Who is Josip Broz Tito

Josip Broz Tito was born May 7, 1892 in Kumrovec, Croatia (May 25 according to official birth certificate) and died May 4, 1980. He was the leader of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia from 1945 until his death in 1980.

During World War II, Tito organized the anti-fascist resistance movement known as the Yugoslav Partisans. Later he was a founding member of Cominform, but resisted Soviet influence and became one of the founders and promoters of the Non-Aligned Movement.

* Under Tito's leadership, Yugoslavia had fifth strongest army in Europe.

* Tito's administration did unite a country that had been severely affected by the war and successfully suppressed the nationalist sentiments of the peoples of Yugoslavia in favor of the common Yugoslav goal.

* Yugoslavia, for communist country, became by far the most religiously liberal among the socialist states, since Tito believed that oppression only makes religion spread.

* Tito supported a crucial bill about "self-management" (samoupravljanje): a type of independent socialism that experimented with profit sharing with workers in state-run enterprises - it was the basis of the entire social order in Yugoslavia.

* Yugoslavia was the first communist country to open its borders to all foreign visitors and abolish visa requirements.

* He had 3 wives and lot's of mistresses. One mistress he loved that much that after she died of tuberculosis in 1946, Tito insisted that she be buried in the backyard of the Beli Dvor, his Belgrade residence.

* Tito spoke four languages in addition to his native Serbo-Croatian, Macedonian and Slovene: Czech, German, Russian, and English.

* As the leader of the communist resistance, Tito was a target for the Axis forces in occupied Yugoslavia. The Germans came close to capturing or killing Tito on at least three occasions: in the 1943 "Case White" (Fall Weiss) offensive; in the subsequent "Case Black" (Fall Schwarz) offensive, in which he was wounded on 9 June, being saved only because his loyal dog sacrificed himself; and on 25 May 1944, when he barely managed to evade the Germans after their "Operation Knight's Leap" (Unternehmen Rösselsprung) airdrop outside his Drvar headquarters.

Tito was notable for pursuing a foreign policy of neutrality during the Cold War and for establishing close ties with developing countries. Tito's strong belief in self-determination caused early rift with Stalin and consequently, the Eastern Bloc. His public speeches often reiterated that policy of neutrality and cooperation with all countries is natural as long as these countries are not using their influence to pressure Yugoslavia to take sides. Relations with the United States and Western European nations were generally cordial.

Yugoslavia had a liberal travel policy permitting foreigners to freely travel through the country and its citizens to travel worldwide. This was limited by most Communist countries. A number of Yugoslav citizens worked throughout Western Europe.

"Let that man be a Bosnian, Herzegovinian. Outside they don't call you by another name, except simply a Bosnian. Whether that be a Muslim (Bosniak), Serb or Croat. Everyone can be what they feel that they are, and no one has a right to force a nationality upon them."

"Bosnia and Herzegovina was once a seed of division between the Croat and Serb people. Officials in Zagreb and Belgrade brought forth decisions on Bosnia-Herzegovina - decisions involving its wealth and decisions to exploit the country even more; but they didn't care about what their decisions would do to the people living in Bosnia-Herzegovina. They, for the sake of achieving their goals, pitted one people against the other."

"During the war, a battle was fought here, not only for the creation of a new Yugoslavia, but also a battle for Bosnia and Herzegovina as a sovereign republic. To some generals and leaders their position on this was not quite clear. I never once doubted my stance on Bosnia. I always said that Bosnia and Herzegovina cannot belong to this or that, only to the people that lived there since the beginning of time."

I still remember... I was only 6 years old at that time... and wasn't really aware of reason why people I passed by on street are crying.... and than, when I came home they told me - Tito died!

That day, people from all Yugoslav republics cried for Tito!
Even those who, not a year later, spitted on him when his name was mentioned!

"President Josip Broz Tito was a towering figure on the world stage. After leading his partisan forces to a hard-fought victory during World War II, he founded and led the postwar Yugoslav State for nearly 35 years. During that period he and his peoples faced many challenges, but met them with a resolute determination to maintain Yugoslavia's independence and unity and its own unique approach to domestic and foreign policies.

He was the last surviving member of that group of statesmen who founded and led the nonaligned movement to its present prominence in world affairs. President Tito's position in the history of his era is assured for all time.

President Tito's many meetings with Americans, including those during his highly successful state visit to the United States in March 1978, gave many of us the opportunity to become acquainted with him and to learn from him the wisdom and perspective that came from his years of experience and his strength of conviction. He was a man who sought practical and lasting solutions not only to the issues confronting his own country but to those affecting countries and peoples far from Yugoslavia's shores.

I share with the Yugoslav peoples the sense of loss that they and many others throughout the world feel at the passing of this commanding leader. On behalf of the American people, the United States Government, and myself, I wish to extend sincere condolences and deepest sympathy to the peoples of Yugoslavia at this tragic moment.

For more than three decades, under administrations of both parties, it has been the policy of the United States to support the independence, territorial integrity, and unity of Yugoslavia. President Tito's death comes at a particularly troubled time in international relations. I reaffirm today that America will continue its longstanding policy of support for Yugoslavia and do what it must to provide that support. I pledge again that this Government will not tolerate terrorist acts directed against Yugoslavia or its representatives here.

We have confidence in the new Yugoslav leadership, duly established in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution of Yugoslavia, to lead the nation and its economy through this period. I have already informed the Yugoslav President, Mr. Kolisevski, of my condolences and my Nation's support."