7th Muslim Brigade

The 7th Muslim Brigade (7. Muslimanska brigada), officially known as the 7th Muslim Knights Liberation Brigade (7. Muslimanska Viteška oslobodilačka brigada) was an all-volunteer assault brigade of the 3rd Corps of the Army of the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina (ARBiH), headquartered in Zenica. Throughout the Bosnian War (1992-1995), the 7th Muslim Brigade fought on various battlefields throughout Bosnia & Herzegovina, facing VRS forces in the areas of Visoko, Mt. Igman, Vozuća, Kladanj, Teslić, Mt. Vlašić, Ilijaš, Vozuća, Mt. Ozren, and others, and facing HVO forces in and around Zenica, Kakanj, Travnik, Vitez, Busovača, Vareš, Fojnica, and Bugojno during the ARBiH-HVO conflict. The brigade is particularly notable in that it captured nearly 1,100km² of territory, including numerous aforementioned towns and villages, from HVO and VRS forces during the course of the war.

More than 4,000 fighters passed through the ranks of the brigade, of which 252 were killed in combat and over 1,800 were wounded (lightly or severely). 30 members of the 7th Muslim Knights Liberation Brigade were awarded the highest ARBiH wartime honor, the “Golden Lily”.

The 7th Muslim Mountain Brigade was formed on November 17, 1992, in Zenica, composed of Bosniak volunteers from Travnik, Zenica, Kakanj, Vitez, Busovača, Žepče, and Vareš. At the time of its formation, the brigade's structure was as follows:

-1st Battalion (HQ in Travnik): Composed of various organized MOS (Muslim Armed Forces) detachments from the areas of Travnik and Vitez.
-2nd Battalion (HQ in Zenica): Formed from the 7th Muslim Battalion of the 1st Zenica Brigade (7. Muslimanski bataljon 1. Zeničke brigade) and various MOS units from Pojske, Orahovica, and Begov Han.
-3rd Battalion (HQ in Kakanj): Composed of the Kakanj-based “Muslim Forces” detachment and the “Šehid Resul” detachment from Kaćuni.

Following the formation of the Zenica-based 3rd Corps on December 1, 1992, the 7th Muslim Brigade enters its ranks.

In 1993, a Reconnaissance-Sabotage Company (Diverzantsko-izviđačka četa) was formed, made up of fighters from existing reconnaissance, sabotage, and assault units of the brigade; this company operated directly under brigade command.

On February 22, 1994, following the formation of the 7th Corps (7. korpus) in Travnik, the existing 1st Travnik Battalion of the 7th Muslim Mountain Brigade was reorganized into the 37th Muslim Light Brigade (37. Muslimanska lahka brigada) (renamed in 1995 to the 737th Light Brigade (737. Muslimanska lahka brigada)), which entered the ranks of the newly formed 7th Corps. At the same time, the 3rd Battalion of the 7th Muslim Mountain Brigade, composed mostly of fighters from Kakanj and Kaćuni, was renamed as the 1st Battalion. By late 1994, a new 3rd Battalion was formed in Zenica with personnel from across Central Bosnia.

In April 1995, a 4th Battalion was formed, based in Janjići, Zenica.