So, you’ve heard about the Siege of Sarajevo, or perhaps you’ve seen snippets in documentaries or films, and you’re wondering what it was all about? In a nutshell, it was a prolonged military blockade and attack on Sarajevo, the capital city of Bosnia and Herzegovina, by the Yugoslav People’s Army (JNA) and the Army of Republika Srpska (VRS) between 1992 and 1996. It was the longest siege of a capital city in modern history, a brutal and relentless period that saw the city and its people pushed to their absolute limits.
The Spark: The Break-up of Yugoslavia
To understand the siege, we need to go back a bit. Yugoslavia, a country formed after World War II, was a complex tapestry of different ethnicities and religions. For decades, it held together under a communist regime, but as that regime weakened in the late 1980s and early 1990s, nationalist sentiments began to fester.
Shifting Tides
- Slovenian and Croatian Independence: Slovenia was the first to declare independence in 1991, followed by Croatia. These moves were met with resistance from the Serbian leadership, who feared a domino effect and the marginalisation of Serbs living in other republics.
- Bosnia and Herzegovina’s Dilemma: Bosnia and Herzegovina was a particularly volatile mix. It had large populations of Bosniaks (Muslims), Serbs, and Croats. When it came to the crunch, the three groups couldn’t agree on a common future.
The Referendum and Declaration of Independence
In early 1992, Bosnia and Herzegovina held a referendum on independence. The majority of Bosniak and Croat voters supported it. However, Bosnian Serbs largely boycotted the vote, viewing it as a move to secede from Yugoslavia and create a hostile environment for them. Following this, Bosnia and Herzegovina declared its independence on 6 April 1992, a date that would forever mark the beginning of its agony.
The Siege Begins: A City Under Siege
As soon as Bosnia raised its flag of independence, the siege began. It wasn’t a sudden all-out assault, but rather a swift tightening of the noose around the city.
Initial Blockades and Surroundings
- Strategic Positioning: The JNA, increasingly dominated by Serbian interests, and subsequently the VRS, quickly moved to surround Sarajevo. They occupied strategic hills and high ground overlooking the city. This gave them a devastating advantage, allowing them to rain down artillery and mortar fire with relative impunity.
- Cutting Off Supplies: The main objective was to isolate and starve the city into submission. Roads into and out of Sarajevo were cut off. Electricity, water, and gas supplies were systematically destroyed or cut off. This wasn’t just a military tactic; it was a deliberate attempt to break the spirit of the civilian population.
The JNA and VRS Take Control
- From Federal Army to National Army: The JNA, originally a multi-ethnic federal army, gradually transformed into an instrument of Serbian policy. Many non-Serbs left, and the army became increasingly composed of and commanded by Serbs.
- Bosnian Serb Forces Emerge: The VRS was formed from JNA units that were primarily stationed in or recruited from the Bosnian Serb population. They became the main force directly involved in the siege of Sarajevo.
Life Under Fire: The Daily Grind of Survival
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FAQs
What was the Siege of Sarajevo?
The Siege of Sarajevo was the longest siege of a capital city in the history of modern warfare. It took place during the Bosnian War, which lasted from April 1992 to February 1996. The siege was carried out by the Bosnian Serb forces against the predominantly Bosniak and Bosnian Croat population of Sarajevo, the capital of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
How long did the Siege of Sarajevo last?
The Siege of Sarajevo lasted for 1,425 days, from April 5, 1992, to February 29, 1996. During this time, the city was subjected to constant shelling, sniper attacks, and a blockade that resulted in severe shortages of food, water, and electricity.
What were the main causes of the Siege of Sarajevo?
The main causes of the Siege of Sarajevo were the ethnic and religious tensions in Bosnia and Herzegovina, which escalated following the breakup of Yugoslavia. The Bosnian Serb forces, led by Radovan Karadžić and Ratko Mladić, sought to create a separate Serb state by ethnically cleansing non-Serb populations from certain areas, including Sarajevo.
What were the consequences of the Siege of Sarajevo?
The Siege of Sarajevo resulted in the deaths of an estimated 10,000 people, including over 1,500 children. Thousands more were injured, and the city suffered extensive damage to its infrastructure and cultural heritage. The siege also had a lasting impact on the mental and emotional well-being of the survivors, many of whom continue to struggle with trauma and post-traumatic stress disorder.
How did the Siege of Sarajevo end?
The Siege of Sarajevo officially ended on February 29, 1996, with the signing of the Dayton Agreement, which brought an end to the Bosnian War. The agreement established a ceasefire and divided Bosnia and Herzegovina into two entities, the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Republika Srpska, with Sarajevo as the capital of the former.
