| 7th Muslim Brigade | |
|---|---|
| 7. muslimanska viteška oslobodilačka brigada | |
 The patch of the 7th Muslim Brigade (as of 1995); worn on issued armbands, mostly for ceremonial use | |
| Active | 1992-1996 |
| Country |  Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina |
| Allegiance | Army of the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina |
| Branch | Army |
| Type | Infantry |
| Role | Assault |
| Size | Brigade |
| Garrison/HQ | Zenica |
| Colors | Green, Gold |
| Engagements | Battle of Bugojno Battle of Fojnica Battle of Vareš Kladanj-Vlasenica 1994 Teslić-Šerić 1994 Operation "Domet-1" Operation "Tekbir-95" Operation "Farz-95" |
| Commanders | |
| Notable commanders | Asim Koričić (commander until April 1st, 1993)
Amir Kubara (commander from August 6th, 1993 to April 4th, 1994) Šerif Patković (commander from April 4th, 1994 to August 17th, 1995) Halil Brzina (commander from August 17th, 1995) |
The 7th Muslim brigade (Bosnian: 7. muslimanska brigada / 7. muslimanska viteška oslobidilačka brigada) was an elite all-volunteer brigade of the 3rd Corps of the Army of the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina. It served as the ARBiH's primary assault brigade in Central Bosnia, and was headquartered in Zenica. The brigade's manpower largely came from the cities of Zenica, Travnik, and Kakanj; however, there were soldiers from all over Bosnia who served in its ranks. During the war, the brigade liberated over 1,100 km² of territory, including multiple cities, as well as numerous villages and mountains.[1] Some of the most notable combat actions of the 7th Muslim brigade include the liberation of Vareš, Fojnica, Bugojno, Kakanj, and Travnik from the hands of HVO forces, as well as the defence of Mt. Igman and the liberation of liberation of Mt. Vlašić (Opaljenik), Teslić-Šerić (Jezera), Nabožić (Ilijaš), and Vozuća and the Ozren pocket from VRS forces.[2]
3,447 soldiers passed through the ranks of the brigade, and 236 were killed in action. 30 members were awarded the Bosnian Army's highest wartime award, the Golden Lily (Zlatni Ljiljan), the second most of any unit (after the 505th Viteška motorized brigade).[3]
The 7th Muslim brigade (7. muslimanska brigada) was officially formed on November 17, 1992, in Zenica. It was formed as an all-volunteer brigade composed of Bosniaks from various units in Travnik, Zenica, and Kakanj. On its date of formation, the brigade had three battalions:
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Following the formation of the Zenica-based 3rd Corps on December 1, 1992, the 7th Muslim brigade enters its ranks.
In 1993, a sabotage-reconnaissance company, or DIČ (diverzantsko-izviđačka četa) was formed, composed of volunteers from preexisting reconnaissance, sabotage and assault platoons from all battalions. The DIČ became the spearhead of the 7th Muslim brigade and was directly subordinated to the brigade command.
On February 22, 1994, with the formation of the 7th Corps (Army of the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina) in Travnik, the 1st battalion of the 7th Muslim brigade was formed into its own brigade, the 737th Muslim light brigade (737. muslimanska lahka brigada). Consequently, a new 1st battalion was formed, incorporating fighters from the "Martyr Resul" detachment and the general Kakanj area, largely pulling manpower from the 3rd battalion.[6][7]
In April 1995, a 4th battalion was formed, made up largely of soldiers from the Lašva valley.
On April 14, 1994, by order of the General Staff of the ARBiH, the 7th Muslim brigade was awarded the honorary title "Slavna" (Celebrated), with the full name of the brigade being 7. muslimanska slavna brdska brigada. On May 13, 1995, the General Staff presented the 7th Muslim brigade with the highest honorary title, "Viteška" (Knightly). The brigade was also renamed from a mountain brigade to a liberation brigade type "A" (oslobodilačka brigada tipa "A"), which denoted an assault/maneuver brigade. The 7th brigade's final full title, which it carried until the war's end, was 7. muslimanska viteška oslobodilačka brigada. After the signing of the Dayton agreement and the end of hostilities, the 7th Muslim brigade becomes part of the Army of the Federation of Bosnia & Herzegovina (VFBiH) and is renamed the 7th mechanized brigade (7. mehanizovana brigada). With the forming of the Armed Forces of Bosnia & Herzegovina (OSBiH), the 7th mechanized brigade is dissolved along with many other VFBiH formations.[8]
Near the end of the war, the 7th Muslim brigade's general structure looked as such:
-Sabotage-reconnaissance company (diverzantsko-izviđačka četa / DIČ) - Zenica (subordinated directly to brigade command)
During the war, volunteers from all throughout Bosnia came to fight with the 7th Muslim brigade. Units which had a notable amount of soldiers transfer into the 7th brigade include the 306th mountain brigade (306. brdska brigada) from Travnik, the 328th mountain brigade (328. slavna brdska brigada) from Zavidovići, the 329th mountain brigade (329. brdska brigada) from Kakanj, the 303rd and 314th mountain brigades (303. viteška brdska brigada, 314. slavna brdska brigada) from Zenica, as well as numerous others.[9]
