Biography of Josip Broz Tito

 Biography of Josip Broz Tito

Josip Broz Tito was a Yugoslav revolutionary and statesman who led the resistance against Nazi occupation during World War II and established a communist federation that lasted from 1945 to 1991. He was born on May 7, 1892, in Kumrovec, a village in Croatia, then part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. His father was a Croat and his mother was a Slovene. He learned the trade of locksmith and worked as a metalworker in various cities before joining the Austro-Hungarian army in 1913.

He fought in Serbia and Russia during World War I and was captured by the Russians in 1915. He was influenced by the Bolshevik Revolution and joined the Communist Party of Russia in 1918. He returned to Yugoslavia in 1920 and became a leader of the underground communist movement. He adopted the pseudonym Tito in 1934 and became the secretary-general of the Communist Party of Yugoslavia (CPY) in 1939.

He organized a guerrilla army, known as the Partisans, to fight against the Axis powers that invaded Yugoslavia in 1941. He managed to unite different ethnic and national groups under his command and received support from the Western Allies and the Soviet Union. He also clashed with the royalist Chetniks, who collaborated with the Nazis. He became the supreme commander of the Yugoslav People's Army and was promoted to marshal in 1943.

He established a provisional government in 1944 and entered Belgrade with Soviet troops. He abolished the monarchy and proclaimed Yugoslavia a federal republic with six constituent states: Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia and Slovenia. He became the prime minister and minister of defense of the new socialist state. He also initiated a series of economic and social reforms, such as land redistribution, nationalization of industries, workers' self-management and social welfare.

He broke away from Stalin's influence in 1948 and pursued an independent course of socialism. He denounced Stalin's policies and survived several assassination attempts by Soviet agents. He also faced opposition from nationalist and anti-communist forces within Yugoslavia, which he suppressed with harsh measures. He maintained a balance between the Eastern and Western blocs during the Cold War and advocated a policy of non-alignment.

He was one of the founders of the Non-Aligned Movement, a group of countries that sought to remain neutral in the global conflict. He hosted the first summit of the movement in Belgrade in 1961 and became its first secretary-general. He also established diplomatic relations with various countries, including China, India, Egypt, Indonesia and Cuba. He supported liberation movements in Africa and Asia and opposed colonialism and imperialism.

He became the president of Yugoslavia in 1953 and held that position until his death. He abolished the office of prime minister in 1963 and concentrated power in his hands. He also changed the constitution several times to strengthen his authority and ensure his succession. He created a collective presidency in 1974, consisting of representatives from each republic and province, but remained its dominant figure.

He faced several challenges in his later years, such as economic stagnation, social unrest, ethnic tensions and nationalist demands. He tried to address these issues by granting more autonomy to the republics and provinces, but this also weakened the central government and increased separatism. He also had to deal with international crises, such as the Arab-Israeli conflict, the Vietnam War, the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan and the Iranian Revolution.

He died on May 4, 1980, in Ljubljana, Slovenia, after a long illness. He was buried in a mausoleum in Belgrade, known as the House of Flowers. He was mourned by millions of Yugoslavs and many foreign leaders who attended his funeral. He left behind a complex legacy that is still debated today. Some regard him as a hero who liberated Yugoslavia from fascism and preserved its unity and sovereignty. Others view him as a dictator who violated human rights and repressed dissent.

He is widely considered as one of the most influential figures of the 20th century. He was awarded numerous decorations and honors from various countries and organizations. He was also nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize several times but never received it. Many places are named after him or bear his statues or portraits. His birthday is celebrated as Youth Day in Serbia and as Day of Resistance in Croatia.