Dizzy

  • What Happened
    • Survivor Stories
    • History & Analysis
    • External Resources
    • Our Impact: Stories behind the Statistics
  • Our Work
    • About Us
      • The Charity
      • Staff
      • Regional & Country Boards
      • Academic Advisory Board
      • President and Patrons
      • APPG on Srebrenica
      • Contact Us
    • Memorial Events
      • Resources and Registration for Event Organisers
      • Past Memorial Events
        • National
        • Local
    • Education
    • Lessons from Srebrenica
    • Supporting Community Action
    • Latest News
    • Videos
    • Frequently Asked Questions – FAQ
  • What You Can Do
    • Resources for Event Organisers
    • Educate
    • We Are One Tournament
    • Build Better Communities
    • Share your Stories
    • Visit Srebrenica
      • Our Visits Programme
      • Bearing Witness
    • Donate
      • Support our work Scotland
      • International Srebrenica Memorial Learning Centre
    • Jobs
  • Our Impact
    • Messages of Support
    • Download Annual Report
    • People Taking Action
    • In The Media
    • Inspiration – Music, Poems and Prayers
    • Memorial Day Reflections
Home Primary What Happened History The History of Bosnia & Herzegovina

The History of Bosnia & Herzegovina

A timeline mapping the history of Bosnia & Herzegovina.

SLAVIC HERITAGE

The Slavs spread to inhabit the Balkans during the 6th century. South Slavic ethnic groups lived mainly in Bosnia and Herzegovina, with a minority present in other countries of the Balkan Peninsula, including Serbia, Montenegro, and Croatia. Bosnia eventually became contested between the Kingdom of Hungary and the Byzantine Empire.

SLAVIC HERITAGE

OTTOMAN RULE

OTTOMAN RULE

After the death of Tvrtko I, and the subsequent collapse of the Kingdom of Bosnia, Murat I began his conquest of Bosnia. The Ottomans brought significant changes to the region, particularly with the introduction of Islam. By the early 1600s, almost two thirds of the population was Muslim. 

OTTOMAN EMPIRE FALLS

The Turkish revolution of 1908 to overthrow the Sultan’s autocratic power resulted in the imminent demise of Ottoman rule. Upon hearing that the Turk troops were marching on Istanbul, Abdul Hamid II surrendered. He was confined to captivity in Salonica until 1912, when he was returned to captivity in Istanbul.

OTTOMAN EMPIRE FALLS

FIRST BALKAN CRISIS

FIRST BALKAN CRISIS

Following Bulgaria’s declaration of Independence from the Ottoman Empire, on the 6th of October 1908, the Austro-Hungarian Empire announced the annexation of Bosnia. As a direct violation of the Treaty of Berlin, this led to political uproar. The reaction towards the annexation of Bosnia would later prove to be a contributing cause to World War I.

BALKAN LEAGUE

An alliance was formed against the Ottoman Empire by Bulgaria, Greece, Montenegro and Serbia. The League managed to obtain control over all European Ottoman conquests. However, the differences between the allies soon resurfaced and the League promptly disintegrated. Soon thereafter, Bulgaria attacked its allies, instigating the Second Balkan War.

BALKAN LEAGUE

FRANZ FERDINAND KILLED

FRANZ FERDINAND KILLED

In June 1914, Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria was assassinated, alongside his wife. Shot dead by Gavrilo Princip, a Bosnian Serb, the political motive behind the assassination was simple: to break off Austria-Hungary’s South-Slav provinces, so that they could become part of Greater Serbia or Yugoslavia. The attack led to the outbreak of World War I.

EMPIRE COLLAPSES

At the end of World War I, Emperor Franz Joseph I’s Austro-Hungarian empire collapsed. This was owing to the growing opposition parties who supported the separatism of ethnic minorities, and opposed the monarchy as a form of government. In 1918, Bosnia became part of The Kingdom of Croats, Serbs and Slovenes, later renamed The Kingdom of Yugoslavia.

EMPIRE COLLAPSES

BOSNIA ANNEXED

BOSNIA ANNEXED

Following the collapse of Yugoslavia, the Independent State of Croatia was formed in 1941, and Bosnia was subsequently annexed. However, during World War II, the Croats became divided with one side supporting the Independent State of Croatia, and the other the creation of communist Yugoslavia.

TITO LIBERATES BOSNIA

In 1941, German forces allied with Hungary and Italy, launched an invasion of Yugoslavia. Josip Broz Tito called for all citizens of Yugoslavia to unite against the opposition. Tito’s Partisans succeeded in liberating the territory. As an aftermath of World War II, Tito assembled the provisional government of the Democratic Federal Yugoslavia in Belgrade.

TITO LIBERATES BOSNIA

FALL OF COMMUNISM

FALL OF COMMUNISM

In 1989, revolutions began which would eventually overthrow communist states across Europe. Following the dissolution of the Soviet Union, communism was abandoned in Yugoslavia and war broke out at the development of five successor states: Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Macedonia, Slovenia, and the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia.

