To mark the 30th anniversary of the final military operations of the Croatian War of Independence, and ahead of Victory and Homeland Thanksgiving Day and Croatian Veterans Day, the exhibition The Road to Operation Storm 1991–1995 opened at the City Museum of Rijeka. The exhibition was created by Damir Batistić, a collector of military memorabilia and the author of a number of successful exhibitions on the Croatian War of Independence, and Ivo Mileusnić of the Maritime and History Museum of the Croatian Littoral Rijeka. Sabrina Žigo of the City Museum of Rijeka served as expert associate. The exhibition was organised by the City Museum of Rijeka and the Maritime and History Museum of the Croatian Littoral Rijeka. The exhibition was prepared in cooperation with the Military Museum of the Croatian Ministry of Defence, the Karlovac ZNG-91 Honorary Platoon, retired Brigadier Dubravko Halovanić, and numerous collectors and model makers who loaned objects for the exhibition. Particular attention is given to the contribution of Rijeka’s industry in equipping the Croatian Army and police during the international arms embargo. As Rijeka and the wider Primorje-Gorski Kotar County area were spared direct wartime destruction, they became an important logistics centre. The exhibition highlights the contribution of women employed in Rijeka’s textile industry, including RIO, Modest and Usluga, as well as factories that adapted their production to manufacture weapons, military equipment and combat vehicles for Croatian forces. The exhibition also highlights the role of Rijeka and the entire Primorje-Gorski Kotar County in providing shelter and assistance to more than 40,000 displaced persons and refugees from war-affected areas of Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina. Among the particularly significant examples of the contribution made by Rijeka’s industrial workers are the combat vehicles displayed in the Museum grounds. The exhibition also features models of military vehicles and equipment made by local model makers, as well as models of Croatian Navy vessels from the Kraljevica Shipyard. The exhibition traces the wartime experience of Croatian forces from the Rijeka area and the experience they gained before taking part in the 1995 military and police Operation Storm. Visitors can also see a wide range of weapons and equipment used during the operation. The exhibition is held under the patronage of the Ministry of Croatian Veterans, the Croatian Generals’ Association, the City of Rijeka and Primorje-Gorski Kotar County. The exhibition was opened by retired Brigadier General Frano Primorac, President of the Liburnia Croatian Officers’ Association. Also addressing those gathered at the opening were Mladen Urem, Director of the City Museum of Rijeka; Iva Rinčić, Mayor of Rijeka; Ivica Lukanović, Prefect of Primorje-Gorski Kotar County; and Perica Prpić, representative of the Ministry of Croatian Veterans.
The exhibition is on view from 29 July to 28 September 2025.
