On the 31st anniversary of the military-police operation Storm, we remember the contributions of Bjelovar units, especially the Special Police Unit 'Omega', whose members suffered heavy casualties on the very first day of the operation.
On Tuesday, on the occasion of Victory and Homeland Thanksgiving Day, Croatian Veterans' Day, and the 31st anniversary of the military-police operation Storm, the Speaker of the Croatian Parliament, Gordan Jandroković, sent a congratulatory message in which he called this operation the crowning achievement of the defensive Homeland War and a key historical turning point that enabled the end of the war. "It is a key historical watershed in which the Croatian people gained full...", Jandroković said, as reported by Kamenjar.
As we remember the difficult but glorious days of August 1995, the Bjelovar units hold a special place in history, their contribution to the operation being immeasurable. Among them, the Special Police Unit "Omega" stands out, whose members demonstrated exceptional courage in the very first hours of the action and suffered heavy losses.
The members of "Omega" received the order to begin Operation Storm on August 4, 1995, and they launched into action, deployed in three groups. At 5:41 AM, two mortar shells detonated near their reconnaissance team. During this attack, reserve officer Saša Rakijaš lost his life, and eight unit members were wounded. This was the bloody price the "Omegas" paid at the very start of the operation.
Despite the losses, the unit did not stop. Around 8 AM, they engaged in a firefight with the enemy, which led to a request for artillery support to destroy enemy bunkers. The next day, they continued moving through the Duman area toward Bukova Kosa, where enemy positions were spotted, as well as in the areas of Jatara and Duliba. That same day, at 10:10 AM, they were sent behind Gračac to provide flank protection.
On August 6, two groups of a total of 50 members searched buildings in the direction of the village of Danilovići to protect the right flank of the Gračac, Bruvno road. A day later, progress continued toward Mazin together with other units. After that, they were positioned along the Gornji Lapac, Kulen Vakuf road to guard the communication line. A group of 30 "Omega" members entered Boričevac in Lika and continued toward Kulen Vakuf, reconnoitering enemy positions and directing artillery fire.
Other Bjelovar military units also played an important role in Operation Storm. In Banovina and Kordun, the 16th Artillery-Rocket Brigade was active. The entire 2nd Artillery Battalion, as part of it, participated on August 4 in the artillery preparation in Banovina, providing support to the "Gromovi" unit in the liberation of Petrinja and further advances.
On the main axis of attack Jasenovac, Hrvatska Dubica, the 265th Reconnaissance-Diversionary Company was engaged, and then carried out special missions in the area of Hrvatska Kostajnica. The Bjelovar radar station used two radar units, while the 4th Artillery-Rocket Battalion of the 202nd Artillery-Rocket Brigade of the Air Defense provided coverage over the areas around Jasenovac, Novska, and part of Banovina.
Members of the 69th Military Police Company performed military police duties in Pakrac, Lipik, Novska, Okučani, Jasenovac, and Hrvatska Dubica. At the same time, the 105th Brigade of the Croatian Army participated in Operation Phoenix, where it had the key task of protecting eastern Slavonia while Operation Storm was in full swing.
The photographs that bear witness to these events and to the members of "Omega" who made Croatian history come from the Bjelovar City Museum.
