30th anniversary of Operation Flash marked in Okučani

The 30th anniversary of the military-police operation 'Flash' was marked in Okučani today, in which Western Slavonia was liberated from the Greater Serbian aggressors. In just 32 hours - the Croatian Army and police managed to return 500 square kilometers of occupied territory. 51 defenders were killed in the action, and 162 were wounded.

At the central ceremony marking the 30th anniversary of operation 'Flash' in Okučani - family members of the deceased, Croatian defenders, state leaders and numerous citizens gathered. As a sign of gratitude and respect for all participants in operation Flash – Rafale fighter aircraft flew over Croatian skies this year again.

'Flash' broke the aggressor's spine

Colonel Marijan Žukina, a participant in the operation, recalled the preparations that preceded Operation Flash.

“Operation Flash is in a way a continuation of the liberation operations from 1991. With the signing of the Sarajevo Armistice, these operations were stopped, but we continued with organization, equipping and training. We were waiting for the order – and it came on May 1, 1995 at 5:21 am. We were ready, we had no doubts about success. The operation was carried out professionally, without any delays,” said Žukina.

Parliament Speaker Gordan Jandroković stressed the importance of this action for the further course of the war.

“‘Operation Flash broke the spine of the Greater Serbian aggressor and opened the way for Operation Storm, and then the peaceful reintegration of the Croatian Danube region. Croatia had become territorially unified, and we must be proud of that,” said Jandroković.

Prime Minister Andrej Plenković emphasized the military and political strength of Croatia that was then evident:

“Operation “Flash” demonstrated the ability of the Croatian army and police to liberate the occupied territories independently. After it and “Storm”, the preconditions for final peace were created, and the peaceful reintegration of the Croatian Danube region completed the territorial integrity of our homeland,” the Prime Minister said.

Plenković congratulated defenders and citizens on the 30th anniversary of Flash

Prime Minister Andrej Plenković sent a message of congratulations to Croatian defenders and all Croatian citizens on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the military-police operation Flash, emphasizing the Government’s continued commitment to caring for Croatian defenders and preserving the truth about the Homeland War.

“With pride, reverence and deep gratitude to the Croatian defenders, soldiers and police officers, we mark the 30th anniversary of the military-police operation Flash, an operation that was a key turning point in the Homeland War, a moment in which the Croatian forces showed determination, strength and ability to liberate every inch of occupied territory and stop the Greater Serbian aggression,” the Prime Minister said.

He stressed that the decisiveness of the then state leadership, led by President Dr. Franjo Tuđman, and the courage and professionalism of members of the Croatian Army and police were crucial for the quick and successful liberation of a large part of Western Slavonia.

“Unfortunately, hard-won freedom was paid for at the highest price in the lives of many Croatian defenders. Their sacrifice must never, and will never, be forgotten. Grateful and proud that today we live in a free and independent Croatia, we remain permanently committed to caring for Croatian defenders and preserving the truth about the Homeland War for future generations,” the Prime Minister emphasized.

He also said that our special priority is to continue investing in the modernization of the Croatian Army and Police, in order to ensure a high level of security for our citizens and be ready to respond to all modern security challenges.

'Flash', the action that heralded the liberation of Croatia

Operation Flash began on May 1, 1995 at 5:21 a.m., on an approximately 80-kilometer-long front.

With strong strikes by Croatian military and police forces, the occupied area of Western Slavonia was cut off, the resistance of enemy forces was broken, and Jasenovac, Okučani, and Stara Gradiška were liberated.

In less than 32 hours, on May 1 and 2, 1995, Croatian forces liberated approximately 500 square kilometers of previously occupied Western Slavonian territory and established control over the Zagreb-Lipovac highway and the railway to Eastern Slavonia.

Around 7,200 Croatian soldiers and police officers participated in Operation Flash. 51 Croatian defenders were killed or died from wounds, and 162 defenders were wounded. For the first time in the Homeland War, the operation also involved larger-scale strikes by the Croatian Air Force, and tanks delivered by rail entered the battle directly, providing an additional tactical surprise to the enemy.

Three months later, Operation Storm followed, which established state and legal order throughout the entire territory of the Republic of Croatia, except for eastern Slavonia. These operations, along with several more victories by the Croatian Army, created the conditions for the peaceful reintegration of the Croatian Danube region to begin on 15 January 1996, which ended on 15 January 1998.

Source: HRT