Battle of Kupres (1994)

Coordinates: 43°59′31″N 17°16′37″E / 43.992°N 17.277°E / 43.992; 17.277
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For other battles with the same name, see Battle of Kupres (disambiguation).

Battle of Kupres
Part of the Bosnian War

Map of Operations Autumn-94 and Cincar
Date20 October – 3 November 1994
Location
Southwestern Bosnia and Herzegovina
Result ARBiH and HVO victory
Belligerents
 Bosnia and Herzegovina
 Herzeg-Bosnia
 Croatia		  Republika Srpska
Commanders and leaders
Rasim Delić
Mehmed Alagić
Tihomir Blaškić
Ante Roso
Josip Černi		 Republika Srpska Ratko Mladić
Republika Srpska Grujo Borić
Units involved
Army of the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina
Croatian Defence Council
Croatian Army		 Republika Srpska Army of Republika Srpska
Strength
3,130 soldiers (19 October)
8,500 soldiers (1 November)
Unknown		 Republika Srpska 2,700 soldiers (19 October)
Republika Srpska 3,000 soldiers (1 November)
Casualties and losses
41 soldiers killed
162 soldiers wounded
4 soldiers killed
15 soldiers wounded		 Republika Srpska Unknown

The Battle of Kupres (

Croat alliance set out in the Washington Agreement of March 1994, brokered by the United States to end the Croat–Bosniak War fought between the ARBiH and the HVO in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The ARBiH and the HVO were not coordinated at first, rather they launched separate operations aimed at capture of Kupres
.

The ARBiH offensive,

codenamed Autumn-94 (Jesen-94), started on 20 October, with the primary aim of advancing from Bugojno towards VRS-held Donji Vakuf, supported by a secondary attack towards Kupres aimed at disruption of the VRS defences and threatening a supply route to Donji Vakuf. The primary attacking force soon ground to a halt, shifting the focus of the operation to Kupres, where substantial reinforcements were deployed to ensure a gradual advance of the ARBiH. On 29 October, the HVO decided to attack, as it considered the ARBiH had directly threatened the strategic Kupres plateau. The HVO launched its offensive, codenamed Operation Cincar (Operacija Cincar), on 1 November. Following a brief lull in the ARBiH advance, thought to be brought on by a variety of causes and a direct request by the President of Bosnia and Herzegovina Alija Izetbegović
to the ARBiH to cooperate with the HVO, commanding officers of the two forces met to coordinate their operations for the first time since the Washington Agreement. Kupres itself was captured by the HVO on 3 November 1994.

Besides the political significance of the battle for future developments of the war in Bosnia, the battle was militarily significant for planning and execution of

siege of Bihać
in late November and December 1994. Territorial gains made by the HVO and the ARBiH in the Battle of Kupres safeguarded the right flank of Operation Winter '94.

Background

Main articles: Croatian War of Independence and Bosnian War

The

eastern Croatian settlements with significant Serb populations.[2] These areas were subsequently named the Republic of Serbian Krajina (RSK). The RSK declared its intention of political integration with Serbia and was viewed by the Government of Croatia as a rebellion.[3] By March 1991, the conflict escalated to war—the Croatian War of Independence.[4] In June 1991, Croatia declared its independence as Yugoslavia disintegrated,[5] followed by a three-month moratorium on the decision,[6] thus the decision came into effect on 8 October.[7] A campaign of ethnic cleansing was then initiated by the RSK against Croatian civilians and most non-Serbs were expelled by early 1993. By November 1993, less than 400 and 1,500–2,000 ethnic Croats remained in UN protected areas Sector South[8] and Sector North respectively.[9]

As the

Battle of the barracks,[12] the Siege of Dubrovnik,[13] and the Battle of Vukovar.[14]

