National subject Y8 lesson 4

Kingdom of SHS
29.9.2021
Plans of uniting the State of SHS and kingdom of
Serbia
By the end of October 1918, the council of SHS, Yugoslav board and serbian government managed to
settle all disputes they had.

In order to continue with the unification with the kingdom of Serbia they all met up in november 1918 in
Geneva.

They discussed the outlines of unification in to one country and comprised it in a document called
“Geneva declaration”

In it it was agreed that the state of SHS and kingdom of Serbia will unite on equal grounds and that all
nations will be equal.
Serbian prime minister Pašić signed the declaration just because he was made to sign it by the French,
however, he quickly withdrew his signature.
Problems in the State of SHS

Shortly after it was declared, problems started showing up in the state.

One of them was the Italian occupation of the Croatian part of the Adriatic coast.

State officials issued protest to the Antante and the US president Wilson, those protests were not answered.

The state didn't have an army to stop Italian advancements on its own.

There was a series of economic problems above all that.

All those problems gave a push to unite unconditionally with the Kingdom of Serbia claiming that they will take
care of Italy with their army.
How to unite?

Members of the council were divided.

Some wanted to join with Serbia unconditionally and that the country should be centralized. (Svetozar
Pribičević was their leader)

Others wanted to set terms and conditions first and that the country should be federal and every nation
should be treated equally. . (Stjepan Radić was their leader)
On the council of SHS held on 23rd and 24th November they decided that they are going to unite with Kingdom of
Serbia.

They appointed a delegation that is going to go to Belgrade to deliver a document where it was outlined how they
should join.

In the document it stated that the 2 countries will determine the form of government within 6 months of joining
(republic or monarchy), government system (centralized or federation), center of government, the appearance of a
flag…

Stjepan Radić tried to be the voice of reason saying that they should not rush joining before they determine how
the country is going to look like. (HIS SAYING: NE SRLJAJTE KAO GUSKE U MAGLU)
Stjepan Radić
At the same time, Kingdom of Serbia annexed Montenegro and Vojvodina.

All that was used by Pribičević to send the delegation to Belgrade faster, before Radić can change their
mind.
Kingdom of SHS

Delegation came to Belgrade and presented the terms and conditions.

Serbian government did not accept them.

Because of that Pribičević made the delegation to write a new document called “the Address”.

In it stated that the State of SHS wants to unite with the Kingdom of Serbia.

That document was accepted because it said that the SHS wants to join unconditionally with Serbia.

After that on 1st december 1918, regent Alexander declared the unification of State of SHS and Kingdom
of Serbia in tand the creation of the Kingdom of SHS ( kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes).
Regent Aleksandar Karađorđević,
Succeeded his father Petar I on the
throne of SHS.
That proclamation was to be ratified by the parliament.
Pribičević was afraid that the Croatian parliament is going to object so they did all
they could to postpone its assembly.
Croatia was in a bad position now, they didn't have a parliament and they lost all
independence they had in the Austro-Hungarian monarchy (right to ban (still existed
only as a formality), parliament, state markings…).
The Kingdom was centralized.
December victims

On 5th december 1918, two regiments of Croatian soldiers assembled at

Jelačić square where they started protesting against the new Kingdom.

Police (that was supported by the Kingdom) opened fire and killed 13 of
them while 17 were wounded.

Those were the first victims of the new regime. “PROSINAČKE ŽRTVE”.
Serbian
army
entering
Zagreb
Serbian
army
entering
Zagreb
December protest
General info

Kingdom of SHS was a multinational country with a population of around 12 million.

Most numerous were the Serbs, then Croats and Slovens, Macedonians and Montenegrans came last.

Montenegrans were forbidden to identify as Montenegrans but as Serbs.

There were other nationalities in the country (Albanians, Germans, Hungarians…).

There was aso a multitude of religions (Orthodox, Roman Catholic, Muslim, Jewish and Protestant)-
Flag of the
Kingdom of
SHS