Serbian Guard

Not to be confused with Serb Volunteer Guard or Guard of the Serbian Armed Forces.
Serbian Guard
Српска гарда
Srpska garda
Active1991–1992
DisbandedYes
Country Serbia
 Serbian Krajina
 Republika Srpska
AllegianceSerbian Renewal Movement
TypeParamilitary
RoleAnti-tank warfare
Close-quarters combat
Counterinsurgency
Crowd control
Force protection
Guerrilla warfare
HUMINT
Internal security
Patrolling
Raiding
Reconnaissance
Security checkpoint
Tracking
Urban warfare
Size~40,000
Garrison/HQBor
EngagementsCroatian War
Commanders
CommanderĐorđe "Giška" Božović †

The Serbian Guard (Serbian: Српска гарда, romanized: Srpska garda) was a Serbian paramilitary active in the Croatian War with close ties to the Serbian Renewal Movement (SPO). Eighty percent of the guard's members were members of the SPO.[1] The paramilitary was formed by SPO official Vuk Drašković and his wife Danica Drašković, along with Đorđe Božović and Branislav Matić.[2]

The paramilitary unit's training camp was located near Bor Lake in Serbia.[2] It participated in clashes in Croatia near the town of Gospić.[3] Elements of the unit also participated in the Bosnian War.[4] Đorđe Božović was the unit's first commander, but was killed in action near Gospić.[5] Some people have alleged that Božović's death was an act of "friendly fire" orchestrated by the Republic of Serbian Krajina government.[6] The unit's chief financier Branislav Matić was gunned down on 4 August 1991 in Belgrade.[7] After the death of Božović, the unit was taken over by Branislav Lainović.

Yugoslavian colonel general Nebojša Pavković has called for Drašković to be tried for his role in the guard's formation.[8] Having a pro-opposition political stance, the guard was never favoured by the government of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and Yugoslav security services.

  1. ^ "Umrli zajedno s Giškom". 8 December 1999. Archived from the original on 10 March 2022. Retrieved 15 July 2024.
  2. ^ a b "Serbian Guard, party army of the SPO". Archived from the original on 28 November 2009. Retrieved 15 July 2024.
  3. ^ Kusovac, Zoran (1 August 2000). "Serbia's Inadequate Opposition". Archived from the original on 6 March 2005. the establishment of the SPO's own paramilitary unit — the Serbian Guards (Srpska Garda), which attacked the Croatian town of Gospic in 1991
  4. ^ Vasić, Miloš (25 March 2001). "Kriminal: smrt Branka Lainovica". Archived from the original on 25 November 2015. Retrieved 15 July 2024.
  5. ^ Komlenovic, Uros (22 February 1997). "Belgrade Underground". Archived from the original on 17 July 2020. Retrieved 15 July 2024.
  6. ^ "Giška i gardisti zalud izginuli". 1 August 1999. Archived from the original on 6 November 2020. Retrieved 15 July 2024.
  7. ^ Petrovic, Dragoljub (20 April 1997). "Series of unsolved murders in Belgrade". Archived from the original on 28 October 2004. Retrieved 15 July 2024.
  8. ^ "PAVKOVIĆ: VUKA U HAG!". 19 April 2004. Archived from the original on 25 March 2012. Retrieved 15 July 2024.