Unit Name: | Patriotic League Patriotska Liga BiH |
Dates: | 1991–1992 (became part of the ARBiH) |
Country: | Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina |
Type: | Paramilitary organization |
Size: | 98,000 (March 1992) |
Garrison: | Sarajevo, Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina |
Motto: | Dušman crni mora znati, Bosna nikad neće pasti! (English: Every enemy needs to know, Bosnia will never fall!) |
Battles: | |
Disbanded: | Incorporated into the Army of the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina |
Commander1: | Sefer Halilović |
Commander1 Label: | Commander |
The Patriotic League (Bosnian: Patriotska Liga) was the first paramilitary unit of Territorial Defence Force of the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina (TORBiH).[1]
On 19 December 1990 Alija Izetbegović and the SDA party discussed forming an independent paramilitary separate from the Yugoslav People's Army. In March 1991 Sefer Halilović formed the Patriotic League (Patriotska Liga - PL) as an independent Bosnian army, with the same territorial organization as Territorial Defense Forces (TO). Later on the Patriotic League was connected to the TO. The Patriotic League, alongside the TORBiH, would later become the Army of the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina.[2]
The Patriotic League received training at Croatian Special Police centers and by March 1992 claimed 98,000 troops – more than the shrinking TO – organized in 9 regions and 103 (out of 109) districts.