Blago Zadro

Blago Zadro (31 March 1944 – 16 October 1991) was a commander of the northern part of Croatian defense forces in Vukovar (Croatia) during the Croatian War of Independence. He was killed in an attack by Serb forces in the town of Borovo Naselje.

Early life

Blago Zadro was born in the small village of Donji Mamići near Grude in Herzegovina. His family moved to Borovo Naselje in 1954 where he graduated high school and started working in the Borovo combine. He had a job mixing chemicals and rubber. After his department was closed, he spent three months in the reorganized Croatian police force. Zadro became active in politics during Croatia's first democratic elections in 1990; he founded a branch of the Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) for Municipality of Vukovar and became the vice president of the HDZ in Vukovar. He joined the defense corps when the war started.

Battle of Vukovar

Zadro had commanded the 3rd Battallion of the 204th (Vukovar) Croatian Army Brigade during Battle of Vukovar since the start of the fighting, along with two of his sons, where he led actions against the Yugoslav People's Army (JNA) and local Serb forces. Zadro's unit was assigned to defend the vital Trpinjska cesta (Trpinja road), an open road leading directly into Vukovar. Because of its importance, the road became primary target for JNA tank units attacking the city and it became known as the Tank Graveyard due to actions of Zadro's anti-tank rocket groups Yellow Ants and Turbo platoon which fought off many tank attacks, notably a single incident on 18 September when an entire battalion of about 60 tanks and armored personnel carriers was ambushed and destroyed there.