Though there was much speculation by foreign and enemy media, the 7th Muslim brigade never incorporated any sizable amount of foreign fighters (referred to as 'Mujahideen' by foreign press) into its ranks.[10] However, a handful of members of the 7th Muslim brigade left from 1993 onwards to go fight in the independent detachment "El-Mudžahidin" (odred "el-Mudžahidin), seeking further adherence to Islamic law and practice. This detachment, unlike the 7th brigade, contained a large number of foreign volunteers from various nations, largely from the Middle East and North Africa, as well as a large amount of religious Bosniaks from all parts of the country. It was also the case that certain war crimes committed by this detachment were falsely attributed to the 7th Muslim brigade, which was cleared up during ICTY trials in the post-war years.[11]
The first combat action of the 7th Muslim brigade was the first attempt at breaking the siege of Sarajevo. In December of 1992, along with various other units from the 3rd and 6th Corps, the 7th brigade fought VRS forces on the key hilltop "Višegrad" near Visoko. Although they captured the elevation, the overall operation was unsuccessful due to overwhelming VRS firepower, forcing them to eventually abandon their positions on Višegrad.[12]
Shortly afterwards, all-out conflict broke out between the ARBiH and HVO in Central Bosnia. One of the first battles against the HVO took place in the village of Dusina, near Busovača, in January of 1993, which led to the ousting of the Croat forces from the settlement by memebers of the 7th Muslim brigade's 2nd battalion, following their initial occupation of the area. After a few months of escalation, tensions between the HVO and ARBiH fully erupted in mid-April of 1993, with clashes breaking out in the city of Zenica. The 7th Muslim brigade, along with other local military and police formations, were tasked with clearing the Croat forces from the city.[13] The HVO's Zenica-based Jure Francetić brigade (brigada "Jure Francetić") was forced out of the city in only a few days, setting up defensive position to the west, in the village of Gornji Čajdraš'.[14] In the days that followed, forces of the 7th Muslim brigade, with support from other 3rd Corps units, defeated Jure Francetić brigade in Gornji Čajdraš, with its members either surrendering or fleeing to HVO forces in the Vitez area.[15]
In early July of 1993, the 7th Muslim brigade spearheaded an assault on the HVO-held city of Fojnica, supported by elements of the local 310th mountain brigade (310. brdska brigada) and the 317th mountain brigade (317. brdska brigada). Following multiple days of battle, on July 3rd, 1993, the town was fully in ARBiH hands.[16] In early November of 1993, the 7th Muslim brigade found itself waging battles around the small town of Vareš, held by HVO, who had committed war crimes against Bosniak civilians in the village of Stupni Do only two weeks prior, killing 37 civilians, many of whom were burned alive in their homes. In the early morning hours of November 4th, 1993, following days of combat, forces of the 7th Muslim brigade entered Vareš from the west, linking up with members of the 2nd Corps' 206th mountain brigade (206. slavna brdska brigada) from the north. The fall of Vareš led to an exodus of Bosnian Croat soldiers and civilians from the town, as well as the liberation of 110 Bosniak civilians who were taking refuge in the town's UNPROFOR base.[17][18][19]
In July of 1993, VRS operation "Lukavac-93" led to the capturing of Trnovo and Mt. Bjelašnica, which put Mt. Igman under direct threat; at the base of the mountain, the newly-created Sarajevo tunnel served as a vital lifeline to the besieged city of Sarajevo. The General Staff ordered the 1st battalion of the 7th Muslim brigade, along with the 1st assault battalion of the 312th mountain brigade (312. brdska brigada) and a battalion of the 17th Krajina mountain brigade (17. slavna krajiška brdska brigada), to head to Mt. Igman to defend it against the VRS offensive following the desertion of many ARBiH units which were previously stationed there. Over the course of July and August 1993, the 7th Muslim brigade fought to defend Mt. Igman, in which it was ultimately successful. As a result, brigade's 1st battalion received a special commemoration from RBiH President Alija Izetbegović following the battle, congratulating their efforts in saving Mt. Igman, and in turn keeping the Sarajevo tunnel system alive.[20]
