General Stipetić: Saved 35,000 Lives
On this day in 1995, the historic surrender of the 21st Kordun Corps took place. General Petar Stipetić demonstrated military honor and humanity that protected Croatia's reputation.
On this day in 1995, the historic surrender of the 21st Kordun Corps took place. General Petar Stipetić demonstrated military honor and humanity that protected Croatia's reputation.
Operation Storm, launched on August 4, 1995, was a pivotal moment in liberating occupied Croatian territories. However, initial setbacks in Sector North threatened the entire plan. The very next morning, on August 5, President Franjo Tuđman made a decision that would change the course of events-he personally entrusted General Petar Stipetić with command of that direction.
The arrival of the experienced strategist on the ground brought a drastic change in tactics. By August 6, the Croatian Army swiftly liberated Petrinja, followed shortly by Kostajnica and Glina. With a simultaneous breakthrough through Lika, the enemy's 21st Kordun Corps was completely encircled in the Topusko area, along with more than 35,000 civilians and a vast arsenal of weapons.
On August 8, 1995, at exactly 2:00 PM, on the road in Gornji Viduševac near the "Brijuni" motel, an event unfolded that would be forever etched in collective memory. On the empty road, former acquaintances from the old army stood face to face-General Petar Stipetić and Colonel Čedo Bulat, commander of the 21st Kordun Corps.
Bulat saluted militarily and, in front of rolling cameras, admitted defeat, surrendering the entire corps and congratulating the Croatian Army on its victory. Although a day earlier, on August 7, Defense Minister Gojko Šušak had officially announced the end of the main Operation Storm at 6:00 PM, this surrender remains a symbol of the final collapse of resistance in the occupied territory. "The military operation Storm '95 in the former sectors north and south is complete," Šušak stated at the time.
General Stipetić then showed unprecedented humanity. He rejected demands from radical circles to destroy the encircled forces by force. Instead, an immediate surrender of all heavy weaponry was agreed upon, and Stipetić secured a humanitarian corridor through Sisak and the highway. Through it, civilians and disarmed soldiers peacefully withdrew toward Serbia, as withdrawal to Bosnia and Herzegovina was not possible. As a gesture of military respect, he allowed his opponent Bulat to keep his sidearm.
His strict adherence to international law of war and the Geneva Conventions directly protected the Republic of Croatia's reputation worldwide. After an official interview, the Hague Tribunal completely dismissed any suspicions against him, confirming the purity of his strategy and biography. Stipetić remained remembered as an "officer and gentleman" who never allowed the politicization of the military.
Petar Stipetić was born on October 24, 1937, in Ogulin. He graduated from the Army Military Academy in 1959 and rose to the rank of Major General during his career. At the invitation of President Tuđman, in September 1991, he unhesitatingly left the JNA and placed himself at the service of his homeland. He immediately became Deputy Chief of the General Staff and a key architect of defense lines, leaving an indelible mark on Operations Flash and Storm.
He reached the pinnacle of his career in 2000 when he became Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Croatia. He retired two years later as one of the most decorated Croatian officers. This true legend passed away on March 14, 2018, in Zagreb, leaving behind the legacy of a victor who, even in the fiercest war storm, managed to preserve human dignity.
