnja Trial: Renato Petrov Acquitted of the War Crime Charges!|url=http://dnevnik.hr/vijesti/hrvatska/sudzenje-za-skabrnju-renato-petrov-oslobodzen-optuzbi-za-ratni-zlocin.html}}
*{{cite web|ref={{harvid|Nova TV|28 September 2012}}|date=28 September 2012|publisher=Nova TV (Croatia)|location=Zagreb, Croatia|language=hr|title=Suđenje za Škabrnju: Renato Petrov oslobođen optužbi za ratni zločin!|trans-title=Škabrnja Trial: Renato Petrov Acquitted of the War Crime Charges!|url=http://dnevnik.hr/vijesti/hrvatska/sudzenje-za-skabrnju-renato-petrov-oslobodzen-optuzbi-za-ratni-zlocin.html}}
*{{cite news|ref={{harvid|Sudetic|2 April 1991}}|newspaper=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1991/04/02/world/rebel-serbs-complicate-rift-on-yugoslav-unity.html|title=Rebel Serbs Complicate Rift on Yugoslav Unity|first=Chuck|last=Sudetic|date=2 April 1991|archiveurl=https://www.webcitation.org/6LSz6ss4M?url=http://www.nytimes.com/1991/04/02/world/rebel-serbs-complicate-rift-on-yugoslav-unity.html|archivedate=28 November 2013|url-status=live|authorlink=Chuck Sudetic}}
*{{cite news|ref={{harvid|Sudetic|2 April 1991}}|newspaper=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1991/04/02/world/rebel-serbs-complicate-rift-on-yugoslav-unity.html|title=Rebel Serbs Complicate Rift on Yugoslav Unity|first=Chuck|last=Sudetic|date=2 April 1991|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131002222938/http://www.nytimes.com/1991/04/02/world/rebel-serbs-complicate-rift-on-yugoslav-unity.html|archive-date=2 October 2013|url-status=live|author-link=Chuck Sudetic}}
*{{cite news|ref={{harvid|Traynor|19 June 2004}}|date=19 June 2004|first=Ian|last=Traynor|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2004/jun/19/eu.balkans|newspaper=[[The Guardian]]|title=Croatia Builds Goodwill in Serb Villages|location=London, England}}
*{{cite news|ref={{harvid|Traynor|19 June 2004}}|date=19 June 2004|first=Ian|last=Traynor|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2004/jun/19/eu.balkans|newspaper=[[The Guardian]]|title=Croatia Builds Goodwill in Serb Villages|location=London, England}}
*{{cite news|ref={{harvid|Traynor|30 May 2013}}|date=30 May 2013|url=https://www.theguardian.com/law/2013/may/30/hague-tribunal-serbia-stanisic-simatovic|first=Ian|last=Traynor|newspaper=The Guardian|title=Hague Tribunal Acquits Serbian State Security Chiefs of War Crimes|location=London, England}}
*{{cite news|ref={{harvid|Traynor|30 May 2013}}|date=30 May 2013|url=https://www.theguardian.com/law/2013/may/30/hague-tribunal-serbia-stanisic-simatovic|first=Ian|last=Traynor|newspaper=The Guardian|title=Hague Tribunal Acquits Serbian State Security Chiefs of War Crimes|location=London, England}}
*{{cite news|ref={{harvid|Vlakić|8 December 2014}}|date=8 December 2014|url=http://www.zadarskilist.hr/clanci/08122014/nece-se-graditi-ni-iduce-godine-ministarstvo-za-memorijalni-centar-dali-smo-581000-kuna|language=Croatian|title=Ministarstvo: Za Memorijalni centar dali smo 581.000 kuna|trans-title=Ministry: We Gave 581,000 kuna for the Memorial Centre|newspaper=Zadarski list|location=Zadar, Croatia|first=Marina|last=Vlakić}}
*{{cite news|ref={{harvid|Vlakić|8 December 2014}}|date=8 December 2014|url=http://www.zadarskilist.hr/clanci/08122014/nece-se-graditi-ni-iduce-godine-ministarstvo-za-memorijalni-centar-dali-smo-581000-kuna|language=hr|title=Ministarstvo: Za Memorijalni centar dali smo 581.000 kuna|trans-title=Ministry: We Gave 581,000 kuna for the Memorial Centre|newspaper=Zadarski list|location=Zadar, Croatia|first=Marina|last=Vlakić}}
*{{cite news|ref={{harvid|Vuksan|17 November 2014}}|date=17 November 2014|newspaper=Slobodna Dalmacija|language=Croatian|title=Kolinda Grabar Kitarović u Škabrnji: Bolje da je kninska zastava kod mene nego da negdje propada|trans-title=Kolinda Grabar Kitarović in Škabrnja: Knin Flag Better off with Me than to Deteriorate Somewhere|first=Mario|last=Vuksan|url=http://www.slobodnadalmacija.hr/Zadar/tabid/73/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/264653/Default.aspx}}
*{{cite news|ref={{harvid|Vuksan|17 November 2014}}|date=17 November 2014|newspaper=Slobodna Dalmacija|language=hr|title=Kolinda Grabar Kitarović u Škabrnji: Bolje da je kninska zastava kod mene nego da negdje propada|trans-title=Kolinda Grabar Kitarović in Škabrnja: Knin Flag Better off with Me than to Deteriorate Somewhere|first=Mario|last=Vuksan|url=http://www.slobodnadalmacija.hr/Zadar/tabid/73/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/264653/Default.aspx}}
{{refend}}
{{refend}}


