July 2010
To add to my list of Interesting People to Learn More About: Josip Broz Tito, leader of Yugoslavia in one position or another from 1943-1980. When he passed away on May 4, 1980, just before his 88th birthday, he was serving as the life long President of Yugoslavia. In one of the largest state funerals in history, 128 countries were represented, including leaders from both Communist and non-Communist countries. Though born in Croatia under the Austro-Hungarian Empire (see Budapest and Vienna posts), he chose to be buried in his simplistically beautiful winter garden known as The House of Flowers (Kuca Cveda) at his residence in Belgrade. Most of the surrounding rooms now have memorabilia from his life. Belgrade was the capital of Yugoslavia as well as the Republic of Serbia.
When traveling, I like to find out how the people view their leaders and compare it to the impressions I have gained through the filter of my American eyes and ears. I had viewed Tito as a moderate socialist dictator, but did not appreciate how positively many of the people of the former Yugoslavia look back "to the good times" of his rule. One guide said he went from a brutal to a benevolent dictator as the years went on. But was this a genuine transformation or a masterful manipulation or something in between? With the dissolution of Yugoslavia and the Balkan Wars that followed, I can understand why some would look back fondly on those years.
However one views Tito, he was a remarkable leader. Captured by the Russians in WWI, he became a Bolshevik and returned to the Balkans as a leader in the Communist movement. He led the Partisan forces against the conquering Nazis and became viewed as the liberator of Yugoslavia in WWII. He had a strained relationship with Stalin, and at one time told Stalin to stop sending assassins to kill him or he would send Stalin one that wouldn't miss. He defied the Soviets, established cordial relationships with Western nations, and was one of the founders of the Non-Aligned Movement of nations that would not give allegiance to either side of the Cold War.
Over the years, he allowed more free enterprise, greater religious tolerance, more independence to the republics, and opened his borders to travel both in and out of the country. For many years, Youth Day was held on his birthday when a relay through the country would bring him a torch. Parts of many of these torches are displayed at the House of Flowers.
But Tito was not without controversy. His greatest success in establishing "Brotherhood and Unity" came at the price of nationalist suppression in the tempestuous Balkan area. (Yugoslavia only became a nation in the peace terms of WWI). In his personal life, Tito had a series of wives and lovers and at one time had 32 residences. So, in the end, was he a "dictator" or a popular elected leader? And how did he unify the Balkan states for nearly 40 years--loyalty, fear, or something else?
On the grounds of his Belgrade residence is the History of Yugoslavia Museum which contains many of the gifts that were given to Tito. However, rather than gleaming metals or rare jewels, I was impressed that he seemed to treasure the craftsmanship of the people. On display are wonderful costumes of the regions of Yugoslavia, musical instruments, and other handmade items. And what gifts did Tito give to the people? Independence from Soviet oppression, relative prosperity, and peace. Only 11 years after his death, that fragile peace disintegrated into the Balkan Wars (see Vukovar post).
Instead of my traditional slideshow, there is a Flicker group of photos of the costumes (my mother would have loved them). Sorry for the light reflections. I didn't have my camera's polaroid filter with me.
Click link for Flicker photos: (New problem to work out: link will take you to Flicker, but it doesn't bring you back to the blog. You will have to re-enter the blog site for now)
Gifts to Tito
Coming Post: Viva Viminacium, Serbia
Additional Information:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yugoslavia#1918.E2.80.931928
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Josip_Broz_Tito
However one views Tito, he was a remarkable leader. Captured by the Russians in WWI, he became a Bolshevik and returned to the Balkans as a leader in the Communist movement. He led the Partisan forces against the conquering Nazis and became viewed as the liberator of Yugoslavia in WWII. He had a strained relationship with Stalin, and at one time told Stalin to stop sending assassins to kill him or he would send Stalin one that wouldn't miss. He defied the Soviets, established cordial relationships with Western nations, and was one of the founders of the Non-Aligned Movement of nations that would not give allegiance to either side of the Cold War.
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