June 27th 1991, Slovenia on baricades

[Betonov]

Belgrade underestimated the scale of the independece movement. The goals of the Yugoslav National Army (JNA) were securing border crossings, airports and supply warehouses. They believed the rebelion would die out on its own. But they wasted no time.
1:15 in the morning the first armoured column from Karlovac (croatia) crossed the border at Metlika to secure the road to Ljubljana. It's composed of armoured anti-aircraft vehicles (BOV) and supply trucks.
2:40 the 1st armoured battalion set off to take Brnik airport. M-84 tanks, the workhorse of the JNA are taking the streets. The stockades are already full of JNA officers of all nationalities, that refuse to carry out orders. Conscripts have no idea what is happening, some are even told we're being invaded by Italy and Austria.
10:30 the armoured column from Karlovac is stoped at Poganci and the first shots of the war are fired. The column breaks trough but is again stoped at 15:45 at Medvedjek. Territoria defense od Slovenia (TO) targets officers and a situation occurs where the high command starts to threaten junior officers that they will be trialed if they refuse the promotion. The clumn is stoped and besieged


The column and two ambushing TO soldiers and a truck baricade that became a trademark of the war, at Medvedjek

The tanks from Vrhnika reach Ljubljana and are met with the entire capital on baricades, made from trucks, buses, scrap metal and even cars. Cars were voluntarily donated to the cause by the owners. There is no amred resistance in the capital, but the tanks are still harased by angry civilians with sticks and stones and really bad words. JNA treats them as nuisance and no one is hurt. But the JNA find out that it's a nation wide rebelion.



Ljubljana

By noon small JNA forces recaptured the border crossings and started to mount the old border signs back. Border crossings were retaken without a shot fired. TO and police forces fell back and surounded the JNA forces. The JNA were cut off. Austria refused to let suplies to reach them trough their territory.



18:00 tanks from Vrhnika reach airport Brnik. TO is dug in. The tanks pull back after one of them is hit by a missile from TO and destroyed.
19:20 the Ig incident. JNA was warned that any aicraft flying over Ljubljana would be shot down. TO kept their word a JNA helicopter (Mi-8) is shot down over Ig (part of Ljubljana) while making its second flyby over the Slovenian presidency. Both pilots are killed, both Slovenian conscripts still serving. Helicopter was loaded with bread for the toops.



Sporadic fighting contiued trough the night. Once a baricade was breached, it was repaired as soon as the army went trough. JNA was being blocked on all sides. TO was determined they would not let them retreat. They needed the equpment.


A TO squad

Yugoslav high command demanded a general mobilisation from all the republics, but a consent was needed from the high council. While the counsil was being assembled, darker forces within it were breweing.

[Betonov]

A BOV antiacraft, self propelled gun, now on display at the Medvedjek memorial site




And if you're confused, how JNA forces struck from Croatia while Croatia was also liberating itself, Croatia was more carefull in its process. It was still a political process and JNA leaders dind't see her as a threat.


Plus, 27th of June is the day of the Police. One third of the armed forces used in the war were policemen. So here's one for the people in blue we all love to hate

[magic452]

Great series Betonov Keep it up, very interesting.

Magic

[krashkart]

Betonov, what was that time like for you?

[Betonov]

Originally Posted by krashkart

Betonov, what was that time like for you?

I was 5 years old then. I remember faintly the jets flying overhead and the entire fammily eating out under the cherry tree in case our house got hit. And my father being away all the time building barricades (welders were more sought after in those days than soldiers). That's about it.

Maybe it's better, I can write this series with less emotions. But I still can't hide the patriotism behind my writing, but makes it more interesting to read than just bland information

[krashkart]

Originally Posted by Betonov

Maybe it's better, I can write this series with less emotions. But I still can't hide the patriotism behind my writing, but makes it more interesting to read than just bland information

Nothing wrong with that, friend. Looking forward to the rest of your series.