# Ratko Mladić

> Convicted war-criminal and former general of the Bosnian Serb military (1991-1996)

**Wikidata**: [Q93167](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q93167)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ratko_Mladić)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/ratko-mladic

## Summary

Ratko Mladić is a convicted war criminal who served as a general of the Bosnian Serb military forces during the period 1991–1996. He held key command positions within the Army of Republika Srpska (VRS) during the Bosnian War, including as Commander of the Main Staff. Mladić was convicted by the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) for war crimes and crimes against humanity, including the Srebrenica genocide. His military career spanned from 1965 until his retirement in the mid-1990s, and he was a prominent figure in the Yugoslav People's Army before commanding Bosnian Serb forces during the breakup of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia.

## Biography

- **Born**: March 12, 1943
- **Nationality**: Bosnian Serb (citizenship: Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina)
- **Education**: Military education; began military career in 1965
- **Known for**: Commanding Bosnian Serb military forces during the Bosnian War (1992–1995); involvement in the Siege of Sarajevo and Srebrenica genocide
- **Employer(s)**: Yugoslav People's Army (JNA); Army of Republika Srpska (VRS)
- **Field(s)**: Military leadership

## Contributions

Mladić's "contributions" in the context of this source material refer to his command role in the Bosnian Serb military during the Yugoslav Wars:

- **Command of Republika Srpska Army (VRS)**: Served as Commander of the Main Staff of the Army of Republika Srpska from 1992 to 1996, leading Bosnian Serb forces during the Bosnian War
- **Siege of Sarajevo**: Under his command, Bosnian Serb forces conducted the Siege of Sarajevo (1992–1996), which became the longest siege of a capital city in the history of modern warfare
- **Military Operations**: Oversaw military operations including Operation Lukavac '93 during the Bosnian War
- **Srebrenica Operations**: Commanded forces involved in the Srebrenica genocide in July 1995, which resulted in the killings of Bosniaks
- **Yugoslav People's Army Service**: Served in the JNA from 1965, the military of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, which was involved in the Croatian War of Independence and the Battle of the Barracks engagements

## FAQs

**What was Ratko Mladić's role during the Bosnian War?**

Ratko Mladić served as the Commander of the Main Staff of the Army of Republika Srpska (VRS) from 1992 to 1996, making him the supreme military commander of Bosnian Serb forces throughout the Bosnian War.

**What was the Siege of Sarajevo?**

The Siege of Sarajevo was a major military campaign conducted by Bosnian Serb forces under Mladić's command from 1992 to 1996. It became the longest siege of a capital city in modern warfare history, lasting approximately 1,425 days.

**What is Mladić known for internationally?**

Mladić is internationally known as a convicted war criminal. He was indicted by the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) for war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide committed during the Bosnian War, including the Srebrenica genocide.

**What was Mladić's connection to the Srebrenica genocide?**

Under Mladić's command as VRS Commander, Bosnian Serb forces carried out the Srebrenica genocide in July 1995, which resulted in the systematic killing of Bosniak (Bosnian Muslim) men and boys. This event is considered one of the worst mass atrocities in Europe since World War II.

**What was Mladić's military background before the Bosnian War?**

Mladić began his military career in the Yugoslav People's Army (JNA) in 1965. He served in the JNA during the breakup of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, which dissolved in 1992, and later transitioned to command the newly formed Army of Republika Srpska.

**What awards did Ratko Mladić receive?**

According to the source material, Mladić received the Order of the People's Army (established December 29, 1951) and the Order of Brotherhood and Unity (established August 15, 1943), both Yugoslav honors.

## Why They Matter

Mladić's significance lies primarily in his conviction as a war criminal and his central role in some of the most serious atrocities committed in Europe since World War II. His command during the Siege of Sarajevo and the Srebrenica genocide resulted in thousands of civilian deaths and widespread suffering. The International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) convicted him for war crimes and crimes against humanity, making him one of the most high-profile figures prosecuted for atrocities committed during the Yugoslav Wars. His actions during the breakup of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and the subsequent Bosnian War had profound and lasting impacts on the region, contributing to international recognition of war crimes as grave violations of human rights and establishing precedents for international criminal justice.

## Notable For

- Convicted war criminal by the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY)
- Commander of the Main Staff of the Army of Republika Srpska (1992–1996)
- Commanded forces responsible for the Siege of Sarajevo (1992–1996), the longest siege of a capital city in modern warfare history
- Led Bosnian Serb forces during the Srebrenica genocide (July 1995)
- Commanded Operation Lukavac '93 during the Bosnian War
- Former officer in the Yugoslav People's Army (JNA) from 1965
- Recipient of Yugoslav military honors including the Order of the People's Army and Order of Brotherhood and Unity

## Body

### Early Life and Military Career Beginnings

Ratko Mladić was born on March 12, 1943. His military career began in 1965 when he joined the Yugoslav People's Army (JNA), the armed forces of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. The Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia was a socialist state in Central and Southeast Europe that existed from 1945 to 1992, with Belgrade as its capital. The SFRY was succeeded by Serbia and Montenegro, the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, and the independent states of Serbia, Montenegro, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Slovenia, and North Macedonia upon its breakup in 1992.

