Yugoslavia - SpeedyLook encyclopedia

The Yugoslavia ( Jugoslavija in the Slavic languages, in Cyrillic Југославија) was the name of a State of Europe of South-east having gathered the current countries of Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia-Herzégovine, Montenegro, Serbia (of which Kosovo ) et' Macedonia .

Yugoslavia corresponded to three different political realities during the 20th century:

the first Yougoslavie' , was a founded Monarchie on February 1st 1918. She was initially baptized: Kingdom of Serb, Croatian and Slovenien the , before being famous Kingdom of Yugoslavia , the January 6th 1929. This state remained until the invasion by the troops of the Axe the April 6th 1941. The capitulation took place afterwards 11 days, the April 17th 1941.
the second Yugoslavia , was a state founded Communiste the November 29th 1945, called first of all democratic Fédération of Yugoslavia , then in 1946: popular Federal republic of Yugoslavia , and finally the April 7th 1963: socialist Federal republic of Yugoslavia . This one survived until the January 15th 1992, when 4 of its federate republics made secession: the Croatia, the Slovenia, the Macedonia and the Bosnia-Herzégovine.
the third Yugoslavia , was a state Fédéral formed in 1992 on the territory of the Serbia (including the territories of Vojvodine and the Kosovo) and of the Montenegro. It was named Federal republic of Yugoslavia . The February 4th 2003, the name " Yougoslavie" was given up and the country will be baptized Communauté of States Serbia-and-Montenegro . It was dissolves in its turn the June 3rd 2006, following the independence of Montenegro.

History of Yugoslavia

Origin

State of Slavic of the south

The idea of a state " yougo-slave" (" yougo" = southern) emerged at the end of the 17th century when it became obvious that Slavic south did not have any hope of autonomy within monarchies Othoman Austro-Hungarian and which dominated them. At the end of the 19th century, eminent intellectuals and Slovenien, Croatian and Serb politicians initiate the Mouvement of Illyriens (`' Ilirski Pokret'') which reaches its apogee after 1867, because of the policy of oppression of the Austria-Hungary towards the movements for freedoms of Slavic of the south, in a system which recognizes only the German-speaking ones and the magyarophones. To leave the dead end, a group of intellectuals brought together around Aurel Popovic proposes in 1906 the creation of the the United States de Grande Austria; unperceived past at the time, this project inspired finally the peace negotiations and the dismantling of the Austria-Hungary in 1918. Whereas the Ottoman Empire weakens, the Serbia the Bulgaria and the Greece are reinforced after the Congrès of Berlin, and the hope of a sovereign state grows at the Slavic ones of the south of Austria-Hungary: the idea of a union appears clearly. At the beginning of the First World War, certain important politicians, in particular Ante Trumbić, Ivan Meštrović, Nikola Stojanović, flees with London and starts has to work with the creation of a " Committee yougoslave" with for mission of representing Slavic south of the empire of Habsbourg.

Language

One of the principal bonds of the " Committee yougoslave" was the Serbo-croatian language spoken in Austria-Hungary, Serbia and with the Montenegro. The Serbo-croatian was recognized by the scientific linguists because there is no Isoglosse between these countries (the speakers include themselves/understand spontaneously, without translator). There are only certain differences of lexicon, conjugation or variation; the principal difference is due to the alphabet: it is Latin among the Croats and Moslems, but Cyrillic at the Serb ones. The Serbo-croatian academic and literary had been codified according to its form spoken in Herzégovine and in Dubrovnik. But since the end of Yugoslavia, officially the Serbo-croatian does not exist any more, each country naming its language " Croate" , " Bosniaque" , " Serbe" or " Monténégrin": their definition is thus more historical and political, that linguistic.

The Yugoslav Committee

The Yugoslav Comité ( Jugoslavenski odbor ) is officially formed the April 30th 1915 with London. It starts to collect funds, mainly near the Slavic ones of the south living in the United States and is taken little by little into account by the allied governments as the fate of the Austro-Hungarian empire becomes more dubious. The principal goal of the Yugoslav Committee was the unification of Slavic south present in the empire of Habsbourg with the Royaume of Serbia, but it thus ran up against the Italian claims on the Istrie and the Dalmatie. In 1915, the allies sign with Italy the Pacte of London, which, in exchange of the entry in war of Italy, promises a great part of the Dalmatie and Istrie to him.

