– Your key is in the window, unlock it and go in, but think carefully about how you will get out! –

Zadar's comrade Dragan Luketić witnessed one of his legendary statements during the aggression against Croatia in the Homeland War.

He was in Zadar when his home phone rang. His wife answered and shortly after, screamed!

He gently explained to him that the Chetniks often call when he is on the field and threaten to slaughter them. Then he picked up the phone and said: - Don't swear, we are Christians, Catholics. We are not used to such words. –

The interlocutor on the other end of the line continued in his own way, and Blago, nodding, continued: - But this way, look... I'm Blago Zadro, the address is Bosanska 11. The key is in the window, unlock it and go in, but think carefully about how you're going to get out ! –

The key is in your window

Blago

Emanuel

Dino

- Son, my soldiers don't wear body armor, so I won't either! –

Blago Zadro was responsible for ensuring that not a single Serbian tank passed the Trpinj road leading to Borovo. It was then known that if Borovo Naselje fell, the road to Vukovar would be open.

Zadro, originally from Herzegovina, was employed at the Vukovar factory "Borovo" before the war. He is remembered as an extremely charismatic man, he organized workers' strikes and fought for their rights.

With the beginning of the breakup of Yugoslavia, in the spring of 1990, he was elected president of the HDZ in the municipality of Borovo Naselje. His dream was an independent and independent Croatia. Upon learning of the outbreak of unrest, he immediately joined the defense of the city of Vukovar. He is remembered as a great fighter. Although he had no military education, he led the 3rd Battalion of the 204th Vukovar Brigade.

His comrades respected him. He was always the first to go on missions, and his calmness instilled trust, which is why his fighters followed him faithfully. He was extremely loyal to his homeland, as evidenced by the fact that his sons were also members of the brigade.

He was distinguished by outstanding military intelligence, and more than thirty armored vehicles were destroyed under his command. It is because of him that Trpinjska cesta is called the "tank cemetery". Thanks to his firm leadership and the defense of the Trpinjska road, an attack on Vukovar was prevented on September 14, 1991.

But the fateful October 16 arrived. There was a feeling in the air that something could go wrong. His son, having a premonition that something was going to happen, begged him to put on a bulletproof vest. Zadro refused, saying: "Son, my soldiers don't wear bulletproof vests, so I won't either!" –

On that day, Serbian military forces changed their previous tactics. They decided to attack from the flank and, having crossed the Bobot Canal, deployed their forces along the railroad. With this, they physically separated the village of Borovo from Vukovar and entered Lužac, occupying Vukovarska Street. Serbian forces attacked the defense from behind.

The soldiers did not know that the enemies were holding the entire Kupska Street in their sights. Blago Zadro and his soldiers headed towards Vukovarska Street, thinking that Croatian forces were there. He was mowed down by machine gun fire.

At first, the soldiers did not believe that Blago had died. But the Vukovar hero of that moment left this world forever. Zvonko Mlinarić-Špenac was killed by the same machine gun during the attempt to retrieve his body. Finally, his comrade Ivan Mažar managed to pull him out. Blago was then transported to the Vukovar hospital, where Dr. Juraj Njavro pronounced him dead.

The hero of Vukovar was buried under a code on the coffin that only a few fighters knew. Later, the enemies transferred his remains to a mass grave from which he was exhumed only in 1998. Now he rests at the Vukovar Memorial Cemetery of the Victims of the Homeland War, in the Alley of Croatian Veterans. He was posthumously awarded the rank of major general and is remembered as one of the greatest fighters of the Homeland War.

Hero of the Homeland War

- I can't leave, but I know what awaits me. – said the Vukovar hero.

At the time of the armed aggression against Croatia, people fled in all directions. People were forced to leave their hearths, their hard-earned homes and go into the unknown in order to save their own lives.

Mother Milka said to Blaga: - Take a daughter and a wife and come and be yourself. –

And Blago answered her: - You know what, mom? The older I am, the more experienced I am. Let me contribute something to Croatia! And if he left, I wouldn't be a human being, I would be a coward! I can't leave, and I know what awaits me. –

You know what mom?

The legendary Blago explained in two sentences why he always goes into battle first.

The greatness of Blaga Zadra's heart, his love for the Croatian state and its people is best described by one of his statements. It shows why he became a legendary commander whom everyone trusted. He explained to her why he is always the first to go into battle.

One day Josip Šego was going with Blaga Zadar towards Vukovar. Josip asked him why he is always the first to go on an action? After all, he is the commander and needs to be protected.

He answered him mildly: - How am I going to show my parents? I'm alive, but their children are gone. –

He always went first

He would hold his Motorola in his left hand, which he never parted with, and an automatic rifle in his right.

After participating in the founding of the local HDZ, Blago could no longer work at the "Borovo" factory. He was under such pressure that even his former friends turned their backs on him. He couldn't stand it. Because of this, he left his beloved workplace.