;Other sources
;Other sources
{{refbegin|60em}}
{{refbegin|60em}}
*{{cite web|ref={{harvid|ICTY|10 July 2008}}|date=10 July 2008|format=PDF|url=http://www.icty.org/x/cases/stanisic_simatovic/ind/en/staj-in3rdamd080710.pdf|title=Prosecutor v. Jovica Stanišić & Franko Simatović – Prosecution Notice of Filing of Third Amended Indictment|publisher=[[International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia]]|location=The Hague, Netherlands}}
*{{cite web|ref={{harvid|ICTY|10 July 2008}}|date=10 July 2008|url=http://www.icty.org/x/cases/stanisic_simatovic/ind/en/staj-in3rdamd080710.pdf|title=Prosecutor v. Jovica Stanišić & Franko Simatović – Prosecution Notice of Filing of Third Amended Indictment|publisher=[[International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia]]|location=The Hague, Netherlands}}
*{{cite web|ref={{harvid|ICTY|29 June 2004}}|date=29 June 2004|format=PDF|url=http://www.icty.org/x/cases/babic/tjug/en/bab-sj040629e.pdf|title=Prosecutor v. Milan Babić – Sentencing Judgement|publisher=International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia|location=The Hague, Netherlands}}
*{{cite web|ref={{harvid|ICTY|29 June 2004}}|date=29 June 2004|url=http://www.icty.org/x/cases/babic/tjug/en/bab-sj040629e.pdf|title=Prosecutor v. Milan Babić – Sentencing Judgement|publisher=International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia|location=The Hague, Netherlands}}
*{{cite web|ref={{harvid|ICTY|8 October 2008}}|date=8 October 2008|format=PDF|url=http://www.icty.org/x/cases/martic/acjug/en/mar-aj081008e.pdf|title=Prosecutor v. Milan Martić – Public Judgement|publisher=International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia|location=The Hague, Netherlands}}
*{{cite web|ref={{harvid|ICTY|8 October 2008}}|date=8 October 2008|url=http://www.icty.org/x/cases/martic/acjug/en/mar-aj081008e.pdf|title=Prosecutor v. Milan Martić – Public Judgement|publisher=International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia|location=The Hague, Netherlands}}
*{{cite web|ref={{harvid|ICTY|23 October 2002}}|date=23 October 2002|url=http://www.icty.org/x/cases/slobodan_milosevic/ind/en/mil-2ai020728e.htm|title=The Prosecutor of the Tribunal against Slobodan Milosevic – Second Amended Indictment|publisher=International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia|location=The Hague, Netherlands}}
*{{cite web|ref={{harvid|ICTY|23 October 2002}}|date=23 October 2002|url=http://www.icty.org/x/cases/slobodan_milosevic/ind/en/mil-2ai020728e.htm|title=The Prosecutor of the Tribunal against Slobodan Milosevic – Second Amended Indictment|publisher=International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia|location=The Hague, Netherlands}}
*{{cite web|ref={{harvid|ICTY|12 June 2007}}|title=The Prosecutor vs. Milan Martic – Judgement|url=http://www.icty.org/x/cases/martic/tjug/en/070612.pdf|publisher=International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia|date=12 June 2007|format=PDF|location=The Hague, Netherlands}}
*{{cite web|ref={{harvid|ICTY|12 June 2007}}|title=The Prosecutor vs. Milan Martic – Judgement|url=http://www.icty.org/x/cases/martic/tjug/en/070612.pdf|publisher=International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia|date=12 June 2007|location=The Hague, Netherlands}}
*{{cite web|ref={{harvid|Amnesty International|March 1992}}|url=http://repository.forcedmigration.org/pdf/?pid=fmo:850|title=Yugoslavia – Further Reports of Torture and Deliberate and Arbitrary Killings in War Zones|publisher=[[Amnesty International]]|date=March 1992|location=London, England|oclc=25746044|format=PDF}}
*{{cite web|ref={{harvid|Amnesty International|March 1992}}|url=http://repository.forcedmigration.org/pdf/?pid=fmo:850|title=Yugoslavia – Further Reports of Torture and Deliberate and Arbitrary Killings in War Zones|publisher=[[Amnesty International]]|date=March 1992|location=London, England|oclc=25746044|format=PDF}}
*{{cite web|ref={{harvid|ICJ|1 March 2001}}|title=Memorial of the republic of Croatia – Judgement, p. 235|url=https://www.icj-cij.org/public/files/case-related/118/18176.pdf|publisher=International Court of Justice|date=1 March 2001}}
{{refend}}
{{refend}}

