Log Revolution

Quick Facts: Who was Log Revolution?

Subject:

Log Revolution

Known for:

Insurrection in Croatia (1990-1991) involving Serb nationalists blocking roads.

Verified Source:

2Day Chrono-Wiki & Primary Historical Archives

Origins & Early Life

The Log Revolution (Serbo-Croatian: Balvan revolucija / Балван револуција) was an insurrection which started on August 17, 1990, in areas of the Republic of Croatia which were populated significantly by ethnic Serbs. A full year of tension, including minor skirmishes and sabotage, passed before these events would escalate into the Croatian War of Independence. In 1988–89, a series of street protests in Yugoslavia by supporters of Serbian leader Slobodan Milošević succeeded in overthrowing the government of the Socialist Republic of Montenegro as well as the governments of the Socialist Autonomous Provinces of Vojvodina and Kosovo, which were parts of the Socialist Republic of Serbia, replacing their leaders with allies of Milošević. The western Yugoslav republics of Slovenia and Croatia successfully resisted the attempts to expand the revolt onto their territories, and turned against Milošević. On 8 July 1989, a large Serb nationalist rally was held in Knin, during which banners threatening a Yugoslav People's Army (JNA) intervention in Croatia, as well as Chetnik iconography was displayed.

Pivotal Works & Achievements

In the lead up to the first free elections in April and May 1990, the ethnic relations between the Croats and the Serbs in SR Croatia became a subject of political debate. The local Serbs in the village of Berak put up barricades in order to disrupt the elections. During the act of government transition from the former to the new authorities in Croatia, the JNA organized a "regular military maneuvre" in which a regiment of paratroopers was deployed to the Pleso Airport, which was taken as an implicit threat. On May 14, 1990, the weapons of the Territorial Defense (TO) of Croatia were taken away by the JNA, preventing the possibility of Croatia having its own weapons like it was done in Slovenia. According to Borisav Jović, then president of Yugoslavia, this action was done at the behest of the Republic of Serbia.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

This action left Croatia extremely vulnerable to pressure from Belgrade, whose leadership began to intensify their public challenges to Croatia's borders. In an act of protest, the militant part of Croatian Serbs in some areas where they formed a majority started to refuse authority to the new Croatian government and beginning in early 1990 held several meetings and public rallies in support of their cause and in protest against the new government. These protests were in support of Serbian nationalism, a centralized Yugoslavia and Milošević (see Anti-bureaucratic revolution). In June and July 1990, Serb representatives in Croatia openly rejected the new government's proposed amendments to the Constitution of SR Croatia which changed the name of the republic and entered new state symbols. The Serb population associated these with the symbols of the Nazi-allied Independent State of Croatia during World War II, although the Croatian checkerboard is a historical symbol that had already officially been contained in the emblem of the SR Croatia within Yugoslavia.

Chronological Milestones & Life Events

1. 1988: 1988 Milestone — In 1988–89, a series of street protests in Yugoslavia by supporters of Serbian leader Slobodan Milošević succeeded in overthrowing the government of the Socialist Republic of Montenegro as well as the governments of the Socialist Autonomous Provinces of Vojvodina and Kosovo, which were parts of the Socialist Republic of Serbia, replacing their leaders with allies of Milošević.
2. 1989: 1989 Milestone — On 8 July 1989, a large Serb nationalist rally was held in Knin, during which banners threatening a Yugoslav People's Army (JNA) intervention in Croatia, as well as Chetnik iconography was displayed.
3. 1990: 1990 Milestone — The Log Revolution (Serbo-Croatian: Balvan revolucija / Балван револуција) was an insurrection which started on August 17, 1990, in areas of the Republic of Croatia which were populated significantly by ethnic Serbs.

Historical Fact-Check Quiz: Log Revolution

True or False: “Did the Log Revolution begin immediately after the Croatian government removed all weapons from the Territorial Defense?”

Answer (FALSE ❌): The removal of weapons occurred on May 14, 1990, but the insurrection itself started later in August 1990.

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