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==Origins==

==Origins==

The former state of '''Yugoslavia''' (literally "Land of the South Slavs") was created following the [[Paris Peace Talks]] of 1919-1920 as the "Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes."  Since these were not the only ethnic groups existing in the country, the name was changed in 1929 to "Kingdom of Yugoslavia."  During the span of its existence it was the largest and most important nation in the [[Balkan peninsula]]. While none of the countries created at the Peace Conference perfectly represented the [[Wilsonian]] ideal of national [[self-determination]], Yugoslavia was more of a repudiation of this idea than probably any other.  Most of its territory had previously been part of the recently destroyed kingdom of [[Serbia]]; the [[Austro-Hungarian Empire]]; or prior to [[World War I]], the [[Ottoman Empire]].

The former state of '''Yugoslavia''' (literally "Land of the South Slavs") was created following the [[Paris Peace Conference]] of 1919-1920 as the "Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes."  Since these were not the only ethnic groups existing in the country, the name was changed in 1929 to "Kingdom of Yugoslavia."  During the span of its existence it was the largest and most important nation in the [[Balkan peninsula]]. While none of the countries created at the Peace Conference perfectly represented the [[Wilsonian]] ideal of national [[self-determination]], Yugoslavia was more of a repudiation of this idea than probably any other.  Most of its territory had previously been part of the recently destroyed kingdom of [[Serbia]]; the [[Austro-Hungarian Empire]]; or prior to [[World War I]], the [[Ottoman Empire]].

==World War II==

==World War II==

Besides [[Britain]] and [[France]], Yugoslavia was the only European country to openly defy [[Nazi Germany]] after the [[Munich agreement of 1938]] but before being attacked or annexed.  It earned this distinction as a result of a [[coup d'etat]] in April 1941 triggered by [[Benito Mussolini]]'s unsuccessful invasion of neighboring [[Greece]].  The coup overthrew a pro-[[Nazi]] prime minister and led to war with Germany  

Besides [[Britain]] and [[France]], Yugoslavia was the only [[Europe]]an country to openly defy [[Nazi Germany]] after the [[Munich agreement of 1938]] but before being attacked or annexed.  It earned this distinction as a result of a [[coup d'etat]] in April 1941 triggered by [[Benito Mussolini]]'s unsuccessful invasion of neighboring [[Greece]].  The coup overthrew a pro-[[Nazi]] prime minister and led to war with Germany.

===Tito===

===Tito===

Hitler invaded Yugoslavia in April 1941. The Yugoslavian government fled to London and joined the Allied governments-in-exile of Belgium, Czechoslovak, Greece, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, and the [[French National Committee]].  At the Inter-Allied Meeting held of September 24, 1941 in London, the Yugoslavian government along with the other governments-in-exile and the Soviet Union, pledged their "adherence to the common principles of policy set forth" in the [[Atlantic Charter]], to "respect the right of all peoples to choose the form of government under which they will live."<ref>[http://www.yale.edu/lawweb/avalon/wwii/atlantic/at17.htm The Atlantic Conference : Resolution of September 24, 1941].</ref>  On January 1, 1942, the Yugoslavian government agreed to the [[Declaration by United Nations]], "being convinced that complete victory over their enemies is essen­tial to defend life, liberty, independence and religious freedom, and to preserve human rights and justice in their own lands as well as in other lands, and that they are now engaged in a common struggle against savage and brutal forces seeking to subjugate the world....

Hitler invaded Yugoslavia in April 1941. The Yugoslavian government fled to [[London]] and joined the Allied governments-in-exile of [[Belgium]], [[Czechoslovakia]], [[Greece]], [[Luxembourg]], the [[Netherlands]], [[Norway]], [[Poland]], and the [[French National Committee]].  At the Inter-Allied Meeting held of September 24, 1941 in London, the Yugoslavian government along with the other governments-in-exile and the Soviet Union, pledged their "adherence to the common principles of policy set forth" in the [[Atlantic Charter]], to "respect the right of all peoples to choose the form of government under which they will live."<ref>[http://www.yale.edu/lawweb/avalon/wwii/atlantic/at17.htm The Atlantic Conference : Resolution of September 24, 1941].</ref>  On January 1, 1942, the Yugoslavian government agreed to the [[Declaration by United Nations]], "being convinced that complete victory over their enemies is essen­tial to defend life, liberty, independence and religious freedom, and to preserve human rights and justice in their own lands as well as in other lands, and that they are now engaged in a common struggle against savage and brutal forces seeking to subjugate the world....

each Government pledges itself to cooperate with the Gov­ernments signatory hereto."<ref>[http://www.ibiblio.org/pha/paw/274.html Declaration by United Nations, January 1, 1942], U.S. Department of State Bulletin, vol. VI, p. 3.</ref>   

each Government pledges itself to cooperate with the Gov­ernments signatory hereto."<ref>[http://www.ibiblio.org/pha/paw/274.html Declaration by United Nations, January 1, 1942], U.S. Department of State Bulletin, vol. VI, p. 3.</ref>