TIMELINE OF THE...
With the Soviet Union declining and eventually falling, war breaks out in Europe as Yugoslavia fractures
4 May 1980
The leader of Yugoslavia, Josip Tito, dies in Ljubljana. He had held together the Yugoslav republics of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia (including Kosovo and Vojvodina) and Slovenia through suppression of the republics’ nationalist movements. His death leads to economic collapse and the rise of nationalism, and the tensions between republics move into the open.
12 November 1989
Outspoken Serbian nationalist Slobodan Miloševic is elected president of Serbia. This position grants Miloševic the power to mobilise Serbs in other Yugoslavian republics and promote Serb nationalism, which exacerbates preexisting tensions within Yugoslavia.
23 December 1990
Slovenia holds a referendum on independence from Yugoslavia. The independence vote wins a resounding victory with 88.5 percent of the vote, leading Slovenia to officially declare independence on 25 June 1991. The Yugoslavian government sends forces into Slovenia to regain control.
31 March 1991
After it becomes clear Croatia is on a path toward independence, a number of Croatian Serbs who have established SAO Krajina (Serbian Autonomous Oblast of Krajina) announce their separation from Croatia and attempt to join Serbia. This move leads to war between the Croatians and Serbs, who are later joined by the Yugoslavian army in July.
19 May 1991
Croatians choose independence with a 93.2 percent majority of the vote in a referendum. The country declares independence along with Slovenia on 25 June 1991, which leads to Yugoslavia launching an invasion of Croatia.
27 June 1991
Yugoslavia launches an attack on Slovenia to prevent the country’s independence. After ten days of staunch armed resistance from Slovenia’s defence force and its citizens, the Yugoslavian army is forced to agree to a ceasefire on 5 July 1991, accepting Slovenian independence.
18 September 1991
Macedonia holds an independence referendum, which results in 96.5 percent majority vote in favour – however, ethnic Albanians refuse to take part in the vote. Despite this, Macedonia be
