CROATIAN WAR OF INDEPENDENCE - 9th Guard Brigade “the Wolves”

The renowned 9th Motorised Guard Brigade “the Wolves” was founded on 1 November 1992. Lieutenant Colonel Mirko Norac was put in charge of the formation of the new unit named the 6th Motorised Guard Brigade. The brigade had that name until June 1993, when it was changed to 9th Motorised Guard Brigade “the Wolves”.
Two months after it was established, the Brigade successfully participated in Operation Maslenica, breaking the enemy resistance at Rovanjska – Jesenice – Tulove grede line in record time. The Brigade was also the main force of the Operation Medak Pocket on 9 September 1993, when the area covering 48 km2 of the temporarily occupied Croatian territory was recovered in a matter of hours. The new combat mission ensued on 6 March 1994, when the enemy attacked and occupied the dominant terrain mark Repetitor at Ljubovo mountain range. The 9th Guard Brigade was deployed to help the reserve brigades, repelling the enemy back to their initial positions.
The 84th Guard Battalion “the Termites” joined the 9th Guard Brigade as its 2nd Infantry Battalion on 9 March 1995. The unit held the Velebit defence line, participating in the Operation Summer ‘95 in July 1995 as a part of the Split Military district. During the Military-police operation Storm, the 9th Guard Brigade managed to conquer the Ljubovo mountain range, penetrating the Lički Osik – Bunić line and continuing further towards the state border via Udbina. Simultaneously, the 2nd Infantry Battalion “the Termites” attacked from Velebit massif towards Gračac and managed to reach the Bosnia and Herzegovina border via Srb.
Following the Operation Storm, the Brigade’s units were tasked with preserving the state border on the south of the Republic of Croatia. The Brigade had been awarded the Order of Duke Domagoj with the ribbon and with the Charter of the Republic of Croatia. Approximately 5000 defenders have been members of the unit at some point. During the Croatian War of Independence, 56 members of the 9th Guard Brigade perished, while 211 were wounded or injured.
The victorious warpath of the 9th Guard Brigade “the Wolves” ended in 2003, with the tradition passed to the 1st Motorised Battalion “the Wolves” within the Motorised Guard Brigade of Croatian Army. Established in July 2007, the War Veterans’ Association of the 9th Guard Brigade “the Wolves” preserves the memory of the unit.Author of the Wolves’ emblem: Frane Tomičić.

PRIMUS INTER PARES – THE FIRST AMONG THE EQUALS
 
Milan Franić
the Vice President of the War Veterans’ Association of
the 9th Guard Brigade “the Wolves”