June the 27th, 2026 – Turning the clock back to June the 27th, 1991, a small red Fićo stood in front of a JNA tank, becoming a permanent symbol of eastern Croatia’s resistance in the face of evil.
On this day in 1991, Yugoslav People’s Army (JNA) tanks came out onto the streets of the eastern Croatian city of Osijek to openly demonstrate their power and intimidate local people. Despite the fear that reigned among the residents, a small red Fićo (a popular Yugoslav-made car, based on the Fiat 600) stood in the way of the tank, defiantly parked in the middle of the road.
Of course, the tiny red Fićo was no match for the much larger T-55 tank. However, the image of the tank pushing over and crushing the car became one of the most famous symbols of defiance against the powerful JNA in the early days of the Croatian War of Independence.
The footage of the tank moving against the defiant little car spread around the world and drew attention to the sheer scale and inhumanity of was actually happening in Croatia.
Crushed in the middle of the open street, the Fićo entered history and became part of Croatia’s collective memory. It came to represent resistance against a much stronger military force that would soon launch a full-scale assault on Croatia.
Back in 2011, a monument dedicated to the defiant little red Fićo was installed in Osijek, serving as a reminder of the determination and resistance of a young state facing overwhelming force and aggression to stand strong and win, even with all of the odds against it.
