A Path to War - 1933 Kingdom of Yugoslavia

@RealityGuy yes I am
@BrHop156 even more

Chapter II - A new power in north

1933 parliamentary elections in Germany brought somewhat expected results. The NSDAP, led by Adolf Hitler won majority, and Hitler became a new chancellor of Germany. This rise of Nazism in Germany was steady and secure, and after many years of struggle, Germany sunk into abyss of totalitarianism. Hitlers rise to power marked the beginning of the end of old order in Europe, as well as a rise of a new power in north - Nazi Germany.
Yugoslavia was into to many problems of her own to worry about Germany at the moment. Another dangerous movement was spreading among the Croatian population in Yugoslavia. The Clerofascist movement called Ustase, that fought for independent Croatia, was getting more popularity in Croatian populated areas. Although it was forbidden, it succeeded in creating a net of deception and propaganda, with the help of the two fascist states with the goals of their own - Hungary and Italy.
In April 1933, the so called "17 principles" were announced by Ustashe, that became the movements ideology. It stated that new Croatian state should be formed in most of western parts of Yugoslavia (mostly without any Croatian majority or even minority), with unique economic and political system, where only Croats would have rights, and other would be ether expelled, or lose basic human rights. It also emphasized the role of the Roman Catholic Church. Organization was funded by Italy, Hungary and Vatican, and even participated in some terrorist acts.


On May 30th 1933, a ratification of Little Entente alliance between Yugoslavia, Romania and Czechoslovakia was signed in Prague, making the Little Entente an official alliance, directed mostly against Hungarian revisionism. Economic and political cooperation were also important factors of the Alliance, and all countries agreed to coordinate their efforts in all those fields.


The same year, on December 18th, another terrorist act was attempted by Ustashe. They failed to assassinate the King of Yugoslavia, Aleksandar I Karadjordjevic, thanks to the gendarmes who succeeded to hinder the plot. It was this act that finally brought the question of Ustashe to the government, which developed a plan to counter these criminals, and free Yugoslavia once and for all of those extremists and seccesionists.

Chapter III - Balkan Pact and inner threats

On February 14th 1934, another defensive alliance was signed by Yugoslavia, this time focused on retaining the order set up by treaties that followed the Great War. The signatories were Yugoslavia, Romania, Greece and Turkey. The pact was signed in Athens, on February 9th, but was confirmed only 5 days latter, at the end of the conference. Other regional countries refused to sign the pact (Italy, Albania, Soviet Union, Hungary), mainly because they felt that the pact was mostly directed at them. These were the nations that were against the current order on Balkans, and that were struggling for change.


One day after the end of the conference, another big date was to be celebrated in Yugoslavia. On February 15th Serbian parts of the monarchy celebrated an anniversary of the First Serbian Uprising (1804). This was the official beginning of Serbian independence struggle against Ottoman oppression. These wars were fallowed by Second Serbian Uprising (1815), Independence Wars (1875-1878), Balkan Was (1912-1913) and finally, the Great War (1914-1918). All these wars are important part of Serbian and Yugoslavian history, and represent the foundation of the South Slav state.


Several peaceful months since the Balkan Pact foundation were interrupted by assassination of Aleksandar I Unifier, King of Yugoslavia, on his state visit to France. The assassination took place on October 9th 1934, in the streets of Paris. He was shot by Vlado Chernozemsky, a Bulgarian nationalist, who worked of VMRO (Intern Macedonian Revolutionary Organization ), but closely cooperated with Ustashe, who enabled him to perform this act. The assassination hit the Kingdom hard, and one of the most important factors in Yugoslav political scene was now gone. Aleksandars cousin, Pavle, took position of Regent, until Aleksanders son Petar, comes of age.

Death of the sovereign enabled extreme factions in Yugoslavia to grow. Both extreme left and extreme right had their representatives on Yugoslav political scene. Organization of extreme right - Yugoslav National Movement (ZBOR), was founded by Dmitirije Ljotic in early 1935. This organization was rallied around Yugoslav nationalist (Serbs, Croats and Slovenians), who believed in traditionalism, patriarchal organization and unitary organization of Yugoslavia. Although not very much supported, this movement was forbidden eventually.


On the other side of the specter, SKJ (League of Communists of Yugoslavia) was much bigger treat for nation and government than ZBOR. SKJ had its supporters in Yugoslavia, but also in one of the major powers - Soviet Union. The dangerous ideology was growing in Yugoslavia, so SKJ was quickly forbidden. This didn't stop its members from spreading propaganda in Yugoslavia, supported mostly by Comintern. SKJ advocated a federalized Yugoslavia under the slogan - "Weak Serbia - Strong Yugoslavia". Although heavily pursued, it continued working underground and bringing instability to Yugoslavian society.

hmm....this AAR is surprisingly unpopular...

