Amir Kubura (commander from August 6th, 1993 to April 4th, 1994)
Šerif Patković (commander from April 4th, 1994 to August 17th, 1995)
Halil Brzina (commander from August 17th, 1995)
Military unit
The 7th Muslim Brigade (Bosnian: 7. muslimanska brigada / 7. muslimanska viteška oslobidilačka brigada) was an elite all-volunteer brigade of the 3rd Corps of the Army of the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina. It served as the ARBiH's primary assault brigade in Central Bosnia, and was headquartered in Zenica. The brigade's manpower largely came from the cities of Zenica, Travnik, and Kakanj; however, there were soldiers from all over Bosnia who served in its ranks. During the war, the brigade liberated over 1,100 km2 of territory, including multiple cities, as well as numerous villages and mountains.[1] Some of the most notable combat actions of the 7th Muslim brigade include the liberation of Vareš, Fojnica, Bugojno, Kakanj, and Travnik from the hands of HVO forces, as well as the defence of Mt. Igman and the liberation of liberation of Mt. Vlašić (Opaljenik), Teslić-Šerić (Jezera), Nabožić (Ilijaš), and Vozuća and the Ozren pocket from VRS forces.[2]
3,447 soldiers passed through the ranks of the brigade, and 236 were killed in action. 30 members were awarded the Bosnian Army's highest wartime award, the Golden Lily (Zlatni Ljiljan).[3]
Formation and structure
The 7th Muslim Brigade (7. muslimanska brigada) was officially formed on November 17, 1992, in Zenica. It was formed as an all-volunteer brigade composed of Bosniaks from various units in Travnik, Zenica, and Kakanj. On its date of formation, the brigade had three battalions:
1st Muslim battalion (1. muslimanski bataljon / 1. travnički bataljon) - headquartered in Travnik; made of up various Bosniak detachments from the area.
2nd Muslim battalion (2. muslimanski bataljon / 2. zenički bataljon) - headquartered in Zenica; formed from the 7th Muslim battalion of the 1st Zenica brigade (1. zenička brigada), as well as detachments from Pojske, Orahovice, and Begov Han, and other smaller units.
3rd Muslim battalion (3. muslimanski bataljon / 3. kakanjski bataljon) - headquartered in Kakanj; made up of the Kakanj "Muslim forces" (muslimanske snage) detachment, as well as the "Martyr Resul" ("Šehid Resul") detachment from Kaćuni.[4][5]
Formation ceremony of the 7th Muslim Brigade in Zenica, November 17th, 1992
Following the formation of the Zenica-based 3rd Corps on December 1, 1992, the 7th Muslim Brigade enters its ranks.
In 1993, a sabotage-reconnaissance company, or DIČ (diverzantsko-izviđačka četa) was formed, composed of volunteers from preexisting reconnaissance, sabotage and assault platoons from all battalions. The DIČ became the spearhead of the 7th Muslim brigade and was directly subordinated to the brigade command.
On February 22, 1994, with the formation of the 7th Corps (Army of the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina) in Travnik, the 1st battalion of the 7th Muslim Brigade was formed into its own brigade, the 737th Muslim light brigade (737. muslimanska lahka brigada). Consequently, a new 1st battalion was formed, incorporating fighters from the "Martyr Resul" detachment and the general Kakanj area, largely pulling manpower from the 3rd battalion.[6][7]
In April 1995, a 4th battalion was formed, made up largely of soldiers from the Lašva valley.
On April 14, 1994, by order of the General Staff of the ARBiH, the 7th Muslim Brigade was awarded the honorary title "Slavna" (Celebrated), with the full name of the brigade being 7. muslimanska slavna brdska brigada.
On May 13, 1995, the General Staff presented the 7th Muslim Brigade with the highest honorary title, "Viteška" (Knightly). The brigade was also renamed from a mountain brigade to a liberation brigade type "A" (oslobodilačka brigada tipa "A"), which denoted an assault/maneuver brigade. The 7th brigade's final full title, which it carried until the war's end, was 7. muslimanska viteška oslobodilačka brigada.
