Blago Zadro

Blago Zadro (March 31 1944 – October 16 1991) was a commander of the northern part of Croatian defense forces in Vukovar (Croatia) during the Croatian War of Independence. He was killed in an attack by Serb forces in the town of Borovo Naselje.

Vukovar

Zadro was born in a small village near Grude in Herzegovina, and his family moved to Borovo Naselje in 1954 where he finished school. He became active in politics during Croatia's first democratic elections in 1990 and became the vice president of the HDZ in Vukovar, and joined the defense corps when the war started.

He commanded the 3rd Battallion of the 204th (Vukovar) Croatian Army Brigade during the bloody Battle of Vukovar, along with two of his sons, where he bravely led actions against the JNA and local Serb forces. Zadro's unit was assigned to defend the vital Trpinjska cesta (Trpinja road), an open road leading directly into Vukovar. Because of its importance, the road became primary target for JNA tank units attacking the city and it became known as the "Tank Graveyard" due to actions of Zadro's anti-tank rocket groups "Yellow Ants" and "Turbo platoon" which fought off many tank attacks, notably a single incident on September 18 when an entire battalion of about 60 tanks and Armored personnel carriers was ambushed and destroyed there. [ [http://www.vecernji.hr/newsroom/news/croatia/Vukovar/677552/index.do hr icon Večernji List: Vukovar - Junački otpor trideset puta jačem agresoru] ]

Zadro was killed by Serb forces on October 16. His body was recovered and buried by his unit. However, when the Serb forces surrendered the city, his body was removed and remained missing until 1998, when it was exhumed along with the bodies of 937 other victims from a mass grave in Borovo Naselje.

After his death, he was promoted posthumously to the rank of major general. Two of his sons fought with him in Vukovar; his eldest, Robert, disappeared during combat near Kupres, Bosnia and Herzegovina. Fact|date=February 2008

President Vladimir Šeks stated "without heroes like Blago Zadro, there would be no free Croatia". Fact|date=February 2008 A commemoration for him is held every year on the anniversary of his death in Vukovar, attended by many former comrades and political dignitaries. The main street in Borovo Naselje and a military school in Zagreb have been named after him.

The story of Blago and the Defenders of Vukovar, is now the subject of a major international feature film. [http://www.thetrinityofvukovar.com]

ee also

* Battle of Vukovar
*Croatian war of independence

References

External links

* [http://www.lijepanasadomovinahrvatska.com/folder/ivkosic_181105.htm hr icon Blago Zadro: Obican heroj i veliki ratnik]
* [http://www.vukovarske-novine.com/vijest.php?id=1484 hr icon Vukovarske novine: General kojeg su svi slušali i poštovali]
* [http://www.vojska.net/hrv/zivotopis/z/zadro/blago/ Zadro Blago]