After World War I, the numerous ethnic groups of the Balkans formed one nation of South Slavic peoples, later named Yugoslavia. When the Axis powers invaded Yugoslavia in 1942, Josip Broz Tito, a leader of the illegal Communist Party of Yugoslavia, organized a resistance army and drove them out. Tito then set up a Communist government, did away with the previous monarchy, and became the leader of Yugoslavia. Tito broke with the Soviet Union in 1948 and ruled Yugoslavia as an independent Communist state for 30 years. Tito instituted economic reforms that allowed Yugoslavia to become stable and prosperous. However, he maintained his authoritarian leadership through secret police and Communist indoctrination. Rather than creating lasting unity, Tito's repression left Yugoslavia politically and economically divided upon his death. This allowed nationalists to stir up ethnic hostilities, leading to the country’s violent disintegration in the 1990’s. Today, Yugoslavia is divided into seven countries, all struggling economically and divided on ethnic lines.
Amelia Broman
Senior Division Individual Website
Website Word Count: 1,198
Words in process paper: 497
Senior Division Individual Website
Website Word Count: 1,198
Words in process paper: 497