On this day, the 1st of October, 26 years ago soldiers of the Yugoslav National Army supported by reservists attacked Dubrovnik at six in the morning and marked the first attack on the city in the Homeland War. On the 1st of October 1991 the attacks started from the land, sea and air, and the aggression left Dubrovnik without power and water for the first day.
In order to create a complete blockade of information the television and radio antenna on the Srd Mountain overlooking the city was destroyed by air attacks. The telephone connections to the city were also seriously damaged.
Dubrovnik was left without electricity, water and connections with the world for the next three months. In total the Yugoslav National Army sent between 1,000 and 13,000 soldiers to the Dubrovnik region as well as support from aircraft, navy ships and heavy artillery.
Up against this relatively large Yugoslav force were around 750 poorly armed soldiers and volunteers from the Dubrovnik region who held a front of over 200 kilometres. They heroically defended Dubrovnik and defeated the Yugoslav Army and preserved the city and its inhabitants.
This day will be remembered in the darker pages of Dubrovnik’s history.