Croatians and Serbs: the difference, the history of the conflict, interesting facts and characteristics of the character

It's hard to believe, but between the Balkan Slavs there were no extraordinary differences. Until the XIX century, the most friendly people were precisely Croats and Serbs. The difference still existed, but only religious! The Croats were under the powerful influence of Italy and Austria throughout the Middle Ages. The first Croatian settlements arose on the Mediterranean territory in the VII century.

These events are connected with the search for the salvation of the Slavic tribes from the Avars, the Germans and the Huns scattered throughout the country. Most of all the Slavs were chosen by the possessions of today's Zagreb with its adjoining territories. However, they did not manage to reach the prosperous lands of the coast, which was under the leadership of the Romans. Then the Slavs created several autonomous principalities.

Croatia as part of Hungary

Toward the tenth century, the Croats enlisted the assistance of Byzantium, gathered considerable power to create a cohesive state. Even to this day, the Croatian people like to focus on their Christianity. The initial period of recovery did not last long, until internal disagreements became a threat to state unity. Then the nobility of the Commonwealth in 1102 recognized as its sovereign Kalman I, the Hungarian king. As a result, Croatia became part of the Kingdom of Hungary. At the same time, the parties agreed that Kalman would leave unchanged the administrative and political structure, aristocratic privileges.

Hunger of the Hungarian Kingdom

While under Hungarian rule, the Croats had to share many difficult historical changes with this kingdom. Unquestionably, the most significant damage was caused by the attacks of the Ottomans. Due to the fact that these offensive operations were continuously moving to the north, in 1553 the Hungarian government militarized the border territories of Slovenia, Croatia. The tense military condition lasted for 25 years. During this time, most residents moved to more secure areas.

However, the Turkish army under the leadership of the Ottoman Sultan Suleyman the Great broke through the defense. Moreover, the army was able to approach the gates of Vienna, but it was not possible to capture the city itself. In 1593, the Battle of Sisak forced the Ottomans to leave the conquered Croatian lands. Only Bosnian neighborhoods remained in their possession.

Unity and strife of two Slavic peoples

Being influenced by the Austrians and Hungarians, the Croats lost their national identity imperceptibly. However, the feeling of a single contempt for the Turkish invaders was felt simultaneously by the Croats and the Serbs. The only difference was in one - the discrepancy of traditions. However, the sense of hatred for the usurper was much stronger than the unimportant differences in customs. Examples of the fighting unity of the Croatian and Serbian rebels are not number! Together they fought with the sworn Ottoman invaders, as well as with the equally repugnant Habsburgs.

In 1918, a favorable situation arose - the collapse of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. The event that happened made it possible to disconnect the southern lands. So the united kingdom of Yugoslavia was formed. In principle, the ousting of the Turks and the formation of a separate kingdom should have brought the Slavic peoples closer together. However, everything happened the other way around ...

The cause of the first conflicts

The first bursts of rivalry appeared after the end of the second Russo-Turkish war. Then the true story of the conflict between Serbs and Croats began! The need for the reconstruction of the Balkans has turned into an enmity that has not subsided to this day.

In fact, simultaneously emerging, rapidly gaining recognition, two currents running counter to. Serbian minds put forward the concept of "Great Yugoslavia". And the system center must be formed exactly in Serbia. The reaction to this statement was the appearance of the nationalist edition "The name of the Serb", written by the dashing hand of Ante Starchevich.

Undoubtedly, these events developed long ago. However, to this day there is an insurmountable barrier that Croats and Serbs can not resolve between themselves. The difference between the two fraternal nationalities is distorted even in understanding the most urgent issue for them. If for the Serbian the guest is the one whom the owner feeds, then for the Croats it is the one who feeds the owner.

Father of the Croatian Nation

Ante Starchevich first submitted the idea that Croats are not Slavs! Like, they are the offspring of the Germans, hastily becoming Slavic-speaking, because in this way they want to lead the Balkan slaves better. What a terrible irony of fate! The mother of "the father of the Croatian nation" was Orthodox, and her father was a Catholic.

Despite the fact that the parents were Serbs, the son became the ideological leader of Croatia, who disseminated the concept of the genocide of Serbs in his country. It is noteworthy that his closest friend was the Jew Joseph Frank. Although Ante Starchevich was deeply averse to this nation. Joseph himself also became a nationalist of the Croats, adopting Catholicism.

As you can see, the author's fantasy developed unlimitedly. Sad in this story is one thing. Starvic's delirious farewells resonated in the hearts of Croatian youth. As a result, a series of Serbian pogroms swept through Dalmatia and Slavonia at the beginning of the century. At that time, it would not even have occurred to anyone that the Croats were artificially converted Serbs!

For example, under the leadership of the "father of the nation" from September 1 to September 3, 1902, together with his friend Frank, Croats in Karlovc, Slavonski Brod, Zagreb were destroyed by Serbian shops and workshops. They unintentionally invaded houses, threw away personal property, and beat them.

Shaky world of a single kingdom

One of the results of the First World War was the emergence of a united kingdom. Many historical facts confirm the involvement of the Serbs in the furious rejection of the Slovenes and Croats within the Kingdom.

The economy in Slovenia, Croatia was more developed. Therefore they, in turn, were asked a fair question. Why do we need to feed the poor metropolis? It is much better to form an autonomous state, living in clover. In addition, for the Serb every Orthodox Slav has always been and will remain foreign!

Croatian genocide

The existence of the kingdom of Yugoslavia did not last long - the Second World War began. In 1941, on April 6, German aircraft attacked Belgrade. Only two days later, the Nazi army had already seized the territory. During the war the fanatical popularity of the Ustasha Ante Pavelic was gained. Croatia became a German mercenary.

