According to the International Center for Transitional Justice, the Yugoslav Wars resulted in the deaths of 140,000 people. The Humanitarian Law Center estimates that in the conflicts in former Yugoslav republics at least 130,000 people lost their lives. How can the answer be improved?
Belligerents1991–92:(1991 only)1991–92:(1991 only)1992–94:(up to 1994)1992–94:Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina a1992–94:FR Yugoslavia(1993 on)1994–95:(bombing operations, 1995)1994–95:Commanders and leadersCasualties and losses20,000+ killed18 killed64,000+ killed32,000+ killeda From 1992–1994 the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina was at the time representative mainly of the (Bosnian Muslim) ethnic group in Bosnia and Herzegovina itself. From 1994–1995, after the, the state was also representative of the Bosnian Croat ethnic group. Republic of Srpska Republic of Bosnia and HerzegovinaThe Yugoslav Wars were a series of wars, fought throughout the former Yugoslavia between 1991 and 1995.
The wars were complex: characterized by bitter among the peoples of the former Yugoslavia, mostly between (and to a lesser extent, ) on the one side and and (and to a lesser degree, ) on the other; but also between and in (in addition to a separate conflict fought between rival Bosniak factions in Bosnia). The wars ended in various stages and mostly resulted in full international recognition of new sovereign territories, but with massive economic disruption to the successor states.Often described as Europe's deadliest conflicts since, the conflicts have become infamous for the war crimes involved, including mass.
These were the first conflicts since World War II to be formally judged in character and many key individual participants were subsequently charged with war crimes. The (ICTY) was established by the UN to prosecute these crimes.Although tensions in had been mounting since the early 1980s, it was 1990 that proved decisive.
In the midst of economic hardship, Yugoslavia was facing rising nationalism amongst its various ethnic groups. At the 14th Extraordinary Congress of the League of Communists of Yugoslavia in January 1990, the Serbian-dominated assembly agreed to abolish the single-party system; however, the head of the Serbian Party branch used his influence to block and vote-down all other proposals from the Croatian and Slovene party delegates. This prompted the Croatian and Slovene delegations to walk out and thus the break-up of the party, a symbolic event representing the end of '.According to, the Yugoslav Wars resulted in deaths of 140,000 people.
The Humanitarian Law Center writes that in the conflicts in former Yugoslav republics at least 130,000 people lost their lives.The Yugoslav Wars may be considered to be three separate but related wars:. (1991). (1991–1995). (1992–1995). Contents.TerminologyThe war(s) have alternatively been called:.
'War in the Balkans': largely inappropriate, partly because the war affected not only the Western Balkans but also because certain areas which saw fighting (e.g. Most of, the Croatian land of ) are often seen as belonging to Central Europe and not the. The 'Balkan War against Milosevic' (stresses the US participation and mission). 'War in (the former) Yugoslavia'. 'Wars of Yugoslav Secession/Succession'. 'Third Balkan War': a term suggested by British journalist in the title of his book, alluding to the two previous fought 1912–1913.
In fact, the term has already been applied by contemporary historians to as an allusion that it was a direct sequel of the 1912–1913 Balkan wars. 'Yugoslavia Civil War/Yugoslav civil war/Yugoslavian civil war/civil war in yugoslavia'Background.
Main article:Before, major tensions arose from the first, 's multi-ethnic make-up and relative political and demographic domination of the Serbs. Fundamental to the tensions were the different concepts of the new state. The Croats envisaged a federal model where they would enjoy greater autonomy than they had as a separate crown land under. Under Austria-Hungary, Croats enjoyed autonomy with free hands only in education, law, religion and 45% of taxes. The Serbs tended to view the territories as a just reward for their support of the allies in and the new state as an extension of the Serbian Kingdom.The Serbs sacrificed their own state (which was in that time a little bit larger than today's Serbia, including much of Kosovo and Macedonia) in order to realize the ideal of a 'South Slav state'.
is Tensions between the two ethnic groups often erupted into open conflict, with the Serb dominated security structure exercising oppression during elections and the assassination in federal parliament of Croat political leaders, including, who opposed the Serbian monarch's. The assassination and human rights abuses were subject of concern for the and precipitated voices of protest from intellectuals, including. It was in this environment of oppression that the radical insurgent group (later fascist dictatorship), the were formed.During, the country's tensions were exploited by the occupying Axis forces which established a Croat spanning much of present day. The Axis powers installed the Ustasha as the leaders of the '.The Ustaše resolved that the Serbian minority were a of Serbian expansionism, and pursued a policy of persecution against the Serbs. The policy dictated that one third of the Serbian minority were to be killed, one third expelled, and one third converted to Catholicism and assimilated as Croats. JNA MBT during first operations in Slovenia.The first of these conflicts, known as the, was initiated by the federal on 26 June 1991 after the secession of Slovenia from the federation on 25 June 1991.Initially, the federal government ordered the Yugoslav People's Army to secure border crossings in Slovenia. Slovenian police and Slovenian Territorial Defence blockaded barracks and roads, leading to stand-offs and limited skirmishes around the republic.
