Yugoslavia was created after World War 1 but broke up in the early 1990s as nationalist sentiments rose. Bosnia declared independence in 1992, but Bosnian Serbs rebelled in hopes of remaining in Yugoslavia and war broke out as the ethnic groups fought for control. During the war, Bosnian Serbs, though not the majority, had better equipment from Serbia and committed atrocities including genocide against Bosnian Muslims and Croats, eventually taking over much of the country. The UN intervened in 1994 to support Bosnia through airpower and peacekeeping troops.

1. BRIEF OVERVIEW OF THE BOSNIAN
CONFLICT
Background Information for the film “No Man’s Land”

2. YUGOSLAVIA BREAKS UP
•
Yugoslavia – Created after World War I. Made up of many different ethnic and religious
groups.
•
In Jan. 1989 the Communist Party gave up its power as it couldn’t deal with the plunging
economy and surging nationalism.
•
May 1991 – Croatia and Slovenia declare independence from the Serbian dominated
Yugoslavia

3. Yugoslavia 1990
Hungarian – 1.9%
Montenegrin – 2.5%
Yugoslav – 5.4%
Macedonian – 5.9 %
Albanian – 7.7%
Slovene – 7.8%
Muslims Bosnian – 8.9 %
Croat- 19.7%
Serbs – 36.3%
Other – 3.9%
Are any groups close to being
the majority?

4. SERBIA WANTS REPATRIATE SERBIAN MINORITY
IN BOSNIA
•
To stop Bosnia- Herzegovina from leaving, Serbia offers to redraw territorial boundaries.
•
Muslim president of Bosnia rejects offer, saying it doesn’t offer any real power to Muslim
Bosnians.
•
Independence referendum is held.
• Serbs boycott the vote, but 90% of those who vote favor independence.
•
March 1992 – Bosnia-Herzegovina is independent

5. ETHNIC GROUPS FIGHT FOR CONTROL OF
BOSNIA
•
Bosnian Serbs who did not want to leave Yugoslavia rebel and armed struggle breaks out.
•
Major Groups: 40 % Bosnian Muslim, 30% Orthodox Christian Serbians, 18 % Catholic
Croats
•
Serbs, though not the majority, had better equipment and were back by the country of
Serbia.
•
Serbs eventually takes 2/3 of Bosnia and launch a reign of terror against Bosnians and
Croats including expulsion, concentration camps, and genocide.

7. INTERNATIONAL INTERVENTION
•
1994 UN becomes involved, initially using airpower to support the Bosnians. UN also
brought in peace keeping troops which participated when attacked by Serbs.
•
1994 – US lifts arms embargo against Bosnia, allowing them greater access to weapons.

8. Former Yugoslavia Today

9. MINE USAGE
•
During this war numerous landmines, originating mostly from the former Yugoslavian
People’s Army, were deployed to secure borders and to restrict enemy movement.
•
Some areas have been mined after the war; mostly to prevent the return of refugees .
•
Minefields can still be found across most parts of the country, since they were laid along
conflict lines that often changed

10. •
RECAP
When was Yugoslavia created?
•
When did countries start to leave Yugoslavia?
•
How do Bosnian Serbs react to independence?
•
What is genocide?
•
What assistance did the UN offer?