Chapter IV - Parliamentary elections of 1935, and rise of Stojadinovic

Parliamentary elections of 1935 were remembered in history as one of the most violent ones. Victory was taken by Yugoslav National Party, led by unpopular dr Bogoljub Jevtic. Second was United Oposition, headed by dr Vladko Macek. JNS won 307 setats, and UO 67. Still, government formed by Jevtic was doomed, and was to collapse shortly after it is formed. Jevtic was widely unpopular with both Serbs and Croats, and was unable to deal with challenges that were ahead. Soon, Prince Pavle worked from the shadows, and enabled quick collapse of Jevtics government. He soon gave prime minister position to Milan Stojadinovic.


Dr Milan Stojadinovic was capable and successful businessman, and knew that country needed deep reforms. He formed government with Anton Korosec, and Mehmed Spaho (Slovenian and Muslim), but failed to integrate Croatian members into it, since they wanted revision of the Constitution. He didn't call for new elections, and worked with "Jevtics parliament". He worked on solving of inner conflicts in Yugoslavia, and creating a united national politics. He started reforming Yugoslav economy, realizing that country must be modernized, in order to keep up with rest of the world.


Stojadinovics first international move was his visit to France, where he wanted to emphasize that Yugoslavia is still politically aligned with France and Britain, and asked for firm French support to the Little Entente. The support was given, and first step towards economic and political approachment with the western allies.

Chapter V - Bringing back the order

As mentioned before, Stojadinovic was very successful in implementing his will onto Yugoslav government and parliament. He was the right man for the job, with lots of charisma, enthusiasm and ability to bring back order to troubled Yugoslav society. In order to stabilize his hold over Yugoslav Political Scene he formed Yugoslav Radical Union (Jugoslovenska Radikalna Zajednca). Enemies of Stojadinovic criticized this move, saying that Stojadinovic (who was called Vodja - Leader), was trying to form a fascist government, and one party system, with JRZ as the only party - much like Hitler did with the NSDAP in Germany. Anti-fascistic and anti-German propaganda were rising, and Stojadinovic was compared to Hitler and Mussolini, in negative context of course. Still, these attempts hardly touched Stojadinovic, who was much to intelligent to be shaken by them, and was quite quick to silence them.


As Stojadinovics popularity rised in Serbia, his popularity in Croatia was at a huge downfall. His policy was marked as anti-Croatian, and Serbo-hegemonic. He was accused of forming a Serbian Yugoslavia, leaving Croats as lower-rate citizens. However, he had opposition even in Serbia. A Serb from Vardar Banovina (mostly Serbian) failed to assassinate Stojadinovic on March 7th, while Stojadinovic was giving speech about Yugoslav foreign policy. It was soon learned that behind the plot was a man from Stojadinovics government - Petar Zivkovic. Serbian police quickly acted, Zivkovic was replaced and Ljubomir Maric was new Chief of Yugoslav Ground and Naval Forces. Instead of Stojadinvoics downfall, this failed attempt gave a slight boost to his popularity, which, of course, he used very well...


May 28th was the date when the famous Nikola Tesla Institute was formed. Academics and scientists from Serbia had support of famous Serbian scientist, who lived in New York, in their effort to create a national physics institute. Yugoslav government gave their official, and later financial support for this organization, which will be the most important scientific institution in that part of Europe.


In summer 1936, King Edvard VIII of Britain arrived on official visit to Yugoslavia. He arrived by train in Sibenik, and cruised over the Dalmatian coast. Stojadinovic used this visit to strengthen relations between two kingdoms, and discussed Yugoslav position in possible future war. Stojadinovic wanted a promise from Britain that in case of German attack against Yugoslavia, Britain will deliver a significant amount of military aid. It was in this conversation that Stojadinovic realized that the western allies were not reliable, and that Yugoslavia will be on its own in future wars. This made Stojadinovic turn his attention to imidiate threts - Germany, Italy, Hungary and Bulgaria.


In mid July 1936. civil war began in Spain. Republican government faced Nationalist Spain and its leader - General Francisco Franco, who was directly supported by fascist regimes of Italy and Germany. Republican government only had aid from Soviet Union, while Britain and France did nothing to protect Spanish Republic. Yugoslavia saw the true message of this war. Just like Spain, Yugoslavia was deeply divided country, in which civil war was as much as likely as in Spain. Stojadinovic realized that Croats could begin a war helped by ether Germany or Italy (Hungary and Bulgaria were not excluded), and that policy of reaproachment was to be new political course of Yugoslavia...