In 1915 the Serb assembly states to work for the release of all the Croatian Serbes, and Slovenien, but the not-Serb members of the committee worry when the allies unconditionally offer to Serbia part of the grounds which had not been promised in Italy, including the Bosnia, the Herzégovine, Bačka and part of the Dalmatie (in gray on the chart). The Croatian members of the Committee, who wished a federation with strong local autonomies, fear a pure and simple division certain Croatian territories between Italy and Serbia.

Another quarrel divided the Committee in connection with the designation and of the command of units the Slavic ones of the south of the old army Austro-Hungarian, prisoners in Russia and mobilized to fight with the allies. The Committee wishes to see them fighting under the name of " Yougoslaves" , whereas Nikola Pašić, Prime Minister of Serbia, wants that they fight under the Serb flag.

Thus, within a Yugoslav Committee with dominant humanistic, unifying and federator, centrifugal tendencies or hegemonists are done day: they will not prevent the constitution of Yugoslavia, but threaten already its stability.

The pact of Corfou

Between June and July 1917, the Yugoslav committee meets the Serb government with Corfou and the July 20th, a declaration which establishes the foundation of a state is signed. The preamble declares that Serb, Croatian and Slovenien ones are identical by blood and the language. The new State will be named Royaume of Serb, Croatian and Slovenien the and will be a constitutional monarchy under the dynasty of the Karađorđević.

Unification of the Sloveniens, Croats and Serb

When the empire of Habsbourg crumbles, a National council of the Sloveniens, Croats and Serb is held place in Zagreb the October 6th 1918. The October 29th the Croatian Sabor declares its independence and the creation of the State of the Sloveniens, Croats and Serb. The Yugoslav Committee receives for spot to represent the new state abroad.

Immediately, of the dissensions appear in connection with the terms of the union suggested with Serbia. To the federalistic project of Germanic inspiration, defended especially by the Sloveniens and the Croats, is opposed the Jacobin project and centralizer of French inspiration, defended especially by the Serb ones. Svetozar Pribićević, Serb of Croatia, chairs croato-Serb coalition and vice-president of the state, wishes an immediate union and without conditions. Others, in favor of a Yugoslav federation, was more hesitant, fearing that Serbia annexes simply the south-Slavic territories of ex-Austria-Hungary.

The authority of the National council was limited and the Italians advanced to annex more territories that those which had been conceded to them by the agreement with the Yugoslav Committee. The political opinions were divided and the Serb ministers had said that if the Croats insisted on their own republic or a kind of independence, then Serbia would take only the territories inhabited by the Serb ones and already occupied by the Serb army, letting Croatia manage only vis-a-vis the Italians. After long debates, the National council accepts the union with Serbia, under réseve that the final organization of the state is decided by the future constituent assembly (final declaration).

Most savage opposing to this decision was Croatian Stjepan Radić, president of the Parti country Croatian (HSS).

The Royaume of Serb, Croatian and Slovenien the is declared on February 1st 1918 with Belgrade.

First Yugoslavia

See also: Kingdom of Serb, Croatian and Slovenien the, Kingdom of Yugoslavia

First Yugoslavia is created on February 1st 1918 under the name of Royaume of Serb, Croatian and Slovenien the. The country is consisted the regrouping of several territories:

the kingdom of Serbia (previously independent), of Serbo-croatian language and with orthodoxe Christian majority, but which include current the Macedonia with bulgarophone majority, and Methohie (Kosovo) then already with two thirds albanophone and Moslem woman.
kingdom of Montenegro (previously independent essentially, except the Bouches of Kotor which concerned the crown of Austria), of Serbo-croatian language and with orthodoxe majority.
the Voïvodine (previously Hungarian), mainly of Serbo-croatian and orthodoxe language, but with important minorities Magyar, Rumanian, German and different.
the territory of Bosnia-and-Herzegovine (previously Austro-Hungarian), of Serbo-croatian language, and where catholics, orthodoxe and Moslem were of appreciably equal number.
the Croatia (raising previously of the crown of Hungary for the Zagorje and the Slavonia, and of the crown of Austria for the Dalmatie and Dubrovnik), of Serbo-croatian language and with catholic majority.
the territory of Slovenia (raising previously of the crown of Austria), of Slovenien language and entirely catholic.

