Clashes in Bogdanovci

Clashes in Bogdanovci
Part of the Croatian War of Independence
The location of Bogdanovci within Croatia
Date 19 October – 10 November 1991 Location Bogdanovci, Croatia Result Yugoslav-SAO Krajina victory[1]
Belligerents
Yugoslavia SAO Eastern Slavonia, Baranja and Western Syrmia	Croatia
Commanders and leaders
Željko Ražnatović	Unknown
Units involved
Yugoslav People's Army Yugoslav Ground Forces Serb Volunteer Guard	Croatian National Guard (until November 1991) Armed Forces of Croatia (from November 1991) Croatian Army
Casualties and losses
Unknown	70 soldiers killed
89 Croat civilians killed or missing

The Clashes in Bogdanovci occurred during the Croatian War of Independence on 18 November 1991. They were fought between Croatia, and SAO Krajina which was supported by the Yugoslav People's Army. The battle ended with a Serbian victory and the taking over of Bogdanovci.^[2]

The only connection with the outside world was the so-called "corn road." It was a field road hidden by corn that went through Bogdanovaci, Marinci, and Nuštar.^[3] With the fall of the Marinci at the end of October, that connection was cut off.^[4]

From 19 October 1991, the connection between Bogdanovaci and Vukovar was completely severed.^[5] The company of the 204th brigade of the National Guard Corps, which was located in the besieged Bogdanovci, then resisted the attacks of the Serbian army independently with the help of local patriots.^[6] Despite a month of brave defense, in which locals, members of the police, the National Guard Corps, and HOS participated, Bogdanovci—a town of 3,200 inhabitants as of 1991— fell on 10 November 1991, into the hands of the SAO Eastern Slavonia, Baranja and Western Syrmia units supported by Yugoslav People's Army.^[7]

Approximately 89 Croat civilians were killed or remain missing.^[8] In addition to the 89 victims from Bogdanovci, 70 Croat soldiers who came to aid in the defense were also killed. The number of casualties on the Serb side is unknown.