CROATIAN WAR OF INDEPENDENCE – GUARDS BRIGADES, 1st Croatian Guards Brigade

1st Croatian Guards Brigade On 25 February 1994, the President of the Republic of Croatia Franjo Tuđman authorized the decision establishing an elite unit of the Republic of Croatia Armed Forces – the 1st Croatian Guards Brigade. The establishment of this new unit was driven by the “Zrinski” Battalion, the Ministry of Defence Special Unit, and the General Staff of the Republic of Croatia Armed Forces Special Unit. It was established as a special forces combat unit tasked with special and the most complex combat operations. It was to be commanded by Brigadier Miljenko Filipović. In addition to infantry, it gathered a parachute battalion, an armoured battalion, an artillery battalion and a squadron of transport and light combat helicopters. The 1st Croatian Guards Brigade played an important role in operations Cincar, Winter ‘94, Flash, Leap 2, Summer ‘95, Storm, Mistral and Southern Move, some of which were performed under extremely difficult weather conditions. The members of the Brigade successfully performed all offensive actions. When the Croatian War of Independence came to an end, the unit continued to conduct specialist training in accordance with the highest NATO standards, relying on the experience accumulated during the War as a source of additional knowledge. Many of the Western armed forces commanders visited this training and they were impressed with what they saw. After a change in Croatian leadership, the Brigade was unexpectedly disbanded in March 2000. The war path of the 1st Croatian Guards Brigade and its contribution to the victory of the Republic of Croatia Armed Forces in the Croatian War of Independence make it one of the select units that have brought the glory of Croatian arms and Croatian military skill to the highest possible level. During the Croatian War of Independence, 75 members of the Brigade and the units it legally succeeded lost their lives. For its outstanding contribution to the Croatian War of Independence, the Brigade was awarded the Order of Duke Domagoj with a neckband, and it received a commendation for the successful performance of Operation Summer ’95 from the commander-in-chief. In March 2008, the “1st Croatian Guards Brigade” Veterans’ Association was founded with the aim of preserving the memory of the Brigade and its traditions, as well as promoting the values of the Croatian War of Independence. Tomislav Sabljo Secretary of the “1st Croatian Guards Brigade” Veterans’ Association