In 1914 the First World War began. Even before it ended in November 1918 the Austro-Hungarian Empire was breaking up. Croatia declared its independence in October 1918. Nevertheless, on 1 December 1918, the Croats agreed to join with Slovenes and Serbs to form a new state called the kingdom of Serbs, Croats, and Slovenes. The Croats soon became disenchanted as they wanted the new state to be federal whereas it became a unitary state. Demands for autonomy were

led by Stjepan Radic, who was shot in 1928.

In 1929 King

Alexander suspended parliament and introduced a royal dictatorship. The state was renamed Yugoslavia. In the 1930s there were 2 extremist parties in Croatia. The Communists and the Fascist Ustase, which was founded by Ante Pavelic in 1929. In 1939 the Yugoslav government gave in to demands for Croatian autonomy and created an autonomous region called the Banovina.

The same year the Second World War began. At first, Yugoslavia was neutral but in March 1941 a coup was held by pro-British officers. As a result, the Germans attacked Yugoslavia on 6 April 1941, and they quickly conquered the country. The Germans set up a puppet state in Croatia with the fascist Ustase in charge. However, Croatia was liberated by partisans in 1945, and afterward, a Communist regime was imposed.

However, during the 1960s nationalism re-emerged in Croatia. Some people demanded more autonomy but in 1971 Tito, the Communist leader put a lid on all demands for reform. However, Tito died in 1980.

Communism collapsed in most of Eastern Europe in 1989. The same year non-Communist organizations were formed in

Croatia. In May 1990 elections were held. The Croatians sought to leave Yugoslavia but there was a substantial minority of Serbs living in Croatia. In May 1991 the Croatians voted for independence. However, on the pretext of protecting Serbs living within Croatian borders, the Yugoslav army invaded, and a long war began.

Meanwhile, the EU nations recognized Croatian independence on 15 January 1992. The war ended in 1995 with the Erdut Agreement. Eastern Slavonia was administered by the UN until 1998 when it was handed over to Croatia.