Serbian Guard

Serbian Guard
Српска гарда
Active 1991–1992
Disbanded Yes
Country Serbia
Type Paramilitary organization
Size up to 30,000
Garrison/HQ Bor
Engagements Croatian War
Commanders
Commander Đorđe "Giška" Božović

The Serbian Guard (Serbian: Српска гарда/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 "Giška" and Branislav Matić "Beli".[2]

The paramilitary unit's training camp was located near Bor Lake in SR Serbia, SFR Yugoslavia.[2] It participated in clashes on the territory of SR Croatia near the town of Gospić.[3] Elements of the unit also participated in the War in Bosnia and Herzegovina.[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's government.[6] The unit's chief financier Branislav Matić was gunned down in August 1991 in Belgrade.[7] After the death of Božović, the unit was taken over by Branislav Lainović "Dugi" (The "Long").

Serbian 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 and Yugoslav security services.

Notable members

  • Đorđe Božović "Giška", Serbian career criminal and the founding father of the Guard, KIA during the Croatian war.
  • Branislav Matić "Beli" ("The White"), founding father and chief financier, owner of large car junkyards in Belgrade. Gunned down in front of his house in 1991, pressumably under the orders of the Yugoslav secret service.
  • Branislav Lainović "Dugi", career criminal and former basketball player. Took control over the Guard after Giška's death. Retired to Novi Sad after the war where he became the kingpin. Gunned down in Belgrade in 2000 by the members of the Zemun Clan over Novi Sad turf control.
  • Aleksandar Knežević "Knele", rising star of Belgrade underworld, and the underboss in the Voždovac gang. Assassinated in Hyatt hotel room in 1992, being only 21 at the time. Fought in the Battle of Borovo Selo.
  • Vaso Pavićević, Montenegrin Serb capo and former boxer of "Radnički" boxing club. Gunned down in an ambush on Paštrovska Gora in 1996. Fought in Tenja in 1991.
  • Žarko Radulović "Đaro", Montenegrin Serb career criminal. Gunned down in Brussels in 1997.

See also

References

  1. ↑ Died together with Giška
  2. 1 2 Serbian Guard, party army of the SPO Archived 2009-11-28 at the Wayback Machine., Danas
  3. ↑ Zoran Kusovac. "Serbia's Inadequate Opposition". Archived from the original on 2005-03-06. the establishment of the SPO’s own paramilitary unit — the Serbian Guards (Srpska Garda), which attacked the Croatian town of Gospic in 1991
  4. ↑ Criminal: Death of Branko Lainovic
  5. ↑ Belgrade underground, Vreme
  6. ↑ Giška and guards died for nothing, Glas javnosti
  7. ↑ Target of Unknown Assassins
  8. ↑ Pavković: Vuk to the Hague!
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