Today, August the 5th, Croatia both celebrates and remembers. 'August the 5th is a public holiday in the Republic of Croatia – “Victory and Homeland Thanksgiving Day and the Day of Croatian Defenders.”

On this day in 1995 the Croatian Army took the city of Knin from Serbian forces in a military offensive known as Operation Storm. The victory at Knin brought an end to the Republic of Serbian Krajina, which had been a Serb territory in Croatia.

And today the city of Knin is the focus of the celebrations marking the event. A holy mass is followed by the laying of wreaths in honour of those who lost their lives during the conflict.