Battle of Ernestinovo

Battle of Ernestinovo
Part of the Croatian War of Independence
Map showing the fighting in eastern Slavonia, September 1991 – January 1992
Date 20 November 1991 Location Ernestinovo, Croatia Result Yugoslav People's Army victory [1]
Belligerents
Yugoslavia SAO Eastern Slavonia, Baranja and Western Syrmia	Croatia
Commanders and leaders
Željko Ražnatović	Nikola Huđin
Units involved
Yugoslav People's Army Yugoslav Ground Forces Eastern Slavonia, Baranja and Western Syrmia Territorial Defense Serb Volunteer Guard	Armed Forces of Croatia Croatian Army Croatian Police Croatian Defence Forces
Casualties and losses
Unknown	41 killed, mostly soldiers

The Battle of Ernestinovo was a battle during the Croatian War of Independence fought on 20 November 1991. It was fought between Croatia, and SAO Eastern Slavonia, Baranja and Western Syrmia which was supported by the Yugoslav People's Army. ^[2] Yugoslav People's Army took Ernestinovo then the battle for Antunovac began. ^{[3] [4]}

Course of the battle

The attack on Ernestinovo and Seles began on November 20. Before five o'clock in the morning on November 20, 1991, a fierce attack by the JNA and Croat Serbs on defenders, who defended Ernestinovo until their last breath, began from all surrounding strongholds. ^[5]

All the force fell on Ernestinovo that day - from aerial rocket fire to rocket fire with multi-barreled launchers and grenades, from all calibers of artillery and armored vehicles, all with infantry attacks. 11 tanks moved to the place and the defenders had nothing to defend themselves. ^[6]

The fact that the place was inhabited made it even more difficult for the defenders, ^[7] so around noon they started pulling people out of the southern part of the village towards Osijek. ^[8]

That day and the next day, 27 people died, some civilians, some soldiers. ^[9] A total of 41 people died in Ernestinovo. ^[10]

References

1. https://centardomovinskograta.hr/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/Domovinski-Rat-Kronologija-eng.pdf ^{[ bare URL PDF ]}
2. Balkan Battlegrounds: A Military History of the Yugoslav Conflict. Central Intelligence Agency, Office of Russian and European Analysis. 2002. p. 208. ISBN   978-0-16-066472-4.
3. Balkan Battlegrounds: A Military History of the Yugoslav Conflict. Central Intelligence Agency, Office of Russian and European Analysis. 2002. p. 208. ISBN   978-0-16-066472-4.
4. "32. obljetnica stradanja u Ernestinovu". Hrvatska radiotelevizija (in Croatian). Retrieved 2024-08-26.
5. Bjelajac, Mile; Žunec, Ozren (2009). "The War in Croatia, 1991–1995". In Charles W. Ingrao; Thomas Allan Emmert (eds.). Confronting the Yugoslav Controversies: A Scholars' Initiative. West Lafayette, Indiana: Purdue University Press. pp. 230–231. ISBN 978-1-55753-533-7.
6. https://www.independent.co.uk/news/the-town-had-been-cleansed-the-devastation-of-battle-lay-all-around-just-two-old-people-remained-1595248.html
7. https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1991-12-16-mn-503-story.html>
8. ŠULJ, TOMISLAV (2018-02-19). "BITKA ZA LASLOVO (2/2) | Domoljubni portal CM | U vihoru rata". DOMOLJUBNI PORTAL CM. Retrieved 2024-08-26.
9. https://balkaninsight.com/2013/10/16/croatia-indicts-yugoslav-army-officer-for-war-crimes/
10. "32. obljetnica stradanja u Ernestinovu". Hrvatska radiotelevizija (in Croatian). Retrieved 2024-08-26.