Discover some of the most famous commanders of the Bosnian war

In this article, we will analyze the stories of some of the most renowned commanders from each belligerent faction during the Bosnian War, including the Army of Bosnia and Herzegovina (Armija BiH), the Army of Republika Srpska (VRS), the Croatian Defence Council (HVO), and the Army of Western Bosnia (NOZB).

Izet Nanić, Commander of the 505th Bužim Brigade (from April 1992 to August 5 1995), 5th Corps, Army of the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina

Izet Nanić was born on 4 October 1965 in Bužim, a small town in the former Cazinska Krajina region (North-western Bosnia), as the second of seven children of Ibrahim and Rasima Nanić. After completing his military high school education in Zagreb in 1984, he entered the Yugoslav Military Academy, studying first in Belgrade and later in Sarajevo before completing his training in Zagreb in 1987. Upon graduation, he became an officer of the Yugoslav People's Army (JNA), serving as a lieutenant in the Yugoslav Air Force and Air Defence units based in Kragujevac, Serbia. In January 1991, after suffering a leg injury, Nanić returned to his hometown of Bužim, where he remained as the political and military situation in Yugoslavia rapidly deteriorated. With the outbreak of the Bosnian War in 1992, he joined the newly formed Army of the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina (ARBiH). Following the death of his younger brother Nevzet, who was killed near Bosanska Krupa in June 1992, Nanić became increasingly involved in the organization and training of local defence forces. Shortly afterwards, he was appointed commander of the 505th Bužim Brigade, part of the 5th Corps of the ARBiH under the command of Brigadier General Atif Dudaković. Under Nanić’s leadership, the 505th Brigade developed into one of the most capable and disciplined formations within the ARBiH. He commanded the unit during some of the most important battles fought in the Bihać enclave. His tactical skills, personal leadership, and close relationship with his soldiers contributed to the brigade’s reputation as one of the elite units of the 5th Corps. Izet Nanić was killed on 5 August 1995 during Operation Storm. After his death, he was posthumously awarded the Order of the Hero of the Liberation War, Bosnia and Herzegovina’s highest military decoration. Today, he remains one of the most recognized military figures among Bosniaks and a symbol of the defence of the Una-Sana region during the conflict.

Amir Kubura, Commander of the 7th Muslim Brigade (from August 6, 1993 to April 4, 1994), 3th Corps, Army of the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina

Amir Kubura was born on 13 February 1964 in Kakanj, central Bosnia. After completing his military education, he became an officer in the Yugoslav People's Army (JNA), where he served until the outbreak of the Bosnian War in 1992. Following the dissolution of Yugoslavia and the escalation of the conflict, Kubura left the JNA and joined the newly formed Army of the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina (ARBiH). During the early stages of the war, he served in various command positions within the 3rd Corps of the ARBiH, becoming one of the most important officers responsible for operations in the Central Bosnia region. In 1993, he was appointed commander of the 7th Muslim Brigade, one of the most well-known and effective units of the 3rd Corps. The brigade was composed largely of Bosniak volunteers from different parts of Bosnia and Herzegovina and developed a reputation as an elite formation within the ARBiH. Under Kubura’s command, the 7th Muslim Brigade participated in numerous operations across Central Bosnia, including engagements in the Travnik, Vitez, Zenica, and Donji Vakuf areas. The unit took part in several major campaigns between 1994 and 1995 against Bosnian Serb forces, playing a significant role in the military efforts of the 3rd Corps during the later stages of the conflict. After the war, Kubura continued his career within the Armed Forces of Bosnia and Herzegovina. In 2006, however, he was convicted by the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) for failing to prevent or punish crimes committed by members of units under his command during the conflict.

(Credits to Alessandro Brugnatti).

Tihomir Blaškić, Commander of the Operational Zone Central Bosnia of the Croatian Defence Council (1993-1994), Major General of the Croatian Defence Council (1994-1995)

