National Defence of the Autonomous Province of Western Bosnia
The People's Defense of the Autonomous Province of Western Bosnia (Bosnian: Narodna Odbrana Zapadne Bosne, NOZB; Serbian: Народна одбрана Западне Босне, НОЗБ / Narodna Odbrana Zapadne Bosne, NOZB) was a paramilitary unit founded and led by Fikret Abdić that fought in the Bosnian War (1993–1995) during the Yugoslav Wars. It served as the de facto army of the APZB.
People's Defense of the Autonomous Province of Western Bosnia | |
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Narodna odbrana Zapadne Bosne | |
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Founded | 1993 |
Disbanded | 1995 |
Country | Autonomous Province of Western Bosnia |
Type | Paramilitary |
Size | 10,000[1][2] (4,000–5,000[3] active) |
Garrison/HQ | Velika Kladuša |
Engagements | Yugoslav Wars |
Commanders | |
Commander-in-chief | Fikret Abdić |
Chief of Staff | Hasib Hodžić[4] |
Structure
Structure of the People's Defense of the Autonomous Province of Western Bosnia:[1][2]
- 1st brigade NOZB
- 2nd brigade NOZB
- 3rd brigade NOZB
- 4th brigade NOZB
- 5th brigade NOZB
- 6th brigade NOZB
Special Units
- The Šejla unit
- The Ajkini unit
- The Metal unit
- The Golubovi unit
- The Jastrebovi unit
- The Zenge unit
- The Husko unit
Other Units
Military police
- Border police
Battles
Siege of Bihać
From 1993 to 1995, the NOZB fought against the 5th Corps alongside Republika Srpska and the Republic of Serbian Krajina.
Operation Tiger 1994
On June 2, 1994, the 5th Corps, under the command of Atif Dudaković,[5] overran and seized the territory of Western Bosnia and Fikret Abdić fled to Zagreb for safety.[6] The battle was a huge success for the ARBiH, which was able to rout Abdić's forces and manage to push the Serb forces from Bihać and abolish Western Bosnia temporarily.
Operation Spider
On November 4, 1994, the Autonomous Province of Western Bosnia was re-established after a Serb counterattack against the Bosnian forces.
Legacy
In 2013, the Constitutional Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina issued a decision that equated the rights of former soldiers of the NOZB with those of the members of the ARBiH and the HVO.[7]
See also
References
- "Ko su bili komandanti Abdićeve poražene vojske: Otkrivamo – gdje su i šta rade Babini vojnici". hamdočamo (in Bosnian). 24 June 2016. Retrieved 11 August 2022.
- "ОДБРАМБЕНО-ОТАЏБИНСКИ РАТ 1991-1995: Narodna odbrana Zapadne Bosne". ОДБРАМБЕНО-ОТАЏБИНСКИ РАТ 1991-1995. 27 March 2017. Retrieved 11 August 2022.
- Ramet 2006, p. 451
- https://hamdocamo.wordpress.com/2012/06/24/ko-su-bili-komandanti-abdiceve-porazene-vojske-otkrivamo-gdje-su-i-sta-rade-babini-vojnici/
- Anthony Loyd (February 1, 2001). My War Gone By, I Miss It So. Penguin (Non-Classics). ISBN 0-14-029854-1.
- "Republika Zapadna Bosna: hronologija jedne izdaje". historija.info. 5 August 2017. Archived from the original on 27 August 2020. Retrieved 7 May 2016.
- "TZV. NARODNA ODBRANA ZAPADNA BOSNA JE BILA DIO AGRESORSKIH SRPSKO-CRGORSKIH VOJNIH SNAGA — Bosnjaci.Net". www.bosnjaci.net. Retrieved 2023-02-14.