Pre-Crisis Phase (November 29, 1945-April 6, 1971): Croatia became one of the six republics of the Federal People’s Republic of Yugoslavia on November 29, 1945. Croatian nationalists began an autonomy movement against the Yugoslav government during a meeting of the Central Committee of the League of Communists of Croatia (LCC) in Zagreb on January 15-17, 1970. The LCC was the only legal political party in Yugoslavia.
Crisis Phase (April 7, 1971-July 24, 1991): Croatian nationalists shot Yugoslav Ambassador Vladimir Rolovic in Stockholm on April 7, 1971, and the ambassador died of the wounds on April 15, 1971. Some 30,999 Croatian students went on strike in support of Croatian nationalism beginning on November 23, 1971. The Yugoslav government forced the resignations of several Croatian nationalists from the Croatian government beginning on December 12, 1971. Government troops and Croatian nationalists (Utashi) clashed near Maribor on June 26-July 27, 1972, resulting in the deaths of 19 nationalists and 13 government soldiers. The central committee of the LCC expelled several Croatian nationalists from the party on May 8, 1972. Government police and Croatian nationalists clashed near Rijeka on October 29, 1974, resulting in the deaths of two nationalists and one government policeman. Fifteen Croatian nationalists were sentenced to prison terms in Zadar for subversive activities on February 17, 1975. Croatians protested against the government on July 2-5, 1998. The Croatian Democratic Union (Hrvatska Demokratska Zajednica – HDZ) was established by Franjo Tudjman on February 28, 1989. Legislative elections were held in the Croatian republic on April 22 and May 6-7, 1990, and the HDZ won 208 out of 349 seats in the parliament. Franjo Tudjman was elected president of the Croatian republic by the Croatian assembly on May 30, 1990. Croatians voted for independence from Yugoslavia in a referendum held on May 19, 1991. Croatia declared its independence from Yugoslavia on June 25, 1991. The European Community (EC) imposed military sanctions (arms embargo) against the Yugoslav government and Croatian nationalists on July 5, 1991.
Conflict Phase (July 25, 1991-January 2, 1992): Yugoslav government tanks shelled the Croatian town on Erdut on July 25, 1991, resulting in the deaths of nine Croatian military personnel. Yugoslav military aircraft attacked the Croatian town on Kostajnica on July 30, 1991, resulting in the deaths of two Croatian policemen. Lord Carrington, Special Envoy of the EC, mediated negotiations between Yugoslav and Croatian representatives beginning on July 31, 1991. Foreign Minister Hans-Dietrich Genscher of Germany threatened diplomatic recognition of Croatian independence if the Yugoslav government continues to support Serbian rebels in Croatia. EC Special Envoy Lord Carrington mediated the signing of a ceasefire agreement by the parties in Belgrade on September 2, 1991, but the parties continued military hostilities. The EC deployed the European Community Monitoring Mission (ECMM) consisting of some 200 observers headed by Ambassador Dirk Van Houten of the Netherlands and Brig. General G. H. Eleveld of the Netherlands to monitor the ceasefire beginning on September 5, 1991. The Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe (CSCE) imposed military sanctions (arms embargo) against the Yugoslav government and Croatian nationalists on September 4, 1991. The EC mediated a cessation of military hostilities on September 18, 1991, but Yugoslav government troops launched a military offensive against Croatian military forces on September 20, 1991. The United Nations (UN) Security Council imposed military sanctions (arms embargo) against the Yugoslav government and Croatian nationalists on September 25, 1991. Yugoslav government naval ships attacked Croatian towns on the Adriatic coast beginning on October 1, 1991. Yugoslav military forces began a blockade of Dubrovnik on October 2, 1991. The Croatian government declared Croatia’s immediate secession from Yugoslavia on October 7, 1991. Yugoslav military aircraft attacked the presidential palace and parliament building in Zagreb on October 7, 1991. President Mikhail Gorbachev appealed for a ceasefire on October 8, 1991. UN Secretary-General Javier Perez de Cuellar appointed Cyrus Vance of the US as Special Envoy for Yugoslavia on October 8, 1991. EC foreign ministers imposed economic sanctions (trade embargo) against the Yugoslav government on November 8, 1991. The U.S. government imposed economic sanctions (trade embargo) against the Yugoslav government on November 10, 1991. The Japanese government imposed economic sanctions (suspension of economic assistance) against the Yugoslav government on November 13, 1991. Yugoslav naval forces bombarded the Croatian port of Split on November 15, 1991. UN Special Envoy Cyrus Vance mediated a ceasefire agreement in Geneva, Switzerland that went into effect on November 23, 1991. The European Community (EC) lifted economic and military sanctions against all Yugoslav republics except Serbia and Montenegro on December 2, 1991. The U.S. government imposed economic sanctions (suspension of duty-free tariff privileges) against all six Yugoslav republics on December 6, 1991. Yugoslav government troops launched a military offensive against Croatian military forces on December 6, 1991. The Ukrainian government diplomatic recognized the independence of Croatia on December 12, 1991. On December 15, 1991, the UN Security Council adopted a resolution that approved the deployment of a small observer team in Croatia. The governments of Germany and Iceland provided diplomatic assistance (diplomatic recognition) to the Croatian government on December 19, 1991. Yugoslav military forces launched a military assault against the city of Karlovac on December 26-30, 1991, resulting in the deaths of eleven individuals. Yugoslav and Croatian representatives agreed to a cessation of military hostilities mediated by UN Special Envoy Cyrus Vance on January 2, 1992. Some 10,000 individuals were killed during the conflict. Some 215,000 Croatians were internally-displaced during the conflict, and some 250,000 Croatians fled as refugees to neighboring countries.
Post-Conflict Phase (January 3, 1992-April 27, 1992): The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and Medicins Sans Frontieres (MSF) provided humanitarian assistance to individuals displaced during the conflict. Yugoslav military aircraft shot down a European Community Monitoring Mission (ECMM) helicopter on January 7, 1992, resulting in the deaths of five ECMM personnel. The Vatican City provided diplomatic assistance (diplomatic recognition) to the Croatian government on January 13, 1992. The European Community (EC), along with the governments of Austria, Australia, Canada, Hungary, Norway, Poland, Switzerland, and Bulgaria, provided diplomatic assistance (diplomatic recognition) to the Croatian government on January 15, 1992. The Russian government provided diplomatic assistance (recognition) to Croatia on February 17, 1992. The International Rescue Committee (IRC) established a mission consisting of six individuals to provide humanitarian assistance to Croatians in February 1992. Croatian militiamen clashed with Yugoslav troops in Neum on March 23, 1992, resulting in the deaths of six Yugoslav soldiers and two Croatian militiamen. The U.S. government provided diplomatic assistance (recognition) to the Croatian government on April 7, 1992. The European Community (EC) lifted economic sanctions against the Yugoslav government on April 7, 1992. The government of Yugoslavia (Serbia and Montenegro) recognized the independence of Croatia on April 27, 1992.
[Sources: Banks and Muller, 1998, 232-237; Degenhardt, 1988, 417-419; Ference, 1994, 393-436; Keesing’s Record of World Events, April 22-29, 1972, November 4-11, 1972, March 19-25, 1973, September 17-23, 1973, August 5-11, 1974, March 17-23, 1975, March 19, 1976, June 1991, August 1991, September 1991, October 1991, November 1991, December 1991, January 1992, April 1992; Time Magazine, December 27, 1971.]