The Worst War You Never Learned About

Johnny Harris・2 minutes read

In 1991, the breakup of Yugoslavia leads to conflicts and war, with Serbia supporting Bosnian Serbs and sparking ethnic cleansing. The Bosnian War ends in 1995 with the Dayton Accords, dividing Bosnia into two entities and establishing trials for war crimes perpetrators.

Insights

  • The Bosnian War was sparked by Slobodan Milosevic's support for Bosnian Serbs, leading to ethnic cleansing and indiscriminate attacks on civilians in Bosnia, escalating the conflict and prompting limited international intervention.
  • The Dayton Accords in 1995 concluded the Bosnian War, dividing Bosnia into two distinct entities, the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Republika Srpska, solidifying ethnic divisions and initiating trials for those responsible for war crimes.

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Recent questions

  • What led to the Bosnian war?

    Economic ruin and declarations of independence.

  • How did the international community respond to the Bosnian war?

    Limited aid and sanctions were imposed.

  • What was the outcome of the Dayton Accords?

    Divided Bosnia into two entities.

  • Who supported the Bosnian Serbs during the war?

    Slobodan Milosevic, a nationalist leader in Serbia.

  • How did the alliance between Bosniaks and Croats evolve during the war?

    Fractured, leading to internal conflict.

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Summary

00:00

Balkan War: Ethnic Strife and International Intervention

  • In 1991, Yugoslavia, a federation of six countries, faces economic ruin and internal strife, leading to declarations of independence by Croatia, Slovenia, and Macedonia.
  • Serbia, with Montenegro, aims to maintain power and prevent the breakup of Yugoslavia, leading to conflicts with those seeking independence.
  • Bosnia and Herzegovina, with a diverse population, faces tensions as different groups fear being controlled by others in the newly forming nations.
  • Bosnia holds an independence vote, with Bosniaks largely in favor, while Bosnian Serbs boycott, leading to the declaration of Republika Srpska.
  • Slobodan Milosevic, a nationalist leader in Serbia, supports the Bosnian Serbs, sparking the Bosnian war.
  • Milosevic directs the Yugoslav army, dominated by Serbs, to aid Serbians in Bosnia, resulting in a siege of Sarajevo and indiscriminate attacks on civilians.
  • The conflict escalates with ethnic cleansing by Serbs, while the international community provides limited aid and imposes sanctions.
  • The alliance between Bosniaks and Croats fractures, leading to internal conflict, but the US helps negotiate peace and renew their alliance against the Serbs.
  • The war intensifies, with NATO enforcing a no-fly zone and establishing safe zones, but the conflict continues with atrocities committed by all sides.
  • The Dayton Accords in 1995 end the war, dividing Bosnia into two entities, the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Republika Srpska, solidifying ethnic divides and leading to trials for war crimes perpetrators.

13:34

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