CROATIAN WAR OF INDEPENDENCE - 5th Guard Brigade “the Falcons”

The 5th Guard Brigade of Croatian Army was established pursuant to the order of the Minister of Defence of the Republic of Croatia on 5 October 1992. Nevertheless, its wartime history goes back even further, as it was composed of volunteers and experienced soldiers and veterans who stood out in the defence of the eastern part of Croatia during 1991 and 1992. Members of the 204th “A” Brigade, the Vukovar veterans, formed the basis of the Falcons, together with warriors from other units from this part of Slavonia: 2nd Infantry Battalion of the 3rd Guard Brigade (from Vinkovci), 3rd company of the Nova Gradiška Battalion of the 3rd Guard Brigade, 105th Brigade, 106th Brigade, 107th Brigade, 108th Brigade, 109th Brigade, 121st Brigade, 123rd Brigade, 124th Brigade, 132nd Brigade and 157th Brigade of Croatian Army, as well as members of police forces, defenders and volunteers from other units and other countries. Immediately after its establishment, the 5th Guard Brigade was deployed to the defence of Zadar and Zadar region in the beginning of 1993. After fighting at the Zadar battlefield, during 1993 and 1994, the Brigade heads to the Southern Front (Mostar, Uskoplje and Livno battlefields). 1995, the year of the magnificent victories of Croatian Army in operations Winter ‘94, Flash, Summer ‘95 and Storm, saw an extraordinary contribution of the 5th Guard Brigade members who stood out in the Operation Flash, contributing by their successful action to the swift breakdown of the so-called 18th corps of the Serbian paramilitary formations. In that way, they facilitated the quick liberation of west Slavonia. The main contribution of “the Falcons” to the Military-police operation Storm was the firm defence of the then line of separation in the east Slavonia, where they readily awaited for the command to free the remaining part of their temporarily occupied homeland. A total of 83 members of the 5th Guard Brigade perished in the fights for freedom and independence of Croatia, while 300 of them were wounded. After the combats, the unit turned to military education and training, as well as further organisation and development of Croatian Army. With the goal of further organisation and modernisation of Croatian Army, the 5th Guard Brigade ceased to exist on 28 February 2003 by the decision of the Croatian High Command. Author of the Falcons’ emblem: Dubravko Mataković.

Zoran Marunček retired Captain