After whom was the bridge on the Mrežnica named?

The bridge was named after the 14th Home Guard Regiment Slunj, a unit that participated in the liberation of the area during Operation Storm.

How many members of the 14th Home Guard Regiment died in the war?

During the entire Homeland War, 23 members of this unit were killed, seven of whom died during Operation Storm itself.

What did Minister Medved say at the ceremony?

Minister Medved stated that the Homeland War and Operation Storm are the strongest foundation of an independent Croatia and that it is important to remind new generations of this truth.

Croatia

Plaque Ceremoniously Unveiled on Bridge near Slunj: Now Named after the 14th Home Guard Regiment

Q: Who unveiled the plaque with the bridge's name?

The plaque was unveiled by Vladimir Katić, the wartime commander of the 14th Home Guard Regiment.

B.J. · 06. 08. 2026. | 3 min

Minister of Veterans' Affairs Tomo Medved said the Homeland War is the foundation of an independent Croatia, and veterans fought for this name for three decades.

Summary

The bridge over the river Mrežnica in Tržić Primišljanski was ceremoniously named after the 14th Home Guard Regiment Slunj.
During Operation Storm in 1995, the unit crossed the mined bridge, which was repaired by engineers the same night, losing seven members in the process.
Minister of Veterans Tomo Medved emphasized the importance of preserving the memory of the Homeland War as the foundation of a sovereign Croatia.

Make 5MIN.hr a preferred source

At the border of Slunj and Tounj, in Tržić Primišljanski, a ceremony was held on Thursday to name the bridge over the Mrežnica River. The bridge was named after the 14th Home Guard Regiment Slunj, a unit that played a crucial role in liberating this region during the Homeland War. The ceremony was also attended by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Croatian Veterans Tomo Medved.

Three Decades of Struggle for the Bridge's Name

Tomislav Magdić, president of the Association of Croatian Veterans of Slunj, Cetingrad, and Rakovica, said that veterans had been striving for a full 30 years for the bridge to be named after this unit. The plaque with the bridge's name was unveiled by Vladimir Katić, the wartime commander of the 14th Home Guard Regiment.

The Path of Victory Across a Mined Bridge

The 14th Home Guard Regiment was established on November 1, 1992. During the second day of Operation Storm in 1995, the unit entered Slunj, Rakovica, and Cetingrad, with the route leading across the bridge on the Mrežnica. The enemy had previously mined the bridge, but engineers repaired it during the night of August 6, 1995, enabling the advance to continue.

Katić recalled the regiment's heavy losses. In Operation Storm alone, seven members were killed and 27 wounded. Throughout the war, 2,043 members served in the unit, including 99 women. In total, 23 members of the 14th Home Guard Regiment lost their lives.

Medved: This Plaque Will Teach Those Who Do Not Know

Minister Tomo Medved emphasized the symbolism of the bridge crossed by the victors, despite the enemy's efforts to slow them down. "Croatian veterans carried out their mission with the utmost honor by liberating the occupied territories," Medved said.

He added that the Homeland War did not begin with Operation Storm but was concluded by it, and that it brought peace to many places in Croatia. "In the mosaic of that victorious force, the 14th Home Guard Regiment holds a truly honorable place," he said.

In his address, the minister particularly stressed the importance of remembrance for future generations: "Operation Storm and the Homeland War are the strongest foundation of the independent and sovereign Croatian state. This must be constantly repeated for the generations to come. There are not a few who have forgotten this truth, so they need to be reminded. Likewise, there are not a few who did not know this truth, so they need to be taught. This plaque will do that."