5th Corps (Army of the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina)
The 5th Corps was one of seven corps and smallest one of the Army of the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina. The formation was around the Bihać pocket to protect it against the surrounding Serb forces. The Fifth Corps also fought secessional Bosniak forces loyal to Fikret Abdić, who was cooperating with Serb forces.[2] Just days before the last 5th Corps military operation, Operation Sana, 5th Corps defeated Abdić's army and supporters bringing the rouge autonomous province under government's control in the Downfall of Second autonomy operation. After that 5th Corps started all out offensive Operation Sana, connecting to the rest of the Bosnian territory while bringing a number of previously lost and occupied regions of Bosnia and Herzegovina under government control, defeating 1st and 2nd Krajiški corps, strengthened with units that escaped Kninska krajina and multiple serb paramilitary forces coming to aid from different forntlines. During Sana 95 and Downfall of Second autonomy 5th Corps also liberated towns and communes in border section of Croatia. Connecting with Croat forces in Grabovac-Rakovica area, Korenica-Frkašić area, Bogovolja-Cetingrad area and on a overlooking hill west of Plitvička jezera. The solemny meet up was done on the border bridge in Tražačka Raštela, where commanders of both countries shook hands. During the Operation Sana 95 5th Corps captured biggest war loot the ARBiH ever had. Inventory of ARBiH weaponry grew exponentially after Operation Sana 95 which equipped the unit for further Operation Prijedor 95. In April 2018, police detained Atif Dudaković and 12 others on suspicion of committing crimes against humanity during the Bosnian war. The court process is still ongoing without any established evidence.
| 5th Corps | |
|---|---|
 Fifth Corps insignia | |
| Active | 21st October 1992 – 1st December 2004 (dissolved as part of the Army of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina) |
| Country |  Bosnia and Herzegovina |
| Allegiance | Army of the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina |
| Branch | Bosnian Ground Forces |
| Type | Motorized, Mechanized, Mountain and Light Infantry |
| Role | Defense of Bihać pocket (Bihaćki okrug) |
| Size |
|
| Garrison/HQ | Bihać |
| Nickname(s) | Sila Nebeska (Heavenly Force) |
| Motto(s) | "Za slobodu i nezavisnost Bosne." |
| Colors | Green, white and black |
| Mascot(s) | Pegasus |
| Equipment | When the unit was formed the Corps had the following armament:[1]
|
| Engagements | Bosnian War
|
| Decorations | Brigade decorations:
Awarded medals:
|
| Commanders | |
| Notable commanders | Atif Dudaković Izet Nanić Adil Bešić Mirsad Crnkić Salih Omerčević Asim Bajrektarević Jasmin Kulenović |
| Insignia | |
| 5th Corps patch | Pegasus |
| Identification symbol | ARBiH patch
5th Corps Pegasus patch and later newly designed 5th Corps insignia patch similar to the other ARBiH Corps patches in design. 5th Corps flag and flags of its brigades and larger units. Brigade patches and patches from other 5th Corps units. Other types of identification (armbands, headbands, brooches, etc.). |
History
editThe ministry of military affairs passed the order for the formation of the Fifth Corps of the ARBiH on September 29th, 1992 and the final approval by the presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina (order no. 02-111-738/92) on October 21st, 1992.[1] In the formation of the 5th Corps there have been the de-formation of the Unsko-sanski Operative Group and the Territorial Defense Groups of Bihać pocket. 5th Corps was operating during the course of the war in the state explained on this Wikipedia page. After the Dayton Peace Agreement was signed 5th Corps had a wide reorganisation. Command was reorganised and adapted to new units structure. New brigades were formed and some units of 7th Corps which were made of residents from Bosanska Krajina region merged with 5th Corps units. New layout stayed til ARBiH disbandment on 14th December 1997. After that 5th Corps got complete new reorganisation under VFBiH and it stayed like that til final dissolution in the newly formed OSBiH on 1st December 2004 when it officially ceased to exist. Currently 5th Corps lives through different manifestations, anniversaries held through every following year, books that have been written and remembrance days. Several Museums and Remembrance organisations on different levels have been formed to continue the legacy.
5th Corps command
editMajor Hajrudin Osmanagić was given control, but he was eliminated before he took the post and Captain First class Ramiz Dreković took control as commander of the Fifth Corps, thus becoming first commander of the Fifth Corps. After him, Brigadier General Atif Dudaković became commander of the Fifth Corps. He had the most impact of all the generals of the corps.
- Corps Staff: 28 officers, 2 under-officers, 42 soldiers
- 1st Commander: Captain I Class Ramiz Dreković - from forming to 1 November 1993
- 2nd Commander: Brigadier General Atif Dudaković - from 1 November 1993 until disbandment in 2006.
- Deputy Commander Chief of Staff:
- Major Ramiz Duraković
- Major Mirsad Sedić
- Assistants for moral IPD and MP - Ejub Topić
- Assistants for security - Sakib Butković
- Logistic - Bećir Sirovina
5th Corps units (in 1995)
edit5th Corps units
edit- 501st Celebrated Mountain Brigade
- Commander: Brigadier Senad Šarganović
- 502nd Knightly Mountain Brigade
- Commander: Colonel Hamdija Abdić
- 503rd Celebrated Mountain Brigade
- Commander: Brigadier Muhamed Delalić
- 504th Light Infantry Brigade (Disbanded on 15. April 1994)
- Commander: Kovačević Hase
- 505th Knightly Motorized Brigade
- Commander: Brigadier Izet Nanić
- 506th Liberation Brigade
- Commander: Major Nijaz Miljković
- 510th Bosnian-Liberation Brigade
- Commander: Brigadier Amir Avdić
- 511th Celebrated Mountain Brigade
- Commander: Major Mirsad Sedić
- 517th Light Brigade
- Commander: Major Ibrahim Nadarević
- Command of the 5th Corps
- 5th Battalion of Military Police
- 5th Mountain Battalion (disbanded in december 1994)
- 5th Reconnaissance-Sabotage Company
- 5th Tank-Armoured Company
- 5th Mixed Artillery Division
- 5th Mixed Artillery Regiment
- Mixed Anti-Armored Artillery Division
- 5th Artillery-Missile Anti-Aircraft Defense Unit
- Aviation Group Bihać (Branch of ARBiH Air Force)
- 5th Atomic-Biological-Chemical-Defense Company
- 5th Engineering Battalion
- 5th Logistics Base
- 5th Corps Training and Recruitment Center
- 5th Corps Dedicated-Military industry
- Art Company of the 5th Corps
- Medical rehabilitation center "Arif Hasanagić" Gata
Brigades on the day of formation
edit- 1st Bihać Infantry Brigade
- 2nd Bihać Muslim-Croat Infantry Brigade
- 1st Cazin Infantry Brigade
- 103rd Brigade
- 105th Bužim Infantry Brigade
- 101st Muslim Krajina Brigade
- 111th Bosanska Krupa Infantry Brigade
- 1st Velika Kladuša Infantry Brigade
Liberated territory
editReferences
edit- ^ a b "5th Corps of Army RB&H, Bihac". www.vojska.net. vojska.net. 2007. Retrieved 2007-09-13.
- ^ Anthony Loyd (February 1, 2001). My War Gone By, I Miss It So. Penguin (Non-Classics). ISBN 0-14-029854-1.
- Different unit and anniversary/manifestation groups.