TV tip: "Burning Border - Beginning of the Yugoslav Drama"

30 years ago, the bloody disintegration of socialist Yugoslavia began with the declarations of independence from Slovenia and Croatia. Yugoslavia had only survived the death of its founder, dictator Josip Broz Tito, by just 10 years. The war in Slovenia lasted only ten days, but the wars in Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina each lasted more than three years, with a much higher number of casualties, displaced persons, and refugees. In 1999, the NATO war over Kosovo followed as a climax, which de facto led to Serbia losing control over its Albanian-dominated province. However, many countries still do not recognize Kosovo's independence, and the consequences of the dissolution of the Tito state are still palpable.
The bloody disintegration of former Yugoslavia began at the border between Austria and Yugoslavia, now the border with Slovenia, when the Yugoslav People's Army tried to regain control of border crossings that were controlled by Slovenian troops. This war at the border also led to the largest military deployment of the Austrian Armed Forces. Approximately 7,700 soldiers were deployed in Styria and Carinthia from late June to mid-July 1991.

ORF Balkan correspondent Christian Wehrschütz spoke with former soldiers, from the commander in the Styrian border area to simple conscripts. He also spoke on the Slovenian side with veterans and the first democratically elected Prime Minister, Lojse Peterle. However, Wehrschütz also investigated why the Tito state did not survive its founder permanently. The eyewitnesses interviewed include the first President of Slovenia, Milan Kucan, the last Chairman of the Yugoslav State Presidency Stipe Mesic, as well as Tito's last Foreign Minister Budimir Loncar and other witnesses of the events that shook and permanently shaped Europe 30 years ago.

ORF III - Duration: 45 minutes, Production year: 2021

Broadcast Dates

July 4th, 00:05 - ORF III

Beyond the attractive broadcasting time, this program will be available on the TVthek for up to seven days after the initial broadcast.

Slovenian Territorial Defense paints the coat of arms of the new state on captured tanks.

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HERE is the PHOTO FILE Austrian Armed Forces and Border Deployment 1991

HERE you can download the booklet "Yugoslav Crisis 1991" for free