Victory and Homeland Thanksgiving Day and the Day of Croatian defenders

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AKA Name	Day of the Croatian Defenders, War Veteran's Day, pobjede i domovinske zahvalnosti i Dan hrvatskih branitelja
ℹ HashtagsCompiled on	#Horvaatia, #Rapska
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2023 Date	5 August 2023
2024 Date	5 August 2024

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Victory and Homeland Thanksgiving Day and the Day of Croatian defenders in 2023

Saturday, 5 Aug

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Victory and Homeland Thanksgiving Day and the Day of Croatian celebrates the achievements of the Croatian Armed Forces during the country's War of Independence. The day also pays tribute to those who made the ultimate sacrifice for their homeland.

This commemorates the victory of Croatian forces and the swift military action named Operation Storm on August 5, 1995 that brought an end to the War of Independence. As Croatia became a member of the European Union in 2013, this observance not only highlights the nation's perseverance but also fosters a sense of unity, understanding, and solidarity among other European Union member states.

The observance is notably recognized by the Croatian diaspora, who carry on their homeland's traditions by organizing various cultural and educational events, such as exhibitions, concerts, and lectures that help keep the memory and importance of the day alive. Victory and Homeland Thanksgiving Day and the Day of Croatian defenders is observed annually on August 5th.

Top facts about Victory and Homeland Thanksgiving Day and the Day of Croatian defenders

The Serb entity was called the Serbian Autonomous Region of Krajina. It was proclaimed in 1990 and the inhabiting Serbs opposed Croatia's independence from Yugoslavia.
The consequences of Operation Storm are severe and lasting… According to a 1995 UN report, around 200,000 Serbs fled the country. This resulted in three times fewer Serbs in Croatia now than their number was in 1991 - Sasa Obradovic, head of Serbian legal team
Operation Storm began at 5am on 4 August 1995.
It took the Croatian Army only 84 hours to liberate the 10,500sq km area.
It is estimated that about 200,000 Croatian soldiers took part in the operation. A total of 174 Croatian soldiers lost their lives during the operation. There is controversy about how many soldiers entered the area. Serbs claim nearly 250,000 while Croatians claim around 100,000.