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19
1995, 6 January
Communication of the Command of the SVK 15th Infantry Brigade to subordinate units
on the current situation on the battlefi eld and the reasons underlying the gridlock in
the assault on the Bihać safe area
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(...) 1. All sorts of rumours are circulating among the troops about Bihać, about what
will happen and how it will happen. Th e Bihać operation and the collapse of the 5 th
Corps are deadlocked because of the fi ghting at Glamoč - Grahovo. Th e Bihać action
and the defeat of the 5 th Corps will follow aft er the situation in that theatre has been dealt
with. Th erefore, we are not giving up Bihać. Th e achieved positions must be held fi rmly,
especially in the area of responsibility of our brigade, because our positions provide the
best prospects for pushing on to Bihać. Th erefore, we must not budge an inch.
(...) 2. Wilful abandoning of positions by individual soldiers is becoming increasingly
more frequent. It weakens the line and more soldiers are being wounded or killed. Th e
responsibility for our losses rests fi rst of all with the deserters and all others avoiding the
front line because the enemy attacks the weakest spot in the defence line. In the future
all deserters will be sent to other, most dangerous battlefi elds, and will be rigorously
punished for the casualties sustained by our troops, being directly responsible for them.
3. We are aware of the situation and of the need to hold the achieved defence lines fi rmly.
We also have great problems with providing rest for our troops and arranging visits to
their families. We shall arrange a short rest period, about 3-5 days, and family visits
for up to 10% of the troops per shift . However, before that we have to bring in all the
deserters and other, less engaged brigade troops, primarily from the rear, in order to
strengthen the defence lines and allow more troops in the fi rst front line to get proper
rest. (...)
4. As regards the transport of furniture collected for the soldiers’ families, we shall have
the municipality, this being in its competence, transport the rest. However, this regards
only items such as wood-burning stoves, couches, bedding, tableware and the like; the
transport of machines, attachments and similar items will not be permitted. Individual
transport requests and applications are forbidden. (...)
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Original, typewritten, Latin script
Republic of Croatia, General Staff of the Croatian Army, 1995
257