The war in Bosnia: the story of a participant

My name is and I am from Selco Bosnia. Did you know that there was a hell from 1992 to 1995? Over the years I have lived and survived in a town with a population of 60 000 people without water, electricity, gasoline, health care, civil defense, food distribution systems and other municipal services, without any form of central control.

Our city has been blocked by the army for a year, and life there was a real shit. We did not have no police, no army, there were armed groups, and those who were armed, defended their homes and families.

When it all started, some of us are better prepared, but the majority of neighboring families were only a stock of food for several days. Some of us had guns, and only very few have guns and AK47.

After 1-2 months in the city began to wield a gang, they destroy everything, for example, the hospital very soon turned into a real massacre. Police no longer existed, and the hospital staff by 80% did not go to work.




I was lucky that my family was at that time a large - 15 people in a big house, 6 handguns, 3 AK47. Therefore, we have survived, at least most of us.

The Americans dropped us rations every 10 days, to help the surrounded city, but it was not enough. In some, very few houses have gardens. Within 3 months of the first rumors have spread about the death from hunger and cold.

We removed all the doors and windows of abandoned houses, we dismantled our parquet and burned all the furniture to keep warm.

Many died from disease, especially because of the water (from my family - two) as we drank mainly rainwater. It had also have pigeons and even rats.

The currency quickly became nothing, and we went back to bartering. The women were given a jar of stew. It's hard to talk about it, but it's true - most of the women who sell themselves were desperate mothers.

Firearms, ammunition, candles, lighters, antibiotics, gasoline, batteries, food - is something for which we fought like beasts. In this situation, everything changes - most people turn into monsters. It was disgusting.

Power was quantity. If you live alone in the house, to be killed and robbed was only a matter of time, regardless of how well you were armed.

Today my family and I are well prepared - we have stocks, I am well armed, and I have experience. No matter what may happen - earthquake, war, tsunami, aliens, terrorists, deficit, economic collapse, riots ... The important thing is that something will happen.

The conclusion from my experience - you will not be able to survive alone, strength in numbers, the correct choice of trusted friends, in the unity of the family and its preparation.

1. It is safe if you move around the city?

The city was divided into the community through the streets. On our street was 15-20 homes, and we have organized patrols armed 5 people each evening to watch out for gangs and our enemies.

All exchanges occur only on the street. Within 5 kilometers from us was a whole street to share, everything is organized, but because of the snipers was too dangerous to walk.

Also on the way there you could run into bandits and subjected to robbery. I myself went there only 2 times when I needed something really special and important (drugs, mostly antibiotics).

Nobody used cars - the streets were blocked by debris, trash, abandoned vehicles, and gasoline was the price of gold.

If you need to go somewhere, I do it only at night. Do not walk alone, you can not go too big a group, only 2-3 people. All should be well-armed, you need to move very quickly in the shadows, through the ruins of houses and not on the streets.



There were a lot of gangs of 10-15 people, sometimes their number reached 50. But there were many normal people - people like you and me, fathers, grandfathers, who killed and robbed. There were "heroes" and "villains". Most were somewhere in the middle, and was ready for anything.

2. The trees, it seems to me that many forests around the city, why are you burning your furniture and doors?

Around my town there was a large forest. It was a very nice town - with restaurants, cinemas, schools, airports and cultural centers. We had to park in the city, fruit trees, but it was cut down in less than two months.

When there is no electricity to cook food and keep warm, you have to burn anything that comes handy - furniture, doors, parquet .... And all this is burning very quickly.

We did not have access to the suburbs and suburban farms - in the suburbs was the enemy, we were surrounded. And in a city you never know who your enemy is.

3. What knowledge will be useful in this period?

You have to imagine that this was actually a return to the Stone Age! For example, I had a gas cylinder. But for heating and cooking, I did not use it, it was too expensive! I adapted it for filling lighters - cigarette lighters were priceless! Somebody bring me an empty lighter, I charged it and took it for a can of food or a candle.

I myself am a paramedic by profession and in these circumstances, my knowledge was my capital. At such times, the knowledge and skills such as the ability to fix things that are valued more than gold. Things and stocks run out, it is inevitable, and your knowledge and skills - is the ability to earn a livelihood.

I want to tell - and learn to fix things, or people's shoes. My neighbor, for example, knew how to make kerosene for lamps. He - never went hungry.