### Service in the Yugoslav People's Army

Mladić served as a military officer in the Yugoslav People's Army from 1965. The JNA was the military force of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, a socialist federal republic with a communist system. During his service in the JNA, Mladić would have witnessed the complex political and ethnic dynamics of Yugoslavia, which consisted of multiple republics including Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Serbia, Slovenia, Montenegro, and North Macedonia. The JNA became involved in conflicts during the breakup of Yugoslavia in the early 1990s, particularly in the Croatian War of Independence (1991–1995) and the Battle of the Barracks series of engagements.

### Command During the Bosnian War

Following the dissolution of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia in 1992 and the emergence of Bosnia and Herzegovina as an independent state on March 1, 1992, Mladić became the Commander of the Main Staff of the Army of Republika Srpska (VRS). Republika Srpska was a proto-state that existed between 1992 and 1995 during the Bosnian War. Mladić held this position from 1991 to 1996, serving as the supreme military commander for Bosnian Serb forces throughout the conflict.

The Bosnian War (1992–1995) emerged following the dissolution of Yugoslavia and the declaration of independence by Bosnia and Herzegovina. The war involved intense ethnic conflict between Bosniaks (Bosnian Muslims), Bosnian Croats, and Bosnian Serbs. Mladić's VRS forces were involved in numerous military operations against Bosnian Muslim and Croatian forces.

### The Siege of Sarajevo

Under Mladić's command, the Army of Republika Srpska conducted the Siege of Sarajevo from 1992 to 1996. This siege is historically significant as the longest siege of a capital city in the history of modern warfare. The siege lasted approximately 1,425 days and resulted in thousands of civilian casualties. Sarajevo, the capital of Bosnia and Herzegovina, had been the scene of intense bombardment and sniper fire targeting civilian populations. The city, which had a population of approximately 3.5 million in the broader region, became synonymous with the brutal nature of urban warfare during the Bosnian War.

### Military Operations

During his tenure as VRS Commander, Mladić oversaw multiple military operations during the Bosnian War. One notable operation was Operation Lukavac '93, a military operation conducted during the Bosnian War. These operations were part of the broader conflict that saw the JNA, and later the VRS, engaged in battles against Croatian and Bosniak forces in various regions of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

### The Srebrenica Genocide

One of the most significant and horrific events during Mladić's command was the Srebrenica genocide in July 1995. The Srebrenica genocide involved the systematic killings of Bosniaks (Bosnian Muslims) in and around the town of Srebrenica in eastern Bosnia and Herzegovina. Under Mladić's command, VRS forces carried out mass executions of Bosniak men and boys, resulting in the deaths of thousands of civilians. This event is widely recognized as the worst mass atrocity in Europe since World War II and has been legally determined to constitute genocide by international courts.

### International Criminal Proceedings

Mladić was indicted by the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) for war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide committed during the Bosnian War. The ICTY was established by the United Nations to prosecute serious crimes committed during the Yugoslav Wars. Mladić was ultimately convicted on multiple counts related to his role in the Siege of Sarajevo and the Srebrenica genocide.

### Awards and Recognition

According to the source material, Mladić received several Yugoslav honors during his military career:

- **Order of the People's Army**: Established on December 29, 1951, this was a Yugoslav military award
- **Order of Brotherhood and Unity**: Established on August 15, 1943, this was a Yugoslav order recognizing contributions to unity and brotherhood

These awards were conferred by the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, reflecting his service in the JNA prior to the Yugoslav breakup.

### Later Life and Conviction

Mladić remained a fugitive for many years before being captured in 2011. He was transferred to the ICTY to face trial on charges of war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide. The tribunal found him guilty on multiple counts, including his role in the Srebrenica genocide and the Siege of Sarajevo. His conviction established legal precedent for command responsibility in international criminal law, holding senior military leaders accountable for crimes committed by forces under their control.

### Context: The Breakup of Yugoslavia

Mladić's military career must be understood in the context of the breakup of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. Yugoslavia existed from 1945 to 1992 and was composed of six republics: Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Macedonia (now North Macedonia), Montenegro, Serbia, and Slovenia. The country dissolved in the early 1990s following a series of conflicts driven by ethnic tensions and nationalist movements. The Republic of Serbian Krajina was a self-proclaimed proto-state within the Republic of Croatia that emerged in 1991, while Republika Srpska was established as a proto-state within Bosnia and Herzegovina in 1992.

### Legacy

Mladić's legacy is defined by his conviction as a war criminal and his central role in some of the most serious atrocities committed during the Bosnian War. His case has become a reference point in international criminal law regarding command responsibility and the prosecution of war crimes. The Srebrenica genocide, in particular, has become a symbol of the need for international accountability for mass atrocities and has influenced the development of international criminal tribunals and mechanisms for prosecuting war crimes.

## References

1. Virtual International Authority File
2. BnF authorities
3. Czech National Authority Database
4. International Standard Name Identifier
5. Munzinger-Archiv
6. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
7. Integrated Authority File
8. BBC Things
9. Česko-Slovenská filmová databáze