Yugoslavia

Yugoslavia (Jugoslavija in all south Slavic languages, in Cyrillic ???????????) is a term used for three separate but successive political entities that existed during most of the 20th century on the Balkan Peninsula in Europe. Translated, the name means Land of the South Slavs (jug in the word Jugoslavija means south).

Origins

Probably the first "official" mention of the term Yugoslav (as opposed to simply south Slav) was the forming of the group of advocates of a joint country of South Slavs, by politicians from Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina, which were then both in the Austro-Hungarian Monarchy.

Related Topics:
South Slav - Croatia - Bosnia and Herzegovina - Austro-Hungarian Monarchy

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On November 22, 1914, Ante Trumbi?, Frano Supilo, Ivan Me?trovi?, Hinko Hinkovi? and Franko Poto?njak from Croatia and Nikola Stojanovi? and Du?an Vasiljevi? from Bosnia and Herzegovina first met with Pavle Popovi?, a representative of Nikola Pa?i?'s Serbian government, on neutral ground in Florence, Italy, in an effort to coordinate their efforts towards building an independent state of western South Slavs. Lujo Vojnovi? was also present as an observer from the Kingdom of Montenegro.

Related Topics:
November 22 - 1914 - Ante Trumbi? - Frano Supilo - Ivan Me?trovi? - Hinko Hinkovi? - Franko Poto?njak - Nikola Stojanovi? - Du?an Vasiljevi? - Pavle Popovi? - Nikola Pa?i? - Serbia - Florence - Italy - Lujo Vojnovi? - Montenegro

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The new "Yugoslav" cause (from Jugoslav, meaning "Southern Slav") was receiving an increasing amount of support: in the western states, the people were generally tired of Austria-Hungary and a union with the eastern states was probably seen as the best way to come out of the anomie caused by the Great War. Even the large diasporas, known for their nostalgia and patriotism, started supporting the new idea.

Related Topics:
Anomie - Great War - Diaspora - Nostalgia - Patriotism

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The Yugoslav Committee (Jugoslavenski odbor) was officially formed on April 30th, 1915 in London, and the aforementioned politicians were its members. The Committee and the Kingdom of Serbia subsequently signed the Corfu Declaration on July 20, 1917 that declared their desire to form a new joint kingdom.

Related Topics:
Yugoslav Committee - April 30 - 1915 - London - Corfu Declaration - July 20 - 1917

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