View source for Zrinski Battalion

{{good article}}
{{Infobox military unit
|unit_name=Zrinski Battalion
|image=
|caption=
|dates=18 May 1991&nbsp;– 25 February 1994
|country= [[Croatia]]
|allegiance=
|branch= [[Army]]
|type= [[Special forces]]
|role=
|size= [[Battalion]]
|command_structure=
|garrison=[[Kumrovec]] <small>(at establishment)</small>
|garrison_label=
|equipment=
|equipment_label=
|nickname=
|patron=
|motto=''Viribus unitis''{{sfn|Vjesnik|24 September 2004}}
|colors=
|colors_label=
|march=
|mascot=
|battles=[[Croatian War of Independence]]:
* [[Battle of Hrvatska Kostajnica]]
* [[Battle of Gospić]]
* [[Siege of Dubrovnik]]
* [[Operation Tiger (1992)|Operation Tiger]]
* [[Operation Maslenica]]
[[Bosnian War]]
* [[Battle of Kupres (1992)|Battle of Kupres]]
|anniversaries=
|decorations=
|battle_honours=
<!-- Commanders -->
|ceremonial_chief=
|ceremonial_chief_label=
|colonel_of_the_regiment=
|colonel_of_the_regiment_label=
|notable_commanders=[[Ante Roso]]<br>[[Miljenko Filipović]]
<!-- Insignia -->
|identification_symbol=
|identification_symbol_label=
|identification_symbol_2=
|identification_symbol_2_label=
}}
The '''Zrinski Battalion''' ({{langx|hr|Bojna Zrinski}}) was a [[special forces]] unit of the [[Croatian National Guard]] (''Zbor narodne garde'' – ZNG) and later of the [[Croatian Army]] (''Hrvatska vojska'' – HV) established in [[Kumrovec]] on 18 May 1991, during the [[Croatian War of Independence]]. The unit drew personnel from the [[Croatian special police order of battle in 1991–95|special police forces]] and a former [[French Foreign Legion]] troops serving as its core. The battalion was set up and initially commanded by [[Ante Roso]], while [[Major (rank)|Major]] [[Miljenko Filipović]] took over as the commanding officer in August.

The Zrinski Battalion trained volunteer troops in [[Vukovar]] in June 1991 before it saw action in [[Hrvatska Kostajnica]], the [[Battle of Gospić]] and near [[Slano]] in 1991. By the end of 1991, the unit's personnel were tasked with setting up an additional special forces unit of the HV. The next year its elements took part in the [[Battle of Kupres (1992)|Battle of Kupres]] and [[Operation Tiger (1992)|Operation Tiger]] aimed at lifting the [[Siege of Dubrovnik]]. It also and helped develop and train the [[Croatian Defence Council]] (''Hrvatsko vijeće obrane'' – HVO), setting up a training camp in [[Tomislavgrad]]. In 1993, the battalion took part in [[Operation Maslenica]]. In February 1994, the Zrinski Battalion was amalgamated with several other HV special forces units into the [[1st Croatian Guards Corps|1st Croatian Guards Brigade]] (''1. hrvatski gardijski zdrug''), a component of the [[1st Croatian Guards Corps]] (''1. hrvatski gardijski zbor'').

==Background==
In 1990, following the [[Croatian parliamentary election, 1990|electoral defeat]] of the government of the [[Socialist Republic of Croatia]], ethnic tensions between [[Croats]] and [[Croatian Serbs]] worsened.{{sfn|Hoare|2010|p=118}} The [[Yugoslav People's Army]] ({{lang|hr|Jugoslavenska narodna armija}} – JNA) believed Croatia would use the Croatian [[Territorial Defense Forces (Yugoslavia)|Territorial Defence Force's]] ({{lang|hr|Teritorijalna obrana}} – TO) equipment to build its own army and confront the JNA itself.{{sfn|CIA|2002|p=87}} In order to minimize the expected resistance, the JNA confiscated the TO weapons.{{sfn|Hoare|2010|p=117}} On 17 August, the tensions escalated into an [[Log Revolution|open revolt]] of the [[Serbs of Croatia|Croatian Serbs]].{{sfn|Hoare|2010|p=118}}

In the beginning of 1991, Croatia had no regular army. In an effort to bolster its defence, Croatia doubled the size of its [[Law enforcement in Croatia|police force]] to about 20,000. The most effective part of the force was the [[Croatian special police order of battle in 1991–95|3,000-strong special police]] that were deployed in 12 [[battalion]]s, adopting military organisation.{{sfn|CIA|2002|p=86}} In addition there were 9,000–10,000 regionally organised reserve police. The reserve police were set up in 16 battalions and 10 [[Company (military unit)|companies]], but they lacked weapons needed to arm many of the troops.{{sfn|CIA|2002|p=86}}