Tihomir Blaškić was born on 2 November 1960 in Brestovsko, near Kiseljak, in central Bosnia. After completing his education at the Yugoslav People's Army (JNA) Military Academy in Belgrade in 1983, he pursued a career as a professional officer, eventually reaching the rank of first-class captain in the late 1980s. With the outbreak of the Yugoslav Wars and the escalation of the conflict in Croatia in 1991, Blaškić left the JNA and temporarily moved to Austria. In 1992, he returned to Bosnia and Herzegovina and joined the Croatian Defence Council (HVO). Shortly after his arrival, he was appointed commander of the HVO Regional Headquarters in Central Bosnia, receiving the rank of colonel. During the early stages of the war, he became one of the most influential Croatian military commanders in the region, overseeing HVO operations in areas such as Vitez, Novi Travnik, and the Lašva Valley. As relations between the HVO and the Army of the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina (ARBiH) deteriorated throughout 1992 and 1993, Central Bosnia became one of the main theatres of the Croat–Bosniak conflict. HVO forces under Blaškić’s command were involved in several operations against ARBiH units, as well as in actions that resulted in serious violations of international humanitarian law, including crimes committed against the Bosniak civilian population, particularly in the Lašva Valley. By late 1993, the military situation around Vitez had become increasingly difficult for the HVO, as ARBiH forces had encircled much of the area. The signing of the Washington Agreement in March 1994 ended the Croat–Bosniak conflict and led to the creation of a military alliance between the HVO and ARBiH against Bosnian Serb forces. In April 1994, Blaškić was promoted to the rank of Major General and served as Deputy Chief and Chief of Staff of the HVO in Mostar until the end of the war. During late 1994, together with General Ante Roso, he participated in the command of HVO forces during Operation Cincar, which resulted in the capture of Kupres from Bosnian Serb forces. Following the Dayton Agreement, Blaškić became the subject of an investigation by the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) for crimes committed by HVO units under his command during the conflict in Central Bosnia. He voluntarily surrendered to the Tribunal in 1996, and his trial began in 1997. In March 2000, the ICTY Trial Chamber sentenced him to 45 years of imprisonment, finding him responsible for violations of the laws and customs of war, grave breaches of the Geneva Conventions, and crimes against humanity. However, the Appeals Chamber later revised the judgment, accepting the defence argument that Blaškić did not exercise effective control over all HVO units involved in the crimes attributed to him. In July 2004, the majority of convictions were overturned, and his sentence was reduced to nine years, mainly for violations related to the treatment of prisoners. Having already spent more than eight years in detention, Blaškić was released on 29 July 2004. After his release, he largely withdrew from public life. Despite the controversies surrounding his wartime role, Blaškić remains one of the most significant military figures of the HVO during the Bosnian War, particularly for his command responsibilities in Central Bosnia between 1992 and 1995.

(Credits to Matteo Boggian).

Pero Colic, Commander of the 5th Kozara Light Infantry Brigade (1992 to 1995), 1st Krajina Corps, Army of Republika Srpska

Pero Čolić was born on 4 October 1937 in the village of Staro Selo, near Glamoč, in western Bosnia. After completing his primary education and part of secondary school, he began his military career during his compulsory service in the Yugoslav People's Army (JNA). While serving in Bileća, he attended a non-commissioned officer course, was promoted to sergeant, and entered active service. Over the following decades, Čolić continued his professional military education, completing officer training, the JNA Political School, and advanced operational courses focused on regimental and divisional-level command. During his career in the JNA, he served in several garrisons, including Valjevo, Đakovica, Banja Luka, Travnik, and Prijedor, eventually reaching the rank of lieutenant colonel. At the beginning of the Yugoslav crisis, he was stationed in Prijedor, where the collapse of Yugoslavia and the outbreak of the Bosnian War would directly affect his career. On 15 May 1992, Čolić joined the newly established Army of Republika Srpska (VRS). He was appointed commander of the 5th Kozara Light Infantry Brigade, one of the formations belonging to the 1st Krajina Corps. During the war, he commanded the brigade in operations in northwestern Bosnia, a region of strategic importance due to its proximity to Prijedor, Kozara Mountain, and the communication routes connecting the Krajina region with other VRS-controlled territories. After the end of the Bosnian War, Čolić continued serving in the VRS. He held several senior positions, including deputy commander of the Doboj Operational Group, officer within the Morale, Information and Legal Affairs Department of the 1st Krajina Corps headquarters in Banja Luka, and finally Chief of Staff of the VRS in Bijeljina. On 8 November 1996, he was exceptionally promoted to the rank of Major General before retiring from military service on 31 October 1997. Pero Čolić died on 5 September 2006 in Belgrade and was buried at the Orlovača Cemetery. His wartime role as commander of the 5th Kozara Light Infantry Brigade places him among the notable officers of the Army of Republika Srpska during the Bosnian War.

