1. Ante Gotovina: A Croatian General's Life and Legacy
2. Return to Croatia and Role in the Croatian War
3. Role in Croatian Military Operations
4. Accusations of War Crimes
5. Trial and Sentencing
6. Appeal and Acquittal
7. Family
8. Awards

Ante Gotovina: A Croatian General's Life and Legacy

Early Life and Military Service in France

Ante Gotovina was born on October 12, 1955, on the island of Pašman in Croatia. He immigrated to France in 1973 and joined the French Foreign Legion under the pseudonym Andrija Grabovac. As a member of the 2nd Foreign Parachute Regiment and the Legion's special forces unit (GCP), he participated in various operations in Africa and the Ivory Coast. In 1979, he became a French citizen and retired from the Legion with the rank of corporal-chef.

Return to Croatia and Role in the Croatian War

After returning to Croatia in 1991, Gotovina joined the Croatian National Guard and quickly rose through the ranks due to his experience and skills. He commanded the 1st Brigade of the National Guard Corps and fought against Serbian forces in Western Slavonia. With the establishment of the Croatian Armed Forces in 1991, he was promoted to colonel.

Role in Croatian Military Operations

Gotovina played a crucial role in several Croatian military operations:

Operation Maslenica (1993):Commander of the Croatian forces that liberated northern Dalmatia from Serbian control.

Operations Jump 1, Winter '94, and Jump 2 (1994):Commander of Croatian forces in Bosnia and Herzegovina, defending the area around Livno and Tomislavgrad.

Operation Summer '95 (1995):Commander of the Croatian forces that captured the towns of Glamoč and Bosansko Grahovo, paving the way for the liberation of Krajina.

Operation Storm (1995):Commander of the Split Corps in the Croatian offensive that liberated the Serb-controlled Krajina region.

Accusations of War Crimes

In 2001, the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) indicted Gotovina for war crimes and crimes against humanity allegedly committed during Operation Storm. He went into hiding and was arrested in Spain in 2005.

Trial and Sentencing

After a trial that lasted for three years, Gotovina was found guilty in 2011 of eight charges, including murder, persecution, and deportation. He was sentenced to 24 years in prison. The verdict sparked protests in Croatia, where many viewed Gotovina as a war hero.

Appeal and Acquittal

In 2012, the ICTY Appeals Chamber overturned Gotovina's conviction and acquitted him of all charges. He was released from custody and returned to Croatia, where he was greeted by thousands of supporters.

Family

Gotovina was married twice. He had three daughters: Ana, Himenja, and a son named Ante.

Awards

Gotovina received numerous awards for his service in the Croatian War, including the Order of Prince Domagoj, the Order of Ban Jelačić, and the Order of Nikola Šubić Zrinski.

General