 

INDEPENDENCE FIGHT

Following the fall of communism, opinion was divided on the future of the Balkan Peninsula. Bosnian Muslims wanted a centralised independent Bosnia. Serb nationalists wanted to stay in Belgrade-dominated Yugoslavia, and Croats wanted to join an independent Croatian state. War seemed imminent.

 

CIVIL WAR

CIVIL WAR

The Bosnian Serb assembly invited the Serb population to boycott the referendum, and roadblocks were set up in protest. The Lisbon Agreement was proposed to prevent Bosnia and Herzegovina from sliding into war. All three sides signed the agreement, but Alija Izetbegović for the Bosniaks later withdrew, declaring opposition to any ethnic division in Bosnia. War broke out.

Dec 17, 2014francesca cleverly
MAKE A DONATION
Remembering Srebrenica remains committed to honouring the victims and survivors of the genocide.

SUPPORT US
SUPPORT US & PLEDGE
Make a difference, support our charity and all those affected by the tragic Genocide of Srebrenica. Pledge for our cause now.

PLEDGE YOUR SUPPORT
SIGN UP FOR OUR NEWSLETTER
Remembering Srebrenica newsletter allows you to keep up to date with latest news, events and how you can support us.

SIGN UP
December 17, 2014 History
Education PacksFundraising Toolkit
  You Might Also Like  
 
Every Action Matters Resources
 
The charity
 
Remembering Srebrenica Creates Future Leaders in Four Schools
 Search 

Remembering SrebrenicaFollow

Remembering Srebrenica
SrebrenicaUKRemembering Srebrenica@SrebrenicaUK·
21h

In Bratunac this morning, a town near Srebrenica where numerous Bosniak-Muslims were ethnically cleansed and murdered, a sign wishing a happy birthday to Ratko Mladic, the convicted genocidal war criminal, was hung up. Genocide glorification continues.

📷 via @suljagicemir1

155289Twitter
Remembering Srebrenica Retweeted
SrebrenicaUKRemembering Srebrenica@SrebrenicaUK·
3 Mar

Don’t forget we are still recruiting for a project officer to assist us in the planning and implementation of the 26th commemoration of the Bosnian genocide. Come join our team and make a difference!

https://t.co/HdLiprf7zY

46Twitter
SrebrenicaUKRemembering Srebrenica@SrebrenicaUK·
6 Mar

We were honoured to have Fikret Alić speak about his experience of surviving the death camp of Omarska at our National Commemoration. This shocking photo continues to haunt the world & serves as a reminder of what happens when we turn our back on humanity. https://t.co/BCfEexbNXS

49160Twitter
SrebrenicaUKRemembering Srebrenica@SrebrenicaUK·
5 Mar

Join us on March 11th as we mark #InternationalWomensDay with a discussion on gender and genocide; throughout and post-conflict. We'll be joined by experts and survivors in what will be an insightful discussion. Save the date now. We'll be sharing more info shortly!

1842Twitter
Remembering Srebrenica Retweeted
OsborneTweetsPeter Osborne@OsborneTweets·
5 Mar

Two evenings that I believe will be fascinating - 29th and 30th March at 7pm. On-line unfortunately but then again if not we might not hear from Srebrenica survivor @NedzadAvdic direct from Bosnia - register by emailing goodrelations@ardsandnorthdown.gov.uk

930Twitter
Load More...
 The charity 
A Project of Ummah Help. Registered charity no. 1142686. Registered company no. 7369796. Click here to find out more.
 Latest news 
Remembering Srebrenica’s 2021 Theme: Rebuilding Lives
February 4, 2021

Every year, Remembering Srebrenica selects a theme that reflects an aspect of the genocide that must be commemorated, but also speaks to communities here in the UK.  The theme for 2021 is ‘Rebuilding Lives’.  In albeit very different ways the Covid pandemic has brought loss and difficulties to millions, shattering individuals and communities, who are […]

Hatidža Mehmedović – A mother’s legacy
November 26, 2020

Hatidža Mehmedović was born in the area surrounding Srebrenica in 1952. Before the genocide, she lived her entire life in Srebrenica, where she had married her childhood friend, Abdullah, and had two sons, Azmir and Almir. Hatidža and Abdullah built their home in Srebrenica and lived a simple life as a family before the war […]

“Untold Killing”: first serialised podcast about the genocide in Bosnia launched
October 22, 2020

London, United Kingdom — This past July marked 25 years since the genocide in Bosnia and Herzegovina, often referred to as the worst atrocity on Europe’s soil since the Holocaust. The story of Srebrenica, a small town in Bosnia, remains a dark stain on Europe’s history and yet the full details remain unknown to many.  […]

 Remembering Srebrenica 

What happened
Survivor Stories
Memorial Day
Vistiting Srebrenica

 Site Links 

Homepage
Get Involved
Resources
News
Messages of support
About us
Get in contact
Sitemap

GET IN CONTACT

If you want to get involved with Remembering Srebrenica, or find out how you can help then please get in contact

SEND US AN EMAIL


2019 © Remembering Srebrenica. Privacy Policy
Website developed by Spyre Media