4. If you now have 3 months to prepare, what would you do?

3 months to prepare? Hmm .... I would run abroad! (just kidding)

Today I know that things can change very quickly. I have a supply of food, hygiene products, batteries ... The stock of 6 months. I live in an apartment with a good level of security, I have a house to shelter in a village 5 km away from my apartment, the house also has a reserve of 6 months. This small village, most of its residents are well prepared, they are taught by the war.

I have 4 types of firearms and ammunition have 2,000 each.

I have a nice house with a garden and gardening I know.

Also, I do not want to feel like shit - when all around saying that everything will be fine, I know that everything will collapse.

Now I have the strength to do everything in order to survive and protect my family. When everything falls apart, you should be ready to do bad things for the sake of their children. I just want my family survived.

Survive one virtually no chance (this is my opinion) even if you are armed and prepared, ultimately, if you're alone, you die. I've seen it many times. Well trained numerous groups and families with a variety of skills and knowledge is the best option.



5. What makes sense to stock up?

It depends. If you want to survive due to looting, then all you need is a lot of weapons and ammunition.

In addition to ammunition, food, hygiene products, batteries, batteries, pay attention to the simple things to share - knives, lighters, soap, silicon. And alcohol, which can be stored for a long time - Whisky (brand does not matter), even the cheapest, it is a very good product for an exchange.

Many died because of the unsanitary conditions. You will need very simple things, but in very large quantities, for example, a lot of garbage bags. And duct tape. Disposable plates and cups, plastic or cardboard, they will need a lot. I know this because we have not stocked this. My opinion is that the supply of hygiene is more important than the food supply.

It's easy to shoot a dove to find edible plants, but you can not find or shoot a disinfectant, for example. You must have a lot of detergents, disinfectants, soap, gloves, mask ... all disposable.

In addition, we need skills in first aid, you must know how to wash wounds, burns or even a gunshot wound, because there is no hospital. And even if you find a doctor, it may not be a pain medication or you will have nothing to pay him. Learn how to use antibiotics and stocks them.

Weapons should be simple. Now I carry a Glock .45, because I like it, but this caliber is not common, so I have two 7.62-mm Russian TT. There are a lot of such weapons and ammunition. I do not like a Kalashnikov, but it is at all, so ...

Looking for things small and inconspicuous, for example, is good to have a generator, but it is better to have lighters in 1000 «BIC». The generator in operation noise and attracts attention, and in 1000 lighters are inexpensive, take up little space, and they can always be exchanged for anything.

The water we used mostly rain - was collected in 4 large barrels, and then boiled. Nearby was a river, but the water in it will soon become dirty. Water tanks are also very important. You must have the barrels, buckets and containers to store and transport water.

O6. Gold, silver helped you?

Yes. Personally, I changed all gold ammunition. Sometimes we can use the money (marks and dollars) to buy some things, but these cases were rare, and the prices are exorbitant. For example, a can of beans cost $ 30-40. The local currency fell quickly, in other words, we are constantly exchanged.

O7. Expensive Is worth the salt?

Expensive, but cheaper than the coffee and cigarettes. I had a lot of alcohol, and I have swapped without problems. Alcohol consumption has increased by more than 10 times than usual.

Now, perhaps, best be reserved for barter cigarettes, lighters and batteries, because they take up less space.

I was not ready at the time, I did not have time to prepare. A few days before the "shit hit the fan," Policy on TV kept repeating that all is well.

And when the sky fell on our heads, we just took what they could.

8. Was it difficult to get hold of firearms that can be bartered for arms and ammunition?

After the war, the weapons were in every home. The police confiscated many weapons at the beginning of the war, but most people have hidden weapons. I have a legal weapon (with a license), the law is called the "Temporary Collection". In the case of the unrest the government has the right to temporarily confiscate all the weapons ... so keep that in mind. You know, there are people who have a legal weapon, but even they have illegally and, in case of possible forfeiture.

If you have good things to share, it is not easy to find a weapon. But you must remember that the first few days are the most dangerous because of the chaos and panic. It is possible that you will not have time to find a weapon to protect his family. Being unarmed during the chaos, panic and disorder - this is very bad.

In my case, there was a man who needed a car battery to his radio, and he had a gun, and I changed the battery with two guns.

Ammunition I sometimes bartered for food, and a few weeks later changed the food to ammunition. I never have swapped at home and never in large numbers. Only a very few people (my neighbors) knew how much I was kept in the house.

