Two occupations, two defences: The Day of Heroes – the City of Sarajevo

(Patria) - The capital of Bosnia and Herzegovina was liberated from Nazi occupation 74 years ago, on 6 April 1945, and on the same day 27 years ago it was attacked by aggressor forces consisting of troops of the Yugoslav People's Army and paramilitary forces of Bosnian Serbs, writes the Bosnian news agency Patria (NAP).

That day is celebrated as the Day of the City of Sarajevo. On the same day in 1992, the then European Community recognised the renewed independence of BiH.

However, much blood had to flow to defend that independence and statehood during the four-year aggression, in which Sarajevo was under complete siege for 1,450 days. According to the official historical version, Sarajevo was liberated from the fascist occupier on 6 April 1945, and the Yugoslav Army began the operation to liberate Sarajevo on 28 March 1945.

The operations involved the Second, Third and Fifth Corps, the 11th and 13th Krajina Brigades, the 18th Central Bosnian Brigade, and artillery and tank units. After fierce fighting on 6 April 1945, the resistance of the Germans and members of the NDH was broken and Sarajevo was liberated. By the end of this operation, on 10 April, Visoko, Kakanj and Busovača were also liberated.

In the anti-fascist struggle, according to official data from 1941 to 1945, 10,961 citizens of Sarajevo gave their lives. Among the victims were 412 Bosniaks, 106 Croats, 7,092 Jews, 1,427 Serbs, 16 Montenegrins, one Macedonian, five Slovenes and 12 others.

But 47 years later, Sarajevo began another battle against an aggressor with the same methods, goals and ideology. From the beginning of the aggression and siege on 5 April 1992 until 31 July 1995, at least 11,541 civilians were killed, died of hunger and cold, or went missing in Sarajevo, including 1,598 children.

The material damage suffered by the city during the aggression and siege, primarily through the destruction of housing stock and the devastation of cultural heritage, economic facilities and roads, is incalculable, writes NAP.