From the History
Commemorating the Genocide against the Bosniaks of the UN "Safe Area" Srebrenica
March 1995 – Directive 7
In March 1995, war criminal Radovan Karadžić issued "Directive 7", stating that the VRS should carry out the complete physical separation of Srebrenica and Žepa, and through daily planned combat operations create conditions of total insecurity and hopelessness for the inhabitants of Srebrenica.
Operation "Krivaja 95"
This directive was merely the prelude to the operational military plan codenamed "Krivaja 95", drawn up by the Army of Republika Srpska in 1995 to capture the UN safe areas of Srebrenica and Žepa. Operation "Krivaja 95" was the prelude to the genocide committed by the VRS against more than 8,000 men in Potočari and the wider area in just a few days in 1995. In the interest of truth: women and newborns were not spared either.
Military Command
Operation "Krivaja 95" fell within the territorial jurisdiction of the Drina Corps of the VRS under the command of war criminal Radoslav Krstić, and after the start of the attack, war criminal Ratko Mladić assumed direct command. Unrestricted support came from Serbia, from the Užice Corps, and from numerous paramilitary formations (such as the notorious "Škorpioni") that were integrated into the country's army and police.
UNPROFOR & DUTCHBAT
The UN entrusted the protection of the "Safe Area" Srebrenica to soldiers of the Dutch Battalion (DUTCHBAT) of UNPROFOR (United Nations Protection Force). On 18 January, the DUTCHBAT-3 battalion arrived, consisting of 600 soldiers. By July, this number had significantly decreased, and the battalion was logistically weakened as the VRS denied passage to supply convoys heading to the Charlie base in Potočari.
10 July 1995 – Failed Air Support
On Monday, 10 July 1995, DUTCHBAT command sent multiple requests for close air support (CAS). They awaited approval through the chain: General Janvier – Akashi – UN Security Council. However, General Janvier hesitated for too long. Then came an ultimatum from Bratunac: either the air strikes would cease, or the UN soldiers held hostage by the VRS would be killed. The air support was called off.
11 July 1995 – Fall of Srebrenica
Srebrenica fell into the hands of the VRS on 11 July 1995 at approximately 16:00. More than 25,000 women, children and elderly men were already at or near the Charlie base, hoping for UNPROFOR protection.
12 July 1995 – The Column
By midnight, between 12,000 and 15,000 men had gathered in the area between the villages of Šušnjari and Jaglići. An endless column formed with the aim of breaking through impassable mountain terrain towards Tuzla and Kladanj. On 12 July 1995 at approximately 00:30, the human column set off from Šušnjari towards free territory – on a journey of over 100 kilometres.
13 July 1995 – The Massacre
On 13 July 1995 between 01:00 and 06:00, groups of refugees crossed the asphalt road Konjević Polje – Nova Kasaba. The VRS severed the column around 6:00 and captured at least 6,000 men. The majority of the prisoners were taken to collection points in Nova Kasaba and Sandići. General Mladić visited the prisoners at both locations. In the late afternoon, the prisoners from Sandići were brought to Kravica and locked in the cooperative warehouse. Around 18:00, the VRS carried out the execution – with rocket launchers, mortar shells, hand grenades and rifle bullets.
16 July 1995 – Breakthrough to Nezuk
On 16 July 1995 between 14:00 and 17:00, a group of approximately 3,500 people managed to break through to free territory in the village of Nezuk, Sapna municipality. Of the estimated 15,000 people who sought to save their lives during the "Death March", only slightly more than one fifth made it to Nezuk.