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Despite a shared history among various ethnic groups, political aspirations and influences began to strain relations. The internal conflicts came to light during World War II, when Croatia's fascist regime, the Ustasa, perpetrated heinous atrocities, killing hundreds of thousands of Serbs, Jews, and Roma. This period sowed the seeds for long-standing resentment and division among the communities.
The Tito Era: Brotherhood and Unity
The rise of Josip Broz Tito following WWII aimed to unify the fragmented ethnic identities into a collective Yugoslav identity. Tito instituted a socialist regime that promoted the slogan "Bratstvo i jedinstvo" (Brotherhood and Unity), advocating for equality among the various ethnicities.