Preparations to set up the [[Croatian National Guard]] (''Zbor narodne garde'' – ZNG) began on 12 April 1991. Establishment of the ZNG as a police force with military capabilities was thought necessary by the Croatian authorities following armed clashes in [[Pakrac clash|Pakrac]] and at [[Plitvice Lakes incident|Plitvice Lakes]] in March and due to the possibility of further confrontation with the JNA.{{sfn|Nazor|2007|p=72}} The ZNG, formally established on 23 April, was tasked with protection of the [[Constitution of Croatia|constitutional order]], maintenance of public order, anti-terrorist operations, protection of Croatia's borders, territory, coast and [[territorial waters]], as well as the protection of high-value structures and high-profile persons.{{sfn|Nazor|2007|p=72}}

==Service==
On 18 May 1991, the Zrinski Battalion was established as a [[special forces]] unit of the ZNG. The core of the unit consisted of 27 volunteers drawn from the Kumrovec Special Police Unit (SPU). Initially, it relied on former [[French Foreign Legion]] troops.{{sfn|CIA|2002b|p=50}} The most senior among the former legionnaires was [[Ante Roso]],{{sfn|Malić|23 April 2011}} previously a [[French Foreign Legion#Sous-Officiers (Non-commissioned Officers)|''Sous-Officier'']] (non-commissioned officer – NCO) in the [[4th Foreign Regiment]].{{sfn|Gugo|19 November 2000}} In consequence, Roso was tasked with setting up the unit as its initial commander.{{sfn|Malić|23 April 2011}} [[Major (rank)|Major]] [[Miljenko Filipović]], likewise a former French Foreign Legion member, was assigned the battalions deputy commander.{{sfn|Biluš|14 September 2004}} The unit was based in the village of [[Kumrovec]] in the region of [[Hrvatsko Zagorje]], on the grounds of the former "[[Josip Broz Tito]]" political school.{{sfn|Biluš|14 September 2004}} The site, adjacent to the border of [[Slovenia]], was selected to be inaccessible to [[Yugoslav Air Force]] raids without violation of Slovene or possibly [[Austria]]n [[airspace]].{{sfn|Gaura|2010}} In June 1991, the Kumrovec SPU was transferred to [[Medvednica|Sljeme Peak]] north of [[Zagreb]] leaving Kumrovec base to the Zrinski Battalion,{{sfn|Nazor|2007|p=104}} as well as the second special forces unit, the Frankopan Battalion.{{sfn|Gaura|2010}}

The Zrinski Battalion was deployed for the first time on 15 June. It was stationed in [[Vukovar]], tasked with preparation of city defences and organisation of volunteer troops. In August, Filipović took over command of the battalion from Roso.{{sfn|Biluš|14 September 2004}} The same month, the Zrinski Battalion was deployed to the [[Banovina (region)|Banovina]], where it pushed the Croatian Serb forces out of the town of [[Hrvatska Kostajnica]]. In September, the battalion was deployed to [[Gospić]], where it took part in [[Battle of Gospić|battle to control Gospić]] against the JNA. Troops assigned to the battalion captured Kaniža barracks in Gospić.{{sfn|Biluš|14 September 2004}} During combat in Gospić, 30 troops of the Zrinski Battalion, assisted by [[Lučko Anti-Terrorist Unit|Lučko SPU]], captured JNA [[Major General]] [[Trajče Krstevski]], along with three [[armoured personnel carrier]]s (APCs) and 32 soldiers.{{sfn|Marković|15 September 2000}} The unit was deployed to [[Metković]] on 28 October, tasked with recapturing [[Slano]] from the JNA. After the deployment to Gospić, a part of the unit personnel left to [[Bosnia and Herzegovina]] anticipating further conflict there, while the remainder of the unit returned to Kumrovec.{{sfn|Biluš|14 September 2004}} The ZNG was renamed the [[Croatian Army]] (''Hrvatska vojska'' – HV) on 3 November 1991.{{sfn|MORH|8 July 2013}} In late 1991, personnel of the Zrinski Battalion set up another special forces unit of the HV — the Matija Vlačić Battalion based in [[Opatija]].{{sfn|Hrvatski vojnik|September 2013}}

In 1992, elements of the Zrinski Battalion took part in the [[Battle of Kupres (1992)|Battle of Kupres]], before setting up a training camp in the town of [[Tomislavgrad]]. There the battalion personnel assisted in setting up and trained the [[Croatian Defence Council]] (''Hrvatsko vijeće obrane'' – HVO).{{sfn|Biluš|14 September 2004}} Later that year, elements of the battalion took part in [[Operation Tiger (1992)|Operation Tiger]]—aimed at lifting of the [[Siege of Dubrovnik]].{{sfn|Večernji list}} In 1993, elements of the Zrinski Battalion took part in [[Operation Maslenica]], fighting in the area of [[Škabrnja]].{{sfn|Zadarski list|18 November 2013}} The [[Central Intelligence Agency]] assessed the Zrinski Battalion as one of the best units of the HV.{{sfn|CIA|2002b|p=50}}

