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Serbian Guard | |
---|---|
Српска гарда Srpska garda | |
Active | 1991–1992 |
Disbanded | Yes |
Country | Serbia Serbian Krajina Republika Srpska |
Allegiance | Serbian Renewal Movement |
Type | Paramilitary |
Role | Anti-tank warfare Close-quarters combat Counterinsurgency Crowd control Force protection Guerrilla warfare HUMINT Internal security Patrolling Raiding Reconnaissance Security checkpoint Tracking Urban warfare |
Size | ~40,000 |
Garrison/HQ | Bor |
Engagements | Croatian War |
Commanders | |
Commander | Đorđe "Giška" Božović † |
The Serbian Guard (Serbian: Српска гарда, romanized: Srpska garda) was a Serbian paramilitary active in the Croatian War with close ties to the Serbian Renewal Movement (SPO). Eighty percent of the guard's members were members of the SPO.[1] The paramilitary was formed by SPO official Vuk Drašković and his wife Danica Drašković, along with Đorđe Božović and Branislav Matić.[2]
The paramilitary unit's training camp was located near Bor Lake in Serbia.[2] It participated in clashes in Croatia near the town of Gospić.[3] Elements of the unit also participated in the Bosnian War.[4] Đorđe Božović was the unit's first commander, but was killed in action near Gospić.[5] Some people have alleged that Božović's death was an act of "friendly fire" orchestrated by the Republic of Serbian Krajina government.[6] The unit's chief financier Branislav Matić was gunned down on 4 August 1991 in Belgrade.[7] After the death of Božović, the unit was taken over by Branislav Lainović.
Yugoslavian colonel general Nebojša Pavković has called for Drašković to be tried for his role in the guard's formation.[8] Having a pro-opposition political stance, the guard was never favoured by the government of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and Yugoslav security services.
the establishment of the SPO's own paramilitary unit — the Serbian Guards (Srpska Garda), which attacked the Croatian town of Gospic in 1991