204th Vukovar Brigade
| 204th Brigade | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Active | September 1991 – June 1992 |
| Disbanded | 5 June 1992 |
| Country |
 Croatia
|
| Branch | Army |
| Type | Infantry |
| Nickname(s) |
Vukovarska (The Vukovar Brigade) |
| Engagements | Battle of Vukovar |
| Commanders | |
| Notable commanders |
Mile Dedaković Branko Borković |
The 204th Vukovar Brigade (Croatian: 204. vukovarska brigada) of the Croatian Army was a military unit of the Republic of Croatia that led the defence of the city of Vukovar during the 1991 Battle of Vukovar, in the Croatian War of Independence.
The first Croatian National Guard (Zbor narodne garde, ZNG) units that were active in Vukovar included elements of the 109th Brigade that was first mobilized in late June 1991, a part of the 1st "A" Brigade in July, and the 4th Battalion of the 3rd "A" Brigade formed in the city in August 1991. By the end of September, elements of the 109th stationed in Vukovar started to form the local 204th brigade.
The 204th brigade was formed on September 25, 1991, after having been promulgated by the September 23, 1991, order of general Karl Gorinšek, at the time the commander of the Osijek sector. At the time of its founding, the brigade roster included 1,803 men. It was assigned to cover the area of the former municipality of Vukovar, that included the city of Vukovar, Ilok as well as numerous surrounding villages. The command was also sent to the General Staff in Zagreb, which made some amendments, notably renaming it to the 124th Brigade, that were signed into an order of the Minister of Defence on September 26.
The brigade was not a trained military formation, but it included some trained soldiers and was led by trained officers, first by Mile Dedaković, nicknamed Jastreb ("hawk"), who was previously a lieutenant colonel of the Yugoslav People's Army. A notable commander was Blago Zadro who commanded the 3rd Battalion that defended the city from the northwest on the Trpinja road. Zadro was killed in combat on October 16, 1991. Also in mid-October, Dedaković was reassigned to Vinkovci and the command passed on to Branko Borković, nicknamed Mladi Jastreb ("young hawk"), who previously had the rank of captain.
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