Yugoslavia
Yugoslavia was created in 1918 out of Slovenia, Croatia, Serbia, Vojvodina, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Macedonia, Montenegro, Kosovo, Motehija, and Dalmatia. Located between Italy and Romania, and along the coast of the Adriatic Sea, Yugoslavia was a melting pot of different cultures from Western and Eastern Europe.
Until it was invaded by Germany in 1941, it was led mainly by Serbs, the King being the son of the King of Serbia. Powers shifted after World War II, when Josip Broz Tito liberated the country with the help of communist partisans. Tito made Yugoslavia a communist state and kept a tight rein on his people.
In 1980, Tito died, politicians in Yugoslavia turned the Serbs, Croats, and Bosniaks -- Muslim Bosnians -- against each other with extreme nationalism. In 1989, Slobodan Milosevic became president of Serbia. He wanted to cleanse the area of everyone who was not Serbian. Milosevic had allies in power in almost every country in Yugoslavia.
Croatia and Slovenia attempted to leave Yugoslavia in 1991. Slovenia was allowed to leave peacefully, but Croatia was not as it had a large Serb population. Croatia fought for its freedom and lost 10,000 people, while 700,000 were displaced. The other states in Yugoslavia feared a Serb-dominated union and, in March of 1992, Bosnia voted to secede from the Republic. This act of defiance would lead to fighting and genocide in only a month.
Until it was invaded by Germany in 1941, it was led mainly by Serbs, the King being the son of the King of Serbia. Powers shifted after World War II, when Josip Broz Tito liberated the country with the help of communist partisans. Tito made Yugoslavia a communist state and kept a tight rein on his people.
In 1980, Tito died, politicians in Yugoslavia turned the Serbs, Croats, and Bosniaks -- Muslim Bosnians -- against each other with extreme nationalism. In 1989, Slobodan Milosevic became president of Serbia. He wanted to cleanse the area of everyone who was not Serbian. Milosevic had allies in power in almost every country in Yugoslavia.
Croatia and Slovenia attempted to leave Yugoslavia in 1991. Slovenia was allowed to leave peacefully, but Croatia was not as it had a large Serb population. Croatia fought for its freedom and lost 10,000 people, while 700,000 were displaced. The other states in Yugoslavia feared a Serb-dominated union and, in March of 1992, Bosnia voted to secede from the Republic. This act of defiance would lead to fighting and genocide in only a month.