- Published: 04.08.2015.
Grand military parade held in Croatia to mark Operation Storm anniversary
A Croatian Army parade organised to mark the 20th anniversary of Operation Storm, which put an end to the Serb rebellion in the 1990s, was held in Zagreb Tuesday, with 3,000 participants marching through the centre of the Croatian capital.
The 4-kilometre-long column of 3,000 servicewomen and servicemen proceeded along Vukovarska Street, from Drziceva Street towards Savska Street, and included 300 army vehicles plus some 30 aircraft.
The parade through Zagreb included a march of infantry troops plus Homeland Defence war veterans and members of historical detachments wearing uniforms from the past. The infantry section of the event began with a display of some 190 flags of army and police units.Members of historical detachments in colourful uniforms, coming from all parts of Croatia, attracted special attention by the audience. Another focal point of admiration were Croatian cadets as well as members of allied countries.The parade also included special military and civil police forces, firefighters and members of the National Protection and Rescue Directorate and the Croatian Mountain Rescue Service.
The artistic programme of the military parade featured nearly 160 singers and actors who performed famous old Croatian songs as well as patriotic songs and who recited poems with messages promoting peace, the national unity and pride. The centrepiece of the artistic programme was the performance of the national anthem "Our Beautiful Homeland" by a 13-year-old girl Mia Negovetic and the Croatian Navy “Sveti Juraj” a cappella band.
Croatian Army infantry and mechanised units took part in the Victory Parade with two PzH 2000 howitzers, each weighing 50 tonnes, being one of the greatest attractions in the event. The two state-of-the-art pieces of artillery have a range of between 30 and 80 kilometres and can fire 10-13 rounds per minute. The military review also featured Patria armoured vehicles, MRAP (mine-resistant ambush protected) vehicles, Humvees, M-84 tanks, BVP M-80 infantry fighting vehicles, Iveco trucks, mortars, medical vehicles, M-ATV off-road fighting vehicles, a mobile field kitchen, various vessels, motorcycles and other vehicles and equipment.
Wings of Storm, the Croatian air force aerobatic display team whose task is the presentation of skill and team work of the Croatian air force, delighted the audience at the parade. Wings of Storm are part of some 3,000 participants in the parade organised to celebrate the 20th anniversary of Operation Storm, a joint military and police operation that ended a Serb armed rebellion in August 1995 and restored Croatian sovereignty over occupied central and southern parts of the country. The air show featured helicopters and fighters of different types as well as fire-fighting planes.
Croatian Navy (HRM) vessels performed a demonstration exercise in the Brac channel simultaneously with the military parade in Zagreb. Four rocket gunboats and two patrol boats sailed out of the Lora navy base in Zagreb at 18.00 hours and passed through Kastel Bay to take up position south of Ciovo island.
A reception for foreign delegations and prominent guests is set for Tuesday evening in Zagreb. Festivities will continue on Wednesday in Knin and throughout Croatia that celebrates its Victory Day on August 5.
(Text and foto: HINA)