Dušan the Mighty (Serbian: Душан Силни, Dušan Silni) was a Serbian paramilitary unit formed in 1991. It was the armed wing of the Serbian National Renewal and volunteer unit.[1] The unit was active in the Yugoslav wars, mainly in Croatia in 1991, and in 1992 it also took part of the Serb assault on Zvornik, Bosnia, and the subsequent massacre of Bosniak civilians in that city. The unit was responsible for the killings of Croatian citizens in Lovas.[2] At the end of the war, three of its members were prosecuted for war crimes.[3]
| Dušan the Mighty | |
|---|---|
| Dušan Silni | |
| Active | 1991–1992 |
| Allegiance |  Republic of Serbian Krajina |
| Branch |  Army of Serbian Krajina |
| Type | Light Infantry Paramilitary |
| Size | ~100 |
| Engagements | |
| Commanders | |
| Notable commanders | Mirko Jović |
History
editFormation
editThe Dušan the Mighty paramilitary unit was deployed into western Slavonia in 1991, during the start of the Croatian War of Independence; prior to this, the paramilitary was created by members of the Serbian National Renewal around early 1991.[4] The unit was under control and support of the Yugoslav Security Directorate, the unit along with the White Eagles had lost its support from the Yugoslav Security Directorate, due to the resistance of complying with the Vance plan and supporting Croatian-Serb Leader Milan Babić.[4]
Dušan the Mighty joined the White Eagles at Borovo Selo,[5] when Croatian policemen who went in Borovo Selo unauthorized.[6] On 2 May 1991, they were then ambushed by SAO Krajina forces. About 13 were killed in total.[7] The fighting lasted for some two hours and only stopped when several armoured personnel carriers of the Yugoslav People’s Army (JNA) intervened.[8]
On October 18, 1991, Serbian forces supported by the Dušan the Mighty militia captured about 50 Croatian citizens from the town of Lovas, where they were sent to an agricultural cooperative. They were assisted by the JNA, killing and torturing 40-70 citizens,[2] 3 members were then charged:
- Sasa Stojanovic
- Jovan Dimitrijevic
- Zoran Kosijer
They were found guilty for crimes related to the Lovas killings.[3][9]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ Robert, Thomas. Serbia under Milosevic: Politics in the 1990s. pp. 95–96.
- ^ a b Ristic, Marija. "Marija Ristic". Balkaninsight.com.
- ^ a b TV, Insajder (2021-01-19). "Apelacioni sud preinačio presudu u slučaju Lovas: Dvojica optuženih oslobođena, ostalima ublažene kazne". insajder.net (in Serbian). Retrieved 2024-04-19.
- ^ a b Thomas, Robert (1999). Serbia under Milosevic: Politics in the 1990s. London : Hurst & Co. ISBN 1-85065-367-4.
- ^ Robert, Thomas. Serbia Under Milošević: Politics in the 1990s. p. 96. ISBN 9781850653417.
- ^ Silber, Laura. The Death of Yugoslavia. Penguin books. p. 141. ISBN 9781575000053.
- ^ Central Intelligence Agency. Balkan Battlegrounds: A military history of the Yugoslav Conflict. p. 90. ISBN 9780160664724.
- ^ ""Memorijal 12 redarstvenika", 2008. - mup.hr". 2013-09-25. Archived from the original on 2013-09-25. Retrieved 2024-10-03.
- ^ Stojanovic, Milica. "Serbian Court Cuts Sentences for Wartime Killings of Croats". Balkaninsight.com.