Pro-Government Militias
Red Berets / Frenki's Boys / Grey Wolves (Yugoslavia)
Basic Group Information
| Name assigned by coder: | no |
| PGM ID Number: | 357 |
| Country: | Yugoslavia |
| Date formed: | Jan. 1, 1991 |
| Accuracy of date formed: | year |
| Details of Formation: | The Red Berets were established by Serbia’s security service shortly before Croatia’s declaration of independence (BBC 2003). Another news source says the Red Beretes were created by people close to Milosevic. |
| Date dissolved: | Jan. 1, 1996 |
| Accuracy of date dissolved: | day |
| Details of Termination: | Because the Red Berets became increasingly uncontrollable they were formalized in 1996. They continued to exist as group called the Special Operations Unit (coded as separate PGM), but were popularly still called Red Berets. |
| Termination Type(s): | none |
Former and Successor Group Information
| Predecessor group(s): | none |
| Successor group(s): | Special Operations Unit (JSO) |
| Private Military Company? | no |
| Former Group? | no |
| Former Armed Group? | no |
| Former Rebel Group? | no information |
| Former Rebel Group UCDP ID: | none |
| PGM Becomes Rebel Group? | no information |
| Successor Rebel Group UCDP ID: | none |
Government Relation, Support, and Training
| Government Relation: | informal (type 1) |
| Created by the Government?: | yes | Main Creating Government Institution: | subnational government; military |
| Government Link(s): | person/minister; state (institution) |
| If link to party, name of party: | None |
| Training and Equipment: | yes |
| Shared Information and Joint Operations: | yes |
| Shared Personnel: | yes |
| Type(s) of Material Support: | domestic government; plunder and loot |
| State Sponsor(s): | none |
| Other Connection(s): |
Group Characteristics
| Membership: | ethnic; ex soldiers; criminals |
| Primary Membership: | no information |
| Alternative Primary Membership: | no information |
| Location: | None |
| Force Strength: | [58, 250] |
| Target(s): | civilians; ethnic group |
| Purpose(s): | protect national borders and integrity; intimidation of ethnic/religious groups; destabilise neighbouring countries |
Ethnic Characteristics
| Ethnic Target(s): | Croats (Yugoslavia); Bosniaks/Muslims (Yugoslavia) |
| Quality of Information for Ethnic Targeting: | given |
| Ethnic Membership: | Serbs (Yugoslavia) |
| Quality of Information for Ethnic Membership: | given |
| Ethnic Purpose: | Croats (Yugoslavia); Bosniaks/Muslims (Yugoslavia) |
| Quality of Information for Ethnic Purpose: | given |
Other Information
| Other Information: | Red Berets are also called Crveni Barek. While their main focus of operations was on Croatia and Bosnia, the group was also, especially later, active in Serbia and Kosovo. |
New Variables from Meta-Analysis
Purpose
| Purpose: | The main purpose of the Red Berets during Milosevic’s government was to fight Muslims and Croats from Bosnia and Croatia. They also should arm, train and co-ordinate various paramilitary groups (BBC 2003). Using them allowed Milosevic to engage in ‘ethnic cleansing’ without using the military. One news source says without the Red Berets, Serbian politicians would not have had the means to carry out their ethnic policies. |
| Relative Benefit(s) of PGM Use | unknown |
Treatment of Civilians
| Treatment of Civilians: | The Red Berets participated in Milosevic’s ‘ethnic cleansing’ campaigns in Bosnia and Croatia. In Bosnia they beat and killed civilians; there is no explicit evidence on whether they committed such violence on Yugoslav territory. |
| Type(s) of Violence against Civilians: | killing; beating |
Reasons for Membership
| PGM Members Coerced? | no |
| PGM Members Paid? | no information |
| Reasons for Membership: | Some members were criminals who had previously served several prison sentences and were promised by the state security a pardon for their sins if they joined the fight for Serbia. |
| PGM Members Killed? | often |
PGM Size
| Size: | Initially set up as a 58-strong group in 1991, the group grew to 250 people during the war in Bosnia-Hercegovina. |
Weapons and Training
| Weapons and Training: | The Red Berets had rifles and knives. They possessed good weapons, a MiG 124 helicopter, Hummer vehicles and all sort of special ordnance. |
Organisation
| Organisation: | The Red Berets’ leader was Dragan Vasilijkovic, alias Captain Dragan, a former Australian Army soldier. The group also had links to Milosevic, the head of state security during the Milosevic era, Jovice Stanisic (BBC 2003). |
Reference(s) for Meta-Analysis
Evidence
- Examine the evidence for this coding.