With all this diversity, the country however knows a mode of Constitutional monarchy, even if tensions remain. In 1921, the king Alexandre I {{er}} judge useful to dissolve the Communist party. Sometimes but the tensions are exacerbated (not without external influences) and in 1928, a deputy of the Croatian country Party, Stjepan Radić, are assassinated in full Parliament by a colleague Montenegrin won over to Serb nationalism . The king then decides in 1929 to suspend the constitution and to rename the country “Royaume of Yugoslavia”. He then controls in absolute monarch.

Dictatorship of king Alexandre

Alexandre I {{er}} is inspired clearly by the French Jacobinism. He seeks has to alleviate the nationalist tensions and has to discourage the separatist tendencies. Seeking has to create a unit Yugoslavia news, it abolishes the historical areas and redraws the internal borders in banovinas named according to the rivers. Many politicians are imprisoned or assigned with residence under police surveillance, in particular the Communists and Croatian and Bulgarian separatists of Macedonia. The dictatorship does nothing but amplify the nationalist tensions.

In spite of the French support, the policy of Alexandre Ier suffers soon from the opposition of the other European powers whereas the Fascisme and the Nazisme seize the power in Germany and Italy, and that Stalin becomes leading the USSR. None of these three modes is favorable to the policy of Alexandre Ist Italy and Germany wishes to re-examine the treaties signed at the end of the First World War and the Soviet Union is given to find its power on the international plan.

King Alexandre Ier is assassinated in Marseilles in 1934, by Vlado Chernozemski (born Velichko Dimitrov Kerin) member of the revolutionary Organization interior Macedonian. His/her 11 year old son, Pierre II succeeds to him under the regency of the Prince Paul.

The years 1930 in Yugoslavia

The scene international policy at the end of the years 1930 is marked by the aggressive attitude of the totalitarian modes and the certainty that the order set up at the end of the First World War lost its stability and of its force. Under the pressure and the support of fascistic Italy and the Nazi Germany, the Croat Vlatko Maček and his party obtain the creation of the Banovina of Croatia in 1939. The agreement specified that Croatia, from now on autonomous, would remain federate in Yugoslavia, but would have an independent political identity in the international relations.

The Prince Paul yields to the pressure fascistic powers and signs with them, the March 25th 1941 with Vienna (Austria), the tripartite Traité, thus hoping to keep Yugoslavia apart from the war. But this decision weakens the popularity of the regent in a largely pro-allied public opinion, and officers of the army, opposed to this treaty, launch a coup d'etat to the return of the prince, the March 27th. The general Dušan Simović seizes the power, stops the delegation of Vienna, exiles prince Paul and puts an end to regency, giving the absolute capacity to the king pro-ally Pierre II.

Hitler thus attacks Yugoslavia the April 6th 1941, and connects by the invasion of the Greece, which had held the Italians in failure for 6 months in Albania.

Yugoslavia in the Second world war

See also: Yugoslavia in the Second world war, Resistance in Yugoslavia during the Second world war

During the Second world war, Yugoslavia remains neutral until in 1941. This year, wishing to come to assistance of the Italian Armed in difficulty in Greece, the Germany request a right-of-way for its troops. After the Regent agreed to sign an alliance with Germany and Italy, the King, under the influence of the staff of the army, pro-Ally like the public opinion, puts an end to regency. This decision involves the invasion of the country by Germany.