{{Croatian War of Independence}}
{{Croatian War of Independence}}


{{DEFAULTSORT:Skabrnja massacre}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Skabrnja massacre}}
[[Category:1991 in Croatia]]
[[Category:1991 in Croatia]]
[[Category:Mass murder in 1991]]
[[Category:Massacres in 1991]]
[[Category:Serbian war crimes in the Croatian War of Independence]]
[[Category:Serbian war crimes in the Croatian War of Independence]]
[[Category:Massacres in Croatia]]
[[Category:Massacres in Croatia]]
[[Category:Republic of Serbian Krajina]]
[[Category:Republic of Serbian Krajina]]
[[Category:Prisoners of war massacres]]
[[Category:Yugoslav Wars prisoner of war massacres]]
[[Category:November 1991 events in Europe]]
[[Category:November 1991 events in Yugoslavia]]
[[Category:1991 crimes in Croatia]]
[[Category:1991 crimes in Croatia]]
[[Category:1991 murders in Europe]]
[[Category:1991 murders in Europe]]
[[Category:1990s murders in Croatia]]
[[Category:1990s murders in Croatia]]
[[Category:Massacres of Croats]]
[[Category:Massacres in the Croatian War of Independence]]
[[Category:Yugoslav People's Army]]
[[Category:Benkovac]]

Latest revision as of 18:37, 21 October 2024

Škabrnja massacre
Part of the Croatian War of Independence
Škabrnja on the map of Croatia, areas held by the JNA and Croatian Serb troops in late 1991 are highlighted in red
LocationŠkabrnja and Nadin, Croatia
Coordinates44°05′29″N 15°27′02″E / 44.091418°N 15.450494°E / 44.091418; 15.450494
Date18–19 November 1991
TargetCroat civilians and prisoners of war
Attack type
Mass murder, summary executions, ethnic cleansing
Deaths67
PerpetratorsSAO Krajina Territorial Defence, and the Yugoslav People's Army
DefendersCroatian Army

The Škabrnja massacre was the killing of 62 Croatian civilians and five prisoners of war by Serbian Autonomous Oblast Krajina (SAO Krajina) Territorial Defence troops and the Yugoslav People's Army (JNA) in the villages of Škabrnja and Nadin east of Zadar on 18–19 November 1991, during the Croatian War of Independence. The massacre occurred shortly after an agreement to evacuate Zadar's JNA garrison following an increase in fighting between the Croatian National Guard (renamed the Croatian Army in November 1991) and the JNA. Most of the killings were committed by SAO Krajina troops which followed the leading armoured JNA units fighting their way into Škabrnja on 18 November. During the initial attack, the attacking force employed a human shield of captured civilians forced to walk in front of armoured vehicles. Most of the civilian population fled the village and about 120–130 were captured by the JNA and detained in the village school and kindergarten. However, others who took shelter in basements were killed in or just outside their homes. A portion of those killed in the massacre were buried in a mass grave in Škabrnja, while dozens of bodies were turned over to Croatian authorities.

