Zvonimir Červenko (13 November 1926 – 17 February 2001) was a Croatian general and Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Croatia from 1995 to 1996.
Zvonimir Červenko | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | 13 November 1926 Prijepolje, Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes |
| Died | 17 February 2001 (aged 74) Zagreb, Croatia |
| Buried | Alley of Croatian Heroes, Mirogoj Cemetery, Zagreb |
| Allegiance |  Yugoslavia Croatia |
| Service | Yugoslav Air Force Croatian Army |
| Rank | Lieutenant Colonel (JNA), Staff General (stožerni general), (Croatian Army) |
| Commands | General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Croatia |
| Battles / wars | Croatian War of Independence |
| Awards | Grand Order of King Petar Krešimir IV Order of Duke Domagoj Order of Ban Jelačić |
| Other work | Member of Parliament |
Origin
editČervenko's grand-grandfather was a Czech with a surname Červenka.[1]
Croatian War of Independence
editAt the beginning of the Croatian War of Independence, Franjo Tuđman, president of the Republic of Croatia offered him the position of the minister of defence, but Červenko refused saying "I'm a soldier, not politician". He organized the defence of Zagreb, the blockade of enemy barracks, and started the process of forming 14 brigades in Zagreb. In January 1992, Červenko became the commander of Croatian Home Guard (Domobranstvo), becoming deputy of chief of the General Staff.
The top of his military career came just before the Operation Storm, when he succeeded Janko Bobetko in the position of Chief of the General Staff. He served as Chief of General Staff from 15 July 1995 until 16 November 1996. During his command, the Croatian Army executed the most successful operation of the war, Operation Storm. President Tuđman replaced him in November 1996.[clarification needed] He later became a member of the Chamber of Counties of the Croatian Parliament (Sabor) on the electoral list of the Croatian Democratic Union. Beginning in 2000 he served as a member of the Amnesty Commission.
Death
editČervenko died on 17 February 2001 in Zagreb. He was buried in Alley of Croatian Heroes at the Mirogoj Cemetery.[2]
Decorations
edit- Grand Order of King Petar Krešimir IV,
- Order of Duke Domagoj,[3]
- Order of Ban Jelačić,
- Order of the Croatian Trefoil,
- Order of the Croatian Interlace,
- Commemorative Medal of the Homeland War,
- Medal for Participation in Operation "Flash"
- Medal for Participation in Operation "Summer '95"
- Medal for Participation in Operation "Storm"
References
edit- "Vremeplov - Umro general Červenko". Hrvatski vojnik #175 (in Croatian). February 2008. Retrieved 2011-02-27.
- ^ Generalova priča : Zvonimir Červenko / Miroslav Mikuljan; priredio i uredio Mladen Pavković ISBN 953-7103-07-2
- ^ "Posljednji ispraćaj generala Zvonimira Červenka" (in Croatian). Croatian Radiotelevision. 21 February 2001. Retrieved 25 July 2016.
- ^ "Odluka kojom se odlikuju redom kneza Domagoja s ogrlicom" (in Croatian). Narodne novine. 26 May 1995. Retrieved 25 July 2016.