Operation Otkos 10

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Operation Otkos 10
Part of the Croatian War of Independence
Date October 31 - November 4, 1991 Location SAO Western Slavonia, Croatia Result Croatian victory
Belligerents
Croatia National Guard Croatian Police	Local militia of the SAO Western Slavonia Yugoslav People's Army (Serb-controlled remnant)
Strength
2,467 soldiers	1,750 soldiers
Casualties and losses
5 dead, several dozen wounded	?

Operation Otkos 10 was a military offensive undertaken by the Croatian army against the Yugoslav People's Army (JNA) in SAO Western Slavonia. The operation lasted from October 31, 1991, until November 4, 1991 and ended with a victory for Croatia.

JNA offensive up to October

After the attacking forces of the 5th JNA corps (Banja Luka corps) had successfully crossed Sava river into Croatia and captured Okučani in western Slavonia, it was their primary objective to advance along the Pakrac - Grubišno Polje route and link up with the 28th Partisan Division near Bilogora, sever the Podravska magistrala trunk road and reach the Hungarian border, thus completely severing Slavonia from the remainder of Croatia, including the capital - Zagreb.

Aiding the JNA offensive was the local Serb population in SAO Western Slavonia which had taken up arms in early 1991.

The mountainous regions provided a base for the Serb forces, which thence proceeded to fire grenades at nearby cities and villages in the lowlands.

Croatian counteroffensive

In order to prevent JNA's attempt to cut off Slavonia, and to stop the expulsions from western Slavonia, the Croatian troops undertook their first offensive operation of this scale during the homeland war.

The military aim of Otkos 10 was to secure the Bilogora hills and to capture favourable positions for further advance towards Papuk mountains to the southeast thus securing land communication between Slavonia and the rest of Croatia.

Croatian troops involved included: 151st brigade (Samobor), 127th brigade (Virovitica), 57th battalion and National defense detachment (Grubišno Polje), 24th mixed artillery battalion, 52nd battalion (Daruvar), a T-55 tank platoon of 105th brigade (Bjelovar), 19th mixed antitank artillery battalion (Virovitica), special police forces from Bjelovar, and a Križevci volunteer company.

End of the operation

The operation was successfully concluded by November and Croatia captured 21 villages and approximately 270 square kilometers of its territory, thwarting JNA's strategic plan to isolate Slavonia.

More importantly, a strategic supply route via Virovitica - Grubišno Polje - Kutina road was reopened, which was the most important land route to Slavonia until Operation Flash. Furthermore, this operation set the stage for the Operation Orkan 91 which marked yet another advance by Croatian army in this area.

References

• Debić, I., Delić, A.: Otkos. Matica hrvatska Grubišno Polje, Prosvjeta d.d. Bjelovar, UHBDDR Zagreb. Bjelovar, 1999. (Croatian)

• Runtić, D.: Domovinsky Rat - Vrijeme Rata (knjiga 2.). Biblioteka Domovinski rat - Neobična naklada, Vinkovci - Šibenik, 2005. (Croatian)

• Skupina autora: Oružana pobuna Srba u Hrvatskoj i agresija oružanih snaga SFRJ i srpskih paravojnih postrojbi na Republiku Hrvatsku (1990.-1991.). Republika Hrvatska I, Domovinski rat 1990.-1995., Dokumenti, Knjiga 1, Zagreb 2007. (Croatian)

• www.youtube.com/kockavica