Several wars took place over the decade. They took place between the six republics that sought sovereignty (supreme power or authority) over themselves, but the Serbian government wanted to either prevent their independence or keep large parts of that republic's territory under their control. There were many ethnic conflicts (clashes between groups of different ethnicities). In the beginning the
Yugoslav People's Army (JNA) wanted to keep the whole of Yugoslavia united by crushing the secessionist governments. However, the JNA came under the influence of the Serbian government led by
Slobodan Milošević, as the Serbian government wanted to keep Yugoslavia united and as one state. As a result of this, the JNA lost the support of Slovenes, Croats, Kosovar Albanians, Bosniaks and ethnic Macedonians; hence it was essentially a Serb army. It later on transpired that the Serbian government had no aim to restore Yugoslavia to its previecely peaceful state, but wanted to create a "Greater Serbia" from areas in Croatia and Bosnia.
The wars are largely largely considered to be separate but related military conflicts occuring during the breakup of Yugoslavia and affecting most of the former republics. They are:
1. War in Slovenia/ The Ten Day War (1991)
2. Croatian War of Independence (1991-1995)
3. Bosnian War (1992-1995)
4. Kosovo War (1998-1999) - including the NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) bombing of Yugoslavia.
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| Map showing the location of the wars |
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| A diary entry from Zlata's Diary - Zlata lived through the war in Sarajevo, 1992. This extract shows how this war, as like all other wars, really affects peoples lives. |