Ljubiša Savić "Mauzer", Commander of the 1st Bijeljina Light Infantry Brigade "Garda Panteri" (September 1992 to November 1995), East Bosnia Corps, Army of the Republika Srpska

Ljubiša Savić, better known by his nickname “Mauzer”, was born on 11 August 1958 in Kovačići, near Bijeljina, in northeastern Bosnia. Before entering military life, he graduated from the Secondary Technical School in Bijeljina and later completed studies at the Higher School of Social Work in Belgrade in 1982. He worked in the social services sector in Bijeljina and was involved in several local social organizations before becoming active in political movements during the final years of Yugoslavia. With the outbreak of the Yugoslav crisis, Savić became involved in the creation of local Serb political structures in northeastern Bosnia. In 1991, he received military training within the Serbian Volunteer Guard led by Željko Ražnatović “Arkan”, despite having no previous professional military experience. Following the escalation of the conflict in Bosnia and Herzegovina in 1992, he participated in the fighting around Bijeljina and became involved in the organization of Serb military formations in the region. In 1992, Savić helped establish the unit that would later become the 1st Bijeljina Light Infantry Brigade, better known as the “Panthers” Guard Brigade. After the death of its previous commander during operations in the Majevica area, Savić assumed command of the formation and gave it the name “Panthers” in memory of his fallen predecessor. Under his leadership, the brigade became one of the most recognizable and best-equipped units of the Army of Republika Srpska (VRS). The Panthers Brigade, which operated mainly in the Bijeljina, Brčko, and Zvornik areas, took part in several major VRS operations throughout the war, including Operation Corridor 92, Operation Sadejstvo 93, Operation Lukavac 93, Operation Drina 93, and Operation Shield 94. The unit also fought in other strategic areas, including the Podrinje region, Mount Igman, and Kupres. During the conflict, the brigade developed a reputation as an elite formation, equipped with armoured vehicles, tanks, and specialized sub-units. Savić reached the rank of major within the VRS and became known among his supporters as one of the most prominent commanders associated with the Army of Republika Srpska. However, during and after the war, he increasingly distanced himself from parts of the political leadership of Republika Srpska, criticizing corruption and the privileges of political elites. In the post-war period, he founded the Democratic Party of Republika Srpska and later became police chief of Bijeljina under Prime Minister Milorad Dodik, where he pursued an anti-corruption campaign and ordered investigations against several officials. His post-war activities placed him in conflict with powerful political and criminal networks, and he survived several assassination attempts before being killed on 7 June 2000 in Bijeljina. Savić was shot while travelling in his vehicle in an attack later linked to organized crime. He was buried in his native village of Kovačići, and his legacy remains a subject of debate, with many former members of the Panthers Brigade considering him one of the most significant figures in the wartime history of northeastern Bosnia.

Nevzad Đerić "Kedo", Commander of the 4th Brigade of the National Defence of the Autonomous Province of Western Bosnia (September 1993 to August 6 1994)

Originally from the Ključ and Sanski Most area, Nevzad Đerić, better known by his nickname “Keđo”, was among the fighters who, in 1992, participated in the organization and defence of Bosniak forces in northwestern Bosnia. During the summer of that year, Đerić was part of the group of fighters from the formation initially known as the “Una-Sana Detachment”, which would later become part of the 503rd Brigade, then the 1st Bosnian Liberation Brigade, and eventually the 510th Bosnian Liberation Brigade of the Army of the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina (ARBiH). The unit reached the Bihać enclave from the areas of Ključ and Sanski Most following an agreement reached after the capture of approximately 40 enemy soldiers and officers. In exchange for their release, around 200 Bosniak fighters were allowed to enter Bihać, which at the time was becoming increasingly isolated and surrounded by opposing forces. Đerić initially served within the ranks of the 5th Corps of the ARBiH, alongside commanders such as Amir Avdić, who would later assume command of the 510th Bosnian Liberation Brigade. The unit took part in the defence of the Bihać pocket and in operations aimed at maintaining Bosniak control over northwestern Bosnia. In September 1993, however, Đerić left the ARBiH and joined the forces of Fikret Abdić’s Autonomous Province of Western Bosnia (APZB), a breakaway administration that opposed the Sarajevo government and fought against ARBiH forces during the conflict. Within the military structure of the APZB, he was appointed commander of the 4th Brigade of the National Defence forces. Nevzad Đerić was killed by a mortar shell on 6 August 1994 during the defence of Pećigrad, shortly before the town was captured by units of the 5th Corps of the ARBiH during the later stages of the conflict in the Bihać region. His wartime trajectory remains a controversial subject, as he is viewed differently by former members of the 5th Corps and by supporters of the Autonomous Province of Western Bosnia.