The King must exile himself, the army capitulates and the country is dismantled at once. In north, Slovenia is divided between Germany, Italy and Hungary. Ante Pavelić creates the State independent of Croatia (NDH, which includes the Bosnia-Herzégovine), a Oustachie state combined with the Germany Nazi, while Serbia is occupied and placed under German military administration with the head of a local state marionette the general Milan Nedić. But it is Serbia decreased of Voïvodine (divided between Hungary and Germany), of the Macedonia, divided between Bulgaria and the Italian Albania. The Kosovo also is annexed in Italian Albania, while Italy annexes most of the Croatian coast, and that a State " indépendant" under Italian occupation is created with the Montenegro.

Resistance legitimist of Tchétniks (towards Oustachies initially, then against the German occupation) is organized around Draža Mihajlović, a Serb royalist, called the " general of Balkans" , while that of the communist Partisans develops under the direction of Croatian Josip Broz known as Tito. The civil war in Yugoslavia appeared inevitable.

At the beginning of the civil war, the Allies misent on Mihajlovic, faithful to the government exiled in London, but after Teheran and Yalta, it is Tito which profits from the majority of parachutings. In 1944-45, successful the Tito marshal has to release the country without the direct intervention of the allied countries.

Yugoslavia de Tito

Yugoslavia becomes a State Communiste established in clandestinity the November 29th 1943 with Jajce, with Tito for President.

The period between 1945 and 1950 is characterized by the installation of a communist State and the development of repression against the not-Communists (Churches, nationalist movements as well Croatian as Serb).

After a short period of alignment on the Soviet communist model, Yugoslavia, unlike the other communist countries of Central and Eastern Europe, chooses a way independent of the the USSR. That was possible because Tito was released only from the occupation Nazi E, without the direct aid of the Red Army , and because in Teheran and Yalta, the shares of Western and Soviet influence had been fixed at equality (against 90% of Soviet influence in the other European, and 90% Eastern European countries of Western influence in Greece). Extremely of this geopolitical balance, Tito breaks definitively with Stalin in 1948, and Yugoslavia to the Warsaw Pact created in 1955 does not make adhere. On the economic plan, it gradually sets up at the point a socio-economic system, the Autogestion where the companies are managed by those which work there, and not in a way centralized by the State, as in orthodoxe Communism.

The socialist republic of Yugoslavia was a Federal state made up of six republics:

Bosnia-Herzégovine (capital Sarajevo)
Croatia (capital Zagreb)
Macedonia (capital Skopje)
Montenegro (capital Titograd, become again today Podgorica)
Serbia (capital Belgrade)
Slovenia (capital Ljubljana).

The republic of Serbia included/understood moreover two autonomous regions (Kosovo and Voïvodine), since the constitutional reform of 1974.

Tito said that “Yugoslavia has six Republics, five nations, four languages, three religions, two alphabets and only one party. ”

Initially there was indeed in these six republics, five nationalities recognized ( Narodi ): Sloveniens of Slovenien language and Catholic religion, Croats of Serbo-croatian language and Catholic religion, the Serb ones and Montenegrins of Serbo-croatian language and orthodoxe or Moslem religion, and Macedonians of Bulgarian language and orthodoxe religion. With these Narodi were added the minorities recognized ( narodnosti ) like the Albanian of Kosovo or Macedonia, the Hungarian, the Bulgares or Slovaques of Voïvodine, etc In 1971 the language of the Macedonians is defined like " macédonienne" and a new nationality is officially recognized in Bosnia-Herzégovine, distinct from Serb and also from the " musulmans" in general (faithful of the Islam): it is the Narodi “Musulmans”, which consequently profits in Bosnia from a particular representation, thanks to a system of quotas.

Dislocation of Yugoslavia

See also: Wars of Yugoslavia, Bosniens, Bosnian, Moslem (nationality)

Nationalist resurgences

After the death of Tito in 1980, the tensions are done day, with the rise of the Nationalisme in the various federated republics, a long time contained and channeled by the central capacity.

After the come to power, in the Republic of Serbia, Slobodan Milošević, the threat is done more precise. In April 1987, then number two of the Yugoslav mode, it is sent on mission to the Kosovo, to calm the Serb nationalists who consider being victims of discriminations and violences on behalf of the Albanian majority. At the time of its visit, the police officers local, Albanian, repress a crowd of Serb nationalists who launched stones to them. Milošević, probably considering that crowd was innocent, will be filmed declaring with the Serb ones: " One will strike you never again! ". He became a hero of the Serb nationalists then. In May 1989, he is elected president of the Serbia.

