Josip Broz Tito

Josip Broz Tito {{Audio|sr-JosipBrozTito.ogg|listen}} (May 7, 1892 – May 4, 1980) was the leader of Yugoslavia between the end of World War II and his death in 1980.

World War II

After Yugoslavia was invaded by the Axis forces in April 1941, the Communists were among the first to organize a resistance movement. On April 10th, the Politburo of the Communist Party of Yugoslavia met in Zagreb and decided to start the resistance, naming Tito the chief of the military committee.

Related Topics:
Axis forces - 1941 - Politburo - Communist Party of Yugoslavia - Zagreb

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On June 22, a group of 49 local men attacked a German supply train near Sisak, Croatia, thus beginning the first anti-fascist uprising in occupied Europe. On July 4, Tito issued a public call for armed resistance against the Nazi/Fascist occupation, as the supreme commander of the People's Liberation Army of Yugoslavia and Partisan Detachments. The partisans staged a wide-spread guerrilla campaign and started liberating increasing chunks of territory.

Related Topics:
June 22 - Sisak - Anti-fascist - July 4 - People's Liberation Army of Yugoslavia and Partisan Detachments - Guerrilla

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In the liberated territories, the Partisans organized people's committees to act as civilian government. Tito was the most prominent leader of the Anti-Fascist Council of National Liberation of Yugoslavia - AVNOJ, which convened in Biha? on November 26, 1942 and in Jajce on November 29, 1943. On these two sessions they established the basis for post-war organisation of the country, making it a federation, and naming Tito the Marshal of Yugoslavia. On December 4, 1943, while most of the country was still occupied by the Axis, Tito proclaimed a provisional democratic Yugoslav government.

Related Topics:
Anti-Fascist Council of National Liberation of Yugoslavia - AVNOJ - Biha? - November 26 - 1942 - Jajce - November 29 - 1943 - Marshal of Yugoslavia - December 4

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As the leader of the resistance, Tito was a prime target for the Axis forces in occupied Yugoslavia. The Germans came close to capturing/killing Tito on at least three occasions: in the 1943 Fall Weiss offensive, and in the subsequent Schwarz offensive, when he was wounded on June 9. On May 25, 1944 he barely managed to evade the Germans after their Operation Rösselsprung airdrop outside his Drvar headquarters.

Related Topics:
Axis forces - 1943 - Fall Weiss - Schwarz - June 9 - May 25 - 1944 - Operation Rösselsprung - Airdrop - Drvar

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During the early stages of the Second World War, the partisan activities were not directly supported by the western Allies, but after the Tehran and Yalta conferences in 1943, the partisans were supported directly by Allied airdrops to their headquarters, with Brigadier Fitzroy MacLean playing a significant role in the liaison missions. The Balkan Air Force was formed in June 1944 to control operations that were mainly aimed at helping his forces. Due to his close ties to Stalin, Tito often quarreled with the British and American staff officers attached to his headquarters.

Related Topics:
Allies - Tehran - Yalta - Brigadier - Fitzroy MacLean - Balkan Air Force - 1944 - Stalin

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On April 5, 1945 Tito signed an agreement with the USSR allowing "temporary entry of Soviet troops into Yugoslav territory". Aided by the Red Army, the partisans won the war in 1945. Nevertheless, the "Liberation War for Yugoslavia" is considered to be the only victory in World War II achieved by local guerilla forces, albeit with minor help from the outside.

Related Topics:
April 5 - 1945 - Red Army - Partisans - Yugoslavia - Guerilla

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All external forces were ordered off Yugoslav soil after the end of hostilities in Europe. The remaining fascist Usta?a and royalist ?etnik troops and their supporters were subject to summary trials and execution en masse, particularly in the so-called Bleiburg massacre.

Related Topics:
Usta?a - ?etnik - Bleiburg massacre

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