Josip Broz Tito
Josip Broz was born on the 7th of May 1892 in Kumrovec, a small village in northern Croatia. At that time, the land belonged to the Austro-Hungarian Empire. He was the seventh or eighth child of Franjo Broz and Marija née Javeršek. His parents had already lost several children before Josip arrived. The family lived in a modest house that his father inherited three centuries ago. Josip spent much of his early years with his maternal grandparents at Podsreda. There he learned Slovene better than Croatian and even played the piano. By age eight, he entered primary school in Kumrovec. He struggled academically and failed second grade. He graduated only in 1905 after four years of study. His limited education left him poor at spelling for the rest of his life.
In May 1913, Broz joined the Austro-Hungarian Army for two years of service. He requested to serve with the 25th Croatian Home Guard Regiment stationed in Zagreb. During the winter of 1913 and 1914, he learned to ski. He attended a non-commissioned officers school in Budapest. At age 22, he became the youngest sergeant major in his regiment. One source claims he held this rank across the entire army. In May 1914, he won the regimental fencing competition. He placed second in the army-wide championships later that month. When World War I began, his unit marched toward the Serbian border. Broz was arrested for sedition and imprisoned in Petrovaradin fortress near Novi Sad. Accounts differ on why he was detained. Some say he threatened to defect to Russia while others claim it was a clerical error. After release, his regiment fought against Russia in Galicia during early 1915. On the 25th of March 1915, a Circassian cavalryman wounded him with a lance below his left arm. Russian infantry rescued him from the battlefield. He spent thirteen months recovering in a monastery hospital at Sviyazhsk on the Volga river. There he contracted pneumonia and typhus.
After recuperating, Broz moved to an Ardatov prisoner-of-war camp in mid-1916. He maintained the local grain mill using his skills. By year end, he transferred to Kungur camp near Perm where prisoners built the Trans-Siberian Railway. He commanded all POWs there until staff stole Red Cross parcels. When he complained, guards beat and jailed him. During the February Revolution, a crowd freed him. A Bolshevik told him about engineering work in Petrograd. In June 1917, Broz walked out of the unguarded camp. He hid aboard a goods train bound for that city. Less than a month later, July Days demonstrations erupted. He joined protesters under fire from government troops. Authorities arrested him along with suspected Bolsheviks. He spent three weeks in Peter and Paul Fortress claiming innocence as a citizen of Perm. Once admitted as an escaped POW, he was to return to Kungur but fled at Yekaterinburg. He reached Omsk in Siberia on the 8th of November after a long journey. Police searched trains looking for escapees but failed to identify him due to fluent Russian. Local Bolsheviks recruited him into an International Red Guard guarding the railway during winter 1917 and 1918.
Broz returned to Yugoslavia in autumn 1920 by train to Narva then ship to Stettin. He arrived in Vienna on the 20th of September before reaching Kumrovec. His mother had died and his father moved to Jastrebarsko near Zagreb. Unable to find metalworking jobs, he worked as a waiter and joined the Communist Party of Yugoslavia. The party won fifty-nine seats in 1920 elections making it third strongest nationally. Government outlawed communist activities on the 30th of December. Broz lost employment due to overt links. He moved to Veliko Trojstvo village working as mill mechanic. In 1924, he became elected district committee member. After speaking at a Catholic funeral, police arrested him when priest complained. Paraded through streets in chains, he spent eight days detained. Charged with public disturbance, he was acquitted thanks to a Serbian Orthodox prosecutor who hated Catholics. By age thirty-three, Broz became professional revolutionary after employer gave ultimatum. He moved to Kraljevica on Adriatic coast starting work at shipyard. There he acquired lifelong love for warm sunny coastline. He built trade union organization in yards and led strike action before being fired again.
In June 1937, Milan Gorkić summoned to Moscow where NKVD arrested him. Months later Stalin ordered execution. Tito received message from Politburo joining them in Paris. By August 1937, he acted as General Secretary of CPY. He survived Great Purge by staying out of Spain where NKVD operated actively. He avoided visiting Soviet Union frequently while promoting danger sharing among underground resistance leaders. New leadership team included Slovene Edvard Kardelj Serb Aleksandar Ranković and Montenegrin Milovan Đilas. December 1937 saw demonstration greeting French foreign minister in Belgrade. Protest march numbered thirty thousand turning into anti-neutrality policy display. Police eventually broke it up. March 1938 brought return to Yugoslavia from Paris. Rumors suggested police tipped off opponents so he traveled via different route using false passport. Arriving days ahead of Anschluss between Nazi Germany and Austria, he condemned annexation publicly. June writing to Comintern requested visit to Moscow. Two months waiting in Paris preceded travel via Copenhagen. He reached Moscow on the 24th of August finding all Yugoslav communists under suspicion. NKVD executed over twenty Central Committee members including his ex-wife Polka and wife Koenig/Bauer.