After the signing of the Dayton agreement and the end of hostilities, the 7th Muslim brigade becomes part of the Army of the Federation of Bosnia & Herzegovina (VFBiH) and is renamed the 7th mechanized brigade (7. mehanizovana brigada). With the forming of the Armed Forces of Bosnia & Herzegovina (OSBiH), the 7th mechanized brigade is dissolved along with many other VFBiH formations.[8]
Near the end of the war, the 7th Muslim brigade's general structure looked as such:
-Sabotage-reconnaissance company (diverzantsko-izviđačka četa / DIČ) - Zenica (subordinated directly to brigade command)
4th battalion (4. bataljon) - Lašva Valley (reserve battalion)
During the war, volunteers from all throughout Bosnia came to fight with the 7th Muslim brigade. Units which had a notable number of soldiers transfer into the 7th brigade include the 306th mountain brigade (306. brdska brigada) from Travnik, the 328th mountain brigade (328. slavna brdska brigada) from Zavidovići, the 329th mountain brigade (329. brdska brigada) from Kakanj, the 303rd and 314th mountain brigades (303. viteška brdska brigada, 314. slavna brdska brigada) from Zenica, as well as numerous others.[9]
Though there was much speculation by foreign and enemy media, the 7th Muslim brigade never incorporated any sizable number of foreign fighters (referred to as 'Mujahideen' by foreign press) into its ranks.[10] However, a handful of members of the 7th Muslim brigade left from 1993 onwards to go fight in the independent detachment "El-Mudžahidin" (odred "el-Mudžahidin), seeking adherence to Salafi Islamic practice. This detachment, unlike the 7th brigade, contained a large number of foreign volunteers from various nations, largely from the Middle East and North Africa, as well as a large number of religious fundamentalist Bosniaks from various parts of the country. The "El-Mudžahidin" unit, led by foreign volunteers from Arab and North African states, featured an extensive set of rules and restrictions based on Islamic Law, such as the completion of a mandatory month-long Quran course led by foreign preachers prior to entering the unit, as well as numerous restrictions, such as bans on smoking, shaving, music, and more, vastly differentiating itself from all other ARBiH units, including the 7th Muslim brigade, in this way.[11] It was also the case that war crimes committed by this detachment were falsely and regularly attributed to the 7th Muslim brigade by local and foreign media, which was cleared up during ICTY trials in the post-war years.[12]
Combat history
The first combat action of the 7th Muslim Brigade was the first attempt at breaking the siege of Sarajevo. In December of 1992, along with various other units from the 3rd and 6th Corps, the 7th brigade fought VRS forces on the key hilltop "Višegrad" near Visoko. Although they captured the elevation, the overall operation was unsuccessful due to overwhelming VRS firepower, forcing them to eventually abandon their positions on Višegrad.[13]
Shortly afterwards, all-out conflict broke out between the ARBiH and HVO in Central Bosnia. One of the first battles against the HVO took place in the village of Dusina, near Busovača, in January of 1993, which led to the ousting of the Croat forces from the settlement by members of the 7th Muslim brigade's 2nd battalion, following their initial occupation of the area. After a few months of escalation, tensions between the HVO and ARBiH fully erupted in mid-April of 1993, with clashes breaking out in the city of Zenica. The 7th Muslim brigade, along with other local military and police formations, were tasked with clearing the Croat forces from the city.[14] The HVO's Zenica-based Jure Francetić brigade (brigada "Jure Francetić") was forced out of the city in only a few days, setting up defensive position to the west, in the village of Gornji Čajdraš'.[15] In the days that followed, forces of the 7th Muslim brigade, with support from other 3rd Corps units, defeated the Jure Francetić brigade in Gornji Čajdraš, with its members either surrendering or fleeing to HVO forces in the Vitez area.[16]
The period of June and July, 1993, saw the 7th Muslim Brigade fighting day in and day out against both Croat and Serb forces. On June 4, fierce fighting broke out in the city of Travnik between ARBiH and HVO forces. In an attempt to take advantage of the frenzy, VRS forces on Mt. Vlašić, which overlooked the city, launched an attack on the region of Bijelo Bučje, where they make initial gains but are soon thereafter halted by a 40-man intervention unit from the 7th brigade's 1st battalion.[17] By June 5, 1993, HVO forces had largely been pushed out of Travnik proper, and had taken up position in the villages surrounding the city.[18] In one such area, elements of the brigade's 1st battalion, along with other Travnik-based ARBiH units, launch an attack on fortified HVO positions in Meščema, which proved to be successful and led to a large bounty of captured weapons and equipment.