In January 1992, the

Sarajevo Agreement was signed by representatives of Croatia, the JNA and the UN, and fighting between the two sides paused.[15] Ending the series of unsuccessful ceasefires, United Nations Protection Force (UNPROFOR) was deployed to Croatia to supervise and maintain the agreement.[16] The conflict largely passed on to entrenched positions, and the JNA soon retreated from Croatia into Bosnia and Herzegovina, where a new conflict was anticipated,[15] but Serbia continued to support the RSK.[17] HV advances restored small areas to Croatian control—as the siege of Dubrovnik was lifted,[18] and in Operation Maslenica.[19] Croatian towns and villages were intermittently attacked by artillery,[20] or missiles.[2][21]

As the JNA disengaged in Croatia, its personnel prepared to set up a new

Bosanski Brod, and the HV 108th Brigade crossed the border adjacent to the town in reply.[23] On 4 April, Serb artillery began shelling Sarajevo.[24] Even though the war originally pitted Bosnian Serbs against non-Serbs in the country, it evolved into a three-sided conflict by the end of the year, as the Croat–Bosniak War started.[25] By that time, the Bosnian Serb army—renamed Army of Republika Srpska (VRS) after the Republika Srpska state proclaimed in the Bosnian Serb-held territory—controlled about 70% of Bosnia and Herzegovina.[26] That proportion would not change significantly over the next two years.[27] Republika Srpska was involved in the Croatian War of Independence in a limited capacity, through military and other aid to the RSK, occasional air raids launched from Banja Luka, and most significantly through artillery attacks against urban centres.[28][29]

Prelude

Kupres, objective of Operation Cincar and Autumn-94

Following a new military strategy of the United States endorsed by Bill Clinton since February 1993,[30] the Washington Agreement was signed by Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina in March 1994. The agreement ended the Croat–Bosniak War[31] and established the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina.[32] The political settlement allowed the ARBiH and the HVO to deploy additional troops against the VRS in a series of small-scale attacks designed to wear down the Bosnian Serb military, but the attacks claimed no territorial gains before October.[33] The ARBiH adopted an attrition warfare strategy relying on its numerical superiority compared to the VRS, which suffered from manpower shortages. This strategy aimed for limited advances, without support of heavy weapons and means of transport—unavailable to the ARBiH at the time.[34]

In March–November 1994, the ARBiH conducted a series of attacks with relatively limited objectives, attacking the VRS at the

Brčko, Kladanj, Sarajevo, on the Bjelašnica and the Treskavica Mountain, Gračanica, Vareš, Konjic and Doboj. Further efforts were made, together with the HVO, against the VRS near Nevesinje in September–November, but most of the offensives made little or no gains. At the same time, VRS attacks north of Sarajevo were successfully repulsed.[35] It was hoped by the ARBiH General Staff that the VRS could not muster sufficient reserves to hold off the simultaneous, relatively limited attacks.[36] Little territory changed hands as a result of the ARBiH offensive by the end of October, but the VRS shortage of troops worsened.[33]

codenamed Autumn-94.[37] The ARBiH wanted to deny the VRS a supply route passing through Kupres in order to weaken VRS defence around Donji Vakuf.[38]

It is not clear how the ARBiH and the HVO coordinated before their advance to Kupres. Most probably, the two forces' commands agreed on a simultaneous offensive against Kupres, without revealing actual battle plans to their counterparts. The HVO's contribution in the offensive, codenamed Operation Cincar, was planned jointly by the HVO and the HV.[39]

Order of battle

Initially, the ARBiH committed 3,130 troops to its secondary axis—the thrust towards Kupres.

Brigadier General Mehmed Alagić, while the HVO Tomislavgrad Corps, formally in control of Operation Cincar, was commanded by Colonel Josip Černi.[46] The VRS 2nd Krajina Corps was under command of Colonel Radivoje Tomanić.[47]

Timeline

October

class=notpageimage|
Bosnia and Herzegovina territory, before 20 October 1994:
  HVO-controlled,   ARBiH-controlled,   VRS-controlled
Captured in Operations Cincar and Autumn-94 by   HVO,   ARBiH
Croatia:   HV-controlled,   RSK-controlled

