# Garda Panteri

The Garda Panteri (Panthers Guard) (Serbian: Гарда Пантери), also known as Specijalna Brigada Garda Panteri (Panthers Guard Special Brigade)(Serbian: Специјална бригада Гарда Пантери), was an elite unit in the Army of Republika Srpska during the Bosnian War. It was founded on 2 May 1992 under the initial name of the Serbian National Guard of SAO Semberija and Majevica (Serbian: Српска национална гарда од САО Семберија и Мајевица; Srpska Nacionalna Garda od SAO Semberija i Majevica), adopting the name "Garda Panteri" in honour of previous fallen commander Branko "Panter" Pantelić by Ljubiša Savić and members of the Serbian Solidarity Fund. It fought in Bosnia from 1992–1996 during the Yugoslav Wars.

## History and organization

The Serb Solidarity Fund, managed by Ljubiša Savić, began preparing for the defense of Serb territory in Majevica amid inter-ethnic tensions between Serbs and Bosniaks in 1991 and 1992. Around 2,000 members readily available for military action were stationed and monitored the situation in preparation to defend the Serb population in Bijeljina and Semberija, should they face armed aggression. During the night of March the 31st, 1992, barricades were laid by pro-SDA forces in an attempt to take over command and authoritative control of Bijeljina.
Serb forces quickly rallied themselves and with the aid of Željko Ražnatović removed the barriers. The pro-SDA forces then called for talks with SDS officials and leadership of Bijeljina. After these events, the 1,000 members of the Serbian Solidarity Fund and Ljubiša Savić created the unit with the name Serbian National Guard of the SAO of Semberija and Majevica, outside of the Motel Obrijež near Bijeljina.
Despite being officially known as a Light Infantry Brigade due to terminology derived from the Yugoslav People's Army, a notable aspect of the guard was its extensive use of various improvised armoured vehicles (Referred to as the 'Iron Battalion'). The creation of the vehicles was overseen by guard member Captain Mišel Ostojić. The unit also had a small aviation detachment, utilising the Antonov AN-2(s) and UTVA-75 for observation purposes.

### Wartime

The unit participated in many operations, namely the 'Corridor of Life' (Operation Corridor) and the capture of Tinja and Smoluća. Other engagements included Zvornik, Brčko, Majevica, Posavina, Bratunac, Ozren, Sarajevo, Kupres and Bihać.
The unit was famous, receiving volunteers from neighbouring Montenegro. In total, the unit suffered 106 dead and around 750 wounded fighters, with the loss of commander Branko Pantelić, who was killed in an ambush while fighting in Majevica on 4 September 1992.
In 1993, turbo-folk singer Rodoljub Roki Vulović released an album titled Panteri, commemorating the achievements of the unit, including tracks such as "Panteri", "Mauzer" and "Panteru za sjećanje".
In 1994, the 1st Krajina Corps of the VRS, along with the Garda Panteri, launched an offensive in Bosanska Krajina. The objective of the offensive was to break the 5th Corps and to take control Bosanska Krajina. The offensive failed, and ended with 20 square kilometers previously held by the Serbs was captured by the ARBiH. 80 Serbs were killed in the battle while another 10 were captured.