[19] The 7th Muslim brigade liberated Ušice and village of Ovnak on June 7, then proceeding to deblockade the besieged village of Čukle, which had up until that point been defended by local residents armed only with personal weapons. That same day, the brigade engaged in fierce combat with HVO forces in the fortified village of Novo Selo, liberating the village by the early afternoon and pushing into Grahovčići.[20] With this action, the 7th Muslim brigade had created a corridor between the cities of Zenica and Travnik, fully under the control of the Bosnian government. By June 9, 1993, Travnik and its surrounding area was fully cleared of HVO forces, who had either retreated to the Croat-held Vitez enclave or surrendered to VRS forces on Mt. Vlašić.[21]
The period directly following the liberation of Travnik, from June 9, 1993, onwards, fighting escalated in and around the city of Kakanj between ARBiH and HVO forces. On June 12, 1993, the 7th Muslim brigade relocated from Ovnak to the Kakanj area, and began combat operations the following morning, on the 13th.[22] The 7th Muslim brigade broke through the defensive lines of the HVO Kotromanić brigade (brigada "Kotromanić"), taking control of Teševsko Brdo and advancing into the village of Teševo and the surrounding hamlets around Kraljevska Sutjeska that same day.[23] On June 14, the fighting had advanced to the villages of Ćatići and Kraljevska Sutjeska, where HVO forces found themselves under complete encirclement.[24] On the following day, 15 June, the HVO Kotromanić brigade had surrendered to ARBiH forces in Ćatići and Kraljevska Sutjeska under the protection of UNPROFOR, and by 16 June 1993, Kakanj was fully in Bosnian hands.[25]
In early July 1993, the 7th Muslim Brigade spearheaded an assault on the HVO-held city of Fojnica, supported by elements of the local 310th mountain brigade (310. brdska brigada) and the 317th mountain brigade (317. brdska brigada). Following multiple days of battle, on July 3, 1993, the town was fully in ARBiH hands.[26]
In early November 1993, the 7th Muslim brigade found itself waging battles around the small town of Vareš, held by HVO, who had committed war crimes against Bosniak civilians in the village of Stupni Do only two weeks prior, killing 37 civilians, many of whom were burned alive in their homes. In the early morning hours of November 4, 1993, following days of combat, forces of the 7th Muslim brigade entered Vareš from the west, linking up with members of the 2nd Corps' 206th mountain brigade (206. slavna brdska brigada) from the north. The fall of Vareš led to an exodus of Bosnian Croat soldiers and civilians from the town, as well as the liberation of 110 Bosniak civilians who were taking refuge in the town's UNPROFOR base.[27][28][29]
A 7th Muslim Brigade soldier inspects a Type 63 multiple rocket launcher, used on the Nabožić battlefield during Operation "Tekbir-95", June 1995
In July 1993, VRS operation "Lukavac-93" led to the capturing of Trnovo and Mt. Bjelašnica, which put Mt. Igman under direct threat; at the base of the mountain, the newly created Sarajevo tunnel served as a vital lifeline to the besieged city of Sarajevo. The General Staff ordered the 1st battalion of the 7th Muslim brigade, along with the 1st assault battalion of the 312th mountain brigade (312. brdska brigada) and a battalion of the 17th Krajina mountain brigade (17. slavna krajiška brdska brigada), to head to Mt. Igman to defend it against the VRS offensive following the desertion of many ARBiH units which were previously stationed there. Over the course of July and August 1993, the 7th Muslim brigade fought to defend Mt. Igman, in which it was ultimately successful. As a result, brigade's 1st battalion received a special commemoration from RBiH President Alija Izetbegović following the battle, congratulating their efforts in saving Mt. Igman, and in turn keeping the Sarajevo tunnel system alive.[30]
In 1994, following the end of the ARBiH-HVO conflict, the 3rd Corps turned its attention back to the VRS. On April 27, 1994, units of the 7th Muslim brigade are sent to the Kladanj-Vlasenica front, in Eastern Bosnia, in the 2nd Corps area of operation. Here, the brigade partakes in combat operations with the local 1st Muslim-Podrinje mountain brigade (1. muslimansko-podrinjska brdska brigada), attacking VRS forces along the Vlasenica front, capturing the key hilltops of Kočar and Tamburića Kosa. On May 3, units of the 7th Muslim brigade, along with the 1st Muslim Podrinje brigade and the detachment for special operations "Black Swans" (specijalna jedinica za posebne namjene "Crni Labudovi") break through the defensive lines of the VRS' 1st Vlasenica brigade (1. vlasenička laka pješadijska brigada), liberating the first parts of the Serb-held Vlasenica municipality.[31]