In June 1989, for the 600e birthday of the Battle of Kosovo Polje (marking the defeat of the Kingdom of Serbia against the Ottoman Empire), Slobodan Milošević makes a speech perceived like nationalist and quarrelsome. For its defenders, it shows his wish to continue the heritage titist of cohabitation of the Balkan people in Serbia and Yugoslavia. The speech wants to be reassuring: " Of the reports/ratios of equality and harmony between the Yugoslav people represents an essential condition for the survival of Yugoslavia, an exit victorious of the crisis, and especially for the economic prosperity and social of the country. ".

The Yugoslav economy is badly in point since the beginning of the years 1980, a situation accentuated by the output of the communist model. On the one hand, the the IMF prescribes Draconian reforms and on the other hand, the easy republics of North (Croatia and Slovenia) feel dispossessed of their richnesses, shared with the poor areas of the south of Yugoslavia.

In spite of few economic successes of the Prime Minister Ante Marković making it possible Yugoslavia to approach the market economy, the central capacity is worried by this crisis and the questioning of the unit of the country. One of the solutions under consideration by the government of Slobodan Milošević is the concentration of the capacities in Serbia, by removing the autonomy of the provinces like the Voïvodine and the Kosovo. Kosovo is populated has Albanian 90% who wished the statute of Republic and either of province for their area. Autonomy implies in particular a right of Veto, which, for the capacity in Belgrade, would harm the effectiveness to impose economic reforms.

This refusal to create a republic with the Kosovo echoes also a fear of Serb, to see the Albanians of Kosovo getting rid of Serb of the Kosovo, increasingly minority. It is what the " wanted to show; Memorandum of the Academy of Science of Belgrade" in 1985 (intended to give a progress report on the situation of the republic) by denouncing a risk of " ethnic Purification " on behalf of the Albanians. This fear was interpreted like the nationalist ideology of Slobodan Milošević. Indeed, this last develops the idea that the Serb ones should be protected, in Yugoslavia and Serbia increasingly corroded by nationalism. The League of the Communists of Yugoslavia, old sole party of Serbia and Yugoslavia, regarded as taboo nationalism, until the problems of the Kosovo and nationalisms Albanian and Serb appear.

Milošević is considered by much, in its party, like a nationalist. This label was in particular propagated by Dragiša Pavlović, influential member of its party and adversary of Slobodan Milošević in the conquest of the capacity for the presidency in 1987. However, this expression takes a particular direction within the League of the Serb Communists. It indicates those, as Milošević which put at the day order the Serb question in Serbia, vis-a-vis the claims of other nationalities, even if it could be a question of making a success of a cohabitation (see the speech of Kosovo Polje).

In 1990, the first free elections and pluralist proceed in Bosnia-Herzégovine, in Macedonia, Serbia, Slovenia and Croatia (see Croatian Parliamentary election of 1990 for Croatia) according to in that the movement of democratization engaged in Eastern Europe one year before. Bosnia-Herzégovine, Macedonia, Slovenia and Croatia elects presidents favorable to pluralism and freedom fighters. In Serbia, where the Serb Radical party of Vojislav Šešelj is minority, and at the Montenegro the Communist party preserves the capacity.

In Bosnia-Herzégovine, they are nationalist parties of three nationalities (Croatian, Moslem and Serb) which gain the elections.

In Slovenia, Milan Kučan leaves victorious. It is favorable to the independence of Slovenia.

