18th Western Slavonian Corps

18. Western Slavonian Corps
18. западнославонски корпус
18. zapadnoslavonski korpus
Active1992-1995
Disbanded1995
Country Serbian Krajina
Branch Serbian Army of Krajina
Sizec. 4,500
Garrison/HQOkučani (1992 to April 1995)
Stara Gradiška
Engagements
Commanders
Commander 1Colonel Lazo Babić
Commander 2Major General Milan Čeleketić

The 18th Western Slavonian Corps was a military unit of the Serbian Army of Krajina commanded by Lazo Babić and Milan Čeleketić, whom was appointed Main Staff of the Serbian Army of Krajina after the previous incumbent Mile Novaković resigned in 1994. Čeleketić left his position after the defeat during Operation Flash.[1]

The SAO Western Slavonia Territorial Defense and Okučani Brigade had been destroyed by the Croatian Army in 1991–92, remnants of the brigade merged into the 18th Slavonian Corps, this included form members of the Yugoslav People's Army. The 18th Western Slavonian Corps was composed of seven infantry and artillery battalions.[2]

The 18th Western Slavonia Corps area of responsibility was Okučani including all of Western Slavonia. The SVK had 3,500-4,000 defending the area. During Operation Flash, the victory was crucial for the defense of Western Slavonia, the Corps, lacking in the ability to fight and were numerically weaker.[3][unreliable source?]

On May 3, the Serbian Army of Krajina’s main command reached for a Ceasefire. It was Lazo Babić who gave the order to Stevo Harambašić to surrender 7,000 Soldiers and civilians to Argentine United Nations Protection Force personnel.[4] The Chief of the Police in Pakrac, Nikola Ivkanec accepted the offer.[5][unreliable source?]

  1. ^ "OMRI Daily Digest II, No. 94, 16 May 1995". www.hri.org. Retrieved 2024-09-27.
  2. ^ Novaković, Kosta (200). Serbian Krajina: ups and downs of uplift. Belgrade, Knin: Serbian cultural society Zora. (published 2009). p. 325. ISBN 9788683809547.
  3. ^ "Операција Бљесак". Српска енциклопедија (in Serbian). 2017-12-27. Retrieved 2024-09-27.
  4. ^ Cite error: The named reference :1 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  5. ^ Majic, A. (2021-05-02). "Abeceda VRO Bljesak". Kamenjar (in Croatian). Retrieved 2024-09-29.