While the world watched Knin, the bloodiest battles were fought in Banovina. The liberation of Petrinja on August 6, 1995, was achieved at great cost, including the death of commander Predrag Matanović.
Colonel Predrag Matanović, one of the most respected commanders of the 2nd Guards Brigade "Thunders," was first hit by a sniper bullet in the arm at the entrance to Petrinja-and he did not retreat. He continued to lead the attack until he was fatally wounded by shrapnel from an artillery shell in the Kolonija area, on the third day of the military-police operation "Storm," August 6, 1995.
That day, after nearly four years of occupation, the Croatian flag once again flew over the city. But the road to freedom was far more difficult than on other attack axes-only after adapting tactics and changing the way the operation was conducted was the enemy's defense broken.
Petrinja was not just another occupied city. It was one of the key strongholds of Serbian forces in Banovina, crucial for controlling the roads to Glina, Hrvatska Kostajnica, and Dvor. The Croatian command was aware that here they would encounter one of the most organized resistances during the entire "Storm" operation.
Unlike parts of the front where the enemy defense was quickly breached, on the Petrinja axis, the forces of the so-called Republic of Serbian Krajina offered strong resistance-using long-prepared positions, minefields, and well-placed firing points that slowed any attempt at penetration.
The operation began at dawn on August 4, 1995, and on the Petrinja axis, units of the Zagreb Operational Zone attacked. The main role was played by members of the 2nd Guards Brigade "Thunders," along with other Croatian Army and police units, and the initial plan was to quickly break through the defense and enter the city.
However, it was precisely on this part of the front that it became clear the enemy defense had not been shaken to the expected degree. Strong artillery fire, counterattacks, and well-organized defense slowed progress-the battle was fought for almost every position, and Croatian forces suffered heavy losses in personnel and equipment.
In these fierce battles, Colonel Predrag Matanović lost his life. His comrades have emphasized for years that he did not command from the rear but shared the greatest dangers with his soldiers, being among them-which is why his name stands out today in the history of the 2nd Guards Brigade and the defense of Petrinja.
The barracks in Petrinja bear his name, and a monument in Senjak has become a gathering place for veterans and citizens during commemorations of the liberation anniversaries. His death became a symbol of an officer who built authority through personal example, staying with his soldiers until the very last moment.
Military analysts and historians have been analyzing the reasons for the fierce resistance on this part of the front for three decades. Four main reasons are most often cited: a very strong and deeply layered enemy defense built over nearly four years; minefields and natural obstacles that hindered armored and mechanized units; underestimation of the defense's resilience on certain attack axes; and the necessity to alter the initial plan when it became clear the city could not be taken by a direct assault on the first day of the operation.
Among participants of the Homeland War, the key role of General Petar Stipetić is often highlighted. After assessing the situation, he changed the way the operation was conducted-instead of exhausting frontal attacks, the focus shifted to encircling enemy positions, cutting off their supply lines, and forcing the enemy to withdraw.
After this change, the pace of the operation on the northern part of the front increased, and by August 6, Croatian forces had taken Petrinja, followed by Hrvatska Kostajnica and Glina. Organized resistance in Banovina practically ceased.
In public discourse, Knin is often highlighted as the symbol of victory, but veterans of Banovina remind that the Petrinja battlefield was among the bloodiest. Veterans of the 2nd Guards Brigade pay tribute every year to their comrades who died during the fighting and emphasize that it was their sacrifices that enabled the continuation of the advance-Petrinja celebrates its Liberation Day not only as a day of military victory but also as the Day of Croatian Defenders of the City of Petrinja.
Most Croatian military historians agree that Petrinja was one of the most demanding battlefields of "Storm." The success of the operation did not come through a single spectacular breakthrough but through days of fighting in which Croatian units had to adapt the initial plan to the real circumstances on the ground-thanks to the determination of the Guards Brigades, the adaptation of command, and the gradual collapse of the entire defense system after the fall of Knin.
