Serbian & Bosnian Serb "Protest" Badge Against NATO Bombing 1999.

[leigh kitchen]

A 55mm diameter pin back "button badge" widely worn by civilians in Serbia and in solidarity with them by Bosnian Serbs in Republika Srpska during the NATO Bombing campaign against the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia in 1999.
It protests that civilians and not just military personnel are at risk from the bombing.
There were a number of variations of the badge design and they also appeared painted large on walls in the outside seating areas of establishments such as restaurants and bars.

Very interesting post Leigh.
I served in Banja Luka for two years and never saw that badge. I'm actually off to Banja Luka in two weeks to stay with friends I made there, and will ask if they have any tucked away in a draw.

[leigh kitchen]

I spent only a year there, I liked the place, but then I just visited the Metal Factory, I didn't have to live there, and I could roam free.
Lodged with a great old couple & their RS army son in a street the name of which was translated to me as "The Street of the Fire Breathing Dragon Wolf" but I'm not sure if that was a local rather than official name or even a complete mistranslation.
I would imagine that there are still a lot of these badges around, tucked away in drawers.
I may have photos of one of the wall mural versions of the badge painted on the wall of one of the restaurants in Banja Luka.

"The Street of the Fire Breathing Dragon Wolf"? Gulp. I was near the Boska Centre!
Occasssionaly in the market you can still find items from the Bosnian Wars. I just gave several patches away to a chap on here as the interest in collecting them has really fallen off in recent years. If you remember the name of the restaurant let me know and I'll take a new picture for you, and if anyone on the Forum wants any Bosnian War items please PM me and I'll do my best. Away 12-16 March.

[leigh kitchen]

The Boska Centre, I remember their acquisition of a fourth hand freezer and the Thai mixed seafood they offered (I warned her not to buy it but.......).
I lived a street or two across from the Motel International.
Still have the alcoholic highlander subsistence farmers selling home-brewed rakija in the market? And the illegal market by the Kastel? That's probably gone I suppose, given that the sellers seemed to consist mainly of refugees from Serbia and Kosovo.
I can't remember the name of the restaurant, I used to frequent The Galija Bar and the nearby "Criminal Bar" and "Alcoholics Bar"
Well, you can take the boy out of London but........

The Ambassador by any chance? Lol.
Most of the old flea markets have gone now, but occasionally they pop up and War items are often only produced if you ask for them. I'll see what my local friends can source.

[leigh kitchen]

No idea of the name now - probably due to the effects of too much "Hekwap".
Ta re. the militaria, I have small collection of mainly modern "Yugoslavian" insignia, uniforms, tin lids etc and photos from the 30's-40's.