Croatia was part of Hungary until it helped found the "Kingdom of the Serbs, Croats, and Slovenes" in 1918. It wasn't until 1929 that they came up with a slightly shorter name: Kingdom of Yugoslavia. Hitler proceeded to crush Yugoslavia after a coup overthrew the pro-Nazi regime, and the area of Croatia became a fascist puppet-state called the Independent State of Croatia. By 1947, Croatia was once again part of the Yugoslav Republic. Croatia declared independence in 1991, and spent the next five years bitterly fighting with both Yugoslavia and separtists within its own borders. The end of the fight saw prominent officials in charge of Croatian offensives charged with crimes against humanity. In 1998, the UN helped to peacefully unite the rest of the country. Croatia has a rich cultural heritage stretching over 1,300 years. Nikola Tesla, the inventor of wireless radio and AC electricity, was a Croatian. Croatia is a rich source of art, literature, music, and the home of the necktie.
Croatia on Wikipedia
