On the occasion of Victory and Homeland Thanksgiving Day, a powerful message commemorating the key operation of the Homeland War is sent from the overpass above one of the busiest city roads.
Travelers driving along Split's Sirobuja today could spot a special decoration on the overpass above the roadway. A giant Croatian flag was unfurled along the entire railing, with the sign "STORM 95" prominently displayed in the middle, framed by the characteristic red-and-white checkerboard squares.
The installation appeared in honor of the anniversary of the military-police operation "Storm," that is, Victory and Homeland Thanksgiving Day and the Day of Croatian Defenders, celebrated across the country on August 5. Since this is one of the busiest points in Split, this message is seen by many citizens, as well as those arriving in or leaving the city.
The operation was launched on August 4, 1995, involving the Croatian Army and special police units. The goal was to bring under state control the areas that were still outside the authority of the government in Zagreb. The very next morning, on August 5, a breakthrough success was achieved: Croatian soldiers and police entered Knin, the former stronghold of local Serb authorities.
The Croatian flag was raised on the Knin fortress, and that image became a lasting symbol of victory in the Homeland War. This feat reclaimed the largest part of the occupied territory and restored the constitutional and legal order of the Republic of Croatia. "Storm" is today considered one of the key military and political turning points that paved the way to lasting peace.
The memory of "Storm" is kept alive each year across the country through a series of events: from masses and commemorations with wreath-laying ceremonies, to festive performances, concerts, and large public celebrations. The central part of the state program is traditionally held in Knin, the city where, 31 years ago, one of the most glorious victories in modern Croatian history was won.
