Siege of Slunj

The siege of Slunj was an armed conflict in the territory of the municipality of Slunj in 1991 during the Croatian War of Independence. It was fought between the Croatian Army (HV) on one side, and the Yugoslav People's Army (JNA) on the other. It was the largest Croatian enclave that was separated from the rest of Croatia during the conflict. After the JNA took over Slunj, over 16,000 Croats were expelled from the enclave and hundreds were murdered in war crimes during the occupation until the end of the war.

Siege of Slunj
Part of the Croatian War of Independence
Fall of Slunj under JNA
Date 9 October 1991 – 27 November Location Slunj, Croatia Result Yugoslav-SAO Krajina victory JNA takes Slunj and surrounding villages Croatian forces withdraw Over 16,000 Croat civilians expelled
Belligerents
SAO Krajina Support by: Yugoslavia	Croatia
Commanders and leaders
Željko Ražnatović	Anton Tus
Units involved
Yugoslav People's Army Yugoslav Ground Forces Serb Volunteer Guard	Armed Forces of Croatia Croatian Army Croatian Defence Forces
Strength
4,000	2,000
Casualties and losses
50 killed	250 killed

The battle

The battle for Slunj in 1991 was part of a wider conflict during the war in Croatia, specifically within the operations conducted by the Yugoslav People's Army (JNA) against the Croatian Army (HV). At the beginning of October 1991, the tactical group of the JNA launched an attack from the area of Ličko Petrovo Selo towards Slunj. From 9-10 October, the JNA made an initial breakthrough. During late October and early November, JNA units continued to advance towards Slunj, putting pressure on the HV. Shots were fired in the city, the HV fought to hold Slunj, but they did not succeed, and the JNA entered deeper into the city, resulting in a panic in which over 16,000 Croats fled from the enclave to Bosnia and Herzegovina. On 16 November, Slunj fell. Between 16-18 November, JNA forces continued their advance, capturing additional territories and enclosing a Croatian pocket area. By 27 November JNA forces managed to completely capture the Slunj enclave, leading to its fall.

Aftermath

The fall of Slunj represented a significant loss for the HV because this created a link between what was to be the northern half of the RSK centered around Petrinja-Karlovac and the southern portion near Knin. This was a strategic success that enabled further operations in the region.

During the Serb occupation of Slunj and surrounding areas until 1995, 297 Croat civilians were killed in several war crimes, most victims were the elderly, women and children.