The Balkan War(s); Death of Yugoslavia. Revisited.

[carcinogen]

In an exercise to keep my mind ticking over I'm re-visiting the Balkan conflict of the early nineties. Fucking interesting. I was in my teens and the only vague memory that resonated with me at that time was Denmark qualifying for the Euro's at the expense of Yugoslavia. Looking back, it was a shame, because that Yugoslav team was arguably the most talented European team ever. I still hold that the early 90s Red Star Belgrade team as one of the most technically gifted group of players in European football history. But wait .. WHY were Yugoslavia not allowed to play?

The conflict is relevant to events today; the rise of nationalism, the promotion of separatism; fear of immigrants. Of course, Yugoslavia is unique insofar that is was made of several ethnic republics held together by an iron fist by Tito who quashed any nationalistic flag-waving for the greater-good of the collective. I won't ramble.

If you have any vague interest, I recommend watching the six-part BBC documentary 'The Death of Yugoslavia' as a primer. It's really rather excellent. All the main players give their versions of events and it offers genuine insight. Watching it really hits home how sanitised and editorialised the BBC has become.

The Death of Yugoslavia

If you get through this and are interested, let me know and I'll post a reading list. Don't want to bore people.

[Steve Hunt]

Tito somehow held the country together.

As soon as he died, it collapsed.

I went to Yugoslavia when he was still alive. The atmosphere was very oppressive and tense. You knew something wasn't right. But at the time I couldn't put my finger on it.

[kancutlawns]

In an exercise to keep my mind ticking over I'm re-visiting the Balkan conflict of the early nineties. Fucking interesting. I was in my teens and the only vague memory that resonated with me at that time was Denmark qualifying for the Euro's at the expense of Yugoslavia. Looking back, it was a shame, because that Yugoslav team was arguably the most talented European team ever. I still hold that the early 90s Red Star Belgrade team as one of the most technically gifted group of players in European football history. But wait .. WHY were Yugoslavia not allowed to play?

The conflict is relevant to events today; the rise of nationalism, the promotion of separatism; fear of immigrants. Of course, Yugoslavia is unique insofar that is was made of several ethnic republics held together by an iron fist by Tito who quashed any nationalistic flag-waving for the greater-good of the collective. I won't ramble.

If you have any vague interest, I recommend watching the six-part BBC documentary 'The Death of Yugoslavia' as a primer. It's really rather excellent. All the main players give their versions of events and it offers genuine insight. Watching it really hits home how sanitised and editorialised the BBC has become.

The Death of Yugoslavia

If you get through this and are interested, let me know and I'll post a reading list. Don't want to bore people.

I got the book in the 1990s when Misha Glenny did the original series. Excellent read and quality programme though it was probably about 20 years ago.

[kancutlawns]

Tito somehow held the country together.

As soon as he died, it collapsed.

I went to Yugoslavia when he was still alive. The atmosphere was very oppressive and tense. You knew something wasn't right. But at the time I couldn't put my finger on it.

Tito managed to suppress the centuries old medieval friction in check with his strong arm tactics just like Saddam in Iraq. It all badly splintered with the Bosnian Serb paramilitaries, the Soviet backed Chetniks of Serbia and the Ustasha fascists of Croatia.

Read the other day in the New York Post that the Kremlin's stoking tensions in the Balkans and building up anti EU sentiments. Things are simmering with Kosovo once more and it could get a little nasty. The crowd violence between Serbia and Kosovo in a recent Euro qualifier shows how volatile things are.

[The Tick]

People should not forget the role played i the destruction of Yugoslavia by Germany's arms supplies to the Croats in the 1990s.

There was bad blood going back to occupations by the Nazis, Austro-Hungarians and Turks.

Yugoslavia should have stayed together but certain powers wanted to destroy the only remaining socialist nation in Europe (but one that had been open and neutral in the cold war), and by dark forces internally.

[finchman]

I remember Tito having his leg amputated.

[kancutlawns]

I remember Tito having his leg amputated.

Did he play in an FA Cup final with two broken legs though?

[AlcoholBrazil]

Some horrible deeds were done in that era. And I don't mean the fake sniping at Hillary Clinton.