The International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) convicted Croatian Serb political leaders and later presidents of the Republic of Serbian Krajina, Milan Babić and Milan Martić, for war crimes including the killings committed in Škabrnja and Nadin. Babić was sentenced to 13 years in prison in 2004, and Martić was handed a 35-year prison sentence in 2007. The ICTY also indicted Serbian President Slobodan Milošević in connection with the Škabrnja massacre, but his trial never produced a verdict as he died before one could be rendered. In November 1991, 26 individuals were convicted in absentia by Croatian authorities for war crimes committed in Škabrnja and Nadin. Most remain at large, though some have been re-tried and convicted for their involvement in the massacre while several others have returned to Croatia and had their convictions overturned.

Background

[edit]

In 1990, ethnic tensions between Serbs and Croats worsened after the electoral defeat of the government of the Socialist Republic of Croatia by the Croatian Democratic Union (Croatian: Hrvatska demokratska zajednica – HDZ). The Yugoslav People's Army (Serbian: Jugoslovenska Narodna Armija – JNA) confiscated Croatia's Territorial Defence (Croatian: Teritorijalna obrana – TO) weapons to minimize resistance.[1] On 17 August, the tensions escalated into an open revolt of the Croatian Serbs,[2] centred on the predominantly Serb-populated areas of the Dalmatian hinterland around Knin (approximately 60 kilometres (37 miles) north-east of Split),[3] parts of the Lika, Kordun, Banovina and eastern Croatia.[4] In January 1991, Serbia, supported by Montenegro and Serbia's provinces of Vojvodina and Kosovo, unsuccessfully tried to obtain the Yugoslav Presidency's approval for a JNA operation to disarm Croatian security forces.[5] The request was denied and a bloodless skirmish between Serb insurgents and Croatian special police in March[6] prompted the JNA itself to ask the Federal Presidency to give it wartime authority and declare a state of emergency. Even though the request was backed by Serbia and its allies, the JNA request was refused on 15 March. Serbian President Slobodan Milošević, preferring a campaign to expand Serbia rather than to preserve Yugoslavia with Croatia as a federal unit, publicly threatened to replace the JNA with a Serbian army and declared that he no longer recognized the authority of the federal Presidency. The threat caused the JNA to abandon plans to preserve Yugoslavia in favour of expanding Serbia as the JNA came under Milošević's control.[7] The first casualties of the conflict occurred by the end of March.[8] In early April, leaders of the Serb revolt in Croatia declared their intention to unite the areas under their control, the Serbian Autonomous Oblast Krajina (SAO Krajina), with Serbia. These areas were viewed by the Government of Croatia as breakaway regions.[9]

At the beginning of 1991, Croatia had no regular army. To bolster its defence, Croatia doubled its police numbers to about 20,000. The most effective part of the Croatian police force was a 3,000-strong special police comprising twelve battalions organised along military lines. There were also 9,000–10,000 regionally organised reserve police in 16 battalions and 10 companies, but they lacked weapons.[10] In response to the deteriorating situation, the Croatian government established the Croatian National Guard (Croatian: Zbor narodne garde – ZNG) in May by expanding the special police battalions into four all-professional guards brigades. Under the control of the Croatian Ministry of Defence and commanded by retired JNA General Martin Špegelj, the four guards' brigades comprised approximately 8,000 troops.[11] The reserve police, also expanded to 40,000, was attached to the ZNG and reorganised into 19 brigades and 14 independent battalions. The guards brigades were the only units of the ZNG that were fully equipped with small arms; throughout the ZNG there was a lack of heavier weapons and there was poor command and control structure above the brigade level.[10] The shortage of heavy weapons was so severe that the ZNG resorted to using World War II-era arms taken from museums and film studios.[12] At the time, the Croatian weapon stockpile consisted of 30,000 small arms purchased abroad and 15,000 previously owned by the police. To replace the personnel lost to the guards' brigades, a new 10,000-strong special police was established.[10]

Prelude

[edit]

