Veljko Milanković ( sr-Cyrl, Вељко Миланковић; 5 January 1955 – 14 February 1993) was a Bosnian Serb war commander during the

Yugoslav Wars The Yugoslav Wars were a series of separate but related#Naimark, Naimark (2003), p. xvii. ethnic conflicts, wars of independence, and Insurgency, insurgencies that took place from 1991 to 2001 in what had been the Socialist Federal Republic of ...

with the rank of second lieutenant. In 2007, it was announced that Milanković would have a street named after him in

Novi Sad Novi Sad ( sr-Cyrl, Нови Сад, ; #Name, see below for other names) is the List of cities in Serbia, second largest city in Serbia and the capital of the autonomous province of Vojvodina. It is located in the southern portion of the Pannoni ...

. Non-governmental groups protested the decision.

Early life

Born to a farming family in the village of Kremna, near Prnjavor, FPR Yugoslavia (modern day

Republika Srpska Republika Srpska ( sr-Cyrl, Република Српска, ; also referred to as the Republic of Srpska or Serb Republic) is one of the two Political divisions of Bosnia and Herzegovina, entities within Bosnia and Herzegovina, the other bein ...

Bosnia and Herzegovina Bosnia and Herzegovina, sometimes known as Bosnia-Herzegovina and informally as Bosnia, is a country in Southeast Europe. Situated on the Balkans, Balkan Peninsula, it borders Serbia to the east, Montenegro to the southeast, and Croatia to th ...

), Milanković helped his father in the fields, working alongside Bosniak Muslims. In 1980, he was allegedly reported multiple times for illegally cutting down and stealing wood, and was arrested by the police for these charges, but was later released. According to Nemanja Vasić, a wartime resident of Prnjavor, Milanković was "both a hero and a criminal. The people loved him, but they also feared him."

Military service

Initially training under

Dragan Vasiljković Dragan Vasiljković ( sr-cyrl, Драган Васиљковић; born 12 December 1954), nicknamed Captain Dragan () is a convicted war criminal and former commander of a Serb paramilitary unit called the Kninjas during the Yugoslav Wars. In 200 ...

, Milanković gained a reputation as a disciplined soldier. He fought originally for the independence of

and joined the 1st Krajina Corps, but upon his promotion to second lieutenant, he was permitted to create a paramilitary group named the Wolves of Vučjak. He led them until his death in 1993; under his command, the Wolves saw action in

Modriča Modriča ( sr-cyrl, Модрича) is a town and municipality in Republika Srpska, Bosnia and Herzegovina. As of 2013 census, the town has a population of 10,137 inhabitants, while the municipality has a population of 25,720 inhabitants. Hist ...

Derventa Derventa ( sr-cyrl, Дервента) is a city in Republika Srpska, Bosnia and Herzegovina. It is situated in the Posavina region, northwest of the city of Doboj. As of 2013, the town has a total of 11,631 inhabitants, while the municipality has ...

, Jasenovac, Pakrac, Okučani, Bosanska, and Kninska Krajina. During the wars in Croatia and Bosnia, he was accused of the abuse of civilians and minorities.

Operation Maslenica

During Operation Maslenica, Milanković led an assault with his Wolves unit against Croatian positions in western

Dalmatia Dalmatia (; ; ) is a historical region located in modern-day Croatia and Montenegro, on the eastern shore of the Adriatic Sea. Through time it formed part of several historical states, most notably the Roman Empire, the Kingdom of Croatia (925 ...

. The goal of Milanković and his unit were to push out Croatians and protect Serbs in the region. In 1992, he was injured in the foot while fighting in the village of Smrtić, in western

Slavonia Slavonia (; ) is, with Dalmatia, Croatia proper, and Istria County, Istria, one of the four Regions of Croatia, historical regions of Croatia. Located in the Pannonian Plain and taking up the east of the country, it roughly corresponds with f ...

. Though he had to wear a cast, he did not leave the battlefield due to his leading position in the Wolves of Vučjak. He later played a critical role in the "Corridor of Life" which helped widen a strip of Serbian-claimed land.

Death

On 4 February 1993, Milanković was shot in the right side of his chest while street-fighting in Donji Kašić, Croatia. He later died of his wounds on 14 February 1993 at the age of 38 while receiving treatment at the Military Medical Academy in Belgrade. Three days later, he was buried in his native village.

See more

* Wolves of Vučjak *

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Milankovic, Veljko 1955 births 1993 deaths People from Prnjavor, Bosnia and Herzegovina Serbs of Bosnia and Herzegovina Army of Republika Srpska soldiers Military personnel of the Bosnian War Military personnel of the Croatian War of Independence Military personnel killed in the Croatian War of Independence Serbian military personnel killed in action