The 5th Corps was one of seven corps and smallest one of the Army of the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina. The formation was around the Bihać pocket to protect it against the surrounding Serb forces. The Fifth Corps also fought secessional Bosniak forces loyal to Fikret Abdić, who was cooperating with Serb forces. In the last military action of the ARBiH, Operation Sana, the 5th Corps defeated Abdić's supporters and started all out offensive connecting to the rest of the Bosnian territory while bringing a number of previously lost and occupied regions of Bosnia and Herzegovina under government control, defeating 1st and 2nd Krajiški corps, strengthened with units that escaped Kninska krajina and multiple serb paramilitary forces coming to aid from different forntlines. During Sana 95 and Downfall of Second autonomy 5th Corps also liberated towns and communes in border section of Croatia. Connecting with Croat forces in Grabovac-Rakovica area, Korenica-Frkašić area, Bogovolja-Cetingrad area. The solemny meet up was done on the border bridge in Tražačka Raštela. During the Operation Sana 95 5th Corps captured biggest war loot the ARBiH ever had. Inventory of ARBiH weaponry grew exponentially after Operation Sana 95 which equipped the unit for further Operation Prijedor 95. In April 2018, police detained Atif Dudaković and 12 others on suspicion of committing crimes against humanity during the Bosnian war. The court process is still ongoing without established evidence.

History

The ministry of military affairs passed the order for the formation of the Fifth Corps of the ARBiH on September 29, 1992 and the final approval by the presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina (order no. 02-111-738/92) on October 21, 1992. In the formation of the 5th Corps there have been the de-formation of the Unsko-sanski Operative Group and the Territorial Defense Groups of Bihać pocket. 5th Corps was operating during the course of the war in the state explained on this Wikipedia page. After the Dayton Peace Agreement was signed 5th Corps had a wide reorganisation. Command was reorganised and adapted to new units structure. New brigades were formed and some units of 7th Corps which were made of residents from Bosanska Krajina region merged with 5th Corps units. New layout stayed til ARBiH disbandment on 14 December 1997. After that 5th Corps got complete new reorganisation under VFBiH and it stayed like that til final dissolution in the newly formed OSBiH on 1st December 2004 when it officially ceased to exist. Currently 5th Corps lives trough different manifestations, anniversaries held trough every following year, books that have been written and remembrance days. Several Museums and Remembrance organisations on different levels have been formed to continue the legacy.

5th Corps command

Major Hajrudin Osmanagić was given control, but he was eliminated before he took the post and Captain First class Ramiz Dreković took control as commander of the Fifth Corps, thus becoming first commander of the Fifth Corps. After him, Brigadier General Atif Dudaković became commander of the Fifth Corps. He had the most impact of all the generals of the corps.

5th Corps units (in 1995)

5th Corps units:

Brigades on the day of formation

Liberated territory