Army of Republika Srpska

Army of Republika Srpska
Unit name	Army of Republika Srpska
Native name	Војска Републике Српске
Start date	12 May 1992
End date	12 January 2006
Country	Republika Srpska
Type	Land forces
Size	~150,000 (peak)
Garrison	Pale
Notable commanders	Ratko Mladić, Stanislav Galić, Mile Mrkšić

Army of Republika Srpska was the armed force of the self-proclaimed Republika Srpska during the breakup of Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and throughout the Bosnian War. Formed from remnants of the Yugoslav People's Army and local paramilitary units, it operated alongside political institutions centered in Banja Luka and military headquarters in Pale. The force was central to major sieges, offensives, and negotiated ceasefires culminating in the Dayton Agreement, and its leaders faced international legal scrutiny at the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia.

History

The formation of the force in May 1992 followed declarations by the Assembly of the Serb People in Bosnia and Herzegovina and actions by the JNA after the Ten-Day War and the declaration of independence by Bosnia and Herzegovina. Early consolidation involved absorption of units from the Yugoslav People's Army garrisons in Banja Luka, Sarajevo outskirts, and Mostar, while coordinating with paramilitary formations like the White Eagles and the Serb Volunteer Guard (Arkan's Tigers). Leadership structures emerged around commanders who had served in the Yugoslav People's Army and local political figures from the Serb Democratic Party (SDS), with strategic decisions influenced by negotiations in Belgrade and relations with the government of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia.

Throughout 1992–1995 the force engaged in major campaigns such as the Siege of Sarajevo, the Operation Corridor, and the Srebrenica massacre period, with operational shifts following interventions by the United Nations Protection Force and NATO air operations during Operation Deliberate Force. Diplomatic efforts culminating in the Dayton Agreement reshaped military dispositions and led to eventual integration and demobilization under supervision by the Implementation Force and Stabilisation Force (SFOR).

Organization and Structure

Organizationally the force mirrored conventional armies with corps, brigades, and specialized units, headquartered in Pale and administratively linked to ministries named by authorities in Banja Luka. The structure included the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Corps, territorial defense elements from municipalities such as Prijedor, Bijeljina, and Doboj, and specialized formations like military police, artillery brigades, and air units based at airfields including Banja Luka International Airport and Zalužani. Political oversight was exercised by figures from the Serb Democratic Party (SDS) and ministries associated with the Republika Srpska entity, while coordination with the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia affected logistics, recruitment, and command chains.

Commanders such as Ratko Mladić and staff officers with backgrounds in the Yugoslav People's Army shaped doctrine that combined conventional siege tactics with territorial defense operations. Training and conscription drew on military academies and facilities formerly run by the Yugoslav People's Army and localized officers from cities such as Banja Luka, Pale, and Doboj.

Equipment and Armament

Equipment derived from captures of Yugoslav People's Army depots, transfers from the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, and seizures during early 1992 operations, including tanks like the T-55, armored personnel carriers such as the BTR-60, artillery systems including the D-30 howitzer, and anti-aircraft weapons like the ZSU-23-4 Shilka. Small arms in use included M70 assault rifle variants, AK-47 derivatives, and machine guns like the PK machine gun, supplemented by mortars and anti-tank guided weapons such as the AT-3 Sagger. Limited aviation assets comprised helicopters and light aircraft procured from former JNA stocks and regional suppliers, while logistics relied on rail and road links connecting to Belgrade and depots in Banja Luka.

Naval assets were negligible, given the landlocked operational theater, though riverine craft operated on the Sava and Drina rivers. Sanctions and arms embargoes such as the United Nations arms embargo on former Yugoslavia affected procurement, pushing reliance onto clandestine transfers, captured materiel, and domestic maintenance supported by workshops in Banja Luka and Pale.

Operations and Role in the Bosnian War

The force conducted major operations including sieges, territorial offensives, and defensive campaigns across regions like Sarajevo Canton, Srebrenica, Bosanska Krajina, and eastern Bosnia around Zvornik. Notable battles and operations included the Siege of Sarajevo, the Battle of Vitez, Operation Corridor (1992), and engagements in Foča and Prijedor, often interacting with United Nations-designated enclaves and UNPROFOR battalions. Coordination with paramilitary units such as the Scorpions and links to political directives from the Serb Democratic Party (SDS) influenced strategic choices, while NATO interventions during Operation Deliberate Force and international diplomacy around the Dayton Agreement altered the operational tempo. The force also engaged in territorial policing, population transfers, and creation of defensive lines in regions like Banja Luka and Doboj.

War Crimes Allegations and Legal Proceedings

Senior military and political leaders associated with operations faced indictments at the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia for alleged violations including crimes against humanity, genocide, and war crimes related to events such as the Srebrenica massacre, the Siege of Sarajevo, and abuses in municipalities like Prijedor and Višegrad. Key accused and convicted figures included Radovan Karadžić, Ratko Mladić, Biljana Plavšić, and others prosecuted by the Office of the Prosecutor (ICTY), with verdicts addressing command responsibility, joint criminal enterprise, and individual acts. Domestic legal processes in courts throughout Bosnia and Herzegovina and appeals to international bodies further examined incidents involving units like the Scorpions and actions in enclaves such as Goražde. Reparations, memorialization, and reconciliation efforts involving institutions like the Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina and international human rights organizations continue to address legacies of allegations.

Disbandment and Legacy

Following the Dayton Agreement and subsequent international supervision by IFOR, SFOR, and later EUFOR Althea, forces underwent transformation, demobilization, and integration into new structures under the Armed Forces of Bosnia and Herzegovina and entity-level security arrangements, with formal disbandment processes concluding in 2006. The legacy includes contested narratives promoted by political parties like the Serb Democratic Party (SDS) and countervailing documentation from international tribunals, human rights groups such as Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International, and academic studies from scholars affiliated with universities in Belgrade, Sarajevo, and Oxford. Memorials, veterans' associations, and debates in parliaments in Banja Luka and Sarajevo reflect ongoing disputes over memory, accountability, and regional security integration within the framework of Dayton Peace Accords and European institutions such as the European Union and Council of Europe.

Category:Military of Bosnia and Herzegovina Category:Bosnian War Category:Disbanded armies