Battle for Srdj – The Strategic Defense of Dubrovnik

Abstract

This article will elaborate on the dynamics of the Siege of Dubrovnik and analyze its implications with special emphasis on the Battle for Srđ. Based on the theory of (military) defense strategy, the focus is on the defense of the city of Dubrovnik in the 1991 war with special reference to the Battle for Srđ (on December 6, 1991). By analyzing military documents, as well as the documents of the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia in The Hague (ICTY), historical sources, interviews with participants in the war in Dubrovnik, and scrutinized media reports, this article aims to determine how crucial the Battle for Srđ was in the overall defense of the city of Dubrovnik in 1991.

doi:10.5671/ca.46.4.8