Sporadic skirmishes between Croatian forces and the SAO Krajina TO began in the second half of 1990, and mainly consisted of exchanges of gunfire in the Zadar hinterland. These gradually escalated to mortar attacks on Croat-inhabited villages by July 1991.[13] At this time, the JNA 9th (Knin) Corps did not openly support either side in the conflict, and formed buffer zones to separate the SAO Krajina TO and the ZNG. Croatian authorities perceived this action as being intended to protect the territorial gains made by Croatian Serb units from Karin, Bukovica, Benkovac and Obrovac. The 9th Corps began to openly engage the ZNG on 26 August, having been reinforced by the 1st Battalion of the 4th Proletarian Motorised Brigade, which was normally based in Pirot.[14] On 16–23 September, the JNA achieved limited gains in the Battle of Šibenik, before shifting its focus to Zadar.[15]

The JNA advance towards Zadar was supported by the SAO Krajina TO and the town's JNA garrison, the latter being besieged by the ZNG. The main attacking force consisted of the 180th Motorized Brigade supported by corps-level artillery and the Yugoslav Air Force, while the Croatian defence relied on the 4th Guards and the 112th Infantry brigades as well as several independent ZNG battalions.[16] The area around the villages of Škabrnja and Nadin, 18 kilometres (11 miles) east of Zadar, represented the tip of a ZNG-held salient.[17] The area boasted an almost exclusively Croat population of about 2,600 people,[18] and was strategically important because of ZNG positions on the hills of Ražovljeva Glavica and Nadinska Kosa, which dominated the area of Ravni Kotari and the Benkovac–Zadar Airport road.[19] The JNA attempted to encircle the two villages in late September, but failed.[17] The fighting around Zadar culminated on 5–6 October, followed by a ceasefire on 8 October, which resulted in the JNA agreeing to withdraw its garrison from the city. By 21 October, the withdrawal was complete.[20]

Despite the ceasefire, the JNA carried out an assault against Škabrnja and Nadin between 4 and 10 October. Its attack on Nadin, led by armoured vehicles and infantry, was repulsed; Škabrnja was targeted by artillery and cluster munitions. The attack resulted in the deaths of four ZNG troops and damage to two dozen houses and a school.[21] Following the attack, the ZNG's Staff of the Zadar Sector Defence established the 750-strong Škabrnja Independent Battalion to improve the defensive capabilities of the two villages. Its area of responsibility encompassed 32 kilometres (20 miles) of ZNG positions east of Zadar. The battalion deployed two companies, consisting of 240 soldiers, along six kilometres (3.7 miles) of frontline around Škabrnja and a 100-strong company in Nadin. Despite their numbers, the effectiveness of the battalion was diminished due to a shortage of weapons. The unit had sufficient weapons to arm 70 percent of its troops and 30 percent of that stockpile consisted of antiquated firearms or hunting weapons. The civilian population of the two villages was evacuated to the islands of Ugljan and Dugi Otok. Five busloads of refugees returned on 6 November, following a new ceasefire.[19] The ZNG was renamed the Croatian Army (Hrvatska vojska – HV) in early November.[22]

Timeline

[edit]

Combat

[edit]

The JNA attacked Nadin once again at 7:00 and Škabrnja at 7:30 on the morning of 18 November, prompting much of the civilian population to flee.[23] The JNA ground attack commenced at 7:30, supported by SAO Krajina police and TO, as well as volunteers from Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina.[24] The overall commander of the operation was JNA Lieutenant Colonel Momčilo Bogunović of the 180th Motorised Brigade.[23] The attacking force engaged the Škabrnja–Nadin salient using tanks deployed to the northwest near the village of Zemunik Gornji, to the northeast near Smilčić and Gornje Biljane, as well as to the southeast along the road connecting Škabrnja and Benkovac. The initial attack involved 28 armoured personnel carriers (APCs) and tanks,[25] organized as one tank company, one mechanised company and two TO infantry companies.[26]

A part of the force successfully advanced south from Smilčić and had captured the hamlet of Ambar located on the western approach to Škabrnja by 11:30. The HV was forced to retreat towards the centre of the village, but several troops and civilians who stayed behind in the hamlet were captured. Those who managed to pull out from Ambar reported killings of civilians by the JNA.[25] The artillery bombardment of Škabrnja ceased at 12:30, but the Yugoslav Air Force targeted it with cluster bombs,[23] and airlifted elements of the 63rd Parachute Brigade, based at the nearby Zadar Airport, to the outskirts of the village.[16] At 13:30, the HV abandoned Ražovljeva Glavica and retreated to Škabrnja. Until 16:30, the attacking force kept advancing from Ambar towards the centre of Škabrnja using captured civilians and prisoners of war as human shields, until the HV salient was cut off from Zadar.[25] The JNA reported that four of its troops were killed and eight were wounded that day, and paused its advance until the morning.[26] Overnight, the commander of the Škabrnja Independent Battalion, Marko Miljanić, sneaked out of the village and went to Zadar to request reinforcements. Failing to receive any, he ordered the battalion to abandon the village by 6:00.[25]

