On July 11, 1995, Serbian forces took control of the Bosnian town of Srebrenica, a place that the United Nations had previously declared a safe area. Many Bosniak people had sought refuge there, trusting the UN flag would protect them. Sadly, their faith in international protection was betrayed. Only 400 Dutch peacekeepers were stationed in Srebrenica, under strict orders not to engage in combat, leaving them unable to defend the vulnerable population.
These Dutch soldiers were deployed to safeguard the town’s residents, but they failed in their mission. The reality of the events that unfolded in Srebrenica during July 1995 haunts the soldiers who were present. Unlike most veterans who reunite to celebrate acts of bravery and help each other transition to civilian life, the former peacekeepers from Srebrenica are burdened by shame, not pride.
In 1993, French UN General François Villain had issued a protection order for Srebrenica to prevent Serbian forces from attacking. However, the UN assigned inexperienced Dutch soldiers to the town, under the belief that a strong police presence would deter any aggression. Serbian General Ratko Mladić, however, had other plans. While he publicly appeared compassionate, pledging safety for the women and children of Srebrenica, the reality was horrifying. From dawn until dusk, Serbian forces under his command separated families, sending women and daughters one way, and condemning husbands and fathers to death.
The role of Dutch Commander Thom Karremans remains controversial. Mladić showered him with gifts, and soon after, ordered his soldiers to execute thousands of Muslim men. The Dutch peacekeepers, unwittingly, became complicit in the Serbian forces’ mass murder by helping to separate the men and women. Many of the Bosniak men were shot without realizing that the peacekeepers had, unknowingly, become enforcers of the Serbian massacre.
Karremans could have ordered his troops to open fire and protect the civilians by positioning themselves as a defensive shield. Instead, the Dutch peacekeepers returned to their bases while thousands of people fled over the mountains in a desperate attempt to escape. The Serbian forces only responded to NATO’s protective airstrikes on two occasions. During this time, Bosnian Serb forces kidnapped large groups of Dutch UN peacekeepers to use as human shields against NATO attacks.
In 2007, the International Court of Justice classified the Srebrenica massacre as genocide. The belief in the UN’s ability to maintain peace without the use of force was shattered. Henri, one of the few soldiers who returned to Srebrenica after 1995, prefers to focus on the future rather than dwell on the tragic events of that year.
The Serbs used mass graves to bury their victims and later scattered the bodies in an attempt to cover up their crimes. Identifying the remains has become a gruesome and ongoing task. Every year, new graves are discovered, but only a fraction of the bodies can be clearly identified. A parliamentary commission in the Netherlands has acknowledged partial responsibility, but the ultimate guilt lies with the Serbian forces.
In The Hague, a different kind of reckoning is taking place. Bosnian Muslims have sued the Dutch government for the failure of its troops. The Dutch UN soldiers, who were also victims of the Serbian militias, are caught in a complex legal and moral dilemma. The Dutch government deflects criticism by arguing that its soldiers were lightly armed and placed in a hopeless situation from the outset.
Each year, new names are added to the list of victims identified. The memorial in Potočari, near Srebrenica, is now mostly deserted, but in a few days, thousands of people will gather to commemorate the 13th anniversary of the massacre. Some former Dutch UN soldiers will be there, seeking solace for their lingering trauma.