Dalj marks 35th anniversary of the death of six "Tigers"

Three and a half decades after the death of six "Tigers" brigade members in Dalj, their sacrifice remains a powerful reminder of the price of Croatian freedom. The anniversary was marked by family members, brothers-in-arms and representatives of the state leadership, including ministers Ivan Anušić and Tomo Medved, who paid tribute to the fallen Croatian defenders.

It was stated that marking the anniversary is not only an expression of respect for the fallen but also a responsibility towards future generations.

The president of the Association of War Veterans of the 1st Guards Brigade "Tigers", Darko Katuša, recalled the bombing on the night of July 24-25, adding that in addition to the six killed members of the "Tigers", another 18 were wounded.

“The whole of Croatia came here, as the song says - Dalmatia will defend Slavonia, Slavonia Dalmatia... all regions defended and came here where it was the hardest,” said Darko Katuša, president of the Association of War Veterans of the 1st Guards Brigade "Tigers".

Wreaths were laid, among others, by family members of the fallen veterans, the envoy of the President of the Republic of Croatia, retired General Marijan Mareković, and delegations of Osijek-Baranja County, local authorities and associations from the Homeland War.

Minister Tomo Medved pointed out that 35 years later, we are witnessing that in the collective consciousness of the Croatian people, and especially the "Tigers", the memory of the role and contribution of the members of this unit in the Homeland War is preserved.

“35 years ago, the enemy used multiple rocket launchers, during the night, to attack the "Tigers" at this place, because it did not have the strength to face the "Tigers" on the battlefield. Six members of the unit gave their lives for the freedom of Croatia, and they came here from all over the homeland,” Medved called in Erdut.

He emphasized that it is therefore our duty to remind everyone of the truth about the creation and defense of Croatia, on which the freedom we have today is based and on which we build today's achievements, and to pass it on to the generations that come after us.

He believes that it is also necessary to create an atmosphere in which Croatian defenders are respected, that their role is permanently valued, and that honesty and work are appreciated.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense Ivan Anušić recalled that in 1991, members of the Guards Brigade "Tigers" were fired upon by long-range artillery from Serbia, killing six of them, adding that today they are paying tribute to them and remembering their sacrifice.

“The sacrifice of Croatian defenders is something that cannot and must not be forgotten, and we need to remember that. Without them, there would be no Croatia, because they would not be able to defend themselves from what came from the east,” Anušić assessed.

Source: HRT