massacre massacre killing croatia august croatian war independence addition civilian victims figure includes croatian policemen garde troops civil defending police station water supply building village policemen troops died combat surrendered killed prisoners war tried fight attack western supported volunteer guard declared autonomous territory eastern croatia following south attack non civilian population village surrounding area persecuted forced flee homes imprisoned physically abused killed war yugoslavia charged high ranking serbian officials including war crimes committed killings extensively covered german media leading forming public opinion support croatia end germany adopted support diplomatic recognition croatia policy duty background following electoral defeat government croatia ethnic tensions republic worsened confiscated weapons possibility resistance following elections august tensions escalated open revolt croatian serbs centred predominantly populated areas parts eastern croatia established july coordinate opposition croatian president policy pursuing independence croatia southern town elected president police chief established paramilitary militias men eventually political military leaders self declared state incorporating inhabited areas croatia march authorities backed serbian government started consolidate control populated areas croatia resulted skirmish fatalities lakes incident early conflict escalated region eastern culminating battle south village june croatian serbs eastern established western declaring autonomous political entity beginning croatia regular army effort bolster defence doubled number police personnel effective force strong special police deployed battalions adopting military organisation addition organised reserve police reserve police set battalions companies lacked weapons july garde established absorbing special police force reorganised professional brigades police reserve force troops reserve units possess sufficient heavy small arms arm personnel timeline general area villages targeted artillery bombardment august croatian sources indicate artillery fire coming units assigned 51st deployed left bank territory serbia report events prepared croatian authorities denies artillery took bombardment indicates somewhat later time initial fighting placing witness testimony given yugoslavia trial supports timeline placing initial combat artillery fire ceased supported led began infantry assault organised groups base groups attacked police station second assaulted positions water supply building village group remained reserve heaviest fighting took place police station defended croatian police personnel croatian police requested assistance police administration terminating attack citing considerable casualties decided intervene ordered reported receiving gunfire 1st company 1st battalion 3rd guards brigade moved kilometres miles road returning fire proceeding conversely witness event claimed fired civilian homes units reached police station croatian sources disagree events immediately following arrival claimed requested cessation fire refused defenders police station croatian sources claim demanded surrender police refused croatian force versions agree combat resumed approximately tank main gun rounds fired hit police station reported croatian policemen troops captured alive report stating croatian force located outside police station accepted cessation hostilities croatian sources claim surrendered killed capture overall killed fighting police station policemen troops civil day non civilians killed subsequent round negotiations croatian authorities representatives reported killed august bodies victims including civilians transferred held post examinations indicated victims beaten executed aftermath population felt intimidated forced leave events august marked beginning series attacks civilian population mixed areas bulk refugees travelled taken boats barges persecution non population nearby villages started immediate aftermath attack persecution included arbitrary arrests war rape units arrested number civilians imprisoned september prisoners killed personnel led buried mass grave village civilians held detention facility tortured killed october bodies victims dumped non civilians killed region captured transferred large number inhabitants city detention facility november transfer occurred basis request political leader suspected involvement fighting interrogated tortured executed renamed republic serbian december formally joined february merger appointed president september assumed role president events august extensively covered german media time leading public outcry massacre germany subsequently advocated quick recognition croatia means stop violence late germany presented decision recognize croatia policy duty lobbying diplomats december german government decided grant diplomatic recognition croatia member state police station awarded heroism memorial police officers troops civil killed august unveiled station 22nd anniversary death november memorial killed civilians completed war crimes charges president serbia charged war crimes including ordering murder torture non serbs died years trial started verdict reached december trial progress expected completed end charged head run serbia head war crimes charges include torture group seven non civilians including arrested november arrested killed buried mass grave village charged control training trial began resulted trial chamber prosecutor appealed verdict process pending december commanding officer 51st charged war crimes crimes humanity committed august december charged deaths policemen attack police station prisoners war captured captured non civilians croatian authorities started trial croatian serbs charged war crimes croatian civilians including gang rape year old woman forcing parents siblings watch rape convicted september sentenced years prison affairs minister stated croatian authorities filed war crimes committed massacre war crimes area war
Dalj massacre