Belgrade historians are sure that the approximate number of killed by the Ustashi is 800 thousand Gypsies, Jews and Serbs. Only 400 people managed to escape to Serbia. The Croats themselves do not refute this amount, but they say that most of them are partisans, who perished with weapons in their hands. Serbs, in turn, are sure that 90% of the victims are civilians.

If today the tourist accidentally finds himself on Serbian soil, it is possible that the owners will show a loyal interest in the guest. The Croatian side - on the contrary! Even in spite of the absence of cumbersome Asian barriers, wickets any illegal appearance in their personal space is perceived as a manifestation of rudeness. Based on this information, you can clearly imagine who Croats are, Serbs. Characteristics of the characters are most pronounced in the mentality of these two peoples.

Nazis and martyrs

After the war Yugoslavia was influenced by the USSR. The new state was led by Josip Broz Tito, who ruled with an iron hand until his death. At the same time, Tito did not take the advice of his closest friend, Moshe Piade, deliberately mixing the indigenous population of Slovenia and Croatia with the Serbs. After 1980, because of political and territorial conflicts in Yugoslavia, a split gradually began, in which the Croats and Serbs suffered most. The difference between the two fraternal peoples once again reduced to irreconcilable hostility.

Fought for federalism Croats still under the Habsburgs did not want to adapt to the Serbs. Also, the Croats did not want to admit that the very birth of the southern Slavic state is solely due to the sufferings and military victories of the Serbs. The Serbs, in turn, were not going to compromise with those who had only recently withdrawn their Austrian uniform. In addition, resolutely, and at times even cruelly fighting on the side of Austria, the Croats never switched to the Serbian side. Unlike the Slovaks, the Czechs.

War in the country

Later, in the beginning of 1990, there was a disintegration of the USSR, during which the final split of Yugoslavia was followed. As a result, Croatia, having proclaimed independence, disconnected from the country. However, the Serbs in Croatia themselves fomented inter-territorial clashes inside the country. After a short time, this led to a brutal civil war. The Serbian and Yugoslav armies invaded Croatia, capturing Dubrovnik and Vukovar.

Nevertheless, we will try to look impartially at the conflict that has erupted, without division into "left" and "right". The Croats and Serbs. What's the Difference? If we talk about religious motives, we can confidently say that some are Catholics, while others are Orthodox. However, this is the lot of inter-church conflicts, the main purpose of which is exclusively the prosperity of the confessions. Therefore, it should not be forgotten that the Croats with the Serbs are primarily the two fraternal peoples, who, during the whole of the 20th century, were being plagued by their common enemies.

The term "Patriotic War" in Croatia

In Croats civil war is called the Patriotic War. In addition, they are extremely offended, if someone calls it otherwise. Against this background, not even a long time ago, even an international scandal broke out with Switzerland. The country banned the entry into its territory of the Croatian singer Marco Perkovic Thompson. It was alleged that Marco, with his speeches, incited interracial, religious enmity.

When the Swiss rashly used the title "Civil War" in the text, they caused a flurry of emotions in the Croatian Ministry. In response, the Croatian side sent a protest letter bypassing its president Stepan Mesic. Naturally, this act of him caused a fair indignation. Moreover, the president did not like the fact that Croatian officials were defending the hated Thompson, who was really seen repeatedly in fueling conflicts. However, when the question is about precise language, you can close your eyes to the rest.

The culprit of a new war is the Yugoslav army

Undoubtedly, the war was largely civil. Firstly, the internecine conflicts that broke out in the united Yugoslavia began to lay the foundations. In addition, the Serbs, who raised the uprising against the Croatian leadership, were the actual citizens of this country.

Secondly, the war for Croatian autonomy was conducted only at the first time. When Croatia received the international status of independence, the war continued anyway. However, this time the question of renewing the territorial unity of Croatia was resolved. On top of that, this war had a clear religious connotation. However, is there not one in this story that does not give us the name of a civil war, in which only Croats and Serbs participated?

History, as you know, is built exclusively on irrefutable facts! And they say that the Southern People's Army (JNA) acted as the real aggressor of Croatia. In addition, Croatia continued to be part of Yugoslavia, where two Croatian leaders formally presided - President Stepan Mesic and Prime Minister Ante Markovic. By the beginning of the offensive on Vukovar, the Yugoslav army was already lawfully on the territory of Croatia. Therefore, the incursion can not be called aggression from outside.

However, the Croatian side does not want to admit that JNA has never represented Serbia. Prior to the attack on Vukovar, which occurred on August 25, 1991, the JNA acted as the opposing side. Subsequently, the Yugoslav army began to represent only its generals, as well as an insignificant part of the communist leadership.

Is Croatia guilty?

Even after the withdrawal of Yugoslav troops from Eastern Slavonia, Western Sriem and Baranja, JNA still continued its attacks on Croatia. In particular, on Dubrovnik. And a pronounced aggression was manifested by Bosnia, Herzegovina, Montenegro. It is also important to know that the Bosnian Serbs also participated in the attack. Croatia, in turn, also fought against the Army of the Republika Srpska in the territory of Herzegovina, Bosnia.

According to experts, on the Balkan peninsula, the victims of the war, which lasted for four years, became no less than 20 thousand people. Thanks to the UN's assistance, together with other international organizations, in 1995 the war in Croatia was discontinued. Today, all the talk is reduced to the return of refugees, who, in turn, talk more about return than they are going to do.

Undoubtedly, the Serbian-Croatian relations for today are unsuccessfully far from being cloudless. And mutual encounters continue to this day. Especially in those areas that are most affected by military operations. However, the unhealthy demonization of the Croatian people, conducted throughout the 90's and continued by some now, does not coincide with reality at all!