Keywords
Josip Broz Tito
Edvard Kardelj
diplomacy
Soviet Union
Cominform
threats
military attack
Western aid
How to Cite
Abstract
In the period following World War II, the Federative People’s Republic of Yugoslavia, under the leadership of Josip Broz Tito, experienced a pivotal moment in its history due to the split with the Cominform and the subsequent break in relations with the Soviet Union, leading to a profound military and foreign policy transformation in Belgrade. This period can be seen as a continuation of the rebellious pragmatic line that had already been outlined during World War II, when Yugoslav communists, in contrast to the Eastern Bloc countries, gained power almost independently through their own struggle. The realization that external powers, in this case the Soviet Union, could not simply dictate domestic or foreign policy decisions was crucial for Belgrade’s strategic shift. Threats of a military attack from the Eastern Bloc forced the Federative People’s Republic of Yugoslavia to seek aid and support, particularly military, from the West. These activities were particularly evident on the diplomatic front. This research reveals the complexity and dynamism of Yugoslav foreign policy, which Belgrade faced in its efforts to maintain its sovereignty. In this context, the Federative People’s Republic of Yugoslavia gradually became an example of how to maintain a delicate balance between the superpowers. This shift and the steps taken by Belgrade are key to understanding Yugoslavia’s role in international relations and its status during that period.
References
AJ 836 – Arhiv Jugoslavije (AJ), fond Kancelarija maršala Jugoslavije (836).
ARS, SI AS 1277 – Arhiv Republike Slovenije (ARS), Kardelj Edvard - Krištof (1926–1990) (fond SI AS 1277).
CIA FOIA – Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). https://www.cia.gov/readingroom/ (zadnji dostop: 29. 4. 2023).
Borba. Beograd, Borba, 1922–.
Slovenski poročevalec. Ljubljana, Slovenski poročevalec, 1938–1959.
The New York Times. New York, The New York Times Company, 1857–.
The New York Times Magazine. New York, The New York Times Company, 1896–.
Banac, Ivo (1990): Sa Staljinom protiv Tita: informbirovski rascjepi u jugoslavenskom komunističkom pokretu. Zagreb, Globus.
Batty, Peter (2015): Titova velika prevara: kako je Tito zavajal Churchilla. Ljubljana, Nova obzorja.
Bogetić, Dragan (2008): Jugoslavija u hladnom ratu. V: Dimitrijevič, Bojan B. (ur.): Istorija 20. veka, št. 2. Beograd, Institut za savremenu istoriju, 315–370.
Bekić, Darko (1988): Jugoslavija u hladnom ratu: odnosi s velikim silama 1949–1955. Zagreb, Globus.
Ceh, Nick (2002): U.S. Diplomatic Records on Relations with Yugoslavia During the Early Cold War 1948–1957. New York, Columbia University Press.
Dedijer, Vladimir (1969): Izgubljeni boj J. V. Stalina: 1948–1953. Ljubljana, Delo.
Dedijer, Vladimir (1984): Novi prilozi za biografiju Josipa Broza Tita – Treći tom. Beograd, Rad.
Dimić, Ljubodrag (2010): Jugoslovensko-sovjetski odnosi 1945–1956. Beograd, Ministarstvo spoljnih poslova.
Dimitrijević, Bojan B. (1999): Jugoslovenska armija 1948–1951 – u iskušenju sukoba. V: Kačavenda, Petar (ur.): Jugoslovensko-sovjetski sukob 1948. godine. Beograd, Institut za savremenu istoriju, 115–128.
Dimitrijević, Bojan B. (2006): Od Staljina do Atlantskog pakta: armija u spoljnoj politici Titove Jugoslavije 1945–1958. Beograd, Službeni list SCG.
Goldstein, Ivo (2008): Hrvaška zgodovina. Ljubljana, Društvo Slovenska matica.
Heuser, Beatrice (1989): Western “Containment” Policies in the Cold War: the Yugoslav Case: 1948–53. London – New York, Routledge.
