Bosnian Conflict

Events leading up to the Conflict Long-term Long-term Yugoslavia was formed after WWI Yugoslavia was formed after WWI Brought together the Croats, Serbs, and Muslims Brought together the Croats, Serbs, and Muslims Led by Slobodan Milosevic Led by Slobodan Milosevic During WWII, Croats joined the Nazis in exterminating Serbs During WWII, Croats joined the Nazis in exterminating Serbs Josip Broz Tito was elected to lead the Yugoslav Federation after WWII and was able to keep peace until his death in 1980 Josip Broz Tito was elected to lead the Yugoslav Federation after WWII and was able to keep peace until his death in 1980

Events leading up the Conflict Short-term Short-term Election of non-communist government officials into office Election of non-communist government officials into office Yugoslavia began to crumble Yugoslavia began to crumble Ethnic divisions resurfaced Ethnic divisions resurfaced Cftech.com

The Key Players The Serbs The Serbs Orthodox Christians Orthodox Christians Long connections with eastern Europe Long connections with eastern Europe Want to create a “greater Serbia” by establishing terriotorial claims with Serbian and Croation areas Want to create a “greater Serbia” by establishing terriotorial claims with Serbian and Croation areas

The Key Players The Muslims The Muslims Serb descendents who converted to Islam under Ottoman rule Serb descendents who converted to Islam under Ottoman rule Want an ethnically mixed state for Bosnia Want an ethnically mixed state for Bosnia The Croats The Croats Roman Catholic faith Roman Catholic faith Historical links to western Europe Historical links to western Europe Hope to stake out own areas of Bosnia Hope to stake out own areas of Bosnia

The Conflict The breaking of Yugoslavia The breaking of Yugoslavia Croats demand a loose confederation or to dissolve Yugoslavia completely Croats demand a loose confederation or to dissolve Yugoslavia completely Serbia opposes because the want Yugoslavic unity Serbia opposes because the want Yugoslavic unity Slovenia and Croatia declare independence in June 1991 Slovenia and Croatia declare independence in June 1991 The Yugoslav army, consisting mainly of Serbs, declare war on Slovenia and Croatia The Yugoslav army, consisting mainly of Serbs, declare war on Slovenia and Croatia Start of Bosnian-Serbian-Croatian war Start of Bosnian-Serbian-Croatian war

Sides are Drawn Montenegro sides with Serbia, trying to keep the country together Montenegro sides with Serbia, trying to keep the country together All other republics side with Slovenia and Croatia All other republics side with Slovenia and Croatia Want independence Want independence Josip Broz Tito Conservapedia.com

The Genocide Both sides used genocide as a weapon against their enemies Both sides used genocide as a weapon against their enemies Most genocide followed the same routine Most genocide followed the same routine Concentration- surround the area to be ethnically cleansed, try to get everyone into the streets Concentration- surround the area to be ethnically cleansed, try to get everyone into the streets Decapitation- execute political leaders and the people that could take their places Decapitation- execute political leaders and the people that could take their places

The Genocide Separation- divide women, children, and old men from men within the “fighting age”, years old Separation- divide women, children, and old men from men within the “fighting age”, years old Evacuation- Transport the old, young, and women out of the area Evacuation- Transport the old, young, and women out of the area Liquidation- Execute men of the “fighting age” and dispose of the bodies Liquidation- Execute men of the “fighting age” and dispose of the bodies

The Genocide The most famous case of genocide in the war was in Srebrenica The most famous case of genocide in the war was in Srebrenica Srebrenica is located in the Republika Srpska Srebrenica is located in the Republika Srpska Declared a UN safe zone in 1992 Declared a UN safe zone in 1992 In July 1995, Serb troops led by Ratko Mladic surrounded Srebrenica and began bombarding it In July 1995, Serb troops led by Ratko Mladic surrounded Srebrenica and began bombarding it CONCENTRATION CONCENTRATION Ratko Mladic advocacynet.org

Srebrenica The UN detachment in the town could do little to help The UN detachment in the town could do little to help They were poorly equipped and had no back- up They were poorly equipped and had no back- up More than 25 peacekeepers had been taken captive by the Serbs and nobody wanted to do anything that might risk their safety, though they were killed More than 25 peacekeepers had been taken captive by the Serbs and nobody wanted to do anything that might risk their safety, though they were killed DECAPITATION DECAPITATION

Srebrenica July 11: The Serbs’ bombing intensified July 11: The Serbs’ bombing intensified Thousands of Muslims ran to the UN compound in the city Thousands of Muslims ran to the UN compound in the city By nightfall, 6,000 were inside of the compound and 20,000 more were left outside By nightfall, 6,000 were inside of the compound and 20,000 more were left outside July 12: Mladic began separating men from women and children July 12: Mladic began separating men from women and children SEPARATION SEPARATION

Srebrenica July 12: Women and children were forced onto trucks and buses EVACUATION The deportation of Srebrenica took 4 days Yahoonews.com

Srebrenica deaths Up to 7,500 men and boys over 13 years old, were killed Up to 7,500 men and boys over 13 years old, were killed 3,000, many in the act of escaping were shot or decapitated in the fields 3,000, many in the act of escaping were shot or decapitated in the fields 1,500 were locked in a warehouse and sprayed with machine gun fire and grenades 1,500 were locked in a warehouse and sprayed with machine gun fire and grenades Others died by the thousands on farms, football fields, and school playgrounds Others died by the thousands on farms, football fields, and school playgrounds

Srebrenica deaths Thousands of bodies were buried in mass gravesmass graves US reconnaissance planes filmed the Serbs covering up the graves using massive earth-moving equipment globalsecurity.org

polishforums.com Wikipedia.org

Burial of 465 bosnians in 2007

The end of the War The leaders met in November 1995 in Dayton, OH Bosnia-Herzegovina formally preserved as an independent country Standing from left: Felipe Gonzalez, Bill Clinton, Jacques Chirac, Helmut Kohl, John Major, Viktor Chernomyrdin. Sitting from left: Slobodan Milošević, Franjo Tuđman, Alija Izetbegovic wikipedia.org

The end of the War Areas were set aside for Serbs, Muslims, and Croats This treaty was enforced by 60,000 NATO peacekeepers Wikipedia.org

Kosovo A problem in Kosovo went largely unnoticed during the signing of the treaty A problem in Kosovo went largely unnoticed during the signing of the treaty Serbian and Yugoslavic soldiers remained in Kosovo Serbian and Yugoslavic soldiers remained in Kosovo Albanian guerillas sided with the Kosovo Liberation Army and provided armed resistance against soldiers in the country Albanian guerillas sided with the Kosovo Liberation Army and provided armed resistance against soldiers in the country

Kosovo The Racak massacre in January 1999 brought international attention to the area The Racak massacre in January 1999 brought international attention to the area NATO became involved and was able to set up a stable but uneasy peace NATO became involved and was able to set up a stable but uneasy peace On February 17, 2008 passed a declaration of independence and officially became and independent nation On February 17, 2008 passed a declaration of independence and officially became and independent nation