Serbian Guard Explained

Unit Name:	Serbian Guard
Native Name:	Српска гарда Srpska garda
Dates:	1991–1992
Country:
Allegiance:	Serbian Renewal Movement
Type:	Paramilitary
Role:	Anti-tank warfare Close-quarters combat Counterinsurgency Crowd control Force protection Guerrilla warfare HUMINT Internal security Patrolling Raiding Reconnaissance Security checkpoint Tracking Urban warfare
Size:	~40,000
Garrison:	Bor
Battles:	Croatian War 1991 Yugoslav campaign in Croatia Battle of Gospić
Disbanded:	Yes
Commander1:	Đorđe "Giška" Božović
Commander1 Label:	Commander

The Serbian Guard (Serbian: Српска гарда|translit=Srpska garda) was a Serbian paramilitary active in the Croatian War with close ties to the Serbian Renewal Movement (SPO). Eighty percent of the guard's members were members of the SPO.^[1] The paramilitary was formed by SPO official Vuk Drašković and his wife Danica Drašković, along with Đorđe Božović and Branislav Matić.^[2]

The paramilitary unit's training camp was located near Bor Lake in Serbia.^[2] It participated in clashes in Croatia near the town of Gospić.^[3] Elements of the unit also participated in the Bosnian War.^[4] Đorđe Božović was the unit's first commander, but was killed in action near Gospić.^[5] Some people have alleged that Božović's death was an act of "friendly fire" orchestrated by the Republic of Serbian Krajina government.^[6] The unit's chief financier Branislav Matić was gunned down on 4 August 1991 in Belgrade.^[7] After the death of Božović, the unit was taken over by Branislav Lainović.

Yugoslavian colonel general Nebojša Pavković has called for Drašković to be tried for his role in the guard's formation.^[8] Having a pro-opposition political stance, the guard was never favoured by the government of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and Yugoslav security services.

Notable members

• Đorđe Božović "Giška", Serbian career criminal and the founding father of the Guard, killed in action during the Croatian War.
• Branislav Matić "Beli" ("The White" or "Whitey"), founding father and chief financier, owner of large car junkyards in Belgrade. Gunned down in front of his house in 1991, presumably under the orders of the Yugoslav secret service who had been monitoring him since late 1980s.
• Branislav Lainović "Dugi", career criminal and former basketball player. Took control over the Guard after Božović's death. He moved to Novi Sad after the war where he became the kingpin of a local crime syndicate. He was gunned down in Belgrade in 2000 by the members of the Zemun Clan over Novi Sad turf control.
• Aleksandar Knežević "Knele", rising star of Belgrade underworld, and the underboss in the Voždovac gang. Assassinated in Hyatt hotel room in 1992, being only 21 at the time. Fought in the Battle of Borovo Selo.
• Vaso Pavićević "Pava", Montenegrin Serb capo and former boxer of "Radnički" boxing club. Gunned down in an ambush on Paštrovska Gora in 1996. He commanded the troops in Tenja in 1991.
• Žarko Radulović "Đaro", Montenegrin Serb career criminal. Gunned down in Brussels in 1997.

See also

• List of Serbian paramilitary formations

Notes and References

1. Web site: 8 December 1999 . Umrli zajedno s Giškom . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20220310164142/http://arhiva.glas-javnosti.rs/arhiva/1999/12/09/srpski/P99120807.shtm . 10 March 2022 . 15 July 2024 . web.archive.org.
2. Web site: Serbian Guard, party army of the SPO . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20091128115803/http://www.danas.rs/20040511/dogadjajdana1.html . 28 November 2009 . 15 July 2024 . web.archive.org.
3. Web site: Kusovac . Zoran . 1 August 2000 . Serbia's Inadequate Opposition . https://web.archive.org/web/20050306113311/http://www.mediaclub.cg.yu/eng/articles/2000/august/01.htm . 6 March 2005 . the establishment of the SPO’s own paramilitary unit — the Serbian Guards (Srpska Garda), which attacked the Croatian town of Gospic in 1991.
4. Web site: Vasić . Miloš . 25 March 2001 . Kriminal: smrt Branka Lainovica . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20151125034257/http://www.vreme.com/arhiva_html/481/07.html . 25 November 2015 . 15 July 2024 . web.archive.org.
5. Web site: Komlenovic . Uros . 22 February 1997 . Belgrade Underground . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20200717072250/http://www2.scc.rutgers.edu/serbiandigest/281/t281-7.htm . 17 July 2020 . 15 July 2024.
6. Web site: 1 August 1999 . Giška i gardisti zalud izginuli . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20201106135024/http://arhiva.glas-javnosti.rs/arhiva/1999/08/02/srpski/R99080102.shtm . 6 November 2020 . 15 July 2024.
7. Web site: Petrovic . Dragoljub . 20 April 1997 . Series of unsolved murders in Belgrade . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20041028011359/http://www.ex-yupress.com/nasaborba/nasaborba13.html . 28 October 2004 . 15 July 2024 . web.archive.org.
8. Web site: 19 April 2004 . PAVKOVIĆ: VUKA U HAG! . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20120325125944/http://arhiva.kurir-info.rs/Arhiva/2004/april/19/V-01-19042004.shtml . 25 March 2012 . 15 July 2024.