The new president of the Croatia, Franjo Tuđman, is also for a dissociation of Yugoslavia. He seeks a financing near the Croats expatriates, plus extremist that the Croats of Croatia. This influence is found with the HDZ, which calls with the establishment of Croatia in its natural and historical borders . That would extend the Croatia to the river Drina and would include part of the Bosnia-Herzégovine populated mainly Croats, as well as part of the Serbia of today. Many of its political decisions are seen by the Serb ones like an implicit rehabilitation ideology the Oustachis, in particular the choice of the flag with checkerwork red and white, Croatian symbol dating from the king Tomislav but who was also used also by the Oustachis (In answer has these charge, the order of the checkerwork is reversed). The party of Tudjman, HDZ, purging the Republic of Croatia of a great number of civils servant pro-Communist, a great number of these civils servant being Serb, this measurement also is taken as an attack towards the Serb ones of Croatia. The Slovenia of Milan Kučan and the Croatia of Franjo Tuđman seek to obtain their independence. Thus, they try to create in a clandestine way an army, financed mainly by the Germany. They try to make pass Yugoslavia for a artificial creation and the Serbia like the last bastion of the Communisme to Europe . Although the Sloveniens often showed the Kosovo to waste their high content in development assistances, of the thousands of them mobilize and give their support for the minors Kosovan strikers.

The Serb ones of some municipalities of Croatia, feel injured and persecuted. Contrary to Serb of Zagreb, which requires negotiations and a compromise, the Serb ones of Krajina prefer a violent way, while being caught some to the Croats. The Serb République of Krajina, whose capital is Knin, is unilaterally proclaimed the February 28th 1991 by the Serb nationalist Milan Babić, and ends up extending on nearly a quarter to the Croatian territory. The first shots are drawn in spring 1991. The Serb authorities of Belgrade give a support for the nationalist combatants, going until dissuading an intervention from the Croatian forces, by the use of the federal air forces.

The independence of Slovenia and Croatia

Following a referendum, boycotted by the majority of Serb of Croatia, and as their constitution allows it, the June 25th 1991, the Slovenia and the Croatia declare to them Indépendance.

The Germany, the Austria and the the Vatican give their diplomatic and financial support. Germany is the first European country, after the the Vatican, to recognize Croatia and Slovenia on December 23rd, followed by the other European countries on January 15th, 1992. Recently reunified, it makes its return on the scene international policy, and especially European. It seeks to establish sphere of influence, whose formation would be facilitated by the Yugoslav disintegration, who would allow to integrate into it the Slovenia and the Croatia, considered to be comparable to Western Europe. The bursting of Yugoslavia appears, following this diagram, like a natural consequence of the impossibility of cohabitation of two cultural zones, inherited in the south the Empire Austro-Hungarian, and in the north of the Ottoman Empire, dislocated at the time of the Guerres of Balkans and the First World War.

The support of the the Vatican can be also included/understood by the fact that the Church seeks to restore the importance of the Christianisme in Balkans, in regression since disappearance in 1918 of the Empire Austro-Hungarian.

The federal Armed (JNA), mainly made up of Serb and Montenegrins and directed by the Slovenien Konrad Klosek, charged with guaranteeing the Yugoslav unit, intervenes against the two republics secessionists. Violent ones confrontations follow, against the militia of the Croatia and the Slovenia. Scattered along the border, of the units of the JNA are catches with the trap by Slovenien forces ten times more , and go quickly. The Slovenia, by this short war (June 27th - July 6th) of ten days, is submitted to the international community like an attacked nation.

The European Economic community, which did not come to a conclusion yet about the recognition of these two republics, sets up, the August 27th 1991, the Commission Badinter, charged with reflecting on the question. The final decisions have a character of jurisprudence. The Commission recognizes the independence of the Slovenia and the Croatia, under the terms of the right uti possidetis , applied for the Décolonisation, which recognizes independence inside the administrative borders, delimited by Yugoslavia for needs for decentralization. The Badinter commission declares Yugoslavia " in dissolution" , " in désintégration" , or " in démembrement" , which makes null and void the Yugoslav constitution from the point of view of the European Community, and encourages the secessions.

The the United States of America and the the IMF recognize also the two republics.

In 1991, complicities between Serb of Serbia the, Serb ones of the Serb Republic of Krajina and Serbes of Bosnia-Herzégovine are reinforced. These Serb is represented by nationalist and preserving parties, in particular the Serb Democratic party of Radovan Karadžić. This situation of fold of the Serb capacity in Serbia to gather " all the Serb ones in État" , mark a turning, since it is combined with violent and radical nationalism.