In 1994, following the end of the ARBiH-HVO conflict, the 3rd Corps turned its attention back to the VRS. On April 27th, 1994, units of the 7th Muslim brigade are sent to the Kladanj-Vlasenica front, in Eastern Bosnia, in the 2nd Corps area of operation. Here, the brigade partakes in combat operations with the local 1st Muslim-Podrinje mountain brigade (1. muslimansko-podrinjska brdska brigada), attacking VRS forces along the Vlasenica front, capturing the key hilltops of Kočar and Tamburića Kosa. On May 3rd, units of the 7th Muslim brigade, along with the 1st Muslim Podrinje brigade and the detachment for special operations "Black Swans" (specijalna jedinica za posebne namjene "Crni Labudovi") break through the defensive lines of the VRS' 1st Vlasenica brigade (1. vlasenička laka pješadijska brigada), liberating the first parts of the Serb-held Vlasenica municipality.[21] In May, parts of the brigade were tasked with holding the frontline on the Teslić-Šerić battlefield, north of Zenica, where they successfully repelled frequent VRS attempts to breach the contact line. [22] In June and July of 1994, elements of the 7th Muslim brigade participated in actions on the Ozren battlefield, having notable success in their capture, and subsequent defence of, previously lost ARBiH positions on the stragetically crucial Hill 706, as well as the defence of Hill 715 and the capture of the strategic location 'Podmalovan'. [23] On August 20th, 1994, the Travnik-based 1st battalion of the 7th Muslim brigade repelled a reinforced VRS assault on the mountain Velike Karanovice, northeast of Mt. Vlašić. [24]
From October 3rd, 1994 onward, the 7th Muslim brigade participated in an operation south of the Serb-held town of Teslić. In cooperation with the 330th light brigade (330. lahka brigada) and 319th liberation brigade (319. oslobodilačka brigada), the 7th Muslim brigade managed to capture over 100km² from the VRS' 27th motorized brigade (27. motorizovana brigada) on the so-called Teslić-Šerić front during the month-long offensive, taking control of the Podjezero basin among other strategic locations.[25]
On January 28th, 1995, the 7th Muslim Slavna mountain brigade held its 2nd anniversary in Zenica, which was attended by President Alija Izetbegović, ARBiH chief of staff Rasim Delić, and many other notable figures.[26]
From March 20th-23rd, 1995, the 7th Muslim brigade participated in Operation "Domet-1", the liberation of the strategic Mt. Vlašić overlooking Travnik and the Lašva Valley. Prior to the operation, on February 24th, 1995, members of the 737th Muslim light brigade (former 1st battalion of the 7th Muslim brigade), along with elements of the 712th mountain brigade (712. slavna brdska brigada), launched an infiltration operation on Mt. Vlašić's Galica plateau, liquidating 62 soldiers from the VRS' 22nd infantry brigade (22. pješadijska brigada).[27] A month later, the 3rd and 7th Corps had set the stage for a full-scale operation to liberate Mt. Vlašić, codenamed Operation "Domet-1". The reconnaissance-sabotage platoon, or IDV, of the 1st battalion encircled and captured the highest peak on the mountain, Opaljenik, as well as its radio relay station, simultaneously capturing a large quantity of armor and weapons. On April 4th, 1995, the 1st battalion of the 7th Muslim brigade, together with elements of the General Staff's 120th light brigade "Black Swans" (120. lahka brigada GŠ "Crni Labudovi") and the 4th Muslim light brigade from Konjic (4. muslimanska lahka brigada) liberated the Sports Recreation Center Babanovac, as well as Debela Jela and Šešići on the Mt. Vlašić plateau.[28][29][30]
From June-July, 1995, forces of the 7th Muslim brigade participated in the final attempt to break the siege of Sarajevo, named operation "Tekbir-95". The 7th, along with other elite 3rd Corps formations, namely the 375th liberation brigade (375. oslobodilačka brigada) from Tešanj and the 3rd maneuver battalion from Kakanj, were tasked with capturing Nabožić mountain and Semizovac, near Ilijaš. Through a month of intense combat, the 7th succeeded in its goals of liberating the mountain and territory around Ilijaš; however, the operation as a whole was unsuccessful and the siege of Sarajevo was not broken. Following these battles, the 7th was sent back to the Ozren front where it engaged in raids and incursions into VRS positions for the next 2 months.[31]
On September 9th, 1995, operation "Farz-95", the 3rd Corps offensive into Vozuća and the Ozren pocket commenced. Spearheaded by the 7th Muslim brigade and the "El-Mudžahidin" detachment, and supported by the 328th and 329th mountain brigades and the 3rd and 4th maneuver battalions (3. manevarski bataljon, 4. manevarski bataljon), this operation was fully successful, leading to the capturing of Vozuća and the connecting of 2nd and 3rd Corps forces in Ozren, as well as the liquidation of the VRS 4th Ozren brigade (4. ozrenska laka pješadijska brigada). This would lead to further operations into late September and early October of 1995 which would push VRS forces back on the Ozren front to near Doboj. During October 5-7th, 1995, soldiers of the 7th Muslim brigade, along with the 327th mountain brigade (327. viteška brdska brigada) from Maglaj, managed to liberate over 50km² in the Ozren salient, a mere 4 days before the nationwide ceasefire took effect at midnight on October 11, 1995.[32]
On December 10th, 1995, four days before the signing of the Dayton Agreement which would mark the offical end of the Bosnian War, the 7th Muslim Viteška liberation brigade headlined the parade of the 3rd Corps in Zenica. [33]