Turanj - Karlovac - Croatia

The Karlovac City Museum has transformed the old Austrian military barracks of Turanj into a museum dedicated to the the military history of the Croatian War of Independence (1991-1995). An open air museum.  We spent about an hour or so here. Interesting, and sobering.

"Hotel California" was the name given to the old barracks by the defending Croatian soldiers. They came here for a rest from the front line of battle. The Croatian defenders halted the Serbs attempts to seize the city of Karlovac.  Turanj was devastated by the combat, and there were many refugees and displaced people.

Student protest t-shirt in support of Croatia, May 1991.

During the war, Croatia formed an army that managed to liberate the occupied state territory. Only a small number of volunteers had formal military training, while the majority was trained and forged in war.

Mig 21

In Karlovac, the Croatian Defenders, few and scarcely armed, had the task of doing the impossible, and indeed performed a miracle, taking over all the JNA (Yugoslavian) barracks in the city, defending the bridges on the southern entrances tot he city, and establishing a bridgehead on the right bank of the Korana river.  In 1995, finally liberating all of the occupied parts of the Country.
The 110th bridge of the Croatian National Guard was established on Jun 28, 1991. 208 volunteers set out to defend the Karlovac city. Aged under 30, they were the first, in subsequent months, they were joined by thousands.

Anti Terrorist Armoured Vehicle

An improvised armoured fighting vehicle built early in the war for the Croatian National Guard. It was built in Rijeka. Holds crew + 2 members, can travel up to 100 kph.

Armoured Personnel Carrier Sokol 1

In September and October 1991, three "Zestava 640" trucks were repurposed in Zagreb for the transport of infantry at the battlefield around the Kupa River. The external armour was made of bullet proof steel plate, underneath a rubber and steel plate internal armour was place. The APC carried a M53 7.0mm machine gun at the top.

Armoured Fighting Vehicle

Armoured fighting vehicle, carrying 2 + 30 members. Speed up to 40 kph. Constructed in 1991 by remodelling a Tatra vehicle. The armour is 8-10 mm thick on the outside, and 5 mm on the inside. Between the panels is a layer of 50mm of sand. The armour was not penetrated, even when hit by a 130mm caliber grenade.

The Soviet multi-purpose supersonic aircraft was part of the 21st Fighter Squadron of the Croatian Air Force established in 1992 for the air defence of the northern part of Croatia.
Speed 2230 kph, range 1225 km.

Ruined building next to the Kupa river

There were numerous military vehicles, guns and tanks, all with descriptions of where they were used in the War of Independence.

Tanks and the MIG

Fighter Aircraft remains

The aircraft belonged to the 117th Aviation Wing of the Yugoslav Air Force. It took off on 9 November 1991 from the JNA air base near Bihac, Bosnia and Herzegovina, with the purpose of bombarding Saborsko. It was taken down by the defenders of Saborsko, and it fell on the territory of the Slunj military training area. Shortly thereafter, Saborsko was besieged, the population exiled, and those that remained were murdered.

New entrance to "Hotel California" now part of the museum

Across the road from the museum are several houses in the suburb of Turanj.  The bullet and shell holes are still visible. Difficult to imagine that this was once a war zone. Neighbour fighting neighbour, Serb and Croat.