The trick is to keep the maximum possible on the areas and for the money. Then, you will understand that the most popular.

Clarify - ammunition and weapons are still my main position, but who knows, maybe in the second place, I put the masks and filters.



9. What about security?

The defense was very primitive. I repeat - we were not ready and we used what they could.

Windows were smashed, the roof in a terrible state because of the bombing. All the windows were blocked with sandbags, stones. I propped the gate to the garden waste and used an aluminum ladder to climbeth over the fence. When I got home, I asked, that I gave her.

On our street lived a guy who is completely barricaded his house. He made a hole in the wall of a neighbor's ruined house - a secret entrance.

It may seem strange, but all the houses that were the safest, were looted and destroyed in the first place.

In my neighborhood there were beautiful houses with fences, dogs, alarms and iron bars on the windows. The crowd attacked on them. Some were able to fight back and resist, others do not. It all depended on how many people and weapons inside. Certainly, safety is important, but you need to act with restraint. If you live in the city and shit happens, you need a simple modest accommodation, with a large number of weapons and ammunition. How much ammunition? Yes, as much as possible!

As much as possible you need to make your home unattractive.

Today, I have steel doors for security reasons, but it is only to save me from the first wave of chaos. After that I go to join the large group of friends or family in the countryside.

During the war, we had a situation, I do not want to go into details. But on our side we have always been superior firepower and a fence. Always someone watching the street - good organization in the event of a raid gang is paramount.

The city has always been shot.

Again, our round defense was primitive - barricaded all the exits, leaving only a small opening for the trunk. Always at least 5 family members inside the house were ready for battle, and another man on the street sitting in the shelter.

In order not to be killed by a sniper, I had to stay at home all day.

The weak are killed in the early days, the rest are fighting for life.

During the day, almost no one appeared on the streets because of the snipers - defense line was very close.

Many died because they wanted to scout out the situation, for example, and this is very important. I recall that we did not have information, no radio, no TV, nothing but rumors.

There was no organized army, but all of us were soldiers. We had to. Each wore a gun and tried to defend himself.

I will say this, if tomorrow it again, I'll be all - humble, desperate, maybe I even pokrichu or pay.

No fashion. I'm not going to wear a super form and shout: "All of you ...... rascals!»

I'll be inconspicuous, well-armed and trained, carefully assessing the situation, together with his best friend and brother.

Understand that no matter your super-defense, super-weapon, if people see that you should rob, because you are wealthy, you are robbed. It's just a matter of time and the number of trunks.

10. As was the case with the toilet?

We used spades and any plot of land close to the house ... it looks dirty, but it was so.

We are washed by rain water, sometimes in the river, but it was too dangerous.

Toilet paper was not, and even if it were, I would have something exchanged. All this was hard.

I can give you some advice - first, you need to have the weapons and ammunition, and after that everything else, I mean everything!

Of course, much depends on your space and your budget.

If you have forgotten something, or missed, it is not terrible, there is always someone with whom you can share. But if you miss the weapon and ammunition, access to the exchange you will not.

And yet, I see no problem in large families and the number of mouths to feed - more family, more weapons and more power, well then, as inherent in the nature of people, adapts.

11. And the care of the sick and injured?

Injuries mainly gunshot wounds.

Without specialists and the rest if the victim managed to find a doctor, he was somewhere around 30% chance of survival.

It was not like in the movies, people have died, and many of them died from the injuries listed in infections. I had a supply of antibiotics for 3 or 4 of the procedure, of course, only for my family.

Often, it is a silly thing to kill people. In the absence of medicines and shortage of water, diarrhea is simple enough to kill you, especially children, in a few days.

We had a lot of skin diseases, food poisoning, and nothing we could do about it.

We use a lot of herbs and alcohol. In the short term this has helped, but in the long run, it was awful.

Health is a basic, well, have a maximum number of medicines, especially antibiotics.

Optionally, the warring armies will shoot at you. Rather, the danger will come from bands that will hunt for you to take hold of your inventory.

Everything will not be like before. When you protect your home, you have to change the way their thinking. The house will no longer be comfortable and safe place. Now it's a place that you have chosen to protect themselves and their loved ones. Now you have a different attitude to the place, which is chosen as his fortress.

To feel safe and be protected from shelling and bombing, necessary skills, knowledge, and a considerable share of luck.
































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