The independence of Bosnia

In Bosnia, as in Croatia and Slovenia, was held the same process for independence. Following a referendum, boycotted by the majority of Serb of Bosnia, and as their constitution allows it, the February 29th 1992, the Bosnia declares its Indépendance.

The recognition of the republic independent of Bosnia, by the European Economic community, was done under the same conditions as the recognition of Croatia and Slovenia, in dated April 6th, 1992. This recognition was followed by that of the the United States and its admission to the Fonds international currency. Following what, on May 22nd, 1992, Bosnia, Croatia and Slovenia were allowed in the United Nations.

However as for Croatia and Slovenia, Bosnia is attacked by the Yugoslav army under Serb command, supported by the Serb militia, and the Serb ones of Bosnia.

The Croatian war of independence

The war in Bosnia

The war of Kosovo

End of Yugoslavia

In 2002, Serbia and the Montenegro manage a new bearing agreement on their future co-operation, comprising, inter alia changes, the end of Yugoslavia. The February 4th 2003, the federal Parliament of Yugoslavia dissolves the country and accepts the creation of a limited federation of the two remaining States. The new union of the two States is called Serbia-and-Montenegro. June 3rd, 2006, Montenegro declared its independence following a referendum in favor of the separation of Serbia.

Geography and geology of Yugoslav space

The Karst in space ex-Yugoslavian

to also see Karstologie

The Karst is a specific geological phenomenon which causes an original lifestyle. Yugoslav space has a very wide zone of karst, with all the stages of evolution. It is the “traditional” country of Karst for the geologists.

Karstic zones

the karst dinaric: it is directed NO towards SE and is spread out over 700 km, with a width of approximately 80/90 km. Its surface is of 56000 km ², that is to say 22% of Yugoslav space, and it is occupied by only 12% the population.
In the the Alps juliennes
Zagreb: mountain of Samobor
central Bosnia
Eastern Bosnia: valley of the Drina
Montenegro: mountain of the Orjen
Serbia: Sandjak, Eastern Serbia, Macedonia.

Phenomena related to the karst

hanging valleys: the small brooks and the rivers do not have the same rate/rhythm of depression, and that creates cascades. Traffic jams.
the soluble rock: the rainwater contains carbonic gas which dissolves limestone, which causes additional phenomena: water widens the diaclases gradually, creating cracks on the surface of several centimetres. It is lapiez them or chkrapa. When lapiez it crumbles, of the blocks of rocks the ones pile up on the others.
the Doline S: or Vrtatcha. Limestone contains a little clay, which settles at the bottom. Water corrodes on the sides, creating very round dolines, which can even reach tens of the hundreds meters in diameter.

The karstic territories account for 30% of Yugoslav space. It is a phenomenon related to the rock Calcaire: 1000 m of Sediment S quasi pure. Limestone dinaric continues until in lower part of the sea level. This hard and permeable stone is traversed microscopic cracks, the Diaclase S, in which water infiltrates. The rock absorbs it, there is little streaming in the zones of karst. However, of the rivers cross it, like the Neretva, the Krka. These rivers do not collect water in Karst. They lose a part and tend of it to dig Canyon S in limestone, which creates abrupt walls.

Uvala

Of irregular form, it can make kilometers broad and is related to the coalescence of several hills. Sometimes, clay is swept by the wind, it then creates for itself a secondary doline at the bottom of the uvala. The clay soil is fertile, certain uvalas are inhabited. There exists a water problem.

The karstic polje

It can be the result of the junction of several uvalas, but in general it is of tectonic origin. All the polje of karst dinaric are in the same direction (crumpling of the relief). All the polje are not karstic.

The uvala is dry, whereas the polje is crossed by a river. In general, their period of flood varies between a few days and a few months.

Alteration work was carried out to increase the Swallowhole. Its flood blocks agriculture. The phase of Blato (sludge) which follows the flood can last several weeks. Certain polje are well arranged and do not have a flood like the polje of Cetinje.

See too

External bonds

Random links:

Franco-German relations | Dam Cleuson | Cameron Murray | RADIX-50 | Acido-basic metabolism