Issue: 1/2025

Territorial Defense of the Municipality of Prnjavor, September 18, 1991 - May 26, 1992

Authors:
Nemanja Vasić

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The Territorial Defense (TO) of the Municipality of Prnjavor was first mobilized on September 18, 1991, following the outbreak of armed conflict in Western Slavonia. The Prnjavor TO detachment successfully crossed the Sava River and engaged in combat operations in the Okučani area, where it remained until the arrival of UNPROFOR peacekeeping forces in June 1992. Meanwhile, hostilities spread to Bosnia and Herzegovina, with Croatian forces occupying Bosanski Brod and advancing toward Derventa. In response, the municipal leadership of Prnjavor ordered the preemptive deployment of TO forces toward Derventa to prevent further enemy advances. After the withdrawal of the Yugoslav People’s Army (JNA) from Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Army of the Republic of Srpska (VRS) was formed in May 1992. At that time, the Second TO Detachment of Prnjavor was integrated into the newly established 27th Motorized Brigade, while the First TO Detachment, which had returned from Western Slavonia, along with local TO units, formed the 1st Prnjavor Light Infantry Brigade of the VRS.