The ARBiH launched the secondary axis of Operation Autumn-94—drive towards Kupres—at 2 am on 20 October,[38] hours after the primary attacking force started moving against Donji Vakuf.[53] As the primary effort of the ARBiH offensive bogged down the same day, Kupres became the main objective. The 317th Mountain Infantry Brigade was added to augment the ARBiH force that made initial advances towards Kupres.[48] The next day, as the ARBiH gradually advanced, elements of the 305th Mountain Brigade were also sent as reinforcements to the attacking force.[49] By 23 October, the ARBiH moved close enough to Kupres to direct heavy mortar fire against the town.[38] On 25 October, the ARBiH 7th Corps requested a meeting with the HVO Tomislavgrad Corps representatives to coordinate further advances in the area, however the HVO postponed the meeting until after 28 October due to replacement of the Tomislavgrad Corps commanding officer.[54] On 27 October, the ARBiH 37th Light Infantry Brigade was added to the attack,[50] slowly progressing from one mountain ridge to the next.[38] In addition, elements of the 27th Mountain Infantry Brigade and a battalion of the 7th Conscripted Mountain Infantry Brigade joined the ARBiH push.[51] On 28 November, the ARBiH General Staff committed a guards brigade attached to the General Staff to the battle.[52]

Since the beginning of the ARBiH offensive, the HVO had been assembling three of its four guards brigades under command of General

Livanjsko field. The operation was originally scheduled for 31 October at 4:30 am, only to be postponed by 24 hours, as the HVO needed more time to prepare. Delayed arrival of reconnaissance teams further postponed the HVO offensive until 8 am on 1 November 1994.[45]

November

The HVO advanced north along two main axes of attack. The western axis advanced from

Rilić. Just as the HVO began to move north, the ARBiH suspended its westward advance. Various explanations for the pause were put forward, including fog, rain, need to secure territorial gains, wear of equipment and fatigue of personnel.[55] Regardless, that day the President of Bosnia and Herzegovina Alija Izetbegović telephoned Alagić requesting an adequate level of cooperation and avoidance of any conflicts with the HVO.[56] Finally, Alagić made a public call to the HVO to participate in the offensive against the VRS in Kupres.[57] The same day, the VRS targeted Bugojno using two 9K52 Luna-M missiles.[44]

On 2 November, the HVO captured

Major General Tihomir Blaškić made a written apology on behalf of the HVO claiming the HVO officers had to be elsewhere at the time.[59] A new meeting took place as proposed by Alagić. The meeting concluded at 3 am, with an agreement between Alagić and Černi to withdraw some of the ARBiH troops on the right flank of the HVO thrust to allow the HVO to strike Kupres from that direction, and coordinate their further advances beyond Kupres.[58] Although cooperation was established, there was no joint command of the ARBiH and the HVO.[57]

The ARBiH pullback was completed by 11 am on 3 November, while the right flank of the ARBiH force pressed forward to capture the Kupreška Vrata Pass,[60] 3 kilometres (1.9 miles) away from Kupres. The Bosnian Croat special police and the 60th Guards Airborne Battalion entered Kupres shortly after noon,[39] and the HVO completed capture of the town by 1:30 pm.[61] The HVO proceeded to capture nearly the entire Kupres plateau, bringing the 1st, the 79th and the 80th Home Guards Regiments of the HVO to hold defensive positions on the plateau.[45] The VRS was unable to counter-attack in a timely manner, because it had no reserves in place for the task.[62]

Aftermath

The ARBiH significantly shortened its positions held opposite the VRS and captured 130 square kilometres (50 square miles) of territory,[63] while the HVO captured nearly 400 square kilometres (150 square miles) of the area around Kupres.[64] Battle losses of the ARBiH amounted to 41 killed in action and 162 wounded troops.[63] By 3 November, 4 HVO troops were killed and 15 wounded,[61] and further 3 soldiers died and 5 were wounded in a VRS counter-attack near Zlosela at 11 am on 4 November.[45]

