Armed clash at the beginning of the Croatian War of Independence
Plitvice Lakes incident
Part of the Croatian War of Independence
Plitvice Lakes
Date
31 March 1991
Location
Plitvice Lakes, Croatia
Result
Croatian victory
Belligerents
Croatia
SAO Krajina
Commanders and leaders
Josip Lucić
Milan Martić
Strength
c. 300 troops
c. 100 troops
Casualties and losses
1 killed 7 wounded
1 killed 13 wounded 29 captured
v
t
e
Croatian War of Independence
1991
Pakrac
Plitvice Lakes
Kijevo
Borovo Selo
Zadar riot
Split protest
Sisak
Stinger
Glina
Hrvatska Kostajnica
Labrador
Banija villages
Vukovar
Massacre
Osijek
Gospić
Massacre
Kusonje
Korana bridge
The Barracks
Varaždin
Bjelovar
Zadar
Šibenik
JNA campaign
Dubrovnik
Banski Dvori
Široka Kula
Lovas
Baćin
Barcs
Saborsko
Libertas convoy
Požega
Swath 10
Erdut
Dalmatian channels
Kostrići
Škabrnja
Vance plan
Whirlwind
Paulin Dvor
Gornje Jame
Orkan 91
Voćin
Joševica
Devil's Beam
Bruška
Vrsar airport
1992
Sarajevo
ECMM helicopter downing
Baranja
Jackal
Miljevci Plateau
Tiger
Liberated Land
Konavle
Vlaštica
1993
Maslenica
Medak Pocket
1994
Winter '94
1995
Leap 1
Flash
Medari
Zagreb
Leap 2
Summer '95
Storm
Komić
Kijani
Golubić
Uzdolje
Bosanski Petrovac bombing
Dvor
Grubori
Gošić
Maestral 2
Varivode
Vukovar '95
Timeline of all major events
Log Revolution
Events in Serbia
The Plitvice Lakes incident (Croatian: Krvavi Uskrs na Plitvicama or Plitvički krvavi Uskrs, both translating as "Plitvice Bloody Easter") was an armed clash at the beginning of the Croatian War of Independence. It was fought between Croatian police and armed forces from the Croatian Serb-established SAO Krajina at the Plitvice Lakes in Croatia, on 31 March 1991. The fighting followed the SAO Krajina's takeover of the Plitvice Lakes National Park and resulted in Croatia recapturing the area. The clash resulted in one killed on each side and contributed to the worsening ethnic tensions.
The fighting prompted the Presidency of Yugoslavia to order the Yugoslav People's Army (Jugoslovenska Narodna Armija – JNA) to step in and create a buffer zone between the opposing forces. The JNA arrived at the scene the following day and presented Croatia with an ultimatum requesting the police to withdraw. Even though the special police units which captured the Plitvice Lakes area did pull out on 2 April, a newly established Croatian police station, staffed by 90 officers, remained in place. The police station was blockaded by the JNA three months later, and captured in late August 1991.
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Global Information
Croatia
SAO Krajina
Milan Martić