==Amalgamation==
On 25 February 1994, the Zrinski Battalion was amalgamated with parts of other special forces units of the HV: Frankopan Battalion, Ban Jelačić Battalion, Matija Vlačić Battalion, Ferdo Sučić Battalion and part of 8th Light Assault Brigade{{sfn|Žabec|27 November 2010}} forming the [[1st Croatian Guards Corps|1st Croatian Guards Brigade]] (''1. hrvatski gardijski zdrug''), a component of the [[1st Croatian Guards Corps]] (''1. hrvatski gardijski zbor''),{{sfn|Žabec|27 November 2010}} directly subordinated to the [[Ministry of Defence (Croatia)|Ministry of Defence]] rather than the [[General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Croatia]].{{sfn|CIA|2002|p=447}}

==Footnotes==
{{reflist|20em}}

==References==
;Books
{{refbegin|60em}}
*{{cite book|ref={{harvid|CIA|2002}}|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=it1IAQAAIAAJ|title=Balkan Battlegrounds: A Military History of the Yugoslav Conflict, 1990–1995|publisher=Central Intelligence Agency|author=[[Central Intelligence Agency]], Office of Russian and European Analysis|year=2002|isbn=978-0-16-066472-4|location=Washington, D.C.}}
*{{cite book|ref={{harvid|CIA|2002b}}|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=jodpAAAAMAAJ|title=Balkan Battlegrounds: A Military History of the Yugoslav Conflict, 1990–1995, Volume 2|author=[[Central Intelligence Agency]], Office of Russian and European Analysis|publisher=Central Intelligence Agency|location=Washington, D.C.|year=2002|isbn=978-0-16-066472-4}}
*{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=oFXdiS25N78C|editor-first=Sabrina P.|editor-last=Ramet|title=Central and Southeast European Politics Since 1989|publisher=Cambridge University Press|year=2010|isbn=978-1-139-48750-4|chapter=The War of Yugoslav Succession|first=Marko Attila|last=Hoare|authorlink=Marko Attila Hoare|pages=111–136|location=Cambridge, England}}
*{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=rPcVAQAAMAAJ|title=Počeci suvremene hrvatske države: kronologija procesa osamostaljenja Republike Hrvatske: od Memoranduma SANU 1986. do proglašenja neovisnosti 8. listopada 1991|language=Croatian|trans-title=Beginnings of the Modern Croatian State: A Chronology of the Independence of the Republic of Croatia: from 1986 SANU Memorandum to the Declaration of Independence on 8 October 1991|first=Ante|last=Nazor|publisher=Croatian Homeland War Memorial Documentation Centre|location=Zagreb, Croatia|year=2007|isbn=978-953-7439-01-9}}
{{refend}}

;Scientific journal articles
{{refbegin|60em}}
*{{cite journal|journal=Polemos: Journal of Interdisciplinary Research on War and Peace|publisher=Croatian Sociological Association and Jesenski & Turk Publishing House|issn=1331-5595|url=http://hrcak.srce.hr/47720?lang=en|title=Specijalne vojno-policijske protuterorističke postrojbe: Hrvatska i svijet|language=Croatian|trans-title=Special Military and Police Counter-Terrorist Units: Croatia and the World|volume=12|issue=24|date=December 2009|first1=Mirko|last1=Bilandžić|first2=Stjepan|last2=Milković|pages=33–60}}
{{refend}}

