Siege of Slunj

Siege of Slunj
Part of the Croatian War of Independence
Fall of Slunj under JNA
Date 9 October 1991 — 27 November Location Slunj, Croatia Result SAO Krajina victory JNA takes Slunj and surrounding villages Croatian forces withdraw Over 16,000 Croat civilians expelled
Belligerents
SAO Krajina Support by: Yugoslavia	Croatia
Commanders and leaders
Željko Ražnatović	Anton Tus
Units involved
Yugoslav People's Army Yugoslav Ground Forces Serb Volunteer Guard	Armed Forces of Croatia Croatian Army Croatian Defence Forces
Strength
4.000	2.000
Casualties and losses
30 killed	100 killed

The Siege of Slunj was an armed conflict in the territory of the municipality of Slunj in 1991. year in which HV were armed on one side, and Serbs and JNA were armed on the other. It was also the largest Croatian enclave that was separated from the rest of Croatia. Over 16,000 Croats were expelled from that enclave and hundreds were murdered in war crimes during the occupation until 1995. After JNA took Slunj.

The battle

The battle for Slunj in 1991 was part of a wider conflict during the war in Croatia, specifically within the operations conducted by the JNA forces against the HV. At the beginning of October 1991, the tactical group of the JNA launched an attack from the area of Ličko Petrovo Selo towards Slunj. From October 9 to 10, the JNA forces made an initial breakthrough. During late October and early November, JNA units continued to advance towards Slunj, putting pressure on HV. Shots were fired in the city, the HV fought to hold Slunj, but they did not succeed, and the JNA entered deeper and deeper into the city, in a panic over 16,000 Croats fled from that enclave to Bosnia. On November 16 Slunj fell. Between November 16 and 18, JNA forces continued their advance, capturing additional territories and enclosing a Croatian pocket area. By November 27, JNA forces managed to completely capture Slunj enclave, leading to its fall.

Aftermath

The fall of Slunj represented a significant loss for the Croatian army, while for the Serbian Army this was a strategic success that enabled further operations in the region.

During the Serb occupation of Slunj and surrounding areas until 1995, 297 Croat civilians were killed in several war crimes, most victims were the elderly, women and children.