The Battle of Kupres was the first concrete result of the renewed Bosniak–Croat alliance in the Bosnian War,

besieging Bihać and prevent capture of Bihać by the VRS.[31] The battle is considered to be a significant contribution to subsequent success of the HV in the Croatian War of Independence and the Bosnian War.[68]

Citations

  1. ^ The New York Times & 19 August 1990
  2. ^ a b ICTY & 12 June 2007
  3. ^ The New York Times & 2 April 1991
  4. ^ The New York Times & 3 March 1991
  5. ^ The New York Times & 26 June 1991
  6. ^ The New York Times & 29 June 1991
  7. ^ Narodne novine & 8 October 1991
  8. ^ Department of State & 31 January 1994
  9. ^ ECOSOC & 17 November 1993, Section J, points 147 & 150
  10. ^ EECIS 1999, pp. 272–278
  11. ^ The Independent & 10 October 1992
  12. ^ The New York Times & 24 September 1991
  13. ^ Bjelajac & Žunec 2009, pp. 249–250
  14. ^ The New York Times & 18 November 1991
  15. ^ a b The New York Times & 3 January 1992
  16. ^ Los Angeles Times & 29 January 1992
  17. ^ Thompson 2012, p. 417
  18. ^ The New York Times & 15 July 1992
  19. ^ The New York Times & 24 January 1993
  20. ^ ECOSOC & 17 November 1993, Section K, point 161
  21. ^ The New York Times & 13 September 1993
  22. ^ Ramet 2006, p. 382
  23. ^ Ramet 2006, p. 427
  24. ^ Ramet 2006, p. 428
  25. ^ Ramet 2006, p. 10
  26. ^ Ramet 2006, p. 433
  27. ^ Ramet 2006, p. 443
  28. ^ The Seattle Times & 16 July 1992
  29. ^ The New York Times & 17 August 1995
  30. ^ Woodward 2010, p. 432
  31. ^ a b Jutarnji list & 9 December 2007
  32. ^ a b Ramet 2006, p. 439
  33. ^ a b CIA 2002, p. 251
  34. ^ CIA 2002, p. 223
  35. ^ CIA 2002, pp. 235–242
  36. ^ CIA 2002, pp. 230–231
  37. ^ Ramić 2004, pp. 88–90
  38. ^ a b c d CIA 2002, p. 242
  39. ^ a b c d e f CIA 2002, p. 243
  40. ^ a b Ramić 2004, p. 92
  41. ^ a b c Ramić 2004, p. 100
  42. ^ a b Ramić 2004, p. 85
  43. ^ a b Ramić 2004, p. 87
  44. ^ a b c Ramić 2004, p. 132
  45. ^ a b c d e f g h HRHB & 4 November 1994
  46. ^ Ramić 2004, p. 141
  47. ^ SVK & 6 December 1994
  48. ^ a b Ramić 2004, p. 102
  49. ^ a b Ramić 2004, p. 106
  50. ^ a b Ramić 2004, p. 120
  51. ^ a b c Ramić 2004, p. 122
  52. ^ a b Ramić 2004, p. 124
  53. ^ Ramić 2004, pp. 99–100
  54. ^ Ramić 2004, pp. 115–116
  55. ^ a b CIA 2002, pp. 242–243
  56. ^ Ramić 2004, p. 135
  57. ^ a b CIA 2002, note 237/V
  58. ^ a b Ramić 2004, pp. 137–141
  59. ^ Ramić 2004, p. 162
  60. ^ Ramić 2004, p. 142
  61. ^ a b HRHB & 3 November 1994
  62. ^ Ripley 1999, p. 86
  63. ^ a b c Ramić 2004, pp. 149–150
  64. ^ Kupreški Radio & 3 November 2012
  65. ^ Caspersen 2010, p. 155
  66. ^ CIA 2002, note 227/V
  67. ^ Bono 2003, p. 107
  68. ^ Hrvatski vojnik & July 2010

References

Books
News reports
Other sources

43°59′31″N 17°16′37″E / 43.992°N 17.277°E / 43.992; 17.277

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