Croatia – Serbian Krajina 1995 complete set MNH

Croatia – Serbian Krajina 1995 complete set MNH

The Republic of Serbian Krajina (Republika Srpska Krajina, or RSK) was a self-proclaimed Serbian entity within Croatia during the Yugoslav Wars. It emerged in 1991 as ethnic Serbs in Croatia sought autonomy or separation from the Croatian government, which had declared independence from Yugoslavia. The RSK claimed territories in parts of Croatia with significant Serbian populations, including areas bordering Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The conflict between Croatian forces and the RSK escalated, resulting in significant violence and displacement of civilian populations. The situation reached a critical point in 1995 when the Croatian military launched Operation Storm (Operacija Oluja), a large-scale offensive aimed at retaking control of the RSK territories.

Operation Storm, conducted from August 4th to August 8th, 1995, involved Croatian forces launching a swift and coordinated attack against RSK positions, leading to the recapture of much of the territory previously held by Serbian forces. Key towns like Knin, the capital of the RSK, were retaken by Croatian forces during the operation.

The offensive resulted in the displacement of a large number of ethnic Serbs from the RSK territories, with many fleeing to Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina. The Croatian government declared the operation a success, but it remains a controversial event due to allegations of war crimes and human rights abuses committed by both Croatian forces and Serbian paramilitary groups during and after the operation.

Operation Storm marked a turning point in the Croatian War of Independence, significantly weakening Serbian forces and contributing to the eventual end of the conflict. However, it also left deep scars on the region, contributing to ongoing tensions between Croatia and Serbia and shaping the political landscape of the post-war Balkans.