Siege of Smoluća

Siege of Smoluća
Part of the Bosnian War
ARBiH artillery shells hit Smoluća.
Date 18 June 1992 – 28 August 1992 Location Smoluća Gornja, Bosnia and Herzegovina Result Tactical Republika Srpska victory Serbian forces successfully evacuate civilians from enclave
Belligerents
Republika Srpska	Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina Croatian Republic of Herzeg-Bosnia
Commanders and leaders
Ljubiša Savić Budimir Gavrić	Enes Katić
Units involved
Garda Panteri Tobutski sokolovi Town militia	Army of the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina Croatian units
Strength
About 1,200 troops	2,500
Casualties and losses
149 Serbian soldiers killed	Unknown, likely far greater
50-500 civilians killed

The Siege of Smoluća was a siege conducted by the ARBiH, setting up an enclave around Smoluća Gornja. The civilians were under inhumane conditions: they were left without water, food, and electricity for months. ARBiH and Croat forces soldiers blocked Red Cross vehicles from entering the town, which had medical supplies to treat the wounded. People of the town organized defenses and held off the Bosnian paramilitaries until the Garda Panteri arrived, safely evacuating the civilians of the town, and capturing the enclave set up the ARBiH. The siege ended on 28 August 1992. Serbian forces successfully transported all the civilians to safe places. After the civilians were escorted safely, Croat and Bosniak forces robbed and destroyed the town.

Order of Battle

Bosnian and Croat units began to expel Serbian civilians from cities near Smoluća mainly Podpeć, where 3,000 Serbs fled to Smoluća. The civilians were encircled by the ARBiH and HVO, a violent siege began. Citizens organized defenses and were attack almost everyday. The ARBiH and Croat units shelled and starved the civilians of the village. On 24 August 1992 Serbian general Budimir Gavrić announced that a Relief force would be breaking through the enclave set up by the ARBiH and HVO. An order came from Radovan Karadžić (President of Republika Srpska), to break through the siege. Serbian units began to make their way to the Smoluća With the leading unit being Garda Panteri commanded by Ljubiša Savić and Branko Pantelić. The other units were pushing into the side of the enclave. Soldiers of the elite Garda Panteri went into a village whilst a unit stayed near Smoluća to counter the reinforcements of the ARBiH. Serbian forces decided to penetrate the middle of the enemy defense. On 28 August, the siege was lifted by Serbian forces and the civilians of the village were liberated. On 28 August, Branko Pantelić announced that the siege had been lifted.

Cultural impact

Turbo-folk singer Roki Vulović made a song about the events at Smoluća, the song derives into the heroic defense of Smoluća Gornja, and the sacrifices made by the Civllians and Serbian soldiers.

Other Commanders

• Branko Pantelić 1st in command of the Garda Panteri which played a key role during the siege, later Killed in action on the Mt. Majevica fighting front.
• Aleksa Lazarević Commander of Serbian paramilitary unit Tobutski sokolovi. Which was one of the units that broke through the Bosnian defense line.

Other units that participated in the Siege

• 3rd Majevica Brigade Military Police platoon
• 2nd Majevica Brigade Military Police platoon
• East Bosnia Corps
• Serbian volunteers from Ozren, Semberija, Majevica, Brčko, Lopare, and Ugljevik.
• 1st Ozren Brigade