Axis forces invaded Yugoslavia on the 6th of April 1941. Slavko Kvaternik proclaimed Independent State of Croatia next day. Tito formed Military Committee within Communist Party Central Committee. Kingdom armed forces crumbled quickly after invasion. King Peter II fled country leaving representatives meeting Germans in Belgrade. They agreed ending military resistance. May consultations discussed course against occupation. On the 1st of May 1941, Tito issued pamphlet calling people unite battle against occupiers. the 27th of June appointed him commander-in-chief national liberation forces. July Comintern sent precise instructions demanding immediate action. Tito stayed Belgrade until the 16th of September when traveling rebel territory with CPY members. Documents given by Dragoljub Milutinović helped escape. Pećanac Chetniks fully cooperating Germans allowed passage. Train journey through Stalać Čačak ended village Robaje the 18th of September 1941. Despite conflicts rival monarchic Chetnik movement liberated territory notably Republic Užice. Talks held Draža Mihailović the 19th of September the 27th of October 1941. More than two thousand Jews fought directly for Tito during period. First Proletarian Brigade created the 21st of December 1941 commanded Koča Popović. Second Proletarian Brigade established the 1st of March 1942.
Yugoslavia became founding member Non-Aligned Movement under Tito leadership. 1961 co-founded movement Egypt Gamal Abdel Nasser India Jawaharlal Nehru Indonesia Sukarno Ghana Kwame Nkrumah action called Initiative Five establishing strong ties Third World countries. September 1961 first Secretary-General Non-Aligned Movement. Foreign policy led relationships exchanging visits Emperor Haile Selassie Ethiopia street named honor. 1953 Tito visited Ethiopia 1954 Emperor visited Yugoslavia motives self-interested sending graduates Yugoslav universities standards lower Western making unemployable West work Ethiopia few countries accepting them. From 1950 permitted Mexican films shown Yugoslavia becoming popular especially Un día de vida hit premiered 1952 success Yu-Mex craze 1950s-60s Mexican music fashionable musicians donning sombreros singing songs Serbo-Croatian. Belief self-determination caused 1948 rift Stalin consequently Eastern Bloc speeches reiterated neutrality cooperation natural long pressure take sides. Early 1950s Yugoslav-Hungarian relations strained distaste Mátyás Rákosi preference Imre Nagy. Decision create Balkan Pact 1953 signing alliance NATO members Turkey Greece regarded tantamount joining NATO Soviet eyes vague talk neutralist Communist federation Eastern European states seen threat Moscow.
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Common questions
When was Josip Broz Tito born and where?
Josip Broz Tito was born on the 7th of May 1892 in Kumrovec, a small village in northern Croatia. At that time, the land belonged to the Austro-Hungarian Empire.
How did Josip Broz Tito die and when did he lead Yugoslavia?
Josip Broz Tito led Yugoslavia from 1943 until his death in 1980. The provided text does not specify the exact date or cause of his death but confirms his leadership ended in 1980.
What happened to Josip Broz Tito during World War I?
During World War I, Josip Broz Tito was arrested for sedition and imprisoned in Petrovaradin fortress near Novi Sad. He later fought against Russia in Galicia during early 1915 before being wounded by a lance below his left arm on the 25th of March 1915.
Why did Josip Broz Tito break with Stalin in 1948?
The Tito-Stalin split began in 1948 when the Soviet Union expelled Yugoslavia from Cominform. This expulsion triggered Informbiro period purges and forced labor camps like Goli Otok while Tito maintained an independent non-aligned posture.
When did Josip Broz Tito found the Non-Aligned Movement?
Yugoslavia became a founding member of the Non-Aligned Movement under Josip Broz Tito leadership in 1961. He served as the first Secretary-General of the movement which included Egypt India Indonesia Ghana and other Third World countries.