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|currency =Yugoslav dinar
|currency =Yugoslav dinar
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'''Yugoslavia''' (literally "Land of the South Slavs") was a country in the [[Balkan peninsula]] that existed from 1918 to 1992, with a short break during [[World War II]], when it was occupied by [[Nazi Germany]]. It was a monarchy from its creation to 1945 and a [[communist]] country from 1945 to its dissolution.
==Origins==
==Origins==
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]].
The former state of Yugoslavia 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 [[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'état]] 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'état]] 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.