Mustafa Hajrulahović "Talijan" (22 January 1957 – 8 March 1998) was a Bosnian military officer and later a general of the Army of the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina, in charge of the defence of

Sarajevo Sarajevo ( ; cyrl, Сарајево, ; ''see Names of European cities in different languages (Q–T)#S, names in other languages'') is the Capital city, capital and largest city of Bosnia and Herzegovina, with a population of 275,524 in its a ...

. He graduated from the military academy in Split, Croatia in 1979. In 1991, he left the JNA with the rank of

Captain Captain is a title, an appellative for the commanding officer of a military unit; the supreme leader of a navy ship, merchant ship, aeroplane, spacecraft, or other vessel; or the commander of a port, fire or police department, election precinct, e ...

and deserted to the Army of the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina. For most of the war, he was the

commander Commander (commonly abbreviated as Cmdr.) is a common naval officer rank. Commander is also used as a rank or title in other formal organizations, including several police forces. In several countries this naval rank is termed frigate captain. ...

of the 1st Corps, but at the end of the war, he was placed in the war

Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina The presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina ( sh-Latn-Cyrl, Predsjedništvo Bosne i Hercegovine, separator=" / ", Предсједништво Босне и Херцеговине) is a three-member body which collectively serves as head of state of ...

. He was very popular in the army and with the people. He was one of the key people in the defense of Sarajevo during the

Bosnian War The Bosnian War ( sh, Rat u Bosni i Hercegovini / Рат у Босни и Херцеговини) was an international armed conflict that took place in Bosnia and Herzegovina between 1992 and 1995. The war is commonly seen as having started ...

, in a city besieged and helpless amid a relentless onslaught of artillery and sniper fire. Hajrulahović died of a

heart attack A myocardial infarction (MI), commonly known as a heart attack, occurs when blood flow decreases or stops to the coronary artery of the heart, causing damage to the heart muscle. The most common symptom is chest pain or discomfort which may tr ...

when he was visiting his mother in Hamburg, Germany. He was buried in a specially marked grave near Ali Pasha Mosque in

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Mustafa Hajrulahović 'TALIJAN' BOSANAC A TALIJAN I DIO

1957 births 1998 deaths People from Banja Luka Bosniaks of Bosnia and Herzegovina Bosnia and Herzegovina Muslims Bosnia and Herzegovina generals Officers of the Yugoslav People's Army {{Europe-mil-bio-stub