10 Stages of Genocide in Bosnia

Classification Groups of people were separated into “us” and “them” People were classified by their background

Symbolization People were given labels, not “Bosnian” “Serb” or “Croat” This made it easy to see one group as an enemy

Discrimination

Dehumanization Lowering of one group of people under another Croats and Muslims labeled as subhuman and outsiders They were viewed as enemies and seen as a threat

Organization There were various planned acts of murder upon the Croats and Bosnian Muslims Civilians were told that there were safe zones and they would not be harmed there This ended up being false as the Serbian military was sent there to murder innocent people

Polarization Croats and Serbian Muslims were seen as outsiders who were unwelcomed in Bosnia

Preparation Different areas were set up to kill innocent people: towns, schools, safe zones

Persecution

Extermination The Srebrenica massacre is one of the largest group of killings that took place during the Bosnian genocide Estimated 8,000 victims were murdered in the town of Srebrenica

Denial Hidden and denied crimes Often mass graves or burning sites Trying to hide what was known or done Slobodan Milosevic, who was responsible for the genocide, died before he could be brought to justice