Sandra Cvikić, PhD, at the ceremonial presentation of the monograph of the 5th Guards Brigade of the Croatian Army Sokolovi; Nova Gradiška, 24/03/2026
The War Commanders and Senior Officers Club of the Veterans Association of the 5th Guards Brigade “Sokolovi” and the Veterans Association of the 3rd Guards Brigade of the Croatian Army “Kune” Nova Gradiška organized the ceremonial presentation of the monograph of the 5th Guards Brigade of the Croatian Army “Sokolovi” on Tuesday, 24 March 2026 at the Nova Gradiška Cultural Center
In addition to high-ranking military and state dignitaries and representatives of local authorities, this significant event was attended by the families of the fallen members of the 5th Guards Brigade “Sokolovi”, as well as veterans from police and Croatian Army units and Nova Gradiška guardsmen – former members of the 3rd Company of the 3rd Battalion of the 3rd Guards Brigade of the Croatian Army “Kune”, the 4th Battalion of the 5th Guards Brigade of the Croatian Army “Sokolovi” and the 80th Guards Battalion of Nova Gradiška, representatives of city institutions and citizens of Nova Gradiška.
After the welcoming remarks of the guests, the editor of the monograph, Brigadier Kožić, Sandra Cvikić, PhD, a scientist at the Pilar Institute, Vukovar Regional Center, and Marko Kevo, mag. hist. et mag. educ. hist. mr., archivist at the State Archives in Slavonski Brod, spoke about the book.
Sandra Cvikić, PhD, spoke about the significance of this impressive work published by the Ministry of Defense of the Republic of Croatia and about the importance of historical factual truths based on researched archival materials and testimonies of direct participants in war events for future research on the Croatian Homeland War.
The presentation program was held with deep reverence and respect, when the monograph was symbolically presented to the family members of the fallen and injured members of the Slavonian Falcons from the Nova Gradiška area, and the ceremonial departure of all those present to the Croatian Veterans’ Home and paying tribute to the fallen members of the 4th Battalion, 5th Gbr HV “Falcons” at the memorial plaque erected in their honor by laying wreaths, lighting candles, observing a minute of silence and reading the names of the fallen Nova Gradiška Falcons, and praying.
The presentation of the monograph in Zagreb, Vinkovci, Osijek and Nova Gradiška will be followed by presentations in other Slavonian cities, including Vukovar, which will be organized by the Vukovar Regional Center.
