storm - Hrvatski memorijalno-dokumentacijski centar Domovinskog ...

of Croatian laws. Even on that day two Special Police men were wounded and several
injured. On 9 August 1995 the Special Police units turned over the achieved line on the
border with Bosnia&Herzegovina to HV forces. In the aft ernoon of the same day most of
the Special Police units returned to their headquarters throughout Croatia for a several
days’ rest. 218
Conclusion
As a group which accomplished its mission with the least problems and reproaches, the
composite forces of the MUP RH Special Police - equal in terms of strength to a light
reinforced shock brigade - contributed extraordinarily to the success of Storm. Th eir
troops covered, practically on foot, more than 100 kilometres, liberated a number of
towns and settlements in the occupied parts of the Republic of Croatia, and carried on
their back everything they needed in order to survive and wage war in the extremely
diffi cult conditions such as prevailed on the Velebit mountain range. Special Police
casualties totalled 6 killed and about 60 wounded men. 219
From the diary of an offi cer of the Army of Serbian Krajina on the shelling of Knin,
4 August 1995
Marko Vrcelj, then Artillery Chief of the SVK General Staff was present in Knin when
Storm started:
Th e drumfi re barrage started all over Krajina. Everything had been planned from the
smallest detail. Every shell and every artillery attack. Several days ago observers and
gunners were infi ltrated in order to direct fi re. Th e most important targets in the town
include the General Staff building, the residence of the president of the state, the
northern barracks, the Senjak barracks and the main crossroads in Knin... I jumped
over the fence of the northern barracks and entered the building in which I had worked
four months ago... Th e barracks was being hit by quite a few shells, but we were lucky and
avoided shells falling on our head... We got into a Golf and set off towards the General Staff .
Shells were still falling, this time less frequently. We arrived at the Dešlić crossroads. Th e
area round the General Staff was hit more heavily. I stopped the driver and told him to
return to the barracks, and proceeded on foot... Seeking shelter behind trees I reached the
General Staff . I entered the building: what a sight. Two shells had hit the parking space
between the buildings and destroyed the entire motor pool. Th at must have been quite a
gunner, to land them right there. (Marko Vrcelj, Rat za Srpsku Krajinu, 1991-1995/War
for the Serbian Krajina, 1991-1995/; Belgrade, 2002, pp. 212-213).
218 HMDCDR: Ž. Sačić, «Specijalna policija u Oluji» (Special Police in Storm).
219 HMDCDR: Ž. Sačić, «Specijalna policija u Oluji» (Special Police in Storm).
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