Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
WWI & the First Yugoslavia
Before the union could be realised, WWI intervened. Montenegro entered the war on the
side of Serbia and the Allies. Austria-Hungary invaded shortly afterwards and swiftly cap-
tured Cetinje, sending King Nikola into exile in France. In 1918 the Serbian army entered
Monte-negro and the French, keen to implement the Serbian-Montenegrin union, refused
to allow Nikola to leave France, formally bringing an end to the Petrović dynasty. The
same year Montenegro ceased to exist after being subsumed into the newly created King-
dom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes - the first Yugoslavia.
Throughout the 1920s some Montenegrins, peeved at their 'little-brother' to Serbia
status, as well as the loss of their sovereignty and distinct identity, put up spirited resist-
ance to the union with Serbia. This resentment increased after the abolition of the
Montenegrin church, which was subsumed into the Serbian Orthodox Patriarchate in Bel-
grade. Taking advantage of fears of a Serb-Croat civil war, on 6 January 1929 King
Aleksandar proclaimed a royal dictatorship, abolished political parties and suspended par-
liamentary government, thus ending any hope of democratic change. In 1934, while on a
state visit in Marseilles, King Aleksandar was assassinated by the fascist-inspired Croatian
Ustaše.
Meanwhile, during the mid-1920s the Yugoslav Communist Party arose; Josip Broz Tito
was to become leader in 1937. The high level of membership of the Communist Party
amongst Montenegrins was perhaps a reflection of their displeasure with the status of
Montenegro within Yugoslavia.
For a quirky, or perhaps reverent (who can tell) look at Tito visit
www.titoville.com
.
Enjoy pictures of him
striking statesman-like poses, scripts from his speeches, lists of his 'wives' and jokes about him.
