HVO - HRVATSKO VIJEĆE OBRANE 

CROATIAN COUNCIL OF DEFENSE

ATJ - ŠIROKI BRIJEG CONVICT BATTALION ,,MARTIN BEBEK '' - ČAPLJINA  (HOS - HVO)

ATJ - ŠIROKOBRIJEŠKA KAŽNJENIČKA BOJNA ,,MARTIN BEBEK'' - ČAPLJINA  (HVO - HOS)

EXTREMELY RARE SLEEVE PATCH !

THE CONVICT BATALION OF ŠIROKI BRIJEG

The Convict Battalion (full name: Antiterrorist Unit Širokobriješka Convict Battalion of the Croatian Defense Council) 

is the name of the battalion of the Croatian Defense Council during the war in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

History

The Convict Battalion was founded on June 15, 1991 by four Croatian emigrants: Mladen Naletilić Tuta, Ludvig Pavlović, Ivan Andabak and Ivan Tolić. The main headquarters of the Convict Battalion was located in Široki Brijeg, the commander was Naletilić, and the unit initially had about a hundred men. Members of the Convict Battalion fought in Croatia in 1991 against the JNA and Serb paramilitary forces as a voluntary unit before moving to BiH in early 1992 and joining the HVO. The unit was under the direct command of the HVO General Staff.

In June 1992, the Convict Battalion took part in Operation June Dawn, where it distinguished itself in the liberation of Mostar from 11 to 26 June 1992, when the Convict Battalion, aided by artillery and other HVO units, pushed back the RS Army. from Mostar to Nevesinje. The operation also liberated other parts of the Neretva valleys.

 At the turn of 1992 and 1993 during the Bosniak-Croat conflict, the Convict Battalion also took part in the fighting against the Army of RBiH.

During the conflict with the Muslims, two units were formed within the battalion, ATJ Benko Penavić and ATJ Vinko Škrobo. These two units were composed mainly of persons who were in the criminal records of the Ministry of the Interior. In April 1993, the two units participated in the looting of property from abandoned houses in Mostar, and also owned private prisoners where prisoners performed work for or for members of the units. Members of these two units committed 40% of crimes during the conflict with Bosniaks. In addition to persons with a criminal record, this unit also consisted of foreign nationals, former members of the Croatian Army, but also minors.

After the outbreak of the Bosniak-Croat conflict in Herzegovina, HVO forces, including the Convict Battalion, under the command of Mladen Naletilić, attacked the villages of Soviće and Doljane on April 17, 1993, and forcibly relocated the Muslim population. Since May 9, 1993, members of the Convict Battalion, along with other HVO forces, have been involved in clashes with Army of Bosnia and Herzegovina units in the Mostar area and a months-long siege of the eastern part of the city with intense shelling and prevention of humanitarian aid and food supplies.

In late December 1993, the Convict Battalion became part of the HVO's 2nd Guards Brigade.

In January 1994, she was engaged in the fight against the Army of RBiH on the Uskopalj-Rama battlefield.