Sremska Mitrovica Prison

Sremska Mitrovica Prison (

Yugoslavian Civil Wars it was used as a concentration camp for thousands of Croatian and Bosnian prisoners amidst allegations of torture, prisoner abuse and rape.^[1]

History

Foundation and early history

It was formed by the order of

Habsburg emperor Franz Joseph between 1895 and 1899. From 1918 to 1941, it functioned under administration of the Kingdom of Yugoslavia and after 1944 under administration of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia

.

During the Yugoslav Wars, some Croatian and Bosniak prisoners of war were kept in this prison. The main prison facility; the largest known in Serbia, was open from November 1991 to August 1992 and was a scene where many prisoners were tortured, abused and raped. At least 25 prisoners were killed in front of witnesses, but the actual number is believed to be much higher. International organizations collected detailed information from reports, inspections and survivors regarding Sremska Mitrovica prison.^[2]

Sometimes, the guards would hold a

U.S. Department of State's declassified materials,^[3]

at least 18 prisoners were tortured to death. Another survivor claims that people were killed, but not in front of witnesses, while at least two others said they witnessed at least two deaths. Some prisoners were transferred to solitary confinement cells and never returned.

Throughout 1992, prisoners were regularly exchanged. On August 7, 1992, an agreement was reached between Yugoslav

Prime Minister Milan Panić and Croatian Prime Minister Franjo Gregurić in Budapest for a mass exchange of prisoners. About 500 prisoners from the KPD were to be exchanged at Nemetin, near Osijek

. During the ride towards their destination, many were mistreated. On August 14, approximately 1,500 prisoners from both sides were exchanged.

The prison reportedly no longer kept war prisoners after August 13. Some of the inmates survived for nine months in the prison. According to the Croatian Society of Serb Concentration Camp Inmates (

war criminals from the wars in Croatia and Bosnia.^[8]

References

General

Final report of the United Nations Commission of Experts: detailed reports on prison camps in former Yugoslavia, including Mitrovica prison camp, witness reports and info on visits
(in Croatian) Basic info and one testimony of a day in the life of one survivor

Notes

^ Mikaberidze, Alexander (2019). Behind Barbed Wire: An Encyclopedia of Concentration and Prisoner of War Camps. ABC-CLIO. p. 255.
^ "Prison Camps". Archived from the original on 6 January 2011. Retrieved 9 July 2023.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
^ U.S. Department of State, Declassified Materials, 1992, IHRLI Doc. No. 56582 - 56583
^ (in Serbian) Danas.co.yu news article on Vukovar commemoration Archived 2011-07-25 at the Wayback Machine
^ News article on Milošević trial and Vukovar
^ News article on Šljivančanin trial and Vukovar
^ ICTY transcript, witness Ivan Grujic (March 2003)
^ News article about a war criminal

External links

[1] Mikaberidze, Alexander (2019). Behind Barbed Wire: An Encyclopedia of Concentration and Prisoner of War Camps. ABC-CLIO. p. 255.

[2] "Prison Camps". Archived from the original on 6 January 2011. Retrieved 9 July 2023.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)

[3] U.S. Department of State, Declassified Materials, 1992, IHRLI Doc. No. 56582 - 56583

[4] (in Serbian) Danas.co.yu news article on Vukovar commemoration Archived 2011-07-25 at the Wayback Machine

[5] News article on Milošević trial and Vukovar

[6] News article on Šljivančanin trial and Vukovar

[7] ICTY transcript, witness Ivan Grujic (March 2003)

[8] News article about a war criminal

[1]

[2]

[3]

[8]

v t e Croatian War of Independence
Part of the Yugoslav Wars
Prelude	Log Revolution SAO Krajina
1991	Pakrac clash Plitvice Lakes incident Siege of Kijevo Battle of Borovo Selo 1991 riot in Zadar 1991 protest in Split SAO Eastern Slavonia, Baranja and Western Syrmia 1991 killings of Serbs in Vukovar Sisak killings Tenja killings Operation Stinger Dalj massacre Operation Labrador SAO Western Slavonia Banija villages killings Battle of Vukovar Battle of Osijek Battle of Gospić Petrinja killings Berak killings Battle of Kusonje Četekovac massacre Battle of the Barracks Siege of Varaždin Barracks Siege of Bjelovar Barracks Battle of Zadar Battle of Šibenik 1991 Yugoslav campaign in Croatia Korana bridge killings Tovarnik massacre Siege of Dubrovnik Novo Selo Glinsko massacre Bombing of Banski dvori Široka Kula massacre Lovas killings Gospić massacre Baćin massacre Saborsko massacre Požega villages massacre Operation Otkos 10 Battle of Logorište Poljanak and Vukovići massacres Erdut killings Pula incident Battle of the Dalmatian channels Kostrići massacre Škabrnja massacre Vukovar massacre Novska murders Vance plan Murder of the Zec family Operation Whirlwind Paulin Dvor massacre Gornje Jame massacre Operation Orkan 91 Voćin massacre Joševica massacre Operation Devil's Beam Mašićka Šagovina killings Bruška massacre Vrsar airport bombing
1992	Sarajevo Agreement 1992 European Community Monitor Mission helicopter downing Operation Baranja Operation Jackal Battle of the Miljevci Plateau Operation Tiger (1992) Operation Liberated Land Battle of Konavle Operation Vlaštica
1993–94	Operation Maslenica Daruvar Agreement Operation Backstop Operation Medak Pocket Z-4 Plan Operation Winter '94
1995	Operation Leap 1 Operation Flash Medari massacre Zagreb rocket attack Operation Leap 2 Operation Summer '95 Operation Storm Kijani killings Golubić killings Uzdolje killings Bosanski Petrovac refugee column bombing Dvor massacre Komić killings Gošić killings Varivode massacre Operation Maestral 2
Timeline of the Croatian War of Independence
Internment camps	Begejci camp Bučje camp Kerestinec camp Knin camp Kuline prison camp Lora prison camp Marino Selo camp Ovčara camp Pakračka Poljana camp Sremska Mitrovica prison camp Stajićevo camp Velepromet camp
Other	Independence of Croatia Persecution of Croats in Serbia during the war in Croatia Erdut Agreement (UNTAES)
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