Blago Zadro was born in the small village of Donji Mamići near Grude in western Herzegovina. His family moved to Borovo Naselje, an industrial district of Vukovar, in 1954 where he graduated high school and started working in the Borovo combine. He had a job mixing chemicals and rubber.[1][2] In 1968 he married Katica Soldo, also an employee of Borovo. They had three sons: Robert, Tomislav, and Josip. Zadro was interested in Croatian history, particularly the Bleiburg death marches, and was not a supporter of the Communist authorities.[3]
In early 1990, due to mismanagement of the Borovo conglomerate, Zadro organized strikes and asked for the dismissal of the director.[3] Zadro became active in politics during Croatia's first democratic election in 1990; he founded a branch of the Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) for Municipality of Vukovar and became the vice president of the HDZ in Vukovar. After his department was closed, he spent three months in the reorganized Croatian police force in Vinkovci. He joined the Croatian National Guard when the war started.[1][3]
Battle of Vukovar
Blago Zadro (middle) on the Trpinja road during the Battle of Vukovar
Blago Zadro's grave
Bust of Blago Zadro in Vukovar
Zadro had commanded the 3rd Battalion of the 204th (Vukovar) Croatian ArmyBrigade during Battle of Vukovar since the start of the fighting, along with two of his sons, where he led actions against the Yugoslav People's Army (JNA) and local Serb forces.[2] Zadro's unit was assigned to defend the vital Trpinja road (Croatian: Trpinjska cesta), 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 18 September when an entire battalion of about 60 tanks and armored personnel carriers was ambushed and destroyed there.
Zadro was killed by Serb forces on 16 October 1991. His body was recovered and buried by his unit. When the Serb forces surrendered the city, his body was removed and remained missing until 1998, when it was found along with the bodies of 937 other victims from a mass grave in Borovo Naselje. After his death, he was promoted to the rank of major general.
Legacy
Blago Zadro Memorial in Vukovar, Trpinjska Street
Speaker of the Croatian ParliamentVladimir Šeks stated "without heroes like Blago Zadro, there would be no free Croatia".[4] 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. A street in Grude was named after him and in his birth village Donji Mamići was placed a monument in his tribute.
References
^ abKraljić, Željka. . Vukovarske novine (in Croatian). Archived from the original on 8 February 2012. Retrieved 15 November 2011.
^ abCentral Intelligence Agency Office of Russian and European Analysis (2000). Balkan Battlegrounds: A Military History of the Yugoslav Conflict, 1990–1995: Volume 2. Washington, D.C.; p. 197
^ abc. Večernji list. Archived from the original on 2016-10-19. Retrieved 2016-10-16.
^ (in Croatian). Croatian Radiotelevision. 16 October 2004. Archived from the original on 5 March 2016. Retrieved 14 November 2011.
External links
Zadro Blago
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January 22, 2023
blago, zadro, march, 1944, october, 1991, commander, northern, part, croatian, forces, vukovar, during, croatian, independence, killed, attack, yugoslav, people, army, town, borovo, naselje, youthnickname, Šljukaborn, 1944, march, 1944grude, independent, state. Blago Zadro 31 March 1944 16 October 1991 was a commander of the northern part of Croatian forces in Vukovar during the Croatian War of Independence He was killed in an attack by the Yugoslav People s Army JNA in the town of Borovo Naselje Blago ZadroBlago Zadro in his youthNickname s SljukaBorn 1944 03 31 31 March 1944Grude Independent State of CroatiaDied16 October 1991 1991 10 16 aged 47 Borovo Naselje CroatiaBuriedMemorial Cemetery Vukovar CroatiaAllegiance CroatiaService wbr branchCroatian National GuardYears of service1991RankMajor general posthumously Commands held3rd Btn of the 204th Vukovar BrigadeBattles warsCroatian War of Independence Battle of Vukovar Spouse s Katica Soldo Contents 1 Early life 2 Battle of Vukovar 3 Legacy 4 References 5 External linksEarly life EditBlago Zadro was born in the small village of Donji Mamici near Grude in western Herzegovina His family moved to Borovo Naselje an industrial district of Vukovar in 1954 where he graduated high school and started working in the Borovo combine He had a job mixing chemicals and rubber 1 2 In 1968 he married Katica Soldo also an employee of Borovo They had three sons Robert Tomislav and Josip Zadro was interested in Croatian history particularly the Bleiburg death marches and was not a supporter of the Communist authorities 3 In early 1990 due to mismanagement of the Borovo conglomerate Zadro organized strikes and asked for the dismissal of the director 3 Zadro became active in politics during Croatia s first democratic election in 1990 he founded a branch of the Croatian Democratic Union HDZ for Municipality of Vukovar and became the vice president of the HDZ in Vukovar After his department was closed he spent three months in the reorganized Croatian police force in Vinkovci He joined the Croatian National Guard when the war started 1 3 Battle of Vukovar Edit Blago Zadro middle on the Trpinja road during the Battle of Vukovar Blago Zadro s grave Bust of Blago Zadro in Vukovar Zadro had commanded the 3rd Battalion of the 204th Vukovar Croatian Army Brigade during Battle of Vukovar since the start of the fighting along with two of his sons where he led actions against the Yugoslav People s Army JNA and local Serb forces 2 Zadro s unit was assigned to defend the vital Trpinja road Croatian Trpinjska cesta 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 18 September when an entire battalion of about 60 tanks and armored personnel carriers was ambushed and destroyed there Zadro was killed by Serb forces on 16 October 1991 His body was recovered and buried by his unit When the Serb forces surrendered the city his body was removed and remained missing until 1998 when it was found along with the bodies of 937 other victims from a mass grave in Borovo Naselje After his death he was promoted to the rank of major general Legacy Edit Blago Zadro Memorial in Vukovar Trpinjska Street Speaker of the Croatian Parliament Vladimir Seks stated without heroes like Blago Zadro there would be no free Croatia 4 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 A street in Grude was named after him and in his birth village Donji Mamici was placed a monument in his tribute References Edit a b Kraljic Zeljka General kojeg su svi slusali i postovali Vukovarske novine in Croatian Archived from the original on 8 February 2012 Retrieved 15 November 2011 a b Central Intelligence Agency Office of Russian and European Analysis 2000 Balkan Battlegrounds A Military History of the Yugoslav Conflict 1990 1995 Volume 2 Washington D C p 197 a b c Biografije Blago Zadro Vecernji list Archived from the original on 2016 10 19 Retrieved 2016 10 16 Polaganjem vijenaca misom zadusnicom i komemorativnim skupom u Vukovaru je obiljezeno 13 godina od pogibije general bojnika Blage Zadre in Croatian Croatian Radiotelevision 16 October 2004 Archived from the original on 5 March 2016 Retrieved 14 November 2011 External links Edit in Croatian Blago Zadro Obican heroj i veliki ratnik Zadro Blago Wikimedia Commons has media related to Blago Zadro Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Blago Zadro amp oldid 1094854768, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