On the morning of 19 November, the JNA pressed on with its advance into the undefended eastern part of Škabrnja and reached Nadin from the west at 14:00. The Croats held out until the JNA captured Nadinska Kosa at 17:30.[27] The SAO Krajina TO reported two wounded that day.[28]

Killings

[edit]
A black marble monument marks the site of the mass grave in Škabrnja.

As the JNA advanced through Škabrnja, tank rounds and rocket-propelled grenades (RPGs) were fired into houses by the attacking troops. The church of the Assumption of the Virgin was also fired upon by a tank, and its crew attempted to drive into the church but were stopped by a JNA captain.[29] During the fighting, approximately 1,500 civilians managed to flee the village on foot to nearby Prkos, where they were picked up by buses and taken to Zadar.[30]

A number of civilians who took shelter in house basements were killed. The killings largely took place as the lead elements of the attacking force, composed of regular JNA units, advanced and the SAO Krajina forces came in their wake.[31] The JNA and SAO Krajina TO troops started searching houses in Škabrnja after a JNA tank was destroyed.[32] People were either shot in shelters or were removed from their basements and interrogated, beaten or killed. In one instance, a captured HV soldier was beaten and his ears were cut off before he was shot in front of his family.[33] A large majority of the killed civilians or prisoners of war were shot at point-blank range, and one woman was crushed to death by a tank.[32]

Several JNA officers and regular soldiers intervened on a number of occasions to prevent further killings and saved a number of civilians.[31] The security service of the 180th Motorised Brigade received reports of the killings and Major Branislav Ristić interviewed two members of the brigade's military police (MP) about these murders. The MPs described summary executions, brief interrogations of civilians and their killing. They described how they saw TO troops drag a father and a daughter out of a house, shoot the man in the mouth in front of the girl and threaten to kill her as well. Finally, the MPs stepped out of their vehicle and took the girl away, threatening to shoot the soldiers if they did not desist. They reported one instance of a TO soldier hitting an elderly man on the head with a rifle butt, shooting him in the legs and then shooting him in the head. The two also recalled an incident where a child was forced into a house that was then targeted by several RPGs and set alight.[34] Ristić also received reports that at least one elderly man from Škabrnja was executed using an RPG and that a member of the TO was seen showing off a bag of ears purportedly belonging to dead villagers.[35]

About 120–130 civilians were picked up at the village's school and kindergarten and taken to Benkovac.[36] They were turned over to Croatian authorities on 20 November in the village of Pristeg, after being subjected to at least some degree of abuse during their stay in Benkovac.[25] Two civilians from the group had been killed on 18 November.[37] Eleven captured HV soldiers were also taken to Benkovac. Two of them were killed, but sources disagree as to whether they died in Benkovac[31] or in Knin,[30] where the rest of the prisoners were moved.[31]

Forty-eight civilians were killed in Škabrnja,[38] and fourteen in Nadin.[39] Most of them were women or the elderly.[32] About 15 HV personnel were killed in the two days of fighting and in its immediate aftermath,[30] but it was initially unclear how many were killed in action and how many were executed as prisoners of war.[40] A subsequent investigation identified five HV troops that were taken prisoner of war and executed on 18–19 November in the two villages.[41] In the immediate aftermath of the killings, some of the victims were buried in a mass grave next to the village school.[40] During the fighting and in its immediate aftermath, 450 houses and three Catholic churches in Škabrnja were burned.[42][43] On the night of 19/20 November, all of the buildings in Nadin were torched after the JNA left the village and withdrew to the Benkovac barracks.[30]

Aftermath

[edit]
Monument dedicated to those killed in Škabrnja erected in the village cemetery