In May 1994, parts of the brigade were tasked with holding the frontline on the Teslić-Šerić battlefield, north of Zenica, where they successfully repelled frequent VRS attempts to breach the contact line.[32] In June and July 1994, elements of the 7th Muslim brigade participated in actions on the Ozren battlefield, having notable success in their capture, and subsequent defence of, previously lost ARBiH positions on the stragetically crucial Hill 706, as well as the defence of Hill 715 and the capture of the strategic location 'Podmalovan'.[33] On August 20, 1994, the Kakanj-based 1st battalion of the 7th Muslim brigade repelled a reinforced VRS assault on the mountain Velike Karanovice, northeast of Mt. Vlašić.[34]
From October 3, 1994, onward, the 7th Muslim brigade participated in an operation south of the Serb-held town of Teslić. In cooperation with the 330th light brigade (330. lahka brigada) and 319th liberation brigade (319. oslobodilačka brigada), the 7th Muslim brigade managed to capture over 100 km2 from the VRS' 27th motorized brigade (27. motorizovana brigada) on the so-called Teslić-Šerić front during the month-long offensive, taking control of the Podjezero basin among other strategic locations.[35]
Members of the 7th Muslim Brigade with a captured VRS anti-air gun on the Vozuća battlefield, September 15th 1995
On January 28, 1995, the 7th Muslim Slavna mountain brigade held its 2nd anniversary in Zenica, which was attended by President Alija Izetbegović, ARBiH chief of staff Rasim Delić, and many other notable figures.[36]
From March 20-23rd, 1995, the 7th Muslim Brigade participated in Operation "Domet-1", the liberation of the strategic Mt. Vlašić overlooking Travnik and the Lašva Valley. Prior to the operation, on February 24, 1995, members of the 737th Muslim light brigade (former 1st battalion of the 7th Muslim brigade), along with elements of the 712th mountain brigade (712. slavna brdska brigada), launched an infiltration operation on Mt. Vlašić's Galica plateau, liquidating 62 soldiers from the VRS' 22nd infantry brigade (22. pješadijska brigada).[37] A month later, the 3rd and 7th Corps had set the stage for a full-scale operation to liberate Mt. Vlašić, codenamed Operation "Domet-1". The reconnaissance-sabotage platoon, or IDV, of the 1st battalion encircled and captured the highest peak on the mountain, Opaljenik, as well as its radio relay station, simultaneously capturing a large quantity of armor and weapons. On April 4, 1995, the 1st battalion of the 7th Muslim brigade, together with elements of the General Staff's 120th light brigade "Black Swans" (120. lahka brigada GŠ "Crni Labudovi") and the 4th Muslim light brigade from Konjic (4. muslimanska lahka brigada) liberated the Sports Recreation Center Babanovac, as well as Debela Jela and Šešići on the Mt. Vlašić plateau.[38][39][40]
From June–July, 1995, forces of the 7th Muslim Brigade participated in the final attempt to break the siege of Sarajevo, named operation "Tekbir-95". The 7th, along with other elite 3rd Corps formations, namely the 375th liberation brigade (375. oslobodilačka brigada) from Tešanj and the 3rd maneuver battalion (3. manevarski batalion) from Kakanj, were tasked with capturing Nabožić mountain and Semizovac, near Ilijaš. Through a month of intense combat, the 7th succeeded in its goals of liberating the mountain and territory around Ilijaš; however, the operation as a whole was unsuccessful and the siege of Sarajevo was not broken. Following these battles, the 7th was sent back to the Ozren front where it engaged in raids and incursions into VRS positions for the next 2 months.[41]
Soldiers of the 7th Muslim Brigade, riding on a TAM 110 T7 B/BV truck, parade through the Zenica city center with their battle flag following their success on the Vozuća battlefield during Operation "Farz-95", September 13th 1995
On September 9, 1995, operation "Farz-95", the 3rd Corps offensive into Vozuća and the Ozren pocket commenced. Spearheaded by the 7th Muslim brigade and the "El-Mudžahidin" detachment, and supported by the 328th and 329th mountain brigades and the 3rd and 4th maneuver battalions (3. manevarski bataljon, 4. manevarski bataljon), this operation was fully successful, leading to the capturing of Vozuća and the connecting of 2nd and 3rd Corps forces in Ozren, as well as the liquidation of the VRS 4th Ozren brigade (4. ozrenska laka pješadijska brigada). This would lead to further operations into late September and early October 1995 which would push VRS forces back on the Ozren front to near Doboj. During October 5-7th, 1995, soldiers of the 7th Muslim brigade, along with the 327th mountain brigade (327. viteška brdska brigada) from Maglaj, managed to liberate over 50 km2 in the Ozren salient, a mere 4 days before the nationwide ceasefire took effect at midnight on October 11, 1995.[42]
On December 10, 1995, four days before the signing of the Dayton Agreement which would mark the official end of the Bosnian War, the 7th Muslim Viteška liberation brigade headlined the parade of the 3rd Corps in Zenica.[43]
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