storm - Hrvatski memorijalno-dokumentacijski centar Domovinskog ...

SPLIT CORPS DISTRICT
Unlike other corps districts, the Split Corps District (ZP Split) mounted Operation
Storm under the code name Kozjak-95. It is not clear why that was done, and
that is not the fi rst instance involving the change of the name of an HV General
Staff operation at the local level. In January 1993 the Command of the Split Operational
Zone had mounted in the hinterland of Zadar the operation Winter-93, codenamed
Gusar (Pirate) by the HV General Staff and popularly called Maslenica. 166 Th e order for
the off ensive action was written by the Command of ZP Split on 1 August 1995. Th e idea
of the ZP Split commander was to crush Serbian forces in the greater area of northern
Dalmatia, cut the communications leading from Knin to the north, and surround and
free Knin. Th e main objective of ZP Split was the town of Knin, and the main forces
of the Corps were concentrated along the lines Bosansko Grahovo - Knin, Jasenice -
Muškovci and Uniški Doci - Kijevo. In the remaining part of the theatre auxiliary forces
were supposed to roll back Serbian forces and penetrate the territory, thereby facilitating
the mission of the main forces. Th e operation was planned in two to three phases and
in the duration of three to four days. In the fi rst phase, which was to last one day, the
plan envisioned the smashing of the Serbian forces along the fi rst line of defence and the
capture of important landmarks and communications in the tactical depth of the enemy.
In the second phase, also planned for execution in a single day, the main forces of the
North Dalmatian Corps had to be cut up, and conditions created for engaging the second
combat echelon. Th e plan for the third, two-day phase included the elimination of the
main enemy forces, gaining control over key defence points, and establishing a situation
in which hostile units could only surrender or pull out. As provided for by preparations
for the operation, some forces were to strike along the Glamočko Polje - Vitorog line in
order to tie down the operational reserve of the Army of Republika Srpska. Th e overall
operation was entrusted to operational groups Sjever, Sinj, Šibenik and Zadar. 167
OG Sjever (North) was the main force of the operation. It comprised the HV 4 th and 7 th
Guards Brigades, the 81 st Guards Battalion with the First Tactical Group, the 1 st Croatian
Guards Brigade. the HVO 2 nd Guards Brigade with the Th ird Tactical Group, and the
166 According to some views, the switching of the code names Storm and Kozjak could have been the consequence
of the wish to provide additional cover for the planning of Storm; it is also possible that the offi cers
responsible for drawing the orders in ZP Split simply did not know that the operation already had a code
name. Of course, there is no doubt that Kozjak was part of Storm executed by ZP Split.
167 SVA MORH, GSHV: ZP Split Command; cl. DT 8/95-01/01. reg.no. 1080-01-95/2 of 1 August 1995;
Order for off ensive operation.
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