The events of 18 November prompted the 9th Corps commander Major General Vladimir Vuković to observe that there had been "numerous omissions in leadership and command ... preparation and execution of combat activities, combat discipline expenditure of materiel, and unified control in combat zone ... adversely affecting the combat morale and reputation of members of the armed forces". Vuković ordered commanders of subordinate units to inform their troops that they were fighting to preserve the Serb nation and its right to live in Yugoslavia, and to save the besieged JNA garrisons. Vuković also stated that the enemies of Yugoslavia were supported by German and Austrian neo-Nazism and that the objectives of the war were not to be questioned. Finally, he instructed his subordinates to bring older weapons such as World War II-era T-34s back into service due to a shortage of modern ammunition in the JNA.[44] Nonetheless, about 200 Serbian reservists who had spent two months in the area held a public protest in Belgrade after completing their service with the JNA. They protested against atrocities committed by Croatian Serb forces who "pillaged, raped and even massacred" once the JNA captured Croatian villages.[45] This echoed Ristić's recommendation to the commander of the 180th Motorised Brigade on 23 November, in which he demanded that the SAO Krajina TO not be deployed because it "only embarrassed the JNA by committing crimes while under the protection of JNA tanks".[46]

On 23 November 1991, the JNA turned over the bodies of 35 victims to the Zadar municipality Civil Defence. By 5 December, a further 13 sets of remains of those killed in Škabrnja and Nadin were released by the JNA to the Croatian authorities.[47] The captured Croatian troops were released in prisoner exchanges on 28 February and 30 May 1992.[31] Despite the killings, a number of civilians remained in Škabrnja.[48] Eighteen were killed by the JNA, SAO Krajina TO and Serbian paramilitary units by 11 March 1992.[49] Destruction of property continued until the end of the war in 1995. By that time all the houses in Škabrnja and Nadin were destroyed.[50] St. Luke's church, built in the 13th century,[51] as well as St. Mary's church, were severely damaged.[50] The mass grave was investigated in 1995, after Croatia recaptured the area during Operation Storm. Twenty-seven bodies were recovered at the site.[40]

War crime trials

[edit]
The ICTY indicted several officials for war crimes in Škabrnja and Nadin: president of Serbia Slobodan Milošević (left), Croatian Serb political leaders and later presidents of the Republic of Serbian Krajina Milan Babić (middle), Milan Martić (right). Babić and Martić were convicted in 2004 and 2007, respectively.

The International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia (ICTY) indicted and convicted Croatian Serb political leaders Milan Martić and Milan Babić in connection to the war crimes committed in Škabrnja and Nadin. In 2004, Babić was sentenced to 13 years in prison, and Martić was later given a 35-year sentence.[52][53] The ICTY also charged Milošević, as well as Jovica Stanišić and Franko Simatović of Serbia's State Security Service, in connection with the events that took place in Škabrnja and Nadin on 18–19 November 1991.[54][55] Milošević was arrested in 2001 and transferred to the ICTY, but his trial was never completed as he died in his detention cell in March 2006.[56] Stanišić and Simatović were acquitted on all charges in May 2013.[57]

Croatian authorities indicted 27 people for war crimes in connection with the killings in Škabrnja and Nadin. In 1994, twenty-six individuals were tried in Zadar: Goran Opačić, Boško Dražić, Zoran Janković, Đuro Kosović, Mirko Drača, Nada Pupovac, Edita Rađen, Zorana Banić, Vojin Lakić, Petar Radmanović, Milenko Bjelanović, Iso Bjelanović, Špiro Bjelanović, Renato Petrov, Siniša Medak, Saša Relić, Duško Rnjak, Dušan Rnjak, Mirko Rnjak, Slobodan Rnjak, Stanko Rnjak, Nenad Vrcelja, Desimir Ivaneža, Miroslav Mlinar, Jovan Badžoka and Marinko Pozder. All of them except Badžoka were tried in absentia and all were convicted in 1995. Badžoka served ten years in prison. Banić was arrested in Switzerland in 2001 and extradited to Croatia. She was re-tried and ultimately sentenced to six years in prison. In 2003, Croatian authorities arrested and tried Milenko Radak in connection with the war crimes committed in Škabrnja and Nadin, but he was acquitted. Petrov was arrested in Germany in 2011 and given a new trial.[58] He was acquitted of the charges in 2012.[59]

Commemoration

[edit]

The massacre is commemorated annually.[60] A monument to those killed in Nadin was erected in the village itself,[39] and a monument to the victims from Škabrnja was built at the village's cemetery. The site of the mass grave in Škabrnja is marked by an additional monument.[61]

