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Ivan

Vukovar

He would often go to "visit" his enemies. And as a gift he would bring - explosives.

Ivan Brdar became a legend of the defense of Vukovar. Many stories have been told about his courage, which do not lose their grandeur and believability over the years.

Ivan was a child from Livno, born in the family of Janja and Josip. From childhood he was extremely intelligent, fair and resourceful. At school, he was an excellent student who always helped and defended the weakest.

He entered the Faculty of Civil Engineering, but with the coming of the war, he decided to interrupt his studies in order to join the HOS units. From the beginning of September, he was actively collecting weapons for Vukovar, and at the end of the same month he went to defend the city with his unit.

He proved to be an excellent shooter and a hardy fighter, and his bravery, according to the memory of his comrades, bordered on insanity!

Namely, Damir Markuš wrote in his book about the defense of Vukovar that Ivan was one of the most capable warriors he had the honor to meet.

"He often used to go to "visit the neighbors", he handed them a portion of explosive "gifts", and returned back. When he first told us that he was going for a walk with them, that he was nervous, that it was too quiet, that he was going because he was bored, I thought he was joking, however, he did it. After some time, as he left, shooting and detonation of bombs were heard.

Some asked themselves - is it madness or courage? It must be courage, because if he had been "Iud", he would not have survived even two days. He fought cautiously and cunningly, he knew that the advantage of those who are superior in everything, except in the quality of warriors, decreases in the deep night, when caution is relaxed, because no attack is expected. Opponents realized this only later, but for many of them it was too late.

He adored the "scorpion", a short but deadly weapon in close combat, which he used very well. I admit, since arriving in Vukovar, I needed "adaptation" to hellish conditions. But Brdar showed courage and determination from the first day, he actually acted like a warrior who knows exactly what to do. I was with him when you sewed up the wound on your left leg by yourself, what a good day, completely normal.

Markuš, D. (2015). "58: HOS in defense of Vukovar and Bogdanovac". Croatian Leskovac: UBSDRHL. p. 56.

She stitched the wound as if she were saying good morning

The testimony of Croatian Radio Vukovar journalist Alenka Mirković also speaks of the fairness of the great Vukovar fighter Ivan Brdar.

She remembered the woman who, evacuated to the radio shelter, told her that Ivan was especially careful of civilians.

The hero of Vukovar told his fighters that he would personally shoot anyone who retreated from his position, and not evacuate even the last civilian.

Love your neighbor

Three young men - Brdar, Senzen and Samoborac, fought heroically, trying to save every life.

Ivan Brdar was one of the "Magnificent Three" Vukovar fighters. Three young men - Ivan Brdar, Nikica Burić "Samoborac" and Rudolf Vuković "Senzen" always went into the most difficult actions.

They were one of those who would always come to the rescue, and their comrades could always count on them.

So Ivan, together with Senzen and Samoborec, participated in the rescue operation of doctor Vasilija, "Vaska" and the commander under the code name "Blue 5".

The doctor had several gunshot wounds, and the brave young men fought for several hours so that she would not fall into the hands of the enemy. Thanks to them, she survived the fatal wounding.

The Three Magnificent

When we sat down, thinking of him in silence, I wanted to touch the rosary, however, it was no longer around my neck...

Ivan's death was a shock to his comrades. They could not come to terms with the fact that their hero was gone. Damir Markuš, in his book about the defense of Vukovar, recalled the moments of his tragic death.

"Unfortunately, during one of the many night visits, he was ambushed and seriously wounded. We found him bleeding, it was difficult to see in the night, and while we were carrying him, I felt blood on my hands. After about a hundred meters, we reached the car, who will transport him to the hospital.

Tragically, that hero died of severe wounds while we were carrying him. When we sat down, thinking of him in silence, I wanted to touch the rosary, however, it was no longer around my neck. I got up and unbuttoned my jacket and shirt, and still found him. She stayed around the dogs because my belt was tight so she couldn't fall out. Sign? I don't know, but I believe it is.

I folded it and put it around my neck again. Whenever I see or have a rosary in my hand, I remember Brdar, I remember that night when the brave life of a young man and hero ended."

A crown for eternity

 - I'll lend you this chain. If I survive, you will give it back to me, if not, you will keep it as a memory of me. –

Nikica Burić "Samoborac" recalled an unusual event during the war. Ivan Brdar, apart from being an incredible warrior, was also known among his comrades and civilians for his benevolence and generosity.

Two days before Ivan's death, he and Samoborac came to the headquarters to visit their wounded comrades. Then one of the nurses prepared coffee for them to refresh themselves.

The young men were sitting at a table in a narrow room, and two little girls were hanging around them. In Ivan's pocket, by the way, something for the children was always hidden, and since he didn't have anything that time, he took off his checkerboard and gave it to the elder.

He had nothing for the younger one. Then, suddenly, he took off his gold chain and put it around her neck with the words: - I will lend you this chain. If I survive, you will give it back to me, if not, you will keep it as a memory of me. –

Nikica told him not to talk nonsense, but even then he had a strange feeling. It happened that his dark premonitions came true.

Ivan, the great hero of the defense of Vukovar, laid down his life for our homeland two days after that event. And the girl, today a young woman, still carefully keeps the chain that was given to her thirty years ago by one of the Croatian heroes.

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She stitched the wound as if she were saying good morning

Love your neighbor

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A crown for eternity

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