;News reports
{{refbegin|60em}}
*{{cite news|ref={{harvid|Biluš|14 September 2004}}|newspaper=[[Nacional (weekly)]]|title=Tajna snimka tereti generala Filipovića|trans-title=Secret Recording Points to General Filipović|url=http://www.nacional.hr/clanak/13957/tajna-snimka-tereti-generala-filipovica|first=Marina|last=Biluš|date=14 September 2004|issue=461|language=Croatian|access-date=6 December 2013|archive-date=6 December 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131206222246/http://www.nacional.hr/clanak/13957/tajna-snimka-tereti-generala-filipovica|url-status=dead}}
*{{cite news|newspaper=Nacional (weekly)|title=Registar skriva bosansku tajnu|url=http://www.nacional.hr/clanak/82017/registar-skriva-bosansku-tajnu|trans-title=Registry Harbours Bosnian Secret|language=Croatian|first=Orhidea|last=Gaura|issue=753|date=20 April 2010|access-date=6 December 2013|archive-date=12 June 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100612161732/http://www.nacional.hr/clanak/82017/registar-skriva-bosansku-tajnu|url-status=dead}}
*{{cite news|ref={{harvid|Gugo|19 November 2000}}|newspaper=[[Slobodna Dalmacija]]|url=http://arhiv.slobodnadalmacija.hr/20001119/prilozi.htm|language=Croatian|title=Špegelj je od mene tražio da ubijam Srbe po Zagrebu!|trans-title=Špegelj Demanded From Me to Kill Serbs in Zagreb!|date=19 November 2000|first=Ante|last=Gugo}}
*{{cite news|ref={{harvid|Malić|23 April 2011}}|newspaper=[[Jutarnji list]]|url=http://www.jutarnji.hr/ante-gotovina--zatocenik-emigrantskog-lobija-ministra-suska/940914/|title=Kome je odan Gotovina? Hrvatskim nacionalistima i biskupima ili Mesiću? Ili nikome!?|trans-title=Who's Gotovina Loyal to? Croatian Nationalists and Bishops or Mesić? Or Nobody!?|language=Croatian|first=Gordan|last=Malić|date=23 April 2011}}
*{{cite news|ref={{harvid|Marković|15 September 2000}}|url=http://arhiv.slobodnadalmacija.hr/20000915/novosti2.htm|date=15 September 2000|newspaper=Slobodna Dalmacija|title=Orešković i Norac zaslužni što Gospić danas nije Teslingrad!|language=Croatian|trans-title=Orešković and Norac take credit that Gospić is not called Teslingrad today|first=Marko|last=Marković}}
*{{cite news|ref={{harvid|Večernji list}}|url=http://www.vecernji.hr/biografije/miljenko-filipovic-537|title=Miljenko Filipović|language=Croatian|newspaper=[[Večernji list]]|access-date=7 December 2013|archive-date=4 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304000453/http://www.vecernji.hr/biografije/miljenko-filipovic-537|url-status=dead}}
*{{cite news|ref={{harvid|Vjesnik|24 September 2004}}|date=24 September 2004|newspaper=[[Vjesnik]]|url=http://www.antegotovina.com/default.aspx?clanak=2862|title=MUP raspliće mrežu pomagača|trans-title=Ministry of Interior Untangles Web of Accomplices|language=Croatian}}
*{{cite web|ref={{harvid|Zadarski list|18 November 2013}}|url=http://www.057info.hr/vijesti/2013-11-18/skabrnja-je-padala-tri-puta-i-ostala-hrvatska|publisher=[[Zadarski list]]|date=18 November 2013|title=Škabrnja je padala tri puta i ostala hrvatska|trans-title=Škabrnja was Lost Three Times and Remained Croatian|language=Croatian}}
*{{cite news|ref={{harvid|Žabec|27 November 2010}}|date=27 November 2010|first=Krešimir|last=Žabec|url=http://www.jutarnji.hr/predsjednik-ivo-josipovic-iz-bojne-izbacio-sve-umijesane-u--sumnjive-poslove-/907146/|language=Croatian|title=Predsjednik Josipović iz bojne izbacio sve umiješane u "sumnjive poslove"|trans-title=President Josipović Discharged Everyone Involved in "Suspicious Activities" from the Battalion|newspaper=[[Jutarnji list]]}}
{{refend}}

;Other sources
{{refbegin|60em}}
*{{cite web|ref={{harvid|MORH|8 July 2013}}|date=8 July 2013|url=http://www.morh.hr/hr/dan-osrh-2013/povjesnica.html|language=Croatian|title=Povjesnica|trans-title=A History|publisher=[[Ministry of Defence (Croatia)]]|access-date=7 December 2013|archive-date=30 November 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131130121057/http://www.morh.hr/hr/dan-osrh-2013/povjesnica.html|url-status=dead}}
*{{cite web|ref={{harvid|Hrvatski vojnik|September 2013}}|work=[[Hrvatski vojnik]]|publisher=Ministry of Defence (Croatia)|url=http://www.hrvatski-vojnik.hr/hrvatski-vojnik/4312013/vijesti.asp|title=Bivši pripadnici bojne "Matija Vlačić" u posjetu BSD-u|language=Croatian|trans-title=Former Matija Vlačić Battalion Members Visit the Special Operations Battalion|date=September 2013|issue=431|issn=1333-9036}}
{{refend}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2017}}

[[Category:Military units and formations established in 1991]]
[[Category:Military units and formations disestablished in 1994]]
[[Category:Military history of Croatia]]
[[Category:Military units and formations of the Croatian War of Independence]]
[[Category:Special forces]]
[[Category:1991 establishments in Croatia]]