War Information
10 sectionsWar History of Split
Split, located in central Dalmatia, Croatia, has witnessed numerous wars and occupations throughout its long history. Built around Diocletian's Palace, the city changed hands between Venice, Hungary-Croatia, and the Ottoman Empire during the medieval period. From 1420, Venice ruled Split, turning it into a heavily fortified outpost against the Ottomans. In 1697, after the Morean War, Venice finally secured Split's hinterland from the Ottomans. Following the fall of Venice in 1797, the city passed to the Habsburg monarchy, then briefly to Napoleonic France before being granted to the Austrian Empire in 1815.
In April 1941, following the Nazi invasion of Yugoslavia, Split was occupied and annexed by Fascist Italy. Croatian residents mounted fierce resistance, and Split became a centre of anti-fascist sentiment in Yugoslavia. The first armed resistance group was formed on 7 May 1941. Between September and October 1941, ten Italian occupation officials were assassinated. After Italy's capitulation in September 1943, the city was temporarily controlled by Tito's Partisans, with thousands volunteering for their ranks. However, Nazi Germany quickly retook the city, placing it under the puppet Independent State of Croatia (NDH). Allied bombing also inflicted significant damage on the city. The Partisans finally liberated Split on 26 October 1944.
During the Croatian War of Independence (1991–1995), Split — home to a major Yugoslav Navy (JRM) base — endured a heavy naval bombardment on 15 November 1991 by the JRM frigate Split and three tactical groups. The Archaeological Museum, the Municipality Building, and Gripe Sports Hall were among civilian targets hit. Two sailors on the ferry Vladimir Nazor were killed and several civilians wounded. The Battle of the Dalmatian Channels (14–16 November 1991) marked the largest Croatian Navy engagement of the war, resulting in the JRM's withdrawal from Croatian internal waters.
