Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia

• 1. Partisan Liberation And State Formation

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  On the 29th of November 1943, the Anti-Fascist Council for the National Liberation of Yugoslavia met in Partisan-liberated Jajce to declare Democratic Federal Yugoslavia. This meeting occurred during the second session of the council while World War II raged across Europe. Josip Broz Tito led the Yugoslav Partisans who had liberated significant portions of territory from Axis occupation forces. The Partisans fought against German and Italian armies in battles like Neretva and Sutjeska where 20,000 fighters faced 150,000 enemy troops. Despite heavy casualties, the Partisan Main Operational Group escaped encirclement and emerged stronger than before. By late 1944, Belgrade was liberated with help from the Soviet Red Army. On the 7th of March 1945, King Peter II appointed a Regency Council that accepted Tito as prime minister. Two days later on the 29th of November 1945, the Federal People's Republic of Yugoslavia was officially proclaimed after King Peter II abdicated. In the months following liberation, the Partisans executed alleged collaborators along with anyone perceived as an enemy. An American OSS officer reported from Dubrovnik that inhabitants lived in mortal terror while secret police took people from their homes daily. Mass graves appeared in places like Crnogrob where trucks brought bound men every evening from Škofja Loka prison. Tito ordered summary executions to stop in July 1945 but mass killings continued until fall 1945. Women played prominent roles during the war with about 100,000 serving as messengers saboteurs commissars nurses doctors and soldiers.

• 2. Tito Stalin Split And Non Alignment

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  In spring and early summer 1948, Josip Broz Tito broke relations with Soviet Premier Joseph Stalin over Yugoslav independence. The Communist Party of Yugoslavia refused to accept Soviet accusations that its party lacked democratic qualities or failed to act as a vanguard for socialism. Mikhail Suslov informed Tito that the Cominform would hold a session on the 28th of June 1948 dedicated entirely to the Yugoslav issue. Tito refused to attend the meeting citing illness despite official invitations arriving on the 19th of June 1948. On the 28th of June the Cominform expelled Yugoslavia from the association of Communist parties citing nationalist elements within leadership. This expulsion began the Informbiro Period lasting from 1948 to 1955 when Soviet-Yugoslav conflict intensified. Over 55,600 Communist Party members were expelled between 1948 and 1955 for being pro-Soviet cominformists. About 16,000 people convicted as cominformists were sent to Goli Otok concentration camp for reeducation. Most inmates had fought alongside Partisans during World War II yet faced harsh treatment for siding with Stalin against Tito. A librarian from Zagreb recalled in the early 1970s: I don't like him but we all respect him for standing up to Russians and keeping us out of their clutches. The West welcomed this rift and began economic aid flows starting in 1949. The United States started shipping weapons to Yugoslavia in 1951 while covering much of its trade deficit for a decade. Yugoslavia became founding member of Non-Aligned Movement along with India Egypt and Indonesia pursuing neutral Cold War stance.

• 3. Economic Reforms And Social Liberalization

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  Workers self-management system introduced in June 1950 allowed councils elected by workers to manage businesses and share profits. By 1965 most state controls on production pricing and wages ended allowing small businesses to open though no enterprise could employ more than five people. Annual gross domestic product growth averaged 6.1% through early 1980s. In 1965 Slovenia reached index value of 177.3% of Yugoslav per capita income followed by Croatia at 120.7%. Tourism transformed Dalmatia and Istria into wealthy areas as three million foreign tourists visited in 1965 rising to 4.75 million by 1970. Federal government earned $275 million from tourism in 1969 representing 10% of all revenue. About 30% of people in Istria and Dalmatia worked in tourism industry by end of 1960s. Literacy increased dramatically reaching 91% while medical care remained free across all levels. Life expectancy rose to 72 years. University attendance grew from 500,000 students in 1960 to 650,000 by 1970. No European country except Soviet Union Sweden and Netherlands had so many university students. Western music became popular with Beatles and Rolling Stones frequently played on radio. Pornographic magazines were permitted and newspapers devoted coverage to celebrity sex lives though not senior League members. By 1964 about 29% of Yugoslav women worked though participation varied sharply regionally. In Slovenia 42% of women worked in 1964 while only 18% worked in Kosovo region.

• 4. Constitutional Federalism And Ethnic Tensions

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  The 1974 Yugoslav Constitution gave republics more autonomy while awarding similar status to two autonomous provinces within Serbia: Kosovo and Vojvodina. These reforms satisfied most republics especially Croatia and Albanians of Kosovo plus minorities of Vojvodina. However the constitution deeply aggravated Serbian Communist officials and Serbs who distrusted reform motives. Many Serbs saw changes as concessions to Croatian and Albanian nationalists since no similar autonomous provinces existed for large numbers of Serbs in Croatia or Bosnia Herzegovina. Serb nationalists felt frustrated over Tito's support recognizing Montenegrins and Macedonians as independent nationalities claiming no ethnic difference separated these nations from Serbs. On the 2nd of June 1968 student demonstrations led to wider mass youth protests across capital cities stopped by Tito on the 9th of June during televised speech. The Croatian Spring movement began in 1971 when leadership allied with nationalist non-party groups increasing individual federated republic powers. Tito responded by purging League of Communists of Croatia arresting large numbers of protesters. By 1975 Yugoslavia held 4,000 political prisoners exceeding only Albania and Soviet Union figures. Journal Praxis main organ of regime criticism shut down while Black Wave films banned. In October-November 1968 riots erupted in Yugoslav Macedonia and Kosovo region where Albanians demanded new republic status. Some radical Albanians called for joining Albania forming greater Albania though Tito rejected demand for seventh republic granting demands for greater Albanian participation instead.

• 5. Post Tito Economic Collapse And Dissolution

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  Josip Broz Tito died on the 4th of May 1980 due to complications after surgery shocking the country despite known failing health. His death marked significant alteration as he had been dominant figure and identity for over three decades. Many Yugoslavs openly mourned his death with spontaneous grief shown at Split soccer stadium where Serbs and Croats visited coffin among hundreds attending funeral organized by League of Communists. Post-Tito Yugoslavia faced significant fiscal debt in 1980s though American-led Friends of Yugoslavia group achieved debt relief in 1983 and 1984. Economic problems continued until state dissolution in 1990s. The 1973-1974 oil shock badly hurt economy since Yugoslavia lacked domestic oil while global recession sharply decreased demand for manufactured goods. To compensate government went on borrowing spree creating illusion of prosperity during greatest construction period of decade. Average annual economic rate reached 8% but growth largely fueled by money borrowed from West. By early 1960s foreign observers noted booming economy yet regional disparities persisted. In 1965 Bosnia-Herzegovina had index value of 69.1% while Kosovo region remained poorest at 38.6%. Two wealthiest republics Croatia and Slovenia seceded gaining international recognition in 1991. Federation dissolved along federated republic borders hastened by start of Yugoslav Wars formally breaking up on the 27th of April 1992. Serbia and Montenegro remained within reconstituted Federal Republic of Yugoslavia not recognized internationally as sole successor state to Socialist Federal Republic.