After several dozen casualties, the limited conflict was stopped through negotiation at on 9 July 1991, when Slovenia and Croatia agreed to a three-month moratorium on secession. The Federal army completely withdrew from Slovenia by 26 October 1991. Croatian War of Independence (1991–1995). Main article:Fighting in this region had begun weeks prior to the Ten-Day War in Slovenia. The began when, who were opposed to Croatian independence, announced their secession from. This was triggered by a provision in the new Croatian Constitution that replaced an explicit reference to Serbs in Croatia as a 'constituent nation' with a generic reference to all other nations, and was interpreted by Serbs as being reclassified as a 'national minority'.The had disarmed the Territorial Units of the two northernmost republics prior to the declaration of independence, so the fledgling state had to form its military from scratch.
This was hindered by an arms embargo, imposed by the UN on Yugoslavia.The (JNA) was ostensibly ideologically unitarian, but its officer corps was predominantly staffed by Serbs. As a result the JNA opposed Croatian independence and sided with the Croatian Serb rebels.
The Croatian Serb rebels were unaffected by the embargo as they had the support of and access to supplies of the JNA.The border regions faced direct attacks from forces within Serbia and Montenegro, and saw the shelling of, where the international press was criticised for focusing on the city's architectural heritage, instead of reporting the destruction of Vukovar, a pivotal battle involving many civilian deaths. Bosnian War (1992–1995). Fronts of Bosnian war.In 1994 the US brokered peace between forces and the Bosnian. After the successful and operations, the Croatian Army and the combined Bosnian and Croat forces of Bosnia and Herzegovina, conducted an operation codenamed Operation Maestral to push back Bosnian Serb military gains.Together with, the successes on the ground put pressure on the Serbs to come to the negotiating table. The fighting in Croatia ended in mid-1995, after.
At the end of these operations, Croatia had managed to reclaim all of its territory except the UNPA Sector East bordering, however most of the Serbian population in these areas had become refugees, and these operations have led to war crimes indictments by the ICTY against elements of the Croat military leadership. The areas uncaptured by the Croations forces in 'Sector East' came under UN administration (UNTAES), and were reintegrated to Croatia in 1998.Pressure was put on all sides to stick to the cease-fire and an end to the war in Bosnia.The war ended with the signing of the on the 14 December 1995, with the formation of as an entity within Bosnia and Herzegovina being the resolution for Bosnian Serb demands.
War crimes War rape. Main article:War rape occurred as a matter of official orders as part of ethnic cleansing, to displace the targeted ethnic group.During the Bosnian War, 'rape camps' aimed at the birth of a new generation of Serb children, were reportedly used. The purpose of these camps was to impregnate the Bosnian and Croatian women. Because of the patrilineal make-up of the society, in which children inherit their father's ethnicity, this was used a method of ethnic cleansing. In the camps, women were kept in confinement until the late stage of their pregnancy.According to the Women's Group Tresnjevka more than 35,000 women and children were held in such Serb-run 'rape camps'. Dragoljub Kunarac, Radomir Kovač, and were convicted for rape, torture, and enslavement committed during the.The evidence of the magnitude of rape in prompted the (ICTY) to deal openly with these abuses. Reports of sexual violence during the (1992–1995) and (1996–1999) perpetrated by the Serbian regular and irregular forces have been described as 'especially alarming'.
Since the entry of the NATO-led Kosovo Force, rapes of Albanian, Roma and Serbian women by Serbs and members of the Kosovo Liberation Army, have been documented.Others have estimated that during the Bosnian War between 20,000 and 50,000 women, mainly Muslim, were raped. A Commission of Experts appointed in October 1992 by the United Nations concluded thatRape has been reported to have been committed by all sides to the conflict. However, the largest number of reported victims have been Bosnian Muslims, and the largest number of alleged perpetrators have been Bosnian Serbs. There are few reports of rape and sexual assault between members of the same ethnic group.Although men also became victim of sexual violence, war rape was disproportionately directed against women who were (gang) raped in the streets, in their homes and/or in front of family members.War rape in the Yugoslav Wars has often been characterized as genocide.
Rape perpetrated by Serb forces served to destroy cultural and social ties of the victims and their communities. Serbian policies urged soldiers to rape Bosnian women until they became pregnant as an attempt towards ethnic cleansing. Serbian soldiers hoped to force Bosnian women to carry Serbian children through repeated rape. Often Bosnian women were held in captivity for an extended period of time and only released slightly before the birth of a child conceived of rape.The systematic rape of Bosnian women may have carried further reaching repercussions than the initial displacement of rape victims. Stress caused by the trauma of rape coupled with the lack of access to reproductive health care often experienced by displaced peoples lead to serious health risks for victimized women.
A brief timeline of the Yugoslav Wars including events leading to conflict. A shelled hotel resort of the coastline in Kupari near (1991).1991 Slovenia and Croatia declare independence in June, Macedonia in September. Lasts ten days. The Yugoslav army leaves Slovenia, but supports rebel Serb forces in Croatia.
The begins in Croatia. Serb areas in Croatia declare independence, but are recognized only by Belgrade. Cities of, and are devastated by bombardments and shelling. A flood of refugees from the war zones and ethnic cleansing overwhelm entire Croatia.