Then the doctor kept him on sick leave for three to four months, until he got a job in the police. But he was working all that time. He worked secretly to organize the defense. Although he always respected all nationalities, he sensed that the independence of Croatia would not pass without the shedding of innocent blood.

At first they had unarmed detachments in Vukovar. Then Zadro knew at any moment which of their people was in which position. Then some of the people received weapons as a reserve police force. - It's funny to say that now, we got five Kalashnikovs. - said Zadra's friend. - That's a miserable figure. But compared to when you're naked and have no weapons at all, that's a lot. Suddenly we too felt terribly strong. –

His comrades recall that they held on well, despite the fact that they were significantly weaker in terms of manpower and weapons throughout the aggression. - Three things kept us together. Heart, Zadra's organization and thirdly, his approach to people. - they say.

Namely, Zadro was the kind of leader who never had to force anyone to do something. His comrades and colleagues say that he was not a man with a notebook in his hand. He was the one who would take the rifle and go first, and all the others, seeing him as a fearless leader, followed him.
 
- I am Blago Zadro, a worker at the Vinkovci PU. I would like to thank Mr. Chief for sending me to be on the front line in Borovo and to defend Croatia in this area - this hero simply described himself.

And they remember him as exceptionally charismatic. He was agile and fast, more agile than a twenty-year-old. He would hold his Motorola in his left hand, which he never parted with, and an automatic rifle in his right. His comrades also remember how he once called the commander of the enemy army on the phone. He told him: - As long as I'm alive, not one of your soldiers will pass the Trpinj road. –

And so it was. Until Zadra's death, many armored vehicles of the JNA forces were stopped on Trpinjska cesta. So much so that it is called the "cemetery of tanks". Posthumously, Blago Zadro was promoted to the rank of major general. Thanks to him and others like him, the Republic of Croatia was built.

The first major general

- I greeted all honest Serbs and everyone is welcome to Croatia who consider it their homeland. –

Blago Zadro was a man who did not divide people by religion or nationality. He was a great man, and he extended his hand to everyone who needed help. The speech he gave at the founding assembly of the Croatian Democratic Union spoke of his greatness. He said:

- I greeted all honest Serbs and everyone is welcome to Croatia who consider it their homeland. And those who do not consider it their homeland are my enemies and the enemies of these Serbs who live here with us! (...) So, I will extend my hand to every well-intentioned Serb, I have never insulted nor will I insult, from the other side they are insulting, that is Milosevic's policy and I do not support it! (...) And this Berak, this is Croatian Berak! Long live Croatia!" –

Before the war, Blago led a peaceful, family life. He was born in Donji Mamići, and as a ten-year-old he came to Borovo Naselje...

Blago was a simple man. In the 2004 documentary 'Blago Zadro, the hero of Vukovar'. his wife Katica told about Blaga before the war. She could tell that he was like that, what was his name.

She met Blaga in the summer of 1967. - And I knew it would be mine. I just liked him as a person. - she told. Katica then attended an economic school, and he went to meet her every evening from the seventh month until their marriage, to meet her and to talk. - Not a single evening would pass without him coming. Katica said.

He slightly charmed Katica by bringing her a chocolate bar or some other sweet every evening. It didn't take long until the young couple decided to get married.

According to Katica, their wedding took place on New Year's Eve in 1967. Soon Katica also got a job in Borovo, and the young couple worked hard so that they could build a house and become independent. Namely, Blago had many brothers and sisters, so Katica and he did not want to be a burden to his parents. They slowly built their hearth.

- We worked together in shifts, he the first, I the second or vice versa. If he was doing the third one, I would go to the second one so that he could take a nap. Katica said. In 1969, their first son Robert was born, and soon Tomislav and Josip. And so they worked and raised their sons.

In addition to working in the factory, Blago also had his own vineyard, land and animals. He would work around the house and plant and prepare grain for sowing. - We tried to make it nice for us! - said his wife.

The beauty of peaceful life was marred by war. At the beginning of the nineties, Blago participated in the founding of the local HDZ branch and encouraged the independence of Croatia. Due to the threat of armed conflict, veterans began to organize themselves in local communities, as many did not have military schools. Blago then became in charge of Trpinjska cesta, the most important part of Borovo Naselje. He defended his hearth heroically, and he gave his life for the freedom of his homeland.

He was like that, what was his name

Blago Zadro, general of the Croatian army, hero, patriot and above all a great man!!

Blago Zadro, general of the Croatian army, patriot, hero of the homeland war, hero of heroes and above all a great man!! One of the best Croatian sons who laid his life on the altar of the homeland!! Although he is no longer among us, his name is forever written on the pages Croatian history!! HABIT HE LIVES, WHO DIES HONESTLY!

The key is in your window

– Your key is in the window, unlock it and go in, but think carefully about how you will get out! –

Tributes Wall

Share this Memorial

Share Memories

Memory Guardian

Remind me

Read more stories

Hero of the Homeland War

You know what mom?

He always went first

The first major general

He

He was like that, what was his name

Hero of the Homeland War