In 1918, after the dissolution of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, a Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes is created; soon the country will be named Yugoslavia.
In 1941-1944 during the Second World War the country is occupied by Germany and Italy. Communist partisans under the leadership of Josip Broz Tito fight actively and successfully against the occupying armies.
In 1945 the creation of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia is announced (it consists of 6 republics). A Sovietisation of the country is launched.
1948 – The Soviet-Yugoslav split, which ends with the breaking of relations between Belgrade and Moscow.
1949 – Marshal Josip Broz Tito, the leader of Yugoslavia, is forced to conclude trade treaties with the West because of a Soviet economic blockade; Belgrade receives economic and military help also from the US.
1974 – in order to check the Serbian dominance in Yugoslavia, Tito creates two autonomous provinces within the republic of Serbia, Kosovo and Vojvodina. Kosovo's population is predominantly Albanian and Vojvodina's population predominantly Hungarian.
1980 Josip Broz Tito, the long-time leader who was able to handle inter-ethnic conflicts effectively, dies.
1980s - economic crisis fuels inter-ethnic disputes.
1988 conflicts between the autonomous provinces and Serbia, riots in Kosovo.
1989 Slobodan Miloševic, a radical nationalist, becomes the president of Serbia, then part of Yugoslavia.
January 1990 the extraordinary Congress of the Communist League of Yugoslavia is unable to solve disagreements between republics. As a result the all-Yugoslav Communist Party dissolves. Communist dictatorship comes to an end and a transition to a multi-party system begins.
1990 constituent republics of Yugoslavia hold democratic elections and declare their sovereignty within Yugoslavia.
August 1990 armed conflicts begin in Croatia - this marks the start of Yugoslav Wars.
1991 Croatia, Slovenia and Macedonia and in 1992 Bosnia declare independence.
28 April 1992 the creation of a Federal Republic of Yugoslavia is announced. It consists of the former Socialist Republic of Serbia and the former Socialist Republic of Montenegro.
2006 Montenegro and Serbia declare themselves independent republics. This marks the dissolution of the remnants of the former Yugoslavia.