Bosnia-Herzegovina

20 years of the siege of Sarajevo


More than 3 years was besieged Sarajevo by the Serbian troops 1992 to the 1996, ended the war in Bosnia and Herzegovina in 1995 but the siege of the capital officially lasted until February of 1996 When the troops left the mountains.

Bosnia and Herzegovina , a divided country


To explain the why of this siege, I need to explain some history :
Sarajevo is a relatively young city, founded by the Ottomans around the 1500, its name means : Saraj- (PALACE) and -Evo (GREEN FIELD).
After the Ottomans came the Austro-hungaros on the 1878, a very productive stage, they connected with Sarajevo-Vienna. In 1918, After the first world war, several countries gathered to found Yugoslavia, most Slavic and Serbian King, with residence in Belgrade.
 
In the second world war the military Josip Broz Tito, known simply as Tito, a much-loved character in the country, He fought against the nazis and liberated Yugoslavia, He became a hero and was President. Interestingly the trigger for the second war world was the assassination of Franz Ferdinand in the old part of Sarajevo, After a failed hours before bombing.
 
Tito and Stalin were fatal, but with the death of Stalin the relations with Russia improved and was born to a prosperous Sarajevo.

 

Bosnia and Herzegovina , a divided country


The death of Tito in 1980 Yugoslavia suffered a deep crisis, with a few winter Olympics of by means, the of the 1984, of which there are still some ruins on the outskirts of the city.
In 1991 people were divided, forming the current States. Bosnia and Herzegovina became independent in 1992, then fought several wars in Yugoslavia, but the bloodiest was that of Bosnia and Herzegovina, where carried is out "ethnic cleansing" in a systematic way.

 

Bosnia and Herzegovina , a divided country


In Sarajevo, there were tensions was proclaimed independent, the Bosnian Serbs did not agree, the war broke out and the siege of the city extends over 1395 days. The Serbs occupied the mountains around the city, sometiendola to a continuous bombardment.

 

Bosnia and Herzegovina , a divided country


Sarajevo became a concentration camp for years. To cross the streets and fetching water the population had to run to avoid the shooting of Serbs, derogatorily called as Chetniks, they were placed around the city at strategic points. Built a tunnel between the city and the airport, controlled by United Nations, humanitarian aid was delivered to the population through the tunnel, basic foodstuffs and supplies of war.

 

Bosnia and Herzegovina , a divided country


The central market of the city, where supplied is to the population's food, called Markale, has a tragic history, was bombed twice, dying 68 and 43 You people respectively and leaving residents without supplies. Was very difficult to get food, sometimes add-ons is exchanged, Gold or jewelry for a candy bar or other items considered then luxury.

 

Bosnia and Herzegovina , a divided country


They died in the siege 11.000 people only in Sarajevo and around 150.000 across the country.

 

Bosnia and Herzegovina , a divided country


Was not a war of guerrilla as many think, the city was bombed, holes still seen in buildings are the shrapnel of the projectiles are throwing from the outskirts. Many of the buildings have not restored because they don't know who owns. The Government restores only the historical buildings.


After the war, there was a new political system, Although tensions between the two continue.


You can see all the images to full screen in the section of Photographs.