The Muslim-Croat Civil War in Central Bosnia: A Military History, 1992-1994 (Eastern European Studies (College Station, Tex.), No. 23) (Hardcover)

by Charles R. Shrader (Author)
Key Phrases: mountain brigade, brigade zone, military production facilities, Lasva Valley, Gornji Vakuf, Colonel Blaskic (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
In this volume, Charles R. Shrader offers a military history of a crucial conflict in Bosnia between two former allies. When the Bosnian Serbs and their Serbian allies attacked Bosnia-Herzegovina in March 1992 the Bosnian Croats and Muslims collaborated to defend themselves. As Serbian pressure increased and it became clear that the West would not intervene, the two allies began to stake out their own claims. Drawing from cases presented before the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia, Shrader describes the organization and tactical doctrine of the Croatian Defence Forces and the Muslim-led Army of Bosnia-Herzegovina. He analyses the strengths and weaknesses of the two sides in such fields as communications, training and logistics. In a conclusion which some may find uncomfortable, Shrader argues that far from being the attackers, the Bosnian Croats in Central Bosnia were clearly out numbered, outgunned and on the defensive.

About the Author
Charles R. Shrader, who lives in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, retired from the U.S. Army in 1987 after teaching at West Point, the Command and General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth, and the Army War College.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 248 pages
• Publisher: Texas A&M University Press; 1 edition (June 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1585442615
• ISBN-13: 978-1585442614
• Product Dimensions: 9.6 x 6.7 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,461,127 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Muslim-Croat Civil War in Central Bosnia: A Military His, September 22, 2003

By A Customer

Finally, a book that sheds some light on the military aspects of Muslim-Croat war in Central Bosnia. It makes you realize that Balkan wars were much more complicated than some authors want us believe. I highly recommend it for anyone who cares to understand the conflict beyond black and white clichés fed to us by naïve or ignorant media and publicity-hungry journalists.

13 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Objectivity? or the Truth!, May 5, 2004

By A Customer

It continually amazes me when people criticize Croats in Bosnia Herzegovina for protecting there interests. Prior to reading this book, it was obvious to me that the Bosnian Muslims never wanted want an ally in Croatia and the Bosnian Croats, which supplied them with arms, food, and took in refuges before they turned on them. Strategic error on there part that they will never overcome. This is from someone who defended there actions for a long time, but no more.

It always seems that the Yugoslav propaganda about Ustase killing hundreds of thousands of Serbs comes out. But the Fact remains, Hitler formed 2 divisions of SS from Bosnian Muslims who also were in Ustase (Pavelic's Vice President was a Croat-Muslim from Herzegovina), Serb Cetniks were allied with the Nazi's as well, and the Partisans (Tito) were butchers just as Hitler and Stalin were. Killing hundreds of thousands of Croats and Serbs after the war.

From the beginning of the war when Alija Izedbegovic always thought the Serb dominated Yugoslav army would defend him, a big mistake which he and the people of Bosnia paid for brutally. From a strategic stance this book makes the most sense that i have read to date. No one else has gone as deep to figure out what actually was happening on the ground. I wonder why?

People continually forget that reporters are not Military experts, nor do they have the expertise to assess a situation. This books view of a military point of view is key and understanding what the Bosnian Muslims were doing prior to break out of war between the two sides. This book just makes sense.

You have to also figure, why Dario Kordic received a 25 year sentence for not killing anyone or ordering an attack on anyone. You also have to wonder why The Hague convicts people of genocide for only 25 years. I wonder why Sefer Halilovic has not gone to The Hague for his atrocities when he commanded Yugoslav forces and the Bosnian Army. Doesn't make sense, does it?

I had a chance to attend a lecture given by Mr. Shrader when he was in Chicago, he said that no Bosnian Muslim would ever meet with him nor would the Bosnian government give him assistance in speaking with troops or opening up there archives to see what there actual plans were. Speaking to him shed more light on who was more open to documentation and who wasn't (Bosniaks).

2 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Do not read this if you are a Serb......, September 24, 2005

By	D.B (Australia) - See all my reviews

Obviously the truth would hurt.
About time some light was shed on what actually happened, and the process that Croatia played in actually saving Bosnia, though to their dismay, getting back stabbed for their hard work.
The Muslims should be greatful.
Interesting read, from an Ex-Crni Gorac, and here's to our Independance.