The Yugoslav Wars (1): Slovenia & Croatia 1991–95

Osprey Elite #138

by Nigel Thomas, K Mikulan, Darko Pavlović (Illustrator)

Osprey's examination of Slovenia and Croatia's armies' involvement in the Yugoslav Wars (1991-1995). Following the death of the Yugoslavian strongman President Tito in 1980, the several semi-autonomous republics and provinces that he had welded into a nation in 1945 moved inexorably towards separation. After a deceptively clean break for independence by Slovenia in 1991, the world watched a series of other wars rip through this modern European state. In this first of two volumes, experts on the Balkan region give an unprecedentedly clear, concise explanation of the Slovene, Croatian and Krajina-Serb armies of these campaigns, illustrated with rare photos and an extraordinary range of colour uniform plates.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Military History

64 pages, Paperback

First published April 25, 2006

Reviews

[Brett C · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was my first Osprey series and I thoroughly enjoyed it. This book presents the modern Yugoslav Wars in a clear, concise, and un-biased approach. This short volume strictly gives the facts. This is one of two volumes explaining the Yugoslav Wars.

This particular volume examines the Slovene, Croat, and Serbian Krajina forces from 1991-95. First and foremost political context is given to include historical background, the Tito years, and the collapse of Yugoslavia. The three ethnic-nationality groups are explained in terms of battle order, troop strength, uniforms and insignia, equipment, and unit designations/billets were all explained in clear detail.

Uniquely explained was the military police, paramilitary forces, and militias that existed during the conflict (like the Ustasha-inspired HOS and the notorious Arkan's Tigers Serb Volunteer Guard). The Ten Day War between Slovene and Croat forces in June-July 1991.

Eight pages of detailed full-color artwork showing the three ethnic-group armed combatants was great. The book includes maps and lots of pictures. I highly recommend this one because it's a great primer to anyone interested in the modern-era Yugoslav Wars. Thanks!

[Martin Koenigsberg · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have to say that I found this book quite impressive. As always, with the Osprey 64 page format, you get a short but fairly complete history, then a trip through the combatant forces with some really useful OOB, a Colour plate section in the middle with the traditional 3 uniforms a page, and then copious notes that tie the pictures to the prose even better. In this case, I was really wary because of the complex nature of the Balkan politics involved- but the book manages to tell the story without either going into too much detail about atrocities involved, or failing to mention them. I think this booklet walks the line in telling this piece of history- and will help the readers to understand what happened and how - on a very controversial conflagration worth learning about.

The book does a good job with their quick and basic history. Thomas and Mikulan get across the many sources of ethnic tensions that cracked the Yugoslavian edifice, and the end of Titonian rule that opened the sores back up. One can feel the efficient Slovenian desire to join Europe, the bitter Croatian truculence in their desire to be free of Serbian hegemony and the Serbian disappointment in finding their neighbours were so excited to leave the union. We see the forces get centralised by the Serbians as the era begins- and the two Nations resist that military move with de-centralised militias and those militias' development into resistance armies. I actually felt that I understood the forces involved for the first time since the war.

The youthful reader will find this a good resource on the conflict, with the narrative kept to proven history, not the many atrocity claims that fell on all sides. For the Gamer/Modeller/ Military Enthusiast , this might be one of the few single sources that can give one a handle on this war. Just the renditions of the many Camo patterns used in this war will keep the painter busy. The Orders of battle for the various forces are invaluable as are the rank diagrams for each side. It's a treasure trove that will be helping Scenario/Diorama Development for years to come. A Strong recommendation.

[Phillip · Rating 2 out of 5]

All of the Osprey books are very basic introductions to their subjects, but I found this one especially difficult to make it through, largely because so much of the actual text consists of lists of units (usually given predominantly in acronyms) or chronologies consisting of numbers, unit acronyms, and places (not always shown on the adjacent maps, when there are maps given). What I'm saying is that while this is a survey level text, it's bogged down in so much detail about the organizations of armies, the formation and reformation of units, and the minutiae of maneuvers that the text becomes almost impossible to comprehend in some places without making a chart.

The other thing I found less appealing about this Osprey title compared to many similar books I've read is that there is comparatively little text devoted to describing things like the uniforms--which is largely left up to the plates and the notes to cover--weapons, and equipment of the Slovene and Croat forces. What I find most engaging is the discussions of the uniforms and arms, but here it was minimal compared to many comparable volumes I've read from Osprey.

[Ruppert Baird · Rating 4 out of 5]

Centered around the uniforms and accoutrements of the armies of Slovenia and Croatia in their wars to break away from Yugoslavia/Serbia, there is still enough information on tactics, strategy, and battles to introduce one to these wars.
A decent enough intro to the wars, but a fairly detailed look at what the soldiers wore.
If you want a detailed history of these wars, this is not for you.