Victory Day (Croatia)

Victory and Homeland Thanksgiving Day and the Day of Croatian Defenders (Croatian: Dan pobjede i domovinske zahvalnosti i Dan hrvatskih branitelja) is a public holiday in Croatia that is celebrated annually on 5 August, commemorating the Croatian War of Independence.[1] On that date in 1995 the Croatian Army took the city of Knin during Operation Storm, which effectively brought an end to Republic of Serbian Krajina proto-state.[2]

Victory Day
Soldiers raising the Flag of Croatia on Knin Fortress, 5 August 2011
Official nameDan pobjede i domovinske zahvalnosti i Dan hrvatskih branitelja
Observed byCroatia
SignificanceOperation Storm
Date5 August
Next time5 August 2020 (2020-08-05)
Frequencyannual
A banner marking Victory Day in Zagreb, 5 August 2010

The main celebration is centered in Knin where there are festivities commemorating the event, beginning with a mass and laying of wreaths in honor of those who died in the war, and continuing with parades and concerts. The event is attended by thousands, including the country's leading politicians.[3] The Flag of Croatia on Knin Fortress is ceremonially raised as part of the celebrations.[4]

In 2008, the Croatian Parliament also assigned the name Day of Croatian Defenders (Croatian: Dan hrvatskih branitelja) to the holiday, which honors the current service members and veterans of the Republic of Croatia Armed Forces.[5] A special military parade of the Armed Forces in honor of Victory Day was held on 4 August 2015 in Zagreb, celebrating the twentieth anniversary of Operation Storm.

See also

References
  1. Croatian Parliament (21 November 2002). "Zakon o blagdanima, spomendanima i neradnim danima u Republici Hrvatskoj" (in Croatian). Narodne novine. Retrieved 25 June 2011.
  2. "5. kolovoza - Dan pobjede i domovinske zahvalnosti i Dan hrvatskih branitelja". Hrvatski sabor (in Croatian). Retrieved 31 March 2020.
  3. "Hrvatska slavi Dan pobjede i domovinske zahvalnosti" (in Croatian). Croatian Radiotelevision. 5 August 2002. Retrieved 27 December 2012.
  4. Katarina Zorić (5 August 2008). "Dan pobjede i domovinske zahvalnosti" [Victory and Homeland Thanksgiving Day]. Nacional (weekly). Archived from the original on 1 July 2012. Retrieved 1 July 2012.
  5. "Sabor: 5. kolovoza ubuduće će se slaviti i kao Dan branitelja". Jutarnji list (in Croatian). 13 May 2008. Retrieved 25 June 2011.
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