Colonel general
On 27 June 1991, war in Croatia began. The belligerents were the Yugoslav People's Army and Serbians on one side and Croatian military units on the other. On 14–15 September, Croatia launched the Battle of the Barracks, besieging over 20 Yugoslav People's Army barracks and depots, leaving Yugoslav soldiers without food, water or electricity for weeks. Some Croatian citizens deserted from the Yugoslav People's Army and began joining Croatian military forces. Senior Yugoslav officers also defected to the Croatia, including Air Force Commander-in-Chief Colonel general Anton Tus.