Marko Babić (16 February 1965 – 5 July 2007) was a Croatian Army officer (

Colonel Colonel (abbreviated as Col., Col or COL) is a senior military officer rank used in many countries. It is also used in some police forces and paramilitary organizations. In the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries, a colonel was typically in charge of ...

at time of death) who served during the

Croatian War of Independence The Croatian War of Independence was fought from 1991 to 1995 between Croat forces loyal to the Government of Croatia—which had declared independence from the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (SFRY)—and the Serb-controlled Yugosl ...

. He is most notable for his contribution during the

Battle of Vukovar The Battle of Vukovar was an 87-day siege of Vukovar in eastern Croatia by the Yugoslav People's Army (JNA), supported by various paramilitary forces from Serbia, between August and November 1991. Before the Croatian War of Independence the Bar ...

, where he led the defence of Trpinjska Cesta. Babić was second in command in the 3rd Battalion of the

204th Vukovar Brigade The 204th Vukovar Brigade ( hr, 204. vukovarska brigada) of the Croatian Army was a military unit of the Republic of Croatia that led the defence of the city of Vukovar during the 1991 Battle of Vukovar, in the Croatian War of Independence. The ...

, under Blago Zadro. This area was one of the most direct ways to attack Vukovar, and was targeted by

Yugoslav People's Army The Yugoslav People's Army (abbreviated as JNA/; Macedonian and sr-Cyrl-Latn, Југословенска народна армија, Jugoslovenska narodna armija; Croatian and bs, Jugoslavenska narodna armija; sl, Jugoslovanska ljudska a ...

(JNA) forces for a tank breakthrough into the town. Consequently, during the period of September 14–20, 1991, JNA launched some of the largest tank and infantry attacks at the city. One of them was started on September 18 from the north on Trpinjska cesta (Trpinja road) by the JNA's 51st Mechanized Brigade's one battalion of about 30 tanks and 30 APCs. These fell into an ambush, and were almost wiped out; as a result, an area where the fighting occurred was nicknamed ''

tank graveyard The term tank graveyard or tank cemetery refers to an area containing a number of derelict armored vehicles, generally as a result of warfare. While they often are only a last resting place for destroyed, broken down or outdated equipment, tank ...

''. Marko Babić himself is credited with destroying 14 tanks, more than anyone in the battle of Vukovar.Croatian Heroes: Heroes of Vukovar TV serial by Eduard & Dominik Galic
/ref> The 2nd episode of the 2005 10-part TV documentary ''Heroes of Vukovar'' is dedicated to Babić and his fighters. He died on 5 July 2007 at the age of 42, as a result of having suffered a stroke.

References

External links

Javno.hr: Umro umirovljeni pukovnik Marko Babić
1965 births 2007 deaths Croatian army officers Military personnel of the Croatian War of Independence People from Vukovar {{Croatia-bio-stub