The Immense Sacrifice of Female Veterans: Over 25,000 Women in the War, 766 Killed
Ahead of Victory Day, academician Mirna Šitum and nurse Marija Lišnić testify to the courage and contribution of women in the Homeland War.
Ahead of Victory Day, academician Mirna Šitum and nurse Marija Lišnić testify to the courage and contribution of women in the Homeland War.
As Croatia prepares to mark Victory Day, figures emerge from the shadows of history that testify to an immense, yet often understated, sacrifice. More than 25,000 women participated in the Homeland War as defenders, comprising about five percent of total Croatian forces. Their contribution, from the front lines to logistics and medical care, came at a high price: 766 female defenders were killed, and nearly two thousand hold the status of severely disabled war veterans.
For HRT, academician Mirna Šitum, a member of the legendary 4th Guards Brigade, and Marija Lišnić, a field nurse from the 106th Brigade, shared their harrowing testimonies. Their stories paint a picture not only of personal bravery but also of the indelible mark women left on the creation of the modern Croatian state.
Mirna Šitum entered the war as a young doctor, and the knowledge she gained at Split's emergency medical service was quickly applied on the toughest battlefields. As commander of a medical platoon in a battalion, and later head of the brigade's medical service, she organized field hospitals along the southern Croatian front. Her memories are not tied to a single event but to collective suffering.
"Deep within me are stored memories of every wounded soldier who survived, the fallen I pulled from minefields, and the prisoners we received after exchanges," Šitum recalled. She emphasized that the sacrifice was not limited to those in uniform. "The sacrifice of women was immense, not only of those on the front lines, in logistics, and medical corps, but also of civilian women who, during the war, cared for children, the elderly, and the infirm," she stressed.
Marija Lišnić was prompted to enlist in the National Guard Corps by a shocking scene in Osijek. On June 27, 1991, JNA tanks emerged from the Bijela vojarna (White Barracks) and ran over a red Fićo, a symbol of resistance. "We felt fear, anger, and helplessness. That was the trigger for my brothers, me, and many of our friends. We couldn't tolerate the injustice and constant intimidation by the JNA," Lišnić recounted.
In the medical corps of the 106th Brigade, she underwent only brief basic training before being sent to the field. Particularly etched in her memory is a mission to retrieve a wounded guard in Ivanovac in 1991. She crossed a field exposed to sniper fire, which was later discovered to be mined, and then an armed man threatened her, demanding she take the body of his fallen comrade into the ambulance.
Marking Victory Day evokes deep emotions for both interviewees. Šitum highlights pride and joy, but also the inevitable memories of numerous victims. Lišnić sums up her feelings through her relationship with the homeland: "As long as I get goosebumps at the lyrics 'it's not just ordinary fabric,' I'll know I did the right thing," she said, adding that she feels immense pride in having been part of Croatian history.
To ensure the role of women is duly recorded, the Association of Female Veterans of Osijek-Baranja County, which Lišnić represents, is diligently collecting data on fallen and missing female comrades. According to their findings, 33 female defenders are still listed as missing from the Homeland War. Their mission is to ensure that the immense sacrifice of these women never falls into oblivion.
