President Milanović in Split at 4th Guards Brigade Anniversary Commemoration

The President of the Republic and Commander in Chief of the Croatian Armed Forces Zoran Milanović participated in a commemoration marking the 33^rd anniversary of the formation of the 4^th Guards Brigade “Pauci” [Spiders]. He also attended a swearing-in ceremony and presented berets to members of the 3^rd Mechanized Battalion “Pauci” at the former Dračevac Barracks in Split.

Twenty-seven members of the 3^rd Mechanized Battalion “Pauci” from the Croatian Army’s Guards Mechanized Brigade took their oath during the ceremony. President Milanović, along with several other dignitaries including Lieutenant General Tihomir Kundid, Chief of the General Staff of the Croatian Armed Forces, Colonel Mirko Stošić, Commander of the Guards Motorized Brigade, Mirko Šundov, Chief of the General Staff (retd), Lieutenant Colonel Ivica Armanda, Commander of the 3^rd Mechanized Battalion “Pauci,” Borislav Lapenda, President of the 4^th Guards Brigade “Pauci” Veterans’ Association, and Mirko Ivančić, Vice President of the 4^th Guards Brigade “Pauci” Veterans’ Association, presented them with red berets.

Following the swearing-in ceremony and the presentation of berets to the members of the 3^rd Mechanized Battalion “Pauci” from the Croatian Army’s Guards Mechanized Brigade, the commemoration of the 33^rd anniversary of the formation of the 4^th Guards Brigade “Pauci” proceeded with a tribute to all fallen, deceased, and missing Croatian defenders. This tribute took the form of laying wreaths at the “Holy Cross” Memorial Chapel.

The 4^th Guards Brigade was established on 28 April 1991. Its inaugural combat mission was the successful operation to liberate Kruševo in July 1991. Subsequently, the brigade engaged in defensive and liberating operations across various areas including Zadar, Sinj, Drniš, Šibenik, and Vodice. It played a significant role in the liberation of Dubrovnik and its hinterland during operations Tigar and Vlaštica. Additionally, the brigade participated in Operation Maslenica, as well as operations Winter 1994, Skok-1, Skok-2, Summer 1995, Storm, and Maestral. Throughout the Homeland War, the 4^th Brigade maintained an impeccable record, never experiencing defeat or loss of position. However, four of its members remain missing, while 200 were killed, and nearly 1,600 were wounded in action.

President Milanović was joined by Special Adviser to the President of the Republic for Homeland War Veterans, Marijan Mareković, and Aide-de-Camp to the President of the Republic, Colonel Vlado Čulina, at the commemoration of the 33^rd anniversary of the formation of the 4^th Guards Brigade “Pauci.”

PHOTO: Office of the President of the Republic of Cropatia / Filip Glas