Hlevnjuk, Oleg (2021): Staljin – Život jednog vođe. Beograd, Arhipelag.
Holzer, Jerzy (2002): Komunizam u Europi: povijest pokreta i sustava vlasti. Zagreb, Srednja Europa.
Jakovina, Tvrtko (2002): Socijalizam na američkoj pšenici (1948–1963). Zagreb, Matica Hrvatska.
Jakovina, Tvrtko (2003): Američki komunistički saveznik: Hrvati, Titova Jugoslavija in Sjedinjene američke države: 1944–1955. Zagreb, Profil International – Srednja Europa.
Jarman, Robert L. (ur.) (1997): Yugoslavia Political Diaries 1948–1965, Volume 4: 1949–1965. Cambridge, Archive Editions.
Kržavac, Savo & Dragan Marković (1976): Informbiro: kaj je to? Jugoslavija je rekla ne. Ljubljana, Komunist.
Kuljić, Todor (2024): Tito: sociološko-zgodovinska študija. Koper – Čentur, Založba Annales – Zgodovinsko društvo za južno Primorsko – Inštitut IRRIS za raziskave, razvoj in strategijo družbe, kulture in okolja.
Laković, Ivan (2006): Zapadna vojna pomoč Jugoslaviji 1951–1958. Podgorica, Istorijski institut Crne Gore.
Lees, Lorraine M. (1997): Keeping Tito Afloat: the United States and the Cold War. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania University Press.
Petranović, Branko (1988): Istorija Jugoslavije: 1918–1988. Knj. 3, Socijalistička Jugoslavija: 1945–1988. Beograd, Nolit.
Pezo, Omer (1989): Opremanje naoružanjem. Beograd, Vojnoizdavački centar.
Pirjevec, Jože (2020): Tito in tovariši. Ljubljana, Cankarjeva založba.
Pirjevec, Jože (2015): Soočenje kulturnih, državnih, geopolitičnih in ideoloških konceptov na stiku italijanskega in južnoslovanskega prostora (1848–1975). Acta Histriae, 23, 3, 377–392.
Previšić, Martin (2021): Zgodovina Golega otoka. Ljubljana, Mladinska knjiga.
Rajović, Radošin (ur.) (1970): Jugoslovenski savremenici: ko je ko u Jugoslaviji. Beograd, Hronometar.
Repe, Božo (2023): Karađorđevići in vladarska ideologija pri Slovencih. Studia Historica Slovenica, 23, 2, 529–562.
Terzić, Milan V. (2005): Titova vještina vladanja: maršal in maršalat: 1943–1945. Podgorica, Pobjeda.
Terzić, Milan, Basara, Mihajlo & Dmitar Tasić (2015): Informbiro i Jugoslovenska (narodna) armija: zbornik dokumenata. Beograd, Službeni glasnik.
TNA FO 371 – The National Archives, London-Kew (TNA), Foreign Office: Political Departments: General Correspondence from 1906–1966 (FO 371).
Torkar, Blaž (2020): Britanske ocene obrambnih zmogljivosti jugoslovanske vojske po sporu z Informbirojem. Ljubljana, Inštitut za novejšo zgodovino.
Vukmanović - Tempo, Svetozar (1969): Stalin in Jugoslavija: neki dvajsetletnici na rob. Ljubljana, Mladinska knjiga.
Vukmanović - Tempo, Svetozar (1982): Revolucija koja teče: memoari – 4. knjiga. Ljubljana, ČGP Delo.
Životić, Aleksandar (2015): Jugoslovensko-sovjetske vojne suprotnosti (1947–1957): iskušenja savezništva. Beograd, Arhipelag – Institut za noviju istoriju Srbije.
Životić, Aleksandar (2022): Strah ili realnost? Mogućnost sovjetske vojne intervencije u Jugoslaviji 1948–1953. Istorija 20. veka, 40, 1, 107–128.
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.