The Road from Sarajevo (British Army Operations in Bosnia, 1995-1996)

A unique insight into the decisive role the British Army played in ending the Bosnian war, including first-hand descriptions of fire fights and confrontations with ruthless warlords

The savage Bosnian civil war was ended politically by the Dayton Peace Agreement, but it had to be implemented on the ground by NATO. How this was done by Second Battalion the Light Infantry is explained in a richly detailed analysis of dangerous and challenging missions. The challenges of military operations in the war-torn Balkans are illustrated with vivid descriptions of operations and incidents—often in the words of the soldiers themselves. Writing in the Foreword, the BBC journalist Martin Bell summarizes their role: "The troops risked their lives to save the lives of others, swept away the road blocks and restored a minimal peace in Bosnia after three and a half years of war. I remember reflecting, not for the first time, on the extraordinary quality of the British troops participating. They interpreted their mandates bravely. They made a difference."