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Formation of the Kingdom -

In 1918, the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats, and Slovenes was established after the collapse of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. This new state aimed to unify various South Slavic groups under one political entity in the post-World War I order.

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Renaming to Kingdom of Yugoslavia -

In 1929, King Alexander I officially renamed the country to Yugoslavia, meaning "Land of the South Slavs." However, ethnic tensions persisted, with competing interests.

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Assassination of King Alexander I -

In 1934, King Alexander I was assassinated in Marseille by a Macedonian nationalist in cooperation with Croatian extremists. His death caused further political instability and deepening ethnic divisions. 

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Pre-war political instability -

A regency ruled for the young King Peter II (pictured), but the climate worsened by the rise of fascism in Europe and threats from neighboring Axis powers.

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Axis invasion -

In 1941, Nazi Germany, along with Italy, invaded Yugoslavia. The country was swiftly overrun and dismembered, with parts annexed or occupied by neighboring states. 

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Resitence movements -

Various resistance movements emerged during this period, notably the communist-led Partisans. They fought against both the Axis forces and rival factions, uniting diverse groups in a common struggle for liberation. Gradually, they gained control over large areas of Yugoslavia.

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Partisan resistance and liberation -

Josip Broz Tito, a communist revolutionary, emerged as the leader of the Partisans. By 1945, with Allied support, they liberated the country, laying the foundation for a post-war communist state under Tito.

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Establishment of communist Yugoslavia -

In 1945, Yugoslavia was reconstituted as the Federal People's Republic under communist rule, with Josip Broz Tito as its leader. The new state was organized as a federation of six republics, aiming to balance the interests of various ethnic groups through a centralized socialist system.

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Tito's split with Stalin -

In 1948, Tito split with Soviet leader Joseph Stalin, rejecting Soviet dominance in Yugoslavia and pursuing an independent socialist path focused on non-alignment. This approach led to Yugoslavia becoming a founding member of the Non-Aligned Movement in 1961, enabling it to maintain diplomatic and economic ties with both the US and the Soviet Union.

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Economic reforms and decentralization -

In the 1950s and 1960s, Yugoslavia shifted from strict central planning to a system of self-management for industries. The government granted more autonomy to the republics, which helped maintain unity but also sowed the seeds for future separatist movements and regional tensions.

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1963 Constitution: Socialist Federal Republic -

In 1963, Yugoslavia adopted a new constitution, renaming itself the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (SFRY). The constitution formalized the federal structure, enhancing the power of individual republics while solidifying the communist party's and Tito's authority.

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Growing ethnic tensions -

Despite Tito's efforts to balance ethnic interests, tensions grew between the republics in the 1970s. Croatia, Slovenia, and Serbia clashed over autonomy, resource distribution, and political power, while the suppression of nationalist movements in Croatia and Kosovo fueled further discontent.

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1974 Constitution: greater republic autonomy -

The 1974 Constitution was a major turning point in Yugoslavia's political structure. It granted even more autonomy to the republics and the two autonomous provinces, Kosovo and Vojvodina.

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Tito's death -

The death of Tito in 1980 marked the beginning of a significant leadership vacuum. Tito had been a unifying figure in Yugoslavia, and his passing left the federation without a strong central authority.

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Economic crises -

In the 1980s, Yugoslavia faced a severe economic crisis with high inflation, rising unemployment, and declining living standards. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) imposed austerity worsened social unrest, deepening ethnic and political divisions across the federation.

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Rise of nationalism -

By the mid-1980s, nationalist sentiments rose, especially in Serbia, where Slobodan Milošević gained prominence. He advocated for a stronger centralized state and Serbian interests, inflaming ethnic tensions across Yugoslavia's republics.

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Slobodan Milošević's rise to power -

In 1986, Slobodan Milošević became leader of the Serbian Communist Party and consolidated power, promoting a "Greater Serbia." His nationalist policies alienated other republics, especially Slovenia and Croatia, which sought greater autonomy from Belgrade.

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Kosovo crisis -

In 1989, Milošević revoked Kosovo's autonomy, sparking protests among the Albanian majority. The crackdown worsened divisions between Serbia and other republics, as Slovenia and Croatia backed the Kosovars, and increasingly pushed for independence.

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Multi-party elections -

In 1990, multi-party elections were held in most of the Yugoslav republics. Nationalist parties won significant victories, especially in Croatia and Slovenia, where calls for independence grew louder.

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Slovenia and Croatia declare independence -

In 1991, Slovenia and Croatia declared independence from Yugoslavia, triggering a swift response from the Yugoslav People's Army. The short Ten-Day War in Slovenia ended with its effective independence, while Croatia plunged into a longer, more violent conflict. 

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Bosnian War erupts -

In 1992, Bosnia and Herzegovina declared independence, sparking a brutal multi-ethnic conflict between Bosnian Muslims, Croats, and Serbs. The Bosnian War became one of the most devastating conflicts in Europe, characterized by ethnic cleansing, mass atrocities, and a complex web of alliances.

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UN involvement and peacekeeping efforts -

The UN deployed peacekeepers to Croatia and Bosnia in 1992, but struggled to prevent violence and ethnic cleansing. Its failure was highlighted by the 1995 Srebrenica massacre, where over 8,000 Bosniak men and boys were killed despite UN presence.

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Siege of Sarajevo -

The Siege of Sarajevo, lasting from 1992 to 1995, was one of the most harrowing episodes of the Bosnian War. Bosnian Serb forces surrounded the city, subjecting it to years of shelling and sniper attacks.

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Croatian War of Independence -

The Croatian War of Independence saw intense fighting between Croatian forces, the Yugoslav Army, and Serb militias. Marked by heavy artillery, mass displacement, and atrocities on both sides, the war ended in 1995 with Croatia reclaiming most of its territory. Pictured are Croatian refugees. 

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Dayton Agreement -

In 1995, the Dayton Agreement ended the Bosnian War, establishing Bosnia and Herzegovina as a single state divided into two entities: the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Republika Srpska, with a central government handling foreign affairs. While the agreement stopped the conflict, it has been criticized for entrenching ethnic divisions and creating a complex, often dysfunctional political system that hinders effective governance.

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Kosovo conflict -

The Kosovo conflict erupted in 1998 between Serbian forces and the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA), an ethnic Albanian guerrilla group. The KLA launched attacks on Serbs in Kosovo, sparking a harsh response by Serbian forces. This ignited widespread international condemnation for human rights abuses and accusations of ethnic cleansing.

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NATO bombing of Yugoslavia -

In March 1999, NATO began a bombing campaign against Yugoslavia (Serbia and Montenegro) without UN authorization. The strikes targeted military installations and infrastructure to protect civilians in Kosovo. Lasting 78 days, the campaign ultimately forced Serbia to withdraw from Kosovo, effectively ending the conflict.

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Aftermath of NATO bombings -

The NATO bombings effectively ended Serbian military control over Kosovo, which was placed under UN administration. Although the bombings succeeded in halting further violence, they caused significant damage to Serbia's infrastructure and resulted in civilian casualties, complicating post-war reconciliation.

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Montenegro's independence -

In 2006, Montenegro held a referendum on independence from Serbia, marking the final dissolution of the remnants of Yugoslavia. The referendum passed with a slim majority, and Montenegro became a sovereign state.

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Legacy of Yugoslavia's dissolution -

The dissolution of Yugoslavia left a complex legacy in the Balkans, with ongoing ethnic divisions, economic struggles, and unresolved territorial disputes. However, the former republics are gradually moving toward European integration, with some joining the EU.

Sources: (Britannica) (BBC) (ThoughtCo) 

See also: The longest and shortest wars in history

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