Kingdom of Yugoslavia

Yugoslavia Југославија Jugoslavija
1918–1941
Top: Civil Bottom State Coat of arms
Anthem: "Himna Kraljevine Jugoslavije"
The Kingdom of Yugoslavia
Capital and largest city	Belgrade 44°49′N 20°27′E
Official languages	Serbo-Croatian Macedonian Slovene
Demonym(s)	Yugoslav
Government	Monarchy Details Unitary constitutional monarchy (1918–1929, 1931–1939) Unitary absolute monarchy under a royal dictatorship (1929–1931) Federal constitutional monarchy (1939–1941)
Historical era	20th century
• Creation	1 December 1918
• Axis invasion	6 April 1941
Currency	Yugoslav dinar
Calling code	38
Preceded by Succeeded by Serbia Montenegro Austro-Hungarian Bosnia and Herzegovina Croatia-Slavonia Carniola Dalmatia Fiume German-occupied Serbia Italian governorate of Montenegro Independent State of Croatia Kingdom of Italy Kingdom of Bulgaria Kingdom of Hungary Italian protectorate of Albania Nazi Germany Yugoslav govt.-in-exile
Today part of	Bosnia and Herzegovina Croatia Kosovo Montenegro North Macedonia Serbia Slovenia

The Kingdom of Serbs, Croats, and Slovenes later known as the Kingdom of Yugoslavia was a state in south-eastern and central Europe which existed from 1918 until 1941. In 1903, King Alexander I of Serbia was murdered and replaced with Peter I of Serbia. After this, Serbia became more nationalist. Tensions with Austria-Hungary heightened when it conquered Bosnia in 1908. During this period Serbia managed to extend its borders and reconquer Kosovo and North Macedonia from the Ottoman Empire. Many Serbian nationalists wanted to create a unified state for the Slavs of the Balkans. Covert gangs attempted to assassinate Austro-Hungarian officials, like the Bosnian governor. In June 1914, a Bosnian Serb called Gavrilo Princip killed Austrian Archduke Franz Ferdinand in Sarajevo, Bosnia. This event eventually led to World War I.

History

Creation

Yugoslavia came into existence in 1918 after World War I. Most of its northern territories were given to it from Austria-Hungary when it collapsed during the war. Its territories were reconquered by Serbia from the Ottoman Empire during the Balkan Wars (1912–13). The reigning king in Serbia became the king of all Yugoslavia.

For ten years, it was known as the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes. It began using the name 'Yugoslavia' in 1929. The name 'Yugoslavia' is Serbo-Croatian for 'Land of the Southern Slavs'. The Kingdom was invaded by the Axis Powers in 1941 and quickly fell during World War II. A Federal Democratic Republic was declared in 1943 with the King's approval, but the monarchy was abolished shortly after.