Vukovar during the Croatian War of Independence
The Croatian War of Independence was a war in Croatia from 1991 to 1995. Initially, the war was waged between Croatian police forces and the Serbs living in the Socialist Republic of Croatia, who opposed its secession from Yugoslavia, and proclaimed an autonomous "Republic of Serb Krajina" to ensure their status.
Vukovar was completely devastated during this war. The town had for months warded off the JNA-supported Serb military attacks on the city. 2,000 self-organised defenders (the army of Croatia was still in an embryonic stage at that time) defended the city for approximately 87 days when it was eventually overrun, with the city destroyed almost beyond recognition. It is estimated that 2,000 defenders of Vukovar and civilians were killed, 800 went missing and 22,000 were forced into exile. Vukovar is notorious for the devastation it suffered, the worst in Europe since World War II. The defense of Vukovar is famous among military analysts with comparisons made to the Battle of Stalingrad, although Vukovar was on a much smaller scale.
Our ship briefly docked at Vukovar for a short visit on our way to Osijek. The building on the right had once been the Grand Hotel, and will possibly again open as a hotel.
A building which has been severely damaged by what the locals call the "Homeland War" of 1991-1997.
Note the bullet holes in this building, which has been partially reconstructed.
Homes which have been devastated.
A closer view of one of the homes.
A sufficient number of people are returning to Vukovar and the church has been rebuilt.
Another building that had been rebuilt.
This tank is part of a memorial to the Croatian partisans who resisted the Serbs in the Homeland War.
After this brief stop in Vukovar, we continued on our trip to Osijek.