Vladimir Barović

Vladimir Barović (November 7, 1939 – September 21, 1991) was the Montenegrin rear admiral in the Yugoslav People's Army.

Rear admiral Barović was born in Banja Luka on November 7, 1939 to the Montenegrin father, a JNA general and First War Commander of Priština, and Slovene mother. Shortly after his father was appointed to the position of War Commander of Priština, he was dismissed because he opposed terror against Kosovo Albanians. Therefore, Barović's comrades wrote: "The old rule: From the good roots - each leaf is good."

Barović become Commander of the Military-Maritime sector of Pula after he was dismissed from the position of the Commander of the Military-Maritime sector Bay of Kotor. As commander of the Pula garrison he took part in negotiations on the withdrawal of JNA from Pula in early 1990's. He is remembered for his honorable conduct and famous statement: "Any destruction won't be conducted here while I'm in command, and if I still be forced to order the destruction of Pula and Istria, then I will no longer be here."

The day after the dismissal from the position of the commander of the Military-Maritime sector of Pula, Barović was appointed deputy commander of the military district of Split, with the headquarters on the island of Vis. Barović took position from the Admiral Mile Kandić. On September 29, 1991 Barković got an order from the JNA headquarters in Belgrade to start bombing towns in Dalmatia.

He was disgusted with the aggression of JNA and Montenegrin reservists against Croatia. It was according to him in complete contrast to the Montenegrin and military honor. Therefore, he refused to enforce the order.

That same evening, in the base ambulance building, Barković committed suicide. He left a suicide note in which he wrote among other things that he decided to die with dignity "because I do not want to wage war against the brotherly Croatian people", and that he does not want to "take part in the aggression of the JNA against Croats, which is for me an act contrary to the Montenegrin honor - because Montenegrins cannot fight and destroy the nation that did not do anything wrong."

Rear admiral Baković was berried in Herceg Novi.

Ranks

 * Unterleutnant (1960)
 * Ship-of-the-line Captain (1982)
 * Rear Admiral (1990)