President Milanović Receives Delegation of Club of 119th Croatian Army Brigade, Largest War Unit from Istria
The President of the Republic Zoran Milanović received a delegation of the Club of the 119th Croatian Army Brigade. Attending the meeting with President Milanović were former commanders of the 119th Croatian Army Brigade: retired colonel Branko Bošnjak, retired colonel Marijan Mužinić, retired lieutenant colonel Mauro Ukušić, retired lieutenant colonel Mirko Vuković, retired major Roberto Fabris, and retired colonel and editor of the “Monografija 119. brigade HV-a” Davor Gregorović.
The former commanders of the 119th Croatian Army Brigade detailed to President Milanović the circumstances in which this largest war unit in Istria County was founded, and whose initial task was to preserve peace in Istria, secure and remove mines from the barracks that were returned to their control. During the Homeland War, members of the 119th Croatian Army Brigade participated in the defense of the Republic of Croatia on the Dubrovnik front, the Novigrad hinterland, the Slavonski Brod front and in Lika, and also contributed to the liberation of occupied areas of the Republic of Croatia in the Military and Police Operation Storm.
They told the President of the Republic that they wish to preserve the memory of their war path and the role of its members in the Homeland War, therefore the Club of the 119th Croatian Army Brigade decided to prepare a monograph on this Istrian war unit, which will be published in September on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of its foundation. A total of 6,500 citizens of Istria passed through the ranks of the 119th Croatian Army Brigade, seven members were killed, eighty were wounded, and the brigade has not tarnished its war path, its former commanders noted.
PHOTO: Office of the President of the Republic of Croatia / Dario Andrišek