Countries of Europe are slow in accepting refugees. In Croatia, more than 400 000 Croats and other non-Serbs were either removed out of their homes by the Serb forces or fled the violence. Macedonia declares independence in September.1992 Vance peace plan signed, creating four UNPA zones for Serbs and ending large scale fighting in Croatia. Declares independence. Proclaimed, consisting of and, the only two remaining republics. United Nations impose sanctions against FR Yugoslavia and accepts Slovenia, Croatia and Bosnia as members. FR Yugoslavia claims being sole legal heir to SFRY, which is disputed by other republics.
UN envoys agree that Yugoslavia had 'dissolved into constituent republics'. 600,000 non-Serbian refugees. Bosniak-Croat conflict begins in Bosnia. Two Croatian Defense Council (HVO) Main Battle Tanks pull into firing position during a three day exercise held at the Barbara Range in, Bosnia and Herzegovina.1993 Fighting begins in the region between Bosnian Government forces loyal to, and Bosniaks loyal to who is supported by Serbs.
Sanctions and in F.R. Yugoslavia, now isolated, create hyperinflation of 3.6 million percent a year of the Yugoslav dinar; this had never been known previously. The inflation exceeds that experienced in the Great Depression of 1929. The (The Old Bridge) in Mostar, built in 1566, was destroyed by Bosnian Croat forces. It was rebuilt in 2003.1994 between Bosniaks and Croats arbitrated by the United States, formed. Yugoslavia stabilizes economy structure with Economic Implementation Framework.1995.
Reported, 8,372 Bosniaks killed by Serb forces. Croatia launches Oluja, reclaiming all UNPA zones except Eastern Slavonia, and resulting in exodus of 150,000–200,000 Serbs from the zones. War in Croatia ends.
On Bosnian Serb artillery and other military targets. Signed in Paris. War in Bosnia and Herzegovina ends. Aftermath of war is over 100,000 killed and missing and 2.5 million people internally displaced among the former republics. Serb defeat in Croatia and West Bosnia allows Croatian and Bosniak refugees to return to their homes, but many refugees of all nationalities are still displaced today. After signing the Dayton Agreement, Yugoslavia is granted with looser sanctions, still affecting much of its economy (trade, tourism, industrial production and exports of final products), but allowing for its citizens to exit Yugoslavia, for a limited time. See also.
Serbia in the Yugoslav WarsReferences.
This month marks the 20th anniversary of the start of the Bosnian War, a long, complex, and ugly conflict that followed the fall of communism in Europe. In 1991, Bosnia and Herzegovina joined several republics of the former Yugoslavia and declared independence, which triggered a civil war that lasted four years. Bosnia's population was a multiethnic mix of Muslim Bosniaks (44%), Orthodox Serbs (31%), and Catholic Croats (17%). The Bosnian Serbs, well-armed and backed by neighboring Serbia, laid siege to the city of Sarajevo in early April 1992.
They targeted mainly the Muslim population but killed many other Bosnian Serbs as well as Croats with rocket, mortar, and sniper attacks that went on for 44 months. As shells fell on the Bosnian capital, nationalist Croat and Serb forces carried out horrific 'ethnic cleansing' attacks across the countryside. Finally, in 1995, UN air strikes and United Nations sanctions helped bring all parties to a peace agreement. Estimates of the war's fatalities vary widely, ranging from 90,000 to 300,000. To date, more than 70 men involved have been convicted of war crimes by the UN. A Bosnian Muslim woman from Srebrenica, sitting under pictures of victims of the genocide in the town during the 1992-1995 Bosnian war, watches the television broadcast of Ratko Mladic's court proceedings, in Tuzla, on June 3, 2011.
Former Bosnian Serb military commander Mladic said he defended his people and his country in the Bosnia war and now intended to defend himself against war crimes charges at the U.N.' S Yugoslavia tribunal. Mladic was indicted over the 43-month siege of the Bosnian capital Sarajevo and the massacre of 8,000 Muslim men and boys in the town of Srebrenica, close to the border with Serbia, during the 1992-95 Bosnian war. Zoran Laketa poses for a picture in front of a building destroyed during the 1992-1995 war in Bosnia, after an interview with Reuters, in Mostar, on April 2, 2012. Laketa epitomizes the complexities of the Bosnian conflict that kept the West dithering over intervention in the face of mass ethnic cleansing. Twenty years since the start of the war, ethnicity is still a deep dividing line - no more so than in Mostar, where Croats hold the west bank, Muslim Bosniaks the east, in an uncomfortable co-existence that has resisted foreign efforts to promote reintegration.
An elderly woman leaves a flower on some of 11,451 empty chairs on the main street of Sarajevo on April 6, 2012. More than 11,000 red chairs, symbolizing 11,541 victim of the siege, lined Sarajevo's main avenue on Friday as Bosnians marked the 20th anniversary of the bloodiest conflict in Europe since World War II with songs and remembrance. Thousands of people gathered as a choir accompanied by a small classical orchestra performed an arrangement of 14 songs, most of them composed during the city's bloody siege.