Operation Winter '94

Operation Winter '94
Part of the Croatian War of Independence and the Bosnian War
Sinj Šibenik Zadar Gospić Knin Udbina Bihać Banja Luka Livno Kupres Grahovo Glamoč Drvar Jajce Mrkonjić Grad Šipovo Drniš Benkovac Uništa Croatia:   HV-controlled,   HV gains in Leap 1 & 2,   ARSK-controlled Bosnia and Herzegovina: HV- or HVO-controlled since   before 29 Nov 1994,   Winter '94,   Leap 1,   Leap 2   VRS-controlled,   ARBiH-controlled
Date 29 November 1994 – 24 December 1994 Location Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina Result Croatian victory
Belligerents
Croatia  Herzeg-Bosnia	Republika Srpska
Commanders and leaders
Tihomir Blaškić Janko Bobetko Ante Gotovina	Ratko Mladić Radivoje Tomanić
Units involved
Croatian Army Croatian Defence Council Police of Herzeg-Bosnia	Army of Republika Srpska
Strength
3,000–4,000 (HV) 2,000–3,000 (HVO)	3,500
Casualties and losses
29 killed 58 wounded 3 missing	Unknown

Operation Winter '94 (Serbo-Croatian: Operacija Zima '94, Операција Зима '94) was a joint military offensive of the Croatian Army (HV) and the Croatian Defence Council (HVO) fought in southwestern Bosnia and Herzegovina between 29 November and 24 December 1994. The operation formed part of the Croatian War of Independence and the Bosnian War fought between Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia and two unrecognized para-states proclaimed by Croatian Serbs and Bosnian Serbs. Both para-states were supported by the Yugoslav People's Army (JNA) and Serbia. The JNA pulled out in 1992, but transferred much of its equipment to the Bosnian Serb and Croatian Serb forces as it withdrew.

Operation Winter '94 was the first in a series of successful advances made by the HV and the HVO in or near the Livanjsko field, an elongated flat-bottomed valley surrounded by hills. The region was formally controlled by the HVO, but the HV contributed a substantial force, including commanding officers. The attacks were primarily designed to draw the Army of Republika Srpska (VRS) away from the besieged city of Bihać. The secondary objective was threatening the single direct supply route between Drvar in the Bosnian Serb Republika Srpska and Knin, the capital of the Croatian Serb Republic of Serbian Krajina (RSK).

Operation Winter '94 pushed back the front line of the VRS by about 20 kilometres (12 miles), capturing much of the Livanjsko field. The attack failed to achieve its primary objective but it brought the Croatian forces within striking distance of the Drvar–Knin road. Operation Winter '94 was followed by Operation Leap 1 (Operacija Skok 1) on 7 April 1995, which improved HV positions on Mount Dinara on the southern rim of the field, dominating the area around the RSK capital. The Croatian forces renewed their advance with Operation Leap 2 between 4 and 10 June, allowing them to directly threaten Bosansko Grahovo on the Drvar–Knin road, and to secure the remainder of the valley. The improved Croatian dispositions around Livanjsko field provided a springboard for further offensive action on this front during Operation Summer '95.