In 2012, Croatian President Ivo Josipović laid the foundation stone for a memorial centre to be completed at Ražovljeva Glavica.[62] The project was initially expected to be completed by 2014, at a cost of 8 million kuna (approximately 1.07 million euro).[63] In 2013, a group of 300 Croatian veterans built an 80 centimetres (31 inches) tall, 24 by 15 metres (79 by 49 feet) dry stone cross at the site.[64] The next year, a T-55 tank was placed at the hill as part of the future memorial centre.[65]

Notes

[edit]
  1. ^ Hoare 2010, p. 117.
  2. ^ Hoare 2010, p. 118.
  3. ^ The New York Times & 19 August 1990.
  4. ^ Woodward 1995, p. 170.
  5. ^ Hoare 2010, pp. 118–119.
  6. ^ Ramet 2006, pp. 384–385.
  7. ^ Hoare 2010, p. 119.
  8. ^ Engelberg & 3 March 1991.
  9. ^ Sudetic & 2 April 1991.
  10. ^ a b c CIA 2002, p. 86.
  11. ^ EECIS 1999, pp. 272–278.
  12. ^ Ramet 2006, p. 400.
  13. ^ Brigović & Radoš 2011, p. 6.
  14. ^ Brigović & Radoš 2011, p. 7.
  15. ^ Brigović & Radoš 2011, pp. 7–8.
  16. ^ a b Brigović & Radoš 2011, p. 9.
  17. ^ a b Brigović & Radoš 2011, p. 8.
  18. ^ Brigović & Radoš 2011, pp. 10–11.
  19. ^ a b Brigović & Radoš 2011, p. 12.
  20. ^ Brigović & Radoš 2011, pp. 9–10.
  21. ^ Brigović & Radoš 2011, pp. 11–12.
  22. ^ Marijan 2011, p. 476.
  23. ^ a b c ICTY & 12 June 2007, p. 88.
  24. ^ Brigović & Radoš 2011, pp. 12–13.
  25. ^ a b c d e Brigović & Radoš 2011, p. 13.
  26. ^ a b Rupić 2007, pp. 473–474.
  27. ^ Brigović & Radoš 2011, pp. 13–14.
  28. ^ Rupić 2007, p. 475.
  29. ^ ICTY & 12 June 2007, p. 89.
  30. ^ a b c d ICTY & 12 June 2007, p. 90.
  31. ^ a b c d e Brigović & Radoš 2011, p. 15.
  32. ^ a b c Amnesty International & March 1992, p. 5.
  33. ^ ICTY & 12 June 2007, pp. 92–93.
  34. ^ Rupić 2007, pp. 481–485.
  35. ^ Rupić 2007, pp. 486–487.
  36. ^ ICTY & 12 June 2007, p. 90, n. 709.
  37. ^ ICTY & 12 June 2007, p. 97.
  38. ^ Nova TV & 17 November 2014.
  39. ^ a b Mišković & 19 November 2013.
  40. ^ a b c Brigović & Radoš 2011, p. 14.
  41. ^ ICTY & 8 October 2008, p. 72.
  42. ^ Traynor & 19 June 2004.
  43. ^ Kraske & 7 March 2007.
  44. ^ Rupić 2007, pp. 475–478.
  45. ^ Amnesty International & March 1992, p. 6.
  46. ^ Rupić 2007, p. 485.
  47. ^ ICTY & 12 June 2007, note 791.
  48. ^ ICTY & 12 June 2007, p. 98.
  49. ^ ICTY & 12 June 2007, p. 145.
  50. ^ a b ICTY & 12 June 2007, pp. 100–101.
  51. ^ Ladišić 2012, p. 209.
  52. ^ ICTY & 29 June 2004, p. 33.
  53. ^ ICTY & 8 October 2008, pp. 127–128.
  54. ^ ICTY & 10 July 2008, p. 12.
  55. ^ ICTY & 23 October 2002, § 36.
  56. ^ Simons, Smale & 12 March 2006.
  57. ^ Traynor & 30 May 2013.
  58. ^ Kalmeta & 17 November 2011.
  59. ^ Nova TV & 28 September 2012.
  60. ^ Šarić & 18 November 2013.
  61. ^ Vuksan & 17 November 2014.
  62. ^ Luić & 27 January 2012.
  63. ^ Brkić & 1 December 2012.
  64. ^ Nova TV & 23 March 2013.
  65. ^ Ožaković & 17 May 2014.

References

[edit]
Books
Scientific journal articles
News reports
Other sources