| Abstract | Smrću Josipa Broza Tita, najvećeg integrativnog faktora koji je držao jugoslavenske republike na okupu, započelo je njezino rastakanje. Velika gospodarska i društvena kriza uz porast nacionalizma u drugoj polovici 1980-ih samo su ubrzali raspad zajedničke države. Godina 1990. nagovijestila je kako taj raspad ide svuda samo ne u mirnom smjeru. Naoružani civili srpske nacionalnosti na blokiranim prometnicama, koje su vodile kroz njihova naselja, postali su svakodnevica na prostoru Republike Hrvatske. Taj scenarij nije zaobišao niti prostor Banovine kao domicilni prostor 2. pješačke bojne „Banijske oluje“ 2. gardijske brigade „Gromovi“. Naime niz događaja iz prve polovice 1991. godine donio je potrebu za povećanjem broja postrojbi spremnih za obranu. Rezultat je bio osnivanje, u okviru postrojbi Ministarstva unutarnjih poslova, Zbora narodne garde kao vojnih formacija u svibnju te godine. Zbor narodne garde činile su četiri djelatne „A“ brigade, među njima i 2. „A“ brigada Zbora narodne garde „Gromovi“ osnovana na prostoru Trstenika kraj Dugog Sela. U sklopu te brigade na prostoru Siska, gdje je napetost rasla iz dana u dan, osnovana je početkom lipnja 2. pješačka bojna „Banijska oluja“. Uskoro su se nizali tereni u krvavom ratnom vihoru Banovine: Glina, selo Kozibrod u Pounju, Općina Petrinja, Komarevo i Blinjski Kut, borbe za Petrinju, obrana Sunje, operacija Vihor-borbe za sv. Katarinu i selo Glinsku Poljanu. Tijekom 1992. bojna sudjeluje u obrani položaja u Sunji i selu Glinska Poljana, te u vrlo složenim operacijama na Južnom bojištu kojima je cilj bio deblokada grada Dubrovnika. Vrlo kratko sudjeluje u borbama na bosansko-posavskom bojištu na širem prostoru Bosanskog Broda. U 1993. svoj angažman bilježi u obrani dostignutih položaja nakon završetka operacije Maslenica u zadarskom zaleđu gdje sprečava neprijateljski protunapad, a naravno aktivna je i na domicilnom bojištu Banovine. U 1994. njeni časnici se obrazuju i stječu teoretska znanja koja će kasnije upotrijebiti u praksi tijekom budućih zadataka, a kratko djeluje i na ličkom bojištu u okolici Gospića kroz izviđanja terena. U 1995. sudjeluje u oslobađanju okupiranih prostora Banovine u operaciji Oluja na pravcu Sisak- selo Mošćenica – Petrinja -Kostajnica, odakle se razmješta na prostor Gline gdje napreduje prema selima Veliki i Mali Obljaj gdje na koncu dolazi do spajanja s 1. gardijskom brigadom „Tigrovi“. Time je okončano djelovanje 2. pješačke bojne u toj operaciji, nakon čega je uslijedio svečani doček u Sisku. Iste godine u rujnu bojna je angažirana u operaciji Una-95 s ciljem osvajanja prostora od Bosanskog Novog do Prijedora. Operacija završila neuspješno zbog više faktora: od loših obavještajnih podataka, preko kratkog roka pripreme postrojbi, do ekstremnih vremenskih uvjeta i manjkave logističke potpore. Zapovjedna izviđanja prostora Istočne Slavonije bila su posljednje ratne aktivnosti bojne. S potpisivanjem sporazuma u Erdutu započela je mirna reintegracija tog prostora u ponovni sastav Republike Hrvatske čime su vojne aktivnosti završene. Tijekom Domovinskog rata kroz 2. pješačku bojnu „Banijska oluja“ 2. gardijske brigade „Gromovi“ prošlo je 2500 gardista. Poginulo je 45 pripadnika, dok se jedan vodi kao nestao, a ranjeno je što teže, što lakše 235 gardista. |
| Abstract (english) | The death of Josip Broz Tito, who is credited with holding the Yugoslav republics together by dictatorial force, initiated the process of the disintegration of Yugoslavia. In addition to the rapid economic decline and social crisis, the rise in nationalism in the late 1980s served as a catalyst for the breakup of the Yugoslav federation. The year of 1990 brought about a sense that the breakup would not be peaceful. In Croatia, armed civilians of Serbian ethnicity blocked roads leading to the villages where they constituted the majority of the population. Such scenes became part of everyday life in the Republic of Croatia and the Banovina region of central Croatia bore witness to the same scenario. The region was Area of Responsibility assigned to the 2nd Infantry Battalion “The Storm of Banija” (Croatian: Banijske oluje) which was part of the 2nd Guard Brigade, also known by their nickname as “The Thunder” (Croatian: Gromovi). A number of incidents in the first half of 1991 necessitated the development of new combat-ready formations. As a result, the Croatian National Guard (Croatian: Zbor narodne garde or ZNG) was established in May 1991, within the framework of the Ministry of the Interior. The Croatian National Guard consisted of four all-professional brigades, one of which was initially referred to as the 2nd “A” Brigade, formed at the Trstenik barracks near Dugo Selo. The 2nd Infantry Battalion “The Storm of Banija” was formed on 3 June 1991 in Sisak, where tensions were growing by day. Soon, the battalion would see much of the bloody fighting in the region of Banovina in the places and battles such as: Glina, the village of Kozibrod in Pounje, the Petrinja County, Komarevo and Blinjski Kut, the Battle of Petrinja, the defense of Sunja, Operation Whirlwind (Croatian: Vihor), the Battles of Sv. Katarina, and the village of Glinska Poljana. During 1992 the battalion partook in the defense of Croatian positions in Sunja and the village of Glinska Poljana, and complex operations on the Southern Front aimed at lifting the Siege of Dubrovnik. The battalion briefly participated in the fighting on the Bosanska Posavina Front in the surrounding area of Bosanski Brod, Bosnia and Herzegovina. In 1993, while still being active in its Area of Responsibility on the Banovina Front, it contributed to the defense of the previously established positions in the wake of Operation Maslenica in the Zadar hinterland, where it prevented an enemy counterattack. The following year the battalion’s officers were getting education and acquiring theoretical knowledge that they would later put in practice during their future assignments. The battalion also had a brief stint in the surrounding area of Gospić, on the Lika Front, where it conducted reconnaissance missions. In 1995 it took part in the liberation of the occupied territories of the region of Banovina in Operation Storm. Their axis of attack was directed towards Sisak, the village of Mošćenica, Petrinja and Kostajnica. Subsequently, they were deployed in the area surrounding Glina from where they advanced towards the villages of Veliki Obljaj and Mali Obljaj. There they linked up with the 1st Guard Brigade “The Tigers” (Croatian: Tigrovi) thus ending their participation in the operation which was followed by a victory parade in Sisak. In Operation Una in September 1995 the battalion was tasked with seizing control of the area between Bosanski Novi and Prijedor. The operation did not succeed for many reasons: flawed military intelligence, inadequate planning and preparation, disregard for adverse weather conditions, and poor logistical support. Final military activities conducted by the battalion consisted of reconnaissance missions in Eastern Slavonia. The signing of the Erdut Agreement initiated the process of peaceful reintegration of Eastern Slavonia, Baranja and Western Sirmium putting an end to all military activities in the Republic of Croatia. During the Homeland War of Independence, the battalion saw 2500 men in action. Losses sustained by the battalion are cited as 45 killed on duty, one missing in action, and 235 lightly or seriously wounded. |
