Authors

Milan Grba¹;  ¹ The British Library, UK

Discussion

The paper presents the British Library's Collection on the Yugoslav Wars (1991–1999) which serves a comprehensive resource for studying the conflicts that led to the dissolution of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. Yugoslavia, a multi-ethnic federation comprising six republics—Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Montenegro, and Macedonia—began disintegrating in the early 1990s, leading to a series of wars marked by ethnic strife, territorial disputes, and international intervention. The British Library began curating materials on these conflicts early in the 1990s, recognizing the historical significance of the wars and their broader impact on Europe and global geopolitics. The collection grew rapidly as the Library collaborated with international institutions, scholars, and journalists to gather a diverse array of materials. Early catalogues of the collection were produced to guide researchers and policy analysts, reflecting the evolving nature of the conflict and its coverage. Today, the Yugoslav Wars Collection at the British Library contains thousands of items, including books, government documents, newspapers, journals, maps, personal diaries, photographs, and multimedia resources. The collection spans the duration of the wars and includes valuable post-war materials on the region’s recovery, trials for war crimes, and political realignments. Among the most significant items are rare government publications from the republics involved, first-hand accounts of survivors, and unique photographs documenting the wars’ effects on civilians. Additionally, the collection features original reports from international organizations like the United Nations, which played a crucial role in the peacekeeping processes. The sheer breadth and depth of the collection make it an indispensable resource for scholars, students, and anyone interested in understanding one of the most devastating conflicts in modern European history.