Balkans Conflicts

[Royal]

Trident za - thought I'd put this in a new thread as it's got bugger all to do with Iraq.

Not got much idea on internet resources - Stolidude, may have more - other than current news sites.

As to books, for a good historical overview try Noel Malcolm's 'Short History of Bosnia' and 'Short History of Kosovo' (neither of which are, short that is).

Misha Glenny's book (I think just called 'The Balkans') is worth a look.

'Trusted Mole' by Milos Stankovic (an ex-Brit Para Major) is worth a look, though take it with a pinch of salt - he's one bitter man.

'Cameron Spence's' (an ex-SAS NCO) book should be taken with a bucket of salt (as with his Gulf memoir). It's not that he wasn't there, but...

Don't even bother watching the film based on Scott O'Grady's shooting down (can't remember what it's called) - total bollocks. There is a book by a Brit Harrier pilot shot down over Gorazde, but I can't remember his name, or what it's called - better account than Cameron Spences of the Exfil.

Nicija Zemlja (No Mans Land) is a black comdey set in UNPROFOR days that won a few awards (partly in English, partly in French and partly in Serbo Croat). Worth a look.

Lepa Sela, Lepa Gore (pretty village, pretty flame) is Bosnia's Appocalypse Now - interesting.

The BBC made a mini series called 'Warriors', based on Op Grapple I - I Cheshire's deployment in '92/3. It is 'faction', but shows the psycological problems they had in the aftermath of their Ops in the Vitez area (a dozen suicides in the Bn), where the Croats were 'ethnically cleansing' local Muslims.

There's also a film called Spasiljac (Saviour) with Hollywood actors in it about a US Foreign Legionaire who fights for the Serbs. The Muslims and Croats hate it, but it doesn't exactly paint the Serbs in a good light either.

Almost forgot the BBC's 'Death of Yugosalvia' - there may well be a book as well as the TV series, they usually do that.

[James]

Behind Enemy Lines is not a good movie? What are you talking abut? :D

I've seen "No Man's Land", "Warriors" (It was shown on BBC America as "Peacekeepers") and "Savior". They should (in my humble opinion) be watched for the human aspect, not as military adventure stories.

There's another film I can't remember the name of, but it involves two friends in Sarajevo who were competitive marksman in peaceful times. When the war comes, they find themselves on opposite sides, even though they've known each other for many years. It was not an American film.

If anyone remembers this, please advise.

[Royal]

Behind Enemy Lines is not a good movie? What are you talking abut?

If you want the usual Hollywood action crap, fine.

If you want a shred of historical fact, forget it.

[Upfrontreporting]

Anyone heard about a French documentary movie called "Bosna", it is from 93' I think and it portrays the war in a very head on way, taking in both military as well as civilian matters.
Can't remember the name of the director.

[ibstolidude]

I would agree with much of ROYAL's opinions on the movies and books..

Especially that "Behind Enemy Lines" was goofy and had nothing to do with O'grady's actual e&e as per the man hisself.

The film "Savior" starring Dennis Quad was an excellant and exciting film, the facts of the main charecter's life - ?? - but the depiction of the area, ideas and situations are very real. The interesting thing about the film is that it's credit's thank the gov's of Montenegro and Serbia for the support - which means that they did not mind their people/soldiers portrayed as the ruthless warriors they appeared in the film.. interesting, but then the serbian mindset is to celebrate a battle inwhich they were all killed because "HAHA" our sacrifice got you too! (Kosovo Polje - field of blackbirds)

"Death of Yogoslavia" = excellant series and will really anger people of the Srebrenica 'safe zone' creation...

There exists a film of Woddy Harrilson's that was done by Home Box Office. He portrays a reporter in Sarajevo during the later part of the war. It was interesting as it incorporated real film footage of Sarajevo.

If you are really crafty and good the AARC - Allied Rapid Reaction COrp also produced a documentary/video utilizing a British film company that travelled around the country and spent time with different units and country's soldiers - good luck with that!! ;-)

For Kosovo - I really don't know of any good movies or films - certainly the BBC or the american PBS/discovery would be the place to start. - if you have any good ones I would love to hear about it. Both org's have a history of capturing real time images and video.... there are hundreds of websites from both albanian and serbian sides.

I would just do an internet search and see what you get.
sebia-info.com
yogoslavia.com
kosova.com - albanian spelling

There exist a myriad of source but you must weed throught them with a comb

Book wise -
if you want some depth a decent but dry book was the "Balkan Odyssey" by David Owens who you may know from the VOPP - or Vance Owens Peace Plan the pre- Dayton accords plan...

Balkan Ghosts - Kaplan
Cultureram Yugoslavia 1998 - BYU university 1997

You can always just join up with any military damn near - everyone still has troops both places and will have for the next 40 freaking years.

___________________________

Let's not let this be a habit....I am hear to make smartass comments that hold some sembelence of reality/truth and look at pictures...and read rational people attempt to explain things to the irrational.

[Gordon]

There is a book by a Brit Harrier pilot shot down over Gorazde, but I can't remember his name, or what it's called - better account than Cameron Spences of the Exfil.

It's:

No Escape Zone by Nick Richardson.

He was shot down and picked up by Muslim forces who passed him over to an SAS team who were in the centre of Gorazde. They then had to exfil. through enemy lines. It's a good read, I reckon it gives quite a good insight, in a minimal way, into the SAS as this bloke has no reason to big anything up or bull****.

[Trident-za]

Thanks.... will see if I can get my hands on some books.

I have seen "Saviour" which I thought was excellent, although quite depressing. It's a depressing situation, so I would imagine it's accurate in that respect.