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| Majevica front | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part of theBosnian War | |||||||
 Majevica frontlines in 1995. | |||||||
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| Belligerents | |||||||
| Republika Srpska | Bosnia and Herzegovina | ||||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
| Ratko Mladić Momir Zec [sr] Branko Pantelić † Ljubiša Savić | Željko Knez Hazim Šadić | ||||||
| Units involved | |||||||
| |||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||
| Heavy | Heavy | ||||||
TheMajevica Campaign or theMajevica front was one of the main campaigns during theBosnian War with intense clashes occurring on a regular basis, the situation stayed 50/50 on the hills (and the surrounding areas) until the 1995Dayton Agreement.TheBosnian Serbs and theBosnians wanted to controlMajevica, as it had a radio tower vital for: communication, television, telephone communication's and node radio, as this would help supply and help theBosnian Serb army. Holding part of the mountain held a great advantage for Both sides, as the Bosnians and Serbs could threaten their territories in North-Western Bosnia.[1]
As theYugoslav People's Army (Jugoslovenska narodna armija – JNA) withdrew from Croatia following the acceptance and start of implementation of theVance plan, its 55,000 officers and soldiers born in Bosnia and Herzegovina were transferred to a newBosnian Serb army, which was later renamed theArmy of Republika Srpska (Vojska Republike Srpske – VRS). This reorganisation followed the declaration of the Serbian Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina on 9 January 1992, ahead of the 29 February – 1 March 1992referendum on the independence of Bosnia and Herzegovina. This declaration would later be cited by the Bosnian Serbs as a pretext for theBosnian War.[2] Clashes began in Early 1992, as tensions arose between Serbs and Bosniaks in theMajevica andSemberija region. The1992 Yugoslav People's Army column incident in Tuzla culminated in the bloody skirmishes in Bosnia and Majevica.[3]
Clashes between Serbs and Bosniak forces occurred in 1992, with a large offensive being launched by theARBiH in September.
Teočak and Priboj offensive
In September 1992, theARBiH would launch an offensive on Teočak and Priboj, a defensive line is set up by theGarda Panteri.
In the same period of the offensive, theARBiH conducted attacks on villages on Majevica, eventually penetrating into the Tuzla-Bijeljina roads. 1st in command of thePanther Guard,Branko Pantelić was killed in action during combat against theARBiH. A counteroffensive was launched by theVRS and drove theARBiH back to their positions.[4]
Battle of Banj brdo
On April 20–21, 1993 Elite Bosnian units would penetrate the Banj Brdo Hills outer defense lines, with the goal of surprising attacking the VRS defenses at the rear. TheARBiH units would then occupy the Slopes. A VRS counterattack was then underway a half hour later, the VRS Drove theARBiH from the occupied slopes and capturing further land.In the same period, a Clash during Easter occurred, ending in Serbian victory.[3]
In 1994, theARBiH would attack the strategic radio tower on Mount Majevica, also attempting pushing the Serbs so that they could not shellTuzla. The attack consisted of multiple Groups and Corps. The Bosnian-Serbs deployed many units to counter-attack Bosnian forces. TheARBiH occupied “Sapna thumb”, then defending the East and north of the Radio stolice, where the 1st Majevica Brigade was garrisoned. The rest of the units were stationed around the radio stolice. TheARBiH had 8,000 troops, compared to the approximate 7,000 Bosnian-Serb troops.[5]
The Bosnian Serb army would occasionally shell the slopes of Majevica, and small clashes. But theARBiH began to grow its forces in the region.
In April Bosnian Forces attacked the Bosnian Serb army on may 11. The2nd Corps would carry out repeated attacks on Mt. Majevica and on Banjbrdo. The 206th Mesic Brigade would see the intense fighting. The Bosnian Serb army shelled Bosnian towns and villages and began a counterattack. Bosnian forces shelled the Radio stolice, dismantling Serbian communications and TV temporarily, but failed to capture the radio tower. The Bosnian offensive had been halted to temporarily regroup and reinforce their troops. The Bosnian assault continued on May 27 attacking their previous objectives, a Bosnian Serb unit counterattacked and pushed Bosnian forces several kilometers south.
The June cease-fire saw the Bosnian Serbs drive the government gains in Majevica.[5]
Battle of Lisači
In November, theARBiH launched an offensive against theVRS, with the goal of taking a radio tower, theARBiH launched their attack in November, prior to this some Bosnian soldiers snuck behind Serbian lines to test where the Serbs were the most vulnerable. TheARBiH liberated; Mala Jelica, Lisača, and Senokos. Lisača had not been fully encircled so theARBiH waited for the surroundedVRS members. The Bosnians and Serbs negotiated on May 11, Vesko Mitrović (commanding the VRS soldiers) dictated that he would withdraw his forces from Mala Jelica, theARBiH demanded the VRS withdrew from Kolijevka and Mala Jelica. Vesko stated that he would talk about it with his superiors, however a Serbian counterattack was already underway. Helicopters were sent to give the surroundedVRS soldiers bread, but heavy gunfire from theARBiH limited the number of supplies. A number ofVRS attacks were launched against theARBiH enclave, the main attack from theVRS had been stopped by theARBiH. A series of other attacks were launched by theVRS but all failed.The Serbs lost 1 commander, Boško Perić, killed in an attempt to evacuate the surrounded soldiers. Another Serb commander was wounded. Although the main goal of capturing the relay tower failed for theARBiH, they managed to gain a few kilometers of land.[6]
The fighting on Majevica in 1995 was some of the fiercest since 1994 and 1993, Under-seeing many Offensives and counterattacks.
TheARBiH launch a major offensive to capture repeater towers. TheARBiH suffered abysmal losses and was forced to retreat due to the treacherous weather conditions. TheARBiH andArmy of Republika Srpska both shelled each other.
TheARBiH relaunch the offensive on March 23, theARBiH pushed the Serbs back and captured the repeater tower, both sides suffered heavy losses fighting for the repeater towers. The Bosnian Serbs shelled the positions heavily for 2 days, which eventually ledRadovan Karadzic to order a counteroffensive on theARBiH. TheGarda Panteri and other units broke through the enclave of theARBiH position and set a corridor that led to the repeater towers. TheARBiH defense collapsed, due to the weather conditions and the fierce fighting. TheARBiH unit that attacked the repeater tower shifted its attacks to villages nearLukavac, but theARBiH failed to gain any significant ground. TheARBiH re-attempted to capture the Repeater tower, but failed to capture it. The Serbs launched a counterattack and re-took the repeater tower.[7]
Intense Battles and clashes took place inMajevica, resulting in infrastructural and environmental damage. The economic situation in the area also deteriorated. After the1995 Dayton Peace Agreement, the Mayors nearMajevica planned to make economic and Infrastructural reforms, as well as boosting tourism.[8]
