WI/AHC: Different Yugoslavian Split

[Sian]

Is there any way to keep the sub-divisional Yugoslavian provinces (and later on any nations that sprung from it) as per the Banovinas doing the Interwar period? (or merging neighbouring Banovinas)

If we manage to do this, How would this change the Post-ww2 Balkan?

 

[Halagaz]

The Banovinas were just administrative divisions (and relatively artificial ones at that). Even if they stay like that, no one will want to use a Banovina as their basis for secession.

One exception is if we go by the unfinished 1939 system - they started to group the Banovinas together into more or less valid national units until interrupted by the war. That way you'd have a federation between a Slovenia of unclear size, a Greater Croatia and a Greater Serbia.

 

[Clandango]

The Banovinas were just administrative divisions (and relatively artificial ones at that). Even if they stay like that, no one will want to use a Banovina as their basis for secession.

One exception is if we go by the unfinished 1939 system - they started to group the Banovinas together into more or less valid national units until interrupted by the war. That way you'd have a federation between a Slovenia of unclear size, a Greater Croatia and a Greater Serbia.

Weren't the Yugoslavs pressured a bit to give the Croats that level of autonomy? Or it may have been that once they did everyone realized Yugoslavis was done for (or thought it would be). If there was going to be a Greater Serbia it would probably not give as much Serb occupied land to the Croatians,

 

[Halagaz]

Weren't the Yugoslavs pressured a bit to give the Croats that level of autonomy? Or it may have been that once they did everyone realized Yugoslavis was done for (or thought it would be). If there was going to be a Greater Serbia it would probably not give as much Serb occupied land to the Croatians,

The onward march of Hitler's Germany and Mussolini's Italy did accelerate the agreement on Croatian autonomy - without this threat looming over the horizon, who known when it would have happened and what it would have looked like.

"Greater Serbia" and "Greater Croatia" are relative terms. Of course, there were some Croats and Serbs who wanted to push their part beyond the internal border established in 1939 and establish an Even Greater Croatia / Even Greater Serbia.

 

[tomo pauk]

Weren't the Yugoslavs pressured a bit to give the Croats that level of autonomy? Or it may have been that once they did everyone realized Yugoslavis was done for (or thought it would be). If there was going to be a Greater Serbia it would probably not give as much Serb occupied land to the Croatians,

The 'Yugoslavs' were not pressured, the Royal-led goverment was.

BTW - the Banovinas were tailored in such a way by a victorious (= Royal Serb) side so 6 of them will have Serb majority despite many of Macedonians, Montenegrins, Albanians, Moslems, Croats and Hungarian being there. Of other three, one went to Slovenians (by mostly hundred years dividing line towards Croatia), while two went to the Croats (mostly by historical borders vs. Ottoman Empire plus Western Herzegovina).

It would've been an interesting time line with Serbs saying to themselves - okay, with these 6 Banovinas we have gathered 99% of the Serbs (Royal Serbs counted as Serbs also the Macedonians, Montenegrins, plus Moslems with Slavic roots), so let's ditch Croatia and Slovenia for good - we have actually reached the Greater Serbia goal, and we don't have to listen the demands from Zagreb and Ljubljana any more.

 

[CaliGuy]

The Banovinas were just administrative divisions (and relatively artificial ones at that). Even if they stay like that, no one will want to use a Banovina as their basis for secession.

One exception is if we go by the unfinished 1939 system - they started to group the Banovinas together into more or less valid national units until interrupted by the war. That way you'd have a federation between a Slovenia of unclear size, a Greater Croatia and a Greater Serbia.

Question--couldn't the other ethnic groups in Yugoslavia likewise demand autonomy if the 1939 system survives?

 

[Halagaz]

Question--couldn't the other ethnic groups in Yugoslavia likewise demand autonomy if the 1939 system survives?

They could and they probably would. But they may not necessarily have the numbers to make it happen - and if it does happen, their autonomy will probably be based on actual ethnic borders and not random or quasi-historical criteria. Thus reducing the potential for conflict and instability.