Petar Stipetić

Petar Stipetić (24 October 1937 – 14 March 2018) was a Croatian general who served as the Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Croatia from 2000 until 2002.

Education and service in Yugoslav People's Army Stipetić was born in Ogulin. In Ogulin, Stipetić attended elementary school and high school. After that, Stipetić entered Army Military Academy in 1956 and graduated in 1959. He said that during his youth he had no intention of joining the army, but the Military Academy was the only one he could afford at the time. After his first year, he considered dropping out of the academy, but changed his mind eventually. In 1967 he entered High Army Military Academy, graduating in 1969, after which he entered War Academy in 1975 and graduated a year later with excellent grades. In 1979, he was teaching tactics on Territorial Defense courses in Karlovac. He obtained the rank of general in 1989, with theoretical thesis "The Defence of Large Cities" and practical thesis "Organisation of a Corps with Reduced Numerical Strength". and in September 1994 he was transferred to the General Staff as an assistant to the Chief of General Staff for the combat sector. while 21st Kordun Corps of ARSK subsequently surrendered. Upon surrendering, commander of 21st Kordun Corps, Čedomir Bulat, Stipetić s former comrade from Yugoslav People's Army greeted him:

Sir, the commander of 21st Kordun Corps - colonel Čedomir Bulat, surrenders the corps to You and I congratulate the Croatian Army on its victory!

After the surrender was formalised, Stipetić unsuccessfully attempted to urge fleeing Serb civilians to remain in their homes and allowed all officers of the defeated army to keep their sidearms.

Post war After the war, on 10 March 2000, he was named Chief of General Staff and served until 30 December 2002, when he was retired. In January 2018, Stipetić suffered a stroke and died two months later in Zagreb.

Legacy Stipetić is appreciated by many Croatians who describe him as: "a general who led Croatian Army to great victory", "rational, emphatic, composed and expert general with a cigarette", or "an officer and a gentleman". However, his contributions in defense of Croatia are often attacked by people close to Croatian Democratic Union who dislike him for refusing to join their political party during the Šušak era.

Decorations and honors On 14 September 1998, Stipetić was named honorary citizen of Ogulin He was also decorated with several decorations: