Unit VIII: Genocide Objective: #3 Topic: Genocide in Bosnia.

Unit VIII: GenocideObjective: #3

Topic: Genocide in Bosnia

I. BosniaA. Background

1. Located in the Balkans 2. Once part of Yugoslavia

● very diverse region● dominated by Serbs

3. The end of the Cold War led to nationalist unrest4. Civil war erupted (1992-95)

● Bosnian Serbs vs. BosnianMuslims

B. Bosnian Serbs 1. Fought to establish their own government in Bosnia2. Received money and weapons from Serbia

C. Bosnian Muslims (Bosniaks)1. Largest group in Bosnia2. Lived scattered throughout the country3. Did not want a divided country

II. Ethnic CleansingA. Background

1. Bosnian Serbs began targeting Bosniaks

B. Atrocities

1. Bosniaks were forced from their homes

2. Mosques were destroyed

3. Bosniak women and girls were raped

4. Curfews were imposed; travel was restricted

C. Siege of Sarajevo

1. Bosnia Serbs surrounded the city

• food, water, electricity was cut off

• snipers targeted civilians

2. Lasted over 40 months

3. over 10,000 died

D. Concentration Camps

1. Used to house non-Serb prisoners

2. Conditions were deplorable

III. SrebrenicaA. Background

1. The UN Peacekeepers established a Safe Areas for Bosniaks ● Srebrenica was designated a safe area2. Peacekeepers were overrun and the city was attacked

B. Massacre (July 1995)1. Bosniaks surrendered the city2. Women and children were bused to Muslim territory3. Males (ages 14-77) were detained and later executed

• 8,000 diedScream Bloody Murder Part 6Scream Bloody Murder Part 8

IV. JusticeA. Background1. NATO airstrikes against Bosnian Serbs forced a negotiation and an end to war

● Dayton Accords2. The ICTY was established to hold those responsible for the atrocities

B. Radovan Karadzic (Former President of Bosnia)1. Trial ended and awaiting sentence

● facing two counts of genocide

C. Ratko Mladic (“The Butcher”)1. Serb commander who oversaw the Siege of Sarajevo and Srebrenica massacre2. Arrested in 2011 after 17 years in hiding 3. Charged with war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide4. Currently on trial

D. Other1. Currently there are over 150 Bosnian refugees under investigation here in the US for alleged war crimes

JA: Letter about BosniaDirections: Using your notes, information from the video, and the readings from today, write a letter to a family member describing/explaining the Bosnian genocide. Here are some questions to consider when writing the letter: (Why it started? Who were the perpetrators? Who were the victims? In what ways were people victimized and affected? How the international community responded? How it ended? What is being done today to address it?)