This suburb was occupied by Bosnian Serb forces (Chetniks) in May of 1992. After facing a fierce resistance put up by the residents of this high-rise neighborhood, who used anything and everything in a futile bid to defend their homes, the Chetniks declared Grbavica a part of the Serbian Republic of Bosnia-Hercegovina and then went from door-to-door expel Muslim families from their apartments. The luckier ones only had their apartments ransacked, while the less fortunate were either killed or used as human shields. In addition, many of the apartments on the banks of the Miljacka river were emptied to serve as sniping positions.
After the siege ended, Grbavica was returned to Bosnian government forces. However, many of the buildings still sit empty and bear the scars of the intense battles fought over them.
The Bridge of Brotherhood and Unity (right) was the no man's land between Serb-occupied Grbavica and the rest of Sarajevo. It was also frequently used for the exchange of prisoners.
